nicki_in_nz's Reviews (954)

A bit of trashy nonsense from the library that was actually quite a bit better than I expected. If the library had more in the series I'd read them, but sadly they don't and it wasn't good enough to make me want to buy the rest.

I liked this, but it didn't quite live up to expectation, which was a shame. Great idea but somehow the alternative reality didn't seem very realistic to me. And yes, I know it's an alternative reality and so therefore not real, but it was less real than it should have been! Lovely main characters though - I liked them both - would be happy to read a sequel.

I really loved this. It reminded me of The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper, which is one of my favourite books, although apart from the Arthurian connection and the fact that it was set just before Christmas the two are nothing alike. It just generated a similar atmosphere of mystery and myth. 4.5 stars.

It's hard to explain why I struggled with this book. The historical period is interesting, Alice Perrers is a good base for a story, but this is very hard going. There is so much description of how the characters are feeling, so very little conversation. A lot of dry background and not much to get you emphasising with the characters. I got sick of the phrase, 'It's only then'. It's only then that he/she thinks/feels/realises/understands. If you'd like to read a historical fiction based on Alice Perrers, Emma Campion's 'The King's Mistress' beats this hands down.