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The Southwark Saga #1
Tyburn
Caught between a new love and an old need for revenge, notorious harlot Sally Green fights for survival in Restoration London. A sinister nobleman, a tutor with a secret, danger around every corner, and unbridled passion … Jessica Cale is pleased to present Tyburn, Book 1 of her new historical romance series, The Southwark Saga.
Sally Green is about to die.
She sees Death in the streets. She can taste it in her gin. She can feel it in the very walls of the ramshackle brothel where she is kept to satisfy the perversions of the wealthy. She had come to London as a runaway in search of her Cavalier father. Instead, she found Wrath, a sadistic nobleman determined to use her to fulfill a sinister ambition. As the last of her friends are murdered one by one, survival hinges on escape.
Nick Virtue is a tutor with a secret. By night he operates as a highwayman, relieving nobles of their riches to further his brother’s criminal enterprise. It’s a difficult balance at the best of times, and any day that doesn’t end in a noose is a good one. Saving Sally means risking his reputation, and may end up costing him his life.
As a brutal attack throws them together, Sally finds she has been given a second chance. She is torn between the tutor and the highwayman, but knows she can have neither. Love is an unwanted complication while Wrath haunts the streets. Nick holds the key to Wrath’s identity, and Sally will risk everything to bring him to justice.
Unless the gallows take her first.
Content Notes: Spicy, Non-Sexual Violence, Spanking, Historical, Gothic, Suspense
Sally Green is about to die.
She sees Death in the streets. She can taste it in her gin. She can feel it in the very walls of the ramshackle brothel where she is kept to satisfy the perversions of the wealthy. She had come to London as a runaway in search of her Cavalier father. Instead, she found Wrath, a sadistic nobleman determined to use her to fulfill a sinister ambition. As the last of her friends are murdered one by one, survival hinges on escape.
Nick Virtue is a tutor with a secret. By night he operates as a highwayman, relieving nobles of their riches to further his brother’s criminal enterprise. It’s a difficult balance at the best of times, and any day that doesn’t end in a noose is a good one. Saving Sally means risking his reputation, and may end up costing him his life.
As a brutal attack throws them together, Sally finds she has been given a second chance. She is torn between the tutor and the highwayman, but knows she can have neither. Love is an unwanted complication while Wrath haunts the streets. Nick holds the key to Wrath’s identity, and Sally will risk everything to bring him to justice.
Unless the gallows take her first.
Content Notes: Spicy, Non-Sexual Violence, Spanking, Historical, Gothic, Suspense
335 pages, Paperback
First published December 8, 2014
37 people are currently reading
1272 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Cale
21 books180 followersJessica Cale is an award-winning author, public historian, and journalist. Originally from Minnesota, she earned her BA in History and MFA in Creative and Media Writing at Swansea University in Wales, while working as a freelance contributor to BBC History Magazine. She has volunteered as a sex-education teacher for Planned Parenthood, and she brings the history of sex to a broader audience as the host of the Dirty Sexy History podcast and editor of the Dirty Sexy History blog. She has appeared as an on-camera historian on Netflix’s hit docudrama, The Lost Pirate Kingdom. Jessica is passionate about women’s social and medical history, focusing on the history of sex, contraception, drugs, and cosmetics
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 1, 2015
3.5 stars (mostly for the first half!)
Set in the poorest areas of post-Restoration London, Jessica Cale’s Tyburn is a dark, gritty story that’s well written and very readable, but which unfortunately loses its edge around the half-way point.
Sally Green is a whore, one of many owned by the brutal and mysterious Wrath, a pimp to the higher classes. Passed from lord to lord, Sally longs to escape, but her few attempts to do so have resulted in re-capture and brutal beatings. Even so, such treatment has not quelled her spirit, but now she turns more and more frequently to the gin bottle for solace, her friendship with the “molly” (male prostitute), Bettie being the true constant in her life.
Nick Virtue was well educated and had hoped to become a physician, but was forced to truncate his studies when his patron died. He now tries to eke out a living as a tutor to the two sons of Lord Hereford, but when his employer neglects to pay him, he is forced to resort to highway robbery in order to feed himself. He meets Sally late one night after he holds up Hereford’s coach, and the two of them fall into easy conversation. There is an undeniable attraction between them which blossoms when Nick tends to Sally following an attack which left her for dead.
For almost half the story, I felt I was reading a strong 4-star book. The tale, while grim, is compelling, and Ms Cale confidently sets out the groundwork for the mystery elements of the story, which will ultimately reveal Nick’s true identity and lead to Wrath’s downfall. Her descriptions of the dark underbelly of the city and its denizens - both rich and poor - are vivid and really put the reader in their midst; whether it be with Sally and Bettie or the roistering, debauched young aristocrats on weeks-long binges of whoring and drinking. I admit, though, that Ms Cale’s ability to so thoroughly bring her characters and situations to life sometimes makes for uncomfortable reading, and there are a few scenes which are not for the faint-hearted.
But while the story being told is fascinating, for a book that is described as an historical romance, there is not much romance in it until almost half-way through, which I found rather frustrating. Equally as frustrating is the fact that at around the time the romance finally kicks in, the story loses its edge and strays into more conventional historical romance territory. The attraction between Nick and Sally takes centre stage and they both start treading warily around each other when she believes he is courting another woman and he wonders if Sally is attracted to his handsome rogue of a brother, Mark. I didn’t mind that so much – the tonal shift from dark to light (or at least, lighter) is necessary given what has gone before, but the contrast is so large that I started to feel as though I was reading a completely different book. And while I was relieved when Nick and Sally finally started to interact more, the romance isn’t all that well developed. Nick has been sweet on Sally since first seeing her and she’s certainly attracted to his handsome face and body, but I never felt a strong emotional connection or sensual spark between them.
And once the story became less absorbing, I started to notice modernisms in the dialogue and other inconsistencies. For instance, Nick’s brother refers to him as a good-looking “guy” and later talks about something not being “a total bust”. While I wouldn’t expect the characters to speak as though they have stepped from the pages of a Restoration Comedy, I certainly don’t expect them to speak as though they are from the 21st century. Then there’s the fact that Nick, Mark and their friends have been living hand to mouth for ages, and yet are suddenly able to afford expensive foodstuffs like spices, sugar and almonds for Sally to use in her baking.
Tyburn, then, is a book of two halves that don’t quite mesh together. The first part is a dark, gritty story that doesn’t sugar-coat the conditions under which Sally and her ilk are forced to work, and in which the author’s descriptive prose is very evocative without being overly detailed: the book is worth reading for that part alone. Unfortunately, however, the second part doesn’t live up to the promise of the first, which leads to the book ultimately feeling unbalanced. Based on a 4 star rating for the first half and 3 stars for the second, I’m going to give Tyburn a qualified recommendation to anyone looking for something different in an historical romance.
Set in the poorest areas of post-Restoration London, Jessica Cale’s Tyburn is a dark, gritty story that’s well written and very readable, but which unfortunately loses its edge around the half-way point.
Sally Green is a whore, one of many owned by the brutal and mysterious Wrath, a pimp to the higher classes. Passed from lord to lord, Sally longs to escape, but her few attempts to do so have resulted in re-capture and brutal beatings. Even so, such treatment has not quelled her spirit, but now she turns more and more frequently to the gin bottle for solace, her friendship with the “molly” (male prostitute), Bettie being the true constant in her life.
Nick Virtue was well educated and had hoped to become a physician, but was forced to truncate his studies when his patron died. He now tries to eke out a living as a tutor to the two sons of Lord Hereford, but when his employer neglects to pay him, he is forced to resort to highway robbery in order to feed himself. He meets Sally late one night after he holds up Hereford’s coach, and the two of them fall into easy conversation. There is an undeniable attraction between them which blossoms when Nick tends to Sally following an attack which left her for dead.
For almost half the story, I felt I was reading a strong 4-star book. The tale, while grim, is compelling, and Ms Cale confidently sets out the groundwork for the mystery elements of the story, which will ultimately reveal Nick’s true identity and lead to Wrath’s downfall. Her descriptions of the dark underbelly of the city and its denizens - both rich and poor - are vivid and really put the reader in their midst; whether it be with Sally and Bettie or the roistering, debauched young aristocrats on weeks-long binges of whoring and drinking. I admit, though, that Ms Cale’s ability to so thoroughly bring her characters and situations to life sometimes makes for uncomfortable reading, and there are a few scenes which are not for the faint-hearted.
But while the story being told is fascinating, for a book that is described as an historical romance, there is not much romance in it until almost half-way through, which I found rather frustrating. Equally as frustrating is the fact that at around the time the romance finally kicks in, the story loses its edge and strays into more conventional historical romance territory. The attraction between Nick and Sally takes centre stage and they both start treading warily around each other when she believes he is courting another woman and he wonders if Sally is attracted to his handsome rogue of a brother, Mark. I didn’t mind that so much – the tonal shift from dark to light (or at least, lighter) is necessary given what has gone before, but the contrast is so large that I started to feel as though I was reading a completely different book. And while I was relieved when Nick and Sally finally started to interact more, the romance isn’t all that well developed. Nick has been sweet on Sally since first seeing her and she’s certainly attracted to his handsome face and body, but I never felt a strong emotional connection or sensual spark between them.
And once the story became less absorbing, I started to notice modernisms in the dialogue and other inconsistencies. For instance, Nick’s brother refers to him as a good-looking “guy” and later talks about something not being “a total bust”. While I wouldn’t expect the characters to speak as though they have stepped from the pages of a Restoration Comedy, I certainly don’t expect them to speak as though they are from the 21st century. Then there’s the fact that Nick, Mark and their friends have been living hand to mouth for ages, and yet are suddenly able to afford expensive foodstuffs like spices, sugar and almonds for Sally to use in her baking.
Tyburn, then, is a book of two halves that don’t quite mesh together. The first part is a dark, gritty story that doesn’t sugar-coat the conditions under which Sally and her ilk are forced to work, and in which the author’s descriptive prose is very evocative without being overly detailed: the book is worth reading for that part alone. Unfortunately, however, the second part doesn’t live up to the promise of the first, which leads to the book ultimately feeling unbalanced. Based on a 4 star rating for the first half and 3 stars for the second, I’m going to give Tyburn a qualified recommendation to anyone looking for something different in an historical romance.
January 29, 2018
(Maybe spoilerish? There may be TMI in this review.)
When I read this I had been in an HR reading slump. Nothing appealed to me. This one set in Restoration England after the Great Fire sounded good and had mostly 5-star ratings so I decided to try it out. It started out well, a gritty, realistic picture of life in the late 1600s. The h is a prostitute under the controlling thumb of her pimp, whose real identity we don't know but he appears to be of the peerage. The H is a tutor in the household of an earl with some kinky inclinations. The H isn't paid or even given enough food so he has to supplement with a bit of highway robbery. At the beginning of the story, this didn't seem quite as ludicrous to me as it became as I continued reading.
The h is taken by her pimp to service the kinky earl whose sons the H tutors. Circumstances have the H and h meeting, both with the H in his tutor mode and in his highwayman mode. Somehow the h doesn't twig on to the fact that they are the same person. Anyhoo, as I said, this starts out in a promising manner, gritty, with evocative and ugly scenes of life as a prostitute. The h is mistreated, addicted to gin laced with a drug, and many of her friends and co-workers are dying of syphilis. Not a pretty picture, but I found it to be a welcome departure from the ubiquitous banal Regency ballrooms and house parties. Somewhat like a Restoration version of Michel Faber's Victorian tale, THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE.
However, within a short time, this tale becomes rather silly. The H is starving? Yet he manages to visit his brother and he manages to get out to do a bit of highway robbery. And he can't feed himself? And the fact that the h falls in love with the H as tutor and as highwayman and is torn between two lovers. Oh, please. And the fairy tale of the h escaping from her pimp, rescued by H and his brother and friends, and then proceeds to set up a bakery in the brother's kitchen, even making enough bread to feed all the prisoners of Newgate so that they can smuggle one loaf with a file inside to a prisoner friend they want to help escape. Not to mention the mystery of the identities of the h and of the H. Really, all we needed was the kitchen sink in this to make it complete.
When I read this I had been in an HR reading slump. Nothing appealed to me. This one set in Restoration England after the Great Fire sounded good and had mostly 5-star ratings so I decided to try it out. It started out well, a gritty, realistic picture of life in the late 1600s. The h is a prostitute under the controlling thumb of her pimp, whose real identity we don't know but he appears to be of the peerage. The H is a tutor in the household of an earl with some kinky inclinations. The H isn't paid or even given enough food so he has to supplement with a bit of highway robbery. At the beginning of the story, this didn't seem quite as ludicrous to me as it became as I continued reading.
The h is taken by her pimp to service the kinky earl whose sons the H tutors. Circumstances have the H and h meeting, both with the H in his tutor mode and in his highwayman mode. Somehow the h doesn't twig on to the fact that they are the same person. Anyhoo, as I said, this starts out in a promising manner, gritty, with evocative and ugly scenes of life as a prostitute. The h is mistreated, addicted to gin laced with a drug, and many of her friends and co-workers are dying of syphilis. Not a pretty picture, but I found it to be a welcome departure from the ubiquitous banal Regency ballrooms and house parties. Somewhat like a Restoration version of Michel Faber's Victorian tale, THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE.
However, within a short time, this tale becomes rather silly. The H is starving? Yet he manages to visit his brother and he manages to get out to do a bit of highway robbery. And he can't feed himself? And the fact that the h falls in love with the H as tutor and as highwayman and is torn between two lovers. Oh, please. And the fairy tale of the h escaping from her pimp, rescued by H and his brother and friends, and then proceeds to set up a bakery in the brother's kitchen, even making enough bread to feed all the prisoners of Newgate so that they can smuggle one loaf with a file inside to a prisoner friend they want to help escape. Not to mention the mystery of the identities of the h and of the H. Really, all we needed was the kitchen sink in this to make it complete.
December 27, 2014
If your tastes run anything like mine, all you'll need to know is that the book is about Highwaymen and Prostitutes, and is available for the Kindle from Amazon - so you can download it straight away and retire to a corner to devour it and thank me later.
For those of you that need a little more, Jessica Cale's characters are well written and enamoring – from Sally to her best friend Bettie the molly (a gay prostitute) providing some light heartedness in amongst the oppression of Sally’s daily life, to Nick’s brother Mark – the exact sort of scoundrel you’d expect a highwayman to be, and proud of the fact. Mark is a contrast to Nick who at first almost seems a reluctant Highwayman - preferring to try and make an honorable living from tutoring.
Sally is a likable, realistic, resourceful main character who does what she needs to to stay alive - even if that means she's passed around from Lord to Lord, fulfilling their kinky needs and in her spare time, not sitting around waiting to be rescued or remains where she is waiting to die as her friends are murdered around her. She sees her oppurtunity for escape from Wrath and her hopes of surviving much longer around him slipping away from her, so she goes for it... although things do not go according to plan.
London is brought to life through Cale's words, her descriptions fantastic without being overbearing even without the landmarks we know and love, as the book is set shortly after London starts to rebuild from the Great Fire. She uses the timing perfectly throughout the book, weaving in the economical hardship that must have been present at the time for the lower classes effortlessly.
Overall this is a fantastic story to get lost in for a while. If we were to lay out all the historical romances end to end, best to worst, this would be towards the top end of the pile without a doubt.
Oh, and its Book One in a series which means one fantastic thing - there's more to come from Jessica Cale, and I, for one, are looking forward to reading them.
For those of you that need a little more, Jessica Cale's characters are well written and enamoring – from Sally to her best friend Bettie the molly (a gay prostitute) providing some light heartedness in amongst the oppression of Sally’s daily life, to Nick’s brother Mark – the exact sort of scoundrel you’d expect a highwayman to be, and proud of the fact. Mark is a contrast to Nick who at first almost seems a reluctant Highwayman - preferring to try and make an honorable living from tutoring.
Sally is a likable, realistic, resourceful main character who does what she needs to to stay alive - even if that means she's passed around from Lord to Lord, fulfilling their kinky needs and in her spare time, not sitting around waiting to be rescued or remains where she is waiting to die as her friends are murdered around her. She sees her oppurtunity for escape from Wrath and her hopes of surviving much longer around him slipping away from her, so she goes for it... although things do not go according to plan.
London is brought to life through Cale's words, her descriptions fantastic without being overbearing even without the landmarks we know and love, as the book is set shortly after London starts to rebuild from the Great Fire. She uses the timing perfectly throughout the book, weaving in the economical hardship that must have been present at the time for the lower classes effortlessly.
Overall this is a fantastic story to get lost in for a while. If we were to lay out all the historical romances end to end, best to worst, this would be towards the top end of the pile without a doubt.
Oh, and its Book One in a series which means one fantastic thing - there's more to come from Jessica Cale, and I, for one, are looking forward to reading them.
January 29, 2015
Jessica Cale has written a romance that will remain one of my all-time favorites. With characters who could belong in a Dickensian classic, a sweet romance to make the spirit soar, and heroes who have to surmount incredible odds, Tyburn has it all. We have Sally, a harlot heroine with a mysterious past. And then we have Nick, a handsome, penniless tutor, living the double life of a highwayman. Oh, and the delightfully evil Wrath, Sally's pimp. To add to these wonderfully-drawn main characters, a host of other interesting personages wander through the story and the streets of post-fire London. I do hope cheeky brother Mark will feature in the next installment. No matter what direction Ms. Cale takes, I know I will read her future books with eagerness and excitement. Brava!
January 29, 2016
Tyburn is unique. Fascinating and reads like a play. What I would not give to see this story come to life upon the stage.
Full review to come via Smexybooks.com
Full review to come via Smexybooks.com
December 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, a first I believe for this author.
Its a really good story set just after the great fire of London and it captures the period really well. The dialogue is colloquial without actually being correct as would be at the time, If it was the reader would need translations because the London language at that time would not have been as Shakespeare but would have been filled with the current terms in use, far different from the London language of today.
So what of the story itself?
the tale of a women lured into prostitutional slavery. a high class whore who is used by her master to earn money. Its harrowing at times, uplifting at others, it moves along nicely, taking sharp turns when least expected and the attention to detail is really spot on. The characters are believable and well portrayed, and as an insight into the period its quite an eye opener, for these times were hard and it comes across in that way. Yet there are the hoi poloi, the upper classes , the lords who use people as they would wont, a far cry from the lower classes who must scrape for survival at times.
if you like a good historical romance, where the sex scenes are nicely portrayed, then I'd thoroughly recommends this book.
Its a really good story set just after the great fire of London and it captures the period really well. The dialogue is colloquial without actually being correct as would be at the time, If it was the reader would need translations because the London language at that time would not have been as Shakespeare but would have been filled with the current terms in use, far different from the London language of today.
So what of the story itself?
the tale of a women lured into prostitutional slavery. a high class whore who is used by her master to earn money. Its harrowing at times, uplifting at others, it moves along nicely, taking sharp turns when least expected and the attention to detail is really spot on. The characters are believable and well portrayed, and as an insight into the period its quite an eye opener, for these times were hard and it comes across in that way. Yet there are the hoi poloi, the upper classes , the lords who use people as they would wont, a far cry from the lower classes who must scrape for survival at times.
if you like a good historical romance, where the sex scenes are nicely portrayed, then I'd thoroughly recommends this book.
March 22, 2019
Incredible story-telling
I didn't know what to expect, but what I got was absolutely wonderful. A whore for a heroine and a highwayman for a hero? Wow! Dark and gritty and at the same time, light and sweet, Tyburn is unlike any historical romance I’ve ever read. How refreshingly original.
I didn't know what to expect, but what I got was absolutely wonderful. A whore for a heroine and a highwayman for a hero? Wow! Dark and gritty and at the same time, light and sweet, Tyburn is unlike any historical romance I’ve ever read. How refreshingly original.
November 5, 2020
Another crash and burn. I hate that. This book had everything I love, but it just didn't ring my bell. Not giving up on this author though!
Read
July 22, 2021This is one wild, action-packed, heart-in-your-throat, ride through the streets of old London! Prostitutes, actresses, highwaymen, and vagabonds all make up the cast of this sweeping story. You'll be cheering for Nick and Sally on every page.
February 26, 2018
3.5*
Very enjoyable and during an interesting time period (Restoration) about which I don't know much. It's somewhat refreshing to read something that isn't set during Regency or Victorian times. It starts off really dark and gritty but changes pace as the book progresses, so much so that at times it felt like I was reading a different book. As it's the first book in a series, many characters are introduced and the romance takes a while to kick-off, but once it does it's very satisfying. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books.
Very enjoyable and during an interesting time period (Restoration) about which I don't know much. It's somewhat refreshing to read something that isn't set during Regency or Victorian times. It starts off really dark and gritty but changes pace as the book progresses, so much so that at times it felt like I was reading a different book. As it's the first book in a series, many characters are introduced and the romance takes a while to kick-off, but once it does it's very satisfying. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books.
December 11, 2014
Tyburn by Jessica Cale
Sally Green is well acquainted with Death, but this time she suspects that Death is closing in to call on her. She has no idea how right she is, or how much Death will change her. One woman’s adventures through London’s darker streets and her triumph against the man who holds her captive.
Tyburn is a tale of lies, love and debauchery set in the Restoration, a little used but fascinating era of history. Set in the familiar locale of London, it pulls back the modern perceptions that we are so used to and displays the seedy underside of a city we think we know. Jessica Cale manages to weave a believable narrative around actual personages whilst evoking the zeitgeist of Stuart London. You can almost smell the streets when the characters walk them and taste the food they eat. That is not to say that this story is bogged down by over-wrought descriptions or flowery language, just incredibly evocative of the themes and the scenes it is trying to portray.
I think one of the most important things of this piece of work is that though Sally’s story is in places horrific, it is written accurately without being over-enthusiastically grim. It does not feel as if it is a piece of misery porn contributing to a wider narrative of anonymous women who suffered, but rather demonstrates how a character takes her own destiny into her hands and handles it on her own terms. The story isn’t a happy one, but neither is it a hopeless one. You close the book with a feeling of elation rather than one of depression, which is how a lot of historically based fiction with female protagonists seems to leave me feeling. Like much of the writing of the period, Sally’s story echoes the themes of trial and tribulation, the resolution one that the reader feels is a fair ending without feeling overly saccharine or forced.
I’m not going to lie, this is ‘my’ period; that is to say, this book covers the period of history for which I studied a post graduate dissertation, so I’m a) a tricky audience and b) ultra keen. I’m one of those people who gets angry at historical inaccuracy in films and books, that has to be told to calm down when people lace up corsets wrong and such like. I know Jessica was both eager and concerned about hearing my opinion, so I have decided to be as honest as I can with her and with you. I hope you will take the time to read this story; you will not regret it.
Sally Green is well acquainted with Death, but this time she suspects that Death is closing in to call on her. She has no idea how right she is, or how much Death will change her. One woman’s adventures through London’s darker streets and her triumph against the man who holds her captive.
Tyburn is a tale of lies, love and debauchery set in the Restoration, a little used but fascinating era of history. Set in the familiar locale of London, it pulls back the modern perceptions that we are so used to and displays the seedy underside of a city we think we know. Jessica Cale manages to weave a believable narrative around actual personages whilst evoking the zeitgeist of Stuart London. You can almost smell the streets when the characters walk them and taste the food they eat. That is not to say that this story is bogged down by over-wrought descriptions or flowery language, just incredibly evocative of the themes and the scenes it is trying to portray.
I think one of the most important things of this piece of work is that though Sally’s story is in places horrific, it is written accurately without being over-enthusiastically grim. It does not feel as if it is a piece of misery porn contributing to a wider narrative of anonymous women who suffered, but rather demonstrates how a character takes her own destiny into her hands and handles it on her own terms. The story isn’t a happy one, but neither is it a hopeless one. You close the book with a feeling of elation rather than one of depression, which is how a lot of historically based fiction with female protagonists seems to leave me feeling. Like much of the writing of the period, Sally’s story echoes the themes of trial and tribulation, the resolution one that the reader feels is a fair ending without feeling overly saccharine or forced.
I’m not going to lie, this is ‘my’ period; that is to say, this book covers the period of history for which I studied a post graduate dissertation, so I’m a) a tricky audience and b) ultra keen. I’m one of those people who gets angry at historical inaccuracy in films and books, that has to be told to calm down when people lace up corsets wrong and such like. I know Jessica was both eager and concerned about hearing my opinion, so I have decided to be as honest as I can with her and with you. I hope you will take the time to read this story; you will not regret it.
November 17, 2015
Tyburn is one of the best historical romances I have EVER read. I was not familiar with the works of Jessica Cale before this, but I am so happy to have discovered her.
There is so much to this book, I can't give it all away. I won't go into the plot....you can read the other reviews for that, but please believe me when I say that this author is incredibly talented and you will adore this book.
Jessica Cale’s main characters are multi-faceted. None of them is only black or white. They are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human. I think you will FEEL the characters and that's what makes her books special.
Main characters:
Celestine Remi aka Sally aka the Green Devil is a woman who, according to Wrath, her pimp, “. . . has a cruel heart and a quiet tongue.” What made her like that and who is she in fact? A baker’s apprentice, a whore, a woman in love? “All she had wanted growing up was a quiet life, a home of her own, and a kitchen, of course. “ What life offered her. . . it’s another story.
Nicodemus aka Nick Virtue, tutor and highway man. An odd combination of occupations. What urges him to act like that? Reading this story full of twists and turns will reveal the reason.
Many secondary characters – Benedict/Bettie, Jane, Wrath, Mark and many others are as well developed as the main ones I listed above. They all are woven in an intricate fresco of Restoration England. The author has a gift with words, creating vivid images of a London infested by “rodents” of various kinds –two and four legged. She displays a keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of London society after the Great Fire.
Just read Tyburn and you won't be disappointed. I can count on one hand, the number of times I was this heavily invested in the characters of a book. All I can say is WOW!
There is so much to this book, I can't give it all away. I won't go into the plot....you can read the other reviews for that, but please believe me when I say that this author is incredibly talented and you will adore this book.
Jessica Cale’s main characters are multi-faceted. None of them is only black or white. They are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human. I think you will FEEL the characters and that's what makes her books special.
Main characters:
Celestine Remi aka Sally aka the Green Devil is a woman who, according to Wrath, her pimp, “. . . has a cruel heart and a quiet tongue.” What made her like that and who is she in fact? A baker’s apprentice, a whore, a woman in love? “All she had wanted growing up was a quiet life, a home of her own, and a kitchen, of course. “ What life offered her. . . it’s another story.
Nicodemus aka Nick Virtue, tutor and highway man. An odd combination of occupations. What urges him to act like that? Reading this story full of twists and turns will reveal the reason.
Many secondary characters – Benedict/Bettie, Jane, Wrath, Mark and many others are as well developed as the main ones I listed above. They all are woven in an intricate fresco of Restoration England. The author has a gift with words, creating vivid images of a London infested by “rodents” of various kinds –two and four legged. She displays a keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of London society after the Great Fire.
Just read Tyburn and you won't be disappointed. I can count on one hand, the number of times I was this heavily invested in the characters of a book. All I can say is WOW!
May 5, 2015
I truly loved Ms. Cale’s debut novel, Tyburn. Ms. Cale crafts beautifully descriptive scenes; I felt like I was in London in 1671. There were so many three-dimensional characters in this novel, making me care—and extremely dislike—them all. From Sally the whore and her disturbing past, to the enchanting Nick Virtue and his adorable playboy of a brother, to the villains we love to hate. Many authors struggle adding depth to their secondary characters; Tyburn is an excellent example of how to add layers upon layers in a story and keep the reader enthralled, wanting to find out the fate of all. There were so many storylines intertwined and it isn’t until the end when you see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
The one thing that held me back a little was the delayed meeting between the hero and heroine. I like to see them connect earlier in the story., but that is just my personal preference. I know many readers will disagree and give the book six stars if they could.
I can’t wait to read Virtue’s Lady and see how Mark and Jane’s story progresses. And there are unanswered questions to Sally’s “condition” that I must have answered. Excellent debut, Ms. Cale
The one thing that held me back a little was the delayed meeting between the hero and heroine. I like to see them connect earlier in the story., but that is just my personal preference. I know many readers will disagree and give the book six stars if they could.
I can’t wait to read Virtue’s Lady and see how Mark and Jane’s story progresses. And there are unanswered questions to Sally’s “condition” that I must have answered. Excellent debut, Ms. Cale
April 10, 2015
Who doesn’t love a dashing highwayman? Especially when he’s also a tutor. A rogue and a scholar? Sign me up! Nick Virtue joins the list of my favorite heroes. One of the things I loved about this novel was the fabulous character development. Each one, even the side characters, were interesting and unique. Sally, our heroine, draws you in and the mystery Ms. Cale weaves keeps you turning the page. I routed for Sally from the start and loved every minute of her journey, even the times I wanted to slay the villainous, Wrath.
On a side note: I’m also a huge fan of world building and Ms. Cale has fleshed out Restoration England quite well, creating a living breathing world. She’s knows her stuff!
Can’t wait for the next one!
On a side note: I’m also a huge fan of world building and Ms. Cale has fleshed out Restoration England quite well, creating a living breathing world. She’s knows her stuff!
Can’t wait for the next one!
December 14, 2015
I'm new to historical romance but Jessica Cale made it easy for me to dive right in. A deliciously detailed insight into Ye Olde England. You can tell this girl knows her history inside out, every detail of the upper and lower classes felt authentic without being forced.
If I may be cheeky I enjoyed the character of Mark more than the male lead and I can't wait to read Virtue's Lady. Nothing against the charming and scholarly Nick but I, like Jane, love a bit of rough.
Bonus points for having a lead female character who is a sex worker but also a kickass, charming heroine who knows her worth and gets her happy ending. Also she kills her tormentor dressed as a ghost which is boss. Great work Jessica.
If I may be cheeky I enjoyed the character of Mark more than the male lead and I can't wait to read Virtue's Lady. Nothing against the charming and scholarly Nick but I, like Jane, love a bit of rough.
Bonus points for having a lead female character who is a sex worker but also a kickass, charming heroine who knows her worth and gets her happy ending. Also she kills her tormentor dressed as a ghost which is boss. Great work Jessica.
December 17, 2014
I feel like Restoration London doesn’t get enough play as a backdrop for fiction, so any find raises a flicker of excitement. Tyburn fans this little flicker into a roaring flame with its ‘back streets’ view of the hookers and highwaymen who populated the seedier locales of Charles II’s capital. A romance, but not the one you were expecting. Tyburn, like its heroine, Sally, is desperate, hungry, and dirty, but with a good heart buried somewhere deep down. Lovers of either well-researched historicals that wear their learning lightly, or hot romances with an actual plot between the bonking, will be equally made up with this one.
October 12, 2015
I won this book in a good reads giveaway and I am so glad I have been introduced to this author. Set in dark London I was addicted to the story from chapter one and loved following Sally (Celeste) on her struggle to escape the clutches of the evil Wrath and then to find romance with Nick the tutor by day and secret highwayman by night. I even shed a tear at the end for Madame Toulouse but for all the right reasons. I can't wait to read more by this author.
August 6, 2015
I was so absorbed in the story! I couldn't wait to get time to read every day...
I love the characters, Jessica's rich description of the era...it has been a long time since I couldn't wait to turn the page!
I love the characters, Jessica's rich description of the era...it has been a long time since I couldn't wait to turn the page!
April 17, 2017
Stirring Read
An excellent story, there are a great many details in the beginning that smooth out quickly and make for a fantastic story and a wonderful read. I will be reading the next book in the series as soon as possible. Excited to add this author to my list!
An excellent story, there are a great many details in the beginning that smooth out quickly and make for a fantastic story and a wonderful read. I will be reading the next book in the series as soon as possible. Excited to add this author to my list!
October 4, 2021
This was a solid book the beginning especially was so dark and gritty. That I wasn’t prepared for it. But definitely recommend for someone who like regency but wants something that touches on the darker part of that era.
March 12, 2019
Original review: 4.5 stars. An original read with wonderful, sympathetic lead characters. The personality of the character who becomes the heroine of the next book is somewhat irritating, but I hope she can grow on me in the next one. https://courtneyreadsromancesite.word...
Review upon reread originally posted here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.word...
I went into this year fully intending that I would reread the Southwark Saga, but I just didn’t know when I would do it, given my tendency to not reread, especially lately. But then I heard about this Re-Readathon going on this week, hosted by a few BookTubers I watch, among others, and it provided the perfect excuse for me to finally get around to doing a reread of Tyburn (and hopefully get around to rereading the others in the near future as well). This book fulfills the Recent Favorite and Game Changer categories.
Now, as for the book itself, my general impressions are more or less the same. I still very much love both Nick and Sally as characters, and rooted for them in spite of knowing how it would turn out. I also felt much more attuned to the subtle hints about who they both were than I was the first time around.
Jane is definitely a character who I liked a lot more upon rereading, due to having a greater understanding of her situation this time. She does still lean a bit on the impulsive, TSTL end of the spectrum, but I definitely did not find her as irksome, especially when I thought about the awful things her father had his hands in in this very book more deeply.
I would like to conclude this review with a discussion of why I think this book is a personal game-changer. One of the most important reasons is that it and its sequels are among the most original books I’ve read in romance. I love its gritty realism and the way Jessica Cale clearly put in effort to present an authentic feel for the period, something I’ve started to find increasingly lacking in a lot of historical romances. I also love that she focuses on characters who’ve been through hardship, but presents them as people you can root for, which is a rarity in my opinion, especially with the popularity of broody, angsty heroes. And, most importantly, it demonstrates that a historical involving commoners can have a beautiful HEA.
Review upon reread originally posted here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.word...
I went into this year fully intending that I would reread the Southwark Saga, but I just didn’t know when I would do it, given my tendency to not reread, especially lately. But then I heard about this Re-Readathon going on this week, hosted by a few BookTubers I watch, among others, and it provided the perfect excuse for me to finally get around to doing a reread of Tyburn (and hopefully get around to rereading the others in the near future as well). This book fulfills the Recent Favorite and Game Changer categories.
Now, as for the book itself, my general impressions are more or less the same. I still very much love both Nick and Sally as characters, and rooted for them in spite of knowing how it would turn out. I also felt much more attuned to the subtle hints about who they both were than I was the first time around.
Jane is definitely a character who I liked a lot more upon rereading, due to having a greater understanding of her situation this time. She does still lean a bit on the impulsive, TSTL end of the spectrum, but I definitely did not find her as irksome, especially when I thought about the awful things her father had his hands in in this very book more deeply.
I would like to conclude this review with a discussion of why I think this book is a personal game-changer. One of the most important reasons is that it and its sequels are among the most original books I’ve read in romance. I love its gritty realism and the way Jessica Cale clearly put in effort to present an authentic feel for the period, something I’ve started to find increasingly lacking in a lot of historical romances. I also love that she focuses on characters who’ve been through hardship, but presents them as people you can root for, which is a rarity in my opinion, especially with the popularity of broody, angsty heroes. And, most importantly, it demonstrates that a historical involving commoners can have a beautiful HEA.
June 11, 2016
Tyburn, a village outside of London in the 1670's known for being the place that London executed its prisoners. In fact, families would make a day of it. The story starts in Tyburn on the day of an execution, a well-know thief is to be hanged and it seems everyone is there, some people were upset because there was no space available to spread a blanket for a picnic lunch and that the food sellers ran out of food to sell. Jessica Cale also takes us on an interesting visit to Newgate Prison, her description made you feel you were there. Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. I wanted to see what happens to Sally Green/Celeste Remi, a young French baker who runaways to England to escape the man who said he was her father and sold her into servitude. Her dream of opening a bakery doesn't happen and three years later she is working as a prostitute. On a visit to a client she meets Nick Virtue, the client's tutor for his son. I found it interesting that the man, a Lord could order his staff not to feed the tutor and deny him wages and since there was a abundance of tutors in London after the fire of 1666 and he needed a place to stay, he stayed hoping to get paid, so he takes up stealing and his victim is the Lord, that is how he meets Sally. The division between classes is very distinct in this book, the division between the nobility and all others and the division among servants is very interesting. The staff would not give food to the tutor, because they felt he was not one of the because of his education. The characters of Tyburn, all have there secrets, even Sally, but she doesn't know it. Nick and his brother Mark. Wrath the man who pimps Sally. Lord Herford and his daughter Lady Jane Ramsey, Sally's confidante Bettie/Benedict, and Lord Henry Marshall, Viscount Beaumont impact Sally and Nick's lives and the outcome that lead to a very surprising conclusion.
I received a copy of the book from the author for a fair and honest review. I love it. It was the first Jessica Cale book I have read and I can't wait to read more.
I received a copy of the book from the author for a fair and honest review. I love it. It was the first Jessica Cale book I have read and I can't wait to read more.
January 29, 2016
“Sally was there the day they hung Claude Duval.”
There was no better way to grab my attention. I was hooked from the first sentence. It’s amazing how a character that was just introduced could evoke an emotion of pity and sadness. Sally, was also a character that seemed real with her strife and position. She is not your typical everyday heroine. A prostitute doesn’t usually have their stories to tell, but Sally’s was important. Such a journey of heartbreak and bad luck that one couldn’t help but read on to see if her ending would end up happy.
Set in England in the 1670s, this is a dark tale about a character who is pimped out by an odious man with a nefarious agenda. As Sally’s story is told, the more endearing her character becomes and it gives insight to why it is so hard for her to turn her life around. One has hope for her character as she meets a mysterious Highwayman (Nick) who ends up being the hero of the story. It’s the turning point for both of these characters and each have their trials to endure and their pasts to over come.
I found that the secondary characters were also well written. Nick’s friends added a bit of humor to the story and I was glad for it. Even the unsavory characters, although cringe worthy, did have their roles. Dare I hope that one of them found their redemption toward the end?
I must confess that when I find a book really dark that it makes me anxious to know what happens to the characters (which in my opinion, makes for a really good story), I do sneak a peak at the ending to make sure that it ends happily. With that comfort, I was able to relax and enjoy the ride.
There was never a dull moment in the storytelling and I found the author’s way of writing very entertaining. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and it did not disappoint.
There was no better way to grab my attention. I was hooked from the first sentence. It’s amazing how a character that was just introduced could evoke an emotion of pity and sadness. Sally, was also a character that seemed real with her strife and position. She is not your typical everyday heroine. A prostitute doesn’t usually have their stories to tell, but Sally’s was important. Such a journey of heartbreak and bad luck that one couldn’t help but read on to see if her ending would end up happy.
Set in England in the 1670s, this is a dark tale about a character who is pimped out by an odious man with a nefarious agenda. As Sally’s story is told, the more endearing her character becomes and it gives insight to why it is so hard for her to turn her life around. One has hope for her character as she meets a mysterious Highwayman (Nick) who ends up being the hero of the story. It’s the turning point for both of these characters and each have their trials to endure and their pasts to over come.
I found that the secondary characters were also well written. Nick’s friends added a bit of humor to the story and I was glad for it. Even the unsavory characters, although cringe worthy, did have their roles. Dare I hope that one of them found their redemption toward the end?
I must confess that when I find a book really dark that it makes me anxious to know what happens to the characters (which in my opinion, makes for a really good story), I do sneak a peak at the ending to make sure that it ends happily. With that comfort, I was able to relax and enjoy the ride.
There was never a dull moment in the storytelling and I found the author’s way of writing very entertaining. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and it did not disappoint.
October 13, 2017
Fair warning first: this is not a gentle romance. It's set in the underbelly of Restoration London, for one thing. Our heroine, Sally Green, is a prostitute, for one thing. The real kind, and she's seen a few things. Including the bottoms of a few gin bottles, because our girl does not have an easy day (okay, night) at the office. Our hero, Nick Virtue, would have been a physician, but lacked the funds for medical school, so now he's a tutor, but doesn't always get paid, and so moonlights as a highwayman.
This story is gritty, it's often rough, and it doesn't gloss over the realities of either the period or the lives Nick and Sally lead. Even so, the romance has a sweetness to it that provides a starkly beautiful counterpoint to the time and place. The history and romance are intrinsically intertwined, which is always a plus for me. This story could not have taken place in any other era or location, the setting a character in its own right.
Ms. Cale paints some vivid images, which make her an author to watch. The first scene places us squarely in Sally's head as she faces a wrenching loss. Later, Nick and Sally both carry out their work on opposite sides of the same wall, neither having any idea the love of their life is that close. The supporting characters are richly drawn, and people of their time, which enhances the relationship between Sally and Nick. I hereby stake my official claim on Sally's best friend, Bettie, as my book BFF forever. Dibs.
This story is gritty, it's often rough, and it doesn't gloss over the realities of either the period or the lives Nick and Sally lead. Even so, the romance has a sweetness to it that provides a starkly beautiful counterpoint to the time and place. The history and romance are intrinsically intertwined, which is always a plus for me. This story could not have taken place in any other era or location, the setting a character in its own right.
Ms. Cale paints some vivid images, which make her an author to watch. The first scene places us squarely in Sally's head as she faces a wrenching loss. Later, Nick and Sally both carry out their work on opposite sides of the same wall, neither having any idea the love of their life is that close. The supporting characters are richly drawn, and people of their time, which enhances the relationship between Sally and Nick. I hereby stake my official claim on Sally's best friend, Bettie, as my book BFF forever. Dibs.
August 13, 2015
Tyburn is a delightfully dark historical romance with unexpected twists. Cale is historically accurate in every detail from the dress of the common footpad to the elegance of a Lord down to the dates and times.
In a rare glimpse of reality, we are taken on a journey with an accidental prostitute and a highway with crime his only option to fill his ever growling belly. Despite their personal travails, both of them manage to retain their humanity enough to care for and help others in their time of need. The relationship between the two of them in nothing short of inspiring. The hope they maintain for humanity is a lesson that many today should learn.
This is a highly recommended read in my humble opinion. Cale teaches you that there was depth to the lower cast as well as the upper crust of society. In addition she teaches you that sometimes criminals are merely surviving in the only way they can. Most of all, she teaches you that love knows no boundaries. Period.
I'll be reading book two next and anxiously await book three.
In a rare glimpse of reality, we are taken on a journey with an accidental prostitute and a highway with crime his only option to fill his ever growling belly. Despite their personal travails, both of them manage to retain their humanity enough to care for and help others in their time of need. The relationship between the two of them in nothing short of inspiring. The hope they maintain for humanity is a lesson that many today should learn.
This is a highly recommended read in my humble opinion. Cale teaches you that there was depth to the lower cast as well as the upper crust of society. In addition she teaches you that sometimes criminals are merely surviving in the only way they can. Most of all, she teaches you that love knows no boundaries. Period.
I'll be reading book two next and anxiously await book three.
July 12, 2017
Another sleepless night. Jessica Cale is turning me into a zombie. Danger, intrigue, casual murder - life is a precariously cheap thing in this literary world she has created.
The writing is fluid and tight. The emotions evoked are real. I found myself gripped with fear and anxiety as Sally and Nick found themselves in scrape after scrape. The lurking evil felt real and true. The slow burn and development of true love felt real and organic.
The villains were chilling. I truly despaired of an HEA this time. It seemed impossible, implausible even. Our dear author pulled it off with aplomb. I can't wait to begin the next installment tonight!
I highly recommend this and all of the stories in the Southwark Saga. Jessica Cale's literary voice is fresh and daring. You won't be disappointed.
The writing is fluid and tight. The emotions evoked are real. I found myself gripped with fear and anxiety as Sally and Nick found themselves in scrape after scrape. The lurking evil felt real and true. The slow burn and development of true love felt real and organic.
The villains were chilling. I truly despaired of an HEA this time. It seemed impossible, implausible even. Our dear author pulled it off with aplomb. I can't wait to begin the next installment tonight!
I highly recommend this and all of the stories in the Southwark Saga. Jessica Cale's literary voice is fresh and daring. You won't be disappointed.
January 3, 2015
I don't normally read romance novels, but I found this historical romance to be well-written and set in an interesting period. Although I'm not a historian, a wealth of details really brought the era to life for me. I enjoyed reading about characters that don't normally make an appearance in other books, like the male prostitutes of the era. Cale didn't gloss over the ugly parts of Sally's life, yet she was still able to make Sally hopeful rather than hopeless, through force of personality. The story felt like it would hold together and make an engaging book even without the romance scenes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a historical romance.
October 15, 2015
Good first book by Jessica Cale
By the cover I thought this would be only a romance novel which I haven't read in over 20 years but I was pleasantly surprised. My daughter told me about Jessica so I decided to read her first book. It's a book worth reading. I will definitely read her 2nd book in the series.
Thanks Jessica
By the cover I thought this would be only a romance novel which I haven't read in over 20 years but I was pleasantly surprised. My daughter told me about Jessica so I decided to read her first book. It's a book worth reading. I will definitely read her 2nd book in the series.
Thanks Jessica
January 22, 2016
This is not the type of book I normally read (not a massive romance fan). I found that I really enjoyed this book, and that the romance actually added to the story! I would highly recommend this book to others, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
November 25, 2015
This is a well written and interesting historical story set in 17th century London.
I would recommend this book.
I would recommend this book.
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