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lynseyisreading's review
3.0
The Queen's Witch
The Queen's Witch picks up just days after the events in The Gauntlet and sees Gillian the witch—this time written in first person from her POV—up to mischief once again. With a plot against the Queen under way involving precious jewellery and magic, who better to assist Kit—willingly or not—than a former jewel thief slash coven witch?
Again, this was a fun read, but it could be skipped as it doesn't really progress anything with regards to either the Cassandra Palmer series or the Dorina Basarab series.
3 Stars ★★★
This book is free either on the author's website or Smashwords.
The Queen's Witch picks up just days after the events in The Gauntlet and sees Gillian the witch—this time written in first person from her POV—up to mischief once again. With a plot against the Queen under way involving precious jewellery and magic, who better to assist Kit—willingly or not—than a former jewel thief slash coven witch?
Again, this was a fun read, but it could be skipped as it doesn't really progress anything with regards to either the Cassandra Palmer series or the Dorina Basarab series.
3 Stars ★★★
This book is free either on the author's website or Smashwords.
kathydavie's review
5.0
The second prequel in the Cassandra Palmer urban fantasy series. This one actually takes place in Elizabeth England and is the sequel to "The Gauntlet".
My Take
I do enjoy an historical tale. And I'm thrilled to find out what happened to Gillian after her prison break in "The Gauntlet"! It is a short story, so it is more of an introduction to her new life. Still, it does gather up the flavor of the time and the historical animosity between the English and the Spanish.
Gillian certainly is a flexible thinker---once Kit points out a few things. There's an interesting bit on the difference between fake and real jewels. Amazing to think they had such skill back then. Then there's the explanation for why we think witches fly about on brooms!
I did enjoy the one-ups Gillian got in this.
The Story
The Silver Circle is closing in on Gillian, and she's desperate to escape. Too desperate to be careful.
It's not chance that gives her some breathing room...oops, it is Chance that helps her out..!, but Kit Marlowe. If she will just agree to a short impersonation.
The Characters
Gillian Urswick is a witch, a wardsmith, who escaped the Silver Circle in "The Gauntlet" with her seven-year-old daughter, Elinor.
Kit Marlowe is a vampire in need of an entree to a meeting that may be plotting against the Queen.
Angus Trevelyan is a Cornish witch allied with the Black Circle. His specialty is poisoning. Señor Garza is presenting La joyel de los Austrias to the queen. John Dee is an historical figure who dabbled in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and navigation as well as what was perceived as the more magical sciences of that time period. He was actually quite respected.
Solomon le Bone is a magic user who runs a grotty tavern, the Dead Spaniard, in London. Fulke is his equally traitorous son.
The Cover
The cover is a bit odd. It's Gillian all dressed up in her borrowed finery about to pass through a doorway, only the room looks quite contemporary.
The title is to the point and all about the "Queen's Witch".
My Take
I do enjoy an historical tale. And I'm thrilled to find out what happened to Gillian after her prison break in "The Gauntlet"! It is a short story, so it is more of an introduction to her new life. Still, it does gather up the flavor of the time and the historical animosity between the English and the Spanish.
Gillian certainly is a flexible thinker---once Kit points out a few things. There's an interesting bit on the difference between fake and real jewels. Amazing to think they had such skill back then. Then there's the explanation for why we think witches fly about on brooms!
I did enjoy the one-ups Gillian got in this.
The Story
The Silver Circle is closing in on Gillian, and she's desperate to escape. Too desperate to be careful.
It's not chance that gives her some breathing room...oops, it is Chance that helps her out..!, but Kit Marlowe. If she will just agree to a short impersonation.
The Characters
Gillian Urswick is a witch, a wardsmith, who escaped the Silver Circle in "The Gauntlet" with her seven-year-old daughter, Elinor.
Kit Marlowe is a vampire in need of an entree to a meeting that may be plotting against the Queen.
Angus Trevelyan is a Cornish witch allied with the Black Circle. His specialty is poisoning. Señor Garza is presenting La joyel de los Austrias to the queen. John Dee is an historical figure who dabbled in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and navigation as well as what was perceived as the more magical sciences of that time period. He was actually quite respected.
Solomon le Bone is a magic user who runs a grotty tavern, the Dead Spaniard, in London. Fulke is his equally traitorous son.
The Cover
The cover is a bit odd. It's Gillian all dressed up in her borrowed finery about to pass through a doorway, only the room looks quite contemporary.
The title is to the point and all about the "Queen's Witch".
cplumma3's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jules_writes's review
3.0
An enjoyable little freebie, but I really wanted more. In the future I would love to see Kit and Gillian star in their own full length book.
Short and sweet and worth a read, but it doesn't really add anything to the overall series.
Short and sweet and worth a read, but it doesn't really add anything to the overall series.
eserafina42's review
2.0
OK - not great. I didn't really care much about the characters, nor do I feel any compulsion to seek out other books by this author.