Prisoners in the Palace

Mar 29, 2012 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, all-time-favorite

This book was love at first look for me. Would you look at that cover? It is so, so gorgeous. Luckily, this book isn't just a pretty cover-the content is so amazing you'll probably end up like me and staying up until 1:30 AM to finish it!

Prisoners in the Palace is not only the best historical fiction I've read this year-but it's going on my list of top books of the year as well. I was drawn in from the first page, as Liza's in an interesting predicament. One day, her parents are alive and she's...more This book was love at first look for me. Would you look at that cover? It is so, so gorgeous. Luckily, this book isn't just a pretty cover-the content is so amazing you'll probably end up like me and staying up until 1:30 AM to finish it!

Prisoners in the Palace is not only the best historical fiction I've read this year-but it's going on my list of top books of the year as well. I was drawn in from the first page, as Liza's in an interesting predicament. One day, her parents are alive and she's planning her entrance to London society. Just a few days later, she's being kicked out of a five star hotel because she has no means to pay the bill as her parents have died in a carriage accident. Her father's solicitor finds her a job working for Princess Victoria. Sounds glamorous, huh?

Not really. The Princess lives in rundown Kensington Palace with her overbearing mother and her mother's awful adviser Sir John. I hated Sir John, and so did Victoria in real life. He was a true villain! Victoria is willful, and even when she's being nice, she's kind of a hoity-toity pain in the butt. She must have told Liza some variation of 'remember your place' at least ten times throughout the book.

There are other wonderful characters to be found here, like Will, the newspaper man that Liza meets when she and the Princess scheme a story to run to bring shame to Sir John, Inside Boy Jones, a boy who lived inside the palace without the knowledge of the residents, and the frumpy, grumpy Baroness, who is more like a mother to the Princess than her actual mother.

I'll admit my knowledge of Queen Victoria was only rudimentary before reading this book, but now I feel the need to know more! I plan on reading some of the books the author suggested and I also watched The Young Victoria, which shows Victoria's life just before she became Queen and in her first years on the throne.

Prisoners in the Palace would definitely appeal to fans of historical fiction, but I think it would also appeal to someone who has never read the genre. It's easy to read, and there is so much gossip, intrigue and romance that you'll be flipping the pages like mad to find out what happens! I will definitely be buying this book for my collection.(less)

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May 23, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Prisoners in the Palace Chronicle Books LLC, 2010, 367 pp.,$16.99
Michaela MacColl ISBN 978-0-8118-7300-0

Queen Victoria is usually remembered as a solemn brunette, always dressed in black. She isn’t often recognized as a young, girlish blonde, fighting her mother for her freedom. In Prisoners in the Palace, her struggle for the throne is told in a well-crafted historical fiction. The main character, Miss Elizabeth Hastings, is fictional. She is an orphan and her parents, Lord and Lady Hastings,...more Prisoners in the Palace Chronicle Books LLC, 2010, 367 pp.,$16.99
Michaela MacColl ISBN 978-0-8118-7300-0

Queen Victoria is usually remembered as a solemn brunette, always dressed in black. She isn’t often recognized as a young, girlish blonde, fighting her mother for her freedom. In Prisoners in the Palace, her struggle for the throne is told in a well-crafted historical fiction. The main character, Miss Elizabeth Hastings, is fictional. She is an orphan and her parents, Lord and Lady Hastings, left many debts for her to pay. She has no choice but to accept a post as a maid at Kensington Palace. She soon finds herself caught up in a political war between Princess Victoria and her mother, The Duchess of Kent. While Elizabeth avoids the Duchess’s seductive personal secretary, Sir John Conroy, and forms a tentative friendship with the Princess, she struggles to find where her own allegiances lie.

Prisoners in the Palace is by far one of the best historical fiction books I have read. MacColl’s writhing style is slightly Victorian, just enough to suggest the time period without specifically saying so, but it is not overwhelming. I like that she chose to use an non-omniscient third person narrator. It really helped me remember that most of the characters really lived. Some chapters are just diary excerpts or letters. In most places they were a good choice, but there is a section in the middle of the book where I was bored because it was just letters. I can see why MacColl chose to have that certain section written in such a way, but I don’t think it was the best choice. However, the book is just as good as it was before once you get through the section. There is a subtle wittiness in MacColl’s writing. She does an especially fine job with Victoria’s dialogue, painting a picture of a clever, carefree girl.“He’s been bilious since he set foot in England. What a boor!” Victoria shook her head in irritation. “I wouldn’t marry Albert if he was the last prince on earth.”

I would recommend this book to anyone in 7th grade or older, because I’m not sure if anyone younger could appreciate the history properly. I would never let anyone younger than 6th grade read this book, because the characters visit some bad parts of London, and some of the events could be disturbing for 5th graders. There is a death in this book, and I don’t recommend it to those who are easily disturbed by either violence of cold-bloodedness.
Girls would probably enjoy this book more than boys would, but I would recommend it to any gender.
I am sure that all who read this book will agree that it is a perfect tribute to one of England’s greatest queens.

— Becky Heinz

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Oct 29, 2010 Dodie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Terrific historical fiction that romps and roots along at a good clip, intertwining stories of loss, aspirations, family and the tumultous royal family in England in 1836. Victoria is still a princess and remote second for assuming the crown, and lacks a friend. Liza, recently orphaned and from an up and coming trade family, needs a job and access to favors. When she is appointed as a lady to Victoria's caretaker, Liza quickly becomes her friend, confidante, and ultimately, her savior. A forbidd...more

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May 10, 2013 Aileen Shara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book.

Yes! I know! Surprise surprise! But really, it was good. I'm a moderate fan of historical fiction, but lately I've encountered some that are....well...a little too much fiction and not enough historical. Going into this, I sort of had that feeling towards this book. The cover especially made it seemed a bit like a chic-flic in book form. Boy was I wrong! Liza, though hardly a bad-a**, is though considering the time period and everything she has to deal with. She's brave...more

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Nov 14, 2012 119 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Prisoners in the Palace is a great book! Now I can't be bothered to write the synopsis because many have done so already, so i'm just gonna get right into my review of this book.
Besides having an attractive cover, the story itself is pretty good. The story line was fast paced but not too fast. It's sort of the kind that makes you understand what's going on without getting bored or tired of keeping up. The thing i loved most about this book is the characters. Liza was a fine character. 100% lady...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Prisoners in The Palace, is about the life of Young Victoria through the eyes of Liza Hastings; her lady-in-waiting, confidante, friend and young schemer supreme. This delicious YA novel takes on a tour of Victoria’s inner secrets, fears, struggles, love and ascension to the throne.
The story begins with the orphaned teen Liza Hastings- a noble born young lady whose family fortune is completely depleted. She needs to work to support herself and so off she goes to Court. Starting at the bottom of...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Stefani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Prisoners in the Palace is fictional, young adult book that I found to be very entertaining. I picked this book by cover and just thought I would try it out; luckily for me it caught me instantly. I think this book shows many qualities that a reader looks for in a novel and should be consider by many.

One of the first things that made me fall in love with this book was its’ historical setting of London, 1836. I have always wanted to live in a different century, so when I read stories that are it...more
Prisoners in the Palace is fictional, young adult book that I found to be very entertaining. I picked this book by cover and just thought I would try it out; luckily for me it caught me instantly. I think this book shows many qualities that a reader looks for in a novel and should be consider by many.

One of the first things that made me fall in love with this book was its’ historical setting of London, 1836. I have always wanted to live in a different century, so when I read stories that are it gives me that sense of living in the story line itself. Although it is set so far back in time, the story is very easy to follow and understand by young teens. Besides the type of writing this book’s romance reminded me of Pride and Prejudice, another favorite of mine.

Another attribute that made me adore this book was its characters. Not only was the main character Liza a relatable teenager, but the other characters were shaped around her and made the story line work so well. Liza is young girl who loses everything when her parents die. She spends the story discovering the “real world” and learning to make a life of her own with a little help from her friends. Together the characters of this book make it flow and I think it would attract many of my peers that favor the same genre of reading. I can think of many teenage girls that would like it just as much as I did.

The last feature of this book that helped make it a good read was its fictional fashion. I love fiction books. It gives the author the ability to make a story captivating and believable but not real life. The world is scary place but fictional storylines can make all the actual terror not seem existent. The characters and plot also seem to be a lot more thrilling.

Prisoners in the Palace contains many good qualities. These include its’ historical setting, to die for characters, and last its’ fictional manner. All three traits are what tie this book’s readability together. I recommend anyone at least try to read this book because you never know what you could happen to like.
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Nov 29, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, family-story, historical, mystery, romance, young-adult

Lady Liza Hastings loses her parents and her fortune in a day, and is forced to take work as a lady's maid to the young Princess Victoria at Kensington Palace. She finds both the Palace and her new (much lower) station strange, and divides her time worrying about herself and about the isolated, moody princess who seems to need a friend so desperately. Forces seem to plot against the young heir to the throne; is there anything Liza can do to help? What will it cost her to do so? Based on true acc...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Phoebe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, historical, victorian-england

A young woman is cast adrift by the sudden death of her parents. Debts incurred by her father force Liza to abandon the wealthy lifestyle she has grown up living, and she must work or starve. She becomes lady's maid to Princess Victoria, a less than glamorous position as she comes to realize that the young princess, just 17 years old, is held captive in rundown Kensington Palace, forced to dress and behave almost like a child by her mother and her power-hungry lover, who want to control the thro...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-releases

I devour books about Queen Victoria, her family, her Court, the society, everything. It’s a quirk, I know, and I couldn’t tell you why I’m so intrigued by that awfully stuffy Queen and her enormous family, but I’ll read anything that comes out about her. Which is one of the reasons why I love the mini-explosion of books about Victoria R including the fantastic movie released recently Young Victoria. Not so surprisingly, I loved it.

So I was excited to see this novelization of the year leading up...more I devour books about Queen Victoria, her family, her Court, the society, everything. It’s a quirk, I know, and I couldn’t tell you why I’m so intrigued by that awfully stuffy Queen and her enormous family, but I’ll read anything that comes out about her. Which is one of the reasons why I love the mini-explosion of books about Victoria R including the fantastic movie released recently Young Victoria. Not so surprisingly, I loved it.

So I was excited to see this novelization of the year leading up to Victoria’s accession to the throne in 1838. It’s a well-documented time period - not the least through her numerous diaries - and the history of her childhood and teenage years needs little dramatization to be interesting. Michaela MacColl has obviously done a lot of research into this period and what results is a fantastic introduction to seventeen year old Victoria (or Drina as her family called her - smartly MacColl omitted this and thereby avoided possible confusion). This is really the perfect book to recommend to someone who’s seen Young Victoria but maybe doesn’t want to dive into heavy (but excellent) biographies like Hibbert’s Queen Victoria: A Personal History or Kate Williams Becoming Queen Victoria.

Our entry to Princess Victoria’s world is the recently orphaned Liza. Left destitute by her parents’ sudden death, she manages to turn her upper middle class background and knowledge of languages into a position as a lady’s maid to the Princess and her companion/governess Baroness Lehzen. She’s immediately introduced to the tensions and intrigues in Kensington Palace as she’s asked to use her fluency in German to spy upon Sir John Conroy and the Princess’ mother, the Duchess of Kent.

I really love the use of Liza (a completely fictional character) both to give the reader a newcomer’s view to the insanity of Victoria’s life at the time and as a young girl trying to make her way in a world both beyond her ken and so very different from the introduction at Court and rich marriage that her parents expected. The daughter of a merchant, Liza views the world from a transactional basis: if she serves Victoria well, the Princess might reward her when she becomes the Queen, if she’s rewarded, she can retake her position in society and make that rich marriage she hoped for. But as Liza serves and becomes friends with the Princess and also is introduced to the wider world beyond the palace, her focus slowly changes to one encompassing the possibility of true happiness and (oh yes) love. The character development seen here is a lot of fun to watch, and while some of Liza’s escapades seem unlikely, her intelligence and interest in the world is both endearing and makes her a likable heroine.

As much as I enjoyed Liza, I absolutely adored the characterization of the Princess Victoria. She’s so different from the popular culture image of “we are not amused,” black-clad Victoria of her later years, but you can still see how the eighteen year old can develop into that woman. She's not always nice especially to those she considers below her, and one can very clearly see the blinders she wears that often block her empathy or loyalty to any besides herself and her governess. Victoria struggles with her position in her family, resisting her mother and Sir John Conroy’s attempts to control her, and asserting any measure of power she can in the very restrictive and sheltered atmosphere of Kensington Palace. It's a measure of MacColl's skill that in spite of this, Victoria still emerges as an engaging and sympathetic character.

I was really thrilled that MacColl decided to expand her focus include the quickly changing society outside the palace walls. With Liza - and to a lesser extent Victoria - we get to explore London, the continued rise of newspapers and broadsheets and the professional middle classes, the position of women in society, and especially the plight of those lower class women without protection from society, the law or any opportunity to move up in the world. Liza's love interest is a (very charming) printer who helps widen the focus of the story as well as the two rather sheltered girls at the heart of it.

I loved reading Prisoners in the Palace though I almost didn’t pick it up due to the truly unfortunate cover. Don’t be turned off by that though, and definitely check it out if you’re interested in women in history or Victoria herself. It's a fantastic historical read with just enough fiction (what's fiction is clarified in the afterword for those interested) to the historical fact and some truly interesting characters.(less)

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Jul 28, 2011 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I first saw this book, the cover caught my eye ("Oooh, shiny") and I thought it was a clever design. I also love YA historical novels, so I took it home with me.

This is about a fictional girl named Liza who came from a well-to-do family but was recently orphaned. And so, to make a living, she was hired as a personal maid to Princess Victoria and the Baroness Lehzen at Kensington Palace in the year before Victoria became queen.

Here's why the 2 stars:

I did learn some new things in this nove...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Robyn Hawk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This book was right up my alley...I love Historical Fiction and the Teen/Young Adult genre, but it is few and far between that you find historical fiction written for teens!

Prisoners in the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel is almost guaranteed to get your teen interested in history. Just the right amount of the politics of the time, blended with society and the daily lives of children in the pre-Victorian era.

Yes it's a coming of a...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Abbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, youngadult, romance

Liza and her parents are in London for the season visiting from their home in Germany when her parents are killed in a tragic accident. Liza soon discovers she is penniless and desperate. A stroke of luck lands her a job as a lady's maid in Kensington Palace. Instead of meeting eligible bachelors and living in luxury she left to mourn her parents in solitude and servitude.

She struggles to make friends in the palace, but she does have a genuine affection for the Princess Victoria who is close to...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction can be tricky. You need to provide enough historically accurate information and detail to be true to the time period, but you also want to be able to add in some creative liberties. It is really a fine balance to get just the right mix while keeping the story engaging and fun to read. I think MacColl has achieved this balance beautifully.

The main details of Victoria’s childhood are more or less accurate. The main character, Liza, is fictional. But M...more I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction can be tricky. You need to provide enough historically accurate information and detail to be true to the time period, but you also want to be able to add in some creative liberties. It is really a fine balance to get just the right mix while keeping the story engaging and fun to read. I think MacColl has achieved this balance beautifully.

The main details of Victoria’s childhood are more or less accurate. The main character, Liza, is fictional. But MacColl has drawn Liza based on historical realities – specifically the options available to a penniless orphan, regardless of her birth. By showing us Victoria as a child, the future queen of England is transformed into a vulnerable human being, not the untouchable Queen we are more likely to think of her as without the help of this book.

MacColl turns all of her characters into complex people. You could argue that this is because most of them are based off of real people, but sometimes it is harder to make a real person seem real because you have to get behind the person they are on the surface and show who they are underneath the facade. Through doing this, MacColl also exposes many of the harsh realities of life in the 1830s.

I would say that the one thing you often see in historical novels that was missing from this one was a lot of description about the clothing and architecture. But in truth, I don’t think the book lost anything by having a limited amount of these elements. Sometimes I find that historical novels tend to go into too much detail about clothing and architecture and furnishings instead of focusing on the story. MacColl makes you aware of the time period through the social classes, speech, and plot elements, not through pages and pages of description, and I found this refreshing.

The final thing this book does that I love is that it has made me want to learn more about Queen Victoria. I think that is a sign of a successful historical novel – when you are dying to learn more. If you know nothing about Victoria, know tons about her but want to know more, love historical fiction, want to learn about history without feeling like you are learning, or just looking for a good read, then I recommend giving this book a shot. It is a fast, exciting read and truly is a novel of intrigue and romance.(less)

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Feb 21, 2011 Arya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Hastings's life is turned completely upside down when after her parents death she is forced to go to work as Liza the maid. But Liza didn't know what she was getting into when she applied for the job of maid in Princess Victoria's household-the dilapidated Kensington Palace. As Liza sees the people of the palace all trying to buy her loyalty, she realizes that there is more than one conspiracy going on in the palace. It soon become obvious that Liza is needed to help keep Victoria's th...more Elizabeth Hastings's life is turned completely upside down when after her parents death she is forced to go to work as Liza the maid. But Liza didn't know what she was getting into when she applied for the job of maid in Princess Victoria's household-the dilapidated Kensington Palace. As Liza sees the people of the palace all trying to buy her loyalty, she realizes that there is more than one conspiracy going on in the palace. It soon become obvious that Liza is needed to help keep Victoria's throne safe from the greedy hands of those around her. However, Liza couldn't do it alone. A young princess like Victoria needs more than one ally in the world. But what could a former maid, newspaperman, and a street urchin (minus the street) possibly do to tilt the scales of power in this game of intrigue?

Prisoners in the Palace is a lush Victorian novel that waltzes us through the the life and hardships of the Princess Victoria as she fights for her crown before she even learns the importance of it. With engaging writing and beautiful scenery, it is a must for any true Victorian era fan. Romance, intrigue, and dangerous secrets lurking in the shadows. What more could a girl want?

The first thing I have to say is that Chronicle Books deserves some sort of award for the amazing cover they put together for this book. It has a brilliant foil outer cover with a beautifully patterned hard-cover. Even the inside pages of the book are to die for. I would definitely suggest buying this book if for nothing more than a collectors piece. But it is must more than just a pretty book.

Michaela MacColl's writing truly draws you into the time period and setting. I could honestly hear the English accents and see the beautiful dresses and gardens coming alive before me. The story is a fun twist on history that leaves you with a good feeling after reading it. Although I admit that I was a bit annoyed by the way some of the characters were portrayed in the beginning. After recently watching The Young Victoria (and falling madly in love with it, mind you) I wasn't expecting to see Victoria betrayed as such a brat, even in the start. For a while it seemed like the only character with half a brain was the main, Liza. The story did change, however, as the author introduced us to the complexities of it and the various other characters. Victoria's courage grew and she soon became the feisty young queen I imagined her to be.

Over all, the book was truly enjoyable, and I adored many of the characters. I would suggest this book to any lover of a good Victorian novel.

~Review by Arya @ A Sea of Pages (http://seaofpages.blogspot.com) <---Check it out!(less)

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Jan 29, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fantastic work of historical fiction, MacColl does an excellent job of weaving fact-based elements of Princess Victoria’s ascent to the throne of England into an entertaining fictional story filled with intrigue and romance.

Victoria is squirreled away in Kensington Palace enduring an oppressive existence under the dictatorial thumb of Sir John. As the self-appointed man of the house he has strategically aligned himself with her mother, the Duchess, in an effort to control the young Princess ri...more A fantastic work of historical fiction, MacColl does an excellent job of weaving fact-based elements of Princess Victoria’s ascent to the throne of England into an entertaining fictional story filled with intrigue and romance.

Victoria is squirreled away in Kensington Palace enduring an oppressive existence under the dictatorial thumb of Sir John. As the self-appointed man of the house he has strategically aligned himself with her mother, the Duchess, in an effort to control the young Princess right into Regency. In doing so, he’s positioning himself to control the future ruler of England when the time comes that Victoria would be eligible to take the throne.

Trouble is, there’s a new girl in town. Liza, having recently lost her parents in a tragic accident, is orphaned and in need of a job to pay off her father’s considerable debt. Now downtrodden, she must accept her decent several classes from a girl of privilege and wealth to become the Princess’ lady’s maid. This poses a problem for dear Sir John as this girl of education and standing immediately zeros in on his manipulations and sets out to help Victoria.

A fun interesting way to learn about history this book is as appealing as it is educational. Leveraging the above and below the stairs standing of the royals and their servants there is intrigue a plenty for the reader to enjoy. While not completely oblivious to the latter’s presence the former disregard the idea that any would dare defy their employers by setting out to help the young Victoria in her rightful ascent to the throne. But help Liza does, many times to the detriment of her own welfare.

I found the characterizations to be quite interesting, particularly Victoria and Albert. Having not recalled the true story of how they came together I was surprised their love story (which actually took a backseat to Liza’s) in a different light. Victoria as the flighty self-absorbed young girl and Albert as a pompous ass was disconcerting to me. Probably because I was comparing them to some grand romantic pairing I’d built in my mind. Of course, this was the very initial moments of their relationship so it didn’t progress to where I think that epic vibe realistically came about in their story. Still, I have to say neither of them were all that appealing to me.

What was appealing were Liza, Will and Inside Boy. All three working diligently to help Victoria overcome her tenuous situation. As part of that I particularly enjoyed how Liza and Will’s relationship grew out of the role the press played in shaping Victoria’s political aspirations. Somewhat adversarial at first it blossomed into respect and ultimately love. Speaking of which, the romantic aspects of this story were a excellent addition to the political intrigue. Neither overpowering nor underwhelming I enjoyed that the situation in the palace drew them together and they ultimately fell in love. It played a small role in the story overall but it was a sweet place to go given all of the intrigue.

Liza’s development as a character was the highlight of the book. Her longing for her parents and former way of life eventually gave way to acceptance of her social standing in the moment. She became a stronger friend and ultimately a stronger woman as a result of the journey she was forced by others to take. She was a woman of class and dignity who wasn’t afraid to put herself in harms way to do what was right. I truly enjoyed all of her interactions and never once found myself wondering why she was doing what she was. If consistency is key then MacColl got it right with Liza for sure.

Strong dialogue over flowery prose will make this an easy read for all ages. Have no fear though, we get the feel for Liza’s surroundings — from the lackluster shape of Kensington Palace to the grimy back streets of London there is a definite picture to be had in the readers mind. Overall, Prisoners in the Palace was strongly written and easy to follow.

Part historical re-telling, part mystery and part romance Prisoners in the Palace is a wonderful mix of plot lines that will keep readers eagerly anticipating what happens next.
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Jan 23, 2011 Danna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

Let me just start off by saying this was one of the best YA historical fiction novels I’ve read (and I’ve read quite a few).
The beginning of the story starts out with Liza Hastings finding out that when her parents died, they left her in debt. After that, she goes to the castle to try to be a lady in waiting to Princess Victoria. I didn’t find that little part realistic because she decided to find work five minutes after she found out she was broke.
After she becomes Victoria’s maid, things st...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Hderaps rated it 5 of 5 stars

As is sometimes the case, actual history can contain more in the way of suspense, romance, unbelievable circumstances than can fiction. For me, this was the case with Prisoners of the Palace. I actually know quite a bit about the history behind this historical fiction novel, but was kept enraptured and flipping pages to find out what happened. It was just so riveting and engrossing that I had to see how it all came together (even though I knew how it would all come together)!

Prisoners of the Pal...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Kyleigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adore historical fiction, mostly because I adore history. Prisoners in the Palace was no exception. When I had the opportunity to read this I almost didn’t sign up for the tour. Just that God awful cover! Ah! It literally hurts my eyes to look at. It’s like someone took a Renaissance styled painting of a woman and put it with pop art colors and Roy Lichtenstein’s bendai dots. Just gah! Assault on the eyes! The artist in me just can’t forgive that horrendous cover art. Thank goodness the story...more I adore historical fiction, mostly because I adore history. Prisoners in the Palace was no exception. When I had the opportunity to read this I almost didn’t sign up for the tour. Just that God awful cover! Ah! It literally hurts my eyes to look at. It’s like someone took a Renaissance styled painting of a woman and put it with pop art colors and Roy Lichtenstein’s bendai dots. Just gah! Assault on the eyes! The artist in me just can’t forgive that horrendous cover art. Thank goodness the story made up for the awful cover.

I’ve never really read anything about Queen Victoria and I really don’t know much about her, so I was intrigued with the story. I learned so much from this book that when my mom was watching Young Queen Victoria, I’d walk in randomly going “Is that Albert? Is that the former Queen? That her old tutor?” Took me about five seconds to identify people and what was happening. I have to say I felt pretty darn cool. In a nerdy kind of way. ^.^ I loved the fact that the story revolved around Victoria as a young girl, yet it doesn’t take the obvious route by telling it through Victoria’s POV. The story is in fact told through the POV of her personal maid, Liza. Liza, a young girl without parents or any inheritance, is in a rough Europe where girls like her only have one way to go. Desperate to pay off her debts she takes the position at Kensington Palace as Victoria’s personal maid. Or rather, she is to spy on the Duchess and the scheming Lord Conroy… Connely?( … it’s been a few weeks here, forgive me) Liza is thrown from the life of high society she is used to, to the world under the stairs of the servants. She learns quickly that the nobility isn’t as fine and grand as they are made out to be, and that their trickery knows no bounds. She is desperate to learn to keep ahead of her employers and be the master of her own fate. She acts the part and does what she is told, but she is really looking out for herself and Victoria.
I really enjoyed Liza’s character. While she starts out a bit of a prude, you can’t really blame her. She is used to the life of a lady, not that of a maid. She quickly adjusts to her new lifestyle and is trying to make the best of it. Though she secretly hopes to earn Victoria’s favor so that one day Victoria might renew her to being a proper lady. She’s clever and headstrong and has a clear head on her shoulders. Though some of her actions were selfish in nature, it only added to her character. She felt remorse on many fronts and it just made her all the more human. She genuinely cared for people and tried her best to do right by them. To help ensure information for Victoria (I swear she’s like a quadruple spy) she enlists the help of Inside Boy and a young newspaper printer Will. If I’m not misinformed I believe that Inside Boy is actually based on an actual person, and I found his character very refreshing and funny. And Will, oh my oh me. I just love the name Will. Probably one of my all time favorite guy names (unless of course you are Will Herondale… why did his name have to be Will?!) He’s a working class man making a living with what he loves, complete with ink stained fingers, messy blonde hair and a rugged and easy going personality. Ahhh, just utter heart! I loved the contrast with Will’s common man mentality and Liza’s more refined manner. Though they are very different from each other, they both share the same values and really connect. The romance that stems from their business meetings was wonderfully done as well. I loved the letters between them. It just increased the growing bond between them. It was all just very sweet and utterly adorable. Plus there is the fact that there was almost a whole year between their first meeting and when their romance actually came to a head. For once a believable time line for two people falling in love! Hallelujah! They met, they got to know each other, they sorted out their true feelings, didn’t rush into anything, and when it was clear they both felt the same for each other then it all came nicely together. Just win! Made me so happy!
The one complaint I have with the book is the time gap when Victoria goes on tour to all those places. It’s the time when she comes down with Typhoid and she almost dies, yet we don’t get any of it. That whole couple month long period is spanned by a couple of letters back and forth between Will and Liza. While I adored those letters, they also kind of drove me nuts. I hated not knowing what the heck was happening! It would have also been nice to have Will and Liza’s relationship fleshed out more, but hey I’ll take what I can get. The ending was full of promises and possibilities so I was happy. ^.^
I really adored this book and look forward to more by the author. Hopefully any future books will have better cover art (psst I’ll sooooo do it lolz) If you are a history lover, or even if you aren’t, you should definitely read this book. I know the cover burns your eyes, but trust me the story is so engrossing that you will barely have to shut it and have to look at it. Absolutely wonderful! (less)

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Nov 17, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Full disclosure: I’m on Chronicle Books Gold Reviewer Panel for their YA books.

Recently I was flying to NYC and read a chunk of PRISONERS IN THE PALACE by Michaela MacColl on my 5-hour flight from California. A few days later, my in-laws were watching the movie, Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, and I was excited that I knew about young Queen Victoria’s life from the book I was reading. MacColl tells the story of teenage Victoria before she ascends to the throne as Queen as told through the...more Full disclosure: I’m on Chronicle Books Gold Reviewer Panel for their YA books.

Recently I was flying to NYC and read a chunk of PRISONERS IN THE PALACE by Michaela MacColl on my 5-hour flight from California. A few days later, my in-laws were watching the movie, Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, and I was excited that I knew about young Queen Victoria’s life from the book I was reading. MacColl tells the story of teenage Victoria before she ascends to the throne as Queen as told through the eyes of her maid Liza. Set in London in 1836, Liza becomes an orphan after her parents die in a tragic accident. With her father’s debts mounting, Liza seeks out employment in Kensington Palace and lands a position as Victoria’s maid. The two become friends over the course of the book and Liza meets a cast of characters in the Palace, some who are are aligning themselves for key positions in the court by blackmailing the princess and others who are looking out for Victoria’s well-being.

While I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction, it should be noted that MacColl does an excellent job of incorporating real historical facts into both Liza and Victoria’s coming-of-age story. Excerpts from actual journal entries Victoria wrote (she had written over 100 volumes of journals by the time she died) and Victoria’s mother’s letters from that time period are ways readers get clued into what palace life must have been like for a young woman.

The writing is fun, with mixtures of newspaper clippings, journal entries from Liza and Victoria, and letters, which tell the many different stories from the different characters involved. What should be admired is that MacColl has crafted these two young women — Liza and Princess Victoria — to be strong young women who learn how to be self-sufficient in a time when women were not considered to be worth much.

At times, the writing can be a little obvious instead of original, particularly in more dramatic moments like when Liza discovers what has happened to the previous maid in her exact position. But overall, MacColl translates the royal world into a relatable tale of what every young girl feels like when she’s on the cusp of becoming a woman.

Be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end, which details what characters are true to life and what history MacColl used in the book. After you get to know the cast of characters, it’s quite fascinating to read the real inspirations behind them.(less)

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Nov 15, 2010 Kyra is currently reading it

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Nov 10, 2010 Cindy Hudson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Before Victoria became Queen of England, she was merely Princess Victoria, controlled by her mother, the king’s sister-in-law, and a powerful advisor, Sir John Conroy. Victoria lived in near isolation in Kensington Palace, unaware of much news of the times.

Into this world steps the fictional character of Liza, newly hired as a maid to Victoria after her well-to-do parents died and left her penniless. Previously Liza had maids of her own, now she must adjust to being one. She also takes it upon h...more Before Victoria became Queen of England, she was merely Princess Victoria, controlled by her mother, the king’s sister-in-law, and a powerful advisor, Sir John Conroy. Victoria lived in near isolation in Kensington Palace, unaware of much news of the times.

Into this world steps the fictional character of Liza, newly hired as a maid to Victoria after her well-to-do parents died and left her penniless. Previously Liza had maids of her own, now she must adjust to being one. She also takes it upon herself to befriend the princess and spy for her, ferreting out the intrigues going on among Victoria’s family and advisors.

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl is rich, historical fiction. The story shows another side of Victoria, that of a vulnerable girl whose future was anything but certain. If not for her own strength of character she could have become a puppet ruler, controlled by her mother and Sir Conroy. Historical entries from Victoria’s diaries are interspersed throughout to reflect her state of mind following well-documented events.

Liza is a strong character and ally for Victoria. Through her eyes we see the London that existed outside of palace life. Life was precarious for many, especially women and children, who had few resources or avenues to improve their lives.

MacColl flawlessly weaves historical details into the story of these two young girls, Victoria and Liza. I don’t usually think of historical fiction novels as page-turners, but I had a hard time putting Prisoners in the Palace down once I started reading it. One chapter flows into the next smoothly, and even though readers know that eventually Victoria becomes queen, the story of how she gets there is anything but predictable.

Mother-daughter book clubs can talk about Victoria’s difficult relationship with her mother, living conditions for women and children of the times, the rise of broadsheets to communicate news and how that compares to today’s media and more. It’s classified as young adult, but even 12 year olds who are interested in historical fiction should be happy reading it. I highly recommend it.
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Nov 02, 2010 Pamela Kramer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Prisoners in the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel by Michaela MacColl brings to life a part of history that is not much covered in Young Adult literature. We all know about the Victorian era, but how much do any of us know about Queen Victoria when she was still Princess Victoria?

It's a sure bet that what is revealed in this well-written, well-documented book, which is fiction based on real history, will shock many readers. The mos...more Prisoners in the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel by Michaela MacColl brings to life a part of history that is not much covered in Young Adult literature. We all know about the Victorian era, but how much do any of us know about Queen Victoria when she was still Princess Victoria?

It's a sure bet that what is revealed in this well-written, well-documented book, which is fiction based on real history, will shock many readers. The most famous part of the Queen Victoria legend is her famous love affair with her Prince Albert. Most do not know that she lost her father at eight months of age, lived with a controlling mother, and was practically a prisoner in Kensington Palace (hence the title).

With the creation of her fictional heroine, Elizabeth Hastings, Ms. MacColl allows us a glimpse into the royal upbringing. The author did extensive research to create a young VIctoria who is both sympathetic and queenly. And the main character, Liza, is extremely likable.

Liza (as Elizabeth is known), loses her parents and her very comfortable way of life suddenly. She finds herself without family and without any relatives she can turn to. When she is offered a chance to work at Kensington Palace for the future Queen of Great Britain, she accepts even though the job is as a lady's maid. The position is quite a come-down for one whose parents had been accepted into the gentry.

Liza is also unhappy to learn that the reason she was given the position by the Princess's governess was because she spoke German as well as English and thus would be able to spy on Victoria's German mother. How she survives, what she learns, and how she stays true to herself is what make the book a difficult one to put down.

Historical fiction is fun, and eminently more interesting when the story is exciting, the era is unknown, and the writing is good. Prisoners in the Palace has all that and more.

It's a novel of intrigue and romance, as the book states clearly on the cover (at least of the advance review copy). It's also a book that will be shared by historical fiction readers as well as those who just enjoy Young Adult literature. Make it one of your top 10 books to read before the end of the year.
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Oct 31, 2010 Jules rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, sent-4-review

I enjoy historical fiction and this book is a lovely addition to the this genre as well as that of young adult reading. It is listed as an appropriate book for ages 12 and up. I think young readers and adults alike will find this a very satisfying look into Queen Victoria's young life.

Liza is mercilessly thrust into the life of a servant after being catered to and pampered her entire existence. She is 16 years old and doesn't know how to undress herself! When she lucks into a position as a maid...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Bee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, arc-reads

Now, in my review of Sharon Dogar's Annexed, I picked at the nit of portraying real people in fiction. With the portrayal of Peter van Peels, the main issue is that no surviving family or record can attest to his character. With Queen Victoria, there are numerous records from which to draw upon. Yet I hated the depiction of Victoria. My impressions of her came through history classes (well-liked Queen, Catholic-size family, but didn't seem very good to the Irish) and the movie The Young Victoria...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Sensitivemuse rated it 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the writing, I loved Liza, and all the other characters in this book were just wonderful to read. The plot was really good and the pacing was well done. For those that love intrigue into their historical fiction, you will also find that here. Sir John is certainly the type of villain to make your skin crawl and his plotting with the Duchess gives the plot a good amount of intrigue to enjoy.

Victoria was made to be seen as a spoiled brat, but at the same time...more

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Oct 23, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

I usually avoid historical novels like the plague. Seriously. For some reason, I just can’t get into most of them and I tend to get lost very easily. Which is why I dragged my feet when I first opened Prisoners In The Palace. It had to be read out of obligation, but I didn’t expect to like it enough to review it. Surprise!

Prisoners In The Palace is one of the best historical novels I’ve read so far. Michaela MacColl manages to mix the history of Queen Victoria with scandal and romance so gracefu...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of historical fiction, it's interesting to see a somewhat small surge in young adult historical novels being published. Not just any YA historicals like Dear America or other power franchise, but completely new novels that explore fascinating periods of history through the eyes of young narrators. I wasn't particularly interested in Michaela MacColl's Prisoners in the Palace, but after winning it (without really trying) in an online giveaway, I decided to give it a try and am glad that...more As a fan of historical fiction, it's interesting to see a somewhat small surge in young adult historical novels being published. Not just any YA historicals like Dear America or other power franchise, but completely new novels that explore fascinating periods of history through the eyes of young narrators. I wasn't particularly interested in Michaela MacColl's Prisoners in the Palace, but after winning it (without really trying) in an online giveaway, I decided to give it a try and am glad that I did.

Prisoners in the Palace explores the younger years of Queen Victoria, particularly in the period just before she becomes queen and all of the politics and intrigue she has to go through to become queen. The tale is told through the eyes of Liza, a young noblewoman who falls on tough times after her parents are killed in a carriage accident. Desperate for income, Liza becomes a servant to Princess Victoria, but finds that her job is more difficult than she thinks. After befriending Victoria, Liza uses her connections, and her wits, to help the ambitious young woman secure the British throne.

Though primarily told through the eyes of Liza, Prisoners also includes excerpts from Victoria's diary and correspondence between Liza and a journalist, who helps in the intrigue. Having the changing point of view provides some really interesting and somewhat unexpected insight into the other characters and, most importantly, their motivations -which is a key element of this novel. It also helps that MacColl has a strong style with plenty of period detail that feels well-researched and knowledgeable.

I especially enjoyed reading about the character of Victoria and her relationship with Liza. Unfortunately, the only issue with this is that, overall, Victoria grew into a much more interesting character than Liza, who was the narrator, even though Liza has more character growth throughout the course of the novel.

While Prisoners is definitely a solid YA historical novel, it was a little rough around the edges, and, unfortunately, is overshadowed by more recent novels published in the genre that not only had higher profile marketing programs, but were just better books. However, MacColl definitely has promise as an author and I'd be interested to see what she does with future novels.(less)

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Oct 26, 2010 Greta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Michaela MacColl's meticulous historical research brings to life this story of the tumultuous time leading up to Victoria's accession to the throne. We see the proceedings through the eyes of Elizabeth - Liza - Hastings, a rich debutante who finds herself abruptly orphaned and impoverished and takes up a job as Princess (not yet Queen) Victoria's personal maid.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the political intrigue happening in the dilapidated and understaffed Kensington Palace....more Michaela MacColl's meticulous historical research brings to life this story of the tumultuous time leading up to Victoria's accession to the throne. We see the proceedings through the eyes of Elizabeth - Liza - Hastings, a rich debutante who finds herself abruptly orphaned and impoverished and takes up a job as Princess (not yet Queen) Victoria's personal maid.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is the political intrigue happening in the dilapidated and understaffed Kensington Palace. Victoria's mother (Duchess of Kent) and her personal secretary, Sir John Conroy, strive to control the Crown Princess through a series of subtle measures they called the Kensington System. Victoria is kept in near isolation, her fiances and affairs out of her hands, and forbidden to walk down stairs without someone holding her hand. Every reward comes with a string attached, and each deprivation is "for her own good." Years of this has taught the young princess political maneuvering better than any school, as she fights for even the barest independence.
Authentic newspaper clippings, letters, and excerpts from Victoria's journal (which was not allowed to be written in ink until her mother had looked over it) are interspersed in the text, and MacColl integrates outside events seamlessly into the narrative.
Liza and Victoria are both girls who have been tossed around by fate and British society and struggle to hold their own against it. But they are not flawless heroines - Liza still struggles with her grief and her fall in social status, while the isolated Victoria is so out of the touch with the real world that she is unaware of the full extent of her power, and often misuses what she is aware of. But they are realistic and you can feel the frustration pouring out of them - though the handling of the ending may verge on trite occasionally, you'll cheer at their triumph anyway.
Also of note is the subplot regarding the plight of working (class) girls at that time, handled very well by MacColl.(less)

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Mar 22, 2011 Liza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

First, let me address the issue of the cover. The best way I can describe it is Andy Warhol does the Victorian Age. I hated it 75% of the time and liked it the other 25%. Also...creepy trick...place the book face up on a table. Walk a few feet away so you look at it from above and to the side. The cover girl's eyes go completely black in her head and the whole cover becomes menacing.

Secondly, I'm torn between giving the book a 4 or 5 star rating. While it may not be a classic or the most memora...more

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