What an absolutely sumptuous read this was. Rich with vividly depicted character's set against the backdrop of the jacobean court , encapsulating all the pitfalls that come with gaining notice at the royal court, favour can be lost as easily as it is won in this corrupt place.
The female protagonists that the storyline revolves around were vibrantly portrayed and their situations ,though differing , were relatable and you easily found yourself empathising with each of them.
The amount of research that went into the book was obvious, the attention to detail brought the Stuart Court to life and it burst from the pages and enthralled at the same time. It incorporates real historical figures and a shocking murder that was all the more so as it involved the kings favourite and brought the court into turmoil.
This was such an immersive read, the historical detail was interesting and informative without reading like a textbook . The characters of Frances and Annie were so easy to connect with and you willed a happy outcome for both women .. The friendship and loyalty that developes between them is heartwarming , Frances has everything A young woman could want apart from love and tenderness . Her husband is abusive in every sense and she longs to be free of him. Annie on the other hand is near destitute but has a husband that is respected as a physician, who has sheltered her from the sordid goings on at court. She has talent as a fashionista but no patron to establish herself. Once the two meet they quickly become inseparable and gain the notice of both majesties.
The injustices that faced women during this period was depicted in a realistic and believable way. Frances Howard and Annie Turner were vilified for breaking free of the confines and convention expected of their gender. As the storyline progresses you are willing Frances to listen to the wise council of her friend but you can sense the impending doom on the horizon.
The ending was heart rending and I literally felt gutted. The loyalty of both women to each other was beautiful and heart breaking at the same time. The characters stay with you longer than after the last page has been turned . I thoroughly recommend this book.