Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I
    Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I
    Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I
    Audiobook11 hours

    Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I

    Written by Sandra Byrd

    Narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the acclaimed author of To Die For comes a stirring novel told that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court.Like Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, Sandra Byrd has attracted countless fans for evoking the complexity, grandeur, and brutality of the Tudor period. In her latest tour de force, she poses the question: What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage--or your life? In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiance has fallen in love with her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power. Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth's circle. But in a court that is surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen's downfall, Helena is forced to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she's not sure she can trust--a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences. Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a brilliant exploration of treason, both to the realm and to the heart.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJan 24, 2014
    ISBN9781470390716
    Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I

    More audiobooks from Sandra Byrd

    Related to Roses Have Thorns

    Titles in the series (3)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Boleyns

      Jul 18, 2019

      The Boleyns
      11 min read

    • Article

      The White Rose & The Tudors

      Mar 19, 2018

      The White Rose & The Tudors
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Myths Of Henry’s Wives

      Oct 29, 2020

      The Myths Of Henry’s Wives
      2 min read

    • Article

      I Love Liz Hurley, Topless Or Not

      Jun 2, 2021

      Catching sight of Elizabeth Hurley’s breasts on page 87 of the Spring issue of The Oldie reminded me of several things, as you might imagine. Chief among them, beyond the fact that this magazine never ceases to surprise me, was a sudden vivid recolle

      3 min read

    • Article

      A tender THREAD

      Dec 22, 2021

      A tender THREAD
      9 min read

    • Article

      Show Stoppers

      Sep 19, 2019

      ONE late afternoon in August I popped into the 105th Gilsland Agricultural Show with The Media Queen and Mouse, her Scottish deerhound. Nearby Gilsland was popularised by Sir Walter Scott who arrived in 1797 in search of a wife and found one. As a re

      3 min read

    • Article

      The ROYAL INSIDER

      Mar 26, 2024

      It was lovely to hear the ‘new’ Duke of Edinburgh speak so movingly of his father, Prince Philip, in interviews to mark his 60th birthday. I can’t quite believe that Prince Edward is 60 – to me, it always seems that he and wife Sophie are still the

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Sands of TREGANLLAW

      May 5, 2022

      England, 1497. Henry VII, the first Tudor king, reigns, having vanquished Richard III, the last monarch of the House of York, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. A young man calling himself Richard, Duke of York has spent years striving for recogniti

      5 min read

    • Article

      ‘The day I met Her Majesty’

      Oct 5, 2022

      Like so many others, when the news came that the Queen had died, I was surprised by the emotion I felt. A tear rolled down my cheek and I was bewildered by it. Why would I cry for a woman I barely knew? Was it because she was always there, a steady,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Camilla The Down To Earth Duchess

      Jul 13, 2022

      Camilla The Down To Earth Duchess
      14 min read

    • Article

      Camilla The Down To Earth Duchess

      Jul 13, 2022

      Camilla The Down To Earth Duchess
      14 min read

    • Article

      Dawn Neesom Mind Of My Own

      Sep 20, 2022

      As the nation mourns, let us remember an extraordinary woman who was devoted to us all until the very end. She was only a woman. Just like us, she loved, laughed, rowed with and worried about her family. But she was also unique. A woman born to a de

      3 min read

    • Article

      FALSE IMPRESSIONS Part 2

      Mar 1, 2020

      FALSE IMPRESSIONS Part 2
      10 min read

    • Article

      A Right Royal Party For Shakespeare

      Mar 6, 2024

      Where was Leslie Caron? Was she there? On 14th February, I hosted a Valentine's Day party at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane. Walt Disney stayed at Grosvenor House on his honeymoon. As girls, the future Elizabeth II and her sister, Pr

      3 min read

    • Article

      The World’s Beauty

      Oct 7, 2020

      The World’s Beauty
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Scarlet PEBBLE

      Feb 28, 2024

      The Scarlet PEBBLE
      9 min read

    • Article

      Queen of Hearts

      May 19, 2022

      Queen of Hearts
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Wildest Place OF ALL

      Mar 2, 2022

      The Wildest Place OF ALL
      9 min read

    • Article

      Happy And Glorious

      Jun 1, 2022

      ICAN’T remember when I last used my 12 Fabergé after-dinner coffee cups. Americans call these little cups ‘demitasse’, which is about as bi-lingual as we get. Mine come in five colours and I treasure them, although I’ve reached the age where my guest

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Day I Met Prince Philip

      Apr 19, 2021

      The Day I Met Prince Philip
      7 min read

    • Article

      Lady with A LUTE

      Aug 3, 2022

      Lady with A LUTE
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Golden Lion

      Apr 1, 2024

      The Golden Lion
      5 min read

    • Article

      Lady with A LUTE

      Aug 10, 2022

      Lady with A LUTE
      9 min read

    • Article

      Peace Comes With A Smile

      Nov 11, 2019

      Peace Comes With A Smile
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Roses Have Thorns

    4.5/5

    46 ratings14 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Really good triology, left me with that scandalous, warm tingly feeling. I really like the different aspects of using ladies and court perceptions. Great triology for fans of the royal readers like these and Philippa Gregory.
    • 4/5
      This is my third book by Sandra Byrd and I most certainly hope it is not my last. The three have been part of her Ladies in Waiting series and have presented a somewhat unique point of view on a queen we have come to know - for better or worse - through history's telling. Roses Have Thorns brings us to the glorious court of Elizabeth I and to one of her closest ladies, Elin (Helena) von Snakenborg. Lady von Snakenborg arrives in England on a mission from Sweden to try and woo Elizabeth to marry the King of Sweden. While there she meets the Marquess of Northampton and he convinces her to stay even when her party goes homes. He proposes marriage which would make her the second highest ranking woman in England; only the Queen would outrank her. But the path to her marriage is not smooth and she is not well accepted by the ladies of the court. Elizabeth likes her, though and that is all that counts in this world. She is invited into the Queen's inner circle and when she finally does marry Northampton she becomes one of Elizabeth's closest ladies. At first when I read the synopsis I thought this had to be a fictional character but it was not; Elin von Snakenborg existed and was indeed the Marchioness of Northampton and one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. It's truly fascinating how Ms. Byrd takes the bits and pieces of these lives left to history and creates such amazing, rich, three dimensional characters from the few lines left on scattered pieces of paper. In all of the reading I have done about Elizabeth I I had never encountered this particular woman and viewing a most familiar Queen through her eyes made Elizabeth seem fresh and new.I enjoyed the plot and Elin/Helena was a delight. I'm hoping there will be more ladies in waiting in the future to give a different look at other queens because it is an interesting way to visit familiar courts.
    • 5/5
      Splendid Yarn
      A Look upon a glass into the Throne Room
      A well prepared manuscript given voice by always-in-character vocal artists. For an entire day I was immersed in 16th century England. Incommunicado. At peace.
    • 4/5
      Admittedly, while Elin/Helena and her story didn't exactly draw an emotional connection from me until the last quarter or so, this longtime fan of historical fiction still found the events interesting.Granted, it seems this series gives only a brief look at most of the events and keeps many of the conversations short, as all the novels pass through a good number of years and involve numerous characters. Still, the events held my attention here, even as I read about the parts of the Elizabethan era I already knew.There's something in the pattern of their lives that all three of this series' key ladies in waiting share. And especially seeing Elin/Helena's constant obligations at court, what her sovereign expects of her in the name of loyalty, and how it affects her life and family... Well. I don't envy the highest-ranking lady in waiting's position at all.But I enjoyed reading about it. And leaving this engrossing series at three novels was enough.
    • 4/5
      I think what is best about historical fiction is the opportunity to find out about historical figures we know little or nothing about. This is the case in Sandra Byrd's new book, Roses Have Thorns, where we get to see the story of Elizabeth's Tudor court told from the point of view of Helena, Marchioness of Northampton. Helena comes to England from Sweden as Elin von Snakenborg and soon ingratiates herself with Queen Elizabeth. Helena is a very likable character. I enjoyed her kindness and wit throughout the book. What I liked the most though was the view of the queen through her eyes. Elizabeth is probably my favorite historical figure and the way she is portrayed in this book is how I feel she really might have been. Helena may have been Elizabeth's lady in waiting, but Byrd has portrayed the relationship between them with a light of friendship. This adds real charm and authenticity to the story. We get to experience Elizabeth as a flesh and blood human, not just a figure head. I was so very touched by this quote at the end when Elizabeth dies at the old age of 70:

      "I knew she was at peace and with those she best loved: in the embrace of the Lord Jesus, then next, perhaps her Robin, and then finally, finally, resting enfolded in the arms of her mother."

      That brought tears to my eyes. To know that you have made your mother so proud of you in what you did in your life and to finally see her again after so many years. I really hope that was true for Elizabeth.

      This is the final book in Sandra Byrd's Ladies in Waiting series. I have the other two books (graciously sent to me by Ms. Byrd) and I can't wait to read them, even if I'm reading out of order. Ms. Byrd has a talent for telling a great story and creating characters we care about while preserving the historical details that surround the story. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.
    • 3/5
      I have a fascination with the Tudor period and have been curious about Helena for a while now. So when I spotted this book I immediately snatched it up.

      This was a decent read. It certainly gave a helpful insight towards who Helena may have been and how she came to be a close confidante of Elizabeth.

      The novel provided some fascinating and interesting glimpses of Helena, from her early days in Sweden to her last moment as Elizabeth's Chief Mourner. Helena has certainly lived an interesting and eventful life, certainly not as turbulent or scandalous as countless others in the court during that time frame. We also got a glimpse of a different Elizabeth that we have come to know through other books. This Elizabeth has more sides to her, a vulnerable, loving and intense side that we really do not see too often for a warrior queen during a very turbulent time period.

      While I enjoyed reading up on Helena's life and adventures, I felt the snap shots were a little too short in expanding on the depth of some of the well known people in the Tudor court. Like I would have liked a bit more detail about Mary Radcliffe or Princess Cecilia, etc.

      Overall, it was an interesting read.
    • 5/5
      Historical fiction at its finest. When I want to read historical fiction, I don't want to feel as though I've picked up an encyclopedia and started reading it. I want to feel as though I have been transported back in time and am a part of that particular era. This is not an easy thing to do for any author. Sandra Byrd is one of the very few that can accomplish this. Too often, historical novels become places with major information dumps and I get bored. Quickly. And then I never want to return to the book. This one? In my opinion, this one is even better than To Die For.

      I have my favorite books and authors. Sandra Byrd is at the top of the list.

      This story is full of intrigue, suspense, and stratagems almost entirely within your own family.
      Everyone smiles.
      Everyone bows or curtsies.
      Yet almost everyone wants you dead.
      The solution? Surround yourself with brilliant counselors and ladies in waiting that you can trust. And even then, you may make a terrible mistake.

      Taking a piece of history that is in itself fascinating, Ms. Byrd went the extra distance. She found and expounded on a tiny fractional piece of history about a person many people didn't even know existed, and gave her her own voice. Her own story. And it was captivating. Thrilling. And I was sorry to see this one end.

      If you're looking for cardboard characters, limp plots and scenery? Don't waste your time on this book. If you're looking for something to chew on and think about for weeks to come? Even do a little research on your own just to see how much of this could be true? You'll want this book.
      Highly recommend.

      *My thanks to the author & publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was in no wise obligated this review be positive. These thoughts are my own.*
    • 4/5
      Summary Elin von Snakenborg leaves her family and her country, Sweden, to find a new life in England after her fiance' and sister fall in love. Renamed Helena upon arrival to the court of Her Majesty, Elizabeth I, Elin becomes a principle lady in waiting to the queen. Elin marries into a noble family with the blessing of the queen but then marries another man whose title is beneath her after her first husband dies very shortly after their marriage. Over time, Helena's friendship with Queen Elizabeth I grows, even after the test of her marriage, which was not approved by the queen in advance as was customary. Helena serves her queen and friend with respect and honor and love through happy as well as difficult times. What I Likedthe Google factor...if you've been around my blog before, you know I'm a researcher at heart...and I LOVE to look "stuff" up :p Just what I need...more info in my brain.Kat AshleyBlanche ParryLady Knollys, Her Majesty's cousin, the daughter of Mary BoleynAnne, Lady d'Aubernon of Usher, favorite lady of Queen Elizabeth IMeg Wyatt, mother of Anne, Lady d'Aubernon of Usher, favorite lady of Queen Anne BoleynLady Helena von SnakenborgCatherine de' MediciDuke d'AnjouQueen Kateryn Parr's brother William NorthamptonFrancis WalsinghamLord Cecil and his home TheobaldsMatthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury for Queen Elizabeth I's reign. Just before her execution, Queen Anne Boleyn had asked him to take care of Elizabeth's spiritual life.Thomas TallisLord Robert (Robin)Queen Elizabeth I's creation of the London ExchangeFrancis DrakerecusantsHer Majesty's love of French fashionLetticeperfumes and Her Majesty's use of particular scentsWindsor Castle in the 16th centuryFrancis ThrockmortonHer Majesty's love of spanielsDuke of GuiseAmbassador Mendoza of Spain...liason between Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth IHenry Percy, the Eighth Earl of NorthumberlandBess ThrockmortonKing James, son of Mary, Queen of ScotsSir Walter Raleigh's request to name the land from which he brought back tobacco, Virginia, after his virgin queen.Getting to know Queen Elizabeth I in a more personal (as much as possible) way. The woman. Her heart. Her love of her "family." Her strength, both physical and intellectual. Insight into how the queen's ladies lived with her and still had families of their own outside court - this was not always an easy balance. If a choice was to be made between queen and the lady's family, the lady chose queen. Anything the queen gave, she could always take away.Queen Elizabeth I's honor for actors and playwriting...she was their Queen of Revels A more in depth look at the faith of Queen Elizabeth I - "There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles." (236)According to Byrd, "Elizabeth was a uniter. She did not let Catholics take over her realm, nor the far wings of Protestantism - Puritans and Calvinists - though she had beloved friends and councilors amongst all three." (310)I never tire of the story of how Queen Elizabeth I put on armour and rode out to see her troops as the Spanish were approaching.The works of reference provided by Byrd at the end...yes, I'm a geek...but I'm not gonna apologize for it. I LOVE a reference section!!! What I Didn't LikePrincess Cecelia from Sweden - spoiled bratMary, Queen of Scots - nutsEven though she reigned for 45 years, Queen Elizabeth I constantly had to defend herself against those who still considered her a bastard Queen...even to the point of being turned away by the Pope.It is a challenge for me to keep up with all the titles, cousins, lords and ladies, as well as so many people with the same first names...gracious!I didn't care very much for Lady Helena's stories...many of them were from her own childhood, Swedish legends and fables, as well as others from around the world. I skimmed right through these because I wanted her to get back to Elizabeth. Overall RecommendationDon't shy away from this book because of your Tudor over saturation or bc you aren't a Tudor fan. While the Tudor reign certainly is a part of this story, that's not all the story is about. If you're in the least bit interested in Queen Elizabeth I as a monarch, you'll fall in love with her in Roses Have Thorns...you might even find yourself understanding completely how other women could have left their own families to serve her. I found myself many times getting frustrated with Helena's husband Thomas...why can't he just be happy that he never sees his wife because she is a principle lady in waiting to the queen and he never sees her??? :/ What a difficult balance it was for Queen Elizabeth I to be a woman, a queen, her father's daughter, a ruler to not cross, her mother's memory keeper, and a faithful friend.
    • 5/5
      I am a big fan of Sandra Byrd's Ladies in Waiting series which centers around the three Tudor Queens and their closest ladies. The first two installments, To Die For and The Secret Keeper both made it onto my favorites list when I read them. Roses Have Thorns is the third and final installment in this series.In this book, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg arrives from Sweden and becomes one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies in waiting and eventually one of the queen's highest ranking ladies. In time Elin marries and becomes the Marchioness of Northampton. There is drama, backstabbing, crooked politics, battles over Religion and romance in the Tudor court as usual. Also involved in the plot is the fate of Mary Queen of Scots, the queen's own cousin and rival for the crown. Elin, also known as Helena, grows from young womanhood into adulthood while at Elizabeth's court and she learns some hard lessons on life, love and loyalty.The writing here is vivid and rich and I was instantly swept away to another time and place as author Sandra Byrd captures the glitz, glamour and danger of the Tudor court really nicely. The characters are well developed, I liked Elin. I was eager to see where her story would go, how this young Swede would fare in England being away from her family and her home. She became close to the Queen using her knowledge of herbs and scents to gain her trust and favor. Her friendship with the Queen seemed real and believable. Queen Elizabeth is written well and I found this version of the Monarch to be true to form. She is represented as being a queen, yet her frailties are shown as well. Lord Dudley is here, Robin as the Queen called him, always by her side, always the source of speculation.I love it when fact and fiction are woven together to create an interesting story like this one. Author Sandra Byrd has become a go to writer for me in this genre. I recommend Roses Have Thorns, and the Ladies in Waiting series, to fans of the Tudor's and of historical fiction. These books can be read as stand alone novels, but I do recommend all three of them as they are well written and highly entertaining. I can see myself reading this series again one day. Disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, such as this one, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. I received a free review copy of Roses Have Thorns in exchange for my honest opinion.
    • 4/5
      This is my third book by Sandra Byrd and I most certainly hope it is not my last. The three have been part of her Ladies in Waiting series and have presented a somewhat unique point of view on a queen we have come to know - for better or worse - through history's telling. Roses Have Thorns brings us to the glorious court of Elizabeth I and to one of her closest ladies, Elin (Helena) von Snakenborg. Lady von Snakenborg arrives in England on a mission from Sweden to try and woo Elizabeth to marry the King of Sweden. While there she meets the Marquess of Northampton and he convinces her to stay even when her party goes homes. He proposes marriage which would make her the second highest ranking woman in England; only the Queen would outrank her. But the path to her marriage is not smooth and she is not well accepted by the ladies of the court. Elizabeth likes her, though and that is all that counts in this world. She is invited into the Queen's inner circle and when she finally does marry Northampton she becomes one of Elizabeth's closest ladies. At first when I read the synopsis I thought this had to be a fictional character but it was not; Elin von Snakenborg existed and was indeed the Marchioness of Northampton and one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. It's truly fascinating how Ms. Byrd takes the bits and pieces of these lives left to history and creates such amazing, rich, three dimensional characters from the few lines left on scattered pieces of paper. In all of the reading I have done about Elizabeth I I had never encountered this particular woman and viewing a most familiar Queen through her eyes made Elizabeth seem fresh and new.I enjoyed the plot and Elin/Helena was a delight. I'm hoping there will be more ladies in waiting in the future to give a different look at other queens because it is an interesting way to visit familiar courts.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely fascinating story. A must read if you love Tudor history and/or Elizabeth I


      I have read very little of this genre so was not sure what to expect with this novel. I an happy to say that this was a brilliant book. I started reading it late Thursday (March 21st) and finished it on Saturday (March 23rd). Every spare moment I had I gave to this book as I was so intrigued by what was going to happen next.
      As I have already said, I have never been a huge fan of Tudor history, but this book has actually whetted my appetite and I am now looking for more material on this genre.


      The book is about Lady Elin Snakenborg's time she served as a lady in waiting to Elizabeth I. The author does say in her write up that this lady was a little known figure from this time, though she was an actual member of court and not a fictional character. In the book she is portrayed as naive and vulnerable at first, although she does seem to set her heart on marriage with one of the most influential and rich bachelors at court. Even when she discovers he is still legally married she waits for him, so I am not sure just how naive Elin - later known as Helena - actually is.

      That said, the book charts her life from her leaving Sweden right up until just after the death of Elizabeth I and I warmed to this character very much. The book also lends warmth to Elizabeth I and that helped me enjoy the book all the more. I am not entirely sure how likeable a character ELizabeth I actually was, not being familiar with Tudor history, but the author wove her into the story really well and for all she came across as a friendly lady the narrative was very credible.

      I am rating this book as a five star read and thoroughly enjoyable. I cannot recommend it highly enough. You absolutely must go out and buy it, especially if this genre, particularly anything Tudor related, is your thing.

      5 star ***** read.
    • 4/5
      I love reading about The Kings and Queens of England, and certainly the Tudors left a lot to tell. This account is through the eyes of one of Elizabeth the 1st's lady-in-waiting. It is a well written tale and enjoyable to read. A must for those who love this genre.
    • 5/5
      Roses Have Thorns is the third and last installment of the Ladies in Waiting series by Sandra Byrd. Elin von Snakenborg (Helena) is 17 when she comes to England and chooses to stay. She becomes one of Queen Elizabeth I's Ladies in Waiting and serves as such until the Queen's death. I had not heard of Helena before so I found her story very interesting and refreshing. Most of us who read historical fiction know the Tudor era and most of the queen's court are well known so it is really nice to read about a woman who is not well known. I found it very interesting that due to her advantageous marriage to Marquess of Northampton makes Helena the highest ranked woman under the Queen. She was widowed after only 5 months of marriage and fell in love and subsequently married Thomas Gorges, a cousin of the queen, without the queen's consent. She was exiled and her husband sent to the Tower. Queen Elizabeth eventually relented and they were brought back to court. Along with Helena's duties to Queen Elizabeth I,she and her husband had eight children. Helena often found herself without the company of her husband as he was often away on missions for the queen. This definitely can put a strain on a marriage even in the best of times. But with treason always a threat to the queen, trusted courtiers are a must. Along with Helena's story, we read about Mary Queen of Scots and how the Catholic's conspire to dethrone or even murder Queen Elizabeth I and put Mary on the English throne. A thoroughly researched and richly told story about England's most famous Queen and those that surrounded her in her intimate and public life. I love to read most anything Tudor related and I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Ms. Byrd's style of writing is so engrossing and emotional that I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion.I highly recommend this series to the lover of England's history and the Tudor era in particular.
    • 3/5
      Roses Have Thorns spans about 25 years, starting when Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden in the company of Princess Cecelia, (about 5 years into Elizabeth’s reign) and ending around the time Mary, Queen of Scots, was finally executed. As is often the case with novels covering such a long time period, a lot of things are rushed or passed right over. In addition, Elin, or Helena as she adopts after choosing to stay in England, is a Maid of Honor in the queen’s privy chamber. She’s not on the battlefield at Cadiz or sailing with her friend, Sir Francis Drake. She’s not in meetings with Parliament or watching Mary in the Tower. She’s turning down linens. Because there’s not a lot of direct action, the story comes off a lot like Helena, sedate, consistent, and bland.

      Unfortunately, Helena just isn’t a very realized character. She does get a few moments of interest, but they revolve solely around the people in her life. It’s scandalous that her fiance is banging her sister in a broom closet or that an actor threatens to turn her engagement upside-down, but she never reacts in a way that makes it more interesting or more sympathetic. Life happens to Helena. Likewise, Elizabeth is portrayed as an omniscient goddess with a heart made of cotton candy and rainbows and a temper like no other, but we rarely see her do anything. We hear a lot about her hopes and dreams undying love for Robert Dudley, but for a book that purports to be “vividly conjuring” the time period, it’s surprisingly light on political intrigue.

      There are some tense scenes, dealing mostly with Helena's second husband and where his loyalties lie. I did also really enjoy the scene with Elizabeth and the pins. It was the only time I felt true emotion between the two of them. But, in the end, I just couldn't overcome the odd pacing, (Helena's pregnancies are frequently hand waved away as, "We made love." Serve the queen. Serve the queen. Serve the queen. "Oh yeah, I was by now 8 months pregnant,") and lack of action.