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The Riftmagic Saga #1
What the Lady's Maid Knew
London is a powder keg… and Eliza Braxton is the match.
Imagine a London where magic is real… real, but feared. This is Eliza Braxton’s London, and she has always accepted her place in it gladly. As one of the Riftborn, her magic has relegated her to the servant class, where she dutifully serves as the lady’s maid in one of the most powerful households in the country. There, she uses her remarkable powers of persuasion to keep Elder Hallewell’s rebellious daughter in the path to an arranged match of power and prosperity. Eliza has never questioned her loyalty… until now.
Currents of discontent are roiling beneath the city’s surface, and Eliza’s comfortable existence is about to be caught up in the tide. A resistance is building, a resistance that covets Eliza’s talents above all else. But can Eliza betray everything she’s ever known for things she never dared to dream?
What the Lady's Maid Knew is the first thrilling installment in E.E. Holmes' new series The Riftmagic Saga.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
3300 people are currently reading
6377 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Holmes
33 books1,036 followersE.E. Holmes grew up near Boston, Massachusetts, where she spent the majority of her childhood reading books. She read them almost constantly, and as a result, perfected the art of walking and reading at the same time, a skill she can still perform to this day with remarkably few instances of falling on her face. She also wrote many books and poems in blank books and on the backs of legal pads her father brought home from the office. They remain some of her finest work.
She soon learned to love literature of the dramatic persuasion, and earned a B.A. in theater from the College of the Holy Cross. After graduation, she set out to prove that her degree was, in fact, not useless, and worked as a principal actor in a summer Shakespeare festival and as a theater teacher, directing over thirty productions and numerous workshops for youth and high school students. She spent several years as the theater director at Wakefield High School where she also taught English literature and public speaking. It was in her classroom that she discovered the horrible truth: a disturbingly large percentage of high school students hate to read. This revelation devastated and bewildered her. She decided she wanted to do something about it, and thus she started work on her first young adult novel, Spirit Legacy: Book 1 of the Gateway Trilogy, which has gone on to win awards from Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media and The Independent Publisher Book Awards. She is also the author of three one act plays, one of which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
E.E. Holmes lives in central Massachusetts with her husband, two children, and small, but surprisingly loud dog. When not writing, she enjoys watching unhealthy amounts of British television, procrastinating, and rediscovering her favorite books from her childhood all over again with her kids.
She soon learned to love literature of the dramatic persuasion, and earned a B.A. in theater from the College of the Holy Cross. After graduation, she set out to prove that her degree was, in fact, not useless, and worked as a principal actor in a summer Shakespeare festival and as a theater teacher, directing over thirty productions and numerous workshops for youth and high school students. She spent several years as the theater director at Wakefield High School where she also taught English literature and public speaking. It was in her classroom that she discovered the horrible truth: a disturbingly large percentage of high school students hate to read. This revelation devastated and bewildered her. She decided she wanted to do something about it, and thus she started work on her first young adult novel, Spirit Legacy: Book 1 of the Gateway Trilogy, which has gone on to win awards from Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media and The Independent Publisher Book Awards. She is also the author of three one act plays, one of which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
E.E. Holmes lives in central Massachusetts with her husband, two children, and small, but surprisingly loud dog. When not writing, she enjoys watching unhealthy amounts of British television, procrastinating, and rediscovering her favorite books from her childhood all over again with her kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
February 1, 2025
Don’t do the audiobook. The reader is tedious and sllooowww. Like listening to paint dry. I sped it up to 1.25 speed. Still didn’t make the book better. At this point I don’t give a shit what the lady’s maid knew. I don’t think I can finish this slog.
dnf
January 18, 2022DNF’d the audiobook. Can’t stand the narrator. May try to read the book another time.
November 20, 2020
I have to admit that I was surprised by this book. It is not at all like the Gateway series, but very dystopian; however, I enjoyed reading it more than I thought I would. I generally don't care for dystopian novels but kept reading as I knew E. E. Holmes to be a gifted author.
The story is captivating and the characters have depth. The paranormal aspect isn't as pronounced as I'm used to in Ms. Holmes' books, but still an integral part of the story as a whole.
The story is captivating and the characters have depth. The paranormal aspect isn't as pronounced as I'm used to in Ms. Holmes' books, but still an integral part of the story as a whole.
March 10, 2022
If you are looking for yet another dystopian fantasy wrapped up with witches and magic, here you go. I could tell early on that this story was going to be dragged out over several books with little to satisfy my interest in the characters. The information was spoon fed very slowly. I almost didn't finish it but I wanted to give the story a chance. Nope. I won't be reading anymore of this play at selling more books by crawling through a story that should be one (maybe two) books.
April 23, 2023
Painfully slow first half. Thankfully it got more interesting as the secrets of the powerful came to light along with a glimpse of the brave and courageous ones to begin a change.
July 25, 2021
4.5 stars
I hadn't heard anything about this book when I saw in on the Tantor Prepub Announcement list, but something about it drew me in and boy am I glad! I loved the setting, plot and characters and CANNOT wait for the next book. That's my only regret, that I have to wait for book 2 to be published in October.
This is set in an alternate history 1800s-ish England. A group of people have developed magical abilities, called rift magic. They have the ability to manipulate people and objects, they can produce fire and appear invisible. But rather than being the most powerful group of the society, due to a religious belief that they are born with this abilities as a sign of their sin, they have been relegated the to the slums and the servant class. Most the servant class have been indoctrinated and accept this place in life, but some - especially those in the slums - do not accept this. And when a rebel group are executed, tensions rise.
We get to see these world primarily from the view point of one of the rift born servants - Eliza - and watch as her world view slowly shifts from acceptance to questioning to rebellion. We also see the daughter of one of the elders and the way her life is manipulated and controlled. We also see some of the rebels. And as the book progresses, things get increasingly exciting - and more layers get revealed. The book doesn't end on a cliff - things are settled for the moment - but we're marching towards a powder keg and I am so excited to see what will happen next.
I listened to this book, narrated by Mary Sarah, and enjoyed her narration immensely. She has a very airy voice for the women, which made her transition to male characters shockingly good, in that their voices are very masculine. I actually had to check that it wasn't two narrators. I hope that the audio release of the next book isn't too delayed because I would like to listen to it, but I'm also eager to read it!
I hadn't heard anything about this book when I saw in on the Tantor Prepub Announcement list, but something about it drew me in and boy am I glad! I loved the setting, plot and characters and CANNOT wait for the next book. That's my only regret, that I have to wait for book 2 to be published in October.
This is set in an alternate history 1800s-ish England. A group of people have developed magical abilities, called rift magic. They have the ability to manipulate people and objects, they can produce fire and appear invisible. But rather than being the most powerful group of the society, due to a religious belief that they are born with this abilities as a sign of their sin, they have been relegated the to the slums and the servant class. Most the servant class have been indoctrinated and accept this place in life, but some - especially those in the slums - do not accept this. And when a rebel group are executed, tensions rise.
We get to see these world primarily from the view point of one of the rift born servants - Eliza - and watch as her world view slowly shifts from acceptance to questioning to rebellion. We also see the daughter of one of the elders and the way her life is manipulated and controlled. We also see some of the rebels. And as the book progresses, things get increasingly exciting - and more layers get revealed. The book doesn't end on a cliff - things are settled for the moment - but we're marching towards a powder keg and I am so excited to see what will happen next.
I listened to this book, narrated by Mary Sarah, and enjoyed her narration immensely. She has a very airy voice for the women, which made her transition to male characters shockingly good, in that their voices are very masculine. I actually had to check that it wasn't two narrators. I hope that the audio release of the next book isn't too delayed because I would like to listen to it, but I'm also eager to read it!
December 28, 2020
Started slow...but the further I got into the story, the harder it was to put down. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
November 26, 2024
Difficult to get into at first, due to some clumsy world building, but once the story was going I couldn't put it down. Glad that I found this book after the whole trilogy was published, as each one kept me hanging on and wanting more, and not quite wrapping things up from book to book, so definitely get all three books at once and read them like one long book, which is what I did in a weekend. Original concept, likeable characters, and intriguing premises.
October 16, 2023
I read this book because it was described as a cross between Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. It’s more like a link between gothic-esque Dickens and Wilkie Collins, but still delightful. The book starts slowly in the sense that a lot is happening but you have no clue what it means. It ends up being really intriguing but it lacks that “it” factor of a smash hit. Absolutely worth the read, though—I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
March 1, 2023
Wohoo! A book I picked for my book club was enjoyed by all!
I enjoyed the combination of fantasy, historical fiction, and rebellion this book provided. The pace was slower than most fantasy/rebellion stories, but I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the way the author slowly revealed what was happening so that the reader is on the same journey as the main character. Altogether a fun find!
I enjoyed the combination of fantasy, historical fiction, and rebellion this book provided. The pace was slower than most fantasy/rebellion stories, but I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the way the author slowly revealed what was happening so that the reader is on the same journey as the main character. Altogether a fun find!
July 7, 2023
First, the reader of this audiobook has a speech impediment in which she adds the TH sound to the end of words ending in D and t. It's very distracting. She also has an odd way of reading, kind of like a British version of William Shatner. I ended up speeding up the book just to try and minimize both of these distractions.
Second, if you are looking for more of a fantasy genre, this is not it. The magic is ancillary to the political backdrop.
Second, if you are looking for more of a fantasy genre, this is not it. The magic is ancillary to the political backdrop.
December 16, 2024
3.5 for story, but 2.5 for audiobook. As others have said, this one did not works as well on audiobook. Even at 1.3x speed, it was VERY slow with this narrator. Appreciated aspects of social commentary and hidden knowledge needed to topple a skewed world, but lost the plot at times with many storylines that didn’t feel needed. Liked the story enough and the ending to possibly engage with the following book(s) but not rushing to it.
March 11, 2025
Honestly I wasn’t super into the book at first but boy did it grab me. England takes on magic without being anything similar to Harry Potter…it was a wild time and I look forward to the rest of the series.
April 19, 2021
This is an overall four-star book because it's engaging and fun fantasy in some ways, but also disappointing in other ways.
Disappointment #1: I really wish I'd known before going into this book that the means of oppression the state used against Riftborn was the freaking church. I see enough of this crap in real life, so I really don't like seeing it in my fantasy worlds without warning. One reviewer noted that this book was for the Venn diagram intersection of fans of Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. My opinion is that it's more the intersection of Downton Abbey and The Handmaid's Tale with a little Harry Potter thrown in.
Disappointment #2: There was a real missed opportunity here. X-Men-type stories are interesting because there are very big real-world implications of certain people becoming vastly more powerful that others. Additionally, in these types of stories, there's usually implications of people learning how to use these powers with some consequences for getting it wrong. Good stories about mutant-type people address these issues in interesting ways or at least acknowledge the issues.
In this book, we're told that Riftborn started being born, and one dude basically made the church decide they were cursed, and eventually those who followed him took charge of the government. Nowhere in the book do we see any reason that normal people should be afraid of Riftborn. All the Riftborn in this novel seem to always have their powers perfectly under control (whether they're being influenced by the Riftmeade or not), so the author gave us no reason to believe that the vast majority of the populace would go along with this tyranny over the Riftborn.
Disappointment #3: We really didn't see much about how different categories of Riftborn's powers worked other than the main character's. Some side characters had a couple instances of using their powers, but I really didn't get a sense of how the powers worked other than the Influencers. We didn't get much for the Manipulators, Catalysts, or Temporals if anything.
Finally, Hilarity #1: The posh upper-crust people in this book are called "the Dignus."....everyone in our book club had the same experience of always seeing it as "Dingus" at first glace which is...not really what you want us to be thinking about the upper crust. An editor really should have called that.
Yet, for all these disappointments, I did genuinely enjoy this novel. I was engrossed enough that once I really got going with the book I read it one day. I loved all the Downton Abbey-esque drama of the work of the servants, the interactions among the upper class Dignus characters, and it was a good story. Will I read the next book? I haven't decided whether I'll go out of my way to, but if it was sitting in front of me I definitely would.
Disappointment #1: I really wish I'd known before going into this book that the means of oppression the state used against Riftborn was the freaking church. I see enough of this crap in real life, so I really don't like seeing it in my fantasy worlds without warning. One reviewer noted that this book was for the Venn diagram intersection of fans of Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. My opinion is that it's more the intersection of Downton Abbey and The Handmaid's Tale with a little Harry Potter thrown in.
Disappointment #2: There was a real missed opportunity here. X-Men-type stories are interesting because there are very big real-world implications of certain people becoming vastly more powerful that others. Additionally, in these types of stories, there's usually implications of people learning how to use these powers with some consequences for getting it wrong. Good stories about mutant-type people address these issues in interesting ways or at least acknowledge the issues.
In this book, we're told that Riftborn started being born, and one dude basically made the church decide they were cursed, and eventually those who followed him took charge of the government. Nowhere in the book do we see any reason that normal people should be afraid of Riftborn. All the Riftborn in this novel seem to always have their powers perfectly under control (whether they're being influenced by the Riftmeade or not), so the author gave us no reason to believe that the vast majority of the populace would go along with this tyranny over the Riftborn.
Disappointment #3: We really didn't see much about how different categories of Riftborn's powers worked other than the main character's. Some side characters had a couple instances of using their powers, but I really didn't get a sense of how the powers worked other than the Influencers. We didn't get much for the Manipulators, Catalysts, or Temporals if anything.
Finally, Hilarity #1: The posh upper-crust people in this book are called "the Dignus."....everyone in our book club had the same experience of always seeing it as "Dingus" at first glace which is...not really what you want us to be thinking about the upper crust. An editor really should have called that.
Yet, for all these disappointments, I did genuinely enjoy this novel. I was engrossed enough that once I really got going with the book I read it one day. I loved all the Downton Abbey-esque drama of the work of the servants, the interactions among the upper class Dignus characters, and it was a good story. Will I read the next book? I haven't decided whether I'll go out of my way to, but if it was sitting in front of me I definitely would.
July 24, 2024
It took me a really long time to finish this audible book because the narrator was so unbearable to listen to. The book was pretty slow and boring with nothing happening up until the last few chapters, then it abruptly ended, setting it up for the next book… which I guess I’ll read since the 1st book ended before anything really happened. 🤦🏻♀️
February 21, 2023
Reallyyyy pleasantly surprised by this one. I was hesitant due to the historical fiction type setting but the magical world building was so fun, the characters were likable and relatable, and I loved watching the mystery unfold. There are several plot lines (almost of all of them lol) left totally unfinished so this book definitely feels like the beginning of a series but it left me VERY excited for what’s to come.
My only real complaint is the narrator of the audiobook. She has very weird inflection at the end of her sentences that I found really distracting and irritating.
My only real complaint is the narrator of the audiobook. She has very weird inflection at the end of her sentences that I found really distracting and irritating.
January 12, 2024
I wanted to give this a 0 star rating because I loathed the narrator's voice on the audiobook. I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this was one of the worst. But it is doing a disservice to the author to rate a book based on the narrator.
I knew this was book 1 of 3 in a series so I was not shocked by the cliffhanger ending and therefore I will do my best to push through the other 2 books so I can find out what happened. The world building was confusing and extremely slow. I had to restart the book a couple times. It took until well over halfway through the book for it to truly hold my interest. The last quarter of the book picked up speed.
The concept of a government lying and indoctrinating people is nothing new. Magic powers having to be suppressed but also being used to help the elite is typical. There was nothing special about the book that sets it apart from other fantasy series. It also has a strong female lead. My hope is that next two books are better than the first now that the stage has been set. Fingers crossed for The Rebel Beneath the Stairs.
I knew this was book 1 of 3 in a series so I was not shocked by the cliffhanger ending and therefore I will do my best to push through the other 2 books so I can find out what happened. The world building was confusing and extremely slow. I had to restart the book a couple times. It took until well over halfway through the book for it to truly hold my interest. The last quarter of the book picked up speed.
The concept of a government lying and indoctrinating people is nothing new. Magic powers having to be suppressed but also being used to help the elite is typical. There was nothing special about the book that sets it apart from other fantasy series. It also has a strong female lead. My hope is that next two books are better than the first now that the stage has been set. Fingers crossed for The Rebel Beneath the Stairs.
June 17, 2021
Resistance
To be Indoctrination from birth, and then have the layers pulled back from her eyelids to see the real truth is how Eliza has made her story! A maid, following commands without the thought of refusal until a run in with a member of the resistance plants a seed in her head. That’s all it took, a tiny seed from Eli, for her to realize something wasn’t right in Larkspur Manor. And so Eliza risks her life to get the truth out. I love how we get Resistance plans, and the suspense before they are executed. I get the feeling Miss Jessamine, lady of the house, will soon follow in the resistance after what’s happened to her as well. A spitfire as much as Eliza.
To be Indoctrination from birth, and then have the layers pulled back from her eyelids to see the real truth is how Eliza has made her story! A maid, following commands without the thought of refusal until a run in with a member of the resistance plants a seed in her head. That’s all it took, a tiny seed from Eli, for her to realize something wasn’t right in Larkspur Manor. And so Eliza risks her life to get the truth out. I love how we get Resistance plans, and the suspense before they are executed. I get the feeling Miss Jessamine, lady of the house, will soon follow in the resistance after what’s happened to her as well. A spitfire as much as Eliza.
January 18, 2024
If I'm honest, I marked this "Read" for having read half... but mostly so that I could leave a review.
The concept behind this book is fun, but the narration of the audiobook is so awful that even on high speed, I just couldn't do it.
Apologies to the author because this rating isn't really for your story. I just couldn't even get into your story no matter how hard I tried.
The concept behind this book is fun, but the narration of the audiobook is so awful that even on high speed, I just couldn't do it.
Apologies to the author because this rating isn't really for your story. I just couldn't even get into your story no matter how hard I tried.
December 27, 2023
I picked up this book because TikTok told me it was somewhere in between Harry Potter and Downton Abbey and, it is! I really enjoyed the whole thing, again, this was a no-spice book which is only worth noting because sometimes that comes as a surprise. I am already half way through book 2.
July 15, 2024
I got to 48% in the audiobook and I couldn't take any more. I think the narrator is the worst part. It is read in such a somber, Eeyoresque fashion that it's depressing. Also, this is more of a YA book. Most of the main characters are under 20.
December 9, 2020
Not sure
The writing is great 💖💖 the characters are wonderful to read about. I just not sure about the world the author has built. It just doesn't seem believable.
The writing is great 💖💖 the characters are wonderful to read about. I just not sure about the world the author has built. It just doesn't seem believable.
August 17, 2021
Narrator did not do it for me.
April 28, 2024
This takes place in an alternative England, where for some reason never explained, many people are born with specific magical talents. Out of fear plus a desire to control, the government is taken over by a newly founded church which proclaims any sign of magic to be a curse, the magic wielders doomed to eternal suffering. However, they may be able to redeem themselves through a life of service and strict adherence to the rules of the church.
Needless to say, there are a few who get rich by this exploitation, and any signs of resistance are immediately quashed with harsh measures. The powers that be also have devised a magic-suppressing drink, which they administer to the masses in the guise of an equivalent of communion wine, as well as contaminating all publicly sold alcohol. And most books, especially history books, have been destroyed or carefully hidden. It's very like the usual means used to enslave or exploit: discouraging education, hiding facts, using the church and fear of damnation to control the ignorant masses. Perhaps the rulers would have been well advised to be a little more benevolent, but I think lack of empathy is pre-requisite for ruling such a society.
Eliza Braxton is a pious, prim and proper lady's maid, daughter of an equally upright butler. She's also intelligent and curious. She, like most servants, totally believes the lies--until she stumbles across a bit of the truth. Her gradual conversion, as she's drawn deeper into rebellion, is totally convincing. It's a great suspense-filled spy story.
There's no explanation for the spontaneous appearance of magic, very little about what's going on in the rest of the world (except that some magic wielders escape to France), but perhaps more comes out in the sequels. The story works as a stand-alone, but does leave one curious about what comes next.
Needless to say, there are a few who get rich by this exploitation, and any signs of resistance are immediately quashed with harsh measures. The powers that be also have devised a magic-suppressing drink, which they administer to the masses in the guise of an equivalent of communion wine, as well as contaminating all publicly sold alcohol. And most books, especially history books, have been destroyed or carefully hidden. It's very like the usual means used to enslave or exploit: discouraging education, hiding facts, using the church and fear of damnation to control the ignorant masses. Perhaps the rulers would have been well advised to be a little more benevolent, but I think lack of empathy is pre-requisite for ruling such a society.
Eliza Braxton is a pious, prim and proper lady's maid, daughter of an equally upright butler. She's also intelligent and curious. She, like most servants, totally believes the lies--until she stumbles across a bit of the truth. Her gradual conversion, as she's drawn deeper into rebellion, is totally convincing. It's a great suspense-filled spy story.
There's no explanation for the spontaneous appearance of magic, very little about what's going on in the rest of the world (except that some magic wielders escape to France), but perhaps more comes out in the sequels. The story works as a stand-alone, but does leave one curious about what comes next.
June 21, 2024
This book is set in 1800’s London. The class system consists of the Dignus - those without riftmagic- and the Riftborn - those with riftmagic. The Dignus have worked to control the Riftborn and hide their true history. Until the rebels begin to fight back. This book was easy to get into and follow. I liked the character development and I am interested in how the story plays out in the remaining series.
May 7, 2025
DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK! The book is great, but the narrator has the worst British accent I've ever heard and keeps adding the th sound on to words ending in d or t. I dont know if this is how she thinks British people speak or is a speech impediment but it is very distracting.
April 19, 2022
Could not put this one down, so layered, really excellent exploration of how racism is enacted and maintained, within a fantasy framework. Feels very close to the world as it is.
Want to read
March 8, 2023Not what I'm looking for right now. Will come back to this series at another time.
April 15, 2024
Really enjoying this series - great storyline and characters. Quick paced and engaging - can't wait to read the next one.
May 3, 2024
Really enjoyed this one. The character development was wonderful and by the end I really cared about what happened to these people I had made friends with. Can't wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews