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Lady Hotspur

Tessa Gratton (Goodreads Author)

3.30 · Rating details · 63 ratings · 52 reviews

Inspired by Shakespeare's Henry IV, Lady Hotspur continues the saga of Innis Lear, centuries later, as revolution, love, and a betrayal corrupt the descendants of two warring kingdoms.

Hal was once a knight, carefree and joyous, sworn to protect her future queen Banna Mora. But after a rebellion led by her own mother, Caleda, Hal is now the prince of Lionis, heir to the ...more

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Hardcover, 592 pages

Published January 7th 2020 by Tor Books

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Jul 18, 2018 Melanie marked it as to-read

Holy shit.

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Dec 27, 2019 Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy, never-reading-again, arc-reviews

LIFE'S TOO SHORT FOR BOOKS LIKE THIS

DNF at 15%

I was attracted to the idea of a feminist epic fantasy. However, the reality fell WAY short of my expectation. I was turned off almost from the beginning and just kept thinking 'when is it acceptable for me to throw this out?'

WHAT I DISLIKED

Incoherent: Perhaps this is because I have never read another of Gratton's books, but I found the beginning so confusing and incoherent with way too many people and places being strewn around that I couldn't get ...more

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Sep 22, 2019 Christine rated it it was ok

Shelves: lgbt, netgalley-and-arcs, fantasy-historical, shakespeare

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

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Dec 22, 2019 Marta Cox rated it liked it

I am truly sad to say I read approximately fifty percent of this book and stopped. Perhaps if I'd read books before this about Innis Lear but honestly I'm really not sure. I can say the three females who dominate this story are interesting but i just sadly didn't feel pulled in or engaged enough to continue at this time. I absolutely hate stopping a book before the completion so perhaps will revisit when time is not so pressured. Its well written and has a unique slant so definitely very ...more

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Oct 26, 2019 Judy Lesley rated it it was ok

Two stars from me because this was a struggle all the way through for me. I struggled to read the whole book when what I really wanted to do was put it down for good. I struggled to like any of the characters. I struggled to see how the story had advanced much when I finally finished it. Yes, gender bending, I got that and I was fine with it as something new or different or both but that Shakespeare play isn't a favorite of mine anyway. Yes, a lesbian love story, but that's not exactly earth ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 Eva B. marked it as to-read

Oh my God.
A genderbent Henriad fantasy? With lesbians??
GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!!

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Dec 30, 2019 Athena (OneReadingNurse) rated it it was ok

I need to upload the reviews for these but right now I'm just rating the last few books I read this year so my total is accurate happy reading year ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 Caidyn (SEMI-HIATUS; BW Reviews; he/him/his) rated it did not like it

Shelves: shakespeare, from-publisher-or-author, retellings, dnf, fantasy, arc

Thank you Tor Books and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 51%

The long and the short of this book is that it felt like a poor Henry IV retelling.

The characters are all genderbent and most are queer. But it's a queer story that's full of angst about not being allowed to be who they are. Important story and themes to look at, but it felt tiring for me because that's how a lot of queer stories are. That kept annoying me and pulling me out of the story. I prefer reading ...more

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May 20, 2019 Sarah marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, upcoming

Honestly I added this just because of the title.

But it doesn't hurt that it's referencing Shakespeare.

I don't really have to go back and read The Queens of Innis Lear do I?

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Jan 17, 2020 Bethany rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-interested, lgbtq

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

Slow, deliberate, deeply character-driven, and definitively queer, Lady Hotspur is a follow-up to The Queens of Innis Lear, with events occurring a few generations later. I would definitely recommend reading Queens of Innis Lear first, as I think this would be very confusing without that context. While I personally connected more to the characters in Queens (an all-time favorite for me), I think Lady Hotspur will be an important book for some readers. I especially ...more

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Sep 14, 2019 Emma marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: arcs

DNF at 32%

This is a really dense fantasy novel. The writing is lyrical and gives Lady Hotspur a very other-worldly feeling to it.

It’s worth mentioning that I have no experience with Shakespeare’s Henry VI so I can’t speak to how well this adapts that source material.

Lady Hotspur uses numerous POVs, which felt like it was slowing down the pace of the story. There are tons of characters with very similar names and I had a hard time keeping track of who held what position and why we should care ...more

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Sep 06, 2019 Mrs. Salgy rated it did not like it

In full disclosure, I did not finish this book. I was immediately turned off by the dialogue and clunky exposition; while the concept is good, the gender swapping was not done well and resulted in characters that were at once unbelievable and uninteresting.

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Sep 13, 2019 Alexandra Santos rated it it was ok

Shelves: reading-graveyard

Unfortunately DNF this one at 22%. While I loved the immediate tension at the beginning, I found it was constantly interrupted by too many irrelevant name drops and seemingly irrelevant details about the world. I’m not against front-loading exposition and world-building in a long fantasy novel like this, but it just seemed to get in the way of the storytelling and was mostly not of interest. Perhaps I was not the intended audience (since I haven’t read the referenced Shakespeare plays in a very ...more

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Nov 09, 2019 kerrycat rated it it was amazing

this is a spectacular sequel to The Queens of Innis Lear, which I adored, with similarly gorgeous language and imagery. think A Song of Ice and Fire but with less characters/convolution and more of an opportunity to get close to the characters emotionally (although I was more immediately drawn to the Innis Lear characters and it took me a bit to warm up to the ones in LH). brutal, beautiful, and compelling.

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Dec 28, 2019 Marija (Inside My Library Mind) marked it as dnf

More reviews up on my blog Inside My Library Mind

I've been trying to read this book for a month now and I just cannot get into it at all. I've tried, gave it a hundred pages, and nothing about the story is gripping me or keeping me interested. Maybe it's because I haven't read the first book (although they are companions, centuries apart and aren't even categorized as the same series), but this just was not for me. I think Gratton's writing style is great, I enjoyed Strange Grace by her, but ...more

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Aug 06, 2019 Tucker marked it as not-released-tbr

Book: *is 600 pages*
Me: Excuse me? Did Stephen King write this?

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Dec 06, 2019 Yolanda rated it liked it

**Review will be posted on my blog http://pastmidnight.home.blog on December 7, 2019**

**2.5 Stars**

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

Did I request this book based on the cover? Uh, definite yes. I love the cover and the book blurb caught my interest too. Now, this is a companion novel to Tessa Gratton’s book, The Queens of Innis Lear which I never read. The book summary also says this is a loose retelling of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, which I never read ...more

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Jan 07, 2020 Lauren Chamberlin rated it it was amazing

4.5
"If I take a true thing, and dance pretty words around it, the prettiness doesn't ruin the truth. A good story isn't a lie."
For starters, my recommendation for Lady Hotspur would be to read The Queens of Innis Lear first because then you can truly enjoy the foreshadowing and references to past characters/ relationships. It’s a whole different experience with that background, and I can’t recommend it enough. Plus, you then have this background on the world, lore, and politics, so you’re 4.5
"If I take a true thing, and dance pretty words around it, the prettiness doesn't ruin the truth. A good story isn't a lie."
For starters, my recommendation for Lady Hotspur would be to read The Queens of Innis Lear first because then you can truly enjoy the foreshadowing and references to past characters/ relationships. It’s a whole different experience with that background, and I can’t recommend it enough. Plus, you then have this background on the world, lore, and politics, so you’re understanding is nearly instantaneous since you learned it all before.
Now y’all know I’m a huge Shakespeare nerd, but this installment was refreshing because I’ve never read Henry IV. I was able to compare King Lear to QOIL the entire time, but Gratton’s version of Henry IV is purely her in my head. Not to say she doesn’t make the story wholly her own, cause she does, but I wasn’t comparing it to its inspiration. Like QOIL, Gratton is able to mold this perfect ending that fits her stories so wonderfully. It’s modern too, which is a complete bonus in terms of enjoyment.
I think besides her artful descriptions and enthralling world building I’m a sucker for her characters. Gratton builds these dynamic and imperfect characters that mimic the real world so perfectly. Morally ambiguous characters are my favorite, and she emphasizes that to a T!
Lady Hotspur was by far my favorite character, and SOMEHOW my annoyance with Prince Hal in the last 200 pages turned to admiration and pride. How Gratton made me change my mind so quickly?! To me that speaks to her ability to create such realistic characters. They have their faults, and they’re utterly human. Nobody makes the right decisions every time, so it’s always refreshing to read about characters who constantly work to better themselves even in the face of their mistakes. I think the only character that I never cared for at all was Rowan, but that was because he gave me vibes that he only cared for himself. Maybe that’s just me but couldn’t stand him. Though even with his less than favorable qualities, I still heavily enjoyed his part to the story because he added a depth that became vital to the ending. None of these characters are irrelevant.
"Queens do not perform loyalty, it is owed to them."
Moreover, did I mention the diversity?! *throws hands in air* I. Loved. It. From racial to sexual orientation and even a character who I would describe as transgender. I don’t want to label them incorrectly, but the prophetic stars called her a she when her body showed a male. Then when she told her family she preferred to be a female, they accepted readily. She’s not a main character by any means, but the fact that Gratton emphasized her in a fantasy book was great.
Countless of the main characters are in the LGBTQIAP+ community, and it just makes me so happy. Plus, these novels tend to have significant amounts of interracial couples and a wide range of acceptance for differing cultures. All around just a wonderful aspect to this complex world, and an example I wish our world would look up to/ strive to emulate.
Finally, I’ve seen quite a few people complain about the dense plot/ prose, but I didn’t find it like that at all. There’s constantly something happening, and it all does culminate to the end. Gratton’s endings are the peak to her writing in my opinion. She did it perfectly with QOIL, and she did it again with Lady Hotspur. Now there was a few elements at the end to Lady Hotspur that weren’t my absolute favorite, but it didn’t take much away from the story.
I wish I could talk about the plot more, but I’d recommend going into this story blind besides the synopsis and knowledge of QOIL. We see the culmination of decisions from the past and the examples present characters try to make from them. It’s complicated, but it’s fascinating. I hope you give Lady Hotspur a chance because it truly is a phenomenal book.
P.S. Just look at this last beautiful quote because Tessa has such a way with words.
"A love story does not trump a stable line of succession any better than love can stop a sword in its killing arc."
I’m probably going to return to this review to edit/ potentially add more thoughts, but for now a final thanks to Tor Books for sending me an ARC to review. ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 AButifulNightmar (It’sNERdySanchez) rated it liked it

Shelves: january

I received this e-arc from Netfalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating. I didn’t hate it, and I know others will really enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me.

Lady Hotspur is a gender bent retelling of Shakespeare's Henry IV. It revolves mostly around Hotspur, Hal and Bana Mora.

Told from multiple perspectives, the story is intriguing but at times becomes muddled by the switching of perspective. Just as I feel myself finally enjoying parts of ...more

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Oct 19, 2019 Em Jay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Wow, ok, I'm a little emotionally whiplashed right now. LADY HOTSPUR was fantastic, complex, beautiful, fierce, tense, and really just everything I've craved in a fantasy novel.

It's a very loose retelling of the Shakespeare play, and a similarly loose sequel to QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR (which I hadn't read). Although there a multiple POVs, we mostly focus on Prince Hal, the charismatic, riotous heir to a usurper queen; Banna Mora, the steel-hearted royal displaced by Hal; and Hotspur, a knight torn ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Fernanda Granzotto marked it as dnf

*arc provide by Netgalley and the publisher for a honest review*

I found the writing quite difficult, I know it's a fantasy but I think the author could have written and explained better.
The beginning of the book is very complicated,we are thrown into the story and the information is being thrown around, which made me very confused.
This book has A LOT of characters, which I honestly didn't like, because it makes everything more confusing and it just seems like names are being thrown around ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Becca Mee rated it really liked it

Lady Hotspur is a remake of Henry IV that breathes new life into the classic play. It is also an extension of Tessa Gratton's previous adult fantasy, The Queens of Innis Lear, a book that I just adored.
Lady Hotspur is a story of love and friendship between three women: two princes (or princesses) and one knight. It is an epic feminist fantasy filled to the brim with fierce warrior women kicking butt and taking names. It has lots of court intrigue and nature magic to keep you intrigued. I found ...more

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Aug 15, 2019 Alison rated it it was amazing

A powerful, lovely, and thought-provoking retelling of Henry IV Part I, in a completely entrancing magical world. Recommend to Shakespeare fans and fantasy fans alike.

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Jan 07, 2020 S.J. Higbee rated it really liked it

The plot is essentially about three young women who were once firm friends, as their relationships change into a more complex dynamic that has consequences not just for them, but for two kingdoms. This long book (600+ pages) is very ambitious, given it claims to be a retelling of one of the Shakespeare history plays. While there are echoes of that dynamic, I wouldn’t get too hung up on that thread, as there are also important differences that occur very quickly.

It took me a bit of time to really The plot is essentially about three young women who were once firm friends, as their relationships change into a more complex dynamic that has consequences not just for them, but for two kingdoms. This long book (600+ pages) is very ambitious, given it claims to be a retelling of one of the Shakespeare history plays. While there are echoes of that dynamic, I wouldn’t get too hung up on that thread, as there are also important differences that occur very quickly.

It took me a bit of time to really bond with the characters, but then I hadn’t appreciated that this was the second book and I recommend you read the first one before tackling Lady Hotspur. The title is actually misleading as the book equally deals with Prince Hal and Bana Mora just as much as Hotspur. It covers their joint and individual journeys extremely well. Gratton is an accomplished author who drew me into a world of complex magic and layered characterisation so that despite the heftiness of the read, I was held throughout. I was all set to give this one a ten, before I got to the final act and that crucial defining battle…

As I don’t want to lurch into Spoiler territory, you’ll have to bear with me if I’m a tad vague. But the trajectory of the book charts the relationships and competing claims, both personal and societal, upon three young women who already had high expectations thrust upon them. I felt Gratton did an outstanding job in making those genuinely gripping and very poignant – the relationship between Hotspur and Hal was particularly well done, I felt. But I was very dissatisfied with the manner in which the story was tied up. I think Gratton committed the unpardonable sin of raising reader expectations for one type of outcome, only to pull a switch that didn’t convince me at all. The conclusion was far too tidy for such a tortuous journey – by the end, I wasn’t even sure why they went to war at all, given the outcome.

The other issue I had was the role of women in the story. This magical tale is set in a late medieval setting when political marriages secured dynasties and land and Might is Right. Why we suddenly have a cadre of highborn, marriageable women, able to fight in battle alongside their male counterparts, is never fully explained. And I mind. It seems to me that you cannot sweep away all the impediments to women’s full equality within a story without addressing these obstacles, or factoring in a different dynamic that will give these women some tangible advantage in hand-to-hand fighting. Because their ability to prevail against fully armoured men due to their unique skill never convinced me. And I’m not prepared to go with the flow on this one – what sort of message does that give generations of us who watched our male work colleagues sail past us simply because of their genitalia? That we’re not strong enough? That we need magic? Or that just reading about a cosy world where it’s all just different is going to make me feel better? Systemic inequality of opportunity for women is far too widespread to be treated in such a flippant manner.

Furthermore, it’s supposed to be a retelling of a Shakespearean play. He might have been the greatest playwright that ever lived, but he was still a product of his time – so women were never found on the battlefield fighting alongside their men in his stories. If Gratton had wanted to change that aspect after specifically referencing Shakespeare in her worldbuilding, then she needed to spend at least some time and effort demonstrating what made it possible for these women to be able to learn the martial arts and take part in the bloodletting alongside the men. And she doesn’t.

The really aggravating aspect is that it wouldn’t have taken much to have turned this well-written, but slightly flawed effort into an outstanding read, as far as I’m concerned. And despite my real gripes with the book, I am still awarding it a solid eight. But it could have been a ten with just a little bit more thought… The ebook arc copy of Lady Hotspur was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest opinion of the book.
8/10 ...more

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Nov 28, 2019 Melissa Mitchell rated it it was ok

(2/5) Coming January 7, 2020.

I was let down by the telling-not-showing writing. DNF at 15%

Lady Hotspur is a retelling of King Henry IV, a classic Shakespeare play. I’m always a sucker for these types of retellings. “Strike fast, love hard, live forever.” The motto of the Lady Knights, a league of knights sworn to serve the ruler of Aremoria. The story largely follows three women: Prince Hal, Mora of the March, and Lady Hotspur.

When a deep betrayal shakes the kingdom of Aremoria, Mora of the (2/5⭐️) Coming January 7, 2020.

I was let down by the telling-not-showing writing. DNF at 15%

Lady Hotspur is a retelling of King Henry IV, a classic Shakespeare play. I’m always a sucker for these types of retellings. “Strike fast, love hard, live forever.” The motto of the Lady Knights, a league of knights sworn to serve the ruler of Aremoria. The story largely follows three women: Prince Hal, Mora of the March, and Lady Hotspur.

When a deep betrayal shakes the kingdom of Aremoria, Mora of the March is faced with an agonizing choice: give up everything she's been raised to love, and allow a king-killer to be rewarded--or retake the throne, and take up arms against the newest heir, Hal Bolingbrooke, Mora's own childhood best friend and sworn head of the Lady Knights.

I did not finish (DNF) this book. As with all books I decide to abandon, I always read to chapter five, or more, before making my decision. I actually read a little further this time, hoping, longing for redemption. I kept thinking, “Maybe if I read a little further, I’ll find something to hook me.” I found a number of problems with this book. The writing itself was fine, but everything else felt problematic. A few things I liked: the gender bending aspects, though I didn’t feel that they were done well. The majority of the characters are queer, but commonly fighting the issue that they aren’t accepted for who they are, which is a heavy topic that I don’t feel this book did an adequate job portraying.

That being said, the pacing was too slow and detailed, leaving me bored. I found times that I read entire paragraphs only to realize that I’d been thinking about something completely unrelated to the book. What I mean is: I wasn’t engrossed, except with Rowan’s character. I actually found his character and story the only one I was interested in. The chemistry in the scene with him and Connley was perfect. If all the chapters had been like that, I would still be reading it.

The biggest flaw was the telling but not showing aspect of the writing. The reader is plopped into moments where things have just happened—important things like the opening battle scene, the fights during the tournament event, and even a few intimate first kiss moments—and we are told about it.

Excerpt from a tournament fighting scene:

“...Hotspur rolled her shoulders to loosen the tension a bit, and bent her knees. The judge called the match and Hotspur attacked.

It was a good fight, but in the end Banna Mora made sure to lose. Both of them were sweating, their grunts low, neither speaking, and Hotspur did not know which of them would have been fairly victorious. Mora was strong and precise; she herself was fast and determined. Shieldless, their swords served as both offense and defense, along with hips and elbows. But when Mora turned her wrist and nearly disarmed Hotspur, Hotspur was so focused on breaking away she didn’t see Mora plant a foot where Hotspur would trip her. Mora went down, crying out as she landed on her own arm and her sword flew several paces off.”

There are a couple of bits of dialogue after that, but it’s very abrupt, and goes on to say who won what. All in all, we were told all about the tournament, but didn’t feel like we were there living it with the character. It leaves no bonding moments between the character and the reader, creating a huge disconnect.

Ultimately it was this, the lack of character depth, lack of character chemistry, my inability to relate with the characters or get invested with them, and the pacing that ended it for me.

Thank you @Netgalley and @Tor for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me, but I can see how it would appeal to others. For those of you interested, tread carefully before buying... ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Liz (Quirky Cat) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads

I received a copy of Lady Hotspur through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Tessa Gratton’s latest novel, Lady Hotspur is an imaginative novel, one that is heavily inspired by Shakespeare's Henry IV. As you can imagine, that means that there will be plenty of politics and war. Oh, and did I mention that the novel has a very strong female focus?
There are those meant to fight, and those meant to lead. Hal was a fighter, born and raised as a knight. Only to be stuffed into the I received a copy of Lady Hotspur through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Tessa Gratton’s latest novel, Lady Hotspur is an imaginative novel, one that is heavily inspired by Shakespeare's Henry IV. As you can imagine, that means that there will be plenty of politics and war. Oh, and did I mention that the novel has a very strong female focus?
There are those meant to fight, and those meant to lead. Hal was a fighter, born and raised as a knight. Only to be stuffed into the role of Prince, one her mother took the throne. She fought and bled for her mother’s rise in power, but the change is still a strange one.
Enter Lady Hotspur, another stunning warrior and a welcome distraction for Hal. She’s the Wolf of Aremoria – a violent and powerful warrior capable of taking on any foe. Lady Hotspur gladly shed her blood for the sake of this war – even while she questions its success.
Banna Mora lived her life expecting to take on the throne. While she may have survived the war and overthrowing of her uncle, she certainly lost her crown and any path leading to it. Now all she can do is plot revenge and hope.

One thing I would like to mention, before diving into this review; Lady Hotspur is the sequel to o Queens of Innis Lear. That’s a fact I missed when excitedly picking up this novel to read, so I want to help make it a bit more clear here. I do feel that I missed out on something, thanks to my lack of reading Queens of Innis Lear beforehand.

“Never ignore the consequences of your actions, for such ignorance alone makes your actions unjust.”

I was so insanely excited to start reading Lady Hotspur. I loved the cover, the description, the inspiration, everything. So perhaps I went into this book with an unfair set of expectations. I’m not sure. What I do know is that this was not quite the book that I was hoping it would be.
Was it full of politics, war, and love? Yes, it absolutely was. Ultimately, it was the pacing that threw me off here. There was so much set up, which admittedly did create a beautiful world. But there is such as thing as too much, sometimes.
Hal, Lady Hotspur, and Banna Mora were three undoubtedly powerful female characters, and I was very much looking forward to getting to know them. While I enjoyed reading about their feats and their plotting (and their falling in love), I did feel like there was a certain lack of connection between myself and them. Maybe it’s the mood I was in, but given other reviews out there, I’m not so certain that’s the case.
I think what it all comes down to is that I didn’t read Queens of Innis Lear first – which I deeply regret. I’m hoping/assuming that there’s a stronger foundation there, one that would result in me feeling much more fondly towards these characters.
In short: I adored the concept of Lady Hotspur. A gender-bent version of Henry IV sounds absolutely amazing. I also loved the cover, which caught my attention and is easily one of my favorites so far this year. I also loved the sense of power and confidence behind the female leads. This is not something I want to be overlooked, so I’m mentioning it again here.
That being said, I didn’t end up loving Lady Hotspur nearly as much as I hoped. Actually, if I’m being brutally honest here, I struggled to finish this one. I don’t think I’d let this disappointment discourage me from reading more works from Tessa Gratton – in fact, I’d love to hear more about her other works (especially the predecessor for this novel).

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks ...more

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Jan 07, 2020 Doreen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars.

I guess you don't have to come into this having already read Tessa Gratton's The Queens Of Innis Lear, but I'm betting it would be super helpful. And I say that as someone who spent a lot of time looking up both that novel as well as the Shakespearean plays that inspired them (Henry IV Part I for this one, King Lear for its predecessor) in the course of reading this. Which research, along with historical asides, reminded me of all the reasons Shakespeare's plays annoy me. Massaging the 3.5 stars.

I guess you don't have to come into this having already read Tessa Gratton's The Queens Of Innis Lear, but I'm betting it would be super helpful. And I say that as someone who spent a lot of time looking up both that novel as well as the Shakespearean plays that inspired them (Henry IV Part I for this one, King Lear for its predecessor) in the course of reading this. Which research, along with historical asides, reminded me of all the reasons Shakespeare's plays annoy me. Massaging the truth for drama is one thing, but then pretending that drama is the truth is quite another. Oh, don't tell me old Bill was presenting his stuff as fiction, you know well and good he wrote expedient political nonsense.

But I do love a good retelling, and so to Ms Gratton's latest. Lady Hotspur is a gender-bending, multiracial fantasy based loosely on Henry IV Part I, which itself was based loosely on real history. Hal, Hotspur and Edmund are all women in this version, and best friends who grow to be at odds when Hal's mother returns from exile to depose the previous king, Rovassos, who had named Edmund (here renamed Banna Mora) his heir. Hal and Hotspur become lovers but as the duties of nobility tear them away from one another and from Banna Mora, more than just personal conflict arises, as the quest to rule Aremoria begins. There's prophecy and sex and magic and loads of bloodshed, leading to a lovely, unexpected ending that felt rightfully earned. It's not exactly a spoiler to say that you can understand why Hal forgives Banna Mora, even tho I personally would not have -- then again, Hal is a good prince (eventually) and I'm a grumpy book critic.

That said, it can feel like a slog to get to said ending. There is A LOT going on, with a magic system and folklore that constantly reference TQoIL, such that I almost hesitate to call this a standalone novel. Ms Gratton does have a gift for characterization, where a character she presents as being deeply annoying can grow to become not only understandable but heroic. This was especially true for Hal: I spent a long time feeling impatient with her sense of self-pity and had to remind myself that she was still a teenager, and one who hadn't expected to have such responsibility thrust upon her. I was thus pleasantly surprised at how well she turned out. I do rather wish that some of the time spent on her romance with Hotspur had been spent on fleshing out her relationship with her mother instead, as I was actually quite startled when she expressed her devotion to Celedrix after spending so much of the book trying to disappoint her. I also wish I could've sympathized more with Banna Mora's outright selfishness and sense of privilege, but again, Hal is a far better person than I am.

If you dig medieval fantasy, Celtic-based magic and quasi-history, you could do worse than to pick up Lady Hotspur. If you want queer, feminist stories of warfare and leadership that affirm many facets of a healthy sexuality, definitely pick up Lady Hotspur.

And oh my God, that cover. The artist for this and TQoIL was inspired. ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Leslie rated it liked it

Shelves: to-read-fantasy

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the early galley.

“These champions could not be happy–the world doesn’t let women like us be happy!”

At heart, Lady Hotspur is a inspired by Henry IV, and you should know, I am no fan of Shakespeare. I do enjoy Macbeth and subsequent re-tellings, but on the whole, not my bag. Gratton got me, however, when she spun the classic tale as the story of three women who love each other but find themselves torn apart by politics, war, and their convictions at the hands Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the early galley.

“These champions could not be happy–the world doesn’t let women like us be happy!”

At heart, Lady Hotspur is a inspired by Henry IV, and you should know, I am no fan of Shakespeare. I do enjoy Macbeth and subsequent re-tellings, but on the whole, not my bag. Gratton got me, however, when she spun the classic tale as the story of three women who love each other but find themselves torn apart by politics, war, and their convictions at the hands of a prophecy concerning a lion, a dragon, and a wolf.

I should probably lead with the fact that I didn’t read The Queens of Innis Lear. It’s been on my TBR for a while, but I haven’t gotten around to it, and I don’t think it’s essential before jumping into this one, at least I don’t feel like I missed crucial information for this story. I am sure it will be a richer experience if you’re already steeped in this world, but as a newbie, I don’t feel like I missed too much to enjoy this story.

This. Book. Was. Work. Hard work, like mentally taxing. I wanted to quit MANY times but kept pressing on because I wanted to know what happened to these ladies. I had to know if their love for each other could mend broken spirits, hearts, and lands. I will admit, I can’t usually do long, high fantasy, and I HEAVILY skimmed large parts of this one. It clocks in at 592 pages, and like most high fantasy, has so many characters that I can’t keep them straight, nor can my little heart take caring about each and every one of them. I was wholly invested in Hal and Hostpur, even when their stubborn convictions kept them at odds and often made hypocrites of both of them.

I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this one to everyone. You have to enjoy long books. You need to like high fantasy and all that entails, and you have to have a strong constitution for a sprawling epic. Aside from the initial stirrings of romance, nothing comes quickly or easily, but I do think, in the end, it’s worth it. Gratton almost lost me several times, but she kept me hanging on, and I am happy that I stuck with it through the end, even if I probably missed some salient plot points regarding minor characters in my quest for Hal and Hotspur.

This one is out Tuesday, so it sounds up your alley, block off some serious time on your calendar to get lost in the story of two lands, about 256 characters, and and three women who come to life straight off the page. Also, wizards! ...more

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Jan 07, 2020 Kara rated it it was amazing

LADY HOTSPUR by Tessa Gratton is set within the same world of her masterful THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR. Instead of tackling another of Shakespeare's tragedies, Lady Hotspur fantastically deconstructs Henry IV, Part I in this gender-bent exploration of identity, loyalty, and love.
In the first chapter, Aremoria's king is overthrown with the help of the titular Lady Hotspur. The former heir to the throne Banna Mora was give her title of Prince to her fellow Lady Knight, Hal. As prince, Hal is more LADY HOTSPUR by Tessa Gratton is set within the same world of her masterful THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR. Instead of tackling another of Shakespeare's tragedies, Lady Hotspur fantastically deconstructs Henry IV, Part I in this gender-bent exploration of identity, loyalty, and love.
In the first chapter, Aremoria's king is overthrown with the help of the titular Lady Hotspur. The former heir to the throne Banna Mora was give her title of Prince to her fellow Lady Knight, Hal. As prince, Hal is more focused on crafting her story, serving as Prince of Riot and unapologetically loving Hotspur. Mora, who is both Learish and Aremorian, resents the lost of her future throne, and returns to Innis Lear, plotting her revenge. Though Hotspur loves Hal, she comes to side with Mora as she witnesses Hal neglecting her princely duties.
LADY HOTSPUR presents this tale through numerous points of view which lends itself well to this complex and layered story. Additionally, by hearing from Hal, Hotspur, and Mora individually, the reader's loyalties will similarly be tested like this lady triumvirate. These strong women all love each other but have very different perspectives on governance and justice.
Gratton builds upon the magic found in QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR and readers will encounter familiar names and characters. A major subplot in LADY HOTSPUR is Aremoria's lack of magic and the deserve to bring Aremoria and Lear together. Prophecy drives the plot and characters grapple with intention and destiny. QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR was tragic and destroyed me as a reader. LADY HOTSPUR has its moments of tragedy but focuses on how one rebuilds oneself. It's beautiful and inspiring.
LADY HOTSPUR features a broad tapestry of diverse figures and queerness is embedded within both Learish and Aremorian society. Though accepting of queer relationships, lady monarchs are still required to give birth to heirs which creates complications for all of the characters.
Gratton's prose is gorgeous and LADY HOTSPUR was a joy to read. I am excited to see which play of the Bard she tackles next in the world of Innis Lear. ...more

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Dec 22, 2019 Julie rated it really liked it

I received a free copy of this book from netgalley, all opinions are my own

I'm still not sure about the rating, maybe 3.5 or 3.75
I'm gonna be honest I struggled to read this in the beginning, it just wasn't clicking for me, you know? But once I focused and read couple of chapters, I couldn't stop! So I think, it's just that kind of book, that requires your full attention.
One thing I loved the most is the world building and magic system! It's very detailed and so immersive!! It feels like I'm I received a free copy of this book from netgalley, all opinions are my own

I'm still not sure about the rating, maybe 3.5 or 3.75
I'm gonna be honest I struggled to read this in the beginning, it just wasn't clicking for me, you know? But once I focused and read couple of chapters, I couldn't stop! So I think, it's just that kind of book, that requires your full attention.
One thing I loved the most is the world building and magic system! It's very detailed and so immersive!! It feels like I'm actually there, like this is a true story! I love when books I like that.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of and I think that was one of the reasons that it took me a while to get into it. I kept forgetting who is who (besides the main characters) and there are a lot of places, and different courts, so once again, it takes time to get used it and learn all the places and names.
We have our three main characters Hal, Hotspur and Banna Mora. They are incredibly strong (both physically and mentally) characters. Banna Mora was my favorite of the three, I think she was the most interesting out of them. Hotspur was honestly a bit annoying at times, don't know why, just didn't connect with her.
We also follow Rowan and Connelly, from Innis Lear, a land full of magic!
By the way I don't think you need to read The Queens of Innis Lear to understand this book but I think it'd be better if you read Innis Lear story first.
I loved all the relationships between the characters, both romantic and platonic ones. Tessa writes amazing queer love stories and I'm so here for it!
Yet, despite all the things that I loved, I felt like something was missing from the story. It took me a while to read it and I don't know, hard to explain why but it wasn't catching my full attention. I actually started this book couple of months ago but had to set aside and I honestly forgot about it...
Overall, I still enjoyed it and will definitely read more from this author. And if you like badass female warriors, queer characters, magic and detailed world building, you should check it out. ...more

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About Tessa Gratton

Tessa Gratton

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Tessa Gratton has wanted to be a paleontologist or a wizard since she was seven. Alas, she turned out too impatient to hunt dinosaurs, but is still searching for a someone to teach her magic. After traveling the world with her military family, she acquired a BA (and the important parts of an MA) in Gender Studies, then settled down in Kansas with her partner, her cats, and her mutant dog. She now ...more