The Honey and The Sting

[Anne-Marie]

Warning This review begins with a spoiler, if you already know the story of George Villiers read on, if not skip the first paragraph.

This book is a blend of historical fact and fiction, a re-imagining of the events leading up to the assassination of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. George was a favourite of James 1st, but was unpopular with the public for his corruption, incompetence, and defeat by the French. He was assassinated by John Felton in 1628.

A thoroughly disagreeable and evil character, George’s control and cruelty is present throughout the book even though he plays a small role in the actual events. It is his puppets, including Felton, who carry out his evil plans, shadowing the main characters in foreboding and fear.

Hester is raped by Villiers and bears his son. Being abandoned, she raises Rafe with the help of her two sisters, Melis and Hope. Orphans themselves, they have no male protector and rely on their own skills to survive. When Rafe is 9, Villiers reappears wanting to claim his son. Hester tries to blackmail him into leaving her alone with letters that prove his treachery. Instead, this puts them in more danger, and she and her sisters must go into hiding in a remote house in Shropshire.

The atmospheric description of the house adds to the suspense and supernatural feeling to the book, there is a darkness and feeling of hopelessness to the sisters’ plight, but the resourceful sisters are worthy opponents, despite the wasp in their midst in the form of Villiers man, Felton.

Hester, the sensible older sister, is helped by her sisters Melis, who has visions, and brings the supernatural feel to the book, and Hope, the beautiful younger sister, whose innocence sees her manipulated by the men trying to bring about their downfall. The characters are well written and interact well, although there is a disjoint between Hester narrating in the first person and the other characters in the third person, but it is enjoyable despite this.

The position of women in society at the time is well illustrated, with the sisters being at the mercy of men, and with no protector. The subtle nod to the coven of witches idea of the sisters, shows that misogyny at the time could lead to very dangerous accusations being brought against strong, independent women. The hive run by a queen and her ensemble of female workers is a great analogy for the all-female household, the sweetness and the sting of the sisters as they defend their existence.

I wasn’t quite sure where this book sat in the discussion topics, it is an historical thriller, with gothic, supernatural undertones. The historical action is well researched and the book itself is well written, but I think that it could have benefited from a lot more mystical, supernatural intrigue, hence why I have settled on it being in the thriller discussions. I could just as easily have created an historical fiction discussion board, as the book successfully straddles this genre as well. Overall an enjoyable book, and an author to revisit, but it just missed out on 4 stars because of my personal preference for a bit more supernatural suspense.