Third Book in the Series Does Not Disappoint

I have written positive reviews of all the books in this series and stand by my opinion. Stella Riley has woven an engrossing saga during England's Civil War that pulls you into the lives of the characters and the turbulent time of England's Civil War. Alex Wyndham is the perfect narrator.

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Looking forward to the last book in the series...

Great ,,,just got confused over the pronunciation of Cyrano....it was not the French version...and yet the rest of the French verbiage was pronounced mostly French

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Everything you want in a novel and so much more

Stella Riley is such an amazing story teller, weaving individual, personal stories into the rich tapestry of her Roundheads and Cavaliers series. This series is also entwined with her Civil War series as many of the characters appear in both. The large cast of characters are in and out of each others stories, at different times during the conflict, giving you a binocular view of singular points of the war and individual struggles, whilst collectively presenting the conflict as a whole. I am frankly amazed at how Stella manages to keep all these stories and details straight between the two series and ends up with a cohesive story, but she does. Personalities are skillfully revealed in each instalment and the secrets gradually come to light. At the end of The King’s Falcon the structure of English society is starkly changed by religious fanaticism and the desire for control and power, disguised as social improvement, which ultimately improves only the lives of a few at the expense of the many.

If I were to focus on what is most important to me in a novel, I would definitely say that the characters need to be vivid, intricately formed, witty, often but not always wise, multi-layered people I would love to spend time with. The King’s Falcon excels at this and presents you with fascinating, complex people, who are trapped in conflict that is beyond their control, whether through war or poverty or social position. We step back to a time where ancestry, social status and wealth are everything and women are confined and often powerless. Poverty is a character flaw and women of the stage are prostitutes and valued only for their beauty, toys to be taken, played with and then tossed aside. In this novel we focus on two Cavalier soldiers, involved in the last battles of the war, weary of loss, killing and forced to flee to France to escape imprisonment and to support Charles the deposed king. They have little money, almost no occupation and are separated irreparably from the life they lived before the war. Ashley (Ash) is a second son, an out of work soldier and a sometimes spy, whose brother supported Cromwell and married the women Ashley was to wed . At first he is almost unknowable having erected a barrier that keeps people at a distance. Francis becomes a Viscount on the loss of his father, his lands have been confiscated, and is largely estranged from his remaining family. He (one of my favourites} is witty, easy going, a bit of a rake but kind hearted and who has grown to be a much deeper person because of his experiences in the war and the friendships formed with other soldiers. Both are well educated and of the nobility , but living below the poverty line, barely scraping by. Paris life for them is restless, aimless and frustrating after years of brutal battles and heartbreaking losses. As dreary as it has been, they miss the action and adventure and camaraderie of the war. Forced to change lodgings for financial reasons, they move into shared housing with a beautiful actress, Athenais and her friend and mentor Pauline. These woman are from a totally different social structure and status. Athenais is just starting her career while Pauline, once a very famous actress who withdrew from the stage after an accident that left her with a facial scar and a limp . Pauline is practical, jaded by life and keeps her emotions rigidly in check while Athenais is naive, somewhat self-centred and often on an emotional rollercoaster. There is an immediate attraction between Athenais and Ash, but only coolness and distrust from Pauline to both men. As friendship and love grow and change their worlds, a sweet, poignant story unfolds with many twists and turns, further tragedy and an intrigue that will sweep you into the narrative. I love that Stella never rushes through her books or her character development and adds a wealth of historical facts to her outstanding plots. . I have read all of her books multiple times and they are so packed with content that each time I am entranced and learn new things. When I started these series I had only the foggiest recollection of this period of English history, the events leading up to it and its aftermath, but now I almost think I could teach a class on it. Stella’s research is so detailed and accurate that you are able to soak up the sights and sounds and smells and feel a part of it. Stella’s writing style, plot lines and characters are so compelling that you become invested from the very start.

Add to this the incredible narration of Alex Wyndham who literally inhabits her people and you have a must listen, stop all other activities experience. I have found that no matter how good a book is, a mediocre narrater can ruin it. Stella and Alex are a literary match made in heaven. Alex brings such passion, nuance and yes downright sexiness to the party that you will never be disappointed and never want to leave. Do not miss out on the experience, but a warning, one book and you will be hooked.

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2 people found this helpful

Love and intrigue in the English Civil War era

I love Stella Riley's historical series set during the English Civil War. In each book, the love story between strong and honorable if sometimes flawed characters intertwines with the historical reality: political intrigue, military campaigns and sieges, friends and families split by the political and religious conflicts. This book is set after King Charles I’s execution, as King Charles II tries to regain his kingdom but so far, he fails and lives in exile. The hero, Ashley Peverell, is a soldier involved in secret intelligence work who was introduced in Book 2 (The Garland of Straw). The heroine is Athenais de Galzain, a young actress in Paris. The secondary couple in the series is Francis Langley (also known to readers from the beginning of the series) and Pauline Fleury, another actress and Athenais’s mentor. Ashley gets involved in more and more secret intelligence work for the King,, Athenais is threatened by an evil Marquis who doesn’t take no for an answer, Francis, disturbed by his war experiences and by his family’s shattering (his extremely selfish sister Celia causes much pain before she gets her comeuppance) finds a new vocation in the theatre and tries to woo Pauline. Int he end, they all become embroiled in foiling an attempt on King Charles’s life. During these adventures, two shining and strong love relationships are formed which triumph in the end, after much suffering.
I especially enjoyed seeing beloved and honorable characters on both sides of the conflict (Ashley, Francis and their friend Nicholas among the Cavailers and Eden Maxwell on the Parliamentary side). The appearance of Cyrano de Bergerac was a welcome addition, and I enjoyed the description of the theatre life in the era.
However, I had trouble with the extreme dark violence in the story. I knew to expect it to some degree as the previous boks also contained some dark themes (revenge, betrayal, loss of pregnancy due to the actions of a villain, torture, unnecessary and cruel killing of the defeated by the victors etc.), but I think this book is not for the faint-hearted, and contains potential emotional triggers. On the whole, though, I think the strength, honour and kindness of the positive characters, their friendship, the love relationships, and the humour wins over the darkness and makes this story a satisfying experience even if an emotional rollercoaster.
The audio version is a shining testimony to the talent of Alex Wyndham, the long-time narrator of the author's historical romances. The many facets of the story - swashbuckling, war, politics, espionage, love, friendship, witch-hunt, theatre etc. - are displayed in his voice evocatively, richly illustrating character and emotions in a variety of situations. It is a treat to immerse myself in this book with this new audio edition, and I recommend it to all historical fiction and historical romance lovers.

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1 person found this helpful

19 hours of bliss.

I knew I would enjoy listening to this book as I had already read the book. I was not disappointed. Alex brought this magnificent story alive. He gave each character the right tone and nuisance that brought one into the story and kept the listener firmly put. The story is well told, interesting, historically accurate and well worth a credit or member price to listen.

This book is about Francis and Ashley. Both are cavalier soldiers exiled in France trying to make a life for themselves and finding love and adventure in the process. I will not recount the story, it is not necessary in this review, however, it is full of all that those of us who love Stella Riley's books enjoy and was well worth the agonizing wait. Now we must all wait again for the Lord of Misrule, book four in this series....I will be impatiently waiting.

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2 people found this helpful

Once the battles were over, I loved it

Stella Riley always pulls me into her stories with vivid characters and gripping plots. The mellifluous Alex Wyndham interprets the words and accents in a way that enhances this listener’s pleasure. I’ve never been intrigued by battles or wars and my mind wanders at the descriptions. However, I love Riley’s writing so much, I stick with with those scenes knowing the stories are complex, thrilling, and fun.

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1 person found this helpful

Long but very well done

The overall story, especially in conjunction with the series, is very well done. Characters are brought to life superbly by the narrator. I knocked off a star because the first three hours are mired in military maneuvers and details which could have been much shorter and because at times the lead hero seems too mysterious for no good reason and too good and understanding in others. I suppose it made him seem less human. But on the whole well done. The minor characters are wonderful.

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Brilliant!

Looking forward to listening to the next book in the series! Great story by Stella Riley and superb performance by Alex Wyndham!

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Stayed up all night to finish

Magnificent narration for an historical novel that is exciting, vivid, sensuous, and touching. What a remarkable experience. Riley brings 17th century Paris and London to life and recreates the interlocking worlds of French theater at its glittering apex, deadly British politics around the King in exile, Cavaliers living on the edge of starvation as they try to find lives in a foreign land, and the fast sinking dreams of freedom in England quickly perishing under Cromwell's emerging military dictatorship. Three wonderful new heroines, and several irresistible dashing men from previous books...it's no wonder I couldn't stop listening. Oh - significant plot furthering appearances by King Charles II and Cyrano de Bergerac added dash and panache. Great fun, high adventure, and an unbeatably surprising and romantic last chapter. Total satisfaction.

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3 people found this helpful

Great performances on and off stage👏👏

Like of the other books in the series, I was sorry for it to see it end. History, romance coupled with mystery and suspense in a nice bundle. And of course Alex Wyndham’s narration made it all the more enjoyable.

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