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31st out of 39 books
—
18 voters
This Scepter'd Isle (Doubled Edge #1)
The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red-haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Uns...more
Mass Market Paperback, 662 pages
Published
January 25th 2005
by Baen
(first published February 1st 2004)
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As a lover of both historical fiction and fantasy, this s my all-time favorite Mercedes Lackey series. Unlike many "historical" novels, this one did not drive me to mutter "but that didn't happen!!" every third page. Lackey and Gellis know their Tudor history, and I love the way some of the historical mysteries are logically explained as "It was elves." It is a favorite re-read of mine, already worn out and replaced once.
Two sets of sidhe (fairy) twins, one set Seleighe and the other Unseleighe, work behind the scenes to control who becomes Henry VIII's heir. Both sides are driven by FarSeer visions of the future of England. The Unseleighe want Mary to become queen, so the Inquisition and its horrors will provide their court sustenance. The Seleighe work to protect Henry Fitzroy so that a "red-haired infant" (Elizabeth I)can bring a golden age of peace, prosperity, and enlightenment to England.
More likely to app...more
More likely to app...more
I'm really looking forward to the sequels, because I think they'll be much better, and I love Elizabethan fantasy. This book feels like extravagant stage setting for the subsequent books; I suspect that the average reader would find it sufficient to start with the second book, especially inasmuch as we are introduced in the first book to many fairies who will (I presume) feature in the sequels, but few of the humans will, and those who do are not major characters here. This is a problem, since m...more
I had the chance to pick this and the two volumes in this series at a steal ($2 ea.!). It was slow getting into this richly detailed book, but towards the end, I found it hard to put down. Mix the court of Henry VIII and the world of the Sidhe, and you have a fascinating fantasy take on English history. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I look forward to the remaining two volumes. BTW, Mercedes Lackey ought to be one of the cornerstones of anyone's collection of fantasy writers. Prolific and generally e...more
An intriguing take on the Tudor period of time. Having recently watched the tv series The Tudors, I was certainly open to interpretation of the facts as others saw them.
I found the book to be one of those that you have a hard time putting down till it is finished!
An enthralling read from cover to cover.
I found the book to be one of those that you have a hard time putting down till it is finished!
An enthralling read from cover to cover.
Oct 06, 2011
Mila
added it
I think I'm going to remember my Tudor history better from this series than from any other books about the era that I've read. Elves notwithstanding!
I could only manage a few chapters before I gave up. This doesn't seem like Lackey at all. It's overly simplistic, the main characters are flat and idiotic. Overall it reads like bad fantasy. Perhaps I'll give it another chance in the future, but for now it just isn't at all appealing.
I enjoyed this book. I admit, most of my enjoyment of it comes from playing Changeling: the Dreaming, but I respected the way that both authors collaborated to create a well-developed and seamless world from which to tell the story.
I felt that the prose was a little overbearing at times, however, and that put me off from a lot of it. I think that those parts were few and far between, however.
I felt that the prose was a little overbearing at times, however, and that put me off from a lot of it. I think that those parts were few and far between, however.
I loved this in 2005, and I just now loved the reread. http://www.reviewers-choice.com/this_...
My detailed review of this awesome book can be found here, courtesy of the wonderful book blog Paperback Dolls.
"If you mourned when The Tudors went off the air, and occasionally take your fiction spiced with a little fantasy, This Scepter'd Isle is for you. It is a thoroughly enjoyable start to a series that just gets better with every book."
"If you mourned when The Tudors went off the air, and occasionally take your fiction spiced with a little fantasy, This Scepter'd Isle is for you. It is a thoroughly enjoyable start to a series that just gets better with every book."
Sorry, I mixed 'em up. THIS is the story that mixes elves and Elizabethan history. A fascinating tale.
A solid read, I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel.
As a whole, this series did not impress me. It was written more to tell than show, violating a damn good rule of writing, and it told you over and over and over again, as if the reader was expected to forget pertinent facts between page 20 and page 120.
I think this first book was the best of the four.
I think this first book was the best of the four.
One of my very favorite books of all time
Jan 08, 2010
Lynn Calvin
added it
baen ebook
I tried. I really did.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
Boring. Just couldn't get through it. Nice premise, but extremely slow start. I fainally gave up after 100+ pages.
Enjoyable fluff read about elves in Tudor England. First in series.
Aug 22, 2008
bluetyson
added it
This Scepter'd Isle by Mercedes Lackey (2000)
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Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts &...more
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