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Queen of Eventide
For Maddie Lincoln, returning to her childhood home was an opportunity to retake control. Instead, she becomes trapped in an ancient struggle between mythic forces. A struggle in which her life – or death – might be the deciding factor.
Pursued through Nottingham’s mist-shrouded streets, Maddie is drawn into Eventide: a realm where legends walk and perception shapes reality. As the hidden dangers of Eventide bleed into the material realm, Nottingham falls under the sway of a vengeful, malevolent queen.
It falls to Maddie to stop the chaos from spreading … no easy task when nothing and no one are precisely what they seem.
Can Maddie discover the truth about the Queen of Eventide before it’s too late?
Pursued through Nottingham’s mist-shrouded streets, Maddie is drawn into Eventide: a realm where legends walk and perception shapes reality. As the hidden dangers of Eventide bleed into the material realm, Nottingham falls under the sway of a vengeful, malevolent queen.
It falls to Maddie to stop the chaos from spreading … no easy task when nothing and no one are precisely what they seem.
Can Maddie discover the truth about the Queen of Eventide before it’s too late?
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2015
3 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Ward
58 books440 followersMatthew Ward is a writer, cat-servant and owner of more musical instruments than he can actually play (and considerably more than he can play well). He’s afflicted with an obsession for old places – castles, historic cities and the London Underground chief amongst them – and should probably cultivate more interests to help expand out his author biography.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife – as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats – and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife – as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats – and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 26, 2022
Original review posted on my blog Out of This World SFF:
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
This book is such a charming and wondrous portal-esque fantasy tale that had me entranced right from the opening pages. And it was interesting reading something that wasn't epic fantasy from Matthew Ward as the only exposure I had of him before this was his wonderful doorstopper Legacy Trilogy (which I loved by the way). So I think that having this be a different style and tone actually made my enjoyment of the story that much higher.
One thing about this book that truly captivated me is that it is rooted in the Robin Hood legend but with a different twist that take place mostly in present day. At the same time there are characters and things that somehow make their way into the real world during the mists just before dusk which really gave an added portal fantasy aspect that I simply loved. And these things are hunting main character Maddie Lincoln for some unknown reason.
There are also some outstanding elements with regard to one famous character in particular in the RH legend and how they are reflected in the story taking place in the Nottingham of today. A fair amount of historical reworkings and liberties are taken but Ward does a masterful job of spinning everything into his own unique and entertaining story in my opinion.
If you enjoy fairy tales with a splash of urban and portal fantasy thrown in the mix, then you will absolutely adore QUEEN OF EVENTIDE. Matthew Ward has shown with this magical story just how broad his range is and the results are more than remarkable. This is a quick read that should enchant the vast majority of fantasy readers in my opinion.
https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.co...
This book is such a charming and wondrous portal-esque fantasy tale that had me entranced right from the opening pages. And it was interesting reading something that wasn't epic fantasy from Matthew Ward as the only exposure I had of him before this was his wonderful doorstopper Legacy Trilogy (which I loved by the way). So I think that having this be a different style and tone actually made my enjoyment of the story that much higher.
One thing about this book that truly captivated me is that it is rooted in the Robin Hood legend but with a different twist that take place mostly in present day. At the same time there are characters and things that somehow make their way into the real world during the mists just before dusk which really gave an added portal fantasy aspect that I simply loved. And these things are hunting main character Maddie Lincoln for some unknown reason.
There are also some outstanding elements with regard to one famous character in particular in the RH legend and how they are reflected in the story taking place in the Nottingham of today. A fair amount of historical reworkings and liberties are taken but Ward does a masterful job of spinning everything into his own unique and entertaining story in my opinion.
If you enjoy fairy tales with a splash of urban and portal fantasy thrown in the mix, then you will absolutely adore QUEEN OF EVENTIDE. Matthew Ward has shown with this magical story just how broad his range is and the results are more than remarkable. This is a quick read that should enchant the vast majority of fantasy readers in my opinion.
October 16, 2015
Thanks to Matthew Ward for giving me this book to review.
Maddie’s life has fallen apart and she has moved back home to Nottingham to try and sort her life out. However, she gets caught up in a war she could not imagine, with the Dark Lady. As the Dark Lady’s influence grows, Nottingham is turning aggressive and Maddie is being pursued across the city and the realm of Eventide. With the help of old and new friends, can Maddie discover the truth before it is too late?
Queen of Eventide is a paranormal/fantasy novel which has a twist on the story of Robin Hood. There was nothing wrong with this book but I just could not get into it and I was not drawn into the story.
I found it really hard to connect to Maddie, especially as I felt she was too hard on her mother, but apart from that she was a normal person with a lot of issues, although I could not figure out her age. I liked Charles King as he was quirky and flamboyant. All the other characters were flat and I did not really care about what happened to them.
Queen of Eventide had potential but I could not get into it and DNF at 55%.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Maddie’s life has fallen apart and she has moved back home to Nottingham to try and sort her life out. However, she gets caught up in a war she could not imagine, with the Dark Lady. As the Dark Lady’s influence grows, Nottingham is turning aggressive and Maddie is being pursued across the city and the realm of Eventide. With the help of old and new friends, can Maddie discover the truth before it is too late?
Queen of Eventide is a paranormal/fantasy novel which has a twist on the story of Robin Hood. There was nothing wrong with this book but I just could not get into it and I was not drawn into the story.
I found it really hard to connect to Maddie, especially as I felt she was too hard on her mother, but apart from that she was a normal person with a lot of issues, although I could not figure out her age. I liked Charles King as he was quirky and flamboyant. All the other characters were flat and I did not really care about what happened to them.
Queen of Eventide had potential but I could not get into it and DNF at 55%.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
March 2, 2015
Maddie finds herself at the center of a realm of myth, pursued by a spirit of evil.
There is a new and interesting twist to the old legend of Robin Hood which helped draw me into this story. I love reworked fairy tales, and I’m a big fan of Robin’s tales, but this book is entirely different. It isn’t a story of Robin’s exploits in the forest. Instead, it focuses on his strange origins and his relationship to Marian, which became something quite unexpected. I appreciated the explanations and I think they worked well.
A corrupt and twisted version of Maid Marian was a nice touch, but she seems to be evil with little purpose. In fact, I don’t think she understands why she is the way she is, and claims that she’s evil because it’s fun. Well that took some of the fun out of it for me. I love a good villain, but I prefer them to have one evil plot that they’re determined to carry out instead of inciting random acts of violence on a whim. I feel like she wasn’t developed well enough for my liking.
Main character Maddie seems far too trusting of men she’s just met, but otherwise she’s an honest and believable character. Sure she’s been chosen by this evil woman for an unknown purpose, but she remains a regular girl, no different from anyone else when she’s in the real world. Companions Charles and William were a little flat for me. Sure they have interesting back stories, but they didn’t grab my attention or endear themselves to me. I could not pick a favorite character from this book since none of them really spoke to me or made me want to know more.
I have to say that there are many actions scenes, and they are very nicely done. They kept me glued to the pages, hoping to see if Maddie would outrun her pursuers. The entire book has a heavy thriller vibe, making this suitable for readers who love cross-genre stories. The paranormal and fantasy elements lend to the mystery and I felt the story flowed nicely, though it took about a hundred pages for me really get interested. That’s when it takes more of the fantasy genre than the contemporary. I prefer a fantasy story to remain in the fantasy realm, but this one bounces back and forth more like the paranormal genre. Knights and kings are present as in the fantasy genre, as well as ghosts and shades from the paranormal genre.
Descriptions of the world are lovely, and I was easily able to picture the world of Eventide and Maddie’s surroundings. Word choice is fantastic through many of the passages, and it is nicely edited. My only complaint about the writing is that the word “thud” is repeated about 36 times. Other than that, I have nothing but praise for the writing style.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
There is a new and interesting twist to the old legend of Robin Hood which helped draw me into this story. I love reworked fairy tales, and I’m a big fan of Robin’s tales, but this book is entirely different. It isn’t a story of Robin’s exploits in the forest. Instead, it focuses on his strange origins and his relationship to Marian, which became something quite unexpected. I appreciated the explanations and I think they worked well.
A corrupt and twisted version of Maid Marian was a nice touch, but she seems to be evil with little purpose. In fact, I don’t think she understands why she is the way she is, and claims that she’s evil because it’s fun. Well that took some of the fun out of it for me. I love a good villain, but I prefer them to have one evil plot that they’re determined to carry out instead of inciting random acts of violence on a whim. I feel like she wasn’t developed well enough for my liking.
Main character Maddie seems far too trusting of men she’s just met, but otherwise she’s an honest and believable character. Sure she’s been chosen by this evil woman for an unknown purpose, but she remains a regular girl, no different from anyone else when she’s in the real world. Companions Charles and William were a little flat for me. Sure they have interesting back stories, but they didn’t grab my attention or endear themselves to me. I could not pick a favorite character from this book since none of them really spoke to me or made me want to know more.
I have to say that there are many actions scenes, and they are very nicely done. They kept me glued to the pages, hoping to see if Maddie would outrun her pursuers. The entire book has a heavy thriller vibe, making this suitable for readers who love cross-genre stories. The paranormal and fantasy elements lend to the mystery and I felt the story flowed nicely, though it took about a hundred pages for me really get interested. That’s when it takes more of the fantasy genre than the contemporary. I prefer a fantasy story to remain in the fantasy realm, but this one bounces back and forth more like the paranormal genre. Knights and kings are present as in the fantasy genre, as well as ghosts and shades from the paranormal genre.
Descriptions of the world are lovely, and I was easily able to picture the world of Eventide and Maddie’s surroundings. Word choice is fantastic through many of the passages, and it is nicely edited. My only complaint about the writing is that the word “thud” is repeated about 36 times. Other than that, I have nothing but praise for the writing style.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
Returning to Nottingham in search of a fresh start, Maddie Lincoln finds only painful memories and unsettling dreams. Those dreams come to terrifying life when she finds herself drawn into a strange world of fearsome hunters and mythical figures, as the hidden realm of Eventide begins to overlap with her own comfortable reality. Nothing has prepared Maddie for being caught up in a magical conflict spanning centuries, but the strange laws and terrible truths of Eventide reveal in her a strength she didn’t realise she possessed.
As a modern take on a classic piece of English folklore this ticks all the right boxes, emphasising the darkness at the heart of every good fairy tale and providing all the ambiguous morality and conflicted characters that modern-day readers want. It’s far from a straightforward retelling though, instead stripping things back to their core components and offering a contemporary, relatable viewpoint that connects characters in believable ways, and invites the reader to question what they think they know. Fantasy fans looking for something dark and characterful with lashings of crossover appeal will find a lot to like here.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/...
As a modern take on a classic piece of English folklore this ticks all the right boxes, emphasising the darkness at the heart of every good fairy tale and providing all the ambiguous morality and conflicted characters that modern-day readers want. It’s far from a straightforward retelling though, instead stripping things back to their core components and offering a contemporary, relatable viewpoint that connects characters in believable ways, and invites the reader to question what they think they know. Fantasy fans looking for something dark and characterful with lashings of crossover appeal will find a lot to like here.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/...
December 22, 2022
This book had so much potential but too many plot holes & not enough relationship building for me.
June 12, 2016
Maddie Lincoln’s life is a mess. She ends up back home in Nottingham after her mother’s death, trying to find her footing and start over again. However, her messed up life soon seems no big deal when she’s running for her life. Caught in a war between the Dark Lady and her enemies, Maddie stays one step ahead by the help of her friends. Maddie enters a new world – the realm of Eventide. New dangers appear at every turn and soon the town is rioting. The Dark Lady’s powers grow ever stronger. The hooded man presents more questions than answers. Maddie must decide who really her worst foe is and who she truly is herself.
This book caught my attention very early on. I was totally intrigued by the third or fourth page in! I have always loved the story of Robin Hood and this story takes place in the heart of Nottingham in present day. This however is not a true Robin Hood story, and that catches my attention. There is lots of action and intrigue, and mystery and twists and turns. The story flows smoothly between points of view and different flashbacks or current scenes. The characters have good development. You have a good idea what Maddie is facing and what her history has been. The fairy tale characters have minimal development, but their back stories stay true to what we’ve always heard about Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the others.
The story has many British phrases that were slightly different to my American ear, but easy enough to follow. I only had to look up one or two to make sure I knew what was going on. It added a nice flavor to the story and made it different and stand out from other books I’ve read recently.
One of my favorite lines in the story is from chapter nine. Maddie and her friend Charles are trying to research and find answers to some of the events Maddie has experienced. While sitting in Charles’ library Maddie muses: “All Charles needed … was a violin, a pipe, and a long suffering doctor to take note of his escapades, and the picture would be complete.” No actual reference to Sherlock Holmes is stated, but with this thought I could immediately picture a Holmes-esque library, with the fire smoldering, and all the other iconic Holmes scenes that fully paint how they were trying to puzzle out the situation.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The action was fast enough to keep you interested. The characters were relatable. The slower parts were a nice chance to catch your breath. I would highly recommend it.
Review by Patti Farrington
This book caught my attention very early on. I was totally intrigued by the third or fourth page in! I have always loved the story of Robin Hood and this story takes place in the heart of Nottingham in present day. This however is not a true Robin Hood story, and that catches my attention. There is lots of action and intrigue, and mystery and twists and turns. The story flows smoothly between points of view and different flashbacks or current scenes. The characters have good development. You have a good idea what Maddie is facing and what her history has been. The fairy tale characters have minimal development, but their back stories stay true to what we’ve always heard about Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the others.
The story has many British phrases that were slightly different to my American ear, but easy enough to follow. I only had to look up one or two to make sure I knew what was going on. It added a nice flavor to the story and made it different and stand out from other books I’ve read recently.
One of my favorite lines in the story is from chapter nine. Maddie and her friend Charles are trying to research and find answers to some of the events Maddie has experienced. While sitting in Charles’ library Maddie muses: “All Charles needed … was a violin, a pipe, and a long suffering doctor to take note of his escapades, and the picture would be complete.” No actual reference to Sherlock Holmes is stated, but with this thought I could immediately picture a Holmes-esque library, with the fire smoldering, and all the other iconic Holmes scenes that fully paint how they were trying to puzzle out the situation.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The action was fast enough to keep you interested. The characters were relatable. The slower parts were a nice chance to catch your breath. I would highly recommend it.
Review by Patti Farrington
March 27, 2015
To be honest, I was a little unsure coming into this book. Modern fantasy slant on an old English myth? It took a couple of chapters before the dark drifting mists wrapped me up and I found myself stalking through intersections in a twilight world of legends. The theme could have run away with itself, but happily it is grounded by the very human protagonist, Maddie. A rough edged lass, but she shows us a fair few layers as the story unfolds and Maddie develops as she responds to the fantastical, and pretty harrowing, events unfolding around her.
I really do have a fondness for the dark and gothic, and you can't beat being hunted through mist drenched graveyards at midnight by huntsmen on horseback! It is interesting to then see this placed in the modern setting of the city of Nottingham. I guess I benefit from having visited Nottingham many times, because it gave it even more of a grounding for me. I doubt that matters much really, but I did enjoy treading down it's cobblestoned streets within the fantasy backdrop.
I also loved some of the great characters, Charles King especially, for his flamboyance and old school charm. He read a little like a victorian con-man, but straddling the line between villain and hero - and always keeping you guessing.
The story chips along and has the right level of twists and turns. It's never too linear, and late on in the book one particular turn really caught me by surprise. I think my only criticism would be of the main character who, I never fully clicked with. That may be due to the strains of being in the limelight and the treacherous events she experiences and it definitely didn't spoil the book for me. There are also some nice 'historical' flashbacks to pivotal points in British history that add to the charm and weight of the unfolding story nicely. Overall it is a modern slant on an old English myth - and that is no bad thing. This book would definitely be a good read for anyone on the fence about full blown fantasy.
I really do have a fondness for the dark and gothic, and you can't beat being hunted through mist drenched graveyards at midnight by huntsmen on horseback! It is interesting to then see this placed in the modern setting of the city of Nottingham. I guess I benefit from having visited Nottingham many times, because it gave it even more of a grounding for me. I doubt that matters much really, but I did enjoy treading down it's cobblestoned streets within the fantasy backdrop.
I also loved some of the great characters, Charles King especially, for his flamboyance and old school charm. He read a little like a victorian con-man, but straddling the line between villain and hero - and always keeping you guessing.
The story chips along and has the right level of twists and turns. It's never too linear, and late on in the book one particular turn really caught me by surprise. I think my only criticism would be of the main character who, I never fully clicked with. That may be due to the strains of being in the limelight and the treacherous events she experiences and it definitely didn't spoil the book for me. There are also some nice 'historical' flashbacks to pivotal points in British history that add to the charm and weight of the unfolding story nicely. Overall it is a modern slant on an old English myth - and that is no bad thing. This book would definitely be a good read for anyone on the fence about full blown fantasy.
February 22, 2015
Stories about Nottingham having to always feature Robin Hood may be a bit of a cliche, but here you get a very interesting take on the folk lore, and Robin is very secondary to a cracking cast of characters who provide a wide guessing game of who is on which side, and why, as an ancient enemy tries to gather power.
The lead is Maddie, a young woman with a bag of issues, who is very human and real, not a stereotyped late 20s/early 30s woman with "no job, no boyfriend, no self esteem". Her reactions, thoughts and feelings are wholly believable. As the fantasy elements begin to rise in the book, you're dragged alone with her, and her journey is one I cheered on.
There's obviously been a lot of research into Nottingham and it's history, with some chapters highlighting the villain's past attempts to disrupt events. It's not rubbed in the readers face, you can throroughly enjoy the book knowing nothing about the city.
Good fun and a page turner for fantasy, urban fantasy or altered folk lore/fairy tale fans.
The lead is Maddie, a young woman with a bag of issues, who is very human and real, not a stereotyped late 20s/early 30s woman with "no job, no boyfriend, no self esteem". Her reactions, thoughts and feelings are wholly believable. As the fantasy elements begin to rise in the book, you're dragged alone with her, and her journey is one I cheered on.
There's obviously been a lot of research into Nottingham and it's history, with some chapters highlighting the villain's past attempts to disrupt events. It's not rubbed in the readers face, you can throroughly enjoy the book knowing nothing about the city.
Good fun and a page turner for fantasy, urban fantasy or altered folk lore/fairy tale fans.
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