This series is awesome - I love it! Princess
Elizabeth + witches = happy reader. This is why I love this series: the magical
element with a touch of historical fiction.
And that book
cover?! That is a cover that would make me pick this book up in a bookstore or
library.
Title:
‘Witchfall’
Author: Victoria Lamb
Pages: 336
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Available: NOW at your local library/book store
Source: Netgalley
Her
darkest dreams are coming true.
In Tudor England, 1555, Meg Lytton has learned how powerful her magick gift can be. But danger surrounds her and her mistress, the outcast Princess Elizabeth. Nowhere is safe in the court of Elizabeth's fanatical sister, Queen Mary. And as the Spanish Inquisition's merciless priests slowly tighten their grip on the court, Meg's very dreams are disturbed by the ever-vengeful witchfinder Marcus Dent.
Even as Meg tries to use her powers to find guidance, something evil arises, impervious to Meg's spells and hungry to control England's fate. As Meg desperately tries to keep her secret betrothed, the Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, out of harm's way, caution wars with their forbidden desire. And with her most powerful enemy poised to strike, Meg's only chance is a heartbreaking sacrifice.
In Tudor England, 1555, Meg Lytton has learned how powerful her magick gift can be. But danger surrounds her and her mistress, the outcast Princess Elizabeth. Nowhere is safe in the court of Elizabeth's fanatical sister, Queen Mary. And as the Spanish Inquisition's merciless priests slowly tighten their grip on the court, Meg's very dreams are disturbed by the ever-vengeful witchfinder Marcus Dent.
Even as Meg tries to use her powers to find guidance, something evil arises, impervious to Meg's spells and hungry to control England's fate. As Meg desperately tries to keep her secret betrothed, the Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, out of harm's way, caution wars with their forbidden desire. And with her most powerful enemy poised to strike, Meg's only chance is a heartbreaking sacrifice.
My Thoughts:
Lamb does not disappoint in this
sequel. I was even more invested in Meg than ever—and my heart pumped harder in
this novel than in the first.
We are thrust back into Tudor England
when Mary is still on the throne and Princess Elizabeth is still her prisoner.
Throughout the novel, I waited for the death of Mary. And waited. And waited.
Because I knew that the solving of all of Meg’s troubles would happen with the
crowning of Elizabeth.
But, there couldn’t be a third book if
Lamb gave it to Elizabeth in this novel. So, I still wait. But be on notice
Lamb: I except Elizabeth to be crowned in book 3. I might cry if she is not.
After all, Queen Mary’s England is
dangerous. And it gives me the heebes. And really, I love Queen Elizabeth. Give
it to her already.
Okay, back to the sequel.
Meg is at court with Princess
Elizabeth, but all eyes are on them. One misstep and all is lost. Meg has to
mind her Ps and Qs and plays her role well, but is that enough?
When Princess Elizabeth takes ill, and
accusations of witchcraft land in her rooms, the plot takes a scary shift. The
last think Elizabeth needs is this to happen—and she needs to convince her
sister to stop the silliness.
But now Queen Mary has taken to her
chambers, awaiting the arrival of her little prince. An arrival that will not
happen as Queen Mary is not pregnant but sick with cancer. Again Lamb, where is
this woman’s death?!
So Elizabeth has another plan, get to
the King. He can stop the accusations. But, does it work? After all, people
will talk when they see him conversing with a woman that many in England feel
should be put to her death. How will Queen Mary feel about her sister taking
time out of her day to spend time with The King? And can the witch craze begin
to step away from Princess Elizabeth’s household, and off the back of Meg. Or
is there a traitor among them, waiting to oust Meg at the first chance?
And how does Marcus Dent play into all
of this? After all, Meg “banished” him in the last book. Or did she?
One thing I really enjoyed was the
growth of Meg’s character. She continues to build into her power, while trying
to conceal who she really is, and the bond she shares with Princess Elizabeth
seems unshakeable.
I also enjoyed how Lamb built the plot’s
tension throughout; sometimes making my heart beat a little faster because I
was so afraid for Meg. The pacing is spot on, giving readers a story and
characters they can invest in. And I do feel invested in Meg. While Meg is the
star of this series, there are other characters that enhance the story (besides
Princess Elizabeth) that bring fear, love, jealousy, horror, and more to the
page.
Twists, turns, surprises, and more wait
on the pages of this delightful read. It is one of my favorite reads of this
year. I love all things historical fiction that deals with Tudor England, especially
when witches are a part of it. And this is fastly becoming a favorite series of
mine.
Do
I recommend this book?
I enthusiastically do! Especially of
readers of historical fiction (with a touch of magic), this book series needs
to find itself into your life.
Let’s
talk about books—what’s the best historical fiction novel you’ve read lately?
Happy
Reading!
- The Hodgenator