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The Dark Queen Saga #5
O Fim da Rainha
À medida que a guerra e as traições se intensificam, a missão de um homem ambicioso ameaça arruinar dois reinos importantes e suas poderosas representantes. Fraca e cega por poder, Catarina já doente, faz um pacto diabólico que a amaldiçoará.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
24 people are currently reading
923 people want to read
About the author
Susan Carroll
65 books379 followersBorn Susan Carol Cute in 1952, Susan Coppula obtained a Degree in English with complementary studies in History in the University of Indiana. Since 1986, Susan has published books under three different pseudonyms: Susan Carroll, Susan Coppula, and Serena Richards
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 12, 2017
Catherine De Medici is one scary woman. Xavier Cheney, pirate, son of a nobleman and a courtesan, is hired by the Dark Queen (as she is known) to kidnap a young girl with arcane knowledge and special powers. Before Xavier can get a grip on this situation and do the job, he is caught up in a storm and washes up on Fair Isle, the Island of Witches, on which the said young girl lives.
Xavier is in no shape to kidnap anyone, he has a badly broken arm and nearly drowned. His nurse is an English woman named Jane Danvers. Big bad Xavier falls hopelessly in love and Jane falls in love with him. Nice, but wasn't he supposed to be kidnapping young Meg? He doesn't want to kidnap her. His half sisters are on the Island and accept him, he is in love with Jane, he is even friends with Meg. But, oh no, here comes a blabber mouth brother in law who knows Xavier was hired by the Dark Queen and he tells all, thereby cutting the trust between Xavier and his sisters, Jane and Meg.
Xavier is very sad and goes off to drink with his buddies, but he decides not to run away, he is going to trick the Dark Queen and win back Jane and the trust of his sisters and Meg. Off he goes, back to France, to attempt to trick the Queen. He finds Jane and is having some success with her. But will he be able to trick the old Queen? Will Meg be able to avoid her dark fate? Will Xavier ever have the family he craves?
Xavier is in no shape to kidnap anyone, he has a badly broken arm and nearly drowned. His nurse is an English woman named Jane Danvers. Big bad Xavier falls hopelessly in love and Jane falls in love with him. Nice, but wasn't he supposed to be kidnapping young Meg? He doesn't want to kidnap her. His half sisters are on the Island and accept him, he is in love with Jane, he is even friends with Meg. But, oh no, here comes a blabber mouth brother in law who knows Xavier was hired by the Dark Queen and he tells all, thereby cutting the trust between Xavier and his sisters, Jane and Meg.
Xavier is very sad and goes off to drink with his buddies, but he decides not to run away, he is going to trick the Dark Queen and win back Jane and the trust of his sisters and Meg. Off he goes, back to France, to attempt to trick the Queen. He finds Jane and is having some success with her. But will he be able to trick the old Queen? Will Meg be able to avoid her dark fate? Will Xavier ever have the family he craves?
July 26, 2009
3.5 Stars is my original rating.
Being that this new release is the fifth in the Cheney Sisters series, the first question I am asked is if I had read the previous four titles. The answer is no, though they all do sit patiently in a quaint cubby hole in my nightstand. In the normal way of things I would not read a series out of order, but in this case I wanted to review this some time this year rather than later. Otherwise it would sit unheeded in my quaint cubby hole with its' mates. As I began to read this, I did not feel at a disadvantage as the story wore on, only that I realized some of the events of the previous books were lightly touched upon throughout so that a new reader would not be lost in the current story. It served to whet my appetite for the other stories though and I do plan on pushing the other reads further up on the list so that I could learn more about the Cheney Sisters. They did not figure prominently in this novel except for Meg, but I could tell that their exciting events were featured in the previous books.
The title 'Twilight of A Queen' refers to the formidable Catherine De Medici, whom many have heard of for her dabbles in witchcraft and sorcery. She was the mother of French Kings, and was the other woman in her husband's life. Her true story is amazing in itself, and in this novel we see Catherine as an aging woman with aches and pains and struggling to maintain control over her witless son Henri; struggling to maintain a grip on the kingdom that despises her. She is intent on finding the infamous Book of Shadows and Meg, who is the person that Catherine believes holds the key to the book. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with the Dark Queen and her Royal son, I have a preference towards the Royal stories themselves and those were my favorite parts of the book.
With Catherine's waning power and obsessing over the secrets of the Book of Shadows is where Louis Xavier comes in as he is contracted by Catherine to procure the book. He is a dashing swashbuckler pirate with family issues. His dialogue was quite amusing to behold and he was really a typical arrogant man, and bastard being the right term here in all ways. The adventure takes off when Catherine pays Xavier to also bring back young Meg, the Silver Rose, from Faire Isle. Unbeknownst to Catherine, Xavier's father is also the Cheney sisters' father, and the twists begin.
For a clue on our Xavier's character, Miri asks what happened to her prized bird and her father's journals:
{Xavier:} "Regrettably I was obliged to eat the bird and I had to use the journals for kindling."
Miri paled, but she rallied, saying, "Well, if you were cold and starving, it is quite understandable. I only hope you remembered to thank the bird for sacrificing his life for you."
Xavier stared at her as though she were mad.
He was quite a rogue, I'd say. And yet all this just serves as the setting and backdrop of the story as this novel is primarily the focus of Jane Danvers who is exiled on Faire Isle from England, suffering from religious persecution of Elizabeth I and her secretary Walsingham. Jane Danvers and her brother Ned had been under Elizabeth's radar before, and I found a connection to Bess of Hardwick an interesting tidbit, as Jane and her brother were wards of Bess at one time. England itself is another behind the scenes feature as the rumors of the Spanish Armada loom and scare everyone in England for a time.
With "Twilight of A Queen" we see the conclusion of The Dark Queen series as a romance develops along with the many adventures of the pirate as he must choose between family loyalty (of which he never was known to do) and risk his life if he does so, or does he choose to be beguiled by a spell of The Dark Medici Queen herself and her money. I found the writing to be fluid and fast paced and did not see any glaring issues, except for the multiple mentions of dark fog in the opening of the novel. There seemed to be more of a predictability to this story since we knew this is the final book in the series, therefore there can not be a lot options logically to it. But despite even that, the storyline and the characters were indeed a delight and since I have not read the other books I do have something to look forward to. For those who have read the previous four and were looking for more of a dramatic conclusion, the actual ending here may not achieve that for you. I enjoyed the book all the way up to the ending and then it felt a bit forced and rushed. Perhaps after 5 novels surrounding virtually the same person the author was getting a little burnt out. But I still think that this is a fun series to tackle and is worthwhile for me to go back and read the others to catch up with the rest of the story.
Being that this new release is the fifth in the Cheney Sisters series, the first question I am asked is if I had read the previous four titles. The answer is no, though they all do sit patiently in a quaint cubby hole in my nightstand. In the normal way of things I would not read a series out of order, but in this case I wanted to review this some time this year rather than later. Otherwise it would sit unheeded in my quaint cubby hole with its' mates. As I began to read this, I did not feel at a disadvantage as the story wore on, only that I realized some of the events of the previous books were lightly touched upon throughout so that a new reader would not be lost in the current story. It served to whet my appetite for the other stories though and I do plan on pushing the other reads further up on the list so that I could learn more about the Cheney Sisters. They did not figure prominently in this novel except for Meg, but I could tell that their exciting events were featured in the previous books.
The title 'Twilight of A Queen' refers to the formidable Catherine De Medici, whom many have heard of for her dabbles in witchcraft and sorcery. She was the mother of French Kings, and was the other woman in her husband's life. Her true story is amazing in itself, and in this novel we see Catherine as an aging woman with aches and pains and struggling to maintain control over her witless son Henri; struggling to maintain a grip on the kingdom that despises her. She is intent on finding the infamous Book of Shadows and Meg, who is the person that Catherine believes holds the key to the book. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with the Dark Queen and her Royal son, I have a preference towards the Royal stories themselves and those were my favorite parts of the book.
With Catherine's waning power and obsessing over the secrets of the Book of Shadows is where Louis Xavier comes in as he is contracted by Catherine to procure the book. He is a dashing swashbuckler pirate with family issues. His dialogue was quite amusing to behold and he was really a typical arrogant man, and bastard being the right term here in all ways. The adventure takes off when Catherine pays Xavier to also bring back young Meg, the Silver Rose, from Faire Isle. Unbeknownst to Catherine, Xavier's father is also the Cheney sisters' father, and the twists begin.
For a clue on our Xavier's character, Miri asks what happened to her prized bird and her father's journals:
{Xavier:} "Regrettably I was obliged to eat the bird and I had to use the journals for kindling."
Miri paled, but she rallied, saying, "Well, if you were cold and starving, it is quite understandable. I only hope you remembered to thank the bird for sacrificing his life for you."
Xavier stared at her as though she were mad.
He was quite a rogue, I'd say. And yet all this just serves as the setting and backdrop of the story as this novel is primarily the focus of Jane Danvers who is exiled on Faire Isle from England, suffering from religious persecution of Elizabeth I and her secretary Walsingham. Jane Danvers and her brother Ned had been under Elizabeth's radar before, and I found a connection to Bess of Hardwick an interesting tidbit, as Jane and her brother were wards of Bess at one time. England itself is another behind the scenes feature as the rumors of the Spanish Armada loom and scare everyone in England for a time.
With "Twilight of A Queen" we see the conclusion of The Dark Queen series as a romance develops along with the many adventures of the pirate as he must choose between family loyalty (of which he never was known to do) and risk his life if he does so, or does he choose to be beguiled by a spell of The Dark Medici Queen herself and her money. I found the writing to be fluid and fast paced and did not see any glaring issues, except for the multiple mentions of dark fog in the opening of the novel. There seemed to be more of a predictability to this story since we knew this is the final book in the series, therefore there can not be a lot options logically to it. But despite even that, the storyline and the characters were indeed a delight and since I have not read the other books I do have something to look forward to. For those who have read the previous four and were looking for more of a dramatic conclusion, the actual ending here may not achieve that for you. I enjoyed the book all the way up to the ending and then it felt a bit forced and rushed. Perhaps after 5 novels surrounding virtually the same person the author was getting a little burnt out. But I still think that this is a fun series to tackle and is worthwhile for me to go back and read the others to catch up with the rest of the story.
August 25, 2009
The year is 1588. The Spanish Armada is threatening Elizabeth’s Protestant England, the Duc de Guise is harassing the cross-dressing, Metrosexual French King, Henri and Henri’s mother, Catherine de Medici, is still on the hunt for the Silver Rose.
The aging Catherine is not growing old gracefully and is desperate to find the Silver Rose. Louis Xavier, a necromancer, is Catherine’s last hope and she hires him to go to Faire Isle and to abduct the Silver Rose. Unfortunately for Catherine, she has been played false and Xavier is actually a pirate with no intention of going to Faire Isle. However, fate has another plan in mind.
The Silver Rose, now called Meg, is safe among the Daughters of the Earth on Faire Isle. Ariane, the oldest of the Cheney sisters, heads up this coven of healing women and is busy preparing for the naming of her successor when a stranger (Xavier) washes ashore of Faire Isle. She is quite shocked, to say the least, when it is revealed who this stranger truly is.
Jane Danvers, has been persecuted and exiled for her religious beliefs by Queen Elizabeth and is now living on Faire Isle. Jane feels a strange connection with this stranger from the beginning and offers to care for him while he recuperates. They eventually fall in love.
However, the “and they lived happily ever after” part is going to have to wait – Xavier’s rouse has been found out by Catherine and she is one ticked off lady. Now he must do whatever possible to save himself, the Silver Rose and the other women on Faire Isle from The Dark Queen.
Twilight of a Queen is the fifth book in Susan Carroll’s Dark Queen series. While it is not a required to have read the other four before this one, you would really miss out on some good reading and I am ever the neurotic one when it comes to reading a series in order. I do have to say that I was a bit under-whelmed by this one. I found the other four books in the series more entertaining …Twilight of a Queen was more a love story, which is fine, but I wanted more Catherine and more drama!
Best Line: “Steel sheathed in velvet, that is what a woman must be in order to survive.”
The aging Catherine is not growing old gracefully and is desperate to find the Silver Rose. Louis Xavier, a necromancer, is Catherine’s last hope and she hires him to go to Faire Isle and to abduct the Silver Rose. Unfortunately for Catherine, she has been played false and Xavier is actually a pirate with no intention of going to Faire Isle. However, fate has another plan in mind.
The Silver Rose, now called Meg, is safe among the Daughters of the Earth on Faire Isle. Ariane, the oldest of the Cheney sisters, heads up this coven of healing women and is busy preparing for the naming of her successor when a stranger (Xavier) washes ashore of Faire Isle. She is quite shocked, to say the least, when it is revealed who this stranger truly is.
Jane Danvers, has been persecuted and exiled for her religious beliefs by Queen Elizabeth and is now living on Faire Isle. Jane feels a strange connection with this stranger from the beginning and offers to care for him while he recuperates. They eventually fall in love.
However, the “and they lived happily ever after” part is going to have to wait – Xavier’s rouse has been found out by Catherine and she is one ticked off lady. Now he must do whatever possible to save himself, the Silver Rose and the other women on Faire Isle from The Dark Queen.
Twilight of a Queen is the fifth book in Susan Carroll’s Dark Queen series. While it is not a required to have read the other four before this one, you would really miss out on some good reading and I am ever the neurotic one when it comes to reading a series in order. I do have to say that I was a bit under-whelmed by this one. I found the other four books in the series more entertaining …Twilight of a Queen was more a love story, which is fine, but I wanted more Catherine and more drama!
Best Line: “Steel sheathed in velvet, that is what a woman must be in order to survive.”
April 20, 2010
Once again, I find myself unknowingly reading the last book in a series. However, this time I have become so intrigued with each of the character's past that I very much look forward to starting the series from the beginning.
The story surrounds the lives of Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen, and her adversaries, Ariane of the Faire Isle, Captain Xavier, Jane Danvers, and Margaret Wolfe, known as the Silver Rose. Each character is crafted eloguently and I only wish that I could follow along and discover what awaits them in the future.
Catherine de Medici plots to renew her strength, pulling an unwilling Captain Xavier into her plot. A pirate, Xavier is a rough man with a wounded heart. While this could have turned cliche, I found myself cheering for Xavier throughout the book. As well as the proper Lady Danvers.
I also found that an interest in Catherine de Medici, and the history of France, Spain, and England during this time period has developed. While many of the events in this book are works of fiction, I wish to know more about the true history. Well done Ms. Carroll, has it is not often that I find myself wanting to pick up a history book.
The story surrounds the lives of Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen, and her adversaries, Ariane of the Faire Isle, Captain Xavier, Jane Danvers, and Margaret Wolfe, known as the Silver Rose. Each character is crafted eloguently and I only wish that I could follow along and discover what awaits them in the future.
Catherine de Medici plots to renew her strength, pulling an unwilling Captain Xavier into her plot. A pirate, Xavier is a rough man with a wounded heart. While this could have turned cliche, I found myself cheering for Xavier throughout the book. As well as the proper Lady Danvers.
I also found that an interest in Catherine de Medici, and the history of France, Spain, and England during this time period has developed. While many of the events in this book are works of fiction, I wish to know more about the true history. Well done Ms. Carroll, has it is not often that I find myself wanting to pick up a history book.
August 5, 2009
3.5 stars. Susan Carroll's The Dark Queen (the first in this series) was the first book that I read in 2006 when I picked up reading again after a loooong hiatus and so I have a particularly soft spot for the characters and the series. Although I was glad to see some of the loose ends from the previous books resolved in some interesting ways, I was a little disappointed with the diminishing presence of an aging Catherine de Medici as well as the Cheney sisters. I thought the ending was too abrupt - at first I wondered if I was missing some pages or something! Although I think it has been indicated that this is the last book in the series, I hope Carroll picks up the story of young Meg and explores how she learns to cope with the knowledge that she has as she grows into adulthood.
September 10, 2012
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book!
When I read it, I thought it would just be a quick read and I would be over it in a few hours after finishing, but I ended up really really enjoying it! Xavier was such a cool guy! and it's always nice (even if its cliche) to see a gritty guy find love. I also thought it was beautiful how it showed that his dad was trying to find him...*sight*
My only beef, is that it seemed like the character development was a little small. I wanted to delve more in to what each character was thinking, how they reacted.
all in all, a good light read! Love the fight of good and evil. It's Harry Potter meets Philippa Gregory, hehe. Hope in the next book they talk more about the romance of Xavier and Jane, and hopefully Meg gets to find someone too
When I read it, I thought it would just be a quick read and I would be over it in a few hours after finishing, but I ended up really really enjoying it! Xavier was such a cool guy! and it's always nice (even if its cliche) to see a gritty guy find love. I also thought it was beautiful how it showed that his dad was trying to find him...*sight*
My only beef, is that it seemed like the character development was a little small. I wanted to delve more in to what each character was thinking, how they reacted.
all in all, a good light read! Love the fight of good and evil. It's Harry Potter meets Philippa Gregory, hehe. Hope in the next book they talk more about the romance of Xavier and Jane, and hopefully Meg gets to find someone too
August 21, 2009
It seems that the escapades of the Cheney sisters and their friends are being repeated through each book. In every book one the females’ unknowingly falls for man she thinks she could never have and somehow in a effort to protect the female the man falls for her and he doesn't see how it could ever work, but (Surprise!) it all works out in the end and every one is happy!
I've enjoyed the story of Meg and how she has come to terms with her darker past. Also, I like the historical portions of these books and how the fantasy ties into what really happened. I'm sure there will be more books in this series and I am sure I will read.
I've enjoyed the story of Meg and how she has come to terms with her darker past. Also, I like the historical portions of these books and how the fantasy ties into what really happened. I'm sure there will be more books in this series and I am sure I will read.
October 8, 2010
I have enjoyed all of Susan Carroll's Dark Queen series, this one included. However, I feel that the first three in the series were better plotted with more developed characters. While I enjoyed revisiting some favorite characters, I felt as through the central figures in this novel were poorly developed and the relationship that developed between Jane and Xavier seemed poorly established. At the novel's conclusion, I cannot picture the future these two would have together - a poor ending to a historical romance.
October 15, 2019
The backs of these books are so uninformative and misleading. The Spanish Armada is in the background of this story and mostly tangential to the plot.
Lady Jane Danvers has escaped the adventures of The Huntress and is drifting through life on Faire Isle. That changes with the arrival of Captain Xavier, shipwrecked and broken. He's a rogue and an adventurer (and what, 5 years younger than her?) and . She's twice a widow, relentlessly honest, a good Catholic girl. Their romance comes rather suddenly, especially compared to some of the previous books. His broken arm is not even out of the cast yet before they consummate their love.
Lady Jane Danvers has escaped the adventures of The Huntress and is drifting through life on Faire Isle. That changes with the arrival of Captain Xavier, shipwrecked and broken. He's a rogue and an adventurer (and what, 5 years younger than her?) and . She's twice a widow, relentlessly honest, a good Catholic girl. Their romance comes rather suddenly, especially compared to some of the previous books. His broken arm is not even out of the cast yet before they consummate their love.
September 24, 2017
I could not put this one down!!!! Loved the Jaguar/Corsair weaving into the Cheney family. I am about to start the Lady of Secrets - about Meg.
July 1, 2018
Jane, a staid English woman, finds herself on an island full of women who are often called witches and to make things worse, she falls in love with a pirate! Love this series.
April 14, 2022
Not bad not good, it is what it is.
September 5, 2009
There was a lot to enjoy in TWILIGHT OF A QUEEN, especially the leading male protagonist, Louis, who is very much a real-life pirate, complete with swagger, wit and sex appeal.
Unfortunately, we don't get to experience much of Louis' sex appeal, which is a real shame, because Carroll had a wonderful opportunity to bring a "twist ending" to the series by delving even more into Louis' psyche. It felt to me like she concentrated too much on the ailing Catherine de Medici, and should have focused more on Louis, especially once his connection to Fair Isle is discovered.
I also found the heroine, Lady Jane, to be a bit too... I dunno, mopey? Compared to all of the other strong women throughout the series, she was a little bit of a wilting violet, and she just did not really bring out the best in Louis like I'd expected. Also, their romance was practically skipped over. The sexual tension barely leads up to anything, and then once they do finally connect in every sense of the word, it's just... totally rushed and not the soul-deep experience present in the other books.
With that said, the most satisfying aspect of this book is watching Meg's battle with the darkness and light that resides inside of her, and seeing how Louis is really vital in helping her deal with her dual nature. I truly wish that this wasn't the last book in the series, because Meg needs her own book! I REALLY want to see how she matures into a young woman, not to mention, meet HER leading man - he'd have quite a job ahead of him!
So for me, it felt like too many lose ends were left untied, and not in a good way. Damnation, Meg needs her own story! But still, I did enjoy the book enough to finish it.
May 20, 2013
Set in the late 1500's in France the last book in the Dark Queen Series introduces the son of Chevalier Cheney into the world of the daughters of the earth, with Ariane Cheney, the oldest daughter being the most hurt by her Father's betrayal of having been with another woman while being married to their Mother. The brother known to most as Xavier like his sisters knows how to use herbs and other tools of the earth to make potions and other elixirs and has done so for the Dark Queen, he also dabbles in privateering, and has a ship that is one of the only things he has left of his Father's. After some unfortunate events Xavier finds himself stranded on Faire Isle and injured with a bunch of women and powerless at least until he heals, the only bright spot he can see, is the woman assigned to take care of him, the kind and gentle Jane Danvers. Jane on the other hand is confused about her feelings for the coarse and sometimes rough sea captain who can be loud and obnoxious while still showing a softer side when playing with his nieces, or comforting Megaera who is nervous about who will be chosen to be the next Lady of Faire Isle; or the threat of the Dark Queen which is always an ever present danger.
Through being imprisoned, a face off with the Dark Queen, and many more dangers Jane and Xavier show that opposites really do attract one another.
As the characters in this book face each danger together the reader is drawn in because you feel a connection to them in how they relate to each other, the plot, and the surroundings. Each of the books in this series connected to each other well, and I would recommend them to anyone; I enjoyed all of them.
Check out more of my book reviews on my blog : http://booksalicious.blogspot.com/
Through being imprisoned, a face off with the Dark Queen, and many more dangers Jane and Xavier show that opposites really do attract one another.
As the characters in this book face each danger together the reader is drawn in because you feel a connection to them in how they relate to each other, the plot, and the surroundings. Each of the books in this series connected to each other well, and I would recommend them to anyone; I enjoyed all of them.
Check out more of my book reviews on my blog : http://booksalicious.blogspot.com/
June 7, 2016
It's been over a year since Meg has escaped to Faire Isle with Jane Danvers. Martin and Cat have traveled to Navarre to help Gabrielle and Nicholas protect the king and Meg is training to perhaps be the next Lady of Faire Isle. But, she is still lured by the dark magic she remembers from the Book of Shadows and Queen Catherine hasn't given up on finding her.
Xavier, the pirate known as the Jaguar, is playing a dangerous game with the Dark Queen. Pretending to be a sorcerer who sees visions, Xavier has been tasked by Catherine to travel to Faire Isle and bring Meg back. But, Xavier wants to avoid Faire Isle at all costs since he has secret ties of his own to the Chaney sisters. When his ship is hit with a brutal storm and Xavier is tossed over board, he winds up in the one place he never wanted to be, Faire Isle with the sisters who never knew he existed.
Relying on Ariane's healing and Jane's attention, Xavier finds the family he's always wanted in the sisters he thought would never accept him. Falling in love with Jane brings Xavier more peace than he thinks he deserves, but Catherine still has spies everywhere and when she seeks to send an army to Faire Isle to bring Meg back, Meg is determined to protect those she loves.
Traveling to Paris to confront the Dark Queen takes more bravery than Meg thinks she has, but ending Catherine's reign of terror to protect the daughters of the earth is Meg's destiny and she means to fulfill it.
Xavier, the pirate known as the Jaguar, is playing a dangerous game with the Dark Queen. Pretending to be a sorcerer who sees visions, Xavier has been tasked by Catherine to travel to Faire Isle and bring Meg back. But, Xavier wants to avoid Faire Isle at all costs since he has secret ties of his own to the Chaney sisters. When his ship is hit with a brutal storm and Xavier is tossed over board, he winds up in the one place he never wanted to be, Faire Isle with the sisters who never knew he existed.
Relying on Ariane's healing and Jane's attention, Xavier finds the family he's always wanted in the sisters he thought would never accept him. Falling in love with Jane brings Xavier more peace than he thinks he deserves, but Catherine still has spies everywhere and when she seeks to send an army to Faire Isle to bring Meg back, Meg is determined to protect those she loves.
Traveling to Paris to confront the Dark Queen takes more bravery than Meg thinks she has, but ending Catherine's reign of terror to protect the daughters of the earth is Meg's destiny and she means to fulfill it.
October 3, 2015
See full review for Twilight of a Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves....
With her inevitable death looming, Queen Catherine de Medici is looking for any possible way her death can be stopped. She’s looking to turn back the clock and her search leads her to Louis Xavier – a shaman – who she hopes holds all the answers she needs. But she doesn’t ask about the Fountain of Youth, she asks over her enemies, Arianne Cheney of Faire Isle and the Silver Rose, Meg. For she learns that the Book of Shadows that she has been after has finally been destroyed. But the Silver Rose has most of it within her head. She tasks Xavier with going to Faire Isle and capturing the girl.
But the shaman has no plan to do that at all. In fact, he’s not a shaman. Instead, he is a pirate who was only looking for gold to repair his ship and continue on his journey. He never wants to set foot on the cursed isle. Not if he can help it. But as most things go, the best plans always go to waste.
So this book really was a joy to read. Carroll is very talented with what she does. Xavier is a mysterious new character whose origins I should have guessed at, but I was so wrapped up in his story and the insidious plotting of the Dark Queen that I wasn’t paying all that much attention to the clues being left behind.
With her inevitable death looming, Queen Catherine de Medici is looking for any possible way her death can be stopped. She’s looking to turn back the clock and her search leads her to Louis Xavier – a shaman – who she hopes holds all the answers she needs. But she doesn’t ask about the Fountain of Youth, she asks over her enemies, Arianne Cheney of Faire Isle and the Silver Rose, Meg. For she learns that the Book of Shadows that she has been after has finally been destroyed. But the Silver Rose has most of it within her head. She tasks Xavier with going to Faire Isle and capturing the girl.
But the shaman has no plan to do that at all. In fact, he’s not a shaman. Instead, he is a pirate who was only looking for gold to repair his ship and continue on his journey. He never wants to set foot on the cursed isle. Not if he can help it. But as most things go, the best plans always go to waste.
So this book really was a joy to read. Carroll is very talented with what she does. Xavier is a mysterious new character whose origins I should have guessed at, but I was so wrapped up in his story and the insidious plotting of the Dark Queen that I wasn’t paying all that much attention to the clues being left behind.
June 9, 2013
In this book, we come to the half brother of the Cheney sisters of Fair Isle.
Xavier Cheney commanded by Queen Catherine DeMedici to bring the Silver Rose to her instead sails to the Americas but on the way back his ships breaks up in a storm and he is washed up on Fair Isle where his half niece finds him. The sister recognize his likeness to their faithless father at once.
Lady Jane Danvers exiled from England for her Catholic faith is also on Fair Isle. Jane feels her life has come to a dead end. She misses her home in England, her brother is dead. She has already buried two husbands.
Queen Catherine is growing old, losing her eye sight and is in much rheumatic pain. Meanwhile France idolizes the Duc De Guise while Catherine and her son King Henry are very unpopular. It doesn't take long for Catherine to discover Xavier disobeyed her command and that he is now on Fair Isle. Meanwhile Jane comes to London to take care of her spoiled younger sister and Xavier now deeply in love and deeply guilty thinks up a plot that might persuade Catherine to leave Fair Isle alone but it backfires on him.
This is a great book, containing both romance and suspense.
This is more of a thriller than first four books in the series.
Xavier Cheney commanded by Queen Catherine DeMedici to bring the Silver Rose to her instead sails to the Americas but on the way back his ships breaks up in a storm and he is washed up on Fair Isle where his half niece finds him. The sister recognize his likeness to their faithless father at once.
Lady Jane Danvers exiled from England for her Catholic faith is also on Fair Isle. Jane feels her life has come to a dead end. She misses her home in England, her brother is dead. She has already buried two husbands.
Queen Catherine is growing old, losing her eye sight and is in much rheumatic pain. Meanwhile France idolizes the Duc De Guise while Catherine and her son King Henry are very unpopular. It doesn't take long for Catherine to discover Xavier disobeyed her command and that he is now on Fair Isle. Meanwhile Jane comes to London to take care of her spoiled younger sister and Xavier now deeply in love and deeply guilty thinks up a plot that might persuade Catherine to leave Fair Isle alone but it backfires on him.
This is a great book, containing both romance and suspense.
This is more of a thriller than first four books in the series.
July 8, 2011
I kept shifting between not really enjoying this book and breezing through the storyline. I think it's because I just didn't like Jane and her pirate. Neither one was a very good character. He was selfish and had a serious daddy complex, and she was just one dimensional. Their romance seemed forced and and wasn't hot at all. The scene where she jumps up from having what ended up being very quick sex and freaks out about being pregnant made me want to laugh and any resonable male would have jumped off that crazy train right away.
When the story was about my previous adored characters, Ariana and her two sisters and their new brood of children, then I felt the familiar draw of this world pulling me in. I love the continuation of them and their families even though i still don't like the witch hunter that Miri ended up with. And I am sooo happy that queen Catherine is finally dead. Though reading about her being weak and frail was enjooyable.
I think the next book should be about Meg, but I think the author has stopped writing or is just taking a really long time with the last book. It's a shame because I have really enjoyed her stories.
When the story was about my previous adored characters, Ariana and her two sisters and their new brood of children, then I felt the familiar draw of this world pulling me in. I love the continuation of them and their families even though i still don't like the witch hunter that Miri ended up with. And I am sooo happy that queen Catherine is finally dead. Though reading about her being weak and frail was enjooyable.
I think the next book should be about Meg, but I think the author has stopped writing or is just taking a really long time with the last book. It's a shame because I have really enjoyed her stories.
August 4, 2009
This book was completely amazing! The ultimate continuation of a series is probably the best way to describe this book. The storyline is easy to follow and the plot is solid.
However, the only thing that bugged me was that Susan Carroll didn't really put as much expression of emotion and character pschology as she normally does. Not only that but there wasn't any description of the romance couple. I noticed that she published the books, the romance portions got smaller and smaller, making this new book flimzy in terms of romance and love.
In spite of all of this though, I really loved the book and would definently recommend it to anyone who is a susan carroll fan. This book was well worth the money at B&N!!!
However, the only thing that bugged me was that Susan Carroll didn't really put as much expression of emotion and character pschology as she normally does. Not only that but there wasn't any description of the romance couple. I noticed that she published the books, the romance portions got smaller and smaller, making this new book flimzy in terms of romance and love.
In spite of all of this though, I really loved the book and would definently recommend it to anyone who is a susan carroll fan. This book was well worth the money at B&N!!!
March 16, 2013
Lady Jane Danvers has been exiled from her native England. She is living on Faire Isle with the Cheney sisters, other wise women, and Meg, who was once known as the Silver Rose. Xavier, a pirate washes up on the island after his ship is destroyed. It seems that Xavier has history with the Cheney sisters. Lady Jane becomes Xavier's unlikely friend and their relationship deepens into something more. However, things are not what they should be. Catherine de Medici may be elderly and approaching death, but she is still an enemy and she still wants Meg who is the living embodiment of the Book of Shadows. Fans of the series will be happy to see familiar characters return and that the basic plot structure of this series remains unchanged.
August 20, 2010
Meg Wolf, The Silver Rose, has moved to The Faire Isle to grow up and become whatever she was meant to be under the tender guidance of Ariane, The Lady of Faire Isle. Just 13, she sought by witch hunters, members of the Silver Rose coven, and the dark queen herself. Meg's greatest fear is that she will grow up to be like her evil mother. Her greatest enemy is the Dark Queen. This is essentially Meg's story where she discovers who she really is and learns to cope with it. There is more to the story as Ariane discovers a half-brother she never knew existed. His fate is entangled with Meg's. It's a fine read.
October 26, 2011
The year is 1587, and Catherine de Medici is the Dowager Queen in France. She is getting older and more frail. As a younger woman, Catherine was powerful with potions/poisons and thought to be a witch. Now she is turning to darker magic to regain some of that power and make sure that her son, Henry, will hold the throne for a long time.
The ladies of the Faire Island, or the daughters of the earth, try to do what they can to keep Catherine at bay.
This story includes pirates, the Spanish Armada, the Spanish Inquisition, the unrest between the Hueggonots and the Catholics, and alchemy/witchcraft. There is something for everyone, even a little romance.
The ladies of the Faire Island, or the daughters of the earth, try to do what they can to keep Catherine at bay.
This story includes pirates, the Spanish Armada, the Spanish Inquisition, the unrest between the Hueggonots and the Catholics, and alchemy/witchcraft. There is something for everyone, even a little romance.
October 3, 2009
Although Carroll's earlier books were among my favorites this latest offering was far too predictable. To my mind it followed the standard "beautiful yet emotionally scarred woman meets handsome yet dangerous man" formula. Of course they meet when he's injured and she nurses him back to health, and of course they fall in love in the process since even when injured he can't resist her womanly charms. The quality of Carroll's writing remained unchanged, but it was tough to get into the story when I could predict where it was going so easily.
August 15, 2009
It was ok. I enjoyed the other books in the series a bit more, but wasn't totally displeased with it. It didn't have quite as much oomph as the other ones. What I liked the most was the continuing character development of Meg, even though that was just part of the subplot. I am looking forward to her story (hopefully there will be one), and I hope that it contains a bit more witchery than this one did.
January 25, 2010
Susan Carroll's Dark Queen series is utterly wonderful and wonderfully fantastic. I loved each of the first 4 books immensely and was really looking forward to this one. HOWEVER, I feel as though the book was a tad rushed and that it just kind of skimmed over quite a few aspects of the story. It was a good book though. Hopefully Carroll will write another (I'm going to her website now to see if there's any info) - and one on Meg would be so awesome.
September 8, 2010
So far it follows the pattern of the other books in this particular series and while I like her style of writing, it's hard to slog through the first couple of chapters to get to the good meat of the story. What Ms. Carroll does well is, she does give a quick synopsis of past characters when they show up in the new books.
October 18, 2010
This was my least favorite of the series. I enjoyed seeing the many familiar characters again, but the story didn't grab me like the others did. I didn't care much for Jane or Xavier, and their relationship felt rushed and unbelievable to me. They are definitely my least favorite couple in the series.
February 17, 2013
I was so looking forward to this fourth book continuing the adventure of Ariane Cheney, Lady of Faire Isle and her rival Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen. And as I hoped, I was not disappointed.
Lots of intrigue, twists and turns and many surprises. A must read for Susan Carroll fans of this wonderful series.
Lots of intrigue, twists and turns and many surprises. A must read for Susan Carroll fans of this wonderful series.
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July 21, 2010The book was ok! Not the best of the series. I thought all the loose ends were tied up in The Huntress...not sure why there needed to be a continuation. Maybe a story about Meg would have been interesting. I thought there would be more about the Dark Queen, but she just sort of fades.
June 18, 2012
Ok if you are reading the dark queen series its less enthralling than the first ones. its a good book and you get a glimpse of the original characters, but it is REALLY focused on new characters I couldn't get "into."
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