Midnight Never Come
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Stunningly conceived and exquisitely achieved, this rich historical fantasy portrays the Elizabethan court 30 years into the reign of the Virgin Queen. With intriguing flashbacks to historical events, Brennan fleshes out the primal conflict of love and honour (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )
Book Description
MIDNIGHT NEVER COME seamlessly weaves together Elizabethan history and the fantastic to dazzling effect.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
The major theme of the book is the contrast between the fae court and the mortal court of Elizabeth I. The idea of a fairy court beneath London acting as a shadow or dark reflection of what happens above, is integral. The two main characters are a mortal and a fairy and we see both of their worlds in vivid detail.
Format:Paperback
Under Walsingham's sponsorship, Michael Deven is admitted to the Gentlemen Pensioners (men who guard the Queen at court). Ambitious to rise in his station, Michael is taken into Walsingham's confidence regarding a 'hidden player' guiding the hand of Elizabeth and seeks to discover who this hidden player could be. In doing so he meets Anne Montrose, lady in waiting to Countess Warwick who shares his concerns and offers assistance and with whom he falls in love.
Lady Lune, a courtier to the faerie queen Invidiana (whose court exists in parallel to Elizabeth's) is in disgrace for making a bad bargain with the sea faeries in return for their defeating the Spanish Armada. Desperate to redeem herself, she is tasked to spy on Walsingham and attempt to gain leverage over him but is distracted by Tiresias, a mortal in service to Invidiana who suffers visions of the future. Tiresias tells Lune to find Francis Merriman as he is the only one who knows how Invidiana came to ascend the throne of her Onyx Court and wreck an awful tyranny over the English faeries.
Lune and Michael's investigations coincide with each other. They come to realise that they need the help of the other if they are to bring down Invidiana's rule while preserving Elizabeth's.
A deftly researched book, with some wonderful period detail with regard to the politics and intrigue of Elizabeth's court and faerie folklore, the research never overpowers the story and Brennan's world building makes for a fascinating read. Because Brennan's interest is in the unravelling of a political mystery, the events in the book unfold quite slowly, which may put off those who prefer their historical fantasy to contain more action, although there some set-piece fight scenes that are exciting to read.
Michael's desire for advancement is more convincing that Lune's desire for redemption. She seems too easily swayed from her task and for a supposedly savvy player within Invidiana's court, she falls into the traps of other courtiers too easily. The `real' historical characters are convincing, particularly Walsingham, who is intelligent but in poor health and Elizabeth herself - shrewd, powerful and slightly bored with her court.
I would have liked to see a couple of scenes showing how Anne and Michael's romance developed and the ending feels slightly rushed. However this is an absorbing read that's well written and I want to read more from this author.
Lady Lune, a courtier to the faerie queen Invidiana (whose court exists in parallel to Elizabeth's) is in disgrace for making a bad bargain with the sea faeries in return for their defeating the Spanish Armada. Desperate to redeem herself, she is tasked to spy on Walsingham and attempt to gain leverage over him but is distracted by Tiresias, a mortal in service to Invidiana who suffers visions of the future. Tiresias tells Lune to find Francis Merriman as he is the only one who knows how Invidiana came to ascend the throne of her Onyx Court and wreck an awful tyranny over the English faeries.
Lune and Michael's investigations coincide with each other. They come to realise that they need the help of the other if they are to bring down Invidiana's rule while preserving Elizabeth's.
A deftly researched book, with some wonderful period detail with regard to the politics and intrigue of Elizabeth's court and faerie folklore, the research never overpowers the story and Brennan's world building makes for a fascinating read. Because Brennan's interest is in the unravelling of a political mystery, the events in the book unfold quite slowly, which may put off those who prefer their historical fantasy to contain more action, although there some set-piece fight scenes that are exciting to read.
Michael's desire for advancement is more convincing that Lune's desire for redemption. She seems too easily swayed from her task and for a supposedly savvy player within Invidiana's court, she falls into the traps of other courtiers too easily. The `real' historical characters are convincing, particularly Walsingham, who is intelligent but in poor health and Elizabeth herself - shrewd, powerful and slightly bored with her court.
I would have liked to see a couple of scenes showing how Anne and Michael's romance developed and the ending feels slightly rushed. However this is an absorbing read that's well written and I want to read more from this author.
Format:Paperback
I've read Elizabethan novels before, but none were quite as imaginative as this one. the caption 'A Great Light Casts a Great Shadow' is really good for the story. Invidiana is a great character. honestly. i have a weak spot for the almighty villains. The romance wasn't really elaborated on and we get ((***SPOILER ALERT***)) Henry's father lecturing him about getting a wife and suddenly he's snogging a woman. Anne Montrose is not properly introduced into the story, and I thought that that was a bit of a let-down. loved this book, though.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Combines the plot surprises of historical fiction with the gritty...
*Synopsis*
It's 1588, Elizabeth is on throne in London, and the ambitious young Michael Deven has just landed a plum job in her private guard. Read more
It's 1588, Elizabeth is on throne in London, and the ambitious young Michael Deven has just landed a plum job in her private guard. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2008 by OxfordSlacker
A good twist on Elizabethan Court intrigue...
The young Michael Deven is our guide to the Court of Elizabeth I, after the defeat of the Spanish Armada Deven seeks a place among Elizabeth's supporters, particularly seeking out... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2008 by Read Me
Extremely fast and exciting!
This is definitely one of the greatest and most exciting books I have ever read! Marie Brennan does a superb job at keeping the reader 'hooked' until the very end! Read more
Published on 27 July 2008 by FAMOUS NAME
Extremely fast and exciting!
This is definitely one of the greatest and most exciting books I have ever read! Marie Brennan does a superb job at keeping the reader 'hooked' until the very end! Read more
Published on 27 July 2008 by FAMOUS NAME
Entertaining Elizabethan mystery
An Elizabethan spy mystery that interweaves the world of the fey with that of humankind. Wonderfully creative, excellently presented and a tale that will keep you wondering as to... Read more
Published on 7 July 2008 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Seamless Historical Fantasy
One of my favourite periods of English history is that of the Elizabethan era (1558 - 1603). It was a time when boundaries were being pushed in theatre and poetry and literature, a... Read more
Published on 30 May 2008 by Christopher Halo
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
