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Doubled Edge #1
This Scepter'd Isle
God Save the Queen! (With the help of the Sidhe of Elfland . . .) Two Masters of Historical Fantasy Join Forces in a New Epic-First Time in Paperback!
The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red-haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who draw power from pain and misery, welcome the coming of a ruler of humans who will increase their strength, and are determined to prevent the red-haired child from coming to the throne. Unless the good Sidhe can find the child and protect her from the evils and dangers of both the human and elven worlds, she will never grow up to become Elizabeth, Queen of England in the Sixteenth Century.
The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red-haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who draw power from pain and misery, welcome the coming of a ruler of humans who will increase their strength, and are determined to prevent the red-haired child from coming to the throne. Unless the good Sidhe can find the child and protect her from the evils and dangers of both the human and elven worlds, she will never grow up to become Elizabeth, Queen of England in the Sixteenth Century.
662 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1982
43 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 26, 2021
On the upside, I learned some new words: settle (a type of bench), cortege (a traveling procession), nuncheon (snack time!), chaffer (to haggle).
On the downside, BOOOOOORRRRRRRIIINNNGGG.
Overly descriptive, repetitive, poorly paced. I have read so many descriptions of settles now, many of them apparently luminous, that I wish I could voluntary expunge from my memory engrams. For every plot laid, every multi-layered magical protection plan, every action sequence, you can be sure that it will be re-explained in detail again within two chapters, when either the main character recounts it to an ally, or the enemies deduce it in full.
This book also contains the first instance of 'Elfsplaining' that I have ever encountered. See, one elf explains to another elf that elves don't sleep like humans do, but instead they have conscious rest periods. I think the other elf probably already knew that? This is but one egregious example of sloppy exposition in this over-long novel.
The premise of the story is that the human world is overlaid with the realm of elves and other magical or mythical beings, and passage between the two is possible but elves don't want humans to discover their realm lest they come in with their cold iron and destroy it. There are twin elves (boy and girl) who each have four names, and they also are half-siblings to another pair of twins who also have four names each, for a total of sixteen names across four siblings, and they all were privy to the same vision of the future that showed a red-haired child of England's King Henry VIII whose fate will either produce peace and harmony across the realm, or will invite the Spanish Inquisition, which would in turn ruin the elves' realm, but maybe only the good elves' realm and not the bad elves' realm, so the good elves send one of the good elves to protect the red-haired child. Except, that red-haired child is not the one who determines the fate of the realm, instead that is a different red-haired child, but the first red-haired child is important to the second red-haired child's fate because ??? and I don't care anymore because the whole book was really boring.
It appears to be historically accurate for events of 16th-century England (seriously, just watch The Tudors on Netflix), down to fine political detail, likely managed by the co-author Roberta Gellis who reportedly is good with that kind of thing. But, because it is historically accurate, the reader knows how events will turn out, just surprise! elves were secretly involved. But they didn't change anything, so they were meaningless.
Interesting tidbit about the physical book edition that I read (from my local library); it announces prominently on the front cover, "Free CD Inside" in a red star, livening up what is one of the dullest fantasy covers I have ever seen. The back cover elaborates, "Inside you will find a CD ROM that contains over 40 full-length novels, with no encryptions of other schemes to make you feel dumb and incompetent. You can just click on a title and read it or print it out... But be very wary. The publisher did not provide this out of the goodness of his heart, if he even has a heart. He figures you will start reading many of the genuinely first-rate novels provided herein, and discover that you really don't want to continue reading on a computer screen. So what will you do? ...he thinks that it is likely that you will notice it the next time you see it in a bookstore - and that you will Buy the book! Could there be a more dastardly and nefarious scheme for increasing profits? Just remember: you have been warned." (Emphases are original). Yeah, that whole e-book thing didn't really pan out, did it? I checked out the CD ROM, and it contains the books as promised, in formats suitable for reading on a web browser or your Palm OS device.... I think one of the file formats will work with a Kindle device or app, but I don't care to try it. The majority of the books are also by Mercedes Lackey and co-authors, many of them are sequels (presumably hoping you will buy the earlier books) all published by Baen Books and not a one of them looking worth reading to me.
I have never read anything by Mercedes Lackey before, and clearly this was not the place to start. I would be willing to try something by her again, maybe in a few months to a year or more once I get the taste of this book out of my mouth, so if you have a recommendation for where to start with Lackey, let me know in the comments. I will likely give her first Valdemar book a try because of a friend's glowing review.
On the downside, BOOOOOORRRRRRRIIINNNGGG.
Overly descriptive, repetitive, poorly paced. I have read so many descriptions of settles now, many of them apparently luminous, that I wish I could voluntary expunge from my memory engrams. For every plot laid, every multi-layered magical protection plan, every action sequence, you can be sure that it will be re-explained in detail again within two chapters, when either the main character recounts it to an ally, or the enemies deduce it in full.
This book also contains the first instance of 'Elfsplaining' that I have ever encountered. See, one elf explains to another elf that elves don't sleep like humans do, but instead they have conscious rest periods. I think the other elf probably already knew that? This is but one egregious example of sloppy exposition in this over-long novel.
The premise of the story is that the human world is overlaid with the realm of elves and other magical or mythical beings, and passage between the two is possible but elves don't want humans to discover their realm lest they come in with their cold iron and destroy it. There are twin elves (boy and girl) who each have four names, and they also are half-siblings to another pair of twins who also have four names each, for a total of sixteen names across four siblings, and they all were privy to the same vision of the future that showed a red-haired child of England's King Henry VIII whose fate will either produce peace and harmony across the realm, or will invite the Spanish Inquisition, which would in turn ruin the elves' realm, but maybe only the good elves' realm and not the bad elves' realm, so the good elves send one of the good elves to protect the red-haired child. Except, that red-haired child is not the one who determines the fate of the realm, instead that is a different red-haired child, but the first red-haired child is important to the second red-haired child's fate because ??? and I don't care anymore because the whole book was really boring.
It appears to be historically accurate for events of 16th-century England (seriously, just watch The Tudors on Netflix), down to fine political detail, likely managed by the co-author Roberta Gellis who reportedly is good with that kind of thing. But, because it is historically accurate, the reader knows how events will turn out, just surprise! elves were secretly involved. But they didn't change anything, so they were meaningless.
Interesting tidbit about the physical book edition that I read (from my local library); it announces prominently on the front cover, "Free CD Inside" in a red star, livening up what is one of the dullest fantasy covers I have ever seen. The back cover elaborates, "Inside you will find a CD ROM that contains over 40 full-length novels, with no encryptions of other schemes to make you feel dumb and incompetent. You can just click on a title and read it or print it out... But be very wary. The publisher did not provide this out of the goodness of his heart, if he even has a heart. He figures you will start reading many of the genuinely first-rate novels provided herein, and discover that you really don't want to continue reading on a computer screen. So what will you do? ...he thinks that it is likely that you will notice it the next time you see it in a bookstore - and that you will Buy the book! Could there be a more dastardly and nefarious scheme for increasing profits? Just remember: you have been warned." (Emphases are original). Yeah, that whole e-book thing didn't really pan out, did it? I checked out the CD ROM, and it contains the books as promised, in formats suitable for reading on a web browser or your Palm OS device.... I think one of the file formats will work with a Kindle device or app, but I don't care to try it. The majority of the books are also by Mercedes Lackey and co-authors, many of them are sequels (presumably hoping you will buy the earlier books) all published by Baen Books and not a one of them looking worth reading to me.
I have never read anything by Mercedes Lackey before, and clearly this was not the place to start. I would be willing to try something by her again, maybe in a few months to a year or more once I get the taste of this book out of my mouth, so if you have a recommendation for where to start with Lackey, let me know in the comments. I will likely give her first Valdemar book a try because of a friend's glowing review.
August 5, 2014
A wonderful romp through Tudor England. The obsessive categorist will ponder whether to classify this work as historical fiction or fantasy. It’s both. The historical characters and period are presented in fine focus, and the world and peoples of Sidhe just as well. Plot is intricate; the names daunting; the period critical for Underhill as much as Overhill England.
Most of us are passingly familiar with Henry VII and his wives. Here the story is retold from the point of view of the next generation and those close to it. Henry struts and panders just off stage and rarely appears (as he apparently did in real life) in the lives of his children. But around those children the future of England (and perhaps worlds unseen) revolve.
The breaking point on assessing only three stars came in the last twenty pages. I can’t even given a hint (masked as a spoiler) without taking too much away from the story. Just say that, while each characters actions ring true throughout the tale, a major human character makes a decision which, while explained away by the authors, seems more contrived to continue the book series than represent what he would have done in that time and place.
I should also mention that the story is slow getting up to speed. Too much background and esoterica.
Despite that this is a good tale for readers of both historical and fantasy, though the former will require a willing suspension of disbelief.
A good read.
Most of us are passingly familiar with Henry VII and his wives. Here the story is retold from the point of view of the next generation and those close to it. Henry struts and panders just off stage and rarely appears (as he apparently did in real life) in the lives of his children. But around those children the future of England (and perhaps worlds unseen) revolve.
The breaking point on assessing only three stars came in the last twenty pages. I can’t even given a hint (masked as a spoiler) without taking too much away from the story. Just say that, while each characters actions ring true throughout the tale, a major human character makes a decision which, while explained away by the authors, seems more contrived to continue the book series than represent what he would have done in that time and place.
I should also mention that the story is slow getting up to speed. Too much background and esoterica.
Despite that this is a good tale for readers of both historical and fantasy, though the former will require a willing suspension of disbelief.
A good read.
May 10, 2014
As a lover of both historical fiction and fantasy, this s my all-time favorite Mercedes Lackey series. Unlike many "historical" novels, this one did not drive me to mutter "but that didn't happen!!" every third page. Lackey and Gellis know their Tudor history, and I love the way some of the historical mysteries are logically explained as "It was elves." It is a favorite re-read of mine, already worn out and replaced once.
January 15, 2022
The family life of King Henry VIII was crucial to the direction of European development. To us, those changes look inevitable. At that time, such little things could have tipped the balance.
In THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE, one of those little things is a six year old boy, an illegitimate son of King Henry, named Harry. The Sidhe FarSeers, from the Elven worlds of Seleighe and Unseleighe (bright and dark magickers respectively) have scryed two possible futures. In one, a red-haired child of Henry VIII rules over a Golden Age. In the other, the red-haired child does not rule, and England is plunged into the black fires of the Inquisition. The Elven kingdom is empty and dead. At first it is not clear which red-haired child of Henry is the one who must come to the throne.
Elf prince Vidal Dhu, ruler of Unseleighe, sucks his power from the misery of others. An England in disorder and death would be a banquet for him. He orders his twin magickers Pasgen and Rhoslyn to bring the child to him. To counter them the FarSeers of Seleighe send Denoriel and Aleneil, twins who are half-brother and -sister to the dark twins, to find and protect the child and do anything necessary to bring about the vitality of the hoped-for Golden Age.
Denoriel’s search gets as far as six-year-old Harry, Duke of Richmond, whose charm grasps his heart beyond freeing. It is foreseen that Harry is not the future ruler, but his survival is essential to the life of the ruler-to-come. Denoriel has an ability, stronger than most Sidhe, to function in the mortal world with its cold iron and its lack of magical power sources. He must fight off attacks on Harry and help protect other important members of King Henry’s family from the Unseleighe twins, his own twisted brother and sister Pasgen and Rhoslyn.
The Elven world and its people, the Dark and Bright Courts and their schemes, and the emotional bonds that Denoriel forms in the mortal world, are all so vivid that they lived on in my mind long after I finished reading. Little is known about Harry compared to his well-documented legitimate siblings, so authors Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis have been able to fill in the outline of his life with all the intrigues and magical doings to create a spellbinding story. Each of the Sidhe have their loves and loyalties, colorful as the world they live in. Their magical system is as intelligent and detailed as that in THRICE BOUND, another fantasy by Roberta Gellis. Their relationships with their animal companions are as warm as those in THE OATHBOUND, a Mercedes Lackey fantasy.
Mercedes Lackey has collaborated with quite a number of authors. From my reading of several of her books, single and co-authored, I have the impression that Lackey brings an emotional and literary richness to her writing partnerships, and benefits from the original plots of her partners. All of Roberta Gellis’s books show richness of writing, but I found a degree of emotional appeal in THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE that she has never matched before.
If you enjoy historical fantasy, do not miss it or its sequel, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT.
Read 3 times, listened 3 times. Book One of my favorite Fantasy read of 2013. My favorite audio book of 2020.
In THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE, one of those little things is a six year old boy, an illegitimate son of King Henry, named Harry. The Sidhe FarSeers, from the Elven worlds of Seleighe and Unseleighe (bright and dark magickers respectively) have scryed two possible futures. In one, a red-haired child of Henry VIII rules over a Golden Age. In the other, the red-haired child does not rule, and England is plunged into the black fires of the Inquisition. The Elven kingdom is empty and dead. At first it is not clear which red-haired child of Henry is the one who must come to the throne.
Elf prince Vidal Dhu, ruler of Unseleighe, sucks his power from the misery of others. An England in disorder and death would be a banquet for him. He orders his twin magickers Pasgen and Rhoslyn to bring the child to him. To counter them the FarSeers of Seleighe send Denoriel and Aleneil, twins who are half-brother and -sister to the dark twins, to find and protect the child and do anything necessary to bring about the vitality of the hoped-for Golden Age.
Denoriel’s search gets as far as six-year-old Harry, Duke of Richmond, whose charm grasps his heart beyond freeing. It is foreseen that Harry is not the future ruler, but his survival is essential to the life of the ruler-to-come. Denoriel has an ability, stronger than most Sidhe, to function in the mortal world with its cold iron and its lack of magical power sources. He must fight off attacks on Harry and help protect other important members of King Henry’s family from the Unseleighe twins, his own twisted brother and sister Pasgen and Rhoslyn.
The Elven world and its people, the Dark and Bright Courts and their schemes, and the emotional bonds that Denoriel forms in the mortal world, are all so vivid that they lived on in my mind long after I finished reading. Little is known about Harry compared to his well-documented legitimate siblings, so authors Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis have been able to fill in the outline of his life with all the intrigues and magical doings to create a spellbinding story. Each of the Sidhe have their loves and loyalties, colorful as the world they live in. Their magical system is as intelligent and detailed as that in THRICE BOUND, another fantasy by Roberta Gellis. Their relationships with their animal companions are as warm as those in THE OATHBOUND, a Mercedes Lackey fantasy.
Mercedes Lackey has collaborated with quite a number of authors. From my reading of several of her books, single and co-authored, I have the impression that Lackey brings an emotional and literary richness to her writing partnerships, and benefits from the original plots of her partners. All of Roberta Gellis’s books show richness of writing, but I found a degree of emotional appeal in THIS SCEPTER’D ISLE that she has never matched before.
If you enjoy historical fantasy, do not miss it or its sequel, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT.
Read 3 times, listened 3 times. Book One of my favorite Fantasy read of 2013. My favorite audio book of 2020.
Read
October 7, 2011I think I'm going to remember my Tudor history better from this series than from any other books about the era that I've read. Elves notwithstanding!
February 23, 2012
I had the chance to pick this and the two volumes in this series at a steal ($2 ea.!). It was slow getting into this richly detailed book, but towards the end, I found it hard to put down. Mix the court of Henry VIII and the world of the Sidhe, and you have a fascinating fantasy take on English history. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I look forward to the remaining two volumes. BTW, Mercedes Lackey ought to be one of the cornerstones of anyone's collection of fantasy writers. Prolific and generally excellent.
March 22, 2018
Really enjoy the juxtaposition of Roberta Gellis' well-researched historical fiction with Mercedes Lackey's superbly developed fantasy. A truly enjoyable way to learn about the Tudors. Gellis has been a favorite since I read the Roselynde chronicles. Her attention to historical detail about the everyday lives of her characters; Lackey's elfhames and their characters truly elevate the novel to high fantasy
January 12, 2011
An intriguing take on the Tudor period of time. Having recently watched the tv series The Tudors, I was certainly open to interpretation of the facts as others saw them.
I found the book to be one of those that you have a hard time putting down till it is finished!
An enthralling read from cover to cover.
I found the book to be one of those that you have a hard time putting down till it is finished!
An enthralling read from cover to cover.
September 23, 2009
I could only manage a few chapters before I gave up. This doesn't seem like Lackey at all. It's overly simplistic, the main characters are flat and idiotic. Overall it reads like bad fantasy. Perhaps I'll give it another chance in the future, but for now it just isn't at all appealing.
April 10, 2021
I wasn't quite sure if I'd enjoy this book when I first started to read it. It felt slow to start, and the plotline was full of explanation, more than detail, and failed to catch my attention, despite me being a history buff, and especially for the Tudor/ Elizabethan times.
Then, because I always try to finish any book that I start, I kept on reading and, slowly, but surely, the story evolved and, before I realised it, I was totally hooked into the storyline.
Having read many factual books on this timeline, I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of fact, and fiction, that Misty, and Roberta Gellis, brought to the tale of Henry Fitzroy, and Elizabeth, his half-sister - the future Queen of England.
Although not a fast-paced book, there was enough action in it to keep me thoroughly absorbed once I'd been caught up in the story - and I enjoyed it enough to award four stars!
I'm really glad that I started reading this Doubled Edge quartet, although I'll be taking a break before reading book two of the series: Ill Met By Moonlight, as my daughter handed me another book to read, last night - a mix of Jane Austin's work, and Zombies: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, co-authored by Jane Austin, and Seth Grahame-Smith, which she claims will be a light relief from my history stuff - I'm not so sure myself, but I'll be letting you know what I think of it, once read!
Then, because I always try to finish any book that I start, I kept on reading and, slowly, but surely, the story evolved and, before I realised it, I was totally hooked into the storyline.
Having read many factual books on this timeline, I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of fact, and fiction, that Misty, and Roberta Gellis, brought to the tale of Henry Fitzroy, and Elizabeth, his half-sister - the future Queen of England.
Although not a fast-paced book, there was enough action in it to keep me thoroughly absorbed once I'd been caught up in the story - and I enjoyed it enough to award four stars!
I'm really glad that I started reading this Doubled Edge quartet, although I'll be taking a break before reading book two of the series: Ill Met By Moonlight, as my daughter handed me another book to read, last night - a mix of Jane Austin's work, and Zombies: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, co-authored by Jane Austin, and Seth Grahame-Smith, which she claims will be a light relief from my history stuff - I'm not so sure myself, but I'll be letting you know what I think of it, once read!
July 16, 2025
I think the pace in the last 100 pages was not that great, and I didn’t like how, while being 13, Fitzroy was treated as a grown man in regards to his attraction and related aspects. I did like the book, though! Wish it wasn’t the first thing I picked up to get out of a reading slump, however, because it truly felt as long as it was
July 21, 2021
Solid first book that did what it was meant to do.
August 2, 2021
could not finish
March 25, 2023
Interesting story with sell grounded English roots. Was not compelling page-turner for me but interesting. Still took nearl 4 weeks to read as other stories came & went
March 2, 2014
God Save the Queen! (With the help of the Sidhe of Elfland . . .) Two Masters of Historical Fantasy Join Forces in a New Epic-First Time in Paperback!
The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red-haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who draw power from pain and misery, welcome the coming of a ruler of humans who will increase their strength, and are determined to prevent the red-haired child from coming to the throne. Unless the good Sidhe can find the child and protect her from the evils and dangers of both the human and elven worlds, she will never grow up to become Elizabeth, Queen of England in the Sixteenth Century.
March 27, 2010
I'm really looking forward to the sequels, because I think they'll be much better, and I love Elizabethan fantasy. This book feels like extravagant stage setting for the subsequent books; I suspect that the average reader would find it sufficient to start with the second book, especially inasmuch as we are introduced in the first book to many fairies who will (I presume) feature in the sequels, but few of the humans will, and those who do are not major characters here. This is a problem, since most would be reading this book out of an interest in the historical characters, and they are underserved here with the exception of Harry FitzRoy, the Duke of Richmond, who is of course a minor figure historically. On the other hand, if you know, like me, that you're going to read the rest of the series unless they're dreadful, then you're going to start here, right?
March 6, 2016
I love this book and it was a pleasure to re-read. All the political striving and convolutions of the Tudors, but with a twist; the Sidhe have a vested interest in the future of England and the dark and light courts are using princess Mary and Henry FitzRoy, bastard son of Henry the eighth as a battleground...
In this novel, the first of an excellent series two authors I am very fond of come together. All the amazing historical knowledge and deft writing of Roberta Gellis bring the best out of Mercedes Lackey both authors have done stuff I was fond of but I think this series raises both t new heights.
In this novel, the first of an excellent series two authors I am very fond of come together. All the amazing historical knowledge and deft writing of Roberta Gellis bring the best out of Mercedes Lackey both authors have done stuff I was fond of but I think this series raises both t new heights.
February 25, 2015
I honestly couldn't finish this book. I made it about halfway through before I gave up on it. The premise was interesting to start with: the fae/sidhe try to protect the bastard son of Henry VIII. They work against the bad sidhe, who will gain power if they fail.
Denoriel is the main character and is slightly annoying, but this was not what killed the book for me. The plot is simply boring. Denoriel anticipates what his enemies will do and sets up ways to thwart them. The bad sidhe are then thwarted every time they make a move. I felt like there was never any real danger to the kid that Denoriel is protecting. Maybe it gets better, but I gave up to read something else.
Denoriel is the main character and is slightly annoying, but this was not what killed the book for me. The plot is simply boring. Denoriel anticipates what his enemies will do and sets up ways to thwart them. The bad sidhe are then thwarted every time they make a move. I felt like there was never any real danger to the kid that Denoriel is protecting. Maybe it gets better, but I gave up to read something else.
February 15, 2012
My detailed review of this awesome book can be found here, courtesy of the wonderful book blog Paperback Dolls.
"If you mourned when The Tudors went off the air, and occasionally take your fiction spiced with a little fantasy, This Scepter'd Isle is for you. It is a thoroughly enjoyable start to a series that just gets better with every book."
"If you mourned when The Tudors went off the air, and occasionally take your fiction spiced with a little fantasy, This Scepter'd Isle is for you. It is a thoroughly enjoyable start to a series that just gets better with every book."
October 13, 2009
I enjoyed this book. I admit, most of my enjoyment of it comes from playing Changeling: the Dreaming, but I respected the way that both authors collaborated to create a well-developed and seamless world from which to tell the story.
I felt that the prose was a little overbearing at times, however, and that put me off from a lot of it. I think that those parts were few and far between, however.
I felt that the prose was a little overbearing at times, however, and that put me off from a lot of it. I think that those parts were few and far between, however.
October 22, 2021
What happens when you like historical fiction and fantasy? This is the series that mixes the Victorian age with fae and it's quite different than anything I've read from Ms. Lackey. I liked this. It's a totally new perspective of what Mary was like and how the fae could be entwined with the mortal world. I enjoyed this historical event made into speculative fiction with a fae twist.
June 19, 2011
As a whole, this series did not impress me. It was written more to tell than show, violating a damn good rule of writing, and it told you over and over and over again, as if the reader was expected to forget pertinent facts between page 20 and page 120.
I think this first book was the best of the four.
I think this first book was the best of the four.
September 30, 2015
A wonderful take on the Tudor era in England. This one covers the section of Henry the Eighth's reign when he finally divorces Catherine of Aragon and marries Anne Boleyn - finishes with Anne's death. The Sidhe have taken an interest in the Tudors as what happens in the mortal world affects their lives Underhill and the far-seers have seen that there could be trouble coming once Henry dies.
June 21, 2013
Wow. How wonderful to read a Mercedes Lackey book again. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. This one kept me turning pages from beginning to end and of course it's about my favourite time in history.
September 6, 2007
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February 15, 2008
Enjoyable fluff read about elves in Tudor England. First in series.
Read
August 14, 2008I tried. I really did.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
Read
August 22, 2008This Scepter'd Isle by Mercedes Lackey (2000)
May 21, 2012
Boring. Just couldn't get through it. Nice premise, but extremely slow start. I fainally gave up after 100+ pages.
February 24, 2009
One of my very favorite books of all time
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