The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation, #6)

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The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation #6)

by Lauren Willig (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 3,258 ratings · 362 reviews

The heroines of Lauren Willig's bestselling Pink Carnation series have engaged in espionage all over nineteenth-century Europe. In the sixth stand-alone volume, our fair English heroine travels to India, where she finds freedom—and risk—more exciting than she ever imagined.

Everyone warned Miss Penelope Deveraux that her unruly behavior would land her in disgrace someday....more

Hardcover, 401 pages

Published January 12th 2010 by Dutton Adult (first published November 23rd 2009)

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Jan 31, 2010 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is the sixth installment in Lauren Willig's delightful Pink Carnation series, which chronicles the romantic adventures of Napoleonic (aka Regency) era British spies and the romantic misadventures of modern-day Harvard doctoral student Eloise Kelly, who is researching said spies for her dissertation.

At the very beginning of the series, Eloise is struggling to find sources--any sources--for her dissertation on super-spies the Scarlet Pimpernel (in the series, a real...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, authors_i_have_met, historical_fiction, lauren_willig, signed_editions

But really more like 4.5 stars...we really need half stars on here. Anyway, the sixth installment of the Pink Carnation series does not disappoint and I think it might even get more new readers, seeing as it is set in India and does not rely overly heavily on past events. I also really enjoy Penelope as a heroine and with her starting out the book already married to a man she doesn't love we are in a far different position that previous novels. Instead of an innocent happy virginal character, we...more

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Jan 03, 2010 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series_pink-carnation, signed-by-author, 2010, loved-it, historical-romance, setting_india, own_arc, lady-spies_historical

I'm so happy I scored the ARC and got to read this before seeing a bunch of other reviews for it! Although its also a mixed blessing, because I'm (of course) already dying for the next one and now I just have to wait that much longer for it.

Anyway...on to my review.

Henrietta and Miles have been dethroned from the status of my favorites of the series. Alex and Penelope really got to me! I LOVE how they have all sorts of issues; I hate disgustingly perfect characters. Alex's issues rest mostly on...more I'm so happy I scored the ARC and got to read this before seeing a bunch of other reviews for it! Although its also a mixed blessing, because I'm (of course) already dying for the next one and now I just have to wait that much longer for it.

Anyway...on to my review.

Henrietta and Miles have been dethroned from the status of my favorites of the series. Alex and Penelope really got to me! I LOVE how they have all sorts of issues; I hate disgustingly perfect characters. Alex's issues rest mostly on his family and crazed sense of loyalty, while Penelope has a rather large mass of unresolved personal issues she wrestles with throughout the book. I really love the way Willig interpreted her character, and have a great respect for her ability to do so because I don't think most authors could have pulled it off. Just like Aunt Arabella told Eloise, she comes off as spirited, but she is also pretty weighted down with horribly low self worth. Like Alex comes to realize, the spirited, courageous Penelope is hidden behind the stone cold Lady Staines. He helps Penelope kick Lady Staines out on her ass, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it! I love when authors can convey a real chemistry between characters, it comes off wanting more often then not. This series, however, never fails to deliver...I was blushing and getting warm fuzzies right along with Penelope.

And of course, there is the ever-wonderful Eloise and Colin. I think Eloise has to be one of my favorite characters of all time. She is bumbling, awkward...and also loyal, charming, and absolutely hilarious. I will never give up hoping they will get their own book one of these days. I hate only getting short glimpses into their world, I want more!

Anyway...this series as a whole is just fabulous. The settings are always historically sound, the characters and their feelings always believable, there is always an abundance of delightfully biting wit, and some of the capers these people get into are ridiculous enough to be on the point of spoof (I don't mean spoof in a bad way - I mean it as in the characters are channeling the spirit of Amelia Peabody), but real enough to put you on the edge of your seat. In short, this series has it all. And this one, for me, was the best of the lot so far.

There was one thing- toward the end, Alex and Penelope rush off somewhere in a hurry, so she just jumps on his horse with him, but then when they are leaving, their horses (plural) are waiting for them. But, I do just have the ARC, so maybe it was cleared up? *shrug* small potatoes, either way.(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Ubalstecha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Penelope Devereaux allowed herself to be sullied, going off into a room alone with Frederick Staines. It doesn't matter that nothing has happened, her reputation is in tatters and a hastily concocted marriage is arranged. She and Freddie are sent to India to allow the scandal to die down. But once there, Penelope's marriage, already tenuous at best, begins to fall apart as Freddie takes an Indian mistress. And then she is pulled into a hunt for the mysterious Marigold along side the very handsom...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Kiirsten rated it 2 of 5 stars

Lauren Willig has cashed in on her "Pink Carnation" theme once again! This time it is scandalized and fallen female Penelope Devereux that takes up the spy mantle.

In our last foray into floral espionage, "The Temptation of the Night Jasmine", Penelope Devereux had unintentionally and ignominiously heralded her own downfall during the Christmas ball held at Girdings House, the brick and mortar compound of the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale. (say that three times fast)

The story opens with the newlywe...more Lauren Willig has cashed in on her "Pink Carnation" theme once again! This time it is scandalized and fallen female Penelope Devereux that takes up the spy mantle.

In our last foray into floral espionage, "The Temptation of the Night Jasmine", Penelope Devereux had unintentionally and ignominiously heralded her own downfall during the Christmas ball held at Girdings House, the brick and mortar compound of the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale. (say that three times fast)

The story opens with the newlyweds, Lord and Lady Frederick Staines as they venture out to India where Lord Staines will take up position as Special Envoy to Govenor General Wellesey from the province of Hyderabad. His mission is to keep an eye on James Kirkpatrick, the English governor that Wellesey is afraid has gone too native because he has adopted native dress and married a high-born Indian woman.

Penelope certainly laments her position when she learns that though Freddy is definately lustful towards her, that's where it ends between them. There's is not a love match but a match of force and convenience.

Captain Alex Reid was born and raised in India. His English father and Welsh mother lived there while his father was an officer in the East India Trading Company Army- as such, Alex has also earned a commission in the forces while his half-brothers aren't so lucky. These two, Penelope and Alex seem at perpetual odds with each other; which is a perfect setting for an assignation. As Freddy settles into being a lush and dandy in Hyderabad, Penelope feels she will go mad without diversion. The English set that she and Freddy live near are truly boring and hold no interest for the intense and strong-willed Penelope.

Overhearing conversations, eavesdropping, snooping and jumping to conclusions along with a letter from home reveal to Penelope that things might not be what they seem in Hyderabad, nor with Captain Alex Reid. Thousands of missing guns, a horseback chase and a dropped note indicating a liason that could lead to rebellion, not to mention the letter from home that mentions a spy called the Marigold all have Penelope racing to accusations against Captain Reid.

There's just one problem, he's also looking for the Marigold. If he's not the spy, then who?

Alex and Penelope set out on a four day journey to discover the truth only to fall completely head over heels in love with each other and spend the four days enjoying the pleasures of each other as they travel to a hunting expedition that Lord Staines fails to return from alive.

Although there is some intrigue in this story and Penelope does a fine job of accusing Reid, there is really not 'much' detective work done. There seems to be some very fine set-ups and miraculous discoveries (discovering who really is the Marigold was fun). By detective work I mean some real digging into the past, and hiding from the enemies - as in the very first Pink Carnation.

More and more I sense that Willig is writing light romances with a little bit of espionage rather then espionage with a little light romance. That's definately what it felt like with 'Night Jasmine' and 'Blood Lily' this time around. Certain of the other novels also felt like romances rather then light mystery. It's apparently a theme that works though as Willig has 10 novels in the series to date and shows no sign of slowing down.

"The Betrayal of the Blood Lily" is light and fun in parts. The ending has a surprise as to whom the villian is, but there is no mention of a 'Blood Lily' character at all. We have a Marigold, a Moonflower, and a Frangipiani. (Frangipiani belong to the Plumeria genus and have pointed petals rather then a Plumeria's characteristic rounded petals.) However, I believe that the Blood Lily may reference main character Lady Penelope Staines nee Devereux.

The final scenes are a let down to be sure. They are genuinely English in the way the characters deliver, stoically, their assurances of love and desire to spend "a long while" together...bland, thick, and not all together satisfying as an ending. The story as a whole kept my attention once it started to move forward but I had to take a day or so to read it, I couldn't read continuously. (less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Maria Hausmann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american-authors, english, historical-fiction, pink-carnation-series, spies

To be honest, when Penelope was first introduced in Henrietta's book, I completely overlooked her. She was just there. Then, in Charlotte's book, she kind of annoyed me.
So, when I started reading her book, I was very skeptical at the beginning, but it didn't take me long to start to genuinely like her. I believe, until know, she is my favorite female character of this series.
Even though she seems very arrogant, she has a big heart. One realizes that the moment she jumps into the river or tries...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: frothy-romance, history

I filed this under "frothy romance," but there's really nothing frothy about this. Willig goes very dark for this story of Penelope and how she finally finds love. This may be the best Pink Carnation book to date.

The thing I most like about Willig's series as it continues is that each story has a very different tone depending on the main characters. While some are romps (The Mischief of the Mistletoe is the prime example in this category), others are much more serious, such as this one and Crims...more I filed this under "frothy romance," but there's really nothing frothy about this. Willig goes very dark for this story of Penelope and how she finally finds love. This may be the best Pink Carnation book to date.

The thing I most like about Willig's series as it continues is that each story has a very different tone depending on the main characters. While some are romps (The Mischief of the Mistletoe is the prime example in this category), others are much more serious, such as this one and Crimson Rose.

Penelope has always been somewhat thorny and abrasive; this book allows us to see things through her eyes and understand why she is the way she is. As she journeys through India with a truly terrible husband who is spending the way through her dowry, one is left to wonder: how many women found themselves in this situation? Could they ever find a level of freedom? And how on earth did they survive wearing wool dresses during the summer in India?

Alex Reid, our hero, has a life that similarly reveal the world of complexities that Indian-born British colonists had to navigate, and his family life showed the many difficulties faced by the mixed-heritage children of colonists. Willig made Alex's dilemmas accessible and easy to empathize with.

The mystery was not predictable; I was not even sure who the villain was until the scene in which he's revealed. Willig also adds in several characters who would be worthy of books of their own, including Alex's younger half-brother.

There's a cut scene between Alex and Charlotte's husband (the Duke of Dovedale) on the website that I really wish had been in the book; it establishes that they knew each other and gives more perspective on Penelope.

I rolled my eyes at the Colin and Eloise bits; it didn't seem very intriguing at the time. But it all pays off in "The Orchid Affair."

At the end of this book, I found that I wanted to read more of Alex and Penelope's adventures, and more about the people that surrounded them in India. I hope that Willig finds a way to revisit them.(less)

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Mar 06, 2011 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

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

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Dec 28, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig (Re-print)
Historical Romance – Jan. 4th, 2011
4 1/2 stars

After a scandal and hasty wedding, Penelope Deveraux and her husband, Lord Frederick Stains, are shipped off to India where Freddy has accepted a post in Hyderabad. With no knowledge on the intrigues and conflicts between the English, the French, and the Nizam (Sultan) of Hyderabad, Penelope must rely on herself to make sure they don’t land in trouble with any powerful party. She is trapped in...more The Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig (Re-print)
Historical Romance – Jan. 4th, 2011
4 1/2 stars

After a scandal and hasty wedding, Penelope Deveraux and her husband, Lord Frederick Stains, are shipped off to India where Freddy has accepted a post in Hyderabad. With no knowledge on the intrigues and conflicts between the English, the French, and the Nizam (Sultan) of Hyderabad, Penelope must rely on herself to make sure they don’t land in trouble with any powerful party. She is trapped in a loveless marriage brought about by a mistake. All alone in a foreign country with a thoughtless husband, Penelope is resolved to endure it all and make the best of the situation.

Captain Alex Reid, their guide to Hyderabad, is unwillingly attracted to Penelope. Born and raised in India, he longs to own his own land in India instead of going back to England, which to him is a foreign country. Though the polar opposite of the impulsive Penelope, Alex will do everything he can to protect her from the spy named Marigold. Marigold has determined that Penelope, and not her husband Freddy, is the obstacle to disrupting the hard-won peace the British has forged with the Nizam. Penelope has no choice but to trust in Alex, not only with her life, but also with her heart.

This story may sound complicated, but it is actually a fascinating read. Set in the far-away exotic background of central India in the 1800s, this book has it all: dangerous spies, intrigue, action, and romance. Though it is a bit difficult to understand, the politics can be easily boiled down to this: the French were in India, and then they got kicked out by the British who then became friends to the Sultans. But the French kept lurking around in the background to make mischief while the British try to make the Indians like them as much as possible. The Indians doesn’t like the British very much because the British are like conquerors, but since their army isn’t as strong, they can only grumble and plot. That’s the gist of it.

Penelope and Alex are two wonderfully written characters. In my opinion, Penelope is much more fascinating than Alex. At first you may dislike her impetuousness, but you can’t help but feel sorry for her. She needs to do crazy stunts because she’s stifled by her family and society. She’s not suited to the dainty drawing rooms of London or the British residency in India - she’s like a wild animal that cannot be chained or her spirit will die. Alex is the perfect counterfoil to her. The romance between the two of them is believable and electrifying.

In short, don’t let the complicated background deter you from this book. Betrayal of the Blood Lily is a perfect blend of spy thriller and romance.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club(less)

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Jun 25, 2010 Lady Knight rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, regency, adult, 19th-c, england-uk, asia-india-middle-east, war, romance-focused

I was very excited to finally receive the latest installment in the Pink Carnation series, and started reading with great relish. I was, however, greatly disappointed with "Betrayal of the Blood Lily".

I loved the change in setting! I thought India was a wonderfully exotic, and yet familiar thanks to the British presence at the time. It also seemed to suit Penelope better than the stiff and formal balls and drawing rooms of England. I loved the characters of Penelope (who, even in the past books...more

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Jun 21, 2010 Knitme23 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was my last audiobook for the year--I finished it Wednesday and school finished Saturday. I get a huge kick out of Willig's books, as they seem like novels my sister and I would've written in our early teens, when we devoured huge stacks of Georgette Heyer and Elswyth Thane and the like. This one, however, goes a bit too far in suspending our disbelief.

The main character, Penelope, is pretty unlikable. We only know her as being bitter and self-pitying, and we never get to see a more endear...more This was my last audiobook for the year--I finished it Wednesday and school finished Saturday. I get a huge kick out of Willig's books, as they seem like novels my sister and I would've written in our early teens, when we devoured huge stacks of Georgette Heyer and Elswyth Thane and the like. This one, however, goes a bit too far in suspending our disbelief.

The main character, Penelope, is pretty unlikable. We only know her as being bitter and self-pitying, and we never get to see a more endearing side. Her willingness to have an affair while married was something I had real trouble overcoming--especially since her lover had the same trouble, and then suddenly had no trouble at all. Since part of Pen's husband's lack of appeal was his lack of fidelity, wouldn't the author expect us to dislike both Penelope AND Alex as well, since they disport themselves (in some thoroughly described scenes. . . cringe. . . . one drawback of audiobooks!) for four days in the same way the despised husband does?

The big strike against the book, however, is that it is marginally historical fiction, but this time Willig casts all historical accuracy to the winds. In a country where servants were expected and everywhere, Alex and Penelope slip out to travel for four days without any--not even a faithful groom or a valet. Penelope, pampered since birth, seems to be fully capable of dressing and taking care of herself, and there seems to be no question raised by the idea that these two would travel unaccompanied. Add to that the fact that they seem to function extremely well on maybe two hours of sleep for days on end--no one ever collapses and sleeps like the drugged for two days, which seems cheating to me--and that the heat has no effect on either of them, and you get a story that had me wincing and saying, "Yes, but. . .!!" much more than I should've been.

Usually, Willig's deft humor and historical detail make her stories something my sister and I couldn't have written at age 13 and 15. The Betrayal of the Blood Lily, however, we could have. (less)

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Apr 02, 2010 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Willig is back on her game with this novel. In Blood Lily, we follow Penelope and her ne'er-do-well of a husband, Freddy Staines, to India, whence they've been sent to allow the scandal surrounding their hastily patched-up marriage (after Penelope was "compromised" during a country house party) to die down. Upon her arrival in India, Penelope meets the delicious Captain Alex Reid, who is to escort her and Freddy to their intended destination in Hyderabad. Intellectually and morally Freddy's supe...more Willig is back on her game with this novel. In Blood Lily, we follow Penelope and her ne'er-do-well of a husband, Freddy Staines, to India, whence they've been sent to allow the scandal surrounding their hastily patched-up marriage (after Penelope was "compromised" during a country house party) to die down. Upon her arrival in India, Penelope meets the delicious Captain Alex Reid, who is to escort her and Freddy to their intended destination in Hyderabad. Intellectually and morally Freddy's superior in every way, it is easy to fall for the good captain, who has an understanding of and appreciation for Indian culture that Freddy and his cronies lack.

This one has phenomenal chemistry, a very interesting setting/set-up, and returns us to a feistier heroine than Charlotte was (in Night Jasmine). Penelope is an expert rider, a crack shot, and is bold enough to dive in the river to save someone while her worthless husband stands about. Her unhappiness in her marriage develops in an understandable way and her willingness to pursue other options with Alex makes sense as well.

Although not, strictly speaking, a Pink Carnation book, since that particular spy doesn't appear in the text, it is wonderful to follow Pen's story. The contemporary romance between Eloise and Colin was actually quite satisfying for me in this volume, apart from Willig's almost compulsion to repeat (at least two to three times more than required) that Eloise is still wondering whether Colin is actually writing a spy novel or is, in fact, a spy. Seriously. Trust the reader. You said it last book, and once was enough in this book. We didn't need it in nearly every contemporary chapter. But I digress.

Definitely a return to form. And now I'm wondering who the next hero or heroine will be, since it seems that all of the characters we've been introduced to thus far have been paired off, except for Turnip Fitzhugh. Oh - and looking at the author's site, it would appear that Book 7, The Mischief of the Mistletoe, is indeed going to be Turnip's book - and that Jane Austen will be making an appearance as a character. My squeeish anticipation for October 28th has now begun in earnest!(less)

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Feb 19, 2010 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: junk-food

SPOILER ALERT - I've really liked Willig's previous books (however guiltily) and wanted to like this one too, but I dislike being put in the position of rooting for a character to commit adultery, however unhappy the circumstances of her marriage. Others might not struggle with that, but it ultimately left me with a sadder feeling about the book than her other novels. I also felt like this was one of her weaker stories, narratively. The "spy" aspect of the plot seems far more contrived with this...more

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Mar 16, 2010 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical, romance

Willig never fails to deliver. Clever, fast-paced, and funny, her plots and characters always entertain. Lady Penelope Staines nee Devereaux has to be one of my favorites from her in a while though. One has to love a strong and opinionated heroine who also happens to be a good shot. Charlotte is nice and all and Mary prickly but Penelope is the sort of character you root for in a book because not only do we get to see the front she presents to the world but also her personal thoughts where she k...more

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May 24, 2010 Miriam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another fluffy installment in Willig's formulaic series of semi-sympathetic lovers battling French spies during the Napoleonic wars. The basic concept is that following the successes of the The Scarlet Pimpernel a bunch of other English aristocrats also took floral code names and skulked around defeating the Froggies. In this instance the story is set in India and the espionage plot is rather minimal. Penelope is newly and unhappily married to jackass Freddy and, bored with her neglectful husban...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Becky R. rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this sixth installment in the spy serie, The Pink Carnation, we find ourselves in the midst of a pretty unhappily married couple with Penelope and Frederick. This good deal of tension between them makes for a pretty interesting lead into a growing friendship and relationship between Penelope and Alex Reid. It seemed to me that Willig set Reid up to be the "good guy" foil to Frederick's bad behavior from the start. Frederick just didn't seem very interested in the happiness and safe-keeping of...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

a historical spy novel set in 19th century India. It is part of her Pink Carnation series, and the 3rd in the series that I've read. The entire series centers around an English spy ring in the 19th century and their adventures and intrigues in protecting the Mother country and taking down villainous spies from other countries.

These books are written for women, there's plenty of romance in them. Blood Lily sort of reminded me of "The African Queen" starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn....more

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Feb 27, 2012 Annalynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Feb 09, 2010 Christy B (Readin' and Dreamin') rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, georgian, historical-fiction, historical-romance, mystery

I really love this series! The only thing I hate is the long wait in between books!

An action-packed, romance, espionaged filled story set in early 19th century India. Yes, please!

When we last saw Penelope, she was forced into a hasty marriage after being caught in a most scandalous act. She finds herself in India as Lady Frederick Staines, where she finds a spy name Marigold lurking about. I loved Penelope. She was a spitfire redhead who made the best of her situation. She found herself in a fo...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Annemarie Donahue rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, comedy, crime, fiction, history, military, mysteries

Thank god it's over! I honestly did think I'd make it through this one. What possesses me to pick these books up and read them? Oh, yeah. I'm not actually reading them. I'm listening to them as I'm trapped in my car for 3 hours as a commute to work. Really love teaching at my school but if it could just magically be closer... Well, back to the book, with the turn of each page... er.. CD, the story got worse. It begins with the protagonist Penelope pushed into a hasty marriage to the completely u...more

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Feb 15, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, pink-carnation-series, historical

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Actual rating: 4.5 stars.

Oh, Lauren Willig, how I have missed the world you created!

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book, and I so hoped that it'd live up the expectations I had for it.

Boy did it!

I think Penelope and Alex may very well now be right at the top of my favorite couples list. I loved, loved, loved their story so much!

Penelope was last seen being hastily married to Lord Frederick Staines and shipped off to India after finding herself compromised. I'd often wondered ab...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Michele Fogal rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's about...
Book 6 in the Pink Carnation series
Penelope goes to India with her shotgun-wedding new husband.

What I loved...
I had taken a break from this series, but glad I came back for this book. The setting in India was a breath of fresh air, and the romance was a nice change from past books.

I also loved the character of Penelope. She doesn't fit in, is far too sporty and brazen and can't help but push back against the restrictive world around her, muddling up the plans of her mother. I love...more It's about...
Book 6 in the Pink Carnation series
Penelope goes to India with her shotgun-wedding new husband.

What I loved...
I had taken a break from this series, but glad I came back for this book. The setting in India was a breath of fresh air, and the romance was a nice change from past books.

I also loved the character of Penelope. She doesn't fit in, is far too sporty and brazen and can't help but push back against the restrictive world around her, muddling up the plans of her mother. I love how she has her moments of feeling guilty for how she is, but most of the time she just IS - flirting outrageously, flipping great one liners, raising her sarcastic eyebrow, getting mad and dangerous, snooping around curiously, scheming and accusing people. She doesn't suffer (much) from low self esteem and I love that!

(Spoiler)
Penn falls for another man! As in NOT her husband! Shocking for this series where most of the encounters end up in tidy "happily-ever-after" marriages. It's nice to see how much of an ass Freddy is too. I was worried that Willig was going to try to make him over as a misunderstood rake, but no. He's an ass. We knew it before and still. An ass. I liked that he didn't know he was an ass. That felt true to life.

On my mind...
India - lots of opportunities for beautiful exotic settings, food, clothing, wild life... but these were (in my opinion) largely missed opportunities on the part of the author. From the notes at the back, she obviously did her research, but I think her mind was just not on the Indian-ness of this book.

Blood Lily?
Huh? Who? There was no blood lily spy in this book. His name was The Marigold. What's with the title?

Comedy
Granted comedy is hard to do and I am not the best consumer of it. I'm hard on comedies. I am likewise hard on this series, even though I do enjoy reading them. I find the characters a bit too ridiculous and stupid at times.

Bad guys:
Historically, the rich spoiled non-working class are the bad guys. Willig plays this quite well because of course they *think* they are the good guys, and she can display how ignorant and silly they are for our amusement, while we get to revel in the opulence of their lives. This theme came out more in this book however, as the French are trying to spread the ideas of liberty, fraternity and equality (god forbid!) into occupied and subjugated India. It would have been refreshing to have this actually addressed by the characters, instead of them continuing on in their single-mindedness, trumpeting words like "traitor" to the wind.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Bree T rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, chick-lit, library-reads, romance, series, women-s-fiction

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is the sixth novel in Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series and centres around Penelope Deveraux, who has appeared previously as a friend of both Lady Henrietta Selwick’s and Charlotte Landsdowne’s, now the Duchess of Dovedale. In the previous book, Penelope announced to a crowded room that she had been alone in a bedroom with Lord Frederick Staines, thereby compromising herself and forcing a marriage.

After the marriage is hastily arranged the two decamp to India w...more The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is the sixth novel in Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series and centres around Penelope Deveraux, who has appeared previously as a friend of both Lady Henrietta Selwick’s and Charlotte Landsdowne’s, now the Duchess of Dovedale. In the previous book, Penelope announced to a crowded room that she had been alone in a bedroom with Lord Frederick Staines, thereby compromising herself and forcing a marriage.

After the marriage is hastily arranged the two decamp to India where Lord Frederick is given some sort of token post that really involves nothing much at all. Lady Penelope isn’t quite sure what she expected from this marriage but it doesn’t take long for the gloss to wear off and the arguments to start – the sort that don’t resolve themselves in the marital bed. As they travel to Hyderabad, Lady Penelope amuses herself by displaying some of the traits she is best known for – stubbornness, determination and a refusal to be told what to do – by anyone. When it is suggested that she travel in a sort of litter/carriage Lady Penelope scoffs at the idea and demands to ride. After all her father keeps horses and she’s a fabulous rider. If she’s going to be consigned to India then she’s going to experience it the way she wants to, not the way she is told she should.

Captain Alex Reid is providing the party with an escort to Hyderabad and he’s forced to reassess his opinion of Lady Penelope. Although yes she is spoiled and obnoxious and well, a bit of a trial, she’s also brave, risking her life to save another, an accomplished horsewoman and markswoman and she knows a rather alarming amount about a mysterious spy known only as Marigold. Captain Reid has his own interests in the Marigold and it doesn’t take him long to realise that Lady Penelope has an uncanny knack for being in the wrong place at the right time – or is it the right place at the right time? Before long the two of them are a reluctant partnership attempting to get to the bottom of just who is selling secrets to the French.

Lady Penelope never thought her marriage was a love match – especially not after the way it came about. But she expected it to last a little longer than it did and she expected her husband to feel the same. But it seems that Lord Frederick has other ideas about what he’s getting out of this marriage and a hurt Lady Penelope is forced to examine her actions and acknowledge the attraction that has been simmering between her and the stoic Captain Reid from almost the minute they met.

A bit like Mary in The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, Penelope is not a sympathetic or particularly likable character. In her previous appearances in the series, in scenes with Lady Henrietta or with Charlotte Landsdowne, she’s been rude to both of them, nasty and reckless for her time, behaving in a way that bordered on scandalous or may have even slightly crossed it. But that was nothing compared to when she announced to a crowded room that she’d been alone, in a bedroom, with Freddy Staines. There’s no other option but to enforce a marriage between the two in a deal that is brokered by the formidable Dowager Duchess of Dovedale. Penelope rather naively assumes that even though the marriage was hastily arranged, that it might still go a certain way and she’s surprised when, merely months later, Freddy is uncaring and distant and choosing to seek his pleasures elsewhere. Penelope’s pride is hurt and she seeks to lash out…but the obvious choice has more morals than she bargained on.

Despite a bumpy start with Penelope and the fact that this book has once again moved away from the England/France espionage setting to India, I really came to enjoy it. The last one was something of a disappointment but this one was a definitely improvement on that and it was nice to see a bit of passion back in the series too. Given that Captain Reid is our obvious hero, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that things aren’t going to end well for the spoiled and generally unlikable Lord Freddy and I don’t think anyone really mourns him when his end arrives!

One thing I will say is that the spies are getting a bit far-fetched. It seems that every second character is mistaken for being a spy, or is in fact a double agent or something else, and the flower names are getting more and more ridiculous. When it was just a couple of spies, that all spun off from the first one, in England, it was much more credible but now it just seems like the author took a walk through a particularly diverse garden and noted down as many as she could. Next book I’d really like to get back to the Pink Carnation, whom this series is supposed to be about but who has actually been rather conspicuously absent of late in the past few volumes.

But at least these characters had some chemistry. The rather straight-laced and stern Captain Alex Reid is actually kind of perfect for headstrong and impetuous Penelope and I rather enjoyed their journey of getting to know each other and falling in love versus Penelope wanting just to sleep with him to get back at Freddy. She barely knows what love is but I felt like that through her interactions and developing relationship with Reid, she became a more likable person, a better person and everything was no longer just a game to her. She didn’t enjoy the social niceties of London and it was like she found her niche in India.(less)

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May 15, 2010 Tami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmmm. Loved almost everything about this novel, as I usually do with the novels in this series (huge Lauren Willig fan!)...except I cannot get past how much I disliked the main character! The main characters, actually - both Eloise, the modern-day protagonist of the series, and Penelope, her historical counterpart in this installment, were huge disappointments for me.

I usually find the chapters with Eloise's story (outnumbered 5 to 1 or so in each book) to be ones I look forward to getting to,...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Chev E rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is another in the Pink Carnation series, which combines modern romance with historical fiction, 18th century espionage, and good old-fashioned romance. In Blood Lily we are reunited with the impulsive and impossible Penelope who has just arrived in India with her new husband, Lord Frederick Staines. Freddie was sent to investigate a British officer in India, and the new couple undergoes numerous adventures on the way. Traveling as their guide in India is Captain Al...more The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is another in the Pink Carnation series, which combines modern romance with historical fiction, 18th century espionage, and good old-fashioned romance. In Blood Lily we are reunited with the impulsive and impossible Penelope who has just arrived in India with her new husband, Lord Frederick Staines. Freddie was sent to investigate a British officer in India, and the new couple undergoes numerous adventures on the way. Traveling as their guide in India is Captain Alex Reid, who is more than surprised to discover Penelope isn't the woman he expected her to be.

Overall Review:
This was the most satisfying of all the Pink Carnation novels. The modern story was good because the slow pace was actually okay for once. Eloise and Colin are finally together so the fact that their story would have lost a race against a snail didn't bother me. It was sweet to see their day to day lives as a couple. The historical romance in Blood Lily was satisfying and a lot edgier than the previous books, which made me enjoy it all the more. The other books were all pretty similar, but this one was jarringly different in a wonderful way.

Reading and Plot Speed:
This book, like all the others, was an easy and fast read. And once you reach the exciting parts, you are forced to finish it in one sitting.

Characters:
All the reviews I read about Blood Lily before reading it claimed that Penelope is the best of the heroines in the Pink Carnation series. I was inclined to disagree at the time because I thought her annoying and selfish in previous books. I remembered her as that girl who was friends with Hen and Charlotte and would constantly be putting them down while waiting for them to help her out of whatever heap of trouble she had just gotten into. However, once I started Blood Lily I grew to love Penelope more than any of the rest because she was the first one with not only brain or guts, but both. Another thing I liked a lot was how Alex was of a lower station than Penelope. In all the previous books the girls would marry up, but here Penelope is willing to let go of her extravagant lifestyle as Lady Staines and live life with the man she loves. Alex was a perfect match for Penelope because he completely balanced out Penelope's extreme personality.

Random Thoughts:
My biggest problem with the previous books was how they made sometimes fatal espionage seem fun and harmless. Blood Lily was a little darker and edgier than the others so it did add a more genuine historical flavor, but was still a little too fluffy. (less)

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Aug 07, 2011 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: smut, read-in-2011, historical-fiction

I admit to being 100% hooked on this series. I've been won over since Pink Carnation. Blood Lily might very well be my favorite so far.

I like that the hero isn't completely dashing, and is a little gauche, in a manly way. I like that the heroine has been "compromised" not once, but several times, and has accepted her role as village strumpet. I like that, for most of the books, things aren't just a natural progression toward happily ever after and that Penelope repeatedly pushes away happily ev...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

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

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Jan 27, 2010 Alana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010_01_january, reviewed, redheads

Huzzah! I'm pleased to say that I think The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is Lauren Willig's finest yet! Perhaps my enthusiasm overtakes me, as The Secret History of the Pink Carnation might still claim the number one spot as the origin of all, but I was so delighted with Willig's latest novel that I devoured it in a single sitting, knowing with every turn of the page that Willig was in top form.

This is the sixth in the Pink Carnation series and to describe it, I steal a description from the modern...more Huzzah! I'm pleased to say that I think The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is Lauren Willig's finest yet! Perhaps my enthusiasm overtakes me, as The Secret History of the Pink Carnation might still claim the number one spot as the origin of all, but I was so delighted with Willig's latest novel that I devoured it in a single sitting, knowing with every turn of the page that Willig was in top form.

This is the sixth in the Pink Carnation series and to describe it, I steal a description from the modern narrator, Louise: "It's got dash. It's got swash. It's got buckle." For those unfamiliar, the books always have two storylines going. The first is modern, dealing with grad student Eloise and her research into aristocratic and independent spies post-French Revolution. The second takes place during the time Eloise studies, following those wrapped up in the plots and intrigues of those spies and focusing on a single couple who will inevitably have a happy ending. In Blood Lily, things remain fairly tame in the modern day, where Eloise is still dating Colin, a descendant of the spies in her dissertation. Eloise harbors some faint suspicions that the "spy novel" Colin is working on is just a cover for his real job as an actual spy, but she frequently dismisses this as fancy. The more pressing issue this time around is Colin's sister, Serena, who's very sweet but has always been a bit of a mess (a beautiful mess, yet, but a mess just the same). With Colin taking such good care of Serena, it means that Eloise rarely gets him all to herself, and so Eloise has been determined to set Serena up with someone. Anyone. She and Colin clash over whether Eloise is pushing too hard and Eloise learns a bit more about Colin's complicated family, but otherwise, things are fine in modern day England.

As for the past? Well, our heroine this time is Miss Penelope Deveraux, a fiery redhead with a hatred for being told what to do and a fancy for dark alcoves. She had been repeatedly warned that her somewhat risque behavior would get her in trouble... and indeed, it did in The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. She committed a bit of an indiscretion with Lord Frederick Staines, a second son who was quite a cad anyway... and now they've both been bullied into making a match of it to save Pen's reputation. Even this isn't enough to get the scandal to totally die down, really, so they've been sent off to India, where Freddy will be a special envoy to the Nizam of Hyderabad (aka glorified messengerboy that people currently in India will see as more of a hindrance than a help). Freddy and Pen (who are definitely not "in love" but certainly might be called "in lust" at the beginning of this novel) are somewhat unprepared for the truth of the situation in Hyderabad, which is a great deal more unsettled than expected. English Empire is not as secure as everyone might believe; a number of insurrections and problems with the locals and the French have led to some complications in the region which make everyone suspicious of everyone... with good reason. Merry old England is rife with flowery spies and it turns out that India is no different -- here, we'll find the Marigold has been at work in the region, potentially connected to a missing weapons delivery. Unsurprisingly, Penelope is far more adept at picking up on this information than her husband, who is more interested in women and card games. They make the acquaintance of Captain Alex Reid, a dashing young man with close ties to India that has been sent to escort them from Calcutta to Hyderabad. While Alex has little time to play chaperone to these newcomers, he's also fairly interested in making sure that Freddy does not make a muck of current plans to smooth things over in the region. Freddy is exactly what Alex expected but Penelope... well, Penelope turns out to be quite different from the usual pampered lady. She swims, shoots, and rides better than most everyone, and that's just the beginning of her many talents. In turn, Pen finds that Alex is full of mysteries, too, as questions arise concerning his family and complicated Indian politics.

What delighted me about this book is that I find Willig has returned to her two great strengths. Number one: by setting this book in India, the reader is reminded of Willig's fantastic ability to describe location and time period with exquisite depth and detail. After five books in England, Willig had somewhat exhausted her resources in describing the ton, court politics, and country homes. It wasn't her fault, she was still doing a great job, it's just that one forgot to notice. Here, it's like a breath of fresh air to find ourselves in India, where she has all kinds of new material to draw upon. She clearly revels in historical detail and the reader catches this enthusiasm. In addition, the political situation in India has the potential to be overwhelming, but Willig holds firmly to our hand to lead us through. Number two: this is a truly playful romp, complete with romance and sex. You might not think this is a big deal, but it's been a while that we've gotten more than just some steamy kisses and smoldering looks in a Willig novel. I've been worried that she was getting more conservative with her sex scenes... which aren't the sole reason for reading these books, clearly, but one of the first things I appreciated about Willig was her ability to let go and have fun, no matter how ridiculous things might be. For goodness sake, in Pink Carnation, a gentleman's fingers do some fancy work on a lady in a boat on the Thames! After that, she seemed to back away from the crazy scenes and it really did feel like she was reigning herself in. When I was reading Night Jasmine with the incredibly virtuous main couple, I somehow knew that the scandalous, redheaded Penelope would be our next heroine and she would not disappoint!

I can't say that any details of the story much surprised me, but I don't need to be surprised when the story is being told well and I enjoy the characters. Pen and Alex have their predictable misunderstandings and miscommunications. Penelope is quite easily jaded considering her limited experience, even if she was quite familiar with dark alcoves. Alex is a bit too perfect, but Willig men tend to have this "flaw." It's fiction, after all, and when we're 95% sure of a happy ending at the end of each book, we all must make some sacrifices. There was one particular phrase that Willig used which I didn't like the first time around and liked even less when it was used again, but otherwise I thought that Willig is certainly benefiting from being a full-time writer. She clearly had the time to do her research and develop strong characters.

If you've visited laurenwillig.com, you might notice that she touches upon the issue that despite the title, there is no Blood Lily in this book. A Marigold, a Moonflower, and some frangipani, but no Blood Lily. She attributes this to the fact that originally, the title was supposed to be The Something Something of the Something Marigold, but since Marigolds aren't quite sexy, she made a last minute plea to readers on her site to help her brainstorm... and the Blood Lily was settled upon as being somewhat indicative of redheaded Penelope.

Now, I must sit and wait another year for the next installment in this fresh series. Thank goodness Willig is fairly reliable in turning out a book every year! I haven't heard who might be the focus of the next novel... perhaps one of Alex's sisters? No matter what, I'll impatiently wait, trusting that Willig will turn out another delightful novel full of dash, swash, and buckle.

Check out laurenwillig.com for more information on the series and visit http://www.laurenwillig.com/books/blo... for the whole first chapter of The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. (less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT: I love this series however I couldn't like Penelope. I greatly enjoy Willig's writing style and have enjoyed all of her heroines except Penelope. Penelope is ungrateful and spoiled. She asks for trouble and guess what, she ends up married to someone who doesn't love her and who cheats on her. Now, women can openly have sexual relationships but during regency England, women of a certain standing could not. Whether it was fair or not, Penelope knew that behaving in such a manner cou...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m feeling a little conflicted about this entry in the Carnation series. I loved the setting of pre-Raj India, and I enjoyed the suspense of rooting for Penelope to finally catch a break. On the other hand, Penelope as a heroine was not always easy to like, and the reader is put in the position of rooting for infidelity.

The prior books in the series had a more prominent mystery to solve, with plenty of plotting and spying and foiling of the vile French. In this, the mystery felt like more of a...more

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About Lauren Willig

Lauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of eleven works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in English History at Harvard before...more

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Books by Lauren Willig

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation, #1)

The Masque of the Black Tulip (Pink Carnation, #2)

The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation, #3)

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation, #4)

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation, #5)

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The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (Pink Carnation #6)

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