Dark Queen Rising by Paul Doherty
Stacey • August 6, 2019
England during the 14th and 15th Century was a bloody mess of wars and a pretty serious game with the throne. The 100 years war really took its toll on England and all its people. The war of the roses, the infamous battle between the Lancastrians and the Yorks was the pivotal turning point for England as a whole.
Fast forward to the tail end of the war and we find Margaret Beaufort. Ruthless, intelligent and the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, knows she could never take the throne in her own birth right so pins all her dreams on her malleable son Henry.
During this time being a Lancaster may as well be wearing a bright neon sign saying traitor to the throne right here. This still did not stop Lady Margaret.
I adore historical fiction. It’s been my go to genre for quite some time. I am well versed in the Tudor dynasty and have a vast knowledge base starting with the war of the roses, all the way to the death of Elizabeth I. I half wondered if this would be a blessing or a curse and it turned out to be a curse for the author. There are some pretty acute inaccuracies in the historical parts of the book. They did grate on me a bit, I have to be honest but for for the most part, the writing is good enough for me to overlook the inconsistencies. The beginning of the book didn’t flow well for me, way too much talking and no story building. I hated that. Building into the story would have been better. I rather felt that the first chapter was picking up from somewhere else. It felt like I was starting a book from the middle of the story rather than the beginning.
Margaret Beaufort comes across a little less of a tyrant in this rendition. The author gives her a certain motherly humanity that made her a little easier to swallow. I couldn’t imagine having my only son so far away from me and not knowing if he was going to stay safe or if he was even alive. It must have taken its toll on Margaret being in fear constantly. I really can’t help wondering if the hardening of her heart started as young girl with no stabilty, rather than from all the upheaval with the realm.
When I read the synopsis for the book I was excited! A Tudor murder mystery!! How creative. I felt very let down with the whole story. The whole mystery surrounding the murders were not the star of the book as I was lead to believe. For me, if the part about the murders were removed from the summary, I would have gone in with a different mind set and I think you would have seen a very different review from me.
Instead this book is about a highly ambiguous woman with an ambition to rival any man. You never fully understand if it’s her love for her son that drives her or whether she loves the glory her son can give her by claiming the throne and ultimately, giving her the control of the realm.
‘She was determined to weave the web she wanted..’ That doesn’t sound like a woman who is just trying to navigate her way through a dark time in history. She is actively going against the grain and is putting her life and her sons in mortal danger in the process.
This book switches between the points of view of Margaret and Christopher Ulswicke. Ulswicke was one of only two people Margaret trusted in the world. I actually enjoyed his story more so than Margarets. He's funny, determined and could feel his need to do his very best. He was much more genuine a character than Margaret. He did what he did for the good of his mistress and for someone who kills people, was a much more believable human than Margaret comes across as. Other than the gruesome and overly descriptive deaths being described, there wasn’t much that stood out.
The pace of the book wanes a lot and other times you get far too much information thrown at you. I can still see the potential this book has but for a seasoned reader like me, it didn’t hold the water it should have. There were no twists and turns, nothing to drive you forward to continue to read. I did finish it. It was mediocre at best and a real let down for me. I did a happy dance when I first started to read it. I was excited. By the end I was just glad it was over.
I have never read any other of his work and in all honesty, I probably won’t be seeking his work out again. It’s a real shame that I didn’t have something better to say about this book. I really wanted to love it.
I would give it 2.5 stars out of 5. I even had to go and read parts again because my mind wandered and that never happens to me.
Sincerely, The Lioness
Book review - Fiction - Paperback ARC - Retelling - Historical fiction - fantasy - debut I just finished Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui and here are my musings. Not yet published Expected 24 Mar 26 Aicha is the daughter of a freedom fighter and she was born ready for battle. She sees the devastation of war and she is angry. It burns in her soul.. Fighting for Morocco’s freedom is her life. Her only reprieve is her secretary lover, a rebellion leader… But the monster under her skin wants release… It will no longer stay hidden. Well that was a surprise! I’ve never read a book with such feminine rage and this was something I had no idea I would enjoy so much. Her anger was a sight to behold and It was (cough cough) relatable. I also enjoyed the family, sisterhood and friendship that was weaved throughout the book. SO GOOD. You could feel the turmoil from all the characters and that made it feel so realistic. The world building is amazing. It was the best part for me. I did feel the smutty parts were a bit much for the tone of the book but I’m probably in the minority here. The story was culturally rich and that was amazing and it had a decent pace. I wish we had had Aicha’s childhood to give a more rounded view of her anger but all in all… Very entertained. 4 stars Thank you @orbitbooks_us for my gifted copy #bookblogger #readerblog #bookinfluencer #bookreader #bookpodcast #fantasyreader #lionessofliteracy
Book Review - ALC Audiobook - Romance - Women's Fiction - Twin Rivalry Life as Planned by Amanda Prowse How can one childhood decision change the course of two people's lives? Remy and Ashleigh are twins… As their lives unfold in a way neither of them expect, the courses of their loves don’t run smoothly and as the guilt gnaws away at Ashleigh, it starts to produce cracks between the sisters.. Can they find their way back to each other before they lose sight of each other and themselves? I was actually really enamoured at the way this story unfolded and I don’t normally like books that span such a time period… It literally started when they were little kids all the way to old age. It was actually done with remarkable panache! I really enjoyed the twin storyline. It was clever and I liked the fact the author fractured the relationship from a young age and that both twins viewed a specific incident very differently. I really enjoyed it. I thought the narration was done really well and I loved the cover. I really highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a book with sibling rivalry and a story that spans a whole life… This is it 4 stars Thank you @netgalley for my gifted ALC #amandaprowser #romancereader #romancebookblog #lionessofliteracy #bookishpodcast #bookinfluencer
Book Review - ALC Audiobook - Sci-Fi fantasy - Romantasy - Cottagecore - Forced Proximity How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva What would you do if a goblin is living in the home that you inherited and won’t leave? You go toe to toe for ownership. The more they fight, the more they learn about each other and begin to fall in love. Can they trust each other enough to help band their people together to oust an intruder. The tropes are troping Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Grumpy sunshine Opposites attract There’s only one bed I absolutely loved the vibes of this book. I did not love the narration. I did end up switching to reading because I just couldn’t do it. Reading was better. I really loved the cozy elements. It was whimsical and sweet. Audio 3.5 Reading 4.25!! Come check out my podcasts!! Litdulterous whore Book slayers with Betty and Bonny Stace and Jace spill the book #bookpodcast #romancereader #bookreviews #bookblogger #blogging #bookblogging #readersofig #igbooks #booktok
Book review - Fiction - Psychological thriller - Horror - Debut I just finished Lucky Number Six: A Psychological Thriller by Julia Shraybman When four survivors make it through a cafe gun shooting, their lives are never the same again.. When a woman comes and gifts them with the lives they always wanted, it's too good to be true especially when she can take back what she has given…. This book starts out wild! It was horrifying!!! So dark… So disturbing…. So my kind of book. It was truly intense and I am here all day for that. The book was told through multiple POVs and I am not a fan of that but it worked well here. Maybe I need to change my opinion on that haha. It was so so good! I enjoyed the fast pace and the supernatural elements. It was a welcome surprise. I’ve also never been to Chicago and I now wanna go. It was a solid book. It had all the right elements, the writing was decent and I was entertained through out. 4 stars Thank you @juliashraybman for my gifted copy. #indieauthor #indiebook #horror #bookblog #bookishblog #readerblog #lionessofliteracy #bookish
Book review - Fiction - E-ARC - ALC - Psychological Thriller - Mystery Thriller I just finished When I kill you by B A Paris and here are my musings. Nell is certain she is being followed but she never actually sees anyone. She has every right to be afraid… 14 years before she went by another name.. She witnessed a girl get into a mans car and she was found murdered. Obsessed with the crime she went to extreme lengths and people ended up dead. Has someone discovered her new identity or is it something else entirely? Oh man this book was GOOD!!!! The greedy book gremlin had both the ARC and Audio and the narration was amazing. I always try and do an equal balance of both for reviews but I got gripped a few times with the audio so be warned if you try to switch medias haha First things first.. This is done over two timelines… Elle in the past and Nell in the future.. It takes some time to piece together why these two timelines are overlapped this way and it's juicy. It felt like a mystery wrapped up in another mystery and it was a little slower paced than I liked but honestly the story building needed to be done this way. I was gripped. I was invested. The book was loaded with obsession and a fair amount of multiple people stalking and it was clever the way the story weaved itself together. It will keep you gripped from start to finish. Its not a wild ride but it is a richly complex story with a lot of heart racing moments. 4 stars Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillanaudio for my gifted copies. #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #readersofig #booktalk #audiobooks #readerblog #blogofbooks
Book Review - Paperback - Romantic suspense - Romance - frenemies to lovers I just finished Decoy in Stilettos by Selena Robins and these are my musings. "Picture this: You’re a professional decoy, looking like absolute fire in six-inch stilettos, getting paid to catch a dirty cheater in the act. Easy money, right? Wrong. The target drops dead, the Russian mob is suddenly blowing up your phone, and you’re officially the world's most stylish person of interest. Now, Ryan has to go on the run with the only man more annoying than a hitman: her high school crush turned 'I-have-no-personality' Detective Gabriel Marchetti. We’re talking 'forced proximity' with a man who thinks your career is a felony. Strap in for Decoy in Stilettos —it’s a chaotic, slow-burn disaster where the only thing sharper than the wit is the footwear. Seriously, if you like your romance with a high body count and even higher heels, this book is for you! Firstly the author, Selena, is absolutely one of my favorite people and you can find our interview at https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UYKCtd1Pcr9fU73omPGfC on my book podcast. Let’s get down to the brass tax. This book was hilarious and will smack you right in the face from chapter one. So much stuff goes down right out the gate and your head will explode from being thrown into the deep end but the execution was so precise you will be hooked from the first sentence. I loved chaotic and wild Ryan and she meets her match in stoic and A type Gabe. Imagine knowing your life is in the hands of someone you can’t really stand but I adored watching Ryan and Gabe slowly appreciate and learn to love the difference in who they are and it was romantic. The writing was tight, not a plot hole to be found and it is beautifully paced. It was a solid book. Plot vs Character driven in perfect balance and I gobbled it up! The tropes were troping and the banter was top notch! Oh and a mother that will make you run through the asylum door and close it firm behind you! If you love forced proximity with a protective MC.. Grab this one today! 4.5 stars! Loved every moment. Thank you @selenarobins for giving me the opportunity to read and chat with you! #booklover #bookinfluencer #bookishpod #romancereader #oppositesattract
Book Review - Fiction - ALC - Ebook - Horror - Mystery - slasher I just finished Dollface by Lindy Ryan and here are my musings. When Jill moves to New Jersey she doesn’t expect to end up as part of the cliquey PTA moms group. She is a horror author, keeps to herself… But maybe for once, she can make some real friends. Things seem good in suburbia until a plastic faced masked serial killer begins taking out each one of the PTA moms… Jill can’t help but be caught up in the crimes and wants to unmask the killer but will she be that final girl? Or is she next? AGHHHHHHHHHH I saw the cover…read the blurb… HAD TO HAVE IT. It did not disappoint! I was a greedy little book gremlin and got an e-arc and the ALC from netgalley and I dove head first into this book. It was GOOODDDDDD. I’ve never read this author before and I will definitely be looking for more from them. I loved the storyline. It was great! I liked how engrossed Jill was by the crimes and how the book was horror without being over the top…. It had a great mystery of who the killer was and the twist at the end… yayyyyyy!! Loved that. Jill is my kind of person. Loves horror, bit weird, comfortable being who she is! Gimme all those vibes. MINOR SPOILER! The fact her hubs wasn’t a cheater… EXTRA PROPS! I loved how graphic the murder stuff was and offset with the make up tips, the need to be beautiful.. It was awesome. I thought the ending was fabbo! It was well paced, fun, mildly horrifying and 100% pure entertainment. 4.5 stars Thank you to @stmartinspress @brilliancepublishing and @netgalley for my gifted copies!!! #bookpodcast #litdulterous #lionessofliteracy #bookblog #bookishblog #readerblog #reading #bookinfliencer
Book review - Fiction - audiobook - Horror Sister Creatures by Laura Venita Green Tess is a college drop out and her current job… watching 2 bickering siblings. Her alcohol infused days are interrupted one day by sister Gail…. A girl from the religious fundamentalist group… The night leaves its mark on Tess… It sets Tess on a new path with her life intersecting with 2 women on a bike ride years later and a malevolent shapeshifting entity calling itself Thea… I read the book… I did the audio in one sitting… I am still not sure what it was I read. It was massively disturbing. It scared the sheet out of me. I am still thinking about what the heck it was about days later. I can’t even decide if I liked it. It was weird… The pace was decent and the story… It was bizarre!! The ending was WTAF just happened… I don’t even know what to say except if you like books that keave you scratching your head.., This is it.. 4 stars… Crickets… I have no words haha @netgalley thank you for my gifted copy #bookreview #bookblogging #readervlog #netgalley #audiobookreader #audiobooks
Book review - ALC - Dracula reimagining - Gothic Fantasy - Slow Burn romance Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher Mina Penrose is no stranger to tragedy. Working at the local tea room to chase away the lonely days after her losses. Her curious mind is desperate to know the truth of the old tales around her town. She keeps seeing shapes in her tealeaves and how bad is the omen of finding a murdered man?The suspect? Harker Tregarrick. A man living on an old estate and never ventures outside… that is until the day after the murder and visits her place of work… Mina is strangely drawn to him and his heartbreaking history is too much to bear but can she discover the real murderer before it is too late? What an interesting twist on dracula. It's very loosely based on vampire lure and the story was really done in giving us something new and refreshing on a very old tale. It was a really slow burn so if that's not your jam normally.. You may wanna rethink that because this book is worth it. The writing is fantastic. I really enjoyed the story of Harker and Mina. I loved the atmospheric themes and how well the author did bringing me into the story. It was excellent. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The narration was perfect too. All in all it was a solid audiobook. 4 stars Thank you @netgalley for my gifted copy #bookalorian #lionessofliteracy #gothicreads #bookblog #bookishblog #readingblog #bookishreview
Book review - Fiction - E-ARC - ALC - Suspense - Mystery - Thriller - Debut Novel I just finished How to get away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson and here are my musings. When the body of a 14 year old is murdered in a local park, DI Samantha Hansen who has been on leave for six months after a breakdown.. Trudging back into the station. Her body was found with a book called How to get away with murder by Denver Brady. A literal how to guide to murder and literally getting away with it. The book claims to be a serial killer's crime diary and how he got away with it but what does this book have to do with the murder… Is there more to the author? Can Sam help bring the murderer to justice while finding out how much of the crimes in the book are true? This was a really different book than I was expecting in the best possible way. This little book gremlin had an arc and an alc and I have to say both formats were excellent. The narration was really solid. I have to say that I was most intrigued with the book.. I also wondered how true it all was but was too afraid to google it haha I really liked Sam. I felt she was very realistic and you can feel she had trauma. She wasn’t prepared to come back to work but she walked across the crime scene and that was the push she needed. It wasn’t a fast paced thriller. It brought all the information slowly and it led to quite the build up. My fave part was that I had no idea who killed her. I was actively trying to solve it but NOPE! The only downside was it was a touch monotonal and that was the only thing that I found a bit of a con. Really good writing. It was very very entertaining and I was hooked from start to finish. 4.5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress @macmillanaudio for my gifted copies. #bookblogger #readersoffacebook #booklover #bookcommunity #lionessofliteracy #bookpodcast
