I received this an an ARC from the publisher but the review is my own.
A well written continuation to the Jean Rombaud lineage, Humphreys has again created characters that leap off the page as flesh and blood men whose decisions, sometimes forced by the hand of fate lead them into the thick of the fight. This is a novel about a time where old virtues are being pushed aside by new ideas and no one is safe, not even Queen Elizabeth from the coming storm as the two vying factions of her court aim to outdo each other in their bid for her attentions and control of the government.
As Essex and Cecil fight their political battles, men like John Lawley find themselves scrambling for control of their own futures where every decision could led to a fatal downfall. Lawley has battled by Essex's side and it has been a perilous journey which has often come at a high cost but never so much as now. As John strives to piece together his life and restore himself as a player with William Shakespeare's company he finds himself once again being pulled into the turmoil of Essex's influence. But this time John will find himself the unwilling pawn of not only two great men but a woman who is facing losing the only thing she can not live without, her throne.
Told with a clear love and understanding of the time period, this tale is laden with treason, espionage, love lost and found, and a dark sense of humor that only underlines the sheer treachery and uncertainty of the times. Even if you have not read the preceding novels, this standalone is a look at a man whose whole world revolves around one toss of the die. A definite addition to your must read bookshelf.
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