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Doubled Edge #2
Ill Met by Moonlight
England in the sixteenth century: a nation at a fatal fork in time, leading to two possible futures forseen by the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon. Either an evil queen will join forces with the Inquisition and rule with a blood-spattered iron hand, threatening humans and elves alike¿or a benevolent, red-haired queen named Elizabeth will rule wisely and well. But the evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who feed on human suffering and dark emotions, are determined that the little girl Elizabeth shall never grow up to take the throne. Opposing them are the good Sidhe of elfland, who have so far managed to protect the young girl. Denoriel had foiled one attempt to kidnap both Elizabeth and her half-brother and replace them with changelings, almost at the cost of his own life. But a few years have passed, and Denoriel has healed and returned to guard the young princess, now all of eight years old, secure in the knowledge that his enemy Vidal, leader of the evil Unseleighe, is dead, killed with an iron bolt fired from a primitive gun. Unfortunately, he is wrong: Vidal¿s armor was far stronger than any of the good elves realized. Though the wound was deep and Vidal was forced to bide his time in his own slow healing, his recovery is complete, his determination to hurl England into a new dark age is as strong as ever, and he has set in motion a plan to achieve this end of which Denoriel and his comrades are dangerously unaware. . . .
768 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2005
20 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
432 books9,561 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 17, 2020
At first I was intrigued by the way the authors introduced an element of fantasy to the known history of Henry VIII's court and the childhood of Elizabeth 1st. The problem was that the plot was so drawn out it got tedious, especially the parts set Underhill (the elves' homeland).
I got over 4/5ths of the way through the book, but just could not be bothered to finish it. After all, I basically knew how it would finish because I know about Elizabeth 1st's reign. This was such a shame. It was a clever idea, that was cleverly executed, except that the authors thought they needed to explain all of the aspects of their plot to their readers. Even in an emergency the characters stood around chatting and explaining things just to make sure the readers understood why the emergency was an emergency. The really annoying aspect of this was that usually it was blatantly obvious that the situation was an emergency and that what was needed was action, not chit-chat. A good edit could have made this a superb book, sadly that obviously never happened.
I got over 4/5ths of the way through the book, but just could not be bothered to finish it. After all, I basically knew how it would finish because I know about Elizabeth 1st's reign. This was such a shame. It was a clever idea, that was cleverly executed, except that the authors thought they needed to explain all of the aspects of their plot to their readers. Even in an emergency the characters stood around chatting and explaining things just to make sure the readers understood why the emergency was an emergency. The really annoying aspect of this was that usually it was blatantly obvious that the situation was an emergency and that what was needed was action, not chit-chat. A good edit could have made this a superb book, sadly that obviously never happened.
March 2, 2014
From Booklist
This Scepter'd Isle [BKL F 15 04] continues Lackey and Gellis' saga of elven and human intrigue at the court of Henry VIII. The Bright and Dark Courts are at odds over visions of possible futures in mortal lands--futures that are to be determined by which of the king's children will rule after him. The most uncertain but most desirable outcome for the Bright Court would be the succession of Lady Elizabeth, and agents from the Dark Court are sent to watch, attack, and possibly destroy her. But Elizabeth not only has mortal and elven defenders, she has the true sight and therefore can see through a sidhe disguise. Lackey and Gellis continue their superior blending of English folklore and history as they briskly cover the 10 years or so between the death of Jane Seymour and that of Henry. It is useful, though not necessary, to have read This Scepter'd Isle beforehand. Anyone who knows the period will appreciate this book all by itself. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Sixteenth century England: a nation at a fatal fork in time, leading to two possible futures. Either an evil queen will join with the Inquisition and rule with a blood-spattered iron hand - or a benevolent queen named Elizabeth will rule wisely and well. But the evil Unseleighe Sidhe are determined that the little girl Elizabeth shall never grow up to take the throne. Opposing them are the good Sidhe of elfland, including Denoriel, who has already foiled one attempt against Elizabeth, almost at the cost of his own life. But a few years have passed, and Denoriel still guards the young princess, now eight years old, secure in the knowledge that Vidal, leader of the evil Unseleighe, is dead. Unfortunately, he is wrong. Vidal was wounded almost fatally, but now his recovery is complete and he has set in motion a plan to bring about a new dark age of which Denoriel is dangerously unaware...
February 9, 2022
Nine year old Lady Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII, is surrounded by enough mortal dangers, without adding those from the Elven world to them. The hostile neglect of her father is based on his hatred and guilty conscience toward her dead mother. Catholics don’t want to be ruled by the child who indirectly caused the separation of England from the Pope. There are political pitfalls in the warm relationships she had with her disgraced stepmothers. Any of these perils could be deadly, and even at her age Elizabeth knows it.
The Farseers of the Elven kingdom of Underhill see three possible futures. Two show misery, ruled over by Elizabeth’s brother and sister. The one with Elizabeth as queen shows a future of art and joyous exploration. This is much to be desired by the Bright Court of Selieghe, but it would deprive the Dark Court of Unselieghe of the anguish its denizens feed on. The rulers of the Bright Court send Denoriel and his sister Aleneil to protect Elizabeth from the Dark Sidhe.
Elizabeth is nothing like the sweet, loving Harry whom Denorial was protecting in THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE. She is self willed, prone to bad temper, and above all, has learned to trust no one. But with a few charming words, she can wrap an adult around her little finger, and Denoriel is no exception. Soon he would defend her to the death, no matter what the Farseers predict, and he might have to. The Dark twins Pasgen and Rhoslyn are once again working to undermine her.
Pasgen has been ruling Unselieghe during the recovery of Dark Prince Vidal Dhu and his lady Aurelia. Vidal was badly injured during a piece of evil chicanery involving Elizabeth. Slowly regaining his powers, Vidal Dhu is not only working to produce as much general misery as possible, he is also determined on vengeance against Elizabeth and her protectors. Pasgen is reluctant to anger his sister Rhoslyn by hurting a child, but he must either obey Vidal Dhu’s demands to kill or capture Elizabeth, or fight him for the rulership of Unselieghe.
The vibrant personality of Elizabeth dominates ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT. Even as a child, aged nine through thirteen, she is a lioness destined to rule. Her charm and perceptive intellect are backed up by a strong magical talent. Without the help of her Selieghe friends, Elizabeth would have been at the mercy of enemies able to twist her talent to their own uses. Elizabeth’s training and increased understanding bind her love to the people of Underhill, and they return it.
Most often we see Elizabeth dealing with her hazards through the loving, sympathetic eyes of Denoriel, but there are other participants affecting her from behind the scenes. We become better acquainted with Pasgen and Rhoslyn, prominent characters carried over from THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE. We watch in suspense the working out of various plots and strategies from the viewpoints of the plotters. The authors keep us at a perfectly balanced pitch of intensity by moving from focus to focus to sustain the level of enjoyable thrills.
Again in ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, co-authors Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis have given us an irresistibly readable historical fantasy. Rich writing enhances the adventure and winds it through with warm affection. Events flow smooth and fast, and even though lovers of Tudor history know what Elizabeth’s future holds, there are plenty of surprises to be had. The possibilities of blending this group of fantasy friends with recorded history are intriguing indeed. From hints given at the end of ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, I wait eagerly to see what develops in the next book, BY SLANDEROUS TONGUES.
Read 3 times, listened 3 times. Book Two of my favorite Fantasy read of 2013.
The Farseers of the Elven kingdom of Underhill see three possible futures. Two show misery, ruled over by Elizabeth’s brother and sister. The one with Elizabeth as queen shows a future of art and joyous exploration. This is much to be desired by the Bright Court of Selieghe, but it would deprive the Dark Court of Unselieghe of the anguish its denizens feed on. The rulers of the Bright Court send Denoriel and his sister Aleneil to protect Elizabeth from the Dark Sidhe.
Elizabeth is nothing like the sweet, loving Harry whom Denorial was protecting in THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE. She is self willed, prone to bad temper, and above all, has learned to trust no one. But with a few charming words, she can wrap an adult around her little finger, and Denoriel is no exception. Soon he would defend her to the death, no matter what the Farseers predict, and he might have to. The Dark twins Pasgen and Rhoslyn are once again working to undermine her.
Pasgen has been ruling Unselieghe during the recovery of Dark Prince Vidal Dhu and his lady Aurelia. Vidal was badly injured during a piece of evil chicanery involving Elizabeth. Slowly regaining his powers, Vidal Dhu is not only working to produce as much general misery as possible, he is also determined on vengeance against Elizabeth and her protectors. Pasgen is reluctant to anger his sister Rhoslyn by hurting a child, but he must either obey Vidal Dhu’s demands to kill or capture Elizabeth, or fight him for the rulership of Unselieghe.
The vibrant personality of Elizabeth dominates ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT. Even as a child, aged nine through thirteen, she is a lioness destined to rule. Her charm and perceptive intellect are backed up by a strong magical talent. Without the help of her Selieghe friends, Elizabeth would have been at the mercy of enemies able to twist her talent to their own uses. Elizabeth’s training and increased understanding bind her love to the people of Underhill, and they return it.
Most often we see Elizabeth dealing with her hazards through the loving, sympathetic eyes of Denoriel, but there are other participants affecting her from behind the scenes. We become better acquainted with Pasgen and Rhoslyn, prominent characters carried over from THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE. We watch in suspense the working out of various plots and strategies from the viewpoints of the plotters. The authors keep us at a perfectly balanced pitch of intensity by moving from focus to focus to sustain the level of enjoyable thrills.
Again in ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, co-authors Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis have given us an irresistibly readable historical fantasy. Rich writing enhances the adventure and winds it through with warm affection. Events flow smooth and fast, and even though lovers of Tudor history know what Elizabeth’s future holds, there are plenty of surprises to be had. The possibilities of blending this group of fantasy friends with recorded history are intriguing indeed. From hints given at the end of ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, I wait eagerly to see what develops in the next book, BY SLANDEROUS TONGUES.
Read 3 times, listened 3 times. Book Two of my favorite Fantasy read of 2013.
August 12, 2014
Barely three stars.
All the good and bad that applied to This Scepter'd Isle apply here.
The pace is glacial. Each event is planned and reviewed by four or more points of view. The action itself is often so quick that only due to the half dozen reviews by various characters does the reader find out what happened ... maybe. The ambiguity is because the characters see things differently, have different goals, and often miss what's right in front of them.
Others will enjoy the rich melding of history and fantasy; I got tired of waiting for something to happen..
Not bad, it's just boring.
All the good and bad that applied to This Scepter'd Isle apply here.
The pace is glacial. Each event is planned and reviewed by four or more points of view. The action itself is often so quick that only due to the half dozen reviews by various characters does the reader find out what happened ... maybe. The ambiguity is because the characters see things differently, have different goals, and often miss what's right in front of them.
Others will enjoy the rich melding of history and fantasy; I got tired of waiting for something to happen..
Not bad, it's just boring.
March 27, 2010
Far better than the first book in this series, though I think one does benefit from having read it, it's like a Harry Potter novel with the future Queen Elizabeth as its heroine. Some of the Unseleighe court capers get a little tiresome, but everything just works better in this book because Elizabeth is not passive. Highly entertaining.
February 18, 2015
Scepter'd Isle Series
Loved this one! Love the historical aspect and the faerie side of the story. Can't wait to see how the next part is laid out in novel form.
Loved this one! Love the historical aspect and the faerie side of the story. Can't wait to see how the next part is laid out in novel form.
April 17, 2021
As much as I enjoyed This Scepter'd Isle, I have to admit that I loved this second book of the series much more.
In the first book, the story revolved around Harry FitzRoy, Henry Vlll's illegitimate son, and his relationship with the Sidhe Lord, Denoriel Siencyn Macreth Silverhair, who was set as Harry's guardian by King Oberon.
In this second book, after Harry was brought Underhill, to recover, then Denoriel is set as guardian to Harry's younger sister, Elizabeth Tudor, whose life is also endangered by the Dark Sidhe Lord Vidal Dhu.
Vidal believes that, if Elizabeth is allowed to live, then life for the UnSeleighe will become very bad indeed, and so he plots constantly for her downfall, despite King Oberon telling both Seleighe, and UnSeleighe, that all the offspring of King Henry are to be kept safe from harm.
Although both books have been slow burners, I was fascinated by the way in which our actual history has been used as a backdrop to a tale of good and evil, of witches, ogres, goblins, Sidhe, and all the denizens of our fairy tale worlds, in order to show a different aspect to the history of England in Tudor times.
As someone both fascinated by history, as well as fantasy, this couldn't have been a better match for me, if I'd tried, especially as both Tudor, and Elizabethan, times were my favourite of all.
Seeing the young Elizabeth come to life, was well worth reading about, and its been fascinating to read about her growth into maturity. Although not a royalist, it's always intrigued me to find out how exactly the royal family had to live - and how, in Elizabeth, we find that, with great power, she shows how great she felt responsible to her future subjects.
Although all of this is from the imagination of two great writers, they have created some wonderful characters, and brought to life a world in which the impossible becomes the possible - and I can't wait to read about what comes next in the third book: By Slanderous Tongues.
In the first book, the story revolved around Harry FitzRoy, Henry Vlll's illegitimate son, and his relationship with the Sidhe Lord, Denoriel Siencyn Macreth Silverhair, who was set as Harry's guardian by King Oberon.
In this second book, after Harry was brought Underhill, to recover, then Denoriel is set as guardian to Harry's younger sister, Elizabeth Tudor, whose life is also endangered by the Dark Sidhe Lord Vidal Dhu.
Vidal believes that, if Elizabeth is allowed to live, then life for the UnSeleighe will become very bad indeed, and so he plots constantly for her downfall, despite King Oberon telling both Seleighe, and UnSeleighe, that all the offspring of King Henry are to be kept safe from harm.
Although both books have been slow burners, I was fascinated by the way in which our actual history has been used as a backdrop to a tale of good and evil, of witches, ogres, goblins, Sidhe, and all the denizens of our fairy tale worlds, in order to show a different aspect to the history of England in Tudor times.
As someone both fascinated by history, as well as fantasy, this couldn't have been a better match for me, if I'd tried, especially as both Tudor, and Elizabethan, times were my favourite of all.
Seeing the young Elizabeth come to life, was well worth reading about, and its been fascinating to read about her growth into maturity. Although not a royalist, it's always intrigued me to find out how exactly the royal family had to live - and how, in Elizabeth, we find that, with great power, she shows how great she felt responsible to her future subjects.
Although all of this is from the imagination of two great writers, they have created some wonderful characters, and brought to life a world in which the impossible becomes the possible - and I can't wait to read about what comes next in the third book: By Slanderous Tongues.
October 13, 2018
I am a big fan of Mercedes Lackey. This is the second book in a series called Double Edged series. It is centered around the family of Henry the eighth. In this book, the subject is Lady Elizabeth and Lady Mary. It is an alternative history because some of the characters are elven. Elizabeth can see through illusions and can see the creatures for what they are. The book starts out when Elizabeth is eight until she is fourteen. There are two groups of elves. The Dark Court wants Lady Mary to take the throne because she will bring the Inquisition. The Bright Court wants Elizabeth to rule because she will bring the golden age. Also, Elizabeth can cast spells which is a cool addition to the character.
February 7, 2021
This book merges the politics of real English nobility with tales of elves, magic and faerie. It's a neat idea, but the prose is slow and plodding, sometimes feeling like a dry history textbook when King Henry is off battling as an aside and it's explained for context.
I think someone who adores English history and faerie might be charmed.
I think someone who adores English history and faerie might be charmed.
June 12, 2017
Staggeringly complex and brilliant in the way it retells history with a wonderful fantasy angle. Quite liked it.
June 4, 2020
Nothing will ever convince me that Mercedes Lackey actually wrote this drivel herself. Apart from her established ability as a writer, her English is perfect. 'Straightened circumstances,' forsooth!
March 27, 2011
This is one of those books that should have been a five star, and fell short.
I don't think Mercedes Lackey did much of the writing. I've been reading her since I was twelve, and I know her voice. Whether the book is good (By The Sword) or bad (Sacred Ground), her voice is incredibly distinctive. When I was reading this one, I had no sense of her being present. This smells to me like the all too common scenario where the lesser known*** coauthor did all the work and the better known author did the outline and maybe the final polish.
That's not to say I have a problem with the book for that reason - in fact, I've found a new author to try. I really LIKED the voice. It just wasn't Mercedes Lackey.
In some ways, that was a good thing. Let us just say the characters were much more subtly rendered than they are in the 30+ books by ML that I own (and love).
Beyond the characters, I was madly in love with the entire story concept.
The problem was that the book read like... someone followed an outline. There were all these beautifully crafted sections, bringing me deeply into the story, and then boom, on to the next section of the outline. It wasn't that the transitions were bad, it's that there were no transitions at all.
As I grew more and more interested in the story and attached to the characters, the herky jerkiness of the book got more and more annoying. I finally got so frustrated that I realized I'd finally read a book where I adored the premise, the characters, and the writing - but that I'd be damned if I'd read it again.
*** (to fantasy readers, I should say - I gather Gellis is very well known to historical fiction readers)
I don't think Mercedes Lackey did much of the writing. I've been reading her since I was twelve, and I know her voice. Whether the book is good (By The Sword) or bad (Sacred Ground), her voice is incredibly distinctive. When I was reading this one, I had no sense of her being present. This smells to me like the all too common scenario where the lesser known*** coauthor did all the work and the better known author did the outline and maybe the final polish.
That's not to say I have a problem with the book for that reason - in fact, I've found a new author to try. I really LIKED the voice. It just wasn't Mercedes Lackey.
In some ways, that was a good thing. Let us just say the characters were much more subtly rendered than they are in the 30+ books by ML that I own (and love).
Beyond the characters, I was madly in love with the entire story concept.
The problem was that the book read like... someone followed an outline. There were all these beautifully crafted sections, bringing me deeply into the story, and then boom, on to the next section of the outline. It wasn't that the transitions were bad, it's that there were no transitions at all.
As I grew more and more interested in the story and attached to the characters, the herky jerkiness of the book got more and more annoying. I finally got so frustrated that I realized I'd finally read a book where I adored the premise, the characters, and the writing - but that I'd be damned if I'd read it again.
*** (to fantasy readers, I should say - I gather Gellis is very well known to historical fiction readers)
April 30, 2016
The second in a series of clever novels which link Tudor England to Elfland's Selieghe and Unselieghe courts. The premise is that the mortal world creates energy upon which the two courts can nourish themselves, each prefers a different flavor of nourishment and each jostle for the upper hand in the politics of the mortal realm.
It is an exciting premise and a nice way to make Tudor history interesting, in this second book we concentrate on Lady Elizabeth as a child growing to adulthood, with her two protectors from the Selieghe court trying to protect her from the Unselieghe. Honestly, in comparison with the first novel this one dragged a bit for me, I guess it was more of a "Lackey" book than a "Gellis" one because there was less of the historical detail that I like and more Elfland, emotional stuff. Still a pretty good read, but it felt like a filler, a part of history that has to be covered before we get on to the good bit.
Looking forward to the next in the series, but, a word of caution: I would strongly recommend NOT reading this until you have read the first one.
It is an exciting premise and a nice way to make Tudor history interesting, in this second book we concentrate on Lady Elizabeth as a child growing to adulthood, with her two protectors from the Selieghe court trying to protect her from the Unselieghe. Honestly, in comparison with the first novel this one dragged a bit for me, I guess it was more of a "Lackey" book than a "Gellis" one because there was less of the historical detail that I like and more Elfland, emotional stuff. Still a pretty good read, but it felt like a filler, a part of history that has to be covered before we get on to the good bit.
Looking forward to the next in the series, but, a word of caution: I would strongly recommend NOT reading this until you have read the first one.
August 7, 2011
This is a very clever book that you can't help but get drawn into, but it's very, very long. I enjoyed it, but by the end I just wanted it to finish.
It's the story of Elizabeth I's childhood, complete with abduction attempts by fairies. A lot of historical research has gone into this (minus the fairies!) but I think the characterisation of Elizabeth and Mary could have been a little better.
Full review here -
http://bookinginheels.blogspot.com/20...
It's the story of Elizabeth I's childhood, complete with abduction attempts by fairies. A lot of historical research has gone into this (minus the fairies!) but I think the characterisation of Elizabeth and Mary could have been a little better.
Full review here -
http://bookinginheels.blogspot.com/20...
March 31, 2009
This is the second book in The Doubled Edge series. I didn't realize it was a series until I had already read it, which may be why I found it a bit slow and confusing. The concept that fairies interfered in world history is interesting, and I intend to give it another try starting with the first book.
January 17, 2022
I remember reading this follow up book and thinking, this is so weird a possible parallel world where the fae live intermingled in the business of humans. Taking historical figures and redesigning them to explain why they did some of the things they did with a paranormal bent tickles my fancy. I liked it.
April 18, 2009
What I liked about this book is the way it ties into the world of the Serrated Edge. Its like urban fantasy/traditional fantasy mix with some historical romance thrown in for kicks. Nice twist on the Queen Elizebeth and her bastard brother.
March 27, 2010
So far, it's a bit confusing, but with two such able authors, I think I'll be willing to go the distance.
Update: never finished it. Too convoluted for me. I will probably give it another go once I get it back from my sister in law.
Update: never finished it. Too convoluted for me. I will probably give it another go once I get it back from my sister in law.
November 30, 2007
read 05.xx.05.
read 05.xx.05
good series
read 05.xx.05
good series
February 15, 2008
Enjoyable fluff read about elves in Tudor England. Second in series.
December 18, 2008
I'm not quite done with it yet!
January 13, 2011
Read the previous one as well, This Sceptre'd Isle, it is all about a different perspective for the Tudor period. Very interesting and thought provocing, if this is one of your passions.
September 8, 2012
I like this for the mixture of Elizabethan England and the Elfland world. There is at least one other book in this series.
December 30, 2013
I thought the premise of the story was interesting--weaving magic into history. But the Deus Ex Machina ending made the whole book sort of pointless...
May 16, 2016
Another good one in the series. On to the next one!
September 6, 2007
<3333333
February 24, 2009
As good as the first in the series!
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January 9, 2010baen ebook
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