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Prophecy (Giordano Bruno #2)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 959 ratings · 197 reviews

S. J. Parris returns with the next Giordano Bruno mystery, set inside Queen Elizabeth’s palace and steeped in period atmospherics and the strange workings of the occult.

It is the year of the Great Conjunction, when the two most powerful planets, Jupiter and Saturn, align—an astrological phenomenon that occurs once every thousand years and heralds the death of one age an...more

Hardcover, 375 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Doubleday (first published January 1st 2011)

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Jan 06, 2013 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

S.J. Parris is truly a gifted writer of historical fiction. I was immediately swept away back in time with her amazing descriptions. I could imagine myself walking the cobble-stone streets of London, the corridors of the various Courts, and the dark alleys along the wharfs...always careful to look around every corner! With her second novel, S.J. Parris has given us an extremely well-developed plot with unpredictable twists and turns to be found on every page. And just who is responsible for the...more

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May 18, 2013 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn’t realise until I’d started this book that it’s actually the second in the series about the Elizabethan spy Giordano Bruno, but it made no difference to my enjoyment. I was drawn in by the fast paced, intricate plot involving murders, conspiracies and political intrigue. There were a couple of low points when Bruno escaped from dangerous situations with the help of hitherto unmentioned characters who turned up in the nick of time - annoying but not enough to spoil a good read.
Bruno an exi...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Libby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-historical-fiction, fun-with-the-middle-ages

The court of Elizabeth I was a dazzling place to be in a Europe that valued razzle-dazzle. This novel, the second in a series, features Giordano Bruno as a sleuth who will discover a conspiracy to oust Elizabeth from the throne and seize power in the name of Mary Stuart. His involvement begins when he is asked by Francis Walsingham, the queen's spymaster, to investigate the death of one of the Queen's ladies. Bruno discovers that the young lady had become involved with a handsome nobleman who dr...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, from-publisher-author

This is a beautifully written, historical fiction thriller that takes place during the rule of Queen Elizabeth and in her court. If you are a fan of this era and know a bit about the whispers of occult and astrology that occurred during her reign, you are really going to enjoy this story of conspiracy and mystery. This is probably one of my favorite time periods to read about since it truly was an age of discovery and that these ideas were often described as heresy and treason. Yet, in the world...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Violet Yates rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, although I had a hard time getting into it at first. It had a good plot, but it seemed to move very slowly in the first half of the book, then at breakneck speed during the second half. The prologue is a bit confusing; I am not really into astrology: this book gets very technical about astrology- signs and symbols that I do not have prior knowledge of- so it makes it difficult to follow at times. I have a feeling that this is the second book in a series, because some of the na...more

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Jul 10, 2011 J.M. Cornwell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Conspiracies and political plots wrapped about with magic and heresy in a heady combination.

Dr. John Dee, astrologer and philosopher to Queen Elizabeth I, and Dr. Giordano Bruno, King Henri of France’s protégé, are absorbed by the coming Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the beginning of a new quadrant of the sky, the beginning of a new age that happens only once a millennium. Neither knows that murder, conspiracies involving Queen Elizabeth and Mary Stewart, once queen of Scotland, wil...more Conspiracies and political plots wrapped about with magic and heresy in a heady combination.

Dr. John Dee, astrologer and philosopher to Queen Elizabeth I, and Dr. Giordano Bruno, King Henri of France’s protégé, are absorbed by the coming Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the beginning of a new quadrant of the sky, the beginning of a new age that happens only once a millennium. Neither knows that murder, conspiracies involving Queen Elizabeth and Mary Stewart, once queen of Scotland, will bring them close to death for black magic.

Dr. Bruno resides with Ambassador Castelnau of France at the request of King Henri while he keeps tabs on conspiracies to dethrone the Queen Elizabeth and return Mary Stuart to the throne of England and Scotland. Dr. Bruno works with the Earl of Leicester, Francis Walsingham, and Lord Burghley, one of the queen’s advisors. As Bruno is drawn deeper into the web of the murder of the queen’s ladies in waiting, he must balance his own safety against the needs of the monarchs he serves.

S. J. Parris delves once again in Queen Elizabeth’s time near the end of the 16th century and infuses Prophecy with Hermetic magic, philosophy, astrology and a bit of mystery to bring off a fascinating and engrossing read. I was immediately struck by the realistic settings and well developed characters, if a little bored with all the fashion details. Fewer words could have been said about puffed pantaloons, slashed sleeves, and starched ruffs. The details of clothing were a bit tedious, but did not detract at all from the central mystery or the interactions of the various characters. I was completely caught up in solving the puzzle and reading more about life in the time of Queen Elizabeth.

Prophecy is that rare novel that combines historical fact and fiction into a heady mix that tantalizes, teases, and informs while remaining quite entertaining. I would suggest getting Parris’s previous Dr. Bruno novel, Heresy and reading them together. Heresy is likely as thrilling and detailed as Prophecy and will provide a wider view of the times and philosophies at the beginning of the Renaissance.
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Apr 30, 2011 Stephanie D. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Prophecy tells of a shadowy and dangerous web of plots and subplots in Elizabethan England.

I skipped to the second in a series of historical thrillers set in the Renaissance featuring Giordano Bruno, an Italian monk excommunicated for heresy. You do not need to have read the first, Heresy, to enjoy Prophecy by S.J. Parris.
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By the time Prophecy starts, Bruno has already been excommunicated and is now in Elizabethan England working as a spy in the midst of the secret enclaves of Papists. Rumors o...more Prophecy tells of a shadowy and dangerous web of plots and subplots in Elizabethan England.

I skipped to the second in a series of historical thrillers set in the Renaissance featuring Giordano Bruno, an Italian monk excommunicated for heresy. You do not need to have read the first, Heresy, to enjoy Prophecy by S.J. Parris.
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By the time Prophecy starts, Bruno has already been excommunicated and is now in Elizabethan England working as a spy in the midst of the secret enclaves of Papists. Rumors of a plot to overthrow, even murder, Queen Elizabeth and install the Catholic Mary Stuart are brewing. Who are these plotters? The French, the Spanish, the Scots, even dissatisfied Englishmen all have their separate schemes. No one in court is to be trusted, especially since one the Queen's own ladies-in-waiting is found murdered, her death staged to look like a blatant threat to the Queen's life.

It is clear from the first page on that Parris's research into Elizabethan life and political intrigues is impeccable. Every character is tainted with suspicion, their motivations revealed in a labyrinth of allegiances and ambition. Who I thought might have been responsible for the murder changed as I journeyed deeper and deeper into Bruno's world - and ultimately did not turn out to be the killer(s) when unmasked in the end.

Bruno's character, as the outsider in Court, is the most compelling and mysterious of all, despite the fact that the narrative is told in first person. His story - how he got to be an ex-monk, what drove him from the church, and the dubious past that may or may not involve murder - was told in the first book, Heresy. In Prophecy, he is more an observer, his personality muted and kept in the background. Reading Prophecy has driven me to pick up Heresy just to find out in more detail the tantalizing bits of back story I gleaned.

Besides knowing more about Bruno, I also felt that the black magic and supernatural elements so provocative in the first chapter (excerpt below) could have been more pronounced and central to the plot, instead of being merely suggestive. And there seems to be a thin thread from the first book, Heresy, regarding Bruno's search for a very rare and ancient manuscript by Egyptian sage Hermes Trismegistus, which stoked my curiosity (as elusive, mythical books often do). Ms. Parris - I would love it if you wrote more about this in the next installment!

"Without warning, all the candles in the room's corners flicker and feint, as if a sudden gust has entered, but the air remains still. At the same moment, the hairs on my arms prickle and stand erect and I shudder; a cold breath descends on us, though outside the day is close. I chance a sideways glance at Doctor Dee; he stands unmoving as marble, his hands clasped as if in prayer, the knuckles of both thumbs pressed anxiously to his lips-or what can be seen of them through his ash-grey beard, which he wears in a point down to his chest in imitation of Merlin, whose heir Dee secretly considers himself. The cunning man, Ned Kelley, kneels on the floor in front of the table of practice with his back to us, eyes fixed on the pale, transclucent crystal about the size of a goose egg mounted in fixings of brass and standing upon a square of red silk. The wooden shutters of the study windows have been closed; this business must be conducted in the shadow and candlelight."

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Apr 29, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

PROPHECY by S.J. Parris
Well Written and Impeccably Researched

Prophecy
by S.J. Parris
Book Two in Series, first book: Heresy
Format: Hardcover
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (May 3, 2011)
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 5 KB
Print Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (May 3, 2011)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
Requested ARC from Publisher

Description (Amazon)

S. J. Parris returns with the next Giordano Bruno mystery, set inside Queen Elizabeth’s palace and steeped in period atmosphe

...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of Queen Elizabeth’s young maidens is found brutally murdered, fueling heretic speculation that when Jupiter and Saturn align, it will be the end of an age. This adds to the existing civil unrest, as cousin Mary Stuart sits imprisoned in the Tower of London. France and Spain want to see either Mary or her son returned to the throne so Catholicism can once again become the official religion of England.

Former monk, Giordono Bruno, get right in the middle of the feuding factions and must fight...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Dianne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval-mysteries

The second in the Giordano Bruno series.

London is awash with rumours and prophesies warning of armageddon. Of more interest to Walsingham is the personal safety of Elizabeth I and the various plots seeking to remove her from the throne. Mary Stuart is the centre of many of these, but the more aggressive Duke of Guise and Philip II of Spain are both anxious to restore England to the Catholic faith regardless of who is on the throne. Bruno, personal favourite of Henri III, is housed in the French...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Spuddie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review applies to the audio version.

#2 in the Giordano Bruno historical series set in and around events at Queen Elizabeth's court in the 1580's. Bruno, an excommunicated Catholic monk, works for Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham and has infiltrated the home of the French Ambassador to see if he can learn more about a Catholic plot against QE.

Along the way, he hopes to do some consulting and studying with Dr. John Dee, Elizabeth's head astrologer, but ends up being too busy to d...more

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May 12, 2011 Richard Berthiaume rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book from goodreads to review and once again was pleased to read a book that was difficult to put down. This book,Prophecy is the sequel to Heresy and I think although the book stands well on it's own, the reader should read Hersey first. Both are called Historical thrillers, but to me it seemed more of a historical mystery.
Prophecy takes place in the 1500's and troubles begin with the planets Jupiter and Saturn aligning into a new zodiac sign causing quite a concern among the pe...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Karen Duff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Betty

Shelves: catholic-church, crime, historical-fiction, mystery, real-book, 2011, series

It is the Autumn of 1583 and Catholic plotters in England and France are planning to replace Queen Elizabeth with Mary Queen of Scots, Giordano Bruno is set by Walsingham to infiltrate the plotters at the French embassy.

I thought this book was very well written and researched. The story moves along at a good pace, and the atmosphere that is created is suspenseful and page-turning, in fact I only put it down because I had to go to work.

I think the author has done a very good job in evoking life a...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Jori Richardson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-owned, historical-fiction, renaissance

The 2nd book in the series of mysteries following Giordano Bruno, a former monk now turned detective / writer / philosopher / spy, leaves Oxford University and brings us to Whitehall Palace in London. The year is 1583, a year that astrologers proclaim will bring about great tragedy. Bruno, who is still working for the Queen's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, is sent to befriend and reside with the family of a suspicious French ambassador, who may or may not be plotting to put Mary Queen of Scot...more The 2nd book in the series of mysteries following Giordano Bruno, a former monk now turned detective / writer / philosopher / spy, leaves Oxford University and brings us to Whitehall Palace in London. The year is 1583, a year that astrologers proclaim will bring about great tragedy. Bruno, who is still working for the Queen's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, is sent to befriend and reside with the family of a suspicious French ambassador, who may or may not be plotting to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne in place of Elizabeth. Only a few nights after arriving, one of the Queen's ladies in waiting is murdered, and soon afterward, another. Bruno embarks upon a feverish search to find the killer...

I enjoyed this book in the series, and felt that it was a good continuation of the first one. We do get to know our hero Bruno a bit more as his character is filled out, which I had mentioned in my review of "Heresy," the first book. Bruno is still, as a sub-plot, seeking the lost Copernicus volume, which he believes contains revolutionary secrets about philosophy and astronomy.

I enjoyed seeing more of Walsingham, who I have always thought a fascinating historical figure. And Merritt portrayed him just right, in my opinion.
Bruno also becomes a close friend of John Dee, the famed scholar, and I had to re-read the decadent descriptions of his house and library a couple times. It sounded as if my dream house was being described - beautiful books absolutely everywhere.

On the negative side, this book is very similar to the first one. I have to admit that I do often have this complaint about a lot of mystery series, because they all just seem so repetitive. People solve a mystery, the end. Book 2 - people solve a mystery, the end. Book 3...
Mystery series that I have enjoyed in the past, I realize, all have strong main characters, inventive plots (not just the same mystery every time), and a progressive plot to the series that involves a bigger picture than this and that mystery.
So far, Bruno isn't a strong enough character for me to say that he really comes alive in the stories. As for inventive plots, this one seemed like a repeat of book one, except in a different setting. Bruno is still spying on some people, and solving crimes that have religious, symbolic undertones, as people try to dissuade him from his sleuthing. As for an overarching plot that encompasses the series in its entirety, though we are only on book 2, I would guess that that isn't very existent here either. Sure, Bruno is still looking for that book, but it would have to be something bigger than that.

Yet again, I was annoyed by the females of the story, notably the red-haired lady in waiting that Bruno begins feeling attracted to after she helps him collect evidence about the killer's first victim. Unlike with Sophia of "Heresy," nothing ever actually happens with girl two. However, she still felt so very obligatory, as if the author felt that she had to throw in a pretty girl somewhere along the lines. Like Sophia, the redhead (I have forgotten her name, as you can see) is also conveniently thrown out of the story later on, though it had looked as if she was being set up to become a major character. At least her exit wasn't so tailored and ridiculous as Sophia's, though.

Despite having quite a few complaints about this book, I still enjoyed reading it. For all of my saying it was too similar to the first installment (which I hold with, nonetheless), I enjoyed the two about the same. It was quickly paced and interesting, and the musings about philosophy and astronomy and religious politics of the day were very interesting.

Perhaps I will read Bruno's next adventure, but it would have to be something new and completely different to the first two books. (less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars

Now that I've read this book I can say that I should have read Heresy first, so, if you are looking into reading this, don't listen to those people who say you can read this one first and be all right. Bruno alludes to things that have happened in the first book and, while there are no spoilers that I can see, there is always that fear that those will appear.

That being said, this is a fantastic read. I loved the history, the intrigue, the suspense, and the writing. Elizabethan London comes alive...more Now that I've read this book I can say that I should have read Heresy first, so, if you are looking into reading this, don't listen to those people who say you can read this one first and be all right. Bruno alludes to things that have happened in the first book and, while there are no spoilers that I can see, there is always that fear that those will appear.

That being said, this is a fantastic read. I loved the history, the intrigue, the suspense, and the writing. Elizabethan London comes alive in a more accessible way. With a plot that is reminiscent of Dan Brown, S.J. Parris takes the reader on a thrilling adventure into the dark underpinings of the politics in that era. Bruno is a likeable and believable hero who, while he seems bull-headed and does some stupid things at times, has the intellect to get through his predicaments. I liked that he was more of an intellectual hero than an action hero, but he could handle himself in a skirmish if he needed to.

The writing is far better than Dan Brown's so that is where the comparison stops. No offense to Dan Brown, but S.J. Parris has more of a knack for capturing beautiful imagery that is lacking in Dan Brown novels. She gives just enough details of a character's looks to let the reader fill in the missing pieces. Sometimes that is nice. It puts a little more trust in the reader that they can think for themselves and allows their minds to conjure up the face with the little tidbit that has been given. That is huge to me simply because this used to bug me. I used to be the kind of reader that liked to be told exactly what a character looked like. Now, I prefer to just have small details, preferably those things that make them stand out.

Speaking of characters, there are a lot of players in this book. At first I got a little confused about who was whom. She probably could have repeated some distinct markings of each character just so that I, as the reader, could get them more firmly wrapped in my brain, but I found that I figured it out well enough so that, by the end, I knew who was whom.

Parris does not get overly descriptive throughout most of the story. She has a nice balance of painting a nice picture for you while letting your imagination work the rest of it. The dialogue seems a little too modern and that might be my only complaint about the book. Sometimes Bruno uses phrases that are pretty modern, but it didn't bug me enough to distract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

The plot is fast-paced enough that I didn't lose interest. She had me from the get-go. Her writing, in the immediate and thrilling present tense, is impeccable. I love how most books are going to the present tense lately to show an immediacy that you lose when you write in the past tense if it used correctly. I was actually left guessing until just maybe a couple pages before she revealed the real culprit behind everything. That, my friends, is a huge compliment to Parris and her ability to divert.

That being said, I think I have gushed on about this book for long enough, I will let you get on with your lives. I would recommend this to anyone who loves literature, history, and/or Dan Brown. I gave it 4.5 out of 5 Saturn Symbols. (less)

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Apr 26, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-edition, historical-fiction, mystery-horror-thriller

It is 1583 and excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno is not what he seems. He is living in the French embassy in England, and finds himself investigating the murder of one of Queen Elizabeth's maids of honour. And he is embroiled in plots to replace Elizabeth with Mary Stuart, and to restore Catholicism to its rightful place in England. It doesn't help that Bruno is a foreigner, a heretic who doesn't believe that the sun revolves around the earth. Who is on what side? Who is a traitor or a spy? And...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Despite the Elizabethan era being a time of rapid change and religious upheaval, Parris subjugates all of this to find a hero, and fails to live up to the excitement of the age.
The plotline is compelling enough, and provides a satisfying current to the novel, although by following Bruno, we follow one too many red herrings, and are only aware of the full truth within a matter of pages, leaving to a hurried resolution. However, the secrecy and duplicity is fascinating at points, as living a lie f...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Jean Hontz rated it 4 of 5 stars

The second book of the Giordano Bruno series finds him in London in 1583, and still searching for the lost book of Hermes Trismegistus. He becomes friends with John Dee, the Queen’s Astrologer, from whom the book has been stolen. He’s also still working as a spy for Walsingham and living in the French Embassy.

When a young girl who was one of the Queen’s maids of honor is found murdered, with the astrological symbols of the Great Conjunction carved in her breast, Walsingham calls in Bruno.

Is this...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Sherri aka SDMomChef rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-by-my-favorite-authors

This was the second in a series featuring Bruno, the Monk excommunicated by the Catholic church in the 1550s due to his quest for knowledge forbidden by the church. This book seemed to move slower for me than Heresy, but it was still a good, solid read. Probably closer to 3.5 stars.

Bruno continues his refuse in England, and fresh off of solving a murder in Oxford, he is tapped by Lord Walsingham to solve the murder of two of the Queen's ladies who have been murdered. The sub-plot involves an ove...more

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Feb 24, 2013 John Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not sure what has happened here as I seem to have read numbers 1&3 of this series and missed this one. It came as a pleasant surprise to find that I had another tale of the exploits of Giordano Bruno to read before the promised 4th book appears this summer.

The period of history seems particularly rife with plot and counterplot and as this story unfolds the reader surely realises how difficult it must have been for anyone of any rank whatsoever, for the failure to choose the correct side...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Shuffy2 rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is 1583, and Giordano Bruno has fled Italy to escape religious persecution but is he any safer in England? [return][return][return]A young woman is found dead, but it is no ordinary death. What makes matters worse-- she was Queen Elizabeth's maid and her body was found within the palace walls. Bruno is enlisted to help solve the murder however he discovers a much bigger plot that puts his life in danger- not to mention the life of the Queen! Will he discover the murderer in time and how does...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars

Prophecy was a bit slow starting. I wasn't sure it was going to hold my interest, but it did pick up, and I'm stubborn enough to keep plugging away at it until it finally got pretty interesting. Set in the late 16th century, the fictional plot revolves around the controversy between Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart and the throne of England. Two girls in the queen's court have been murdered, and there were symbols carved into their chests. Giordano Bruno, the main character, is an Italian scienti...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thank you Good Reads for providing me with the ARC of Prophecy. I read Heresy - the first book of the series - and enjoyed it very much. I was hoping Prophecy lived up to the expectations and it did.

Ms. Parris does an excellent job at holding her readers' interest with a charismatic, quick-thinking lead character (Giordano Bruno) and a brisk, intriguing plot. This time around, Queen Elizabeth calls on Bruno and her personal astrologer John Dee to solve the murders of several of her maids of hon...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Frank Hintz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked the first book, and was pleasantly surprised to find this one even better. I found it to be more of a faster paced page turner, and somewhat more suspenseful. I thought this book succeeded in taking the next step after the first in capturing some of the history of the period. One negative was that I never really worried about the main character, but did find myself always changing my mind about what exactly was going on.

The ending seemed a bit more open ended than it could have been. May...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars actually, or whatever would be the equivalent of "okay plus"! I enjoyed this second historical mystery with Doctor Giordano Bruno, heretic-in-exile, scholar, former monk and now agent in the service of Walsingham, spymaster to Queen Elizabeth. It was well-researched, exciting (for the most part, more on that in a moment), and brought the Elizabethan Age to life as promised in the promo blurbs above; I could smell the Thames, see the extravagant finery of the courtiers, etc., etc. As I...more 3.5 stars actually, or whatever would be the equivalent of "okay plus"! I enjoyed this second historical mystery with Doctor Giordano Bruno, heretic-in-exile, scholar, former monk and now agent in the service of Walsingham, spymaster to Queen Elizabeth. It was well-researched, exciting (for the most part, more on that in a moment), and brought the Elizabethan Age to life as promised in the promo blurbs above; I could smell the Thames, see the extravagant finery of the courtiers, etc., etc. As I noted in my review of "Heresy", the author's first mystery featuring Bruno, Parris has made a brilliant, funny, passionate, very human and likable character out of her hero, a real historical figure; you sense his isolation in an England very suspicious of foreigners. Bruno longs for home and friends he can trust and the chance to pursue his studies without fear of charges of sorcery, heresy or treason; he also longs for female companionship, a desire that often seems to lead this former monk into danger.

I find Bruno an appealing character for all of those reasons, but I still have the same problem with the author's pacing as in the first book - by the last quarter of the book my interest was flagging and I found myself skimming. As others have noted here it was partly trying to keep up with the Byzantine machinations of the conspirators for and against the queen, but as a fan of C.J. Sansom's outstanding Matthew Shardlake series set in the viper pit of Henry the VIIII's court, I know that such intricate details can be handled flawlessly in the right hands and actually ratchet up the conflict and intrigue. I also became irritated with Bruno's rather blind charging around, missing some rather obvious red herrings (no spoilers, I promise!), and leading with his heart (and other parts of his anatomy) rather than his supposedly brilliant head - inconsistent, I felt. So despite a promising start and keeping my interest longer than the first book of the series did, still an "okay plus" book for me, hence the 3.5 stars.(less)

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Dec 21, 2011 Carl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another historical thriller mash-up, featuring free-thinking (thus ex-communicated) Italian monk (and possible spy for Elizabeth I’s spymaster Walsingham) Giordano Bruno. Trying to find a murderer, he becomes enmeshed in the conspiracy that brought together the Spanish crown, French elements via their embassy, and English Catholics, to rid England of Elizabeth and the Church of England in favor of Mary Queen of Scots and Catholicism. The plot was complicated, but plausible enough to entertain, w...more

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May 31, 2011 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a book I picked up based on a recommendation from a friend, and I am glad I did. I think sometimes you stumble upon some good books that way!
Prophecy is a historical thriller that was both well thought out and researched by S.J. Parris. In this book, the main character, Giordano Bruno (an excommunicated monk) is thrust in a murder mystery that seems to involve doomsday prophecies regarding the alignment of planets Jupiter and Saturn and even to whom the rightful place on the throne shou...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Set during Queen Elizabeth I's reign and dealing with some of the political tension between supporters of Elizabeth and supporters of Mary of Scots, its a murder mystery and a spy story with Giordano Bruno as the main character. Bruno, as well as most of the characters, were real people which I usually object to. I don't like when writers borrow real people or popular characters and put them in situations they weren't in originally. But Bruno was completely unknown to me until I googled him so i...more

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May 08, 2011 thewanderingjew rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an historical novel, taking place in the 1500’s, during the time of the rivalry between Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, for their rightful place on the throne. To protect her family’s right to rule England, and prevent Mary, from ascending to the throne next, Elizabeth I, the Queen of England, has imprisoned Mary for years.

A plot has been uncovered that hopes to restore Mary, (daughter of King James V, whose son ascends to the throne after Elizabeth I...more This is an historical novel, taking place in the 1500’s, during the time of the rivalry between Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, for their rightful place on the throne. To protect her family’s right to rule England, and prevent Mary, from ascending to the throne next, Elizabeth I, the Queen of England, has imprisoned Mary for years.

A plot has been uncovered that hopes to restore Mary, (daughter of King James V, whose son ascends to the throne after Elizabeth I,) to what some consider to be her rightful place on the throne and to remove Elizabeth (considered a bastard child of her father, King Henry VIII), thus restoring Catholicism to its rightful place in England, and also placing the person they believe is the rightful and legitimate heir to England, upon the throne.

The Papists, followers of Mary, are at odds with the Protestants who are followers of Elizabeth who rules over the Church of England. Religion has been the cause of contention throughout history; it has caused many a war and will probably continue to do so, unfortunately.

Ambassador Castelnaus, his wife and followers, are loyal to Mary Stewart; some are fanatic and some are more tempered, as the Ambassador is, hoping for a diplomatic solution to the problem of the ascendancy to the throne of England. Some, however, are arguing for war and a hostile takeover.

It is hard for me to justify Bruno’s duplicitous behavior, which will sacrifice those who have befriended him, but he is working for the cause of England, and in the interest of one cause or another, people are often used to accomplish what is considered a justifiable end result. Right and wrong often simply depends on which side of the struggle you sit.

Bruno has been excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and is a defrocked monk, because of his beliefs about the planetary cycles, the power of memory and also supernatural, magical influences. He is called “the heretic”. Giordano Bruno, is employed by Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth Tudor’s principal Secretary of State, as a secret double agent, to spy for England’s cause and protect the Queen from plots against her life and government, while at the same time, he lives with, and is being protected by, the French Ambassador, Castelnaus.

The plot thickens with the introduction of the Spanish government into the plan to remove Elizabeth from the throne. Ambassador Mendoza is a force to be reckoned with. Intrigue and murder mysteries are exciting and the plot will capture your attention and interest. It is well written and easy to read, notwithstanding the fact that some will be aware of the eventual outcome from a knowledge of history, and even though some of the conspiracies and deceptions sometimes seem contrived and Bruno seems a bit naïve and unprepared for the task before him, the story will often keep you on the edge of your seat.

My one suggestion to the author, when the final copy is published (I read an ARC), is that she includes a timeline and a list of characters with their affiliations to make the book a bit less confusing for those of us who need to brush up on our history courses.

As an added note, interestingly, the issues raised in the book have become very current. Religion has been the cause of contention throughout history; it has caused many a war and will probably continue to do so, unfortunately. The Middle East is now exploding with civil unrest and the overthrowing of existing governments. Islamic forces are forging ahead in many places causing religious concern for some. The unusual alignment of planets now, in the early part of the 21st century, has also caused alarm and consternation. As weather patterns become more dangerous and monumental storms occur more often, there are actually rumblings in the air, from some quarters, about the end of times approaching. In England, the monarchy is changing, with another Elizabeth on the throne. Prince William, the grandchild has taken a commoner for a wife. For sure it is a time of change, if nothing else.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 David Mullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, detective-novels, historical-fiction

A peak behind the curtain of Elizabethan England, the Catholic conspiracy to overthrow her, and the House of Stewart waiting in the wings. Throw in a few bizzare murders of young beautiful courtiers and you have the basic idea of Prophecy. via amazon.com

I thoroughly enjoyed S J Parris' first novel, Heresy, likening it to a Tudor Inspector Morse tale, and was delighted to be offered the chance to review a pre-publication copy of this second story starring the same protagonists.

In this story the h...more

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About S.J. Parris

S.J. Parris began reviewing books for national newspapers while she was reading English literature at Queens' College, Cambridge. After graduating, she went on to become Deputy Literary Editor of The Observer in 1999. She continues to work as a feature writer and critic for the Guardian and the Observer and from 2007-2008 she curated and produced the Talks and Debates program on issues in contempo...more

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Prophecy (Giordano Bruno #2)

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