Book Details
Title:Lady of the Ravens
Author: Joanna Hickson
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Length: 400 Pages
Published: January 9, 2020
Synopsis
My baptismal name may be Giovanna but here in my mother’s adopted country I have become plain Joan; I am not pink-cheeked and golden-haired like the beauties they admire. I have olive skin and dark features – black brows over ebony eyes and hair the colour of a raven’s wing…
When Joan Vaux is sent to live in the shadow of the Tower of London, she must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of this new England under the Tudors. Like the ravens, Joan must use her eyes and her senses, if Henry and his new dynasty are to prosper and thrive …
My Review:
My favorite aspect of the Lady of the Ravens is the way that the author evokes the atmosphere of the Tower of London and the surrounding community. The book is rich with historical details about England in the early Tudor period. I have a soft spot for novels set during this time in history, and Hickson’s writing reminds me of another Philippa Gregory, who is one of my favorite authors.
I enjoyed reading about the life of the protagonist, Joan Vaux. I found her easy to relate to because she also loves books and has a soft spot for animals, including the iconic ravens that live at the Tower. The fact that the author chose a relatively unknown person to be the protagonist of her novel was one of the strong points of the book. I wasn’t sure how the story would end and I felt a sense of foreboding as I watched the events unfold.
The only gentle criticism I have is that the plot of the book felt a bit meandering at times. Nevertheless, I loved the ongoing plot line in which the protagonist fights to gain acceptance for her beloved ravens. If you’re a fan of Tudor historical fiction, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book. I give it a very solid four stars and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks so much to Anne Carter and Random Things blog tours for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Joanna Hickson
Joanna Hickson spent twenty-five years presenting and producing News and Arts programmes for the BBC. Her first published book was a children’s historical novel Rebellion at Orford Castle but more recently she has turned to adult fiction, concentrating on bringing fifteenth century English history and some of its fascinating principal characters to life. She is married with a large family and gets inspiration from her Wiltshire farmhouse home, which dates back to her chosen period.
For more information please contact Elinor Fewster on elinor.fewster@harpercollins.co.uk or 020 8307 4713
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Thanks for the blog tour support Beckie xx
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Great article. I love the cover of the book
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