This was one of the books on my bookshelf that I had been wanting to read for SO long and I was slightly disappointed. Whilst reading part 1 and 2 I found myself second guessing what this story was about and what was it all leading up to. It wasn't obvious what the author was doing until the final part of the book when everything made sense. Without spoiling it too much, the book really exaggerates the dangers of 'gossip' in high court at the time and how Fragile husband and wife relationships were during this time. I did enjoy it but like I said, it was obvious where the book was going until the very end and had I not been as stubborn to finish it, I probably would have DNF'ed.