Court of Shadows

by Cynthia Morgan

She didn't intend to defy the conventions of Elizabethan England... But willful, impulsive, and strikingly beautiful gentlewoman Kat Langdon disguises herself as a boy, masters the sword and entangles herself in a treacherous web of intrigue with Queen Elizabeth's spies.

Colorfully written, and rich in details of period costume, speech, food, customs, and more, this novel sweeps across Elizabethan England in a series of breathtaking adventures that takes the heroine from the action and spectacle of the Catholic-Huguenot Civil Wars to the horror of the Spanish Inquisition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Tudor Period, Historical

644 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 1992

Reviews

[Andie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it did eventually pull me in, I was frustrated by the protagonists’ misunderstandings, annoyed by the constantly shifting setting, and jolted by the attempted dialects. My patience for long, untranslated sentences in different languages is not what it was for Dunnett or Heyer, and I have no patience at all for the Spanish Inquisition. Also, while I realize that every cross-dressing plot is obligated to point out “oh no this looks gay,” the gay villain was no such obligation. I did like the dynamics among most of the women, as Kat makes friends wherever she goes in spite of her extremely sketchy circumstances, but frankly I think a romance between her and Jane would have made a perfectly good book, with none of the nonsense about possible treason.

[Slmcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bodice-ripper with class.

[Debi Robertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting history, not a particularly good story. Just my thinking.

[Kani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another novel about Elizabethan England! This time the author tells her story of the place and time from the point of view of a brother and sister of gentle birth who get involved as spies for her majesty. It gets better as it goes along, getting more and more involved in circumstances difficult to get out of and emotions they barely understand. The author uses language of the time to better immerse us in their world including an excellent few chapters utilizing peddlar's french, an argot language of the time I'd never heard of before and found quite colorful and entertaining. She makes the choice to let us figure our by context what the words of this lower class pidgeon actually mean and by having one of our characters live amongst that class rather than the typical historical narratives of the upper crust class, I got to appreciate the differences in lifestyle between the classes. Just getting by could be quite challenging in Elizabethan England whether you are poor or of noble birth! Somewhat fascile in plot, but entertaining in context, it's worth a read.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows a brother and sister, Nick and Katherine Langdon through Queen Elizabeth's court in the year 1570. They both spy for the queen, and get caught by the person they are spying on. Katherine is captured, and is taken to France and Spain with the suspected spy for the queen's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. She ends of falling in love with the spy, Lyle Harwood. He ends up not being a spy against Elizabeth, but working behind the scenes to save her.

Nick falls and loses his memory during the episode in which Katherine is caught, so is no help in rescuing Kat during her ordeal. He finally regains his memory, and all return to London in good favor.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read. It keeps you reading with constant twists and turn and a lovable heroine who can't seem to stay out of trouble.

[Megan Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In college I read this every finals week for escapism.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good I want more books like this!