S. J. Parris returns with the next Giordano Bruno mystery, set inside Queen Elizabeth’s palace and steeped in period atmospherics and the ...
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reviews
Aug 17, 2011
Libby
rated it: 
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
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Jul 24, 2011
Mary (BookHounds)
rated it: 
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 wo
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Jul 12, 2011
Violet
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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
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Jul 10, 2011
J.M.
rated it:
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 S More...
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 S More...
Apr 30, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
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Apr 29, 2011
Stephanie
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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)
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)
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Feb 07, 2012
Joanne
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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 More...
Former monk, Giordono Bruno, get right in the middle of the feuding factions and More...
Apr 06, 2011
Dianne
rated it:
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 i More...
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 i More...
Jun 10, 2011
Spuddie
rated it:
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 end More...
#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 end More...
May 15, 2011
Richard
rated it: 
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 amon More...
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 amon More...
Feb 09, 2011
Karen
rated it:
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 go More...
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 go More...
Jun 19, 2011
Jake
rated it:
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 c More...
That being said, this is a fantastic read. I loved the history, the intrigue, the suspense, and the writing. Elizabethan London c More...
Apr 26, 2011
Susan
rated it:
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
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Jun 15, 2011
Kimberly
rated it:
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
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Jun 01, 2011
Sherri aka SDMomChef
rated it:
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 More...
Sep 09, 2011
Shuffy2
rated it:
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
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Oct 19, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
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 sci
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Apr 16, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
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 he More...
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 he More...
Jun 05, 2011
Frank
rated it:
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 More...
The ending seemed a bit more open ended than it could More...
Jun 03, 2011
Susan
rated it:
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.,
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Dec 22, 2011
Carl
rated it:
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,
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May 31, 2011
Jen
rated it:
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 thron More...
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 thron More...
Feb 03, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it:
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 s
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May 08, 2011
thewanderingjew
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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 E More...
A plot has been uncovered that hopes to restore Mary, (daughter of King James V, whose son ascends to the throne after E More...
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Jul 01, 2011
Mary
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This book is a historical thriller set in 1583 about excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno. He is living in the French embassy in England, and finds himself investigating the murder of one of Queen Elizabeth's maids. Like any story about the intrigues of the court, there are plots to replace Elizabeth and to restore Catholicism to its rightful place in England. Not only is there a nice mix of history and intrigue, there are elements of prophecy and forbidden arts.
This is the second boo More...
This is the second boo More...
May 30, 2011
Sherie
rated it:
I've not read Heresy so I haven't any affinity for Giordano Bruno. Elizabeth I is beyond giving her country an heir and the Catholic forces who seem to be loyal to Mary of Scotland are, in fact, rallying behind her son, James. Elizabeth is protrayed as strong, but not so strong, when certain "signs" turn up in stones, tea leaves, coffee grounds, or carved into the flesh of murder victims. OK, the tea leaves and coffee grounds aren't in the book, but a whole lot of stuff that sounds
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Jul 31, 2011
Marci
rated it: 
I liked the plot and the way the author eases into the story, gathering momentum until the climax comes at breakneck speed. The mystery is pretty good, although I spotted the villain too early--there were several clues not well enough hidden. The editing was terrible; this is something I notice probably more than most because I'm an editor. There were places where sentences were repeated, where paragraphs did not follow logically but were repeated and corrected later, and where other proofreadin
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Jul 13, 2011
Ddelmoni
rated it:
Really enjoyed this second book of the Giordano Bruno mystery series!
When I found out this ARC was the second in a mystery series I knew this review would take longer to get done. I simply can’t start a series from anywhere but the beginning! It’s not necessary to read Heresy, [Prophecy] truly does stand on its own, but I’m very glad I did.
Once again Giordano Bruno, renegade monk, philosopher, professor, scientist and spy is called upon to thwart plots to topple Eliza More...
When I found out this ARC was the second in a mystery series I knew this review would take longer to get done. I simply can’t start a series from anywhere but the beginning! It’s not necessary to read Heresy, [Prophecy] truly does stand on its own, but I’m very glad I did.
Once again Giordano Bruno, renegade monk, philosopher, professor, scientist and spy is called upon to thwart plots to topple Eliza More...
Jan 20, 2012
Catelyn
rated it:
This is the second book in S. J. Parris' Giordano Bruno series. If you're a history buff, you know how this ends (hint: there will be flames) and that actually makes me quite sad while reading about Bruno and his way ahead of his time (i.e., heretical) ideas about the universe. As somewhat of an expert on Elizabethan history the appearance of Sir Philip Sidney as Bruno's friend also fills me with a hint of sadness. Obviously, while writing about historical figures you know that eventually they w
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Dec 09, 2011
bookczuk
rated it:
In a previous life, even before my nursing career, I majored in history. I still love a novel that immerses me in the past, and Elizabethan England remains a favorite time period, so it was with great to dive right in, thanks to the Early Review program at Library Thing and the generosity of the publisher.
There were so many unexpected things that delighted me about this book. I'm not even going to include good plot and good writing, even though it had both. Firstly, Giordano Bru More...
There were so many unexpected things that delighted me about this book. I'm not even going to include good plot and good writing, even though it had both. Firstly, Giordano Bru More...
