Taste of Treason is the second book in the Tudor Enigma
series. The books are a mix of alternative history and fantasy, but that
description fails to do them justice.
Well written and comprehensively researched, the stories
take the reader back to the days following the death of Henry VIII. Except that
in these stories, Henry has a male heir, Henry IX is on the throne, and Anne
Boleyn is alive and well.
In Taste of Treason, Luke, an apothecary working not far
from Hampton Court Palace, has been engaged as an Inquirer by Anne. He is an
Elemancer; a man with certain magical powers. He is also a man with a
conscience who gives his time and cures generously to the poor of the area.
Young and handsome, he has yet to understand the joys and benefits to be had
from female company, though he has admirers.
I won’t give a synopsis here, except to let you know that
Royal lives are in danger and the future stability of the Realm is dependent on
Luke’s success in discovering the nature, identity and purpose of the Sunderer
bent on causing as much trouble as possible. He must fight this powerful evil
whilst maintaining a low profile, defending his friends from an ambitious and
unscrupulous witch finder, and dealing with the unreasonable demands of the
Royals for whom he works.
As always with April Taylor’s writing, the characters are
real and flawed. It is easy to empathise with the main protagonists, and the
lesser characters are drawn with equal facility. The story moves at a good pace
from the beginning and drives toward a stunning and increasingly intense
denouement. Although I was initially obliged to read the story over a number of
short sessions, I was unwilling to put the book down once I’d started on this
last portion.
The author uses language that is both accessible and appropriate
to the time of the story. She has developed a style that perfectly fits the
story and its time. Her descriptions of the various potions concocted by the apothecary
are full of detail, making the whole believable. Dog lovers will appreciate Luke’s
loyal companion. And history buffs will enjoy the details that describe the
society and way of life of the times. The romantics will love the developing
relationships.
So, if you like a splash of romance and magic blended with
some history you’ll love this book. I’ve read and enjoyed the first book, and
now the second. I look forward to the next in the series.
No comments:
Post a Comment