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Product Description
Product Description
As war and treachery loom, an ambitious man’s mission threatens to topple two dazzling realms and their formidable rulers: Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen, and Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle.
It is 1588, and as the Spanish Armada prepares to besiege England, Paris balances on the brink of revolution. To maintain her grip on the throne and on the dark magic that has become her obsession, Catherine de Medici turns to Louis Xavier, a ruthless corsair who was schooled in the dark arts and has mastered piracy along the Spanish main. But Louis’s basest instincts are held in check by the kindness of Lady Jane Danvers, a British exile whose innate sense of honor is but one facet of her complex and passionate nature.
On Faire Isle, Ariane Cheney, unaware of the escalating threat from the Dark Queen, struggles with the task of protecting the daughters of the earth and their vast store of ancient magical wisdom. Weak and desperate for an advantage, the ailing Catherine makes a devil’s bargain that will cast a shadow over all.
It is 1588, and as the Spanish Armada prepares to besiege England, Paris balances on the brink of revolution. To maintain her grip on the throne and on the dark magic that has become her obsession, Catherine de Medici turns to Louis Xavier, a ruthless corsair who was schooled in the dark arts and has mastered piracy along the Spanish main. But Louis’s basest instincts are held in check by the kindness of Lady Jane Danvers, a British exile whose innate sense of honor is but one facet of her complex and passionate nature.
On Faire Isle, Ariane Cheney, unaware of the escalating threat from the Dark Queen, struggles with the task of protecting the daughters of the earth and their vast store of ancient magical wisdom. Weak and desperate for an advantage, the ailing Catherine makes a devil’s bargain that will cast a shadow over all.
About the Author
Susan Carroll is an award-winning romance author whose Dark Queen series books include The Huntress, The Silver Rose, The Courtesan, and The Dark Queen. She lives in Rock Island, Illinois.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fifth in Dark Queen series, July 31 2009
By Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)
Although 'Twilight of a Queen' is the fifth in a series I didn't actually realise this until I had been reading for a little while. The author makes it easy to follow the story and to learn about the characters as they are introduced into this tale.
Although the book focuses most on Captain Xavier, a pirate who finds himself washed up on an island of 'daughters of the earth' (read white witches) and on Lady Jane Danvers, a widow without an obvious future or role on the island, we also read the story from the point of view of Catherine de Medici, mother of King Henry of France, and of Meg Wolfe, a young witch on the island. The variety of points of view added some interest although I felt at times that I knew more about Meg than about Jane, who was a surprisingly quiet heroine.
Mixed in with the historical novel aspects, as the Spanish Armada prepares to sail against Britain, we read of sorcery, scrying glasses, necromancers, trances etc. Catherine de Medici is an evil queen who is trying to have Meg Wolfe kidnapped, using Captain Xavier to carry out his dirty work. But Xavier has finally found someone who can make him put his rather wasteful and amoral life behind him - if she can trust him.
I did enjoy this book, finding the pacing good and the events well written. I was left feeling a little unsure how hero and heroine, so different from each other, would deal with each other in the long term, but this is definitely worth a read.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Exciting and Immersive Tale, Aug 24 2009
By Ashley L. Sheppard - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)
Twilight of a Queen is historical fiction, and also more of a romance than I expected it to be, not that I minded that.
The story changes perspectives between many of the characters, good and bad alike. I sometimes don't like that style, but actually enjoyed it in the case of this novel. The characters have many dimensions and this is part of what makes this novel so great. It is so often that you read a book with poor development in this area that it was nice to have some realistic characters.
It is also very suspenseful, but not wickedly so. You will feel good after the ending, and appreciate the way the characters grew throughout. Susan Carroll creates an exciting and realistic world with this novel, and I would highly recommend it. It kept me very engaged, but despite reading it quickly, the length felt satisfactory.
One more note; I absolutely loved the female characters in this book. They were very independent and courageous, which was refreshing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Continuation to the Series, Aug 8 2009
By Ashley K. Rooks "grneydfairy" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)
Trying her hardest to protect the throne of France from Duc de Guise, Catherine de Medici turns to pirate Louis Xavier for help. King Henry's lack of strength and his carelessness for the protection of the throne influences Catherine to create a plot for Xavier to invade Faire Isle and kidnap the most powerful Daughter of the Earth, the Silver Rose. Xavier willingly accepts this task, and the Dowager Queen's coin, but soon finds out that another woman will have more power over his actions. Lady Jane Danvers captures the heart of Xavier and soon his mission of capturing the Silver Rose is deterred which infuriates Catherine. Out of fear of inexistence, Catherine tries to take matters into her own hands in the midst of chaos created by Henry's actions, the Duc's desire for power and the Spanish Armada.
I absolutely loved the whole Dark Queen series by Susan Carroll and I feel like I waited so long for this book to finally be released. Carroll writes expertly, embellishing the story with both fiction and history. I enjoyed the love story between Jane and Xavier and wish that there was more to read about the future of the two. It is apparently the last book in the series but is there any possible way Carroll will write another?
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