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Blood and Ink
Working cover edition... please see updated cover version of the paperback.
438 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2010
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112 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Marley
7 books95 followersD. K. Marley is the CEO of The Historical Fiction Company, Historical Times Magazine, the Hist Fic Chickie Blog & History Bards podcast. Historical Fiction author specializing in Shakespearean adaptations, Tudor era historicals, Colonial American historicals, alternate historicals, and historical time-travel.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 13, 2018
I was impressed by the very clever premise, the immersive historical setting, the characterization and, generally, the quality of the writing. Marley has presented a very plausible, even convincing, alternative history. The characterization of Elizabeth I was, I felt, superb. Marlowe and Shakespeare were both very well portrayed, the former slightly more sympathetically than the latter. The pace is historically apt, a steady tempo rather than something one rushes through. I deduct one star for the occasional lapses from historical English into American, or, rarely, erroneous word use.
So, who *really* wrote Shakespeare's works? Marley offers a postscript presenting her argument, which is also the basis for the plot in this book. But to form your own opinion you'll have to read the book. I strongly recommend this Elizabethan historical literary drama as a fascinating read.
So, who *really* wrote Shakespeare's works? Marley offers a postscript presenting her argument, which is also the basis for the plot in this book. But to form your own opinion you'll have to read the book. I strongly recommend this Elizabethan historical literary drama as a fascinating read.
November 12, 2019
This novel is thought provoking, beautifully written, and everything historical fiction should be. I was skeptical about the author's ability to write about Marlowe and successfully sound like the words could be his, but Marley does an amazing job. I believed in her Marlowe and hated Shakespeare for what he did to him.
I do not give 5-stars often, but this book earned every one of them. The prose is stunning and the plot captivating. If you have not previously considered whether Shakespeare's works are truly Marlowe's, you will after reading this.
The audio version is skillfully narrated, and I highly recommend it.
I do not give 5-stars often, but this book earned every one of them. The prose is stunning and the plot captivating. If you have not previously considered whether Shakespeare's works are truly Marlowe's, you will after reading this.
The audio version is skillfully narrated, and I highly recommend it.
June 21, 2019
A brilliant read.
‘Blood and Ink’ is brilliant historical fiction that takes the questions surrounding Shakespeare’s life and the authorship of the works that bear his name, and weaves them into a most enjoyable and credible narrative.
The story is rich in vibrant detail, from the sounds of horses’ hooves on cobblestones to the swish of cloaks and the innermost thoughts of both Shakespeare and Marlowe as it follows their lives from childhood to their final days.
The web of intrigue and espionage surrounding the court of Queen Elizabeth I is brought to life in the characters who surround her and the machinations of the Star Chamber, drawing the reader into the high drama and adding another layer of complexity to the tale told in these pages.
The writing is bold and vivid, seamlessly incorporating quotations from the works of both Shakespeare and Marlowe. While it is definitely fiction, the author has made the story feel so real that it could, in fact, be history.
‘Blood and Ink’ is an excellent work of historical fiction.
‘Blood and Ink’ is brilliant historical fiction that takes the questions surrounding Shakespeare’s life and the authorship of the works that bear his name, and weaves them into a most enjoyable and credible narrative.
The story is rich in vibrant detail, from the sounds of horses’ hooves on cobblestones to the swish of cloaks and the innermost thoughts of both Shakespeare and Marlowe as it follows their lives from childhood to their final days.
The web of intrigue and espionage surrounding the court of Queen Elizabeth I is brought to life in the characters who surround her and the machinations of the Star Chamber, drawing the reader into the high drama and adding another layer of complexity to the tale told in these pages.
The writing is bold and vivid, seamlessly incorporating quotations from the works of both Shakespeare and Marlowe. While it is definitely fiction, the author has made the story feel so real that it could, in fact, be history.
‘Blood and Ink’ is an excellent work of historical fiction.
October 11, 2018
I thought I knew about Shakespeare and Marlowe, but after reading this book, I realize I knew hardly anything (not anymore though!) Blood and Ink was phenomenal, the story, told from both Marlowe's and Shakespeare's point of view, was gripping. The world building was incredible - so much research went into it that I felt as if the author must have lived in that period and time-travelled back to write about it - just amazing. Marlowe, or Kit as he's called, was sold by his parents when he was just a child, pressed into working for an immense spy ring that used children (I'd heard of this before, but didn't realize just how horribly the children are treated). Shakespeare and Marlowe meet several times during their lives - at different points - and their stories ultimately tie together. The author takes a new spin on the idea that Marlowe faked his death - but I won't spoil the story - read it for yourself - it's a fantastic historical fiction I will highly recommend!
January 27, 2019
4.5 stars
This book reveals an author's incredible passion and knowledge of the topic and the language. My goodness! The LANGUAGE! And the clever way in which sonnets and lines from Shakespearean plays are included in the scenes and dialogues. (Writers write what they know, right?). This book is so good on so many levels, I won't go into detail. If you're even slightly thinking about it, READ it, and BETTER yet, get the AUDIBLE version because Jon C. Dixon's narration of this novel is a CINEMATIC experience! You will be living and watching this book. His range of characterization is simply amazing! An exceptionally talented duo make the audiobook near perfect. (You'll be taking extra long walks, cleaning longer and cooking more...)
An exceptionally thought-provoking, entertaining, very well-plotted book with an astounding cast of characters. If BBC doesn't pick this up...
This book reveals an author's incredible passion and knowledge of the topic and the language. My goodness! The LANGUAGE! And the clever way in which sonnets and lines from Shakespearean plays are included in the scenes and dialogues. (Writers write what they know, right?). This book is so good on so many levels, I won't go into detail. If you're even slightly thinking about it, READ it, and BETTER yet, get the AUDIBLE version because Jon C. Dixon's narration of this novel is a CINEMATIC experience! You will be living and watching this book. His range of characterization is simply amazing! An exceptionally talented duo make the audiobook near perfect. (You'll be taking extra long walks, cleaning longer and cooking more...)
An exceptionally thought-provoking, entertaining, very well-plotted book with an astounding cast of characters. If BBC doesn't pick this up...
January 30, 2019
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3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Blood and Ink by DK Marley is the tale of Christopher “Kit” Marlowe, Renaissance poet and playwright, near contemporary of Shakespeare. In Marley’s novel, our playwright is an unwanted child who is effectively sold to Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, who noticed the boy’s intelligence when he visited a local school. Placing the young Marlowe under the mentorship of poet and spy, Sir Phillip Sydney, Marlowe continues his education as well as learns how to be a spy for Walsingham. As the years progress, Marlowe convinces Elizabeth to support his plays on-stage in exchange for his services to her. However, when factions more loyal to money and personal advancement than to the Queen step in, Marlowe makes a sacrifice that alters everything he has understood about the world, his writing, and himself.
This was an interesting novel and can potentially be classified as alternate history, depending on one’s perspective. It takes one of the more popular theories about Shakespeare, which is that Marlowe was actually the author of his works, and runs with it in a way that is believable. There are theories that Marlowe didn’t actually die at the inn in Deptford and that his death was, in fact, staged so that he could go either into hiding, exile, or continue his spy work for Walsingham. The author poses some of the more common and interesting questions in her note at the end of the book, including why Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights of his day, was buried in a common churchyard rather than in a glamorous cemetery; why the Queen provided her own coroner to preside over the inquest of Marlowe’s death when it wasn’t in her purview to do so; why we never heard anything at all about Shakespeare until after Marlowe’s death; the education of Shakespeare and Marlowe (Marlowe had a degree from Cambridge, Shakespeare was relatively uneducated); and why was Shakespeare’s grave dug 12 feet deep instead of only the usual 6 feet? Marley takes pains to answer these questions and more in the novel and does so quite thoroughly. She also is careful to note that she herself is a Shakespearean, at least until there is solid proof that someone else was the author. But it makes for a good story.
Various themes were at play throughout the novel, ranging from nature vs. nurture to loyalty to ambition to betrayal. The ways in which all these themes intertwine and influence one another are fascinating and very finely wrought, particularly the ways Marlowe had to balance his work as a spy with his calling as a playwright. The mix of blood and ink throughout the narrative is a stark reminder that his dreams come at a steep price, one that may be too much to bear. Overall, I think some of the characters were a tad one-dimensional, though Marlowe himself and the major secondary characters like Walsingham or Queen Elizabeth are complex figures. Shakespeare was the next most well-fleshed character besides Marlowe, which makes sense, though his motives were only apparent near the end of the novel. The last quarter or so of the book felt unnecessarily long and dragged down the pacing somewhat. However, the attention to historical detail was excellent and made for an immersive read. I particularly enjoyed all the bits and pieces of plays and poems scattered throughout the narrative. It was fun to see words that we automatically credit to Shakespeare coming from Marlowe’s pen or lips in this story, and it definitely reminds me that it’s time to reread the plays again. It has been too long. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
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3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Blood and Ink by DK Marley is the tale of Christopher “Kit” Marlowe, Renaissance poet and playwright, near contemporary of Shakespeare. In Marley’s novel, our playwright is an unwanted child who is effectively sold to Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, who noticed the boy’s intelligence when he visited a local school. Placing the young Marlowe under the mentorship of poet and spy, Sir Phillip Sydney, Marlowe continues his education as well as learns how to be a spy for Walsingham. As the years progress, Marlowe convinces Elizabeth to support his plays on-stage in exchange for his services to her. However, when factions more loyal to money and personal advancement than to the Queen step in, Marlowe makes a sacrifice that alters everything he has understood about the world, his writing, and himself.
This was an interesting novel and can potentially be classified as alternate history, depending on one’s perspective. It takes one of the more popular theories about Shakespeare, which is that Marlowe was actually the author of his works, and runs with it in a way that is believable. There are theories that Marlowe didn’t actually die at the inn in Deptford and that his death was, in fact, staged so that he could go either into hiding, exile, or continue his spy work for Walsingham. The author poses some of the more common and interesting questions in her note at the end of the book, including why Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights of his day, was buried in a common churchyard rather than in a glamorous cemetery; why the Queen provided her own coroner to preside over the inquest of Marlowe’s death when it wasn’t in her purview to do so; why we never heard anything at all about Shakespeare until after Marlowe’s death; the education of Shakespeare and Marlowe (Marlowe had a degree from Cambridge, Shakespeare was relatively uneducated); and why was Shakespeare’s grave dug 12 feet deep instead of only the usual 6 feet? Marley takes pains to answer these questions and more in the novel and does so quite thoroughly. She also is careful to note that she herself is a Shakespearean, at least until there is solid proof that someone else was the author. But it makes for a good story.
Various themes were at play throughout the novel, ranging from nature vs. nurture to loyalty to ambition to betrayal. The ways in which all these themes intertwine and influence one another are fascinating and very finely wrought, particularly the ways Marlowe had to balance his work as a spy with his calling as a playwright. The mix of blood and ink throughout the narrative is a stark reminder that his dreams come at a steep price, one that may be too much to bear. Overall, I think some of the characters were a tad one-dimensional, though Marlowe himself and the major secondary characters like Walsingham or Queen Elizabeth are complex figures. Shakespeare was the next most well-fleshed character besides Marlowe, which makes sense, though his motives were only apparent near the end of the novel. The last quarter or so of the book felt unnecessarily long and dragged down the pacing somewhat. However, the attention to historical detail was excellent and made for an immersive read. I particularly enjoyed all the bits and pieces of plays and poems scattered throughout the narrative. It was fun to see words that we automatically credit to Shakespeare coming from Marlowe’s pen or lips in this story, and it definitely reminds me that it’s time to reread the plays again. It has been too long. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
December 27, 2018
The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Of The Year Award 2018 — Bronze Medal.
When a sparrow falls from the sky, God sees, he knows. Christopher Marlowe was born in humble circumstances, but under the brightest of stars. From a tender age, he saw the world differently from how others saw it. His world was one of poetry and prose, sonnets and blank verse, and with his muse, Calliope, whispering in his ear, his future as a playwright was assured. But then on one ordinary and unassuming day at The King’s School in Cambridge, Kit happened upon a man who would take this would-be-playwright into the dark and dangerous world of espionage and murder.
From lofty heights, did Kit’s ambition grow. However, he soon learned a bitter lesson which was that *Hell hath no limits… and where Hell is there must we ever be.
From the banks of the River Stour to the elegant grandeur of Queen Elizabeth’s court, Blood and Ink by D. K. Marley takes us on an unforgettable journey about one man’s hope for immortality.
What can I say about this book? For the pages speak for themselves. It is the story of not one man, but many. As the players fan out upon the stage, Marlowe, and indeed all the principle historical characters from that time, put on a play for your enjoyment.
For fans of Shakespeare, this book poses an age-old question — did Shakespeare, a skilled player, really write 37 plays and 154 sonnets? This story, says no. This story argues so elegantly on the side of Marlowe, and in such a way, that I, a lifelong lover of Shakespeare, found myself at times swept along with the whole argument! With the language of the bards ringing so gracefully in the words that inked the pages, and the atmospheric setting of a book so well drawn that I was oblivious to everything that was going on around me, this story, this book, is the best I have ever read about this era and these people. I cannot commend D. K. Marley enough for this beautiful story. She has brought Marlowe and Shakespeare back to life in this magnificent retelling.
The dialogue is as rich as a Shakespeare sonnet, the darker moments, as terrible as the Massacre of Paris, and the lighter moments as amusing as anything that William wrote. I adored the interpretation of both Marlowe and Shakespeare. So although this is very much Kit’s story, there would not have been a story without William’s running along side it.
This book asks many questions and D. K. Marley has tried to give plausible answers. And although we will never know if Kit really did die in that dreadful fight in a house in Deptford, or if William really did pen the worlds most beloved plays, this story has something for anyone who is interested in these poets and the world in which they lived in.
If you were to read only one book this year, then let it be this one.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
*Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
When a sparrow falls from the sky, God sees, he knows. Christopher Marlowe was born in humble circumstances, but under the brightest of stars. From a tender age, he saw the world differently from how others saw it. His world was one of poetry and prose, sonnets and blank verse, and with his muse, Calliope, whispering in his ear, his future as a playwright was assured. But then on one ordinary and unassuming day at The King’s School in Cambridge, Kit happened upon a man who would take this would-be-playwright into the dark and dangerous world of espionage and murder.
From lofty heights, did Kit’s ambition grow. However, he soon learned a bitter lesson which was that *Hell hath no limits… and where Hell is there must we ever be.
From the banks of the River Stour to the elegant grandeur of Queen Elizabeth’s court, Blood and Ink by D. K. Marley takes us on an unforgettable journey about one man’s hope for immortality.
What can I say about this book? For the pages speak for themselves. It is the story of not one man, but many. As the players fan out upon the stage, Marlowe, and indeed all the principle historical characters from that time, put on a play for your enjoyment.
For fans of Shakespeare, this book poses an age-old question — did Shakespeare, a skilled player, really write 37 plays and 154 sonnets? This story, says no. This story argues so elegantly on the side of Marlowe, and in such a way, that I, a lifelong lover of Shakespeare, found myself at times swept along with the whole argument! With the language of the bards ringing so gracefully in the words that inked the pages, and the atmospheric setting of a book so well drawn that I was oblivious to everything that was going on around me, this story, this book, is the best I have ever read about this era and these people. I cannot commend D. K. Marley enough for this beautiful story. She has brought Marlowe and Shakespeare back to life in this magnificent retelling.
The dialogue is as rich as a Shakespeare sonnet, the darker moments, as terrible as the Massacre of Paris, and the lighter moments as amusing as anything that William wrote. I adored the interpretation of both Marlowe and Shakespeare. So although this is very much Kit’s story, there would not have been a story without William’s running along side it.
This book asks many questions and D. K. Marley has tried to give plausible answers. And although we will never know if Kit really did die in that dreadful fight in a house in Deptford, or if William really did pen the worlds most beloved plays, this story has something for anyone who is interested in these poets and the world in which they lived in.
If you were to read only one book this year, then let it be this one.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
*Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
April 30, 2021
You know when you come across one of those books that you can’t put down and are trying to make last for as long as possible because it’s that good? Well, “Blood and Ink” was *that* good! Such an imaginative plot, such a fascinating premise - I couldn’t wait to see how it would all turn out in the end. There was never a dull moment; cloak-and-dagger intrigue, schemes, power struggles, and an innocent young man caught in the middle of it all - you really can’t wish for more than that from a historical fiction novel. The atmospheric setting pulls you right in and instantly transports you into a world of the past, and the characters become players in the biggest identity theft case of the century. Who really were Kit Marlowe and William Shakespeare? Read it to find out. A true literary triumph and a historical masterpiece which I can’t recommend highly enough. Bravo!
February 13, 2019
If you're a fan of literary conspiracies and Elizabethan theater, this is a book for you. While I've never been one to give the Authorship Question much weight - I'm firmly in the "Shakespeare wrote his own work" camp - I was drawn into this book by this book thanks to vivid characterization and rich emotions. It might have benefited from a bit more editorial polish, but as a fan of historical fiction and classic theater, I found this book engaging and entertaining.
April 1, 2021
A great alternative historical fiction novel
Was William Shakespeare really the author of all those famous works? What if it was someone else? This alternative history is explored in Blood and Ink, with interesting historical facts intertwined with a craftily created story that makes the reader think: could this actually have happened? Characters and settings that come alive on the page make for a fascinating and entertaining read!
Was William Shakespeare really the author of all those famous works? What if it was someone else? This alternative history is explored in Blood and Ink, with interesting historical facts intertwined with a craftily created story that makes the reader think: could this actually have happened? Characters and settings that come alive on the page make for a fascinating and entertaining read!
October 5, 2018
A wonderfully told story about Marlowe and Shakespeare and the fate that brought them together. I loved the ending and the prose. Highly recommend.
October 18, 2018
Excellent book. Interesting and intriguing period of history. I learned a lot about a subject I knew very little of. I recommend this book highly.
July 18, 2018
I did not know anything about Marlowe his connection with Shakespeare, or much about this time period at all when I picked up this novel. I think it really helped me to connect with the story even more, as every little detail was brand new information to me.
Kit has his innocence ripped away from him at a young age, as his parents sell him to the Queen's spymaster at the tender age of 8. He wants to become a playwright and his angel guides his education, but even his angel can't shield him from the horrors he sees in Paris with the Catholic Church burning Protestants at the stake. Then, he is brought into the spy ring of Walsingham and is forced to commit acts that he never believed he would. He doesn't let go of his dream of becoming the Queen's playwright, keeping it in the back of his mind as he works for Walsingham.
William Shakespeare wanted to become an actor, and then he was tied down by a 27-year-old wife with a child on the way at only 18 years old. He doesn't know if he will be able to succeed in his dreams, but he is determined not to give up. He also wants to be there for his son.
The world-building in this novel was incredible, yet natural. It was mostly built through dialogue, but many of the scenes did include a description of the surroundings. This drew me into the story, and I constantly wanted to learn more about Kit and his dysfunctional world. Each and every character had a role in the story, whether it be Kit's little sister that he left behind when he was sold or the little boy that he immediately despised after playing a couple rounds of a game. It is important to remember the small details in order to pick up on hints spread throughout the book. Even though I usually have a problem remembering non-main characters, I surprised myself by being able to remember almost every character that I encountered.
There was a lot of character development in this story as both Shakespeare and Marlowe transform from young boys into men with families, dreams, and fears. I won't spoil too much, but it was definitely worth the read.
Also, even though I didn't know much about this time period, I could tell that this book was well-researched. Everything seemed to match up with what little I had learned in history class about England of the 1500s, and it just seemed to make sense. Even though it is fiction, the characters seemed real.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new historical fiction novel with intense Shakespearean themes and excellent worldbuilding.
I received an advance copy of this novel and this is my voluntary review.
Kit has his innocence ripped away from him at a young age, as his parents sell him to the Queen's spymaster at the tender age of 8. He wants to become a playwright and his angel guides his education, but even his angel can't shield him from the horrors he sees in Paris with the Catholic Church burning Protestants at the stake. Then, he is brought into the spy ring of Walsingham and is forced to commit acts that he never believed he would. He doesn't let go of his dream of becoming the Queen's playwright, keeping it in the back of his mind as he works for Walsingham.
William Shakespeare wanted to become an actor, and then he was tied down by a 27-year-old wife with a child on the way at only 18 years old. He doesn't know if he will be able to succeed in his dreams, but he is determined not to give up. He also wants to be there for his son.
The world-building in this novel was incredible, yet natural. It was mostly built through dialogue, but many of the scenes did include a description of the surroundings. This drew me into the story, and I constantly wanted to learn more about Kit and his dysfunctional world. Each and every character had a role in the story, whether it be Kit's little sister that he left behind when he was sold or the little boy that he immediately despised after playing a couple rounds of a game. It is important to remember the small details in order to pick up on hints spread throughout the book. Even though I usually have a problem remembering non-main characters, I surprised myself by being able to remember almost every character that I encountered.
There was a lot of character development in this story as both Shakespeare and Marlowe transform from young boys into men with families, dreams, and fears. I won't spoil too much, but it was definitely worth the read.
Also, even though I didn't know much about this time period, I could tell that this book was well-researched. Everything seemed to match up with what little I had learned in history class about England of the 1500s, and it just seemed to make sense. Even though it is fiction, the characters seemed real.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new historical fiction novel with intense Shakespearean themes and excellent worldbuilding.
I received an advance copy of this novel and this is my voluntary review.
July 22, 2018
Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare were both young men who grew up under the reign of Elizabeth I. Christopher or Kit was guided by the muse Calliope to have an ingenious wit and create wonderful works of written word. When still very young, Kit's talent was noticed by Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster. Kit was whisked away from his family in return for schooling. However, Kit was really being groomed as a spy for Elizabeth herself. Kit's dream is to be a famous playwright and have his name immortalized. For this, Kit is willing to do Walsingham's bidding as he works his way into the Queen's favor. Meanwhile, Will Shakespeare dreams of being an actor on stage. Will's family still practices the old religion, placing them in danger time and time again. This also unknowingly places Will within Kit's path as a spy for Walsingham. As the men age, their paths cross again. When Kit needs to escape for a time, Elizabeth hatches a plan so Kit may continue living, and his words may continue to grace the stage, but at what price?
Everyone knows the writings of William Shakespeare, but how many know the name and works of Christopher Marlowe? I myself was not very familiar with Marlowe other than recognizing his name as a contemporary of Shakespeare. Many believe that Marlowe did not truly die at such a young age and the William Shakespeare was simply passing along his works. DK Marley presents the mystery of the two men from their youth through their deaths in an intriguing alternate narration between the two. Writing in the voices of two acclaimed writers is no easy task, however the dialogue and narration seemed effortless and accurate for William and Kit at the time. I loved the device of Calliope as a muse for Kit and a guiding voice; it seems that she might have even more to say. I also enjoyed learning about Walsingham's spy ring and Elizabeth's relationships with Marlowe and Shakespeare. Overall, a wonderful and atmospheric historical intrigue for anyone who enjoys Shakespeare, Marlowe or Tudor history.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Everyone knows the writings of William Shakespeare, but how many know the name and works of Christopher Marlowe? I myself was not very familiar with Marlowe other than recognizing his name as a contemporary of Shakespeare. Many believe that Marlowe did not truly die at such a young age and the William Shakespeare was simply passing along his works. DK Marley presents the mystery of the two men from their youth through their deaths in an intriguing alternate narration between the two. Writing in the voices of two acclaimed writers is no easy task, however the dialogue and narration seemed effortless and accurate for William and Kit at the time. I loved the device of Calliope as a muse for Kit and a guiding voice; it seems that she might have even more to say. I also enjoyed learning about Walsingham's spy ring and Elizabeth's relationships with Marlowe and Shakespeare. Overall, a wonderful and atmospheric historical intrigue for anyone who enjoys Shakespeare, Marlowe or Tudor history.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
July 25, 2019
Just didn’t grab my attention.
July 22, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I loved this story – the plot was excellent, the writing style was spot on, and even though it was one of the longer books I have read recently, I was completely swept up in the story and I flew through the book in just a few hours – I thought the whole thing was superb and thoroughly enjoyed it!
I am a massive fan of fiction in the Tudor period and this ticked all the boxes for me! The amount of research completed by the author and her knowledge of this period was evident throughout the book- it made for a completely believable story, even though it is sadly one we will never know about for real – Marlowe is a genuinely fascinating character.
I have added the author’s other book to my wishlist and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy now after reading and enjoying this one so much!!
Five stars – I LOVED it!! Highly recommended to other fans of historical fiction!
I loved this story – the plot was excellent, the writing style was spot on, and even though it was one of the longer books I have read recently, I was completely swept up in the story and I flew through the book in just a few hours – I thought the whole thing was superb and thoroughly enjoyed it!
I am a massive fan of fiction in the Tudor period and this ticked all the boxes for me! The amount of research completed by the author and her knowledge of this period was evident throughout the book- it made for a completely believable story, even though it is sadly one we will never know about for real – Marlowe is a genuinely fascinating character.
I have added the author’s other book to my wishlist and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy now after reading and enjoying this one so much!!
Five stars – I LOVED it!! Highly recommended to other fans of historical fiction!
January 7, 2019
Bravo D.K. Marley, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. A new favorite and I will read it again. And perhaps again. And perhaps again. Wow.
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July 20, 2010This is mine!
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