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The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez #6
Voyage to Muscovy
An agent sent to Muscovy to investigate suspected treason amongst employees of the Muscovy Company has disappeared without trace on the way to Astrakhan. Sir Francis Walsingham, who began the investigation, is dead, but the directors of the Company know that the agent must be found, dead or alive. The perfect opportunity comes when the Tsar, Emperor of All the Russias, asks for an English physician to treat his young half brother. Christoval Alvarez, physician and former Walsingham agent, is the obvious choice, but is loathe to travel to this violent and barbarous land. However, there is no withstanding some of the most powerful men in England, so Kit is soon on the way to Muscovy, facing storms, attack by pirates, and a fearsome Russian winter. The search for the missing agent is fraught with danger, but Kit is soon also caught up in the murderous world of Muscovy politics. To enter the realm of the Tsar is difficult. To escape may be impossible.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2015
104 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Ann Swinfen
46 books217 followersAnn Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Oxford, where she married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for an MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer.
She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.
Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.
She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.
She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.
Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.
She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 5, 2016
While the writing seems appropriate for YA audience, I have found the character Kit to be very engaging and will move right into the seventh book of this series. The adventures within this book were truly interesting, including long and difficult ship passages as well as land travel within the frozen countryside near Moscow. With Walsingham now dead and the battle over who will run intelligence service for Queen Elizabeth, this could be Kit's last dangerous mission outside of her normal work as a now licensed physician in London. We shall soon see.
October 27, 2019
Wonderful series
I've just finished book six and will start seven. I'm an advice reader of many writing styles.
These books are so well written. Each engages
This author is so gifted. Thank you for many enjoyable hours. Only 3. more books to read and I don't want this series to end. I will read everything else written by this most talented author. I'm and advid reader of many gendres
and don't give 5 stars readily. Thank you from a bedridden woman who's life you've enriched love all the detail of how life was lived so long ago and the history.
with
I've just finished book six and will start seven. I'm an advice reader of many writing styles.
These books are so well written. Each engages
This author is so gifted. Thank you for many enjoyable hours. Only 3. more books to read and I don't want this series to end. I will read everything else written by this most talented author. I'm and advid reader of many gendres
and don't give 5 stars readily. Thank you from a bedridden woman who's life you've enriched love all the detail of how life was lived so long ago and the history.
with
June 9, 2017
Engrossing!!
This is a fantastic series filled with Elizabethan Era historical events...lesser known. I absolutely love the main character Kit as he goes from one exciting adventure after another and we are introduced to one historical character after another.
So well written, each book, I very highly recommend to all readers. I dare not say more as I'm currently downloading the next book of this fine series.
This is a fantastic series filled with Elizabethan Era historical events...lesser known. I absolutely love the main character Kit as he goes from one exciting adventure after another and we are introduced to one historical character after another.
So well written, each book, I very highly recommend to all readers. I dare not say more as I'm currently downloading the next book of this fine series.
November 27, 2021
I just love this series of books. There are some things the author omitted, purposely I think, such as the main character's particular bodily functions and how that could have been hidden from others for such a long time. There is no mention of that except occasionally. Other than that, this particular book was such a rousing, edge-of-your-seat adventure, I can overlook a lot. The view of Muscovy (16th c Russia) was very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 12, 2017
When I finally returned to this novel in what has proved a highly engaging series it was the dead of winter and Swinfen's descriptions of Kit's responses to the cold had me reaching for an extra jumper.
This is a series that I would recommend to anyone interested in this period. I want it to run and run but as Kit gets older certain choises will have to be made.
This is a series that I would recommend to anyone interested in this period. I want it to run and run but as Kit gets older certain choises will have to be made.
October 31, 2017
This was another good book in this series. I love how the writer takes you away on the adventures with Kit. This one ended in a very different way than any of the others but still very well written. I enjoy how the writer adds things and people from the past adventures like in this one with Jos that was on the ship going back to London.
January 21, 2018
Yet another great book in this series. This time the bulk of the story is set in Russia and the change of scene and the vivid accounts of the country are excellent. prehaps not as good as the previous book in the series but a worthy addition all the same.
April 17, 2018
I've been reading the whole series, and I love these books. Voyage to Muscovy was fascinating, full of adventure and heartbreak - I think it's one of my favorites so far! Kudos to Ms Swinfen for creating such an interesting character!!
September 9, 2021
Lovely read
All the books in this series have been easy to read as well as presenting interesting historical occurrences. The medical knowledge of the time is extremely interesting and I think correct.
All the books in this series have been easy to read as well as presenting interesting historical occurrences. The medical knowledge of the time is extremely interesting and I think correct.
September 13, 2021
Never disappointed.
Such a great series. The way she weaves history amongst her fiction is fascinating. I read her works with a computer on the side, constantly looking up places, people, and events in the story. Really well done. Thank you.
Such a great series. The way she weaves history amongst her fiction is fascinating. I read her works with a computer on the side, constantly looking up places, people, and events in the story. Really well done. Thank you.
March 8, 2023
Good story, fascinating detail about 16th century Russia
A good story with fascinating historical detail about trade with Russia and what that country was like in the 1590’s, which provides an interesting insight into current politics.
A good story with fascinating historical detail about trade with Russia and what that country was like in the 1590’s, which provides an interesting insight into current politics.
July 21, 2017
Spellbinding
One forgets how terrible history is. What awful things individuals did to one another reminds us today how fragile life really is. Great resf.
One forgets how terrible history is. What awful things individuals did to one another reminds us today how fragile life really is. Great resf.
October 2, 2017
One more in a great series.
January 17, 2018
One of the best in this very good series.
March 12, 2018
The characters develop and grow with each book. Kit is thinking hard upon what is to become of him.
September 24, 2018
Awesome book, wonderful detail of medieval Russia. Loved it!
April 29, 2019
Again a very good story and well written
Good plot with very descriptive story of travelling in Russia in the 16th century and the rulers at that time.
Good plot with very descriptive story of travelling in Russia in the 16th century and the rulers at that time.
June 15, 2019
Really cool! I loved the travels throughout Russia and the details about how journeys were undertaken in past times.
December 18, 2019
I am really enjoying this series! This was another good plot. My only "complaint" is that there was perhaps too much time spent riding through the woods. Overall it was a very good read.
December 28, 2019
Just a great series, I’ve loved my adventures with Kit, Christoval Alvarez.
March 17, 2021
Another brilliant book in this great series. Especially interesting as covering an area of the world I have much less knowledge of in this period.
March 15, 2017
Not much plot
This book is one long, slow slog through medieval Russia. There is not much plot and very little mystery. It's better than The Portuguese Affair, which I couldn't bear to finish. Ms Swinfen is a good writer, so the book held my interest. But I was shocked when I noticed that I was 90% of the way through the story as I was still waiting for the mystery. Well worth reading if you are a Swinfen fan, but not the best book of the series. I'm glad there are more books left in the series for me to read.
This book is one long, slow slog through medieval Russia. There is not much plot and very little mystery. It's better than The Portuguese Affair, which I couldn't bear to finish. Ms Swinfen is a good writer, so the book held my interest. But I was shocked when I noticed that I was 90% of the way through the story as I was still waiting for the mystery. Well worth reading if you are a Swinfen fan, but not the best book of the series. I'm glad there are more books left in the series for me to read.
March 10, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much and just finished book #8 in the series - eagerly awaiting #9 which is expected to come out this year
June 1, 2021
If you read no other novel in this series, read this one! It is highly, highly entertaining. But don't skip the first five, please!
October 12, 2021
The Muscovy Company has sent an agent to Russia to investigate some possible danger to England from one of its former employees. The agent has disappeared and now the powerful men in the company are coercing Kit Alvarez to go find him. Kit sets off with an interpreter and the new company factor, but the voyage is long and arduous and complicated because Muscovy is at war with Sweden. Once the party arrives in Russia, the realization sets in of what an impossible task Kit has been set in this vast and alien land. Kit had hoped to return to England with the company’s fleet in the fall, but winter sets in all too soon and the travelers switch from slow river barges to sleighs speeding across the frozen landscape. Kit has had so many adventures that it is hard to believe when a birthday arrives that the physician is only twenty-one. An exciting plot from an author who has a gift for vividly evoking times and places and characters.
February 8, 2017
Cannot praise this series enough
Ann Swinfen paints life detail so vividly you feel you could walk beside her characters and experience the same tastes and textures, feel the same terrors and joys.
Ann Swinfen paints life detail so vividly you feel you could walk beside her characters and experience the same tastes and textures, feel the same terrors and joys.
February 15, 2016
Wonderful
These books are brilliant. I think this one is the best in the series so far. The historical details and the characters are spot on. If you like historical fiction try it. Ann Swinfen is certainly up there with the best.
Looking forward to the next one.
These books are brilliant. I think this one is the best in the series so far. The historical details and the characters are spot on. If you like historical fiction try it. Ann Swinfen is certainly up there with the best.
Looking forward to the next one.
April 24, 2016
My favorite so far (because of the setting) in this series, which is itself a favorite of mine. Can't wait to read book 7, The Play's the Thing, which has just come out and is on its way to my house.
August 9, 2016
What is great about these stories....
....is that one might expect Kit to beak down in a tense situation and cry like a girl, but no she does. It is the strength & determination of Kit's character which drive the fool.
....is that one might expect Kit to beak down in a tense situation and cry like a girl, but no she does. It is the strength & determination of Kit's character which drive the fool.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews