Helpful Score: 3
This was as good as her first book. I loved getting the chance to see how Alice came to be so understanding of Barbara, and of course getting to meet her namesake was great. The history and the detail of the characters makes you feel like you were there and someitmes you are not even sure who you are rooting for, definelty worth your time.
Helpful Score: 3
This is one of my favorites! Dark Angels is a detailed, adventurous love story. I found it to be very entertaining!
Helpful Score: 3
This was some interesting history, but I admit that the author's indiscriminate use of pronouns made it difficult to follow the conspiracies and plots brewing.
"Is he dead?"
"Certainly he is."
Who? Who are they talking about?!
"Is he dead?"
"Certainly he is."
Who? Who are they talking about?!
Helpful Score: 2
One of my favorite books!!
Helpful Score: 2
Alice Verney, a maid of honor to Princess Henriette of France returns to England after her mistress's mysterious and horrible death, with the ambition to marry the elderly Duke of Balmoral. This ambition holds firm in spite of her attraction to Richard Saylor, an enterprising soldier who, while he appreciates Alice's wit and political savvy, is competing with the king himself for the affections of Renee DeKaroulle, a French beauty who cannot quite make up her mind whose affections she truly desires.
I was drawn to Alice the moment I started reading. Koen shapes the main character of the story to be someone who is cunning and daring, clawing her way up the totem pole for status and respect in a world where women were afforded little of either.
The historical England that Koen creates in Dark Angels is breathtaking. Her phrase and descriptions are truly believable and transport her readers directly into seventeenth century England and France. I was also drawn to Richard Saylor who I thought made a perfect leading man, and even though I knew it impossible throughout the entire book, wanted him and Alice to finally be together.
Despite its slow start, Dark Angels delivered for me. Towards the end the book became a page turner, but was somewhat of a let-down with its predictable ending, and sometimes tiring plot twists. Overall, it was a great historical fiction, and I will more than likely be coming back to Koen for more.
I was drawn to Alice the moment I started reading. Koen shapes the main character of the story to be someone who is cunning and daring, clawing her way up the totem pole for status and respect in a world where women were afforded little of either.
The historical England that Koen creates in Dark Angels is breathtaking. Her phrase and descriptions are truly believable and transport her readers directly into seventeenth century England and France. I was also drawn to Richard Saylor who I thought made a perfect leading man, and even though I knew it impossible throughout the entire book, wanted him and Alice to finally be together.
Despite its slow start, Dark Angels delivered for me. Towards the end the book became a page turner, but was somewhat of a let-down with its predictable ending, and sometimes tiring plot twists. Overall, it was a great historical fiction, and I will more than likely be coming back to Koen for more.
