Taste of Treason, by April Taylor, Reviewed.

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.

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• Never In Her Proper Place: The Feminism of Anne Boleyn
• Book Review - The Wives of Henry VIII as told by Antonia Fraser (1992)
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Avril Field-Taylor and her WIP

Image via WikipediaAvril Field-Taylor writes crime novels, and, like her contemporary detective, Georgia Pattison, sings. But, she also writes alternative history crime novels and is currently working on a series set in Tudor Britain featuring Luke Ballard, apothecary and elemancer. Yes, like you, I know what an apothecary is, but an elemancer? Well, it's a magician who uses the elements to perform magic. And Luke is involved with the court of King Henry IX, the son of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.  Avril doesn't mess with history lightly; she does very thorough research and knows her period almost as if she had lived in it. No, she's not that old; a mere spring chicken, in fact, but she gives the impression with her writing that she has been there, done that, in the locations and time she uses to such good effect in her books. If you have an interest in Tudor England, or find the idea of alternative history fascinating, or if you just want to witness some real, professional research in action, I recommend a visit to her blog. It's a new site, so, if you visit it now, you'll be in at the beginning and be able to join Avril on her journey to discover the facts about the Tudor period and see how she uses this knowledge to build a fascinating world in which her hero can perform his detective work.