Synopsis: The red-headed Karin is strong-willed and determined, something she inherited from her father. She tries to keep her true nature a secret to avoid being deemed a traitor by those loyal to the king. Karin and her father butt heads over her duty to her family and the Czech Crown. She is then sequestered to the Royal Viscount’s hunting lodge.
Not aware of everything that is happening, she becomes the target of an individual with murderous intent. Her heart soon becomes entangled though her father intends to wed her to another. The turmoil inside Karin deepens and reflects the turmoil of her homeland, on the brink of the Hussite Wars.
My Thoughts: The Lady Bornekova is a delightfully entertaining read. It has a great plot, interesting characters and the just the right touch of romance as well as a unique historical backdrop. I had never heard of the Hussite Wars prior to this book and after finishing it, had to resort to Google and Wikipedia to learn more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book set in a country you don't normally see in historical fiction and set in an era that is new to me. It's so refreshing (and exciting) to read such a good story that is so 'out of the box' in comparison to other works of historical fiction.
Lady Karin Bornekova is the main character of the novel and she was such an intelligent and likable character. In a time when women weren't allowed to have opinions, she had strong convictions that were outside the mainstream and she was willing to sacrifice everything for those convictions. I definitely admired her strength and tenacity as she stood up to her father and other people in her life who tried to prevent her thinking and believing the way that she did.
The story had a bit of a mystery to it and while I could easily see who the perpetrator was, I still enjoyed the strange occurrences that seemed to plague Karin. Even when everything was revealed, I was still a bit shocked by the cause and impetus for all that she had to endure. Also, there was, what in my mind seemed like, a cliffhanger ending to this story. It seemed to me like the author might have more to say about Karin's life during the Hussite Wars and I'm very hopeful that she does. 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from HFBVT in exchange for an honest review.
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I enjoyed your review Denise. This sounds like a book I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good book to get some historical info on Czechoslovakia. Have not read any historical fiction in this setting.
ReplyDeleteThere are indeed so many books and so little time. So when a particular book catches my attention, I really want to read it. This book set in the backdrop of historical Czechoslovakia seems one of such books. The idea is so interesting and nouvelle!
ReplyDeleteI always have mixed feelings about unusually strong female protagonists in historical settings! I love reading about a strong heroine as much as the next person, but sometimes I get tired of our protagonist just happening to be the one woman who defies the conventions of their time.
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