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When the powerful Duke of Norfolk arranges a marriage between her daughter and an unsuitable man, Ursula Blanchard, a half-sister to Elizabeth I, uncovers a plot to overthrow the queen and begins to spy on one of the conspirators.

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Member Reviews

2 reviews
This appears to be the last in the Ursula Blanchard series (excluding the character's brief and rather unsatisfactory appearance in the author's House of Allerbrook written using her real name). I am sorry for that, as I have generally enjoyed the series and really like and care about the regular characters - I think regular characters are the great strength of series such as these. This one toddles along nicely and reveals some of the complexity of the real Ridolfi plot, though I don't think it's among the strongest in the series. As I have said before, the portrayal of Catholics is rather simplistic in showing every single one as being hell-bent on setting up the Inquisition and burning heretics, and this does grate a bit. But I am show more sorry there will, it seems, be no more of these books. show less
Ok, so, I read girly books. But I think this is the last one I had to go before I was caught up. The last three of these all revolve around one plot or another os Mary Stuarts. I can't wait until the series reaches 1587 so they can kill the French-Scot hussy. Otherwise, it wasn't bad.

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4,666 works; 197 members

Author Information

Picture of author.
44+ Works 3,252 Members

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Siren Queen
Original publication date
2004-12-07
People/Characters
Ursula Blanchard; Meg Blanchard; Roger Brockley; Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley; William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley; Fran Dale (show all 16); Edmund Dean; Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester; Elizabeth I, Queen of England; Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk; Sybil Jester; Gladys Morgan; Roberto Ridolfi; Guerau de Spes; Hugh Stannard (husband of Ursula); Sir Francis Walsingham
Important places
London, England, UK (as London, England)
Important events
Tudor Era (1485 | 1603); Elizabethan Era (1558 | 1603)
Dedication
For my good friends Dolores and Ron
First words
There are many dangerous forces in this world of ours, not all of them obvious.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The northern earls were in arms and on the march. The first reports said their combined arms were fifteen thousand strong.
Disambiguation notice
This book is not "To Shield the Queen" and that cover is incorrectly placed here.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Mystery, Historical Fiction
DDC/MDS
823.914Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-19991945-1999
LCC
PR6052 .U266 .S57Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish Literature1961-2000
BISAC

Statistics

Members
169
Popularity
193,127
Reviews
2
Rating
(3.90)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
4
ASINs
2