BookView Review

BookView Review rated it:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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Publication Date: May 17, 2023

Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Genre: Historical Fiction

ISBN: 978-1-63988-800-9

List Price: $17.99 USD Trade Paperback

Page Count: 290

Audience: Adult

A pleasant romance and an exhilarating adventure infuse Conlan’s roaring novel. To pay for his endless wars and lavish court, Henry Tudor has seized England’s rich monasteries and convents. Thousands of illuminated manuscripts are stolen and destroyed. Squire Henry Truelove of Cornwall has made his way to the court much to the pleasure of his father but otherwise he has simpler ambitions: to win the hand of his childhood friend and reluctant ladylove, Morwenna Goodwin. When his family’s estate faces ruinous taxation, Henry, Morwenna, old Tom, and a few others form a band of “holy pirates” to bring down the corrupt taxation official, and to rescue the precious lost books supposedly hidden on Henry’s family estate. The prose is crisp, and Conlan’s dialogue is sharp and witty. She richly describes the Tudor setting, capturing what it was like for ordinary people as they faced atrocities of corrupt authorities, as well as the prevalent class and gender inequality of the era. Henry is a complete darling; romantic, persistent, and utterly sincere. Feisty Morwenna is an endearing heroine. The secondary cast is fully fleshed-out and authentic. The plot is clever and intricate, exploring questions of love, passion, friendship, greed for power and wealth, violence, gender disparity, solidarity, and fate. At once swashbuckling and romantic, this is a rollicking good time.

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