The Emperor's Conspiracy

Oct 25, 2012 Stephanie ♥Loves Adrian Ivashkov and Warner!♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, adult, for-review, books-i-own, book-boyfriends, gorgeous-covers, brilliant

The Emperor's Conspiracy is a brilliantly written Historical Fiction with a dash of romance. Not only did I love the entire novel, I was completely entranced by the amazing plot, rich details and striking characters that sucked me right into nineteenth-century London until the very last words.

This story is about Charlotte Raven, who once was a poor chimney sweep until Lady Catherine Howe took her in after Charlotte became trapped in her chimney. Charlotte never lost her ties to the streets thoug...more The Emperor's Conspiracy is a brilliantly written Historical Fiction with a dash of romance. Not only did I love the entire novel, I was completely entranced by the amazing plot, rich details and striking characters that sucked me right into nineteenth-century London until the very last words.

This story is about Charlotte Raven, who once was a poor chimney sweep until Lady Catherine Howe took her in after Charlotte became trapped in her chimney. Charlotte never lost her ties to the streets thought She continued seeing her childhood friend and ex-lover Luke Bracken who grew to be a bitter and ruthless crime lord, even so Charlotte could never really get it over her heart to shake herself lose from him, nor he from her. They shared a tight bond.
When Charlotte meets Lord Edward Durham, a secret agent for the Crown, she immediately feels attracted to him, which surprises her more than anything, since she has never allowed any man close to her after Luke.
Through events she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens England. Charlotte has to walk between both world to find out what really is going on. That's where things really start to get dangerous. Murder, intrigue, danger and passion follows.

I was hooked instantly by Michelle Diener's writing.So wonderful to read. Not to mention fast paced and detailed. I was truly blown away. The story, setting, characters and mystery kept my attention non-stop. I felt compelled to keep on reading and reading. Even into the midle of the night when I knew I should've been sleeping. I kept turning page after page and saying to myself; "Just one more chapter..."

I love complex characters and there were quite a few in The Emperor's Conspiracy. Charlotte was my favorite character. She was an amazing heroine to read about. Beautiful, strong, independent, straight forward, smart and very loyal to her friends. Everything a good heroine needs. I loved her bond with Luke, although one might see their relationship as unhealthy or messy, and yet I loved to see them together in scenes, interacting. Even so, I liked Charlotte and Edward together even more. I loved Edward! He was pretty amazing. Protective, handsome and intellifent. I just fell completely for him. Luke on the other hand was very intense, bitter, fierce, wanting Charlotte for his own, obsessive even. He wanted to much for Charlotte to love him, when she'd never love him in any other way than a friend or family. So, yes, that was pretty sad for him even though I was immensely rooting for Charlotte and Edward. My sympathy for Luke will never go away.
This book is based on real facts and events, which I just love because I'm such a history geek. I totally devoured it all.

The ending of this novel was a little inconclusive as to where her relationship with Edward would go. So I sincerely hope there will be a second instalment. But even with the inconclusive ending, I liked it. Charlotte finally had sort of freed herself from the ghosts of her past. So this was a very good ending in my opnion.
I loved the romance between Charlotte and Edward. It wasn't overdone or anything, even if sometimes it verged more on lust. They made such a good and beautiful couple. They really had the electric attraction. But like I've mentioned before, it was inclusive if they would make it or not. But I do hope so.
I have to say, there are some tough topics in this book that are definitly Rated R. Just a little warning there for the sensitive readers.

So, it's obvious how in love I am with this book. It's a new personal favorite of mine and I'm definitely not hesitating to read the other books by Michelle Diener for she has gaint a new fan with me.
I'd recommend The Emperor's Conspiracy to anyone who loves historical fiction or romance books with a suspense twist to it. Even if you're not a fan of this genre, I would ask you to read it, because this novel is absolutely brilliant.(less)

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Dec 19, 2012 Kaetrin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arra, historical, paper-book, non-trad-romance

I have both of Michelle Diener’s other books on my TBR pile. When the chance came to review this book, I was keen because, apart from the beautiful cover, I knew it would force me to move this author up in the queue—something I had been meaning to do. Review books get priority! :) The conspiracy of the title is actually true—Napoleon did try to bankrupt Britain by stealing all of their guineas. Who’d have thunk?

I went into the book thinking it was a romance but it isn’t really. It’s an historica...more I have both of Michelle Diener’s other books on my TBR pile. When the chance came to review this book, I was keen because, apart from the beautiful cover, I knew it would force me to move this author up in the queue—something I had been meaning to do. Review books get priority! :) The conspiracy of the title is actually true—Napoleon did try to bankrupt Britain by stealing all of their guineas. Who’d have thunk?

I went into the book thinking it was a romance but it isn’t really. It’s an historical novel with romantic elements. Perhaps if I had understood that going in, I would have enjoyed the book more but as it was, there wasn’t quite enough relationship to satisfy this romance reader’s soul.

Charlotte Raven was the daughter of a rookery whore, sold to a chimney sweep at age four and rescued from that life at age 12 by a wealthy Ton widow. Charlotte helps people from the slums by giving them jobs in her household and she still has close ties to Luke Bracken, now a crime lord. Luke and Charlotte had a very close and unhealthy relationship, parts of which were quite problematic for me. Luke isn’t presented as a particularly ‘good’ man. Even the close eye he keeps on Charlotte isn’t merely for her protection and he’s not shy about murder.

Lord Edward Durnham provides discreet assistance to the Crown and is tasked to investigate the smuggling of vast amounts of guineas from England. His path crosses with Charlotte (which he is glad about) and Luke (by which he’s less than pleased). Charlotte and Edward begin to fall in love (but remember, this is not a romance so don’t expect the usual romance story arc) as they work to solve the puzzle of who is behind the smuggling.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first but I felt that the end was somewhat abrupt. There are a lot of things I would have liked to know more about—particularly about the fallout regarding the smuggling conspiracy. Recommended for readers who like historical novels with a touch of gentle romance.

This review first appeared on the ARRA blog at https://australianromancereaders.word...(less)

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Nov 27, 2012 Burgandy Ice rated it 5 of 5 stars

*Huge sigh of satisfaction* This is THAT book, the one where history melts into the background, the writing disappears and players emerge spitting character and bold love so that... I sigh.

Charlotte - Charlie - is a great character. She's headstrong and intelligent. Her guardian/savior is the sweetest, smartest lady. It's a household of two great brains with different kinds of strength and I loved seeing the strong women.

Charlie's childhood friend, the crime lord, is so dark and mysterious and p...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-challenge-books, historic-fiction-1800s, regency

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Sixth months. That is how long I eyed Michelle Diener's work before getting my hands on a copy. The premise intrigued me, but even after buying the book I was hesitant. I had never encountered Diener's in my literary wanderings before and despite my optimism, I was nervous the piece wouldn't live up to my expectations. As it turns out I needn't have worried. I found The Emperor's Conspiracy both a satisfying and enjoyable re...more Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Sixth months. That is how long I eyed Michelle Diener's work before getting my hands on a copy. The premise intrigued me, but even after buying the book I was hesitant. I had never encountered Diener's in my literary wanderings before and despite my optimism, I was nervous the piece wouldn't live up to my expectations. As it turns out I needn't have worried. I found The Emperor's Conspiracy both a satisfying and enjoyable read. Fair warning, there are spoilers ahead.

Still with me? Fantastic. First and foremost I love how Diener incorporated a real event into her fiction. At first glance Napoleon's attempt to destroy the English economy by exporting gold guineas sounds entirely too far-fetched to be true but then again, the best historic events are the ones that don't seem at all possible. Diener got a lot of points not only for exposing me to an event of which I was previously unaware, but also for the creativity she exhibited in adapting it to her fiction.

As for the fictional premise, well a chimney sweep turned noblewoman was and is a little too implausible for my taste, but I will say it made Charlotte's adventures into the rookeries relatively believable. Don't misunderstand, I really liked how it all played out, but the amateur historian in me wasn't exactly jumping for joy. It is a delightfully fun idea, but lacking the authenticity I look for in historic fiction and though I expected this going into the book, I wanted to share this personal preference in my review as it helps explain the rating I ultimately issued and serves as a bit of a warning to those who prefer weightier historic pieces.

Now I want to talk about character analysis, or rather one particular character analysis: Luke Braken. Oh my goodness, I love this guy. Driven, dedicated, resourceful, I'll admit he is a little warped, but I still can't get over the depth Diener put into him. At first his possessive regard for Charlotte annoyed me, but he became increasingly fascinating as more and more of his background came to light. Then came the moment. "'You want to talk to me about the thousands starving in the stews, while nobs like you ride past them in carriages that cost enough to keep them for life? You want to talk about the Hulks, and Old Bailey, where they lock up children as young as six years old, punishing them as it they were adults, all for take a scrap or two to feed themselves or their families? You want to stand there and tell me I betrayed England? No, Lord Nob, England has betrayed me.'" In that passage he became something entirely different; wounded, complicated, provocative, memorable. Did I mention I loved this character?

By contrast Charlotte and Edward left me wanting. Our heroine was interesting enough, but she never had that defining moment. She spends most of the story trying to keep a foot in each world and though she ultimately stands up and declares she will no longer live to please those around her, the moment is significantly subtler than Luke's, almost anticlimactic by comparison. Edward's journey is similarly bland. Like Charlotte's, it never stuck the chord I wanted it to.

So, will I be reading Diener again? Without a doubt. The Emperor's Conspiracy definitely isn't your average regency romance, that's for sure. An entertaining series of imaginative story lines interwoven with a complex historic mystery, perfect for any lover of light historic fiction.(less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Joyce Yee rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing book - "Charlie" the main character is a survivor of the London slums, aka "the east end",who was adopted by an aristocratic lady who was horrified to discover the chimney sweep stuck in the chimney of her home was actually a 12 year old girl. While Charlie is very appreciative of her benefactor's kindness, she never forgets those she left behind.

Michelle's excellent characterizations had me understanding what it must have been like to live through unimaginable poverty, while...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Laurenwynta rated it 3 of 5 stars

As many books do, it started with such promise, such simple yet elegant descriptiveness with an interesting plot outline. It grasped my attention and intrigue me enough to continue to read for two days straight but towards the end it felt like a never ending abyss of 'will they or won't they' (Edward, come on, make a solid move. Kissing is all well and good but make a REAL move man!) and will she cut her ties with Luke Braken or fall back into old habits and back to the slums of London? There wa...more

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Feb 11, 2013 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Charlotte Raven has managed to escape poverty by sheer luck and the help of a Society lady. Yet she still maintains ties to that other life which are hard to break as she tries to help as many others as she can.

Lord Edward Durnham is investigating the movement of gold out of London to learn where it is going and who is involved. As he is investigating, his paths cross with Charlotte, only to find that people they both know just may be involved.

Trying to find out the truth is getting more danger...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

This is, without doubt, one of the worst books I've ever read. People, it is even worse than Twilight.

I can forgive a trite plot if the characters or the writing are engaging, and I can forgive poor writing if the plot, characters, or concepts are awesome, but this book melds terrible writing with a boring, trite, cliche, unrealistic plot and boring, trite, cliche, unrealistic characters.

This is a book that completely ignores any ideas of "show, not tell". We are repeatedly told how wonderful a...more

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Nov 29, 2012 SOS Aloha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul. - Democritus

Michelle Diener burst onto the historical fiction scene last year with her debut thriller set in Tudor England, IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. For THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY, she delivers an equally engaging suspense set in Regency England. Diener steps out of the grand ballrooms to give us a glimpse of gritty London – both in the stews and in the aristocracy who grovel in their selfish pleasures. Charlotte...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Michelle Diener in her new book, “The Emperor's Conspiracy” published by Gallery Books takes us into the life of Charlotte Raven.

From the back cover: From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.

Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worl...more Michelle Diener in her new book, “The Emperor's Conspiracy” published by Gallery Books takes us into the life of Charlotte Raven.

From the back cover: From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.

Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worlds, unable to turn her back on the ruthless crime lord who was once her childhood protector.

When Lord Edward Durnham is tapped to solve the mystery of England’s rapidly disappearing gold, his search leads him to the stews of London, and Charlotte becomes his intriguing guide to the city’s dark, forbidding underworld. But as her involvement brings Charlotte to the attention of men who have no qualms about who they hurt, and as Edward forges a grudging alliance with the dangerous ghosts of Charlotte’s former life, she faces a choice: to continue living in limbo, or to close the door on the past and risk her heart and her happiness on an unpredictable future.

Michelle Diener has done it again which means get ready for a nail-biting, page-turning thriller. Ms. Diener knows how to write history. There really was a secret smuggling operation by France to drain England’s gold. Lord Edward Durnham is assigned to put an end to this conspiracy and he needs Charlotte to aid him. Joining forces puts both their lives in deadly danger as they race about trying to find England’s enemies to end their threat. ”The Emperor’s Conspiracy” is well crafted suspense. It is also a good romance as well. Ms. Diener creates characters are so real that you care for all of them. “The Emperor’s Conspiracy” is great fun to read. I am so hoping that there will be more stories featuring Charlotte and Lord Edward.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Gallery Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, europe, fiction, historical-fiction

"The Emperor's Conspiracy" is the story of Charlotte "Charlie" Raven, who goes from lowly chimney sweep to full-fledged society lady and her difficulty with having her toes in both of the worlds she is so familiar with. On one hand, she still remembers what it was like to be a child forced to work but still loving that world and the people that she knew in it but those very people could get her deeply into trouble. On the other hand, she absolutely relishes her position as a rich and educated wo...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

It started so good..and yes it continued to be that good! :D

It was a nice mix of historical fiction, suspense, mystery and romance. Charlotte the heroine was no simpering miss of the ton. She used to live in the slum, daughter of a whore, worked as a chimney sweep but was saved by a nice lady and raised as her ward. While still be connected to the underworld. Oh yes I loved that premise at once.

In this story there is a mystery too. Gold smuggled out of England and a Lord who tries to figure out...more

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Jul 28, 2012 W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2012-read

Charlotte Raven is torn between the two worlds of early 19th-century London. On one side is the dark, poverty-stricken, and dangerous underbelly where she grew up, where her childhood friend and protector, Luke Bracken, has grown up to be a bitter, powerful crime lord. On the other side is the pristine, silk-and-satin upper class society that she has was adopted into twelve years prior, where she falls into the company of the formal and refined Lord Edward Durham, a secret agent to whom she has...more Charlotte Raven is torn between the two worlds of early 19th-century London. On one side is the dark, poverty-stricken, and dangerous underbelly where she grew up, where her childhood friend and protector, Luke Bracken, has grown up to be a bitter, powerful crime lord. On the other side is the pristine, silk-and-satin upper class society that she has was adopted into twelve years prior, where she falls into the company of the formal and refined Lord Edward Durham, a secret agent to whom she has an unexpected attraction. When Charlotte finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens the structure of society and the nation itself, as well as the lives of those around her and her own reputation, she must use her unique position to find out the truth and bring down the conspirators.

This Regency-era historical fiction novel reminded me of Pride and Prejudice -- which, believe me, is a good thing -- if Elizabeth Bennet had a secret past and Mr. Darcy were a spy. This book also contains more murder, smuggling, intrigue, and a brothel or two, which certainly would have scandalized Austen's Bennets. The heroine, however, has every bit as much spunk, wit, and intelligence as Elizabeth, and the hero -- despite a rather prideful and arrogant first impression, has the same sense of honor and integrity as Darcy. It deals with the same sort of issues of family pride and upbringing, loyalty to those love, and the importance of manners, decorum, and social status.

In this novel, the author adds intrigue and suspense to these, however, and puts the reader on edge, wondering at the possible connections, who is behind the murders, and how far up the conspiracy goes. The romance aspect is (in my opinion) overly-lustful, but the author does still manage to convince the reader of the characters' sincerity and affection for one another, and you do find them wanting to end up together, despite their differences.

At times, the conspiracy created a rather tangled web that was difficult to unravel, but it all ended up making sense in the end. Reader, beware: there are definitely some "Rated-R" topics (rape, brothels, child molestation), but even these weren't overdone (they actually had a point in the plot, not just put in there for shock value) and the evildoers do eventually get their comeuppance.

I would definitely recommend this; I was particularly interested to read that the conspiracy described was actually based on true events of the Napoleonic era. Other fans of the historical fiction and mystery genre may enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book!(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Dorie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mysteries

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 04, 2012 Marg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aww2012

When Michelle Diener contacted me to offer a review copy of this book, I was interested, but mainly because Michelle lives in Australia and therefore I could count this book for several challenges. And then I noticed that Amy from Historical Fiction Virtual Tours was running a tour for the book. I volunteered because then not only would I intend to read it, I would actually read it and in a timely fashion! The thing is though, by the time I finished the book, I was happy to have read the book, n...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Hoover Public Library Adult Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance

I started this book on my dinner break. I didn’t go to sleep that night until I finished it. While I might be a little masochistic when it comes to [not]balancing sleeping, working, and reading, most of the credit goes to this book for being just that fantastic: Saved by a benevolent and wealthy widow from a life of poverty and drudgery, Charlotte Raven is now a debutante with a seemingly unimpeachable reputation; however, her past is still very much a part of her present. Her connections to the...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Lucie rated it 3 of 5 stars

An historical fiction with plots as finely woven as a spider's web.

At first I was attracted by this novel through the design of its beautiful cover. Then, by reading the synopsis, I thought I would access to an historical romance with many twists. This was not entirely the case because the romantic part is sweet and pure and will stay like that. No hot passionate love affair.

If the first is part of Charlotte's past, the ordeals they fought together have forged an unbreakable bond between the duo...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Monique Mulligan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-eclectic-reader-challenge

For full review see http://writenotereviews.wordpress.com...

I would give this 2.5 stars.

The Emperor’s Conspiracy started with a lot of promise – the cover was well chosen; attractive and simple in design, the fact that the woman’s face is unseen hints at mystery. The storyline itself is intriguing – an emperor behind a conspiracy that will ruin England? I didn’t even know that happened so that was interesting to discover. However, there was so much detail and time spent setting the scene, that I...more For full review see http://writenotereviews.wordpress.com...

I would give this 2.5 stars.

The Emperor’s Conspiracy started with a lot of promise – the cover was well chosen; attractive and simple in design, the fact that the woman’s face is unseen hints at mystery. The storyline itself is intriguing – an emperor behind a conspiracy that will ruin England? I didn’t even know that happened so that was interesting to discover. However, there was so much detail and time spent setting the scene, that I soon lost track of what the book was about. I found myself confused. Was this a romance (sparks fly instantly between Charlotte and Edward and in the background there’s a possessive ex-lover, so that was a fair assumption at this point) or a mystery? There were so many people watching people that I found it hard to stay abreast of who was watching whom. I think part of the problem was that I was expecting this to be more of a romance, but that carrot was dangled and then snatched away.

The detail is admirable in that it does show thoughtful research by Diener. I appreciated the portraits of two contrasting lifestyles and how each insinuated into the other. Luke’s recollection of life on the hulks was interesting – I remember reading (back in my uni days) about the overcrowded hulks of the time and how this related to Australia’s colonisation. While in reality little care would have been given to how the convicts felt being jammed onto the hulks, Luke’s perspective made his obsessive need to control a tad more understandable, if not acceptable.

The Emperor’s Conspiracy has enjoyed a number of highly positive reviews. Unfortunately it left me a little flat. Charlotte was clearly an intelligent, spirited character, but the characterisation wasn’t strong enough for me to really vest any interest in her, or the story. She, and most of the other characters, simply lacked depth in my eyes and since I love a good character-driven novel, that was a shame. I felt like more of a detached observer of events than someone emotionally invested in the novel. The abrupt ending didn’t work for me either, although it does leave the door open for a sequel. It just seemed rushed. Overall, I think the storyline had a lot of potential (it certainly worked for a lot of reviewers), but the treatment of it just left me a bit cold. My rating: it was an okay read.

Available from good bookstores. This copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster – there are reading group notes on the website too.(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Caz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-5-stars, arc, romance-regency, kindle

This title will be published on 27 November 2012; review copy courtesy of Gallery Books and Edelweiss

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – although it eventually missed out on getting a 5 star rating, of which more later.

The heroine, Charlotte Raven is an unusual one in that she was once a street urchin and has retained her links to London’s underworld, mainly through her friendship with Luke Bracken, who has risen through the ranks of the criminal fraternity to become what we might now term...more This title will be published on 27 November 2012; review copy courtesy of Gallery Books and Edelweiss

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – although it eventually missed out on getting a 5 star rating, of which more later.

The heroine, Charlotte Raven is an unusual one in that she was once a street urchin and has retained her links to London’s underworld, mainly through her friendship with Luke Bracken, who has risen through the ranks of the criminal fraternity to become what we might now term a gangland boss. Although she is well aware of the restrictions that come with her position as a young, unmarried woman, she is nonetheless very direct in her manner and is not afraid to come forward with information that could help others while possibly endangering her own position in society. I liked that she was fairly straightforward with Edward, too – there is no Big Misunderstanding between them in order to drive the story – she is honest about her attraction to him, even though she is wary of acting upon it.

Her relationship with Luke is very well drawn. They share a bond that neither is willing or able to break, even though Charlotte makes it clear several times that she loves him like a brother, Luke can’t help torturing himself with his desire that she will return to him and love him in a romantic way. Their relationship is dysfunctional, messy and not good for either of them, but there is a real depth to its portrayal that makes it quite compelling to read.

Edward, the romantic hero is less well fleshed out, I felt. He’s all a reader would expect in such a character – handsome, titled, rich and clever – but I never really felt like I got to know him. That said, he and Charlotte make an attractive couple, and the parts of the book where they are working together have a real undercurrent of sexual tension. But this is part of the reason for the 4.5 stars instead of 5 – and why I hope that perhaps we will encounter Edward and Charlotte in a future novel – the ending of the novel is rather inconclusive. On one level, that works very well as we are shown Charlotte, finally free of her demons and realising that she can now be her own person in a position to make her own decisions. On another, it’s a little frustrating that we don’t get at least a glimpse of the hero and heroine together at the end of the book. Looking at it in a positive light however, I suppose that gives the reader the chance to draw their own conclusions and it certainly makes Charlotte into a stronger person.

In her author’s note, Michelle Diener points out that her inspiration for the plot of the novel is drawn from the real-life attempt by Napoleon Bonaparte to destabilise the British establishment by undermining its financial system, thereby bringing about revolution and chaos. The story in the book centres around the gradual realisation on the part of Charlotte and Edward of the attempt, by a small group of so-called gentlemen to enrich themselves by smuggling gold out of England and into the hands of the French government.

This was a real page turner for me, one of those books I was eager to pick up during every spare moment I had. The thriller element was very well done indeed, and kept me guessing as to the identities of the conspirators right up until the reveal; and Charlotte’s progression from someone who feels she belonges nowhere to a woman who finally knows who she is, was extremely engaging.
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Nov 19, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The cover drew me to The Emperor’s Conspiracy, the synopsis had me grab it and the novel captivated me. Michelle Diener’s novel has elements I love in a good book; suspense, mystery and a side dish of romance all set in nineteenth century London. I adored the unique characters and the plot against the crown. I was captivated by this tale and could not put it down.

Our heroine Charlotte Raven’s by all appearances looks to be the perfect lady with an impeccable reputation. Charlotte has many secret...more The cover drew me to The Emperor’s Conspiracy, the synopsis had me grab it and the novel captivated me. Michelle Diener’s novel has elements I love in a good book; suspense, mystery and a side dish of romance all set in nineteenth century London. I adored the unique characters and the plot against the crown. I was captivated by this tale and could not put it down.

Our heroine Charlotte Raven’s by all appearances looks to be the perfect lady with an impeccable reputation. Charlotte has many secrets and her past is one of them. Chance has her reveal her true self and befriend the sister of Lord Edward Durnham. When he begins searching for gold disappearing from England’s coiffures, he finds himself looking to Charlotte for aid. The tale that unfolds is suspenseful and mystery. I became completely immersed in this tale and its characters.

Charlotte Raven is a curious creature; she is beautiful, snarky and graceful. She is head-strong, witty, bright and very protective of those she loves. Resigned to never share her life, she is taken aback by her feelings for Lord Durnham. We see growth in her as a character throughout the novel and I really liked this complex woman. Edward is a serious bloke, burdened by family responsibilities and a diligent agent to the crown; he has little time for the social circles of the ton. He is brave, noble and smexy in his attempt to protect Charlotte. I loved how she completely unnerved him and made him lose his senses. That fact that it completely shocked him, made me giggle. Luke the local crime king-pin was an interesting and complex character. While I admired his loyalty to Charlotte, I also hated the price she paid for that loyalty. Diener provides quite a cast of side characters and each one was interesting and unique.

I love when a novel hooks you in the first few pages and that is exactly what happened with The Emperor’s Conspiracy. The fast pace, twists and fleshed out characters immediately swept me up and kept me entranced. This is one of those novels where I just had to read “one more chapter” despite the late hour and found myself up till three am! It was worth the lack of sleep as I found the mystery and tale to be delightful. Diener took true historical facts about Napoleon and his plans to take down England’s economy and wove them into this tale. At times it was very dark and gritty and the suspense was unnerving as the author blurred the lines of fiction and reality. I love when a tale and its characters become real to me. The romance was sweet, complex and totally takes a back-burner to the intense plot. The ending allows the reader to draw their own conclusions and I closed the book with a smile.

I so recommend The Emperor’s Conspiracy to fans of mystery and suspense in a historical setting. Not sure you like historical fiction, but love mysteries, crime novels and suspense? I recommend you try this since the pacing is riveting. I look forward to reading more from this talented author. You can find all of Michelle Diener’s works listed here.

I want to thank Simon and Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

originally posted at Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, 2012, read-dec-2012

I thoroughly enjoy the historical fiction genre and I am careful about which ones I accept because I as I have stated before I am always scared I will get bogged down with facts and history in a historical novel. Not that it has happened yet and it definitely did not happen with The Emperor's Conspiracy.

The Emperor's Conspiracy is a very fast-paced plot based novel that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next in Charlotte Raven's world. I had no doubt that...more I thoroughly enjoy the historical fiction genre and I am careful about which ones I accept because I as I have stated before I am always scared I will get bogged down with facts and history in a historical novel. Not that it has happened yet and it definitely did not happen with The Emperor's Conspiracy.

The Emperor's Conspiracy is a very fast-paced plot based novel that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next in Charlotte Raven's world. I had no doubt that Charlotte would end up okay, but I wanted to know how and what the devil was going on. And it seemed like there was a lot going on. Ms. Diener does a wonderful job creating and weaving the plot in this novel and basing it on a historical fact that I did not know about at all which made it more interesting. I like telling my husband things that he did not know since he is a major history-buff. You can easily get caught up in Miss Raven's world which traverses the posh area of London and the seedy back alleyways as well.

I think there was mastery in the creation of Miss Charlotte Raven. Creating her as a chimney sweep who is transformed into a noblewoman so she knows both sides of London and can travel them both well. She is also still mired in both sides so that adds the extra interest and extra plotline to the book. I would have loved a little more depth to her character but realize the length of the novel and type of novel probably limited the character development some. We do see some of her development, but I want more Charlotte and also more of Edward. I feel he was more of a cardboard cutout that got filled in some. I liked him a lot, and feel he was a typical male of the time, and what he needed to be for his job, aloof and distant, but I wanted to know him just a little more. That said, I still enjoyed him and Charlotte as characters. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, though sometimes I was a little confused (but it could have been the medicines, I read this when I had a sinus infection, so I could have been addled some).

Overall this book was well worth my time and has me wanting to check out Ms. Diener's backlist and anything she writes in the future. She writes in a way that is easy to read and catches your interest from the first page. She knows how to plot well and tie up things without making it too pat. Her pacing was also well done, it never felt rushed, I felt the book moved along well. I was kind of sad it ended and to say goodbye to these wonderful characters. I wish I could see more of Charlotte and Edward, they were fun together. So if you enjoy a good nineteenth-century English suspense set in London then this is just the book for you. But be prepared to spend a few hours reading because you won't want to put it down. (less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Emperor’s Conspiracy is a fast moving story heavy on the intrigue and history- with a splash of romantic feeling between Charlotte and Edward. It’s nicely intertwined with the twisty plot that doesn’t neatly fold itself into a particular genre, but straddles several – historical fiction, mystery, a tipple of romance. Charlotte Raven is a particularly appealing character because she doesn’t escape the hardship that would have been face by those who lived in poverty. She’s adopted around the a...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, arc, better-than-i-thought-it-would-be, characters-i-loved, male-and-female-pov, cover-love, reviewcopies, romance, drama, galley, switching-pov, historical, plot-twist, edelweiss

For this review and more visit my blog

*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The emperor’s Conspiracy took me quite by surprise; it was not what I thought it would be at all. I was expecting a normal historical windswept romance (of which I am a fan) instead I got an entertaining and complex mystery with plenty of heart.

This book is clever in the way that all its numerous plots and twists tie themselves and you in knots, there is a lot going on, a lot to...more For this review and more visit my blog

*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The emperor’s Conspiracy took me quite by surprise; it was not what I thought it would be at all. I was expecting a normal historical windswept romance (of which I am a fan) instead I got an entertaining and complex mystery with plenty of heart.

This book is clever in the way that all its numerous plots and twists tie themselves and you in knots, there is a lot going on, a lot to take in and I must admit that there were a couple of times where I got a little confused. But at the end these knots are ironed out and all questions are answered.

The writing in this book is good. I found it easy to envision and easy to get lost in the pages. Every chapter seemed to end at a point where I just could not possibly stop reading and so it led to a very late night for me.

I loved the characters. Charlotte is caring but fierce, she is a little confused but for genuine good reason. She is not a ‘silly’ girl as so many book heroines are. She is not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve and let people know what she really thinks about them. Her relationship with the moody Edward is good. He is clearly often exasperated by her and worries about her often without getting to possessive or out of hand. There is a little romance here but I feel like I must point out that this is NOT really a romance book, the small amount there is gentle and well behaved. I feel like this book has been marketed more as a romance and if that is all you are looking for you will be disappointed.

The real triumph of this book is the relationship between Charlotte and Luke. Their relationship is an unhealthy one for both of them but they could not be without one another even if they want different things. Luke wears pain like a medal, he has been through a lot and I think he wishes to do the best thing but he is so full or hate from all his misfortune that he can’t. I really liked him despite his meanness and I loved the complex and heart-breaking relationship between him and Charlotte. It was hands down the best part of the book.

The worse part of the book was the ending. It tied up all the loose ends of the plot but it was so abrupt and sudden that I felt like I needed more closure on things. It is the only really negative thing I have to say about this book.

I would recommend this to anyone who liked to read, this is not one just for romance lovers. A word of warning that there are some sensitive issues bought up and discussed here (child abuse, rape, etc) not once are these issues treated with disrespect or used as a shock tactic but they are there.

(less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Stephanie Beaver rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, regency

I started this book on my dinner break. I didn’t go to sleep that night until I finished it. While I might be a little masochistic when it comes to [not]balancing sleeping, working, and reading, most of the credit goes to this book for being just that fantastic: Saved by a benevolent and wealthy widow from a life of poverty and drudgery, Charlotte Raven is now a debutante with a seemingly unimpeachable reputation; however, her past is still very much a part of her present. Her connections to the...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Janice (the_red1) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical, received-for-review, love-triangle, standalone-title, sexual-tension, romance-done-right, flawed-character

**Find this and other reviews at The Demon Librarian book blog**

I cut my reading teeth on historical romances. I can still remember the first time my mom put a Victoria Holt book into my hands, and later, when my older sister and I discovered the joys of Georgette Heyer. To this day, I've got a soft spot for the genre.

The Emperor's Conspiracy is a very different type of historical novel. Set in England during the Napoleonic Wars, it contains the usual lords and ladies, balls and gowns, and of c...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I can't say that I've read a lot about the gritter side of Regency England. This one had the underbelly of Regency England mixed in with the "proper" side with its rules and etiquette for ladies.

What I liked about this one was the characters felt real. There was dimension to most of the characters. And my most I mean you clearly have the villains who are evil pure and throughout. But with the main protagonist who are made to understand where she came from and the tension in going back from the...more

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Aug 19, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, hf-england, historical-fiction, edelweiss-arc, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

I hate to damn The Emperor's Conspiracy with faint praise, but the best adjectives I can come up with to describe it are: Decent. Okay. Not bad. Adequate. I was entertained, but never invested or engrossed in the story. All in all, it was an alright novel with less than perfect characterization. It also wasn't the exciting mystery I had hoped to get, and at times this read much more like a historical romance than a historical fiction novel... but it...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

I hate to damn The Emperor's Conspiracy with faint praise, but the best adjectives I can come up with to describe it are: Decent. Okay. Not bad. Adequate. I was entertained, but never invested or engrossed in the story. All in all, it was an alright novel with less than perfect characterization. It also wasn't the exciting mystery I had hoped to get, and at times this read much more like a historical romance than a historical fiction novel... but it wasn't horrible. It just wasn't a great read for me, personally, though I can easily see why others might feel differently when it comes out later this year. It can be entertaining and amusing, but the flat characters, the cliched love triangle, and the third person limited POV didn't do much to make me fully invested, either. I didn't hate it and I would probably read another novel from this author -- especially since she has two Tudor-era novels, which is much more my forte than Regency England -- but this one, plain and simply, just didn't live up the inner expectations I had for it. (Yep, damning with faint praise it is.)

Easily started and finished in the same day, this Regency-era look at Britain and the main characters of Charlotte Raven and Lord Edward Durnham came off as somewhat cliche in several areas. I will say this for it: it reads quite easily and quickly. There's the down on her luck lady with a checkered past, caught between the crime lord she owes her survival to and the Lord who wants her for independence, fiery will, and humor. Unfortunately, these are all pretty shallow characters and their interactions across the board come off as formulaic and predictable throughout the novel. Neither Charlotte, nor Edward, or Luke, really get the time and attention they deserve. And what we do know about them is told to the reader, instead of shown by their actions or dialogue. They might be interesting, but they are sadly one-dimensional.

There's much more time and pages spent setting up a contest over protagonist Charlotte's affections than there is time spent on constructing a good conspiracy, or y'know, actually moving the plot along. Complete with one of my least favorite plot devices, instalove (honestly, what draws Charlotte and Edward together so fast? I read the damn thing and I can't tell you), The Emperor's Conspiracy falls victim to many easily avoidable traps. The plot takes way too long to kick in due to the first hundred pages being big on setting the scene, establishing the smallish cast of characters and their respective relationships. In a book of only 320 pages for the final edition, that is too long without any momentum or action or revelations abut the conspiracy at the heart of everything. The overall antagonist lacks a presence and I found the red herrings to be obvious as well as the final reveal. A little more subtlety or more authorial sleigh of hand would have gone a long way to making the conspiracy of the title more riveting.

For all my issues, I did like this for a couple reasons: it actually introduced me to some new facts about Britain and Napoleon's long-lived enmity for the country. Luke's experiences in the prison hulks was something I had never ever heard of, and gave his plotline a little more life than the others had. Also, the fact that the conspiracy Diener writes of is based in actual fact. That is fascinating to me; much more so than the scant attention it warrants here -- until the final 50 pages, that is. If there had been more interaction and attention spent with that aspect of the novel, rather than the pissing contest over Charlotte's time and attention and all people watching people watching other people for other people, I would've found myself giving this at least a 3.5/3.75 stars instead of merely a three.

The ending was nicely handled, and for once with this book, it didn't go the way I had predicted. The open-ended nature of the last page leaves room for maneuvering and a possible sequel, which is totally alright with me. I may have been less than enthused with my first experience with Michelle Diener's writing, but it probably will not be my last. (less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Sierra Franklin rated it 3 of 5 stars

What do people do in this book? They watch people watch people.

What's happening/happened in this book? abuse, child rape, child sex, intsa-love, semi one-sided love-triangle, murders, discovery of rape.

What's missing? The mystery. Where was it? I know that was suppose to one because of the description. But it failed to become semi relevant until late in the second half of the book. Even then, it was poorly developed.

What's aggravating? Everybody conveniently was connected to everybody introduce...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Vanessa Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, historical-fiction

An intriguing plot taking place in England during the Napoleonic War and crisp, evocative writing make this book a pleasure to read. I loved the main character, Charlotte Raven, a woman of the slums who now moves in the highest levels of society. Charlotte is a woman torn between two worlds and two loves, and how she ultimately makes her choice is believable and quietly moving. But what made the book for me was the depiction of the Regency underworld that strips back the glitter and jewels and s...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Lyn Nicholas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paperback, reviewed-2013, reviewed

Napoleon? Thievery? Royalty? What an amazing plot is that?! THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY is a romantic Historical Fiction with a twist of intrigue.

Charlotte Raven is a strong smart and savvy woman. Once a lowely chimney sweep who was taken in by Lady Catherine Howe, Charlotte still feels for her friend and ex Luke Bracke, even though he is now involved in a major crime organization. Luke is dark and mysterious and Charlotte has a deep and complicated history with him.

But soon,Charlotte meets Lord Ed...more

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