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Palace of Spies #2
Dangerous Deceptions
“A rollicking spy caper in corsets. . . . This witty romp will delight fans of historical fiction as well as mystery lovers.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review of Palace of Spies
As a lady in waiting in King George’s London court, Peggy has survived a forced betrothal, royal scandals, and an attempt or two on her life. And now she has a new problem: her horrible fiancé has returned to claim her! To save her neck, or at least her hand in marriage, Peggy joins forces with her cousin Olivia and her sweetheart, Matthew. But if she doesn’t play her cards right, her career as courtier and spy might come to an end at the bottom of the river Thames . . .
As a lady in waiting in King George’s London court, Peggy has survived a forced betrothal, royal scandals, and an attempt or two on her life. And now she has a new problem: her horrible fiancé has returned to claim her! To save her neck, or at least her hand in marriage, Peggy joins forces with her cousin Olivia and her sweetheart, Matthew. But if she doesn’t play her cards right, her career as courtier and spy might come to an end at the bottom of the river Thames . . .
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2014
28 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Zettel
60 books437 followersSarah Zettel is the critically acclaimed author of more than twenty novels, spanning the full range of genre fiction. Her debut novel, Reclamation, won the Locus Award for Best First Novel. Her second release, Fool’s War, was a 1997 New York Times Notable Book, and the American Library Association named Playing God one of the Best Books for Young Adults of 1999. Her novel Bitter Angels won the Philip K. Dick Award for best science fiction paperback in 2009. Her latest novel, Dust Girl, was named as one of the best young adult books of the year by both Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association. Zettel lives in Michigan with her husband, her rapidly growing son, and her cat, Buffy the Vermin Slayer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 17, 2014
Early 18th century frolic
After her uncle threw her out of his house in the last book, our spirited, well-educated but penniless orphan Peggy Fitzroy managed to become a Maid of Honor and sometime spy for Caroline, Princess of Wales, in the court of George I, the first of England’s Hanover kings. In Dangerous Deceptions Peggy is back serving princess and country in another breathlessly paced, seriously funny, multi-layered caper.
While hustling around trying to foil Jacobites scheming to put a Stuart back on the throne, Peggy is also struggling to: navigate cutthroat Maid of Honor politics, reconnoiter with her highly dramatic but beloved cousin, fend off her uncle who’s threatening to marry her to a molesting cad (her uncle has legal right on his side), and prevent her boyfriend from killing said suitor and/or breaking up with her.
It’s a buoyant and careening frolic, with generous dollops of wit, cumbersome but elegant court fashions, heart-fluttering suspense, and several surprise revelations. As we already have plenty of novels set in Regency and Victorian times, I especially enjoy that Dangerous Deceptions makes use of a historical era that’s (I think) been somewhat neglected in fiction.
After her uncle threw her out of his house in the last book, our spirited, well-educated but penniless orphan Peggy Fitzroy managed to become a Maid of Honor and sometime spy for Caroline, Princess of Wales, in the court of George I, the first of England’s Hanover kings. In Dangerous Deceptions Peggy is back serving princess and country in another breathlessly paced, seriously funny, multi-layered caper.
While hustling around trying to foil Jacobites scheming to put a Stuart back on the throne, Peggy is also struggling to: navigate cutthroat Maid of Honor politics, reconnoiter with her highly dramatic but beloved cousin, fend off her uncle who’s threatening to marry her to a molesting cad (her uncle has legal right on his side), and prevent her boyfriend from killing said suitor and/or breaking up with her.
It’s a buoyant and careening frolic, with generous dollops of wit, cumbersome but elegant court fashions, heart-fluttering suspense, and several surprise revelations. As we already have plenty of novels set in Regency and Victorian times, I especially enjoy that Dangerous Deceptions makes use of a historical era that’s (I think) been somewhat neglected in fiction.
January 30, 2016
Screw you book! I nearly DNFed you! 2 stars!
I was going to make it 1 star, but the second star is because it got somewhat exciting towards the end. The END! I had to wait until THE END until things got cooking!
Again with the chapter summaries! What is it with those spoiling chapter summaries??
So random quote, one time Olivia said:
"I could expire with envy."
over something I don't remember because I don't really care. "Expire"? Really? Please continue comparing yourself to cheese, Olivia.
Monsieur Janvier is actually a woman....and teaching Peggy to fight. That's pretty cool!
I feel as though more time was spent on useless facts than actually building characters. I still feel like I hardly know anyone! Even Peggy! And this book is in first person!
Sebastian randomly shows up. Seriously, we have virtually no clue as to why Peggy cares so much about whether or not Mary and Sophy know about hers and Sebastian's betrothal.
What's up with Sebastian's personality change? It's so unrealistic. Losing his family plantations isn't suddenly gonna make him guilty about what he did to Peggy just because he's practically money-less now! And we find out at the end that it's not even true! It was all lies created by his family! Sebastian has "very little money" so he bargains with Peggy....laaaame!
So from what I've gathered, Libby, Peggy's maid, lives in Peggy's closet....
"Libby popped out from the closet like she'd been launched on a spring."
That is abuse right there! I am pretty sure that that is deprivation of the basic human right of access to air.....
Also, I'm seriously not buying the whole "Peggy and Matthew in love" thing. She hardly ever sees Matthew. She almost NEVER tells us what she admires in him, and he literally has almost no significance. It's like the author just wanted to throw in a love interest.
Can someone tell me why Sophy hates Peggy so much?
I don't really know what happened through most of this book....nor do I care.
Molly became friends with Peggy rather quickly after being so mad at her.....what a flip!
This is not the most exciting plot. It might have been more bearable if it was written better.
Stupid Peggy wants to spy in her uncle's house/office so she goes WHILE SHE'S STILL RECOVERING FROM A COLD! She is still sniffling and having cold symptoms, but she goes to spy anyways! How dumb! How is she supposed to hide herself? How is that cunning? How is that any form of discretion? How is this girl a spy??
This book lost me like 50 pages in. After that I was no longer in it mentally and I really did try many times to give it a chance. Unfortunately it hardly ever redeemed itself.
This book is also majorly dialogue-deprived,
Peggy:
I crossed from the square to the Mall"
They had malls back then? Really? Is it a different kind of mall that I'm being too ignorant to pick up on?
"What the holy hell's happened?"
Can I just say that one of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when people say "holy hell".
Hell is most definitely NOT holy y'all! What are you, the devil's spawn? Are you just trying to combine the phrases "Holy [insert object here]" and "what the hell" to sound cool?
On a different note, I've mentioned in previous reviews that I love kick-ass female characters. Peggy? She's pretty much a kick-ass female FAILURE!
I'm sorry...just sometimes she SERIOUSLY pisses me off!
Well...evil Sophy Howe didn't want Peggy to win the stupid card game with Julian, Sebastian's older brother. But wouldn't Sebastian get taken away from Sophy should Julian win?
Sebastian and Julian's father is Lord Lynnfield. This "Lord" says "Gel" instead of "girl". I thought he was a lord! The guy speaks like a common beggar!
Also I totally figured out that Mr. Johnny Leroy was Peggy's father the minute she said he had a beard. And then he rescued her. And then he called her "Peggy". And then he rescued her again. And then he showed her the ring. And then Peggy figured it out. Her deduction skills are brilliant!
I still don't know what to think about Lord Tierney/Mr. Tinderflint.
Uncle Pierpont died in a fire in his office that happens to be full of paper....how convenient.
Because I apparently like to torture myself, I may read the third one when it comes out......or I may not......I have yet to decide....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2014
I never read the first book in this series. Which is fine as this book could be read as a stand alone novel. I picked up this book because I like reading period piece stories and the mystery piece intrigued me as well. In the beginning I had no problems with the book. In fact, I was kind of liking it. Then I put it down only intending for a short period to come back to the book. When I did, I read about a half a dozen more chapters and was like am I reading the same book. What happened. I could not stand anything in it and found it boring. It helped put me right to sleep. I than read from another reviewer that it takes until about page 200 before the story really picks up steam. I was already at 127, so I decided to skip until page 200. Nope, I could not do it. I only read a few more pages and promptly put this book down for good. The characters were annoying, then there was the sudden stop when Peggy would start to investigate and then she was stopped and I was let with more talking (whining). No thanks.
January 10, 2016
Featured in "Reading on a Theme: Girl Spies" on Intellectual Recreation.
I wasn't crazy about the first novel in the Palace of Spies series. It kind of felt like a long preface to me, and it's true that there was a lot of groundwork that needed to be laid. Most readers aren't intimately familiar with this historical era. However, I had this feeling that the sequels could be more enjoyable, and I'm so glad that I can the next book in the series a shot.
Dangerous Deceptions once again finds Peggy in the court of the Prince Regent (the future King George II). She has gained the trust of her sovereigns and has been kept on to continue rooting out deceivers in the court. Peggy soon finds herself facing a personal problem. Her uncle insists that she fulfill her betrothal contract to Sebastian Sandford. As he is absolutely horrible, there is no way that Peggy can let this happen. Thus, she engages in a little spy work for her own benefit. However, as is to be expected, Peggy soon learns there are greater forces at work.
Sarah Zettel's novel is just a lot of fun. I like Peggy's voice quite a lot. She navigates us through the maze of courtly politics quite well. It's an interesting period of history, and I, for one, enjoy being front and center, if you will, for all the underhanded courtly intrigue.
August 11, 2015
As far as sequels go, Dangerous Deceptions follows its predecessor fairly well. It is less confusing but also less action packed, the exciting stuff doesn't happen till the end. The plot itself is improbable, convenient, and dramatic. I was excited for more of Olivia but I don't think I got to know her better. Or Peggy. Or any of the character. I really dislike Peggy's romance with Matthew. Its all fluttering nerves and stolen kisses. There isn't even the interest of romantic tension anymore. Who wants to read about people misunderstanding and then being perfectly happy together? Borrrring.
But the thing is, most of this book is booorrring. There is a spy ring to be infiltrated and conspiracies to stop and our intrepid heroine can't seem to get her stuff together! She's worried about her finances and being a lady in waiting and saying witty things and gets irritated when her actual job distracts from that. It was hard to like her or sympathize with her problems.
Still, the last quarter was fun and interesting and I liked it once the heroine put her plot into motion.
I don't think I'll find the third book. I can only take so much of this first-person style.
But the thing is, most of this book is booorrring. There is a spy ring to be infiltrated and conspiracies to stop and our intrepid heroine can't seem to get her stuff together! She's worried about her finances and being a lady in waiting and saying witty things and gets irritated when her actual job distracts from that. It was hard to like her or sympathize with her problems.
Still, the last quarter was fun and interesting and I liked it once the heroine put her plot into motion.
I don't think I'll find the third book. I can only take so much of this first-person style.
December 12, 2017
I have tried for weeks to try and read this book, but I just CAN’T! It’s impossible. I rarely give one star ratings, so this book... this book... ugh 😑
February 22, 2021
Book 2 in the Palace of Spies trilogy, 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 was another fun, secret-filled read. I loved the court intrigue of book 1, and this book did not disappoint in that aspect whatsoever. Peggy’s adventures in this book are even more high-stakes, and I’m very interested to see how this trilogy will conclude.
What kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me was that, overall, the book was pretty slow. It took me a while to get into, as the first couple of chapters recap a lot of what happened in the first book. But once I got into this book, I ended up enjoying it.
What kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me was that, overall, the book was pretty slow. It took me a while to get into, as the first couple of chapters recap a lot of what happened in the first book. But once I got into this book, I ended up enjoying it.
December 8, 2014
This sequel to Palace of Spies has Peggy still at court, as herself this time, as a maid of honor to the Princess of Wales. She's shocked when her betrothed, Sebastian, turns up like a bad penny wanting to continue the engagement. After his attempted rape, Peggy wants nothing to do with him. She's also stuck making nice to her uncle, for the sake of her freedom and friendship with Olivia. Little Princess Anne's dog is about to have puppies and she wants Olivia to be Guinevere's midwife. Peggy is not enthusiastic about the project for she has enough to deal with court gossip and trying to figure out the game Sebastian is playing and what her uncle wants from her. Her mentor, Mr. Tinderflint is in Paris hoping to locate Peggy's father so she can finally be free from her uncle. When Uncle Pierpont refuses to give up her betrothal contract, Peggy and Olivia plot to discover the truth even if it means breaking a few laws. Peggy's beloved Matthew is along for the adventure to keep Peggy safe, but he can't be there all the time. Not even the Princess of Wales can save Peggy from an unwanted marriage or an another attack from Sebastian. If she uncovers nefarious secrets, her life may even be in danger. She must use all her wits and money to stay one step ahead or everything she's worked for and dreamed of will crumble to dust.
This book didn't move as quickly as the first one did.l I didn't reach the couldn't put it down stage until very late in the novel. The plot is filled with intricate details of life in court. The historical detail is amazing and I really got a sense of what it was like to be a courtier in early Georgian Britain. However, all that detail gets in the way of the plot. There's also a subplot about Peggy's friend that bears no real relevance to the main plot and is not fully resolved. I was able to figure out what Peggy's uncle was up to before she did. The ending is very abrupt and could use an epilogue. The book could also use an historical note to explain what was real and what happened after the events of the novel. The adventure part of the novel moves along quickly and is heart-in-your-throat exciting. I expected more of a heist plot though.
I love the characters in this novel. Peggy and Olivia are very modern women. Olivia especially is unrealistic for an 18th century woman, but there were some eccentric ladies and the restrictions on women were less than what they would become by the end of the Georgian period. Olivia provides the comic relief as does little Princess Anne. I liked Peggy too. For all she's supposed to be a spy, she isn't a very good one. I picked up on things she should have noticed much sooner. However, I like her because she's not perfect. She's not a super intelligent spy; she's just a girl caught up in circumstances beyond her control. She doesn't have all the answers and makes a lot of mistakes. I think this makes her a character teen girls can relate to and it makes her vastly appealing. I like how she uses her wit to battle her way through the court gossips. Matthew is a swoony sort of hero only found in storybooks. Their relationship made a nice change from the usual bickering couples.
The romance is sweet: kisses only. There is talk of rape, "tumbling" and mistresses. The few swear words don't fully appear in print. There is one scene of violence against animals which I did not care for. This book is geared for ages 14+. I think adults will like it too.
This book didn't move as quickly as the first one did.l I didn't reach the couldn't put it down stage until very late in the novel. The plot is filled with intricate details of life in court. The historical detail is amazing and I really got a sense of what it was like to be a courtier in early Georgian Britain. However, all that detail gets in the way of the plot. There's also a subplot about Peggy's friend that bears no real relevance to the main plot and is not fully resolved. I was able to figure out what Peggy's uncle was up to before she did. The ending is very abrupt and could use an epilogue. The book could also use an historical note to explain what was real and what happened after the events of the novel. The adventure part of the novel moves along quickly and is heart-in-your-throat exciting. I expected more of a heist plot though.
I love the characters in this novel. Peggy and Olivia are very modern women. Olivia especially is unrealistic for an 18th century woman, but there were some eccentric ladies and the restrictions on women were less than what they would become by the end of the Georgian period. Olivia provides the comic relief as does little Princess Anne. I liked Peggy too. For all she's supposed to be a spy, she isn't a very good one. I picked up on things she should have noticed much sooner. However, I like her because she's not perfect. She's not a super intelligent spy; she's just a girl caught up in circumstances beyond her control. She doesn't have all the answers and makes a lot of mistakes. I think this makes her a character teen girls can relate to and it makes her vastly appealing. I like how she uses her wit to battle her way through the court gossips. Matthew is a swoony sort of hero only found in storybooks. Their relationship made a nice change from the usual bickering couples.
The romance is sweet: kisses only. There is talk of rape, "tumbling" and mistresses. The few swear words don't fully appear in print. There is one scene of violence against animals which I did not care for. This book is geared for ages 14+. I think adults will like it too.
February 3, 2016
2.5
The book moved along at a fair pace, and I never found myself bored, which is why I'm (currently) bumping this 2.5 up to 3, instead of down, but...
Well, first let me say that I had read somewhere that this was the last of the series. I have since learned that there's a third - which is very good, because there's so much left unresolved that had this been the finale, I would've been very disappointed.
But my biggest issue with the book, really, is that Peggy is a terrible spy. Firstly, because she doesn't actually get down to a whole lot of spying and, secondly, because when she does, she's just pretty darn awful at it.
Peggy spends most of the book dithering about her personal life, about her uncle and Sebastian and Matthew, and how she really ought to be investigating that whole Jacobite thing, but isn't so so inconvenient because her life is falling apart!
I mean, both Matthew and Olivia are better spies in this book. (Actually, more than once I thought Olivia should be the spy instead of Peggy, since, despite her flakiness, she actually seemed more proactive of the two.)
Anyway -
Things did ramp up at the end. I was vaguely reminded of , what with her fate being decided by a I expected more of it, though. I expected it to be more relevant to the story/world at large, and not just to her personal fate.
And then the ending, which was so wonderfully convenient, but, hey, at least someone's off investigating the Jacobites while Peggy's busy trying to get out of marrying Sebastian.
I'm still looking forward to the next - and possibly final - book in the series. I am hoping that the story gets wrapped up, though, because while this series is all well-and-good for some enjoyable fluff, I'm not sure I could stick with it on a long haul.
The book moved along at a fair pace, and I never found myself bored, which is why I'm (currently) bumping this 2.5 up to 3, instead of down, but...
Well, first let me say that I had read somewhere that this was the last of the series. I have since learned that there's a third - which is very good, because there's so much left unresolved that had this been the finale, I would've been very disappointed.
But my biggest issue with the book, really, is that Peggy is a terrible spy. Firstly, because she doesn't actually get down to a whole lot of spying and, secondly, because when she does, she's just pretty darn awful at it.
Peggy spends most of the book dithering about her personal life, about her uncle and Sebastian and Matthew, and how she really ought to be investigating that whole Jacobite thing, but isn't so so inconvenient because her life is falling apart!
I mean, both Matthew and Olivia are better spies in this book. (Actually, more than once I thought Olivia should be the spy instead of Peggy, since, despite her flakiness, she actually seemed more proactive of the two.)
Anyway -
Things did ramp up at the end. I was vaguely reminded of , what with her fate being decided by a I expected more of it, though. I expected it to be more relevant to the story/world at large, and not just to her personal fate.
And then the ending, which was so wonderfully convenient, but, hey, at least someone's off investigating the Jacobites while Peggy's busy trying to get out of marrying Sebastian.
I'm still looking forward to the next - and possibly final - book in the series. I am hoping that the story gets wrapped up, though, because while this series is all well-and-good for some enjoyable fluff, I'm not sure I could stick with it on a long haul.
January 6, 2015
Peggy's life in the royal palace should be easier, now that she isn't pretending to be someone else. But life as a lady in waiting who also happens to be the queen's spy isn't easy, no matter what name Peggy wears. A constant struggle to maintain her life of espionage without being too late for court functions becomes the least of Peggy's worries when her erstwhile fiancee shows up at court. With no male relative but her cruel uncle to turn to, Peggy's search for her missing father becomes crucial if she is to avoid marrying a man she hates.
I've come across very little teen fiction set during the Georgian era. Zettel's mastery of the historic setting is lovely; essential to the story (Peggy, like any court lady, struggles with the cumbersome fashions of the time), but not overwhelming to the reader. Peggy's narrative voice is lively and witty, yet fairly innocent. This is a great series for fans of Ally Carter or Gail Carriger.
I've come across very little teen fiction set during the Georgian era. Zettel's mastery of the historic setting is lovely; essential to the story (Peggy, like any court lady, struggles with the cumbersome fashions of the time), but not overwhelming to the reader. Peggy's narrative voice is lively and witty, yet fairly innocent. This is a great series for fans of Ally Carter or Gail Carriger.
February 21, 2015
Danger is nicely balance with humor and light romance. I don't know English history very well and I struggled to place this on a timeline. However, Zettel has created a lively heroine who is making her way alone in dangerous times.
July 1, 2020
While I did enjoy the first book, this one was highly disappointing. I was ready for lots more spying and Peggy honing her subtle spy skills. But there is nothing subtle about this book. Peggy seems to have forgotten that she's only in the palace as a lady in waiting in order to spy for the Princess. Instead, she does everything except her actual job. The bulk of the book seems to be filled with sniping and cat-fighting, and Peggy being high-strung and frazzled about having so many personal problems going on that she can't be bothered to do either her real job of spying or her fake job of waiting. (Granted, I'm not the target age for this book; probably teenagers would find this major plot element more engaging.) Peggy's new privilege seems to have gone to her head, and (almost) gone is the relatively strong and resourceful young woman of the previous book.
When Peggy finally does do some spying, it's for her own personal interests. She does it clumsily and rashly, and it's only by pure coincidence that each of her few attempts bear any fruit at all. Matthew turns out to have more skill at spying than her, with his one attempt. At no point is Peggy motivated to do any spying for her actual job. That she stumbles into being successful for her own ends, and that it's also useful to her employer, is by pure accident and through no actual spying skill of her own. That other characters end up praising her abilities is laughable because all she does is connect a few very conveniently placed and very obvious dots.
Maybe I read this book too soon after the first, but the style of narration became extremely irritating. The narration of the entire book is saturated with melodrama, making it impossible to appreciate certain turns of phrase that would have felt cleverer if attempts at wittiness had been used more sparingly. But the relentlessness of the narration style just serves to make Peggy seem insufferably self-important--and I suppose she is, with everything she does and thinks about motivated by her own self-interests. Peggy dislikes Olivia making a scene, but Olivia's excitement around drama feels a lot more modest and genuine. After playing Francesca in the previous book, Peggy's own personality comes out in this one, and it seems eminently ill-suited to spying. She's good at cheating at cards, complaining to the reader about the confines of her clothes, and making a scene, but that's about it. Any "brilliant" ideas she has almost always come in moments of inspiration, so we don't really get to see her doing any reasoned thinking.
One thing I did appreciate was that Peggy does tell Matthew the truth about her betrothal to Sebastian Sandford at her earliest opportunity. In so many other books, the main character would have chickened out and that secret would have been a major source of conflict. So I was so happy to see this healthy moment of relationship honesty. Matthew ends up being supportive, so what I don't understand is why it has to become a source of conflict anyway. Peggy is so insecure about their relationship the rest of the book when Matthew clearly knows (and Peggy should know he knows) that she doesn't want to have anything to do with Sebastian. Though they clearly love each other and should be secure in their relationship, we get a lot of melodrama for very little apparent reason, which doesn't make their romance very endearing. On a relatively small note, at the end, and that's where the melodrama gets in the way of anything being believable...
There are clearly more Jacobite plots afoot to be thwarted [I suspect the book of having a short-term effect on my writing style], but I don't think I'll be reading the next book in the series. If I do, it'll be after a healthy hiatus and with the firm hope that Peggy actually learns how to spy. That's what drew me to the series after all.
Basically, read Gail Carriger's Finishing School series and Y.S. Lee's The Agency series instead. And if you're looking for more of those here, don't bother.
When Peggy finally does do some spying, it's for her own personal interests. She does it clumsily and rashly, and it's only by pure coincidence that each of her few attempts bear any fruit at all. Matthew turns out to have more skill at spying than her, with his one attempt. At no point is Peggy motivated to do any spying for her actual job. That she stumbles into being successful for her own ends, and that it's also useful to her employer, is by pure accident and through no actual spying skill of her own. That other characters end up praising her abilities is laughable because all she does is connect a few very conveniently placed and very obvious dots.
Maybe I read this book too soon after the first, but the style of narration became extremely irritating. The narration of the entire book is saturated with melodrama, making it impossible to appreciate certain turns of phrase that would have felt cleverer if attempts at wittiness had been used more sparingly. But the relentlessness of the narration style just serves to make Peggy seem insufferably self-important--and I suppose she is, with everything she does and thinks about motivated by her own self-interests. Peggy dislikes Olivia making a scene, but Olivia's excitement around drama feels a lot more modest and genuine. After playing Francesca in the previous book, Peggy's own personality comes out in this one, and it seems eminently ill-suited to spying. She's good at cheating at cards, complaining to the reader about the confines of her clothes, and making a scene, but that's about it. Any "brilliant" ideas she has almost always come in moments of inspiration, so we don't really get to see her doing any reasoned thinking.
One thing I did appreciate was that Peggy does tell Matthew the truth about her betrothal to Sebastian Sandford at her earliest opportunity. In so many other books, the main character would have chickened out and that secret would have been a major source of conflict. So I was so happy to see this healthy moment of relationship honesty. Matthew ends up being supportive, so what I don't understand is why it has to become a source of conflict anyway. Peggy is so insecure about their relationship the rest of the book when Matthew clearly knows (and Peggy should know he knows) that she doesn't want to have anything to do with Sebastian. Though they clearly love each other and should be secure in their relationship, we get a lot of melodrama for very little apparent reason, which doesn't make their romance very endearing. On a relatively small note, at the end, and that's where the melodrama gets in the way of anything being believable...
There are clearly more Jacobite plots afoot to be thwarted [I suspect the book of having a short-term effect on my writing style], but I don't think I'll be reading the next book in the series. If I do, it'll be after a healthy hiatus and with the firm hope that Peggy actually learns how to spy. That's what drew me to the series after all.
Basically, read Gail Carriger's Finishing School series and Y.S. Lee's The Agency series instead. And if you're looking for more of those here, don't bother.
October 21, 2017
The only downside of any novel sequel, esp. ones that have ongoing, in depth plots with many characters and storylines to follow is that YOU HAVE TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FIRST ONE.
The plot of the continuation of Peggy's role as spy goes further in depth into a pending engagement, gambling, build-up and weakening of relationships and friendships, but the unsureness of it all is what keeps you reading. You want the issues resolved. You sympathize with Peggy, her cousin and best friend Olivia, her romantic artist, Matthew. You question, just as Peggy does, every single character's motive through the entire book.
Zettel also does a great job at not only introducing new colorful characters to further the plot, but she also reels in the reality of real-world problems, "Is family more important? Is your relationship the strongest thing? Financial issues arise, even when you're in the Palace.
It has one heck of an ending, but you have to read the whole thing to fully appreciate it.
The plot of the continuation of Peggy's role as spy goes further in depth into a pending engagement, gambling, build-up and weakening of relationships and friendships, but the unsureness of it all is what keeps you reading. You want the issues resolved. You sympathize with Peggy, her cousin and best friend Olivia, her romantic artist, Matthew. You question, just as Peggy does, every single character's motive through the entire book.
Zettel also does a great job at not only introducing new colorful characters to further the plot, but she also reels in the reality of real-world problems, "Is family more important? Is your relationship the strongest thing? Financial issues arise, even when you're in the Palace.
It has one heck of an ending, but you have to read the whole thing to fully appreciate it.
April 1, 2020
Peggy Fitzroy has taken her place as a lady in waiting, this time under her own name. However, everything she endured before is nothing to the trouble that now awaits her. Her betrothed has returned to claim her, there are rumors of another Jacobite plot, her fellow ladies in waiting are plotting, and she still is unsure where her father is.
This book had a lot packed into it. Our rather reluctant spy is not taking well to the fashion of the time and as a lady in waiting she has to be seen at her best. (While I did find her complaints about corsets of the time being so terrible, I did appreciate that there is a part where said corset provided some protection.) She has a few tentative allies and more enemies than she can keep track.
While I do admit that Peggy is clever and resourceful, I do think she is a terrible spy. She's learned some tricks since the first book but she flounders under the weight of everything she is dealing with.
Still, it was enjoyable so I round my 3.5 up to a four. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light-hearted historical adventure.
This book had a lot packed into it. Our rather reluctant spy is not taking well to the fashion of the time and as a lady in waiting she has to be seen at her best. (While I did find her complaints about corsets of the time being so terrible, I did appreciate that there is a part where said corset provided some protection.) She has a few tentative allies and more enemies than she can keep track.
While I do admit that Peggy is clever and resourceful, I do think she is a terrible spy. She's learned some tricks since the first book but she flounders under the weight of everything she is dealing with.
Still, it was enjoyable so I round my 3.5 up to a four. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light-hearted historical adventure.
November 19, 2014
Originally reviewed at http://www.shaelit.com/2014/11/review...
2014 has been SLAYING it when it comes to sequels, and I'm happy to say that Dangerous Deceptions continues the trend. Our daring Peggy is back in the court of King George, now only as herself, her charade as the slain Francesca having been laid to rest in the last book. Now Peggy seems to have more trouble than she can handle with friends who feel betrayed, another possible Jacobite plot, an insistent betrothed, trouble in the royal marriage, and her Uncle Pierpont's mysterious behavior.
First off, let me say, God bless the French! Peggy and her fellow noblewomen continue to suffer under the outrageous fashions and ridiculous makeup trends of the court, but thanks to a fashion revolution in Versailles, "natural" hair is in vogue. It's such a little detail, but I could feel my brain unclenching at the realization that I wouldn't have to picture everyone in those stupid wigs any longer.
The missing wigs are just one of many changes that came as a result of the last book. With the departure of Mrs. Abbott, Peggy has placed herself in the care of a new maid, the "olive-skinned" Libby. Libby remains a cypher even by the end of the story, but I like her. She's smart, keeps Peggy in line, and has the makings of a spy herself. Peggy needs Libby at her back with her sudden lack of support from the other women. Sophy is as catty as ever, and she attempts to woo Mary and Molly to her side, especially now that Molly feels the sting of Peggy's deception. Also, the maids of Princess Caroline as a whole are flustered with the arrival of the newest maid, Mrs. Howard, the Prince's rumored mistress. In the court at large, Peggy's old fiance Sebastian has reappeared to make waves. Even Peggy's room isn't a safe place with the ghost of the man killed on her behalf plaguing her dreams.
What fun this was! With Peggy's charade lifted, the lines of intrigue felt clearer. Though there were still many strands to follow as they twisted through the courts, tying interests abroad with powers overseas, the plot as a whole felt less cluttered and easier to track. I like that Peggy's trials and conundrums came staggered, with no extra weight laid on external, political intrigue versus on the smaller puzzles closer to home. This allowed for a better view of the players involved. Some, like Uncle Pierpont and Sebastian, were familiar, while historical and new faces, like those of Walpole and Mrs. Howard, were given room to blossom. Mrs. Howard was especially interesting, as the author frames her as a sympathetic character even as she stands as a wedge between the Prince and Princess. Uncle Pierpont and Sebastian—both entirely unsympathetic in the last book—are given more nuance while remaining internally consistent with their previous portrayals. (Side note: Olivia remains fantastic. That is all.)
And what a climax! Oh my goodness, my heart is still racing just a bit. The high point of this book felt like a violin string at breaking point. By the apogee of the plot, Peggy plays whac-a-mole with her enemies, defeating them soundly first in a battle of wits and then in one of action. No matter which kind of showdown you like, there's a heart-stopping sequence for you! I gobbled down both scenes during my break at work and finished feeling completely out of breath. It was EXHILARATING.
I cannot wait for the next installment. With each book, Peggy and her little crew becomes more and more impressive, the villains more and more vile, and the adventures more breath-taking and death-defying than the last. All hail Peggy Fitzroy!
Favorite Non-Spoilery Quote:
Points Added For: Peggy and her wit, Olivia and her directness, Libby and her exasperation, adding depth to characters (like Uncle Pierpont), THOSE CLIMACTIC SCENES, the treatment of Mrs. Howard, Monsieur Janvier, being easier to follow.
Points Subtracted For: I still am a bit meh on Matthew.
Good For Fans Of: Clever and independent ladies, spies, tricksiness, political intrigue, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger, Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan.
Notes For Parents: Kissing, language, drinking, smoking, violence against animals.
Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration.
2014 has been SLAYING it when it comes to sequels, and I'm happy to say that Dangerous Deceptions continues the trend. Our daring Peggy is back in the court of King George, now only as herself, her charade as the slain Francesca having been laid to rest in the last book. Now Peggy seems to have more trouble than she can handle with friends who feel betrayed, another possible Jacobite plot, an insistent betrothed, trouble in the royal marriage, and her Uncle Pierpont's mysterious behavior.
First off, let me say, God bless the French! Peggy and her fellow noblewomen continue to suffer under the outrageous fashions and ridiculous makeup trends of the court, but thanks to a fashion revolution in Versailles, "natural" hair is in vogue. It's such a little detail, but I could feel my brain unclenching at the realization that I wouldn't have to picture everyone in those stupid wigs any longer.
The missing wigs are just one of many changes that came as a result of the last book. With the departure of Mrs. Abbott, Peggy has placed herself in the care of a new maid, the "olive-skinned" Libby. Libby remains a cypher even by the end of the story, but I like her. She's smart, keeps Peggy in line, and has the makings of a spy herself. Peggy needs Libby at her back with her sudden lack of support from the other women. Sophy is as catty as ever, and she attempts to woo Mary and Molly to her side, especially now that Molly feels the sting of Peggy's deception. Also, the maids of Princess Caroline as a whole are flustered with the arrival of the newest maid, Mrs. Howard, the Prince's rumored mistress. In the court at large, Peggy's old fiance Sebastian has reappeared to make waves. Even Peggy's room isn't a safe place with the ghost of the man killed on her behalf plaguing her dreams.
What fun this was! With Peggy's charade lifted, the lines of intrigue felt clearer. Though there were still many strands to follow as they twisted through the courts, tying interests abroad with powers overseas, the plot as a whole felt less cluttered and easier to track. I like that Peggy's trials and conundrums came staggered, with no extra weight laid on external, political intrigue versus on the smaller puzzles closer to home. This allowed for a better view of the players involved. Some, like Uncle Pierpont and Sebastian, were familiar, while historical and new faces, like those of Walpole and Mrs. Howard, were given room to blossom. Mrs. Howard was especially interesting, as the author frames her as a sympathetic character even as she stands as a wedge between the Prince and Princess. Uncle Pierpont and Sebastian—both entirely unsympathetic in the last book—are given more nuance while remaining internally consistent with their previous portrayals. (Side note: Olivia remains fantastic. That is all.)
And what a climax! Oh my goodness, my heart is still racing just a bit. The high point of this book felt like a violin string at breaking point. By the apogee of the plot, Peggy plays whac-a-mole with her enemies, defeating them soundly first in a battle of wits and then in one of action. No matter which kind of showdown you like, there's a heart-stopping sequence for you! I gobbled down both scenes during my break at work and finished feeling completely out of breath. It was EXHILARATING.
I cannot wait for the next installment. With each book, Peggy and her little crew becomes more and more impressive, the villains more and more vile, and the adventures more breath-taking and death-defying than the last. All hail Peggy Fitzroy!
Favorite Non-Spoilery Quote:
"Uncle, I would not marry Mr. Sandford even if I were dying of the pox and could have the satisfaction of taking him with me."
Points Added For: Peggy and her wit, Olivia and her directness, Libby and her exasperation, adding depth to characters (like Uncle Pierpont), THOSE CLIMACTIC SCENES, the treatment of Mrs. Howard, Monsieur Janvier, being easier to follow.
Points Subtracted For: I still am a bit meh on Matthew.
Good For Fans Of: Clever and independent ladies, spies, tricksiness, political intrigue, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger, Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan.
Notes For Parents: Kissing, language, drinking, smoking, violence against animals.
Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration.
July 29, 2021
Oh, Ms Zettel does not disappoint. The adventure continues in book 2 with the characters we came to know and love in book 1. I love the plot and how it has kept me guessing and turning pages, wanting to know what happens next. So good and it is a clean story with mystery and a dash of romance. Perfect!
April 23, 2022
as good as the first
I paid full price for this book I enjoyed the first so much! This book was just as entertaining. Peggy (odd name for Court but ok) is far more clever though she creates a lot of false leads for herself. Was so eager to find out what happens next I paid full price for the third book!
I paid full price for this book I enjoyed the first so much! This book was just as entertaining. Peggy (odd name for Court but ok) is far more clever though she creates a lot of false leads for herself. Was so eager to find out what happens next I paid full price for the third book!
May 9, 2017
I thought this one was better than the first. There were still a few spots where I thought the plot or character were a little too simple. Overall though, I enjoyed it, and will be looking forward to the next book.
February 28, 2020
Bottom line: I stopped reading at page 211. I tried 3 different times to read it. I just could not connect with the story and I just don't care to finish it. It's not poorly written, I just don't like it.
July 19, 2017
Another perfectly fine and readable spy in the palace drama. I'm not 100% sure of our heroine's value as a spy...she just seems to bumble from crisis to crisis, but oh well. Fun, easy read.
March 14, 2019
Liked this one more than the first, probably because there didn't have to be the whole set-up to get her into the palace.
Enough fun that I'm off to find book 3!
Enjoy!
Enough fun that I'm off to find book 3!
Enjoy!
September 25, 2019
Fun adventure! Our Peggy has some serious problems to solve.
January 18, 2022
3.5
This was fun, but also sometimes I feel like things would happen that I was just like......... wait how did we get here?? but it was still an easy cute read
This was fun, but also sometimes I feel like things would happen that I was just like......... wait how did we get here?? but it was still an easy cute read
June 15, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
This book suffered from the extremely common "Middle Book Syndrome" that we see in most trilogies. It wasn't bad by any standards, but it was awfully dull at some points. There weren't as many funny moments when compared to the previous book in the trilogy, and the story tended to drag in the middle section. That being said, I still did enjoy this book, which is why I'm giving it a relatively high rating.
In this book, Peggy Fitzroy continues her spying duties, but as herself. She needs to work to uncover all the traitors in the palace. If that isn't hard enough, she also has to deal with not only her uncle, but also her douchey, asshat fiancé and his family. Throughout the book, we get to see how all the people mentioned above were involved in conspiracies of various kinds, and how Peggy managed to expose them. Needless to say, at the end of it all, she probably felt like this:
I really missed Peggy's sharp tongue in this book. There were, of course, certain moments where her wit/straightforwardness shone through, but she was usually either too worried/angry/occupied/confused to be witty/sarcastic. It was this trait of hers that charmed me and made me like her a lot more in the first book, so to find it mostly lacking in the sequel is a huge disappointment. However, there were still certain paragraphs that I found highly amusing, and I will show you an example of one such paragraph below.
I believe I can safely say that what followed was as graceless a moment of heaving, scrabbling, puffing, coughing, wriggling, and frantic, muffled cursing as any known in the history of sneak-thievery. This magnificent living display of the manifold reasons why one should never attempt to burgle a home in skirts culminated in my falling to the floor of the book room in a great, silken heap.
Peggy's cousin, Olivia, played a much bigger role in this book than the previous one, and I still don't know if that's a good thing or not. On one hand, it's always delightful to see a friendly female character that's intelligent. On the other hand, I feel like she's an additional burden for Peggy because she is way too reckless for her own good. Therefore, I can't really decide as to how exactly I feel about her.
I think that the greatest surprise to me in these two books is how much I actually like Princess Caroline. I thought that she'd at least be aloof and haughty, if not completely stuck up. That was obviously a huge mistake. Princess Caroline is really intelligent, and she is also really personable. Even I would be content in serving her (and goodness knows how I don't like being told what to do). She also happens to really like and trust Peggy (even though Peggy might end up screwing up badly), and that makes me like her even more. Thank you, Ms. Zettel, for not making the princess an annoying dumbs***.
All in all, this book was pretty decent. The good points were that we got to know more about Olivia and the Princess, Peggy managed to figure out the conspiracies, and Matthew and Peggy were way too cute. The not-so-good points were that the "suspense" was a bit too long, which caused the book to become a tad dry, and that there was supposed to be a "twist", but I saw it coming. Recommended.
What was the point of a spy master if he could not supply his spies with important information? Here my great, scheming, mysterious patron could only tell me that Sebastian was a conniving no-good from a family of conniving no-goods who associated themselves with other conniving no-goods from a county well populated by members of that species.
This review can also be found on randomcrazyweirdo
This book suffered from the extremely common "Middle Book Syndrome" that we see in most trilogies. It wasn't bad by any standards, but it was awfully dull at some points. There weren't as many funny moments when compared to the previous book in the trilogy, and the story tended to drag in the middle section. That being said, I still did enjoy this book, which is why I'm giving it a relatively high rating.
In this book, Peggy Fitzroy continues her spying duties, but as herself. She needs to work to uncover all the traitors in the palace. If that isn't hard enough, she also has to deal with not only her uncle, but also her douchey, asshat fiancé and his family. Throughout the book, we get to see how all the people mentioned above were involved in conspiracies of various kinds, and how Peggy managed to expose them. Needless to say, at the end of it all, she probably felt like this:
I really missed Peggy's sharp tongue in this book. There were, of course, certain moments where her wit/straightforwardness shone through, but she was usually either too worried/angry/occupied/confused to be witty/sarcastic. It was this trait of hers that charmed me and made me like her a lot more in the first book, so to find it mostly lacking in the sequel is a huge disappointment. However, there were still certain paragraphs that I found highly amusing, and I will show you an example of one such paragraph below.
I believe I can safely say that what followed was as graceless a moment of heaving, scrabbling, puffing, coughing, wriggling, and frantic, muffled cursing as any known in the history of sneak-thievery. This magnificent living display of the manifold reasons why one should never attempt to burgle a home in skirts culminated in my falling to the floor of the book room in a great, silken heap.
Peggy's cousin, Olivia, played a much bigger role in this book than the previous one, and I still don't know if that's a good thing or not. On one hand, it's always delightful to see a friendly female character that's intelligent. On the other hand, I feel like she's an additional burden for Peggy because she is way too reckless for her own good. Therefore, I can't really decide as to how exactly I feel about her.
I think that the greatest surprise to me in these two books is how much I actually like Princess Caroline. I thought that she'd at least be aloof and haughty, if not completely stuck up. That was obviously a huge mistake. Princess Caroline is really intelligent, and she is also really personable. Even I would be content in serving her (and goodness knows how I don't like being told what to do). She also happens to really like and trust Peggy (even though Peggy might end up screwing up badly), and that makes me like her even more. Thank you, Ms. Zettel, for not making the princess an annoying dumbs***.
All in all, this book was pretty decent. The good points were that we got to know more about Olivia and the Princess, Peggy managed to figure out the conspiracies, and Matthew and Peggy were way too cute. The not-so-good points were that the "suspense" was a bit too long, which caused the book to become a tad dry, and that there was supposed to be a "twist", but I saw it coming. Recommended.
What was the point of a spy master if he could not supply his spies with important information? Here my great, scheming, mysterious patron could only tell me that Sebastian was a conniving no-good from a family of conniving no-goods who associated themselves with other conniving no-goods from a county well populated by members of that species.
This review can also be found on randomcrazyweirdo
March 8, 2017
Another fun romp through the early Georgian court.
April 3, 2015
Some background info on Dangerous Deceptions: Dangerous Deceptions is the second book in the series and the sequel of Palace of Spies. Now, it has been a while since I'd read Palace of Spies, so my memory is a bit fuzzy (okay, more like blank), so I read my own review (which must had been written while I was sugar-high, because it is so terrible) and remember that the book is incredibly similar to Waistcoats & Weaponry. Just without the fancy weapons and supernatural forces.
Dangerous Deceptions starts off slowly to my disappointment. Thankfully, it picks up around the 1/3 mark of the book. It gets really hilarious and and serious at the same time. (So it is sort of contradicting, but does that really matter?) I can't talk about the ending. I can't talk about the ending. It is big. Seriously. (But it doesn't end in a cliffhanger. Just an emotional cliffhanger. Personal cliffhanger for Peggy.)
Now that I watch Agent Carter, I seriously can't stop imagining Hayley Atwell as Peggy. Seriously. I just can't.
Peggy is a strong character. She is confused and she is lost. She is angry and she is definitely willing to kick someone if they upset her. She is tactical and she is sometimes an idiot (who isn't?) at some parts of the book. She is a good spy (must had come from her father), and she is delightfully hilarious sometimes. There are some moments I just like to reread again and again. (Unfortunately, I can't, because that copy I had in my hands belongs to the library. Terrible. I know, terrible. And I already said it many times that I'm too poor to buy a copy.)
(There is this quote I really want to post, but I'm afraid it is pure spoilers. Poo.)
Matthew and Peggy's romance takes the backseat in this race to stop the Jacobites. It is a shame for it to be... not as forward, but it is also refreshing to play the espionage game (with Peggy's cousin's help) straight and up front.
I also want to make a note on the history of Dangerous Deceptions. It has to do with Mistress Henrietta Howard, who is the mistress (duh) to (then) Prince George. (Honestly, the author should had made a historical note, but she might do it at the end of the series. We'll see.) It is said that George did take Howard as his mistress, but instead of doing... you know what, they were play cards. (I don't know how this is relevant, but I just want to make a mention of this.) Also, Caroline (George's wife) had a reasonable relationship with Howard.
(I like doing history notes.)
Overall, Dangerous Deceptions is disappointing at some parts and lacking strength in the very same parts. Peggy remains impressive as usual (though Matthew falls behind). The history... Well, I'm not a big fan of that particular era, so I won't comment too much on that. Will I recommend? Maybe to those who like Waistcoats & Weaponry fans. After all, they are waiting for the fourth (and hopefully, final) book to be released.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
Dangerous Deceptions starts off slowly to my disappointment. Thankfully, it picks up around the 1/3 mark of the book. It gets really hilarious and and serious at the same time. (So it is sort of contradicting, but does that really matter?) I can't talk about the ending. I can't talk about the ending. It is big. Seriously. (But it doesn't end in a cliffhanger. Just an emotional cliffhanger. Personal cliffhanger for Peggy.)
Now that I watch Agent Carter, I seriously can't stop imagining Hayley Atwell as Peggy. Seriously. I just can't.
Peggy is a strong character. She is confused and she is lost. She is angry and she is definitely willing to kick someone if they upset her. She is tactical and she is sometimes an idiot (who isn't?) at some parts of the book. She is a good spy (must had come from her father), and she is delightfully hilarious sometimes. There are some moments I just like to reread again and again. (Unfortunately, I can't, because that copy I had in my hands belongs to the library. Terrible. I know, terrible. And I already said it many times that I'm too poor to buy a copy.)
(There is this quote I really want to post, but I'm afraid it is pure spoilers. Poo.)
Matthew and Peggy's romance takes the backseat in this race to stop the Jacobites. It is a shame for it to be... not as forward, but it is also refreshing to play the espionage game (with Peggy's cousin's help) straight and up front.
I also want to make a note on the history of Dangerous Deceptions. It has to do with Mistress Henrietta Howard, who is the mistress (duh) to (then) Prince George. (Honestly, the author should had made a historical note, but she might do it at the end of the series. We'll see.) It is said that George did take Howard as his mistress, but instead of doing... you know what, they were play cards. (I don't know how this is relevant, but I just want to make a mention of this.) Also, Caroline (George's wife) had a reasonable relationship with Howard.
(I like doing history notes.)
Overall, Dangerous Deceptions is disappointing at some parts and lacking strength in the very same parts. Peggy remains impressive as usual (though Matthew falls behind). The history... Well, I'm not a big fan of that particular era, so I won't comment too much on that. Will I recommend? Maybe to those who like Waistcoats & Weaponry fans. After all, they are waiting for the fourth (and hopefully, final) book to be released.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
December 14, 2014
Sarah Zettel’s Dangerous Deceptions carries on the story of Peggy Fitzroy, which began in Palace of Spies. Peggy is lady-in-waiting to Princess Caroline (wife of the prince who will become King George II of England) and a spy set to gathering secrets to protect the crown against treason. In this book, Peggy has to deal with threats from the Jacobites who want to restore the House of Stewart to the throne. She also has to face the consequences of the fact that she has not actually escaped the betrothal that led to her taking up residence in the palace in the first book of the series.
Although this doesn’t seem to be a popular opinion, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. True, there isn’t a lot of action until the final chapters of the novel, so if you like books where lots of stuff happens, this probably isn’t the book for you. And Peggy is no super-spy; she actually spends a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to learn anything useful. While I found that refreshingly realistic, her limitations might also be frustrating for some readers.
What I liked about the book was in part what seems to have annoyed others—the lengthy look into the life of a lady-in-waiting in the English court of the early 18th century. You would think that being a part of the court would be a cushy existence, but this book makes it clear that it was a real job, often tedious and fraught with difficulties, including the fact that the pay didn’t necessarily keep up with the expenses of the position. Peggy’s life is complicated not just by her role as a spy but by palace intrigues and by the very real threat that she could lose the favor of the royals and her position in the palace.
There were a few other elements of the book that appealed to me. We learn more about the back story of Peggy’s family and why her uncle dislikes her so much (and there’s a major development in that area at the end of the novel). I like Peggy’s voice as narrator, particularly the humor she brings to her observations of court life and her attempts to spy on others. I also enjoyed the romance between Peggy and Matthew Reade. I find the romantic elements in a lot of YA novels overdone, between the frequent insta-love and the amount of angst experienced by the leads. Although Peggy does worry that she will lose Matthew’s love at times, in general the relationship between Peggy and Matthew was much less fraught than in some YA books.
If you enjoyed the first book in the series or like historical novels in general, you should give this book a try. If you want a kick-ass heroine and lots of derring-do, you probably should give it a miss.
An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Although this doesn’t seem to be a popular opinion, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. True, there isn’t a lot of action until the final chapters of the novel, so if you like books where lots of stuff happens, this probably isn’t the book for you. And Peggy is no super-spy; she actually spends a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to learn anything useful. While I found that refreshingly realistic, her limitations might also be frustrating for some readers.
What I liked about the book was in part what seems to have annoyed others—the lengthy look into the life of a lady-in-waiting in the English court of the early 18th century. You would think that being a part of the court would be a cushy existence, but this book makes it clear that it was a real job, often tedious and fraught with difficulties, including the fact that the pay didn’t necessarily keep up with the expenses of the position. Peggy’s life is complicated not just by her role as a spy but by palace intrigues and by the very real threat that she could lose the favor of the royals and her position in the palace.
There were a few other elements of the book that appealed to me. We learn more about the back story of Peggy’s family and why her uncle dislikes her so much (and there’s a major development in that area at the end of the novel). I like Peggy’s voice as narrator, particularly the humor she brings to her observations of court life and her attempts to spy on others. I also enjoyed the romance between Peggy and Matthew Reade. I find the romantic elements in a lot of YA novels overdone, between the frequent insta-love and the amount of angst experienced by the leads. Although Peggy does worry that she will lose Matthew’s love at times, in general the relationship between Peggy and Matthew was much less fraught than in some YA books.
If you enjoyed the first book in the series or like historical novels in general, you should give this book a try. If you want a kick-ass heroine and lots of derring-do, you probably should give it a miss.
An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2015
**This is book 2 of the Palace of Spies series, so there may be some spoilers re previous volumes.**
In this second volume, our heroine (and spy), Peggy, is still doing some work for Mr. Tinderflint. She’s still at the court of the Prince and Princess of Wales, still in love with Matthew and still, unfortunately, betrothed to that horrible man, Sebastian Sandford. Certainly she should be away from him by now, considering is act of near violence upon her. But, as any woman from the 1700s would tell you, Peggy is not the mistress of her own fate. She must do ask her uncle has directed, as he is her closest male family member. It occurs to Peggy that there is something keeping him from tearing up the marriage contract, but what?
The supporters of the the Old Pretender, James Stuart, are in hiding, but they have not given up their dream to return the Catholic King to what they think is his rightful throne. It is rumored that there are Jacobite sympathizers in the court, and Peggy intends to sniff them out. In the meantime, she has to trust that Mr. Tinderflint isn’t holding back crucial information, that she will soon find out what happened to her father, and that she can sever her coming attachment to the Sandford family – all while keeping her post with a smile on her face, a lilt in her voice, and the tiny blade tucked away in her stomacher. A lady can never be too careful.
Ms. Zettel must’ve done a crazy amount of research for her Palace of Spies series. This book actually sounds like a diary that a lady would have written in the time that it is set. The language seems, to my ear anyway, to be just the right amount of old-fashioned. Also, her knowledge of the manners, clothing, makeup and wigs, food (fricassee of pigeon, I think?) is nothing short of amazing. Of course these items alone could make a story just a bunch of boring facts, but it is a fascinating study of the time period with a great heroine. More Peggy, I say.
Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel was published November 4, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Thriller Mystery Romance Series
Ages: 13 and up
In this second volume, our heroine (and spy), Peggy, is still doing some work for Mr. Tinderflint. She’s still at the court of the Prince and Princess of Wales, still in love with Matthew and still, unfortunately, betrothed to that horrible man, Sebastian Sandford. Certainly she should be away from him by now, considering is act of near violence upon her. But, as any woman from the 1700s would tell you, Peggy is not the mistress of her own fate. She must do ask her uncle has directed, as he is her closest male family member. It occurs to Peggy that there is something keeping him from tearing up the marriage contract, but what?
The supporters of the the Old Pretender, James Stuart, are in hiding, but they have not given up their dream to return the Catholic King to what they think is his rightful throne. It is rumored that there are Jacobite sympathizers in the court, and Peggy intends to sniff them out. In the meantime, she has to trust that Mr. Tinderflint isn’t holding back crucial information, that she will soon find out what happened to her father, and that she can sever her coming attachment to the Sandford family – all while keeping her post with a smile on her face, a lilt in her voice, and the tiny blade tucked away in her stomacher. A lady can never be too careful.
Ms. Zettel must’ve done a crazy amount of research for her Palace of Spies series. This book actually sounds like a diary that a lady would have written in the time that it is set. The language seems, to my ear anyway, to be just the right amount of old-fashioned. Also, her knowledge of the manners, clothing, makeup and wigs, food (fricassee of pigeon, I think?) is nothing short of amazing. Of course these items alone could make a story just a bunch of boring facts, but it is a fascinating study of the time period with a great heroine. More Peggy, I say.
Dangerous Deceptions by Sarah Zettel was published November 4, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Thriller Mystery Romance Series
Ages: 13 and up
November 24, 2014
Two disclaimers: I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, which has not affected my review; if possible, I would have given this book 3.5 stars.
Okay, first the parts I liked:
This is historical fiction that actually includes historical facts. The author wove in the complicated political situation in England after the death of Queen Anne when the peers of the realm were seriously considering whether the House of Hanover should remain on the throne or whether the displaced House of Stuart should be returned. I think there's more history in this book than their was in the first book of the series.
It is populated with strong female characters. Some are strong in a positive way and some are strong in a negative way, but regardless, the women are not simply passive or passive aggressive players despite the fact that the country at the time was a man's world.
The characters are fun! I like the interactions and relationships.
Now the cons:
Most of the emotions seem rather superficial and the characters are more 1- or 2-dimensional than 3-dimensional.
While the plot as it is revealed at the end of the book is plausible, the actions of most of the players during the climax are not. I still cannot figure out why the "plan" orchestrated by Peggy was supported by the king, queen, and through their direction various other important players.
Lord Tierney's personal interest in Peggy didn't make sense to me for the entire story. If he's trying to get a handle on a possible Jacobite rebellion, he's got better things to do than figuratively hold the hand of a girl who wasn't supplying any actionable intelligence.
Ah well, despite these failings I did enjoy the story and look forward to the next installment in the series.
Okay, first the parts I liked:
This is historical fiction that actually includes historical facts. The author wove in the complicated political situation in England after the death of Queen Anne when the peers of the realm were seriously considering whether the House of Hanover should remain on the throne or whether the displaced House of Stuart should be returned. I think there's more history in this book than their was in the first book of the series.
It is populated with strong female characters. Some are strong in a positive way and some are strong in a negative way, but regardless, the women are not simply passive or passive aggressive players despite the fact that the country at the time was a man's world.
The characters are fun! I like the interactions and relationships.
Now the cons:
Most of the emotions seem rather superficial and the characters are more 1- or 2-dimensional than 3-dimensional.
While the plot as it is revealed at the end of the book is plausible, the actions of most of the players during the climax are not. I still cannot figure out why the "plan" orchestrated by Peggy was supported by the king, queen, and through their direction various other important players.
Lord Tierney's personal interest in Peggy didn't make sense to me for the entire story. If he's trying to get a handle on a possible Jacobite rebellion, he's got better things to do than figuratively hold the hand of a girl who wasn't supplying any actionable intelligence.
Ah well, despite these failings I did enjoy the story and look forward to the next installment in the series.
December 15, 2014
Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
I'm a big fan of historical fiction but this is my first foray into this time period, which I found a tiny bit confusing with the book's description until I did a bit of research online on my own to clarify a few things.
I haven't read the first book in this series and found that only mildly distracting when the main character would refer to previous events. This book doesn't seem to rely too heavily on the details of what happened in the previous book so you can get by without it.
I like the idea of YA historical fiction to get young readers interested in historical events. However, I don't really think there was much in this book to distinguish it to this genre. Except for the age of the young heroine(although 17 years old was not all that young for the time period), it could just as easily be mainstream historical fiction. Like others, I did find that it took awhile for the action to start but I still enjoyed the first half of the book getting to know the characters.
I did feel like the interactions with royalty were a bit of a stretch. I can't imagine the King and Queen putting up with Peggy's antics and supporting her little drama's but they need to be in the story somewhere, so I guess popping in to set the scene from time to time isn't so bad.
Overall, the story flowed well and it was easy to read. The characters who you're supposed to like are cute and the characters who you're supposed to despise are pretty dispicable. Perhaps this is the YA aspect of the book in that there isn't a lot of growth and learning within any one character. I wasn't crazy about the storyline ending for the Uncle, a bit too tidy for my taste, and the bit about Mr. LeRoy didn't make all that much sense, however it had to be concluded and this was the least messy way.
All in all though, I enjoyed the book and will pass it along to another HF fan I know for her enjoyment~
I'm a big fan of historical fiction but this is my first foray into this time period, which I found a tiny bit confusing with the book's description until I did a bit of research online on my own to clarify a few things.
I haven't read the first book in this series and found that only mildly distracting when the main character would refer to previous events. This book doesn't seem to rely too heavily on the details of what happened in the previous book so you can get by without it.
I like the idea of YA historical fiction to get young readers interested in historical events. However, I don't really think there was much in this book to distinguish it to this genre. Except for the age of the young heroine(although 17 years old was not all that young for the time period), it could just as easily be mainstream historical fiction. Like others, I did find that it took awhile for the action to start but I still enjoyed the first half of the book getting to know the characters.
I did feel like the interactions with royalty were a bit of a stretch. I can't imagine the King and Queen putting up with Peggy's antics and supporting her little drama's but they need to be in the story somewhere, so I guess popping in to set the scene from time to time isn't so bad.
Overall, the story flowed well and it was easy to read. The characters who you're supposed to like are cute and the characters who you're supposed to despise are pretty dispicable. Perhaps this is the YA aspect of the book in that there isn't a lot of growth and learning within any one character. I wasn't crazy about the storyline ending for the Uncle, a bit too tidy for my taste, and the bit about Mr. LeRoy didn't make all that much sense, however it had to be concluded and this was the least messy way.
All in all though, I enjoyed the book and will pass it along to another HF fan I know for her enjoyment~
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