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Emerald
Emerald St. John is in trouble. She has been condemned to marry a man she hates, her enemies are conspiring to have her pet bear Molly torn apart in the baiting pits, and the man she loves is far away on the high seas. And she has stumbled into a web of spies with a plot to poison Queen Elizabeth I. To save herself and the kingdom, Emerald must beat the spies at their own game - which means transforming herself from a country girl into a lady of the court. Can she do it in time?
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 12, 2011
Sometimes a book is just simply a pleasure to read. Emerald is one of those books. It is so easy to get into and the writing let’s you sink right into it like a favourite armchair. It is historical novel set in the sixteenth century which explores the themes of power and courage.
When Emerald’s father dies, she and her brother Richard are sent away from their family home to live with their Aunt and Uncle at Hawkstone Hall. Emerald is just seven at the time and cannot understand why her father would insist upon this in his will when their mother is still alive. Emerald is afraid and Richard swears that he will take care of her but then he is sent to sea. So Emerald grows up alone and bonds with her Aunt Frances but unfortunately not with her cousin Arabella.
The story is really about what happens to Emerald now she is sixteen. Her mother writes to her Uncle Charles and informs him that Emerald will marry Lord Suckley. Emerald has never met this man and partitions her Uncle to prevent the marriage. Her Uncle despite his open dislike of Suckley refuses to do so. Emerald pins her hopes on Richard saving her from a fate worse than death. Suckley is a hideous man in both character and appearance. His name says it all and when I think of him I shudder.
Emerald is not entirely alone at Hawkstone. She has a friend in the little urchin Meg who idolises her. Meg was my favourite character. A minor character and yet she had a very distinctive, humorous voice and was incredibly brave. Emerald also has a friend in Sarah – a servant who as a young girl joined the steward’s service and played with Emerald - who is willing to help her despite all the risks. Certainly the female characters in this story are the bold and the brave, the courageous and the daring, but they are of course forced to play by the rules of a patriarchal society.
I cannot review this book without a mention of the other main theme in this story - love. Emerald is a story of romantic courtly love, as well as familial love, love of a monarch, love of place, love of a pet, love of a friend. If you haven’t read any historical fiction before, then I think Emerald is a great introduction to the genre. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then you’ll feel right at home here. The setting is convincing, the heroine inspiring, the hero mysterious and charming, the plot page turning; all in all, Emerald is a riveting, enjoyable read.
When Emerald’s father dies, she and her brother Richard are sent away from their family home to live with their Aunt and Uncle at Hawkstone Hall. Emerald is just seven at the time and cannot understand why her father would insist upon this in his will when their mother is still alive. Emerald is afraid and Richard swears that he will take care of her but then he is sent to sea. So Emerald grows up alone and bonds with her Aunt Frances but unfortunately not with her cousin Arabella.
The story is really about what happens to Emerald now she is sixteen. Her mother writes to her Uncle Charles and informs him that Emerald will marry Lord Suckley. Emerald has never met this man and partitions her Uncle to prevent the marriage. Her Uncle despite his open dislike of Suckley refuses to do so. Emerald pins her hopes on Richard saving her from a fate worse than death. Suckley is a hideous man in both character and appearance. His name says it all and when I think of him I shudder.
Emerald is not entirely alone at Hawkstone. She has a friend in the little urchin Meg who idolises her. Meg was my favourite character. A minor character and yet she had a very distinctive, humorous voice and was incredibly brave. Emerald also has a friend in Sarah – a servant who as a young girl joined the steward’s service and played with Emerald - who is willing to help her despite all the risks. Certainly the female characters in this story are the bold and the brave, the courageous and the daring, but they are of course forced to play by the rules of a patriarchal society.
I cannot review this book without a mention of the other main theme in this story - love. Emerald is a story of romantic courtly love, as well as familial love, love of a monarch, love of place, love of a pet, love of a friend. If you haven’t read any historical fiction before, then I think Emerald is a great introduction to the genre. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then you’ll feel right at home here. The setting is convincing, the heroine inspiring, the hero mysterious and charming, the plot page turning; all in all, Emerald is a riveting, enjoyable read.
November 6, 2011
The Short Story? – One of those undiscovered treasures, just waiting to be read and enjoyed! Filled with evil noblemen, dirty little secrets and a scandalous plot to kill the queen, Emerald is fast-paced and adventurous. A strong heroine, a love story and a plot to be foiled, Emerald is a spectacular historical YA that’s bound to be a crowd pleaser!
The Long Story? – I haven’t read a historical YA in ages and I forgot how much I enjoyed them! I really enjoyed reading Emerald. It’s authentic, it’s adventurous and it’s got a love story, everything to make me a happy chappy. It’s a complicated plot where everything has secret meaning and everyone has secrets. Everything seems to be tangled together, nothing is as it’s supposed be but in the end everything is revealed and I think that was quite interesting. Very unpredictable which I liked. It’s a short novel so it’s quite a fast-read. I love Wallace’s prose, she writes good book, keen to read other pieces of her work. It’s comfortable, easy to understand so it’s suitable for readers of all ages. If you like historical YA, you’ll like this one! (Stunning cover too!)
Emerald is actually the name of the protagonist. I really liked her, Wallace has betrayed her as a little bit of a tomboy. She’s quite a country girl yet she has to turn into a lady so that she can catch the Queen’s eye. She has a rough background but fantastic personality. She’s compassionate, she’s brave, she’s level-headed, very well developed. Our handsome Viscount Sam is the love interest, he’s got an out-going personality so I approve :) Instant Love. Only found in YA and Historical Romance, if you want instant love you have to read Emerald. It’s quite an abrupt romance, they met once and then they fiancées but dating was different back then and Sam is yummy so who wouldn’t want to instant love?
One of my favourite historical YA fictions I have read up to date. Emerald is an engrossing novel about a heroine who plans to uncover the truth and save the queen, a romance that will make you swoon and plot filled with adventure and drama. Beautifully written, Wallace has written a novel for all to enjoy!
The Long Story? – I haven’t read a historical YA in ages and I forgot how much I enjoyed them! I really enjoyed reading Emerald. It’s authentic, it’s adventurous and it’s got a love story, everything to make me a happy chappy. It’s a complicated plot where everything has secret meaning and everyone has secrets. Everything seems to be tangled together, nothing is as it’s supposed be but in the end everything is revealed and I think that was quite interesting. Very unpredictable which I liked. It’s a short novel so it’s quite a fast-read. I love Wallace’s prose, she writes good book, keen to read other pieces of her work. It’s comfortable, easy to understand so it’s suitable for readers of all ages. If you like historical YA, you’ll like this one! (Stunning cover too!)
Emerald is actually the name of the protagonist. I really liked her, Wallace has betrayed her as a little bit of a tomboy. She’s quite a country girl yet she has to turn into a lady so that she can catch the Queen’s eye. She has a rough background but fantastic personality. She’s compassionate, she’s brave, she’s level-headed, very well developed. Our handsome Viscount Sam is the love interest, he’s got an out-going personality so I approve :) Instant Love. Only found in YA and Historical Romance, if you want instant love you have to read Emerald. It’s quite an abrupt romance, they met once and then they fiancées but dating was different back then and Sam is yummy so who wouldn’t want to instant love?
One of my favourite historical YA fictions I have read up to date. Emerald is an engrossing novel about a heroine who plans to uncover the truth and save the queen, a romance that will make you swoon and plot filled with adventure and drama. Beautifully written, Wallace has written a novel for all to enjoy!
September 17, 2021
Emerald is a historical fiction set during Tudor times. It follows Emerald who is betrothed to a horrible man at a young age. She must find a way to break off the betrothal and marry the man she truly loves. I found the story a little far-fetched, but it was easy and quick to read.
August 20, 2011
This review was written for The Review Diaries: http://reviewdiaries.blogspot.com/201...
This blurb and this cover combination had me set up to be really excited when this book came out a few days ago. Unfortunately though, it turned out to be quite a disappointment.
Having read the brilliant books by Eve Edwards set in Elizabethan England, I suppose I was expecting a high standard of writing, but I was sadly let down.
The book is an exercise in what happens when you ignore the rule of ‘show not tell’. I was never allowed to see or feel anything for myself as a reader; it was always Emerald telling me exactly how I should feel, but often giving no explanation which just left me feeling irritated.
Emerald herself is hard to sympathise with, she never seems to become fully three dimensional – in part because we never get to see anything, we’re just told by her. She’s a very forward thinking, modern girl, but with no reasoning behind it. It’s very hard to make her character and the setting relate to each other.
And if Emerald is hard to like, the rest of the characters are even worse. The book was populated with stereotypes and horrid people. You have to have relatable sides to people, even if ultimately they aren’t very nice, but no-one really justifies their actions and they remain odd people that have mood shifts in mere seconds. There is no build up, no character development, and as a result it’s not particularly interesting to read.
A vast amount of backstory clogs up the first twenty odd pages, and whilst that information would be useful to the reader, it’s very hard work plodding through all of that when there’s no real investment in the story yet – it was enough to make me want to put down the book and stop bothering to wade through it. Backstory helps to flesh out the characters, but in this case it was monotonous, and as Emerald was telling it, highly frustrating. She would talk about how she never spoke to her father and barely saw him, and then detail all he would do with his days – details she would never actually know.
The speech is riddled with modernisms, to the point that it never really felt like we were in Elizabethan England at all. And when people are speaking they have no balance between normal speech and suddenly yelling. I never really got to care about the characters – the only nice one has two conversations with Emerald and then they’re in love, another highly irritating moment. By all means have characters fall in love, but give some reason, some sort of real interaction between them that inspires it.
The plot jerks around all over the place, with some passages and incidents so muddled and confusing that I had to go back and re-read whole sections of it. So all in all, a not particularly inspiring read.
For all that, the last eighty odd pages where the plot actually picks up are quite good. It’s still full of holes, but at least it was engaging enough that I wanted to find out what happened. However, for all the hype I wasn’t all that fussed on this book, and I won’t be seeking out any other books written by Wallace.
This blurb and this cover combination had me set up to be really excited when this book came out a few days ago. Unfortunately though, it turned out to be quite a disappointment.
Having read the brilliant books by Eve Edwards set in Elizabethan England, I suppose I was expecting a high standard of writing, but I was sadly let down.
The book is an exercise in what happens when you ignore the rule of ‘show not tell’. I was never allowed to see or feel anything for myself as a reader; it was always Emerald telling me exactly how I should feel, but often giving no explanation which just left me feeling irritated.
Emerald herself is hard to sympathise with, she never seems to become fully three dimensional – in part because we never get to see anything, we’re just told by her. She’s a very forward thinking, modern girl, but with no reasoning behind it. It’s very hard to make her character and the setting relate to each other.
And if Emerald is hard to like, the rest of the characters are even worse. The book was populated with stereotypes and horrid people. You have to have relatable sides to people, even if ultimately they aren’t very nice, but no-one really justifies their actions and they remain odd people that have mood shifts in mere seconds. There is no build up, no character development, and as a result it’s not particularly interesting to read.
A vast amount of backstory clogs up the first twenty odd pages, and whilst that information would be useful to the reader, it’s very hard work plodding through all of that when there’s no real investment in the story yet – it was enough to make me want to put down the book and stop bothering to wade through it. Backstory helps to flesh out the characters, but in this case it was monotonous, and as Emerald was telling it, highly frustrating. She would talk about how she never spoke to her father and barely saw him, and then detail all he would do with his days – details she would never actually know.
The speech is riddled with modernisms, to the point that it never really felt like we were in Elizabethan England at all. And when people are speaking they have no balance between normal speech and suddenly yelling. I never really got to care about the characters – the only nice one has two conversations with Emerald and then they’re in love, another highly irritating moment. By all means have characters fall in love, but give some reason, some sort of real interaction between them that inspires it.
The plot jerks around all over the place, with some passages and incidents so muddled and confusing that I had to go back and re-read whole sections of it. So all in all, a not particularly inspiring read.
For all that, the last eighty odd pages where the plot actually picks up are quite good. It’s still full of holes, but at least it was engaging enough that I wanted to find out what happened. However, for all the hype I wasn’t all that fussed on this book, and I won’t be seeking out any other books written by Wallace.
August 10, 2011
Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/
You may not know this about me, but I love a good historical. It's for this reason that Emerald first drew me in. well that and the completely gorgeous cover, I mean I know girls in pretty dresses are all over YA book covers these days but I will honestly say this is on of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen and the dress and the background just screams HISTORICAL, which is why I've been coveting this book ever since.
This book did really impress me. I thought that the start was a bit slow and Wallace took a while to build up the setting and the characters before throwing us into the world of political intrigue, but after that I was totally absorbed. I like my historical to have lots of mystery, lots of deception and traitors and plots and scandal, it's the only genre where I love these things, so when it got into that I was totally drawn in. The story is deep and involved, with lots of scandals and double-crossing, but it isn't too complicated that you struggle to follow it, a common issue with historicals, in my opinion.
I also totally loved Karen Wallace's writing style, which doesn't seem as though she is trying too hard to sound historical but still doesn't sound too contemporary (does that make sense? Maybe?). I loved how she told the story through Emerald's eyes, giving us vivid descriptions and really setting this historical tone but also making Emerald's opinions relateable and enjoyable.
I did find a few small problems with this book. I struggled to connect with any characters apart from Emerald, which meant that I didn't really dislike the bad guys, or respect her brother, or empathise with her cousin, they were just... there. This is probably a result of Wallace putting so much into the story and not enough into the characters. I also did feel as though the relationship Emerald had with Sam happened very fast with little development, so I was never rooting for them.
Overall, Emerald was an exciting read full of political intrigue, plots and scandals. I loved the fantastic writing and the effortless setting. I would go as far as to call Karen Wallace the Phillipa Gregory of Young Adult fiction.
Overall Rating: B+
You may not know this about me, but I love a good historical. It's for this reason that Emerald first drew me in. well that and the completely gorgeous cover, I mean I know girls in pretty dresses are all over YA book covers these days but I will honestly say this is on of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen and the dress and the background just screams HISTORICAL, which is why I've been coveting this book ever since.
This book did really impress me. I thought that the start was a bit slow and Wallace took a while to build up the setting and the characters before throwing us into the world of political intrigue, but after that I was totally absorbed. I like my historical to have lots of mystery, lots of deception and traitors and plots and scandal, it's the only genre where I love these things, so when it got into that I was totally drawn in. The story is deep and involved, with lots of scandals and double-crossing, but it isn't too complicated that you struggle to follow it, a common issue with historicals, in my opinion.
I also totally loved Karen Wallace's writing style, which doesn't seem as though she is trying too hard to sound historical but still doesn't sound too contemporary (does that make sense? Maybe?). I loved how she told the story through Emerald's eyes, giving us vivid descriptions and really setting this historical tone but also making Emerald's opinions relateable and enjoyable.
I did find a few small problems with this book. I struggled to connect with any characters apart from Emerald, which meant that I didn't really dislike the bad guys, or respect her brother, or empathise with her cousin, they were just... there. This is probably a result of Wallace putting so much into the story and not enough into the characters. I also did feel as though the relationship Emerald had with Sam happened very fast with little development, so I was never rooting for them.
Overall, Emerald was an exciting read full of political intrigue, plots and scandals. I loved the fantastic writing and the effortless setting. I would go as far as to call Karen Wallace the Phillipa Gregory of Young Adult fiction.
Overall Rating: B+
August 9, 2016
It was okay. Not my cup of tea. Annoying characters (in fact, all of them are annoying except for one or two)
Favorite lines
"I'm stupid with cards, Your Majesty," I told her. "I don't like gambling and my conversation is mostly about vegetables."
@Gold is only down because it lacks polishing," replied the a Queen."
Favorite lines
"I'm stupid with cards, Your Majesty," I told her. "I don't like gambling and my conversation is mostly about vegetables."
@Gold is only down because it lacks polishing," replied the a Queen."
Want to read
February 23, 2011I LOVE the sound of this one!
January 23, 2023
This book may have been better if written in 3rd person. I would have been able to better follow the characters and the story.
I felt like this was a story that was not very well planned out. It felt disjointed and like things were shoved in as a side note, or to just further the plot.
Emerald as a character is flatter than a blank sheet of paper. She really had no personal or emotional development and seemed to be too good at everything. She also came across as remarkably heartless when her Aunt passed. No real in depth look into how this effected her and no real insite into the depth of their relationship. Felt like her Aunt was killed off to progress the story, even then it progressed poorly.
The romance aspect of this, the apparent love between Sam and Emerald came from absolutely nowhere, in my opinion. It seemed like one moment they are talking like business associates and next minute they had far too much wine, and were professing their love for one another far too over confidently. The age of Emerald wasn't really taken in to account either. She is 15. Hope readers remember that, and realise Suckly is much worse than just an abrasive pig.
I wouldn't reread this, after finishing the book I can hardly tell you what the book is about, let alone what genera to put it in. Pretty forgettable, but easy enough to read. Just suffered from poor development and an in depth plot and look into the characters.
I felt like this was a story that was not very well planned out. It felt disjointed and like things were shoved in as a side note, or to just further the plot.
Emerald as a character is flatter than a blank sheet of paper. She really had no personal or emotional development and seemed to be too good at everything. She also came across as remarkably heartless when her Aunt passed. No real in depth look into how this effected her and no real insite into the depth of their relationship. Felt like her Aunt was killed off to progress the story, even then it progressed poorly.
The romance aspect of this, the apparent love between Sam and Emerald came from absolutely nowhere, in my opinion. It seemed like one moment they are talking like business associates and next minute they had far too much wine, and were professing their love for one another far too over confidently. The age of Emerald wasn't really taken in to account either. She is 15. Hope readers remember that, and realise Suckly is much worse than just an abrasive pig.
I wouldn't reread this, after finishing the book I can hardly tell you what the book is about, let alone what genera to put it in. Pretty forgettable, but easy enough to read. Just suffered from poor development and an in depth plot and look into the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2015
'Emerald' by Karen Wallace, is a good introduction to YA historical fiction but it isn't exactly Eve Edwards. I'm not exactly certain what I was expecting from this book, but what I got wasn't bad at all.
The story centers around a spirited young woman called Emerald and how she has to eventually save the kingdom from her own mother no less. The book had plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing leading one way, then another the next which I think made this book enjoyable enough to read.
Fifteen year old Emerald hadn't exactly had the happiest childhood with an emotionally distant father and a ruthless mother. When Emerald's father suddenly dies, she and her brother are whisked away from their home to go and live with their Uncle and Aunt. After her brother leaves to make his fortune at sea, Emerald feels utterly alone. Then suddenly, a letter arrives from her mother after seven years, stating that she is to be married to one Lord Suckely. A repulsive man three times her age. But all is not as it seems as she is caught in something that is spinning out of her control. Emerald must use all her cunning and the help of her friends to save her Majesty Queen Elisabeth I, a long with the country.
All in all this book was a pleasant read full of mystery and romance, that I couldn't put down until the end.
The story centers around a spirited young woman called Emerald and how she has to eventually save the kingdom from her own mother no less. The book had plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing leading one way, then another the next which I think made this book enjoyable enough to read.
Fifteen year old Emerald hadn't exactly had the happiest childhood with an emotionally distant father and a ruthless mother. When Emerald's father suddenly dies, she and her brother are whisked away from their home to go and live with their Uncle and Aunt. After her brother leaves to make his fortune at sea, Emerald feels utterly alone. Then suddenly, a letter arrives from her mother after seven years, stating that she is to be married to one Lord Suckely. A repulsive man three times her age. But all is not as it seems as she is caught in something that is spinning out of her control. Emerald must use all her cunning and the help of her friends to save her Majesty Queen Elisabeth I, a long with the country.
All in all this book was a pleasant read full of mystery and romance, that I couldn't put down until the end.
December 24, 2011
I will start off by saying that this was a thoroughly entertaing book. It did have its problems but I will get to that in a moment. This book surrounds a lively young girl named Emerald. She lives with her Aunt and Uncle and rather horrible cousin Arabella who has been banished from court and torments Emerald as she finds country life dull. Things begin to get a little bit interesting. First comes the arrival of her surprise fiance who is a fat slobbering idiot then there is the arrival of the handsome Sam and her brother. It later turns out that there is a plot to poison the queen and throw her beloved pet bear into the bear pit. This book was an easy read. The plot to poison the queen was only a very minor plotline in this book which I think let it down. It could have been very exciting indeed, instead it was rather anti-climatic at the end when nothing really happened and what did happen happened in the space of a few pages. I could not believe that she fell in love with Sam after seeing him occasionly for a short amount of time. There was no chemistry! Not to mention that he hardly seemed to exist for more a few chapters. All in all it was a cute read but if you are looking for something with a bit more adventure and substance then this is not the book for you.
April 29, 2015
This was such fun to read! For some reason I don't read much historical fiction but on the basis of this one I really think I should.
I really liked the character Emerald. She was strong and determined - but also easy to like - and I was glad that she wanted to 'save' herself. Arabella was a great character too - as much as I wanted to hate her at times I couldn't quite manage it. And Sarah and Meg proved brilliant additions - and of course I adored Molly the bear!
The romance, I must admit, was very quick to happen. But I imagine that if I were being forced to marry a man as vile as Lord Suckley I too might fall very quickly for someone as nice as a certain Viscount! He's a great character - he comes across as nice and kind but also with an air of intrigue. A perfect match for Emerald and my only complaint would be that I wish he had been in more of it.
There is a good sense of mystery and twists and turns - something happened that I really didn't expect and that certainly grabbed my attention! I really enjoyed it and am now looking forward to reading many more books along the same lines.
I really liked the character Emerald. She was strong and determined - but also easy to like - and I was glad that she wanted to 'save' herself. Arabella was a great character too - as much as I wanted to hate her at times I couldn't quite manage it. And Sarah and Meg proved brilliant additions - and of course I adored Molly the bear!
The romance, I must admit, was very quick to happen. But I imagine that if I were being forced to marry a man as vile as Lord Suckley I too might fall very quickly for someone as nice as a certain Viscount! He's a great character - he comes across as nice and kind but also with an air of intrigue. A perfect match for Emerald and my only complaint would be that I wish he had been in more of it.
There is a good sense of mystery and twists and turns - something happened that I really didn't expect and that certainly grabbed my attention! I really enjoyed it and am now looking forward to reading many more books along the same lines.
August 29, 2011
Not quite Philippa Gregory but a good introduction to historical novels for YA's. I liked the fresh goodness of Emerald compared to the haughty spoilt-rottenness of Arabella. I admired Emerald for her loyalty to her undeserving cousin & of course, I love a happy ending though this feels like a first in a series.
January 18, 2013
I really enjoyed the plot to this book! it was very well thought out and kept me guessing.
But there was too much adult content and I wouldn't recommend it for YA. If it hadn't been for the grown-up content I would give it 3 or even 4 stars, but, as it is- 2. :/
It was good enough to finish, but not good enough to keep. :)
But there was too much adult content and I wouldn't recommend it for YA. If it hadn't been for the grown-up content I would give it 3 or even 4 stars, but, as it is- 2. :/
It was good enough to finish, but not good enough to keep. :)
May 3, 2019
I felt that this book was ok, at best. It was a sweet, light read but there were aspects which I didn’t enjoy and was irritated by.
The timeline seemed very confused, especially regarding the pregnancy. Sometimes it felt like it was going very quickly, other times it seems like there were very long stretches of time which didn’t match how big Arabella would be.
In addition, much of the interaction between the characters and the dialogue felt stilted. The author appeared to have plot points and motivations in mind and attempted to shoehorn them into dialogue or a sudden revelatory monologue.
The timeline seemed very confused, especially regarding the pregnancy. Sometimes it felt like it was going very quickly, other times it seems like there were very long stretches of time which didn’t match how big Arabella would be.
In addition, much of the interaction between the characters and the dialogue felt stilted. The author appeared to have plot points and motivations in mind and attempted to shoehorn them into dialogue or a sudden revelatory monologue.
June 19, 2022
DNF.
No. It's childish and unnecessarily crude and redundant about certain unsavory themes. And then there's the aunt being calling out from beyond the grave... Didn't care much for theMC anyways. Makes getting through my TBR easier 💃🏿
No. It's childish and unnecessarily crude and redundant about certain unsavory themes. And then there's the aunt being calling out from beyond the grave... Didn't care much for theMC anyways. Makes getting through my TBR easier 💃🏿
June 11, 2017
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2022
I re-read this book all the time. I find emerald relatable. If you like Drew Barrymore's Ever After? You'll love this.
March 24, 2022
This book was absolute garbage. Also low-key was that blackface? With Sam????? And him being the Turkish merchant??????? And let’s not forget she’s 15 the whole book and THE MAIN PLOT IS THE SUBJECT OF MARRIAGE?? Also babe you don’t love him you’ve known him for 10 pages. So problematic don’t read this book ever. I can’t believe it was published.
August 9, 2023
I purely enjoyed this book. Such a good story.
November 17, 2011
Emerald has been informed of her betrothal to Lord Suckley, whom she has never met, but has heard horrible things from her cousin Arabella. She hopes her brother, Richard would be able to help her stop this marriage, but why has Richard been oddly reluctant to speak to her? Aunt Frances, who she grew up to love like her own mother, and her uncle both seem to despise Lord Suckley as well, yet they refuse to help her escape this marriage. Everyone in the household’s afraid to defy her mother’s wishes, but why? What does she hold over everyone? Deadly secrets are slowly revealed and questions gradually answered as Emerald prepares for her dreaded marriage.
The plot was really interesting; I was curious as to why no one seemed willing to write to Emerald’s mother objecting the marriage between her and Lord Suckley. The mother definitely knew something that Aunt Frances & Uncle Charles would die to keep a secret, and I was constantly guessing what this top-secret was! Turns out, it was something big! And something I never expected too! There was also the whole plot to kill the Queen, but I felt this was forgotten half-way through the book and then at the very end, everything was revealed. The writing also flowed nicely and was easy to read, which I liked!
As for Emerald, I admired her loyalty to her frenemy/cousin/sister. (You’ll have to read the book to understand what I mean! It’s all part of the mysterious secret!) At the beginning it was obvious Emerald and Arabella loathed each other; even if they were the only two people left on Earth, they still would not get along! But Emerald was still loyal, refusing to tell anyone Arabella’s secret. I loved how gradually, the two were able to forget their past childish misunderstandings and help each other in the end!
God, the mother! She was one heartless, multiple-faced, inconsiderate woman! She had no love in her, not for her husband nor children, and willingly used her innocent daughter as a pawn in her despicable scheme!
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable historical novel that will be sure to please readers. It may not be Philippa Gregory’s standard (well…Philippa is like the QUEEN of historical fiction!), but it was definitely a fast and fun read!
The plot was really interesting; I was curious as to why no one seemed willing to write to Emerald’s mother objecting the marriage between her and Lord Suckley. The mother definitely knew something that Aunt Frances & Uncle Charles would die to keep a secret, and I was constantly guessing what this top-secret was! Turns out, it was something big! And something I never expected too! There was also the whole plot to kill the Queen, but I felt this was forgotten half-way through the book and then at the very end, everything was revealed. The writing also flowed nicely and was easy to read, which I liked!
As for Emerald, I admired her loyalty to her frenemy/cousin/sister. (You’ll have to read the book to understand what I mean! It’s all part of the mysterious secret!) At the beginning it was obvious Emerald and Arabella loathed each other; even if they were the only two people left on Earth, they still would not get along! But Emerald was still loyal, refusing to tell anyone Arabella’s secret. I loved how gradually, the two were able to forget their past childish misunderstandings and help each other in the end!
God, the mother! She was one heartless, multiple-faced, inconsiderate woman! She had no love in her, not for her husband nor children, and willingly used her innocent daughter as a pawn in her despicable scheme!
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable historical novel that will be sure to please readers. It may not be Philippa Gregory’s standard (well…Philippa is like the QUEEN of historical fiction!), but it was definitely a fast and fun read!
April 29, 2012
**MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
This book has been shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year 2012 Award (LBOY) and I am determined to get through all ten books before June.
Emerald is an inquisitve and accomplished young girl who knows how to take care of herself. But there are forces at work to break her down. Under her mother's threatening rule she must marry the vile Lord Suckley and become what Emerald refers to as "breeding stock".
The premise is intriguing - Emerald is not the typical Elizabethan 'lady' we might expect, and the underlying mystery of treason and secrets keeps you wanting to know more. However, there are many flaws in this text.
The introduction of an unnecessary romance left me cold. After one conversation, Emerald and her fancy sailor man are completely head-over-heels for each other. Despite his very dubious background, and her questioning nature, she automatically believes his every word. Just shows what a few blond locks and pair of violet eyes can do...
Throughout there are several instances where the editor has obviously said, "But what about so-and-so?" and an extra paragraph of garbled explanation has been inserted. Bear-baiting is an idea running through the text, but it does not seem strong enough to support itself, even though we are told about Molly in detail. In fact, the whole plot seems to run on "telling" not "showing" - a big no-no for writers.
All this said, I found this book very enjoyable to read. The easy prose and strong imagery swept me along fluidly and I would like to read more historical fiction as a result. Although Emerald is not an all-round 3D character, she is extremely likeable, as are the other main characters. Research has been done, but the story is not bogged down with weighty passages where the author is shoving her hours at the library down our throats. I found this very well done. The voice of a fifteen-year-old girl comes through clearly and I would not doubt the narrative p.o.v.
I would recommend this book as a nice easy read, to lovers of historical teen fiction, and anyone who likes twists and turns.
This book has been shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year 2012 Award (LBOY) and I am determined to get through all ten books before June.
Emerald is an inquisitve and accomplished young girl who knows how to take care of herself. But there are forces at work to break her down. Under her mother's threatening rule she must marry the vile Lord Suckley and become what Emerald refers to as "breeding stock".
The premise is intriguing - Emerald is not the typical Elizabethan 'lady' we might expect, and the underlying mystery of treason and secrets keeps you wanting to know more. However, there are many flaws in this text.
The introduction of an unnecessary romance left me cold. After one conversation, Emerald and her fancy sailor man are completely head-over-heels for each other. Despite his very dubious background, and her questioning nature, she automatically believes his every word. Just shows what a few blond locks and pair of violet eyes can do...
Throughout there are several instances where the editor has obviously said, "But what about so-and-so?" and an extra paragraph of garbled explanation has been inserted. Bear-baiting is an idea running through the text, but it does not seem strong enough to support itself, even though we are told about Molly in detail. In fact, the whole plot seems to run on "telling" not "showing" - a big no-no for writers.
All this said, I found this book very enjoyable to read. The easy prose and strong imagery swept me along fluidly and I would like to read more historical fiction as a result. Although Emerald is not an all-round 3D character, she is extremely likeable, as are the other main characters. Research has been done, but the story is not bogged down with weighty passages where the author is shoving her hours at the library down our throats. I found this very well done. The voice of a fifteen-year-old girl comes through clearly and I would not doubt the narrative p.o.v.
I would recommend this book as a nice easy read, to lovers of historical teen fiction, and anyone who likes twists and turns.
February 22, 2013
This was one of those books that kind of makes me want to stab it and rip out the pages at times. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is definitely worth a read but some parts were a little bit lacking. I love romance in novels so of course the romance between sam and emerald interested me however it did not interest for long as this, and a lot of other points in the novel, seemed to be rather rushed though. There was no bridge from friends to lovers, it seemed as if one minute they were strangers and the next they are in love and engaged to be married. I really would have liked to see a bit more of a development in their love story as it seemed to comprise of two meetings followed by a quick roll in the hay while the lesser couple of Richard and Frances's daughter ( I apologise, I cannot for the life of me remember her name. ) got a much more drawn out romance filled with secret glances and walks in the garden. Other than the speed of the novel and the events within, the only other problem I had with the novel was the casualness that was input with regards to the queen. From the beginning it felt as though the family were nothing particularly special, yes they have money and connections but with Richard out hunting his fortune it seemed as though they were still not in the highest of class. Then suddenly they are all close friends of the queen. I don't suppose the queen was friends with just anybody so it seemed odd that within two seconds they were all reasonably closely acquainted.
It may sound from the above comments that there was little I liked about this novel but actually I did rather enjoy it. The plot was original and interesting with some good twists. The characters were quite well developed and the dynamics between them were intriguing. I would definitely recommend it as a good historically set novel.
It may sound from the above comments that there was little I liked about this novel but actually I did rather enjoy it. The plot was original and interesting with some good twists. The characters were quite well developed and the dynamics between them were intriguing. I would definitely recommend it as a good historically set novel.
May 12, 2016
I knew nothing about this book before my friend gave it to me to borrow, after declaring how much she’d loved it. So I didn’t know what to expect and I came to it unbiased.
Unfortunately, from the very start I didn’t like it.
In my opinion, it lacked the elegance, sophistication and swoony romance that I think good historical fiction should have. The writing was simplistic, bland, and the story had too many twists and turns that the author seemed to have written in without planning it through to make it flow better. It was like she didn’t have an outline, and just wrote the story as it came. This can work, obviously, I’m sure plenty of authors do this, but it just didn’t work for this book.
The first half of the book was especially boring, with far too much back-story that I honestly didn’t care about. Time also moved extremely quickly, and to be perfectly honest I almost laughed out loud when I read that Arabella was pregnant. Uh, exactly how much time passed since she wasn’t? It felt so false and really stretched my belief.
The characters are mostly stereotypical and frustratingly wooden. Not to mention they seemed to have come from today’s contemporary world instead of Elizabethan England. They were too modern, they spoke too modern, and they just didn’t fit with the time period. In addition, Emerald and Suckley in particular seemed over the top, unrealistic, and with extreme personalities that didn’t fit the story.
Emerald and Sam’s romance was wooden, weak, and boring. AND they had hardly met properly before they were swearing their undying love for each other (*cough* Twilight *cough*), which made everything much more unrealistic.
That’s about it.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a rich, exciting, elegant historical fiction novel.
Unfortunately, from the very start I didn’t like it.
In my opinion, it lacked the elegance, sophistication and swoony romance that I think good historical fiction should have. The writing was simplistic, bland, and the story had too many twists and turns that the author seemed to have written in without planning it through to make it flow better. It was like she didn’t have an outline, and just wrote the story as it came. This can work, obviously, I’m sure plenty of authors do this, but it just didn’t work for this book.
The first half of the book was especially boring, with far too much back-story that I honestly didn’t care about. Time also moved extremely quickly, and to be perfectly honest I almost laughed out loud when I read that Arabella was pregnant. Uh, exactly how much time passed since she wasn’t? It felt so false and really stretched my belief.
The characters are mostly stereotypical and frustratingly wooden. Not to mention they seemed to have come from today’s contemporary world instead of Elizabethan England. They were too modern, they spoke too modern, and they just didn’t fit with the time period. In addition, Emerald and Suckley in particular seemed over the top, unrealistic, and with extreme personalities that didn’t fit the story.
Emerald and Sam’s romance was wooden, weak, and boring. AND they had hardly met properly before they were swearing their undying love for each other (*cough* Twilight *cough*), which made everything much more unrealistic.
That’s about it.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a rich, exciting, elegant historical fiction novel.
January 14, 2012
3.5-4/5
(3.5 if I take into account the way I feel about it in full, 4 if I just say "Hey it was really entertaining")
+ A strong and intelligent heroine whose inner strength grows as the plot thickens. I really really liked the progression of her character development. Even though I never got a feel that I knew her inside and out, she was a good heroine and would make a good role model for impressionable minds.
+ An adequate amount of research was made ~ as far as my knowledge goes, the historical detail was well done.
+ Things get a bit crazy for a bit, and there are some dark issues/ideas that are presented...such as attempted murders, kidnapping, animal cruelty for entertainment, teenage pregnancy, etc. These only helped in holding my interest ~ this book had YA-level components to it
+ The plot, once it actually went somewhere, was captivating. I did not want to put it down until I knew what was going to happen next!
- The amount of different characters was overwhelming, and it took me AGES to get the hang of every single name and their roles
- The romance did not work for me. It felt too contrived and quick and easy. I liked the twist with every other 'romance' or marriage proposal . . . just not with Emerald and Sam. It didn't feel REAL, but fantastical and childish. Like a fairytale romance.
Full review will be written in the near future.
(3.5 if I take into account the way I feel about it in full, 4 if I just say "Hey it was really entertaining")
+ A strong and intelligent heroine whose inner strength grows as the plot thickens. I really really liked the progression of her character development. Even though I never got a feel that I knew her inside and out, she was a good heroine and would make a good role model for impressionable minds.
+ An adequate amount of research was made ~ as far as my knowledge goes, the historical detail was well done.
+ Things get a bit crazy for a bit, and there are some dark issues/ideas that are presented...such as attempted murders, kidnapping, animal cruelty for entertainment, teenage pregnancy, etc. These only helped in holding my interest ~ this book had YA-level components to it
+ The plot, once it actually went somewhere, was captivating. I did not want to put it down until I knew what was going to happen next!
- The amount of different characters was overwhelming, and it took me AGES to get the hang of every single name and their roles
- The romance did not work for me. It felt too contrived and quick and easy. I liked the twist with every other 'romance' or marriage proposal . . . just not with Emerald and Sam. It didn't feel REAL, but fantastical and childish. Like a fairytale romance.
Full review will be written in the near future.
March 10, 2015
I wanted to like this - I really did! But sadly that was not the case.
Emerald (she's named after her eyes of course...) is your typical goody-two-shoe heroine. She is ahead of her time in her way to think and act, which, of course, sets her apart from everyone else. She is beautiful without knowing it and she has a pet bear. Why? I have absolutely no idea, she just does. If this is the norm in her world, I don't know either, because Emerald never bothered to tell me, or if she did I don't remember.
Also I didn't think it made sense; like there is this girl that she hates in the beginning, but after some kind of minor plot twist they are BFF, even though Emerald is still very condecending when she thinks about her. I really didn't like Emerald by the end of the book - she felt... Meh! I did not like her at all, I thought she was whiny and kind of a brat to be honest!
Somewhere there is this plot with Emerald and the queen and an assassination attempt and some guy she just met but is madly in love with, but... Meh, it just didn't hold my attention.
Emerald (she's named after her eyes of course...) is your typical goody-two-shoe heroine. She is ahead of her time in her way to think and act, which, of course, sets her apart from everyone else. She is beautiful without knowing it and she has a pet bear. Why? I have absolutely no idea, she just does. If this is the norm in her world, I don't know either, because Emerald never bothered to tell me, or if she did I don't remember.
Also I didn't think it made sense; like there is this girl that she hates in the beginning, but after some kind of minor plot twist they are BFF, even though Emerald is still very condecending when she thinks about her. I really didn't like Emerald by the end of the book - she felt... Meh! I did not like her at all, I thought she was whiny and kind of a brat to be honest!
Somewhere there is this plot with Emerald and the queen and an assassination attempt and some guy she just met but is madly in love with, but... Meh, it just didn't hold my attention.
April 22, 2016
This is a historical fiction book set during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1st. The main character Emerald St John who lives with her aunt and uncle and cousin. Near the start of the book, Emerald finds out that she is to marry Lord Suckley who is a horrible man. Her brother returns home with his friend Sam who tells Emerald about a plot to kill the Queen. Emerald agrees to help by listening to people when she visits her mother's house.
This was a quick read. I thought it was an ok story at times it was a bit slow going. I feel that more could have been made about the plot to poison the Queen as this was more a side plot. The main plot was about Emerald, her marriage, and her mother.
The relationship between Sam and Emerald felt rushed which I was disappointed with as I like to see a relationship build up. I feel that this would be a good book to start with if you have never read any historical fiction.
This was a quick read. I thought it was an ok story at times it was a bit slow going. I feel that more could have been made about the plot to poison the Queen as this was more a side plot. The main plot was about Emerald, her marriage, and her mother.
The relationship between Sam and Emerald felt rushed which I was disappointed with as I like to see a relationship build up. I feel that this would be a good book to start with if you have never read any historical fiction.
December 20, 2011
I am such a sucker for YA Historical fiction with a pretty cover.
I ordered ths paperback all the way fom the UK based on this.
This book was a clunker.
Cardboard characters.
Annoying heroine.
Flat romance which was sudden and wooden.
Ugh- what a waste of money and time.
I ordered ths paperback all the way fom the UK based on this.
This book was a clunker.
Cardboard characters.
Annoying heroine.
Flat romance which was sudden and wooden.
Ugh- what a waste of money and time.
October 26, 2011
I recommend it to any fans of Eve Edwards or Anna Godbersen's books. If you love them, you'll this too!
Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...
Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...
December 6, 2011
It was a good story and I liked the characters, but there wasn't much depth in the story at all. Only the characters had a little depth. It was just a little vague, if you ask me. However, I did enjoy the book and it had me hooked sometimes.
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