All the Queen's Players

Jul 03, 2012 Stevie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-stevie-didn-t-like, romance-novel

I hate to be over dramatic when I review books because as much as I love them, I like to be honest about the book. Well...ummm...I feel actually betrayed by this one. Because it didn't deliver what it promised.

The back of the book promises a fun good time through Elizabeth I's court because Rosamund is supposed to draw whatever she sees there and reports back while having a forbidden love for theater and a romance with an unsuitable match. It also makes a note to mention that Christopher Marlow...more I hate to be over dramatic when I review books because as much as I love them, I like to be honest about the book. Well...ummm...I feel actually betrayed by this one. Because it didn't deliver what it promised.

The back of the book promises a fun good time through Elizabeth I's court because Rosamund is supposed to draw whatever she sees there and reports back while having a forbidden love for theater and a romance with an unsuitable match. It also makes a note to mention that Christopher Marlowe is a character in the book. Then Rosamund ends up sent to Mary Stuart's court to spy on her and find out whether Mary Stuart is plotting treason. This is the blurb on the back, not spoilers. This is what they want you to know before you read this thing. And the blurb ends with "Surely, nothing good can come of putting an artless girl in close proximity to such seductive players and deceptive games. Unless, of course, Rosamund can discover an affinity for passion and intrigue herself...".

DON'T. TRUST. THIS. DESCRIPTION. ONE. BIT.

Rosamund doesn't get to Mary Stuart until page 328 of 455. Her romance is barely dealt with at all, especially for a romance novel. In fact, our heroine has sex all of 2 or 3 times in the entire book. In a romance novel that's supposedly about her. This book could have been a cool, sensual view of Elizabeth I's court, Elizabethan history and ethics, and Mary Stuart's own history but it ends up being a jumbled mess. The narration is third person and it follows any and every character it pleases with no rhyme or reason as to why the narration is there. Maybe the narration is bored. I don't know. I don't even feel like I was drawn in by the characters. Marlowe is just a gay drunk which okay, fine, go there if you wish historically but for a book that decides to put him in, a book where it's deemed important TO MENTION HIM IN THE SUMMARY ON THE BACK, it doesn't do him justice. Her friendship for him is barely even worth mentioning. And our heroine just seems sort of...there? I guess she's fiesty and sort of more of a modern heroine in some respects but her disrespect and her slips of indiscretion in speech and deed make no sense. None. She just wants to do what she wants to do so she does it. Umm...fantastic? But this is a story? So why not just...oh screw it.

THE ENDING BLOWS. I could have forgiven the book all of this if the ending wasn't so mean spirited in its use of the characters, its manipulation of the reader, and how it ties up loose ends. And like I said, I hate being melodramatic about books. I absolutely hate it because it makes it seem like I'm just fangirl hurt about it and I'm not, I assure you. I don't want to spoil it, I'm just going to say that what happens is out of character and not right after putting the characters and the reader through this jumbled mess.

Ummm...I recommend this if you just need a read to get you through a train ride or if you're a Literature/Creative Writing/Elizabethan History major or degree holder or person. Cause it's a good time waster and if you're in that last category, you're gonna laugh at the inaccuracy and the lack of detail. (less)

like 3 likes · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Anne Neville rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, historical-fiction, impossible-to-finish

I am currently on page 164 of this book and I doubt I will be able to finish it. The heroine, Rosamund, seems to lack any sense and despite her asserted intelligence and keen observational skills, she quickly allows herself to fall into court dalliance and an affair/scandal (yet to be seen) that will cause her downfall and make her all the more useful to her patron and cousin, spymaster Francis Walsingham. The book has an uncomfortable mix of court life and theatre that so far does not make much...more I am currently on page 164 of this book and I doubt I will be able to finish it. The heroine, Rosamund, seems to lack any sense and despite her asserted intelligence and keen observational skills, she quickly allows herself to fall into court dalliance and an affair/scandal (yet to be seen) that will cause her downfall and make her all the more useful to her patron and cousin, spymaster Francis Walsingham. The book has an uncomfortable mix of court life and theatre that so far does not make much sense, a subplot that (as observed by another reviewer) seems to have been copied from Dangerous Liaisons, and poorly developed characters. Kit Marlowe, the brilliant playwright, atheist, and possible spy, is a particularly egregious victim of this treatment, so I will focus on him for the purpose of this review.

It is clear that Feather has chosen to depict Marlowe as an alcoholic. But she does so with such a heavy hand that it quickly becomes tiresome, straining the reader's (or at least my) belief. Feather cannot seem to convey Kit's alcoholism without having him constantly downing ale, gulping goblets of wine, or calling out for refills, often with barely a few brief paragraphs between demands. First, it just bad writing: can Feather not communicate Marlowe's problem in a more subtle way, especially if the heroine is supposed to be so "observant"? References to bloodshot eyes and a few scenes of excess would have been sufficient without becoming repetitive. Second, Feather is portraying Marlowe at the very outset of his career, as he is composing his first of several brilliant works. A man who is already so far gone as Feather's Kit--who cannot make it past ten in the morning without downing multiple drinks and already has a "waxen" complexion from his excess--would be unlikely to have the brilliant career that the historical Marlowe had, nor would he be a likely choice as a spy for Walsingham. Moreover, Kit has another SEVEN YEARS to live before his untimely murder. As he is described by Feather, one would expect him to be dead much sooner, let alone just at the beginning of a writing career that transformed the English stage.

I had hoped that once Rosamund, the supposed focus of the novel, reached court that the story would gather steam, but so far she is just making foolish choices and dallying with a few uninspiring secondary characters. The author also makes odd, counter-intuitive choices--for instance, in one of scenes in which Rosamund attends the theatre, her brother seats them on the stage in order to decrease the chance that they will be recognized. This, despite the fact that other courtiers are seated on stage directly across from them, and the fact that the Theatre was likely shaped like an O, giving not only the groundlings but the spectators in the gallery a good, clear view of who was on stage (courtiers paid extra for those seats for the very purpose of being SEEN, after all).

In addition, the book is filled with unnecessary sex scenes that are neither arousing nor particularly relevant to the story, and they are often focused on characters in whom we have little investment. This distracts from what might be a more interesting storyline (if only Feather would pick one): either Rosamund's interest in the theatre, or her involvement in political intrigue.

Some reviewers comment that the book picks up in the latter half, but so far it has not captured my interest enough to merit more than a skimming of the remainder, at best.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Olga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

I must confess, when I read the many lukewarm reviews of this book I prepared myself for the worst. Fortunately I shouldn't have worried, I actually enjoyed this novel even despite the romance-y parts (all the between-the-sheets adventures are not my cup of tea).
One of my favorite things about this novel is that little about it was straightforward. There is a lot of intrigue, both political and personal. Everyone has something they want and the means they employ are hardly ever savory. I've alw...more I must confess, when I read the many lukewarm reviews of this book I prepared myself for the worst. Fortunately I shouldn't have worried, I actually enjoyed this novel even despite the romance-y parts (all the between-the-sheets adventures are not my cup of tea).
One of my favorite things about this novel is that little about it was straightforward. There is a lot of intrigue, both political and personal. Everyone has something they want and the means they employ are hardly ever savory. I've always thought that "life at court", wherever and whenever the court exists, is a dark place and this novel only supports this belief of mine. What would anyone want to be there is beyond me. Excitement? Closeness to the ones with power? Are they really worth the need to constantly watch one's back, literally and figuratively? But I digress. Fortunately all the talk about the intrigues didn't swallow up too much page time and didn't slow down the story as it often does. Another element I enjoyed is tied into the intrigues and has to do with how quickly it all can suck one in. Rosamund, the protagonist, went from an innocent, sheltered girl to one of the key players in a conspiracy at the highest levels in the blink of an eye and with no way out, and she wasn't the only one trapped in the quicksand.
In a simple but effective device the author gave almost every character an antipode, which served to highlight their personalities. Elizabeth had Mary, Will had Arnauld, Mrs. Walsingham had Agathe and interestingly enough Tom had Kit. Kit was the most intriguing of them all, a man with seemingly no moral compass but showing more scrupples and higher standards than any of his associates and at the most unexpected of times. If nothing else he was more true to himself throughout the novel than any of the others, even Rosamund who even in the most dire of circumstances managed to go her own way.
The novel spans less than a year but Rosamund's growth in just several months is incredible. The girl who was most concerned with capturing the apple blossom just right on her parchment grew into a young woman familiar with the price of life and death and the pain of loss and deceipt. In short, she grew up and as traumatic as the journey was it was interesting to follow it.
The whole book is permeated with Rosamund's love for the theater, which in fact is the cause of all her troubles. It was interesting to look in on this world that wasn't considered suitable for the gentle-folk and women in particular, and the appeal it held for people of all layers of society. Nowadays theater isn't all that popular and reading about people being willing to risk their reputation and their future to attend a play is a bit surreal. I can't even imagine what would be comparable in today's world. Makes me glad to be living a simple life in this century and not at court in Elizabethan England - it would seem that even those not involved with the performing arts found themselves acting every day whether they liked it or not.
The parts I didn't enjoy had to do with the particularly descriptive intimate scenes that I felt were gratuitous most of the time and the fact that some ideas kept being repeated, as if the author either forgot that she's already had her characters say things exactly the same way before or wanted to reiterate them but didn't do it very well. In either case, the effect wasn't favorable. Another oddity that caught my eye is that the novel is set in England, the language appears to be true to the period with archaic turns of phrase and sentence structure but the spelling is infallibly American. I'm sure it isn't too much of a stretch to believe that the readers on this side of the Atlantic can figure out that "theatre" is the same as "theater" and "colour" is "color" and it would've kept the atmosphere consistent.
All in all this was an enjoyable read that satisfied my appreciation of historical fiction. And I found myself using words I've forgotten I knew, which hasn't happened in a while. (less)

like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Pretty impressive and compelling blurb, isn't it? I thought so too. But, like many movie trailers making you believe the movie would be great and wasn't, is exactly how I felt about this blurb in relation to this book. The protagonist came off as very inconsistent and I am not sure how I felt about her. At times, I felt sorry for Rosamund's character, especially when it came to those who were suppose to care for her and pretty much neglected or used her for their own benefit. I also sympathized...more Pretty impressive and compelling blurb, isn't it? I thought so too. But, like many movie trailers making you believe the movie would be great and wasn't, is exactly how I felt about this blurb in relation to this book. The protagonist came off as very inconsistent and I am not sure how I felt about her. At times, I felt sorry for Rosamund's character, especially when it came to those who were suppose to care for her and pretty much neglected or used her for their own benefit. I also sympathized with her when she had to deal with the cruelty of the other ladies and when several of the courtiers attempted to debauch her. Then there were times, she just plain pissed me off. Her ignorance and some of her stupid choices often overshadowed any good quality I might have thought of her. I also felt her acceptance and tolerance of her brother's homosexual affair was little too liberal thinking for that era making it seem a little incredulous.

There were times, I thought the supporting characters often overshadowed the Rosamund's character. While her romance with play writer Will was an large element of the book, there were times, it seemed her brother's love life was the focus. At other times, it seemed like Agathe, Lady Leinster and her lover Arnaud de Vaugiras sexual affair was the character focal point. Actually, the book shifted quite a bit between characters, that it was difficult to pin point the true protagonist of the book.

The world the author created was richly detailed and the plot highly complex. Jane has a remarkable ability to put a visual image into words. But at times, it was overwhelming. It felt like the concentration was centered more on the surroundings and situation and less on the characters. Because of this, the story seemed to drag on and on. I found myself often lacking interest, especially at the beginning of the book. So much so, I was forcing myself to chug-a-long to continue reading with the hope it had to get better. In truth, it did get better, but I don't think it was enough to make me love this book. I thought the espionage and intrigue was a compelling factor, but I wish the author had put more focus on the characters and less on the history.

Overall, I am a fan of Jane Feather's works. But I confess, this was not amongst my favorites. It was evident that the author put alot of research into this book, but I just didn't feel her heart in it. For me, it lacked the emotional connection that allows me to be pulled into a story. All The Queen's Players felt like I was getting a history lesson instead of being entertained from reading a historical romance. I guess that is why it was labeled as Historical Fiction and not usually a genre I would read.

(less)

like · see review

Jul 25, 2010 Sophia Musgrave rated it 3 of 5 stars

I accidentally read this book last week, I was supposed to be reading a similar titled one, with a young girl protagonist set in the 1500s, just as this one was. Despite this not being the right book for my book discussion club, I really enjoyed this novel. It was fun, but at the same time, historically minded enough that I felt I was also learning something. I really liked that Rosamund was so drawn to the stage and the side story of Kit Marlowe who was a contemporary of Shakespeare. Although s...more

like · see review

Jun 20, 2010 Aemelia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Unfortunately ALL THE QUEEN'S PLAYERS fell totally flat for me. Jane Feather used to be an auto buy author for me, with a strong voice showcasing fast moving tales of action, suspense, romance and passion, but she seems to have lost that voice. With this book I wasn't expecting a romance, but I was expecting a good story. Instead I felt that it just seemed to drag on and on. The plot never really went anywhere, it just stagnated. The court intrigue lacked any spark of adventure, the petty jealou...more Unfortunately ALL THE QUEEN'S PLAYERS fell totally flat for me. Jane Feather used to be an auto buy author for me, with a strong voice showcasing fast moving tales of action, suspense, romance and passion, but she seems to have lost that voice. With this book I wasn't expecting a romance, but I was expecting a good story. Instead I felt that it just seemed to drag on and on. The plot never really went anywhere, it just stagnated. The court intrigue lacked any spark of adventure, the petty jealousies didn't feel very malicious, even though I felt that was the intent.

Potentially interesting characters were quickly blended into the mix of blandness. Rosamund had some great qualities, she was spunky, outspoken and independent without being annoying. When she had to reign in her personality, she usually did so without being to stubborn. She was supposed to be a spy for her uncle, but that was quickly lost in the everyday nonsense of court life, and I became bored with it. Kit, Thomas and Will were all characters that I wish grew more with the story, and each time I thought they were about to do something interesting, they would just ride off and get drunk or just disappear.

With the minimum romance between Will and Rosamund, there was a teeny tiny hint of Ms. Feather's former voice of passion, but that too very quickly petered out. I would have rather she wrote no love scenes, than the lame attempts she included. I don't know if she or her editor felt that because this is general fiction and not romance that the spark needed to be toned down, but I felt that was a mistake, as it just made the characters that much more impersonal and I lost any inkling of a connection to them.

There was so much I thought Ms. Feather could have expanded upon, but instead she just seemed to jump from one scene to the next without ever completing or accomplishing anything. Maybe if she had focused on the just the action and secrets of the theater life or just the intrigues of Elizabeth's court, she could have told a more focused tale, but by trying to mix them both together she seemed discombobulated and generally all over the place, while getting no where. When any action did happen, it seemed to have been hastily shoved into the storyline without being smoothly worked into plot.

This book could not end soon enough. But when it did it got even worse. I wasn't surprised by the ending, but it did tick me off. I will admit that I came close to shedding a tear, not because I was so enwrapped in the characters lives, but because it seemed so senseless. It rather came out of no where and seemed to be there just to tie up a loose end. Though I did like the epilogue, but I wished that what led up to that scene could have played a part in the storyline...what can I say, I'm a romance fan at the heart of it all.(less)

like · see review

May 16, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 3 of 5 stars

All the Queen's Players by Jane Feather
Historical Romance- April 13th, 2010
3 stars

All the Queen's Players is a mix between intrigue and romance. However, romance is not the primary focus of the novel. So if you are expecting a book in Jane Feather's usual style please be aware this book is a bit different.

The main character, Rosamund Walsingham is involved in many royal intrigue cases as a spy. There was a lot of plot twists, but unfortunately many of which I could not follow. And the did not...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Kate Maxwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

It was nice returning to the court of Queen Elizabeth, as I had not visited in some time. Ms. Feather did a wonderful job keeping tone and language as well as did a fabulous job with description of scenes and characters. This story was very well-written.

I quite enjoyed All the Queen’s Players, a story about Rosamund Walsingham, cousin to Queen Elizabeth’s spy master. Rosamund is a young girl who is sent to Queen Elizabeth’s court to spy on the courtiers and the Queen’s ladies, and later sent int...more It was nice returning to the court of Queen Elizabeth, as I had not visited in some time. Ms. Feather did a wonderful job keeping tone and language as well as did a fabulous job with description of scenes and characters. This story was very well-written.

I quite enjoyed All the Queen’s Players, a story about Rosamund Walsingham, cousin to Queen Elizabeth’s spy master. Rosamund is a young girl who is sent to Queen Elizabeth’s court to spy on the courtiers and the Queen’s ladies, and later sent into exile with Mary, Queen of Scots, months before her execution. Being in the court of Queen Elizabeth, there are plenty of plots and intrigues, mostly focused in this book on the discovery of those who would support ‘Scots Mary’ taking the English throne.

Kit Marlowe focuses largely in this book, and our young heroine has somehow finagled her way into several different play houses, and falls in love with the scene, the actors and how plays are presented. The only objectionable content was the love affair between Rosamund’s brother, Thomas, and Kit Marlowe. However, Ms Feather doesn’t dwell too much on this aspect, so it was not a ‘show stopper’ for this reader.

Rosamund has the unique ability to draw from memory and to render people quite well. Her skills are put to use for Sir Francis Walsingham, in hopes of discovering plots and intrigues of the court. Rosamund is told not to carry on any liaisons, as Queen Elizabeth liked to direct her ladies-in-waiting. However, young Rosamund does not heed this advice and falls for young and poor courtier Will Creighton. Knowledge of a liaison leads to her banishment from Queen Elizabeth’s court and Sir Francis sends her directly to the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots, where she is to play her greatest role of entrapping the Scottish queen in authorizing the rebellion against Queen Elizabeth.

The pace of the story was very good. I found myself stealing away whenever possible to read more...until the story was finished. One almost felt like she was walking around the gardens or through the crowded hallways or down a London street with the smells and sights of Elizabethan England. I was quite taken with the main character and enjoyed watching her grow. The later part of the book did seem a bit rushed, but not so much as to feel cheated when the story ended. I had wondered how Ms. Feather would end the story; it wasn’t the fairy-tale ending I had hoped for, but it was a good ending.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 31, 2011 Karen added it

I really enjoyed this book. Not since "The Other Boleyn Girl" have I been so drawn in by a piece of historical fiction.

The book starts out with a bang when Rosamund Walsingham spies her brother and his lover in the orchard of her country home. Her life changes rapidly from that point when she is called to court by her powerful cousin. Along the way, Rosamund gets to experience the London theater scene, she is tutored in courtly conduct, she becomes a spy for her cousin, experiences great love an...more

like · see review

May 14, 2010 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

All the Queen's Players tells the story of life in the court of an aging Queen Elizabeth I and the demise of Mary Queen of Scots, through the eyes of Rosamund Walsingham, neice of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. The first hundred pages or so of All the Queen's Players was rather dull. The novel begins with Rosamund witnessing Mary Stuart's execution. Then it flashes back to Rosamund's removal from the country into a life of intrigue and court life. Rosamund, who lived a quiet, fairly isolated...more All the Queen's Players tells the story of life in the court of an aging Queen Elizabeth I and the demise of Mary Queen of Scots, through the eyes of Rosamund Walsingham, neice of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. The first hundred pages or so of All the Queen's Players was rather dull. The novel begins with Rosamund witnessing Mary Stuart's execution. Then it flashes back to Rosamund's removal from the country into a life of intrigue and court life. Rosamund, who lived a quiet, fairly isolated existence in her family's Sussex estate, travels to London at the request of her uncle Sir Francis. She is accompanied by her brother Thomas, also a spy, and his lover Christopher Marlowe, the playright. Once in London, she discovers that she is to be sent to court as a maid of honor to the Queen while also working for her uncle, reporting on the Queen's moods as well as observing interactions amongst the courtiers. At this point in the novel, the focus is largely on Rosamund with chapters on Will Creighton, a courtier who becomes Rosamund's love interest, and the sexually adventurous Agathe, Lady Leinster and her lover Arnaud de Vaugiras. It is uncertain for those first 150 pages or so why the novel spends any time on Agathe and Arnaud.

Ultimately, Rosamund - who is rather innocent - finds herself in the midst of a plot straight out of Chaderlos de Laclos' Dangerous Liaisons and finds herself banished from court. As punishment, she is sent to Mary Stuart to spy for her uncle as he engages in counter-intelligence operations to get rid of the Queen of Scots. Through Rosamund's eyes - with brief mentions of Thomas Walsingham (her brother) and Will Creighton, the reader sees the Babington plot unfold and sees Mary careen towards her execution. Ultimately, Rosamund finds contentment, having managed to find redemption through marriage.

All the Queen's Players turned out to be a more entertaining read than I expected. The back cover seemed promising, but the first 100 pages or so were very dull. The novel took a while to "get going" and I had a hard time becoming interested in the spy games. Further, it was uncertain how the different plot lines were connected. I found the second part of the novel to be far superior to the first half.

The novel was too much of a bodice ripper at times - it certainly could have done without the Dangerous Liaisons copycat plot. (I found myself mentally referring to cetain characters as Vicomte de Valmont and Marquise de Merteuil instead of the names used in All the Queen's Players.) I also noticed in the beginning of the novel that the fork made an untimely appearance - earlier than forks were available in England. It automatically led me to question the authenticity of the novel. This was only heightened by Rosamund's rather anachronistic views of sexuality (the author "told" us that she was an innocent, but she was no Cecile de Volanges either, as evidenced by her frank conversations and flirtatious ways and her easy - and anachronistic -acceptance of her brother's homosexuality). In short, Rosamund did not ring true to me as a sixteenth century character. While the author seems to "excuse" this due to Rosamund's lack of a mother, she seemed a bit "freer" than a teenage 16th century girl. I don't want to spoil the conclusion, but certain actions described in the 1593 section seemed anachronistic for the 16th century landed man.

Reviewed for Amazon VINE.(less)

like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Athornton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Probably would have done a 4 1/2 if possible. A good book but I had a hard time finding the character of Rosamund believable at all times. I can understand being innocent and naïve but she definitely seemed to get herself into more than her fair share of trouble and didn't seem to have any regrets or concerns about doing so. I imagine it would have been hard not to get sucked into certain things, especially if you were related to Francis Walsingham, the Spymaster. Even so, I googled Rosamund to...more

like · see review

Dec 01, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Pink Carnation Series Lovers

Shelves: adult, historical-fiction, espionage, romance, disappointing

Warning: Very harsh

Back-Story: I picked this up when Borders was going out of business. When that happened, I basically went to every Borders in my area and literally any book that looked interesting or the summary sounded good, I bought. This was one of them.

First off, I initally thought that the book was called "Jane Feather: All the Queen's Players" because the author's name is written so incredibly large on the cover. It's larger even than the title. But I figured out that she was actually...more

like · see review

Jul 10, 2011 Merredith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-or-5-stars, historical-fiction

This is a historical fiction book about a 17 year old woman who comes to court in queen elizabeth's court. she, her brother, her brother's boyfriend (who happens to be kit marlowe!) & her own boyfriend are all spies who help create and then bring down, a plot to return queen mary to the throne. We got to learn a lot about theatre life back then, the first governmental intelligence agency, and even the curious, yet good fact that no one seemed to care about homosexuality. the gay characters d...more

like · see review

Jul 01, 2010 Elizabeth Whitehead rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

All the Queen’s Players by Jane Feather
June 30, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed “All the Queen’s Players” by Jane Feather. This book provides a new look at Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots and their relationship. The history shown in the story is correct so many people can learn history of that time period by reading this book. Most of the characters were real people – their stories may be contrived for this book but the romance and the insight into the happenings of Court are essential to how M...more

like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Historical romance full of trickery, spies and cruelty. Written in the 16th century young Rosamund Walsingham is sent to London to spy on Queen Elizabeth's court. Sir Francis asks her to gather information and draw what she sees happening in the court. Her work leads her to the chance meeting of Will Creighton a young playwright and courtier they fall in love.
Roamund is expeeled from court when one of the other ladies gets zealous. Roamund is then sent to Scotland to spy on Mary Queen of Scots t...more

like · see review

May 12, 2011 Arielle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tudor-reads, historical-fiction

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

like · see review

Jul 30, 2010 Vanessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-and-lesbian-lit, hist-fic, tudor-lit

While this book is not exactly awful, it runs fair to middling in comparison to other works of the Tudor genre. What could have been a potentially thrilling plot line came off as almost too safe and predictable, and a potentially great female character is left flat and unimpressive with too happy of an ending, all things considered. The book's saving grace is the early ties to the English theater in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. But again, here lies another pitfall to this book, too many potent...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Natasha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: tudors, historical-fiction

A rather dull historical fiction novel with a loose connection to the Tudors.

I felt like I was reading a soap opera when I was reading this book. It was all so terribly melodramatic. The plot itself is a little far fetched, but it did set up the premise of the novel. Although this book features characters from the Tudor time period (Mary Stuart and Elizabeth), they were not integral to the story. The same story could have been told with another king or queen with a pretender or two to the thron...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 02, 2010 Amber (The Musings of ALMYBNENR) rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Tudor Era fans

This novel would be better titled All Sir Francis Walsingham’s Players but I suppose that would be a mouthful and rather less romantic. Sir Francis is by no means the main character of the book but he is the queen’s secretary of state slash spymaster and Elizabeth makes it clear that she would have little knowledge of those in Sir Francis’s employ and their doings; therefore, though technically in the queen’s service, most of the characters we meet are pawns of Sir Francis.

And I was so afraid I...more

like 1 like · see review

May 14, 2010 Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I have never read anything by Jane Feather before. I had an inkling that her style was more "romance" over the historical genre. Although pure romance novels are not my favorite, if they are paired with a good historical fiction writing style, I can find it enjoyable when I am in the right frame of mind. This is a mix that met that even requirement of romance in an intriguing historical fiction setting, namely within the Elizabethan courts, but some of the lines were tediously annoying that I fe...more I have never read anything by Jane Feather before. I had an inkling that her style was more "romance" over the historical genre. Although pure romance novels are not my favorite, if they are paired with a good historical fiction writing style, I can find it enjoyable when I am in the right frame of mind. This is a mix that met that even requirement of romance in an intriguing historical fiction setting, namely within the Elizabethan courts, but some of the lines were tediously annoying that I feel it had to be mentioned. If you have the patience for a romance with some history, this is perfect. If you are having a week that is something close to hectic, this is a good comfort read that does not require 110% concentration. The heroine is Rosamund Walsingham, who is entirely fictional, but she is written in as the cousin to the true historical figure Sir Francis Walsingham, the Master Secretary to Queen Elizabeth I, who is also well known as the spymaster.

Rosamund was brought up in a sheltered home with little distractions until her esteemed cousin brings her to court. She soon gets caught up in flirtations which lead to romances which eventually lead to scandal. (Predictable.) This take up more than half of the novel. Rosamund is then used as a pawn amidst the plots against Mary Queen of Scots. Familiar names are being mentioned such as Savage, Babington and Lord Burghley. Familiar unease of the Protestants versus the Catholics. Nothing is heavy into these historical aspects as the primary feel of this novel is focused on Rosamund's character and her survival as a young woman without a dowry. Being told in third person, the actual empathy for Rosamund is thwarted a bit, as she can easily be blown off as a nincumpoop. Her dalliances within the court were warned against and yet it seemed within days she threw caution to the wind. A swift kick in the butt she needed but instead her penance was to bring her into the folds of treachery and spying against Queen Mary. It was there within the walls that imprisoned the Scots queen where Rosamund began to mature a bit and understand the force that her cousin Walsingham carried when she witnessed the torturous hangings of the conspirators against Queen Elizabeth I in the name of Queen Mary.

I really enjoyed the portrayal of Sir Francis Walsingham, and his wife Ursula. Ursula stepped in as a much-needed mother figure to Rosamund, and was supportive and helpful to her even when Rosamund could have easily been shunned as a result of her naive actions. Also very interesting was the character of Christopher "Kit" Marlowe who was a popular poet of the Elizabethan era. He is used as a lover to Rosamund's brother in the novel, as well as one of Walsingham's many spies in the Protestant networks, working to dispose of the threat of Mary Queen of Scots and her Catholic supporters. Marlowe is the subject of much debate, ranging from his sexual orientation to his spying, as well as whether or not he faked his death to assume the identity of William Shakespeare.

Jane Feather does write an interesting story, not entirely unpredictable, but it is not a complete waste of time. The title refers to the plays that occur at the Elizabethan court, which is a topic through out the novel as well as Rosamund's talent for artistic endeavors. It also refers to the networks of political supporters to Queen Elizabeth as they strive to rid the realm of the threat within Mary of Scots. The sexual content is prevalent immediately, and it never does go away, so if you are not looking for some typical romantic themes I would advise against it. I would recommend this as a perfect read to wile away a gloomy day. Even though I normally stay away from romances, I managed to enjoy this enough to keep going, when the last read I was plodding through needed to be put down. Those interested in the machinations against Mary Queen of Scots would appreciate the plot lines that Jane Feather has produced in All the Queen's Players.

Also provided at the end of the novel are a reading group guide, author's note, bibliography and a Q&A with the author.

Incidentally, those readers who are more interested in Sir Francis Walsingham, the man behind the politics of Queen Elizabeth I, there is a book titled Francis Walsingham, Spymaster by Derek Wilson that was recently published, which I have on my wishlist. Also, an earlier book is out titled Elizabeth's Spymaster:Francis Walsingham and the Secret War That Saved England, by Robert Hutchinson.
(less)

like · see review

Sep 02, 2010 W.E. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: creamy-white-thigh

Well written enough, this is the story of the fall of Mary, Queen of Scots from the perspective of a young female cousin of Walsingham. Kit Marlowe also plays a large role in the book, which was nice to see. I think if I hadn't read The_Other_Queen by Phillipa Gregory, I might have given this five stars. As it is, Gregory's book was a tough act to follow. (Really, the movie "Elizabeth" was a tough act to follow.) The romantic scenes serve well. Worth checking out at your local library.

like · see review

Jan 15, 2011 Marti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzz-books-2011, history-english-scottish, fiction-historical, time-limit-library

I really enjoyed this book by Jane Feather. It is not one her historical romances, but a book that has more of a historical bent. It follows the life of Rosamond as she moves between the households of the two Queens Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. While Rosamond was not a real character the others all around her were, including Christopher Marlow. I found the stories of others around her fascinating.

Good Fast Read.

like · see review

Sep 14, 2011 Carol Rochon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book very much. Ms. Feather's depiction of the political climate of Queen Elizabeth's Court was realistic, intriguing, and enthralling. It was apparent her characters were loosely based on historical people who did not fail to disappoint. They were portrayed passionately, lustful and living life to it's fullest with the knowledge that their own lives were in the balance between life and death.

like · see review

Jun 25, 2011 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, historical-romance

I won this from a giveaway and was excited to read the book. I've been a fan of Ms. Feather for well over a decade. Her romance novels are generally light and fun to read. This one was more like a history book. I did not enjoy it as much as her other books. The characters didn't pull me in. I didn't like Sir Francis and I certainly didn't like his cousin Thomas, Rosamund's brother.

The plot to prove treason and execute Mary was not exactly dull, but it definitely wasn't riveting. This darker side...more

like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Kasie Whitener rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't stop reading it. But I didn't really care about finishing it. The main character, Rosamund, is one-dimensional and the best character, Kit Marlowe, ends up being only an amusing supporting actor. Some misses here, where the character or plot or writer could have done so much. But the book is just ok.

like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Leslie Mcgilberry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Historic fiction set in Elizabethan England, the main character is a "player" in the "spy-ring" of queen Elizabeth. When she is disgraced in court, she is assigned to spy on Mary who has been imprisoned for years. The most interesting part was learning about court life, but otherwise this was forgettable.

like · see review

Feb 22, 2011 Kandice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, historical

This was a decent historical novel. It reminded me a little of Philippa Gregory's and Jeanne Kalogridis' books although I enjoy Kalogridis' and some of Gregory's books more. There was a little more sex in this book than those mentioned by the other writers, which may be because Feather is also a romance writer. I would consider reading another book by this author depending upon the historical subject matter.

like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Em rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Received from the publisher as a free promotion.

I liked this much more than I thought I would. The characters are pleasant, though predictable, and Rosamund is likeable, and the plot keeps bouncing along. More romance than historical fiction, though the author claims to be switching genres...

like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Rebecca Heisler rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Had every intention of giving this three stars until I read the last ten pages which didn't flow with the rest of the story in any way. It was a dramatic ending just for the sake of having a dramatic ending but didn't make much sense to me.

The book is very well written but just never completely gets off the ground. It goes in too many directions and it's hard to feel too close to one of the many many story lines.

like 1 like · see review

Feb 06, 2011 Anne Marsh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I've read many of Jane Feather's historical romances and loved them; this book, however, focused less on romance and more on the history. Rosamund Walsington does get her happily-ever-after, with a Feather-worthy hero. The book club guide at the end of the book is a nice addition.

like · see review

title link	preview: All the Queen's Players
avg rating	preview: All the Queen's Players Goodreads rating: 3.29 (305 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6719054-all-the-queen-s-players?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1269439299l/6719054.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6719054-all-the-queen-s-players?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]All the Queen's Players by Jane Feather[/url]

All the Queen's Players

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (6)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jane Feather

Books by Jane Feather

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About All the Queen's P...