What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tudor Throne #6
The Last Fire-Eater
Echoes of former violence still haunt the northern counties of England.
Davina, a talented fire-eater with a tendency to find trouble, arrives in the ancient city of York on the eve of the princess’ arrival. She’s just in time to witness the rising tensions between the two feuding great houses of the North, the Archbishop of York, and Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
Hundreds of their armed men flood the streets amid the peasants come to celebrate the Tudor princess’ impending marriage to the King of Scotland, and the sparks between them threaten to catch the city ablaze in the fires of wrath and revenge. She and the king’s falconer, Lambert Simnel, get caught up in the violence that threatens to destroy a fragile peace… and it may draw someone’s attention to her that she does not want: Sir Thomas Lovell, the royal enforcer.
Davina has her own reasons to be in York, and her own secrets to hide…
Davina, a talented fire-eater with a tendency to find trouble, arrives in the ancient city of York on the eve of the princess’ arrival. She’s just in time to witness the rising tensions between the two feuding great houses of the North, the Archbishop of York, and Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
Hundreds of their armed men flood the streets amid the peasants come to celebrate the Tudor princess’ impending marriage to the King of Scotland, and the sparks between them threaten to catch the city ablaze in the fires of wrath and revenge. She and the king’s falconer, Lambert Simnel, get caught up in the violence that threatens to destroy a fragile peace… and it may draw someone’s attention to her that she does not want: Sir Thomas Lovell, the royal enforcer.
Davina has her own reasons to be in York, and her own secrets to hide…
Unknown Binding
About the author
Charity Bishop
32 books125 followersCharity Bishop is an author of historical fantasy, magical realism, and Christian horror/suspense who has been writing stories since a rainy afternoon at age eleven sparked her lifelong obsession with narrative. Over the past three decades, she has crafted intricately researched novels set everywhere from Napoleonic France to the doomed decks of the Titanic, always exploring the complexities of human nature with a blend of intellectual curiosity, creative abandon, and surprising humor. When she's not diving deep into historical archives or battling her inner demons of self-doubt, Charity can be found sewing gowns for Monster High dolls, being owned by her beloved cats, and dreaming up the next world for her readers to explore. Her work stands against hypocrisy, the abuse of power, and the darkness in human hearts, while always leaving room for hope, redemption, and the kind of plot twists that keep you reading long past your bedtime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2021
The Last Fire Eater is my favorite book yet in Charity Bishop's Tudor series, dethroning my previous favorite, The King’s Players, Book 3. (Which is still a great story, don’t get me wrong. ;)) This is entirely due to the title character, Davina, the “last fire eater” and a marvelously strong, fierce, formidable female lead.
It’s well known that I have one (1) type when it comes to fictional ladies, and that type is Women Who Could Kill Me. Davina absolutely fits that bill. She’s a FIRE EATER, for gosh sakes. She breathes literal fire. She also has freckles, and dancing eyes, and a slim, boyish build, and looks really hot in her fire-eater’s costume … AND she’s got a dark past, mysterious scars, and a hidden quest for vengeance …
I never stood a chance, obviously. :-P
But Davina isn’t just physically strong and daring. She’s fully in control of her own destiny. She decides what she wants her future to look like, whom she wants to marry–and she charges right ahead and makes it happen. In a historical era where so many women were trapped in arranged marriages or other situations not of their choosing, Davina’s story is a breath of fresh air.
Plus, her romance with Lambert Simnel, the hero of Book 5, The Queen’s Falconer, is so stinking adorable, I can’t even. Lambert is good and precious and supportive, and if any man alive deserves Davina, it’s him. <3
The Last Fire Eater features the same mixture of lush settings, mysterious, lurking threats, and dangerous escapades fans have come to expect from Charity Bishop's books. It was a five-star read for me, and I highly recommend it.
As is traditional with my reviews for this series, I’ve come up with a list of humorous “incorrect quotes” to help describe the large and varied cast. This time, I actually used an Incorrect Quotes Generator, which has afforded me many hours of hilarious entertainment, and which you should definitely check out. (https://incorrect-quotes-generator.ne...)
Without further ado, our dramatis personae:
Davina: “Okay, okay, stop asking me if I’m straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I identify as a freaking THREAT.”
Lambert: “You wanna see how hardcore I am?” *punches wall* “Take me to the hospital.”
Lovell: “I was born for politics. I have great hair and I love lying.”
Isabel: “My life isn’t as glamorous as my wanted poster makes it look.”
Princess Maggie: “Not trying to brag or anything, but I can wake up without an alarm clock simply due to my crippling and overwhelming anxiety, so…”
King James: “You can de-escalate any situation by saying, ‘Are we about to kiss?’ Doesn’t work for speeding tickets, by the way.”
Killian: “Fool me once, I’m gonna kill you.”
Sir George: “Physically, yes, I could fight a bird. But emotionally? Imagine the toll.”
The Bishop: “I’d like to offer you moral support, but I have questionable morals.”
Lord Percy: “If you can’t beat them, dress better than them.”
Lady Percy: “You seem familiar, have I threatened you before?”
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! I loved The Last Fire Eater, and I'm extremely impatient for the next installment! (*hint, hint*)
It’s well known that I have one (1) type when it comes to fictional ladies, and that type is Women Who Could Kill Me. Davina absolutely fits that bill. She’s a FIRE EATER, for gosh sakes. She breathes literal fire. She also has freckles, and dancing eyes, and a slim, boyish build, and looks really hot in her fire-eater’s costume … AND she’s got a dark past, mysterious scars, and a hidden quest for vengeance …
I never stood a chance, obviously. :-P
But Davina isn’t just physically strong and daring. She’s fully in control of her own destiny. She decides what she wants her future to look like, whom she wants to marry–and she charges right ahead and makes it happen. In a historical era where so many women were trapped in arranged marriages or other situations not of their choosing, Davina’s story is a breath of fresh air.
Plus, her romance with Lambert Simnel, the hero of Book 5, The Queen’s Falconer, is so stinking adorable, I can’t even. Lambert is good and precious and supportive, and if any man alive deserves Davina, it’s him. <3
The Last Fire Eater features the same mixture of lush settings, mysterious, lurking threats, and dangerous escapades fans have come to expect from Charity Bishop's books. It was a five-star read for me, and I highly recommend it.
As is traditional with my reviews for this series, I’ve come up with a list of humorous “incorrect quotes” to help describe the large and varied cast. This time, I actually used an Incorrect Quotes Generator, which has afforded me many hours of hilarious entertainment, and which you should definitely check out. (https://incorrect-quotes-generator.ne...)
Without further ado, our dramatis personae:
Davina: “Okay, okay, stop asking me if I’m straight, gay, bi, or whatever. I identify as a freaking THREAT.”
Lambert: “You wanna see how hardcore I am?” *punches wall* “Take me to the hospital.”
Lovell: “I was born for politics. I have great hair and I love lying.”
Isabel: “My life isn’t as glamorous as my wanted poster makes it look.”
Princess Maggie: “Not trying to brag or anything, but I can wake up without an alarm clock simply due to my crippling and overwhelming anxiety, so…”
King James: “You can de-escalate any situation by saying, ‘Are we about to kiss?’ Doesn’t work for speeding tickets, by the way.”
Killian: “Fool me once, I’m gonna kill you.”
Sir George: “Physically, yes, I could fight a bird. But emotionally? Imagine the toll.”
The Bishop: “I’d like to offer you moral support, but I have questionable morals.”
Lord Percy: “If you can’t beat them, dress better than them.”
Lady Percy: “You seem familiar, have I threatened you before?”
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! I loved The Last Fire Eater, and I'm extremely impatient for the next installment! (*hint, hint*)
May 1, 2021
I was fairly convinced through almost this whole book that history wasn't going to let the author give the couple at the center of this story a happy ending, and I was kinda mad about that. Because I got attached to the title character very quickly, and I needed a happy ending for her. Needed it, I say!
Lambert Simnel, titular character of The Queen's Falconer (the previous book in the Tudor Throne series), gradually falls in love with Davina, a young woman who knows the secrets of fire eating. They're both part of a massive entourage accompanying Princess Margaret to Scotland for her marriage to King James there. Davina has more secrets than just how to handle fire, and the truth about her past ends up threatening to separate them forever.
SPOILER! Happily, Bishop bends history just a smidge to give them a happy ending. All is well. END SPOILER
Sir Thomas Lovell gets a kinder, gentler role in this book than usual, and even makes amends with his wife, Lady Isabel, over the course of the journey. But don't worry, he got to do quite a bit of rescuing, conniving, threatening, skulking, and generally being a dark hero. Which made me happy, as he's been my favorite in this series since the beginning.
Although this is part of the Tudor Throne Series, I think you could read it as a stand-alone and not be lost. This book in particular works well as a self-contained story. So if you've been curious about Bishop's books, or if you just want to try out some new history-based fiction, I definitely think you could jump into the series here and be fine.
NOTE: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I was not asked or required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
Lambert Simnel, titular character of The Queen's Falconer (the previous book in the Tudor Throne series), gradually falls in love with Davina, a young woman who knows the secrets of fire eating. They're both part of a massive entourage accompanying Princess Margaret to Scotland for her marriage to King James there. Davina has more secrets than just how to handle fire, and the truth about her past ends up threatening to separate them forever.
SPOILER! Happily, Bishop bends history just a smidge to give them a happy ending. All is well. END SPOILER
Sir Thomas Lovell gets a kinder, gentler role in this book than usual, and even makes amends with his wife, Lady Isabel, over the course of the journey. But don't worry, he got to do quite a bit of rescuing, conniving, threatening, skulking, and generally being a dark hero. Which made me happy, as he's been my favorite in this series since the beginning.
Although this is part of the Tudor Throne Series, I think you could read it as a stand-alone and not be lost. This book in particular works well as a self-contained story. So if you've been curious about Bishop's books, or if you just want to try out some new history-based fiction, I definitely think you could jump into the series here and be fine.
NOTE: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I was not asked or required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
Far be it from me to toot my own horn, since I hate pretentious authors (you know who you are, various and sundry Famous Writers Who Shall Not Be Named but who grit my teeth together), but this splendiferous novel came about during the Pandemic. Yes, indeed. I spent many an hour wallowing in depression and attempting to create a world into which I could escape—and get away from such things as riots, people hating each other, and high death tolls.
So I created a world in which there are riots, people hating each other, death threats, and… oh.
Well, there is also a also fire-eater, and adorably romantic and sexy romance between said fire-eater and everyone’s favorite character, Lambert Simnel. (Seriously, people adore my smol bean falconer, probably because he's so presh.) The usual tension between Sir Thomas Lovell, all-around “secretly a good guy but hopes you don’t find that out, because I have to maintain my villain reputation for street-cred” and his moralistic wife (along with their hot make-out session in the shadows of a Scottish castle -- who said arranged marriages aren't fun?), a bit about falcons, and probably the most hate-worthy jerk in my arsenal of “men who are full of themselves.” The Earl of Northumberland, also known as Percy, could put the most bloviating self-important dolt to shame, as he parades through this narrative drenched in velvet and bedecked in jewels, with a woman on his arm that would probably stick a knife in your back as soon as you turned it. And that's to say nothing of his wife.
Percy is in the midst of a feud with the peacock-loving Archbishop of York, so their men are often squabbling in the streets, much to Lovell’s General Annoyance. What happens as a result, I leave you to find out—because sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and history likes to bend when I tell it to, because I despise unhappy endings.
Astute Tudor readers will notice specific cameos that set up Future Things in the series, but ignorant ones can just sit back and enjoy the ride—because it’s a whopper, and it includes probably my favorite, nastiest, low-down plot twist right before the end, to give you a good kick in the head.
But I promise, because I am not George RR Martin, it all turns out all right. Mostly.
So I created a world in which there are riots, people hating each other, death threats, and… oh.
Well, there is also a also fire-eater, and adorably romantic and sexy romance between said fire-eater and everyone’s favorite character, Lambert Simnel. (Seriously, people adore my smol bean falconer, probably because he's so presh.) The usual tension between Sir Thomas Lovell, all-around “secretly a good guy but hopes you don’t find that out, because I have to maintain my villain reputation for street-cred” and his moralistic wife (along with their hot make-out session in the shadows of a Scottish castle -- who said arranged marriages aren't fun?), a bit about falcons, and probably the most hate-worthy jerk in my arsenal of “men who are full of themselves.” The Earl of Northumberland, also known as Percy, could put the most bloviating self-important dolt to shame, as he parades through this narrative drenched in velvet and bedecked in jewels, with a woman on his arm that would probably stick a knife in your back as soon as you turned it. And that's to say nothing of his wife.
Percy is in the midst of a feud with the peacock-loving Archbishop of York, so their men are often squabbling in the streets, much to Lovell’s General Annoyance. What happens as a result, I leave you to find out—because sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and history likes to bend when I tell it to, because I despise unhappy endings.
Astute Tudor readers will notice specific cameos that set up Future Things in the series, but ignorant ones can just sit back and enjoy the ride—because it’s a whopper, and it includes probably my favorite, nastiest, low-down plot twist right before the end, to give you a good kick in the head.
But I promise, because I am not George RR Martin, it all turns out all right. Mostly.
May 22, 2021
Since this is the first book of the series that I have read, I thought I might have a little problem catching on to what was going on. I admit that I was a bit confused by all of the characters for a few chapters. Little did I know that there's a list and description of characters in the back since I read it on my Kindle!!! There are some downfalls to reading on Kindle, I guess.
I was particularly enthralled by the plot of a group traveling to a wedding in Scotland! The pageantry and scenery were beautifully written with wonderful detail. Descriptions of costumes and hairstyles were exquisite!
Since several other reviewers have given a succinct summary of the plot, I will leave it with them. This book had everything I love in a book - suspense, drama, romance, and mystery! BIshop did an excellent job, as usual, with her characterizations - especially those of Davina the FIre-Eater and Lambert the Falconer.
NOTE: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I was not asked or required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
I was particularly enthralled by the plot of a group traveling to a wedding in Scotland! The pageantry and scenery were beautifully written with wonderful detail. Descriptions of costumes and hairstyles were exquisite!
Since several other reviewers have given a succinct summary of the plot, I will leave it with them. This book had everything I love in a book - suspense, drama, romance, and mystery! BIshop did an excellent job, as usual, with her characterizations - especially those of Davina the FIre-Eater and Lambert the Falconer.
NOTE: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I was not asked or required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews