Hello!
Is everyone surviving (and enjoying) the summer holidays? Up here in Scotland we only have a couple of weeks left and so far our holidays have just flown by! In a whirlwind of mess and fun and with quite a lot of sunshine.
Anyway…
I’m making a brief appearance here today to write about the wonderful new historical novel – Cecily by Annie Garthwaite. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of it, i love historical fiction. Love it!
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Book blurb:
“Rebellion?”
The word is a spark. They can start a fire with it, or smother it in their fingertips.
She chooses to start a fire.
You are born high, but marry a traitor’s son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past.
You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise.
You are Cecily.
But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then?
Loyalty or treason – death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.
Told through the eyes of its greatest unseen protagonist, this astonishing debut plunges you into the blood and exhilaration of the first days of the Wars of the Roses, a war as women fight it.
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Great sounding synopsis, right!?!? I know I was getting grabby fingers after reading it.
And that cover! #CoverLove
There is something so mesmerising about historical facts all told through a fictional story. I love facts, but I want a story. I’m reading to be swept away with the characters and immersed in the era they are living through. I like to be educated, who doesn’t want to learn some facts? But, I am reading primarily to be entertained. And entertained I was.
I knew right from the first page that i was going to enjoy the book. I loved (and at times quite disliked) Cecily, she was a strong main lead in a time when women couldn’t be seen to be strong minded. She was no bystander. And a lot of fun to read about.
The writing was great, the pacing appeared to be spot and I flew through the pages. But, I have a small confession #BadBookBlogger I haven’t yet finished the book. However, even with a few pages left to read I am fairly confident that the book gets a great big massive tick from me. I love it. And if the weather was less gorgeous, if my wee mini person was still at school or if I could keep my eyes open at night time I wouldn’t have put the book down. It is everything I love in historical fiction. It is smart, interesting and I am hooked.
And now I’m off to read for the rest of my lazy Saturday afternoon.
Happy reading to anyone getting the chance too!
And a big thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of the book. Thank you!
One More Word 
Wonderful review Jules you make me want to read it too! xx
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