Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Dark Angels is a prequel to Through a Glass Darkly, and accordingly I read this first (but that was an accident. At the time I didn't know there were other books by her). Set in the court of the licentious Charles II an amazing romance springs forth (what could be a better place to set a historical romance?). Alice Verney is the female protagonist â and an amazing heroine as well! She is a courtier to Queen Catherine of Braganza and plays the role of courtier well â sneaky, smart, well-connected. Her greatest goal in life is to marry the Duke of Balmoral â a very old man â she's in it for the title and money of course. Yet somehow her attentions are turned by Richard Saylor, who is after Renee (Louise de Keroualle). Who will she choose and how will her ambitions play out?
Koen creates an amazing world and cast of characters who inhabit this word. She easily mixes real historical characters (Charles II, Queen Catherine, Duke of Balmoral etc) with characters of her imagination (Alice, Richard, etc) and even mixes a little of the real with imagination (Renee). I absolutely loved the character of Alice and she kept the story moving with many twists and turns â you are never really sure what she will do next!
I read this book quite a while ago â it was one of my early historical fiction reads. I must confess â I didn't realize that the king in this book was Charles II while I was reading it. I am pretty sure I didn't even know about Charles at that point â I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read it recently (after reading The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy).
Koen creates a vivid world and great characters that you can care about. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the antics of the court of Charles II or enjoys a great historical romance. I now have acquired her sequel (written before Dark Angels) Through a Glass Darkly and its sequel, Now Face to Face and am very excited to read both of them.
5 out of 5 stars!
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Dark Angels is a prequel to Through a Glass Darkly, and accordingly I read this first (but that was an accident. At the time I didn't know there were other books by her). Set in the court of the licentious Charles II an amazing romance springs forth (what could be a better place to set a historical romance?). Alice Verney is the female protagonist â and an amazing heroine as well! She is a courtier to Queen Catherine of Braganza and plays the role of courtier well â sneaky, smart, well-connected. Her greatest goal in life is to marry the Duke of Balmoral â a very old man â she's in it for the title and money of course. Yet somehow her attentions are turned by Richard Saylor, who is after Renee (Louise de Keroualle). Who will she choose and how will her ambitions play out?
Koen creates an amazing world and cast of characters who inhabit this word. She easily mixes real historical characters (Charles II, Queen Catherine, Duke of Balmoral etc) with characters of her imagination (Alice, Richard, etc) and even mixes a little of the real with imagination (Renee). I absolutely loved the character of Alice and she kept the story moving with many twists and turns â you are never really sure what she will do next!
I read this book quite a while ago â it was one of my early historical fiction reads. I must confess â I didn't realize that the king in this book was Charles II while I was reading it. I am pretty sure I didn't even know about Charles at that point â I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read it recently (after reading The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy).
Koen creates a vivid world and great characters that you can care about. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the antics of the court of Charles II or enjoys a great historical romance. I now have acquired her sequel (written before Dark Angels) Through a Glass Darkly and its sequel, Now Face to Face and am very excited to read both of them.
5 out of 5 stars!
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