Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to Alexandra Walsh and Sapere Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
A longtime fan of all things Tudor, I turned to this final book in Alexandra Walsh’s trilogy that seeks to explore new and exciting historical twists in this dynastic time. Dr. Perdita Rvers is now working full-time within the manor house left to her by her grandmother. Full of research and unpublished manuscripts about the Tudors, Perdita seeks to unravel what seems to have been a long forgotten or altered version of events from the 16th and 17th centuries. She has been targeted by MI1 Elite, a part of the British Government that seeks not to have truths or alternate theories about the country’s history reach the light of day, but appears to be safe for the time being. While her past revelations have been eye opening, she is seeking to find the final piece of an even larger puzzle that might shed some light onto the transition from Tudor to Stuart control of the English Throne. As she digs into a new trove of research, Perdita learns more about Arbella Stuart, who finds herself on the Tudor family tree amongst some of the gnarled branches. However, Arbella’s historical claim was that she felt her heir had claim to the throne that was eventually taken by James I. As the story alternates between 2019 and the time of Arbella’s pleas, the reader learns that there was much squabbling going on as Elizabeth I was in her final moments on the throne and would have to name a successor. With powerful forces seeking to smooth the accession to the English Throne, some believe that there might have been a rewrite of the history we know today. Perdita uncovers a piece of jewelry that might prove yet another misstep that history saw nullified to create a new and false storyline about how the Stuarts took hold of England and began their reign. With Arbella imprisoned for her speaking out and Perdita learning a revelation that could change how the Tudor Dynasty came to an end, the reader must wonder how much is Alexandra Walsh’s imagination and what might be worth reexamining with supporting documents. A fascinating read, especially for those who love all things Tudor, this final piece of a fictional Tudor trilogy will keep many a reader wondering. Recommended to those who enjoy looking at history from all sides, as well as the reader who loved the previous two books in this series.
I will not purport to knowing all the answers when it comes to the Tudors or even how to decipher their more than complex family tree. Still Alexandra Walsh brings it all together and does her best (as any Tudor writer might) to keep things straight for the lay reader. Dr. Perdita Rivers resumes her role as protagonist in this piece, pushing forward to learn a little more about the Tudors, though the research and unearthed documents her grandmother left her. The series reader will have seen much progress in Perdita’s character, from her discover of the truth related to her family through to the massive amount of information left for her in an odd bequest. Much has been accomplished with those around her, both researchers and love interests, as Walsh ties things up effectively. While there is little time for much depth in a trilogy, Walsh does well to keep her central character exciting and on point. Other characters, both returning and those new to this book, help to push the story along and keep the reader eager to discover how they fit into the larger narrative. Walsh has mixed historical characters with those who are likely fabricated by her own imagination. The story worked well to tie up many of the loose ends left dangling from the past two novels, while also leaving much for the reader to ponder. Walsh has done well in her writing, as I compare her to a few other Tudor writers (both those of historical fiction and fact-based tomes). The narrative moved forward well and the plot seemed to fit nicely in the two time periods used to shape the overall story. Walsh moves between the two with little issue, dividing the book into nine parts as she shifts back and forth with well-developed chapters. Walsh has done extremely well with this series and I would hope that anyone seeking some Tudor background that delves into some alternate history possibilities would grab them up. Easy reads packed with information and entertainment!
Kudos, Madam Walsh, for another great book. Now that this series is done, I will have to keep my eyes open for whatever else you have coming out.
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
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