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Sutton Place #3
Fortune's Soldier
She was quite the most beautiful girl he had ever seen."I want to marry you, Captain Webbe Weston," she said, falling on one knee before him. "Will you accept my proposal?"He laughed, cracking forward in a guffaw. "Get up at once," he said."No, I will not. John Joseph, will you marry me?""No, Lady Horatia," answered the owner of Sutton Place, "I most certainly will not."So began one of the greatest love stories of the nineteenth that of Lady Horatia Waldegrave, daughter of the sixth Earl Waldegrave, and Captain John Joseph Webbe Weston, soldier of fortune for the Austrian Emperor and heir to the curse of Sutton Place.The last of the Westons, sad Melior Mary, has been dead for many years, but the curse laid by Queen Edith in 1048 is as strong as ever, drawing not only John Joseph and Horatia into its web, but also Major John Wardlaw - Jackdaw - the limping spy descended from the magic house of FitzHoward.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 10, 2016
A Good read.
I acquired this book as a give-away at the Historical Novel Society 2016 Conference in Oxford, England; which is fortunate, as I probably would not have chosen it myself – it not being a genre in which I have a particular interest. However, I’m glad I did get a copy as I found it an intriguing and absorbing read, although I did find it a little confusing to start with – the main characters are introduced in a flurry of dream sequences and other unusual situations. But after that the story trots along at a good pace and there is always, through much of the book, the intrigue as to whether premonitions will be fulfilled. There is a fantasy aspect to the story that one has to open one’s logical mind to – it is not a simple historical novel. The story spans a number of years and also several trips back in time and is presented as a number of vignettes in space (mainly England and Austria) and time, but the story is well structured and the transitions in time and space are skilfully accomplished.
The characters are well rounded and adeptly created and described and the dialogue is well constructed so that it helps to both develop the characters and drive the story forward. As with the characterisation the description of setting is adroit and gives a very good sense of place – which is particularly important in this novel where place plays a very important part in the plot. If I had one irritation it was the frequent repetition of certain phrases; “And with that …” being one that is particularly common, but it is a small failing that can be easily ignored.
I enjoyed the novel very much and would recommend it, not only to those attracted to historical romance, but also to others that might wish to dip into a genre they would not normally read.
I acquired this book as a give-away at the Historical Novel Society 2016 Conference in Oxford, England; which is fortunate, as I probably would not have chosen it myself – it not being a genre in which I have a particular interest. However, I’m glad I did get a copy as I found it an intriguing and absorbing read, although I did find it a little confusing to start with – the main characters are introduced in a flurry of dream sequences and other unusual situations. But after that the story trots along at a good pace and there is always, through much of the book, the intrigue as to whether premonitions will be fulfilled. There is a fantasy aspect to the story that one has to open one’s logical mind to – it is not a simple historical novel. The story spans a number of years and also several trips back in time and is presented as a number of vignettes in space (mainly England and Austria) and time, but the story is well structured and the transitions in time and space are skilfully accomplished.
The characters are well rounded and adeptly created and described and the dialogue is well constructed so that it helps to both develop the characters and drive the story forward. As with the characterisation the description of setting is adroit and gives a very good sense of place – which is particularly important in this novel where place plays a very important part in the plot. If I had one irritation it was the frequent repetition of certain phrases; “And with that …” being one that is particularly common, but it is a small failing that can be easily ignored.
I enjoyed the novel very much and would recommend it, not only to those attracted to historical romance, but also to others that might wish to dip into a genre they would not normally read.
October 25, 2022
Too many names that sound alike. And I don't care about anyone.
October 3, 2020
Good read, not as good as book 1 and 2 of this trilogy. I enjoyed the characters and storylines but had trouble keeping track of who was who or which family they belonged to. Had to keep going back to read and figure out who was who. Disappointed in the ending, the book had so much detail in the story about the families and then it just ended leaving you hanging on what happened to everyone that you spent so much time reading about.
September 26, 2019
Unputdownable! Deliciously spook ridden!
I found the war scenes boring but it didn't hinder my read and interest in this third and final book of Dinah's triology.
I especially loved the ghost scenes, made my heart beat so fast. Book was also funny at times with Mr Hicks so dog like.
I felt I was there in many of the scenes from centuries ago, the smells, noises.
A wonderful read!
I found the war scenes boring but it didn't hinder my read and interest in this third and final book of Dinah's triology.
I especially loved the ghost scenes, made my heart beat so fast. Book was also funny at times with Mr Hicks so dog like.
I felt I was there in many of the scenes from centuries ago, the smells, noises.
A wonderful read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2022
Outstanding blend of historic places and events with fictional characters, and well written
Deryn Lake is a marvellous writer. I love her accurate settings, opening up true history otherwise not well known. Her characters are marvellous. Her glimpses of ghosts are evocative and actually seeming to be realistic. I love her writing. This is a book you will be sorry to find it end.
Deryn Lake is a marvellous writer. I love her accurate settings, opening up true history otherwise not well known. Her characters are marvellous. Her glimpses of ghosts are evocative and actually seeming to be realistic. I love her writing. This is a book you will be sorry to find it end.
October 11, 2020
Best of the trilogy
I have enjoyed reading the trilogy very much. Fortune's Soldier was the best bringing the saga to a satisfying conclusion. I loved the supernatural twists to the stories and the retelling of history and real events and people.
I have enjoyed reading the trilogy very much. Fortune's Soldier was the best bringing the saga to a satisfying conclusion. I loved the supernatural twists to the stories and the retelling of history and real events and people.
October 29, 2020
I liked this last book the best of the three. It takes place in the mid 1800's and again focuses on the curse the haunts Sutton Manor.
December 9, 2020
OK
Too many deaths, too many marriages, too much clairvoyance, ..... this was not for me, even though I read it up to the end. This is possibly the worst of the trilogy.
Too many deaths, too many marriages, too much clairvoyance, ..... this was not for me, even though I read it up to the end. This is possibly the worst of the trilogy.
December 19, 2020
A very nice read...
I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and the characters. I think this last one was actually my favorite. This was one of those stories that no matter how long it was, it never feels like enough, and I didn’t want it to end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and the characters. I think this last one was actually my favorite. This was one of those stories that no matter how long it was, it never feels like enough, and I didn’t want it to end.
February 20, 2021
02/19/2021
October 6, 2016
Finally done with the series! It was entertaining even though it got more and more populated with stock characters as it went along. After reading four I decided that her style would be easy to parody if I had the time and inclination, so if you're that sort, read this series and then have at it!
There was not much in Kindle Unlimited I wanted to read during my free trial, that's why I read these. KU ends tomorrow and I downloaded one more book to read, if I like it I won't connect my Kindle to wifi till I finish it so it won't go away.
There was not much in Kindle Unlimited I wanted to read during my free trial, that's why I read these. KU ends tomorrow and I downloaded one more book to read, if I like it I won't connect my Kindle to wifi till I finish it so it won't go away.
November 20, 2009
good book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews