TASTE OF TREASON by April Taylor

5 out of 5 stars

Tudor history, fantasy, magic

On Amazon UK HERE
On Amazon.com HERE

Taste of Treason is part two of April Taylor's Tudor Enigma series, which is a fantasy about an alternative history in which Anne Boleyn did not miscarry Henry VIII's son, and remained Queen. Henry IX is now King, and in this episode his wife, Madeleine, is expecting their first child.  But dark forces work against them...

Central to this series is apothecary Luke Ballard who happens to be an Elemancer, one who practices white magic.  Oh yes, and Anne Boleyn, still a force with which to be reckoned at court, is one of these fascinating beings, too; what a shame she wasn't in real life!  Luke works from the kitchen behind his humble shop, where he treats the sick.

I so enjoyed the first book in the series, Court of Conspiracy, having been interested in the Tudor aspect though dubious about the fantasy/magic.  But these books are a delight.  They're the sort of thing you want to read when snuggled up in a duvet with lots of pillows (as indeed I have been doing).  Ms Taylor paints wonderful word pictures; all the time I was reading this I wanted to be in the world on the screen of my Kindle.  She writes so beautifully, and this book was even better than the last, with a more suspenseful pace created by the changing of point of view at crucial points, most chapters ending on a cliffhanger.  I was unable to guess the outcome or the identity of the evil Nimrod, dispenser of dark magic; I had several guesses throughout the book and was pleased to find I was wrong every time!  

I think this book would appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of the Tudor period, and also anyone who enjoys clever fantasy.  This is such an unusual idea, and Ms Taylor has excuted it so well.  The third book in the series, Mantle of Malice, is due out on 23rd February; I shall be first in the queue!

COURT OF CONSPIRACY by April Taylor reviewed HERE

MANTLE OF MALICE by April Taylor reviewed HERE