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Maids of Honor #2
Maid of Deception
Beatrice Knowles is a Maid of Honor, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s secret protectors. Known for her uncanny ability to manipulate men’s hearts, Beatrice has proven herself to be a valuable asset in the Queen’s court—or so she thinks. It has been three weeks since the Maids thwarted a plot to overthrow the Queen, and Beatrice is preparing to wed her betrothed, Lord Cavanaugh. However, her plans come to a crashing halt as rumors of a brewing Scottish rebellion spread among the court.
Beatrice’s new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lot—Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellion….and her own heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what she’s known all along: In a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.
Beatrice’s new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lot—Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellion….and her own heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what she’s known all along: In a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.
409 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2014
About the author
Jennifer McGowan
5 books328 followersJennifer McGowan writes Young Adult romance full of swash and buckle. Her novels in the Maids of Honor series include MAID OF SECRETS, MAID OF DECEPTION and the upcoming MAID OF WONDER
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 18, 2014
Full of sweet romance, court drama, and buried secrets, Maid of Deception was a brilliant YA read. I loved this book! It was amazing from beginning to end and everything about it was wonderful. Loved this book so much!
This book is the second in the Maids of Honor series, but it can be read as a stand alone, since it focuses on a different character and has a new conflict. So, if you haven't read book 1, don't let that stop you from reading this one.
Beatrice was a wonderful heroine. I have to admit, at first, I didn't get the best first impression of her. She had an odd thing going where she was snobbish and cold at times, then wallowed in self pity at others. But, as the book went on, we see deeper into her character. She was strong-willed, resilient, and more clever than most people gave her credit for. By the end of the book, I really liked her.
Alasdair was also amazing. He was loyal, honorable, brave, and so sweet. He was the type of truly noble man that would never go back on his word and loved without reservation. He was just wonderful and I totally adored him.
The romance was very sweet. It wasn't the focus of the book. It was more like it snuck up on the characters while they were focused on the court drama. I really liked how that was done, in a way that was really sweet and realistic. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were definitely enough thrills to keep me on the edge of my seat, with all the court scandals, spurned suitors, and buried secrets. I totally loved the story and the ending was perfect. I can't wait for the next book in the series because these Maids of Honor are brilliant and I'm anxious to read the rest of their stories.
Maid of Deception was a fantastic YA historical romance. I absolutely loved this book. From the court drama to the sweet romance, this book was lovely. YA readers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book is the second in the Maids of Honor series, but it can be read as a stand alone, since it focuses on a different character and has a new conflict. So, if you haven't read book 1, don't let that stop you from reading this one.
Beatrice was a wonderful heroine. I have to admit, at first, I didn't get the best first impression of her. She had an odd thing going where she was snobbish and cold at times, then wallowed in self pity at others. But, as the book went on, we see deeper into her character. She was strong-willed, resilient, and more clever than most people gave her credit for. By the end of the book, I really liked her.
Alasdair was also amazing. He was loyal, honorable, brave, and so sweet. He was the type of truly noble man that would never go back on his word and loved without reservation. He was just wonderful and I totally adored him.
The romance was very sweet. It wasn't the focus of the book. It was more like it snuck up on the characters while they were focused on the court drama. I really liked how that was done, in a way that was really sweet and realistic. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were definitely enough thrills to keep me on the edge of my seat, with all the court scandals, spurned suitors, and buried secrets. I totally loved the story and the ending was perfect. I can't wait for the next book in the series because these Maids of Honor are brilliant and I'm anxious to read the rest of their stories.
Maid of Deception was a fantastic YA historical romance. I absolutely loved this book. From the court drama to the sweet romance, this book was lovely. YA readers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2014
The mix of Tudor history, young romance, undercover adventure, and political intrigue make Maid of Deception a fun, light, entertaining YA historical novel. This is the second book in the Maids of Honor series, but since the first features a different girl I had no trouble following the story. There are five teenage Maids of Honor with distinct talents and personalities who serve as personal spies for Queen Elizabeth, and my guess is there will be a book for each one of them.
Beatrice, the Maid of Honor whose skills involve getting men to spill their secrets, is the first person narrator here, and while the romance is definitely predictable (but isn’t it usually?) there were some other surprises for me in the pot. If you already know something about the Tudor era you’ll recognize several of the people, situations, customs, and fads the Maids encounter, and if aren’t familiar with that time you’ll actually learn a little something.
Beatrice, the Maid of Honor whose skills involve getting men to spill their secrets, is the first person narrator here, and while the romance is definitely predictable (but isn’t it usually?) there were some other surprises for me in the pot. If you already know something about the Tudor era you’ll recognize several of the people, situations, customs, and fads the Maids encounter, and if aren’t familiar with that time you’ll actually learn a little something.
April 8, 2014
I grew up reading romances and love Elizabethan history, so when I read what this book was about I thought it would be a great book to read.
Lady Beatrice is a Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth and really dislikes her. This is reciprocated by Elizabeth as well, so the sparring between the two is a lot of fun to watch.
I didn't realize this was number two in a series so will have to now get the first one to read.
I highly recommend this book to young readers. Our 7th graders and 8th graders would like it I think and it is appropriate for them.
Lady Beatrice is a Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth and really dislikes her. This is reciprocated by Elizabeth as well, so the sparring between the two is a lot of fun to watch.
I didn't realize this was number two in a series so will have to now get the first one to read.
I highly recommend this book to young readers. Our 7th graders and 8th graders would like it I think and it is appropriate for them.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
October 16, 2014December 3, 2013:
GIVE ME A COVER ALREADY SUFFERING HERE!!!!
February 13, 2014:
THE COVER!! IT`S HERE!! BREATHE HAYLEY BREATHE!!!!!!!!!I CAN`T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GIVE ME A COVER ALREADY SUFFERING HERE!!!!
February 13, 2014:
THE COVER!! IT`S HERE!! BREATHE HAYLEY BREATHE!!!!!!!!!I CAN`T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, more than the first book in the series. I found the protagonist Beatrice to be somehow relatable (despite our personalities being very different) and even though she was often self-sabotaging, I rooted for her to let down her guard and allow herself to feel. We also really got to see the dark, cruel side of Queen Elizabeth here. The plot did feel somewhat repetitive -- how many times did they really need to reiterate that there was a group of Scots that would join the English in fighting the French? -- but I liked that part of it took place outside of Windsor Castle, so we got a bit of a change of scenery. Initially I wasn't the biggest fan of the love interest, but I warmed up to him as the book went on.
The next one is apparently from Sophia's POV, so that should be....interesting.
The next one is apparently from Sophia's POV, so that should be....interesting.
July 12, 2014
Originally posted on City of Books
I loved this one just as much as Maid of Secrets! Though I was initially apprehensive about it since Beatrice is my least favourite of the Maids of Honor, I found myself really liking her as the story progressed. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing who we get next.
Maid of Deception follows Beatrice Knowles, the manipulative one. Hence the book title. She knows how to use her charms to get men to tell her anything, which is why her skills are so useful at court. Beatrice assumes these skills will no longer be necessary since she's getting married to Lord Cavanaugh, but when the queen interrupts the wedding for Beatrice's new assignment, she's livid. Especially when her assignment is Alasdair MacLeod. But as Beatrice spends more time with him, she learns more than she ever would have wanted about the Scottish rebellion and Alasdair's role in it. She also starts developing an affection for him that scares her a little, but what's life without a little danger?
At the beginning, Beatrice struck me as the same airhead-like girl from the previous book - she was just focused on her marriage and nothing else. Also, she clearly doesn't love Cavanaugh, but she likes the idea that he loves her and she'd agree to marry him because of it. I just didn't get her. But later on, we get to see her courageous side, and I also began to empathize with her situation. It's also admirable how much strength she has, though she never really shows it to anyone.
I loved getting to know the other maids as well, and especially seeing Meg and Rafe again. Meg's become pretty close to Jane, the slightly violent and totally badass girl in the group. I think that's awesome, since they're both very similar in a way. I really hope we get to read Jane's story soon - she's my favourite. This book has more focus on Sophia, the quiet Seer. She comes into her powers properly, so people at court have begun to take notice. I wonder how her abilities will develop, and what the consequences will be.
Alasdair is the love interest in this book, as you can tell from the synopsis. I was actually really surprised by this, since I remember him from Maid of Secrets, and he was a total brute of a guy whom Beatrice really despised. But he's different in this one, described as gorgeous even. I don't know how that came about, but I liked it. I liked him in this. He's not secretive about his feelings for Beatrice at all, and it was refreshing to see how straightforward he is. But there are things he's hiding, of course. And it's only a matter of time before the maid of deception finds them out.
The really interesting thing about the interactions in this novel is that Beatrice sees the queen in a completely different light than Meg did. Meg practically worshipped her. Beatrice, though, has a very strained relationship with her. They really don't like each other, and it shows. In fact, it was weird to see the queen showing such distaste for one of her maids. I don't know much about the actual history of this era - I watch Reign on the CW but I highly doubt it completely follows the true story. But it's clear that England, Scotland and France have a huge power struggle, and I'm interested to see how that pans out in this series.
The ending felt a bit rushed to me, and I was hoping for some more honest, deception-free interactions between Beatrice and Alasdair, but on the whole I really enjoyed reading this. Though I don't read too many historical YA novels, the ones I have read are fantastic. Maid of Deception is no exception. Beatrice's story was exciting to read, and I commend McGowan for another riveting installment in the series.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC for review*
I loved this one just as much as Maid of Secrets! Though I was initially apprehensive about it since Beatrice is my least favourite of the Maids of Honor, I found myself really liking her as the story progressed. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing who we get next.
Maid of Deception follows Beatrice Knowles, the manipulative one. Hence the book title. She knows how to use her charms to get men to tell her anything, which is why her skills are so useful at court. Beatrice assumes these skills will no longer be necessary since she's getting married to Lord Cavanaugh, but when the queen interrupts the wedding for Beatrice's new assignment, she's livid. Especially when her assignment is Alasdair MacLeod. But as Beatrice spends more time with him, she learns more than she ever would have wanted about the Scottish rebellion and Alasdair's role in it. She also starts developing an affection for him that scares her a little, but what's life without a little danger?
At the beginning, Beatrice struck me as the same airhead-like girl from the previous book - she was just focused on her marriage and nothing else. Also, she clearly doesn't love Cavanaugh, but she likes the idea that he loves her and she'd agree to marry him because of it. I just didn't get her. But later on, we get to see her courageous side, and I also began to empathize with her situation. It's also admirable how much strength she has, though she never really shows it to anyone.
I loved getting to know the other maids as well, and especially seeing Meg and Rafe again. Meg's become pretty close to Jane, the slightly violent and totally badass girl in the group. I think that's awesome, since they're both very similar in a way. I really hope we get to read Jane's story soon - she's my favourite. This book has more focus on Sophia, the quiet Seer. She comes into her powers properly, so people at court have begun to take notice. I wonder how her abilities will develop, and what the consequences will be.
Alasdair is the love interest in this book, as you can tell from the synopsis. I was actually really surprised by this, since I remember him from Maid of Secrets, and he was a total brute of a guy whom Beatrice really despised. But he's different in this one, described as gorgeous even. I don't know how that came about, but I liked it. I liked him in this. He's not secretive about his feelings for Beatrice at all, and it was refreshing to see how straightforward he is. But there are things he's hiding, of course. And it's only a matter of time before the maid of deception finds them out.
The really interesting thing about the interactions in this novel is that Beatrice sees the queen in a completely different light than Meg did. Meg practically worshipped her. Beatrice, though, has a very strained relationship with her. They really don't like each other, and it shows. In fact, it was weird to see the queen showing such distaste for one of her maids. I don't know much about the actual history of this era - I watch Reign on the CW but I highly doubt it completely follows the true story. But it's clear that England, Scotland and France have a huge power struggle, and I'm interested to see how that pans out in this series.
The ending felt a bit rushed to me, and I was hoping for some more honest, deception-free interactions between Beatrice and Alasdair, but on the whole I really enjoyed reading this. Though I don't read too many historical YA novels, the ones I have read are fantastic. Maid of Deception is no exception. Beatrice's story was exciting to read, and I commend McGowan for another riveting installment in the series.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC for review*
February 26, 2017
I think I liked that even more than the last one! Full review to come.
Originally posted on Small Review
I guess you'd call this a sequel to Maid of Secrets, but I'd say it's more of a companion novel and either can be read first. Each book in this series focuses on a different maid of honor in Elizabeth I's court, and Maid of Deception follows Beatrice.
Beatrice is, on the surface, the pretty mean girl of the group who uses her good looks and charms to ferret out secrets for the queen. Meg (the main character in Maid of Secrets) didn't get along with Beatrice very much, but I liked her a whole lot. Jennifer McGowan develops Beatrice's personality well and makes her a character that stands out from the more stereotypical Meg and, for me, made her even more likable.
There's a lot less action in this book as compared to the first (torture! intrigue!) so as far as plot goes the first is stronger. But, I liked Beatrice more and her romance was much more up my alley. So, character girl that I am, I had no trouble staying engaged and I liked this book just as much and possibly even more than the first.
Jennifer McGowan's Maids of Honor series is exactly the type of series I like. It's almost like a comfort read series for me and it's twice now gotten me out of reading slumps. Historical lite, with romance, intrigues, mysteries, political balancing, a tiny touch of paranormal, and likable characters. It's a light series, and despite the high page counts of the books, they're still super fast reads. I can see myself re-reading these books and I'm definitely going to read all of the books as they come out. I just really wish they had different covers.
While this is a series that isn't completely published yet, the nature of the stories (each following a new maid of honor and wrapping up her story) makes it so you can easily read the books as standalones as they are published with no fear of cliffhangers or fading memory.
Originally posted on Small Review
I guess you'd call this a sequel to Maid of Secrets, but I'd say it's more of a companion novel and either can be read first. Each book in this series focuses on a different maid of honor in Elizabeth I's court, and Maid of Deception follows Beatrice.
Beatrice is, on the surface, the pretty mean girl of the group who uses her good looks and charms to ferret out secrets for the queen. Meg (the main character in Maid of Secrets) didn't get along with Beatrice very much, but I liked her a whole lot. Jennifer McGowan develops Beatrice's personality well and makes her a character that stands out from the more stereotypical Meg and, for me, made her even more likable.
There's a lot less action in this book as compared to the first (torture! intrigue!) so as far as plot goes the first is stronger. But, I liked Beatrice more and her romance was much more up my alley. So, character girl that I am, I had no trouble staying engaged and I liked this book just as much and possibly even more than the first.
Jennifer McGowan's Maids of Honor series is exactly the type of series I like. It's almost like a comfort read series for me and it's twice now gotten me out of reading slumps. Historical lite, with romance, intrigues, mysteries, political balancing, a tiny touch of paranormal, and likable characters. It's a light series, and despite the high page counts of the books, they're still super fast reads. I can see myself re-reading these books and I'm definitely going to read all of the books as they come out. I just really wish they had different covers.
While this is a series that isn't completely published yet, the nature of the stories (each following a new maid of honor and wrapping up her story) makes it so you can easily read the books as standalones as they are published with no fear of cliffhangers or fading memory.
March 26, 2016
Stayed up way too late reading this. Even better than the first! More intrigue!!! More friendship!! More romance!! Now I'm wondering if there will be 5 books and not just 3?? I didn't think about it after the first one, but there are FIVE girls so.... PLEASE!
Didn't like Beatrice much as a secondary character in book 1, but understood and loved her with a narrative of her own here.
Didn't like Beatrice much as a secondary character in book 1, but understood and loved her with a narrative of her own here.
March 16, 2016
This was fun, and even better than the series' first novel. Beatrice is a well-crafted and multidimensional character and her hard edges make her even more so. That said, I need a Jane book called Maid of Steel. Gimme.
May 5, 2017
Actual rating 3.5 stars
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
This story is full of historical court drama, mystery and espionage. The main character is the master of secrets and being able to use them to her advantage so there’s a lot of political and social action going on. However, it was a bit slow and sometimes it felt boring. It wasn’t as entertaining as the first book and that was disappointing.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was really easy to read and the writing style was detailed and descriptive. It was quite simple but sometimes it felt too modern for the time period it was set in. The narrator was honestly kind of annoying. She spent a lot of time blind to things or in denial and her voice was really dry.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
I was a little disappointed with the characterization in this book. I was really looking forward to reading from another Maid of Honor’s point of view but I didn’t connect with her the same way. It just made the book less entertaining and lacked the charm of the first one.
Beatrice was really annoying. I don’t like saying that she was. She’s made her whole life on the fact that she can lie her ass off and lying is one of my deal breakers so I kind of knew we weren’t going to get along that well. She’s oblivious to a lot of things around here even though she’s supposed to be the most observant of them all. She’s really manipulative and has a haughty attitude so not that big of a fan.
On the other hand, I loved the side characters! I’m glad I got to have the other Maids of Honor around even though not as much as I was hoping to. And the new characters that were introduced as well as looked into more were amazing. I just felt like everyone around Beatrice outshined her and I almost wanted a different POV to be the center in this book.
Emotionally
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
This story is full of historical court drama, mystery and espionage. The main character is the master of secrets and being able to use them to her advantage so there’s a lot of political and social action going on. However, it was a bit slow and sometimes it felt boring. It wasn’t as entertaining as the first book and that was disappointing.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was really easy to read and the writing style was detailed and descriptive. It was quite simple but sometimes it felt too modern for the time period it was set in. The narrator was honestly kind of annoying. She spent a lot of time blind to things or in denial and her voice was really dry.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
I was a little disappointed with the characterization in this book. I was really looking forward to reading from another Maid of Honor’s point of view but I didn’t connect with her the same way. It just made the book less entertaining and lacked the charm of the first one.
Beatrice was really annoying. I don’t like saying that she was. She’s made her whole life on the fact that she can lie her ass off and lying is one of my deal breakers so I kind of knew we weren’t going to get along that well. She’s oblivious to a lot of things around here even though she’s supposed to be the most observant of them all. She’s really manipulative and has a haughty attitude so not that big of a fan.
On the other hand, I loved the side characters! I’m glad I got to have the other Maids of Honor around even though not as much as I was hoping to. And the new characters that were introduced as well as looked into more were amazing. I just felt like everyone around Beatrice outshined her and I almost wanted a different POV to be the center in this book.
Emotionally
September 17, 2015
Series like Maids of Honor are tricky to get right. With each book, McGowan focuses on a different maid, but the series also has its own overarching story that will need to be carried by each perspective. Embarking on Maid of Deception, I wasn’t sure what I would find, especially since Beatrice was the mean girl of the bunch in Maid of Secrets. She hadn’t been my favorite of the girls, and I was nervous that I wouldn’t like her perspective as much as Meg’s. Maid of Deception proved to be just as much fun as Maid of Secrets, and improved on the plotting and romance.
McGowan does a really wonderful job with Beatrice’s character. She gets an arc in Maid of Secrets, turning out to be more of a friend than Meg could have anticipated at the start. Even so, there’s a lot the reader didn’t know about her. Getting to be inside her head and know her motivations makes Beatrice a lot more sympathetic. However, McGowan doesn’t go too far and reveal her as a fluffy bunny underneath the court politics. Beatrice remains judgmental and calculating, and I’m glad that this part of her character wasn’t removed entirely.
One of the fun things about switching perspectives is the changing view of Queen Elizabeth. Meg felt a strong devotion to Queen Elizabeth, awed by a woman with the power to do whatever she wants. Beatrice is quite another story. In her head, she thinks of Elizabeth by such flattering monikers as “Her Avariciousness.” Beatrice has known Elizabeth since her youth and been privy to secrets from that time; Elizabeth resents her this knowledge but also trusts her because she never told. Their relationship is an interesting one built on mutual loathing but an odd sort of loyalty. McGowan shows more of Elizabeth’s petty, petulant side in Maid of Deception, and it will be so cool to see Elizabeth from the perspectives of the other maids as well.
The mystery in Maid of Secrets was entirely predictable but Maid of Deception took another path. There almost wasn’t a mystery, though many things were curious. This time it’s more the unraveling of court politics and maneuverings of marriages, which really fits with this being Beatrice’s book; she’s not the sort to solve murder mysteries. My favorite part plot-wise was the thing that came out of left field and the way that Beatrice was able to come to understand her family better.
I was really looking forward to the romance in Maid of Deception, but I was a little worried since Beatrice was engaged to Cavanaugh. Thankfully, the queen throws a wrench into the works because she feels like Beatrice’s wedding is upstaging her birthday celebrations, which simply would not do. See what I mean about the queen showing her petty side?
With the wedding on hold, the road is clear for the hate to love ship of delightfulness that is Beatrice and Alasdair. Her courtly ways make her automatically detest the burly, bearded Scotsman, though she was a bit thrown for a loop by how handsome he looks shaved and dressed fashionably. What I really like is how they slowly became friends first sort of against her own will. Alasdair was very much playing the long game and went into the relationship very aware that Beatrice was lying. That’s something that’s been true of both romances so far: the guys may not know all but they’re aware their lady loves are unreliable and spying. It actually really lessens the drama because there doesn’t have to be that big fight at the reveal. Maid of Deception is a much shippier book, and I very much want to see this trend continue. However, I really hope that we’ll see how some of these ships resolve in the later books because it sort of seems like they’re being left dangling.
Historical romances are one of my favorite things, and this series is a treasure. They’re on the fluffier side with lots of strong women, and I am just so about all of this.
McGowan does a really wonderful job with Beatrice’s character. She gets an arc in Maid of Secrets, turning out to be more of a friend than Meg could have anticipated at the start. Even so, there’s a lot the reader didn’t know about her. Getting to be inside her head and know her motivations makes Beatrice a lot more sympathetic. However, McGowan doesn’t go too far and reveal her as a fluffy bunny underneath the court politics. Beatrice remains judgmental and calculating, and I’m glad that this part of her character wasn’t removed entirely.
One of the fun things about switching perspectives is the changing view of Queen Elizabeth. Meg felt a strong devotion to Queen Elizabeth, awed by a woman with the power to do whatever she wants. Beatrice is quite another story. In her head, she thinks of Elizabeth by such flattering monikers as “Her Avariciousness.” Beatrice has known Elizabeth since her youth and been privy to secrets from that time; Elizabeth resents her this knowledge but also trusts her because she never told. Their relationship is an interesting one built on mutual loathing but an odd sort of loyalty. McGowan shows more of Elizabeth’s petty, petulant side in Maid of Deception, and it will be so cool to see Elizabeth from the perspectives of the other maids as well.
The mystery in Maid of Secrets was entirely predictable but Maid of Deception took another path. There almost wasn’t a mystery, though many things were curious. This time it’s more the unraveling of court politics and maneuverings of marriages, which really fits with this being Beatrice’s book; she’s not the sort to solve murder mysteries. My favorite part plot-wise was the thing that came out of left field and the way that Beatrice was able to come to understand her family better.
I was really looking forward to the romance in Maid of Deception, but I was a little worried since Beatrice was engaged to Cavanaugh. Thankfully, the queen throws a wrench into the works because she feels like Beatrice’s wedding is upstaging her birthday celebrations, which simply would not do. See what I mean about the queen showing her petty side?
With the wedding on hold, the road is clear for the hate to love ship of delightfulness that is Beatrice and Alasdair. Her courtly ways make her automatically detest the burly, bearded Scotsman, though she was a bit thrown for a loop by how handsome he looks shaved and dressed fashionably. What I really like is how they slowly became friends first sort of against her own will. Alasdair was very much playing the long game and went into the relationship very aware that Beatrice was lying. That’s something that’s been true of both romances so far: the guys may not know all but they’re aware their lady loves are unreliable and spying. It actually really lessens the drama because there doesn’t have to be that big fight at the reveal. Maid of Deception is a much shippier book, and I very much want to see this trend continue. However, I really hope that we’ll see how some of these ships resolve in the later books because it sort of seems like they’re being left dangling.
Historical romances are one of my favorite things, and this series is a treasure. They’re on the fluffier side with lots of strong women, and I am just so about all of this.
February 2, 2015
3.5 Stars. I really want to love this series. It has such a great premise and such great characters: five special maids-of-honor who serve as spies in Queen Elizabeth I's court while navigating political intrigue and affairs of the heart. But both this book and the first in the series, Maid of Secrets, fell a bit short for me. I like them, but I don't love them, for reasons I'll explain in a bit. But first:
Beatrice is the ice queen of the group, the consummate courtier, the only one actually born and bred to the position, and she carries it out with grace, poise, and indifference. But in this book we get to see the woman that lies beneath the facade. A woman whose family problems have forced her to seek salvation in an arranged marriage, a woman whose hatred for the queen is eclipsed only by her desire to best her, and the only way to do that is by succeeding in every difficult task the queen sets for her. But this time, the queen has gone too far. This time, the queen has ruined Beatrice's shot at stability by calling a halt to her wedding and secretly assigning Beatrice to get close to the leader of the Scottish delegation at court, Alasdair Macleod, in an attempt to uncover a Catholic plot against the queen. Charming the uncouth warrior and learning his secrets should be easy, and finishing this annoying assignment will bring Beatrice one step closer to her ultimate goal, but Beatrice is about to discover that there's something far greater at risk here than any conspiracy--her heart--and her own actions may result in her losing the only true chance at happiness she's ever had.
While I love the characters and the overall story arc, my biggest issue with this book, as with the first, is that the story moves too slowly, and many pages are filled with political talk. It gets repetitive, and it can read rather dryly. I found myself saying, "A little less talk and a lot more action, please," on too many occasions. In particular, I kept reading for the handful of moments when Beatrice and Alasdair were alone together. They are perfect foils for each other. Her refined beauty and icy composure are no match for his rugged strength and passionate nature, and the oh-so-romantic ending bumped my rating up a notch.
Possibly the best thing about this series is that each girl presents a different view of Elizabeth I, who was such a larger-than-life figure that portraying her fictionally can be difficult. McGowan nicely sidesteps the pitfalls of classifying her too much one way or another by giving each maid her own preconceptions and experiences with the monarch, by giving them each their own lens to view her through, and so over the course of the series, the reader gets to know "Gloriana" from a multitude of angles, allowing for a far more complex and complete study of her. MacGowen excels at presenting the dual nature of Elizabeth's court, glittering and wondrous yet ugly and deceitful at the same time, and the descriptions of the time period--from presence chambers to secret passages, dances to feasts, and gowns to undergarments--are lush and meticulously researched. There's a nice setup in place for book three, which will center around another of the maids, Sophia, the ethereal niece of court astrologer John Dee, and I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series despite my quibbles.
Beatrice is the ice queen of the group, the consummate courtier, the only one actually born and bred to the position, and she carries it out with grace, poise, and indifference. But in this book we get to see the woman that lies beneath the facade. A woman whose family problems have forced her to seek salvation in an arranged marriage, a woman whose hatred for the queen is eclipsed only by her desire to best her, and the only way to do that is by succeeding in every difficult task the queen sets for her. But this time, the queen has gone too far. This time, the queen has ruined Beatrice's shot at stability by calling a halt to her wedding and secretly assigning Beatrice to get close to the leader of the Scottish delegation at court, Alasdair Macleod, in an attempt to uncover a Catholic plot against the queen. Charming the uncouth warrior and learning his secrets should be easy, and finishing this annoying assignment will bring Beatrice one step closer to her ultimate goal, but Beatrice is about to discover that there's something far greater at risk here than any conspiracy--her heart--and her own actions may result in her losing the only true chance at happiness she's ever had.
While I love the characters and the overall story arc, my biggest issue with this book, as with the first, is that the story moves too slowly, and many pages are filled with political talk. It gets repetitive, and it can read rather dryly. I found myself saying, "A little less talk and a lot more action, please," on too many occasions. In particular, I kept reading for the handful of moments when Beatrice and Alasdair were alone together. They are perfect foils for each other. Her refined beauty and icy composure are no match for his rugged strength and passionate nature, and the oh-so-romantic ending bumped my rating up a notch.
Possibly the best thing about this series is that each girl presents a different view of Elizabeth I, who was such a larger-than-life figure that portraying her fictionally can be difficult. McGowan nicely sidesteps the pitfalls of classifying her too much one way or another by giving each maid her own preconceptions and experiences with the monarch, by giving them each their own lens to view her through, and so over the course of the series, the reader gets to know "Gloriana" from a multitude of angles, allowing for a far more complex and complete study of her. MacGowen excels at presenting the dual nature of Elizabeth's court, glittering and wondrous yet ugly and deceitful at the same time, and the descriptions of the time period--from presence chambers to secret passages, dances to feasts, and gowns to undergarments--are lush and meticulously researched. There's a nice setup in place for book three, which will center around another of the maids, Sophia, the ethereal niece of court astrologer John Dee, and I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series despite my quibbles.
July 18, 2015
Picking this one up, I was a little put off that the lead character was Beatrice. She wasn't my favorite person in book 1. But, she surprised me. I ended up liking her by the end.
She seems very bitter for such a young girl, but she's basically been Elizabeth's play thing for a very long time. It seems the Queen gets a particular kick out of manipulating Beatrice's world. Turns out though that Beatrice can make life tough for the Queen as well. She knows a secret that the Queen would rather stay hidden for ever. You would think that would make the Queen fawn over her instead. But, that's not the Elizabeth I know and love.
I really enjoyed learning about Beatrice's family and estate. It turns out she's learned that art of secret keeping from them. Her mother's crazy, the estate is full of orphan's, and her father has something hidden in the well at the center of the overgrown maze! Not to mention that the gypsies hidden on her land are enough to be charged with treason.
Beatrice comes across as materialistic for quite some time. But, I think our young Scottish Lord is teaching her that there are some things in life that are more important.
I enjoyed this installment a lot! I felt it a little bit better written than the first book. Plus, I'm a sucker for YA historical fiction!
She seems very bitter for such a young girl, but she's basically been Elizabeth's play thing for a very long time. It seems the Queen gets a particular kick out of manipulating Beatrice's world. Turns out though that Beatrice can make life tough for the Queen as well. She knows a secret that the Queen would rather stay hidden for ever. You would think that would make the Queen fawn over her instead. But, that's not the Elizabeth I know and love.
I really enjoyed learning about Beatrice's family and estate. It turns out she's learned that art of secret keeping from them. Her mother's crazy, the estate is full of orphan's, and her father has something hidden in the well at the center of the overgrown maze! Not to mention that the gypsies hidden on her land are enough to be charged with treason.
Beatrice comes across as materialistic for quite some time. But, I think our young Scottish Lord is teaching her that there are some things in life that are more important.
I enjoyed this installment a lot! I felt it a little bit better written than the first book. Plus, I'm a sucker for YA historical fiction!
February 9, 2015
This one made me feel all the feels. I loved reading about Beatrice and I loved her friendship with the rest of the Maids of Honor, the way they took care of each other. I wasn't sure about Alasdair at first (though I'm rereading Maid of Secrets now, so I may change my mind), but I eventually came around to him. He knew how to bring the swoon. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series (I think there will be more) and wonder which of the Maids will be the main character next time around.
Update 2-8-2015:
4.5 stars
I loved this book even more the second time around, even though I was near constantly heartbroken over what dear Beatrice had to endure at the hands of the Queen and the court. I wouldn't trade places with her for the world, though I am rather jealous of her romance with the delightful , cheeky Alasdair.
More people ought to give this book and this series a try. I don't think they will have cause to regret it.
Update 2-8-2015:
4.5 stars
I loved this book even more the second time around, even though I was near constantly heartbroken over what dear Beatrice had to endure at the hands of the Queen and the court. I wouldn't trade places with her for the world, though I am rather jealous of her romance with the delightful , cheeky Alasdair.
More people ought to give this book and this series a try. I don't think they will have cause to regret it.
July 18, 2015
http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2015/0...
Un second tome aussi bon que le premier qui embarque le lecteur avec brio dans une aventure d'espionnage dans l'Angleterre de la reine Elisabeth ( 16ème ). On est mené par l'intrigue d'un bout à l'autre de ce récit, on dévore ces pages avec aisance et addiction. Lady Béatrice est intrigante, plus sensible qu'il n'y parait mais n'a pas froid aux yeux. Une aventure palpitante sous fond de complots et autres intrigues de la cour.
A suivre !!!
Un second tome aussi bon que le premier qui embarque le lecteur avec brio dans une aventure d'espionnage dans l'Angleterre de la reine Elisabeth ( 16ème ). On est mené par l'intrigue d'un bout à l'autre de ce récit, on dévore ces pages avec aisance et addiction. Lady Béatrice est intrigante, plus sensible qu'il n'y parait mais n'a pas froid aux yeux. Une aventure palpitante sous fond de complots et autres intrigues de la cour.
A suivre !!!
November 2, 2014
If you have the end of a book series syndrome after reading the Grave Mercy books by Robin LaFevers, you should pick up the Maids Of Honor series by Jennifer McGowan to fulfill that void in your life.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
September 2, 2014
Awesome! I loved this even more than the first book in the series, and I can't wait for the next!
March 10, 2014
Quote awesome book. Review coming closer to release date as I know I will be re-reading this one and the first one!
Shelved as 'read-sample-and-passed'
February 23, 2015I have no idea why I picked this up when I didn't like the first one. Carry on!
February 15, 2016
Originally reviewed at: http://www.shaelit.com/?p=2338
I think Ms. McGowan is trying to kill me. As a woman who writes credibly about a crew of spies in the service of the Crown, I'm certain she knows how to dispatch a blogger in many interesting ways, but I doubt any are so delicious effective as these books. I can't breathe when I read these books. PHYSICALLY. CANNOT. BREATHE. They're so good, so fantastically good, and I don't know that my heart can take another one. (It's a risk I'm willing to take, of course.) Well, strap yourselves in, ladies and gents, because I have things to say that will likely be turned into GIFs when words fail me.
My anxiety and expectations were at an all-time high as I sat down to being Maid of Deception. I purposely didn't look at the synopsis before starting, trusting my love of the first book and the strength of Ms. McGowan's writing to carry me through. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about leaving our previous narrator, Meg, to follow her fellow Maid, Beatrice. On the one hand, I was excited to get into the head of another girl, but on the other, I loved Meg so much! How could I find out what was going on with James, Meg, and Rafe if I was stick with snobby ol' Beatrice? Thankfully, Beatrice stole my heart with an ease that quick-fingered Meg would admire.
Ah, Beatrice. Known previously as the snooty, vain, beautiful Belle of the group, Beatrice... remains the snooty, vain, beautiful Belle of the group. She reminds me of Throne of Glass's Celaena Sardothien—particular about her clothes and appearance, one finger perpetually pressed to the pulse of the court, and more dangerous that anyone can imagine. For all the trouble she causes Meg in the first book, Beatrice is truly fantastic. She captured my sympathy from the beginning as we watch her prepare nervously for her wedding to Lord Cavanaugh, a respectable nobleman who is devoted to Beatrice and who will shelter her from her father's disgraceful philandering and the sharp tongues at court. She's so close... and then Queen Elizabeth bursts in and ruins everything. She wants Beatrice to be her spy among the Scots at court to determine whether they're friend or foe, and a married woman can't flirt like an unmarried woman can, so the wedding is off!
You guys, the tricks this book does with Beatrice's point of view are amazing. We get to see her fellow Maids through her eyes, from sweet and shy Sophia to bookish Anna to deadly Jane to our previous narrator Meg. It was lots of fun seeing Beatrice's take on familiar characters, especially Meg's Spanish beau, Rafe, as Beatrice views them all so differently than Meg does. Though the first book was filtered through Meg's point of view, I assumed that her point of view was the correct point of view. I (lazily) assumed that Meg spoke for the author and that Beatrice would agree pleasantly with perhaps a few minor changes.
When Meg said that Queen Elizabeth I practically walks on water, I accepted it. All hail the Virgin Queen, she of the iron fist and rapier wit! But with Beatrice, we're given a different side of Good Queen Bess. Through Beatrice's eyes, we see Elizabeth's cruel side, her pettiness, her vindictiveness, and her overwhelming vanity. Though she is the Queen of England, she is also the enemy. It's a radical shift for the audience but one that is done with startling realism. Beatrice has known Elizabeth her entire life and therefore would have a different view of her than a thieving street rat fresh at court. As someone skilled in manipulation and power plays, Beatrice is able to see through Elizabeth's affectations to pinpoint her true (less than savory) motives. In Beatrice's mouth, Gloriana devolves from flattering title to vile indictment, and I loved it. Queen Elizabeth and her counterparts remain consistently portrayed, but we get to plumb the depths with Beatrice as wouldn't be possible with Meg.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="245"]
Dang you, Ms. McGowan, and your Jedi mind tricks![/caption]
I spent much of the book inwardly walking around with my hands up, muttering, "I can't even." I wanted to shove Walsingham into a pit. I wanted to stab Queen Elizabeth. I wanted to smack Robert Dudley upside the back of the head until his nose bled. And I can't even tell you what I wanted to do with Alasdair MacLeod. The Scottish leader at first comes across as an overbearing boor, too assured of his own charms to back off when told to do so. "Overbearing is not attractive, Alasdair!" I scolded often. But then, magic. The bickering and tension between Alasdair and Beatrice is delicious, and a warm, fuzzy feeling grew in my stomach as they learned to trust each other. (Also, Elizabeth oh-so-helpfully muddies the water several times, so yay extra tension and angst!) Best of all, Alasdair sees Beatrice. The blustering Scotsman proves he is able to see through Beatrice's layers, her lies, and her affectations and grasp who she truly is. It's a trait the Maids of boys seem to have in common and one I hope continues in later books, because it's swoon-worthy to the max.
Also swoon-worthy (at least to me) is the continued expedition into the historical texture of Elizabethan England. John Knox joins the list of "Names That Make Me Squeal 'I Know Him!'" and the door is pushed open wider to include contemporary fixtures such as the local Traveling People and the black-hooded Inquisitors that grew in power under the Protestant queen. More than once, little asides and casually mentioned proper names sent me running to Wikipedia to get the scoop. Let me help you all out—if you haven't looked up "Elizabeth I and Thomas Seymour," DO IT NOW. I gasped out loud and then squirmed uncomfortably.
However, I think best of all for me was the overall plot tension. You like intrigue? THIS BOOK HAS INTRIGUE. You thought Meg's imprisonment was the be-all-to-end-all in suspense and tear-your-heart-out tension? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET, BABY! Gah, my heart. As much as I trusted the course of the story, there was a part where I truly feared that all hope was lost. The roller coaster this book sent me on in the space of a few chapters is indescribable. It went something like this:
A VERY BAD THING happened.
I tried to have hope but there was no way out.
But then...
HOLY FREAKING GUACAMOLE NO WAY YOU MEAN [SPOILER] DID [SPOILER] AND ALL ALONG WAS PLANNING TO [SPOILER] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!
But sadly, not all the bad things were prevented.
And my heart broke.
But this is McGowan we're talking about here, and by then end...
So now here I sit, afloat in my own feels and legitimately angry that Ms. McGowan hasn't written any other novels for me to binge before the next book. Look, if you're going to be this good, you need to have 20+ years worth of backlist for eager fans to devour, okay? I just... I have no words. My words are broken, and if I try to use them, I'm going to devolve into another GIF spree, so just READ THE BOOKS, OKAY?!
Favorite Non-Spoilery Quotes:
Points Added For: Beatrice, the new take on the Queen, ALASDAIR, James and Jane (hubba hubba), THE FOUNTAIN SCENE, THE ROOFTOP SCENE, THE FESTIVAL SCENE, getting me interested in history, Lord Knowles.
Points Subtracted For: The side trip into more paranormal elements was worrying (but it was all explained/resolved nicely.)
Good For Fans Of: The His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers, Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel, Celaena Sardothien, crafty heroines, Scots, Elizabethan history, having your heart broken and reformed.
Notes For Parents: Some making out, drunkenness, infidelity.
Note: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher for review consideration.
I think Ms. McGowan is trying to kill me. As a woman who writes credibly about a crew of spies in the service of the Crown, I'm certain she knows how to dispatch a blogger in many interesting ways, but I doubt any are so delicious effective as these books. I can't breathe when I read these books. PHYSICALLY. CANNOT. BREATHE. They're so good, so fantastically good, and I don't know that my heart can take another one. (It's a risk I'm willing to take, of course.) Well, strap yourselves in, ladies and gents, because I have things to say that will likely be turned into GIFs when words fail me.
My anxiety and expectations were at an all-time high as I sat down to being Maid of Deception. I purposely didn't look at the synopsis before starting, trusting my love of the first book and the strength of Ms. McGowan's writing to carry me through. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about leaving our previous narrator, Meg, to follow her fellow Maid, Beatrice. On the one hand, I was excited to get into the head of another girl, but on the other, I loved Meg so much! How could I find out what was going on with James, Meg, and Rafe if I was stick with snobby ol' Beatrice? Thankfully, Beatrice stole my heart with an ease that quick-fingered Meg would admire.
Ah, Beatrice. Known previously as the snooty, vain, beautiful Belle of the group, Beatrice... remains the snooty, vain, beautiful Belle of the group. She reminds me of Throne of Glass's Celaena Sardothien—particular about her clothes and appearance, one finger perpetually pressed to the pulse of the court, and more dangerous that anyone can imagine. For all the trouble she causes Meg in the first book, Beatrice is truly fantastic. She captured my sympathy from the beginning as we watch her prepare nervously for her wedding to Lord Cavanaugh, a respectable nobleman who is devoted to Beatrice and who will shelter her from her father's disgraceful philandering and the sharp tongues at court. She's so close... and then Queen Elizabeth bursts in and ruins everything. She wants Beatrice to be her spy among the Scots at court to determine whether they're friend or foe, and a married woman can't flirt like an unmarried woman can, so the wedding is off!
You guys, the tricks this book does with Beatrice's point of view are amazing. We get to see her fellow Maids through her eyes, from sweet and shy Sophia to bookish Anna to deadly Jane to our previous narrator Meg. It was lots of fun seeing Beatrice's take on familiar characters, especially Meg's Spanish beau, Rafe, as Beatrice views them all so differently than Meg does. Though the first book was filtered through Meg's point of view, I assumed that her point of view was the correct point of view. I (lazily) assumed that Meg spoke for the author and that Beatrice would agree pleasantly with perhaps a few minor changes.
When Meg said that Queen Elizabeth I practically walks on water, I accepted it. All hail the Virgin Queen, she of the iron fist and rapier wit! But with Beatrice, we're given a different side of Good Queen Bess. Through Beatrice's eyes, we see Elizabeth's cruel side, her pettiness, her vindictiveness, and her overwhelming vanity. Though she is the Queen of England, she is also the enemy. It's a radical shift for the audience but one that is done with startling realism. Beatrice has known Elizabeth her entire life and therefore would have a different view of her than a thieving street rat fresh at court. As someone skilled in manipulation and power plays, Beatrice is able to see through Elizabeth's affectations to pinpoint her true (less than savory) motives. In Beatrice's mouth, Gloriana devolves from flattering title to vile indictment, and I loved it. Queen Elizabeth and her counterparts remain consistently portrayed, but we get to plumb the depths with Beatrice as wouldn't be possible with Meg.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="245"]
Dang you, Ms. McGowan, and your Jedi mind tricks![/caption]I spent much of the book inwardly walking around with my hands up, muttering, "I can't even." I wanted to shove Walsingham into a pit. I wanted to stab Queen Elizabeth. I wanted to smack Robert Dudley upside the back of the head until his nose bled. And I can't even tell you what I wanted to do with Alasdair MacLeod. The Scottish leader at first comes across as an overbearing boor, too assured of his own charms to back off when told to do so. "Overbearing is not attractive, Alasdair!" I scolded often. But then, magic. The bickering and tension between Alasdair and Beatrice is delicious, and a warm, fuzzy feeling grew in my stomach as they learned to trust each other. (Also, Elizabeth oh-so-helpfully muddies the water several times, so yay extra tension and angst!) Best of all, Alasdair sees Beatrice. The blustering Scotsman proves he is able to see through Beatrice's layers, her lies, and her affectations and grasp who she truly is. It's a trait the Maids of boys seem to have in common and one I hope continues in later books, because it's swoon-worthy to the max.
Also swoon-worthy (at least to me) is the continued expedition into the historical texture of Elizabethan England. John Knox joins the list of "Names That Make Me Squeal 'I Know Him!'" and the door is pushed open wider to include contemporary fixtures such as the local Traveling People and the black-hooded Inquisitors that grew in power under the Protestant queen. More than once, little asides and casually mentioned proper names sent me running to Wikipedia to get the scoop. Let me help you all out—if you haven't looked up "Elizabeth I and Thomas Seymour," DO IT NOW. I gasped out loud and then squirmed uncomfortably.
However, I think best of all for me was the overall plot tension. You like intrigue? THIS BOOK HAS INTRIGUE. You thought Meg's imprisonment was the be-all-to-end-all in suspense and tear-your-heart-out tension? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET, BABY! Gah, my heart. As much as I trusted the course of the story, there was a part where I truly feared that all hope was lost. The roller coaster this book sent me on in the space of a few chapters is indescribable. It went something like this:
A VERY BAD THING happened.
I tried to have hope but there was no way out.
But then...
HOLY FREAKING GUACAMOLE NO WAY YOU MEAN [SPOILER] DID [SPOILER] AND ALL ALONG WAS PLANNING TO [SPOILER] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!
But sadly, not all the bad things were prevented.
And my heart broke.
But this is McGowan we're talking about here, and by then end...
So now here I sit, afloat in my own feels and legitimately angry that Ms. McGowan hasn't written any other novels for me to binge before the next book. Look, if you're going to be this good, you need to have 20+ years worth of backlist for eager fans to devour, okay? I just... I have no words. My words are broken, and if I try to use them, I'm going to devolve into another GIF spree, so just READ THE BOOKS, OKAY?!
Favorite Non-Spoilery Quotes:
I stepped into the long aisle and held my head high. It was total perfection, and all according to a plan I'd labored to bring to light for the past ten years. Finally I would be married. Finally I would be respected. Finally I would be...
Safe.
"It's never an easy thing to be a woman, Beatrice. And a woman in power is more at risk than any other. She invites attention. She is strong when the whole world thinks she should be weak, and there are those who don't like that fact. Remember that."
"There is naught you do that doesn't have two or three reasons, a contingency purpose, and as many side benefits as you can extract."
Points Added For: Beatrice, the new take on the Queen, ALASDAIR, James and Jane (hubba hubba), THE FOUNTAIN SCENE, THE ROOFTOP SCENE, THE FESTIVAL SCENE, getting me interested in history, Lord Knowles.
Points Subtracted For: The side trip into more paranormal elements was worrying (but it was all explained/resolved nicely.)
Good For Fans Of: The His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers, Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel, Celaena Sardothien, crafty heroines, Scots, Elizabethan history, having your heart broken and reformed.
Notes For Parents: Some making out, drunkenness, infidelity.
Note: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher for review consideration.
September 13, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The premise behind the Maids of Honor series intrigued me and I’m happy to say that Maid of Deception far exceeded my expectations for a YA Historical Fiction. I don’t hesitate to recommend this story to high-school aged readers but think older booklovers will enjoy its rich imagery and sweet romantic element as well. McGowan’s characters are not as fully developed as I would’ve liked, yet the story easily kept my interest with its interesting plot and underlying mystery.
Opening Sentence: There would be no tears on my wedding day.
The Review:
Being one of Queen Elizabeth I’s handpicked spies known as the Maids of Honor is definitely not a privilege for Beatrice Knowles. Her uncanny ability to discover the whispered secrets of the court is a highly valuable skill…and dangerous when one of the secrets belongs to her bitter enemy, the Queen. Forced to do the vindictive Queen’s bidding with a smile on her face to keep her precarious position at Court (and her head), Beatrice’s only hope in escaping a life of servitude is through marriage.
Even though she’s only in her late teens, Beatrice has spent ten years plotting to marry one of the wealthiest families in the Kingdom. Walking down the aisle toward the much older, wealthier and more prominent Lord Cavanaugh is the crowning moment in her young life and no one, especially not the boorish but handsome Scotsman Alasdair MacLeod, will ruin her triumph. No one except the Queen, whose cruelty and spitefulness is apparent as she halts the wedding when Beatrice and Lord Cavanaugh are literally seconds away from being wed. Completely unremorseful for her actions, the Queen reminds Beatrice that her life is forfeit to the whim of the Crown while she serves as a Maid of Honor. And right now, the Crown requires her to appear to be enamored with Alasdair MacLeod to discover the secrets of a possible Scottish alliance against the French in an upcoming war. Beatrice is crushed by the delay even if she viewed her marriage as a beneficial relationship devoid of emotion. She unwillingly throws herself into her work, becoming closer to the Scotsman as her schemes crumble around her amongst the political secrets of the court.
What impressed me most about Maid of Deception was the quality of the writing. Though intended for a younger audience, McGowan doesn’t hold back on the scandals and aristocratic English bigotry common for the timeframe. She delivers a story of political intrigue, spiteful jealousy and forced allegiances typically reserved for the romantic historical fiction pieces marketed to adults – and she does it better than many. Growing up among the Royal Court’s treacherous elite have taught Beatrice that the only things she can hope to find in a marriage are a relative safety from the whims of a vindictive Queen, a secure position of prominence at Court and a wealthy household to call her own. She unabashedly admits she would never look at a man who didn’t possess money and prestige. She also willingly toys with a man’s affection, using her beauty and charm to lure him into giving up whatever secrets the Queen has asked Beatrice to discover. She’s arrogant, petty and an expert manipulator.
McGowan has the writing chops to elicit a sympathetic response for a character with some pretty hefty personality flaws, though. As Beatrice faces each new obstacle, we see there are many layers to her character and not all of them are obnoxious. She may be treated as an adult, but is in reality a very young woman in an incredibly stressful situation with (initially) no obvious support system. She knows how to play the game because it’s the only thing she’s ever been taught. The understanding that she’s never had a real relationship – that she’s been too frightened to show true emotions or unguarded thoughts – certainly made me feel softhearted toward her. Without truly realizing when the change occurred, I began noticing her flaws less and her good traits more. She may still be a scheming liar with more than enough haughty pride, but Beatrice also becomes a courageous young woman with a soft heart.
Which brings me to the roguish Alasdair MacLeod. This is Beatrice’s story, so it’s understandable the focus will be on her. Her interactions with her co-conspirators, the other Maids of Honor, were relatively minor but gave me a basic understanding of these girls. The same can be said for the Queen, as each girl has a different relationship with her. Yet somehow Alasdair never quite developed into more than the template of a brawny rescuer of our spunky heroine. Given that this is a story for a younger audience, I didn’t expect the typical romantic Highlander story. I enjoyed the flirty banter between Beatrice and Alasdair and my heart melted appropriately at the sweet words and chaste interactions. Still, I would’ve enjoyed it even more had there been some substance to the Scottish hunk with respect to the historic relationship between Scotland and England.
In spite of this relatively minor issue, Maid of Deception was overall an incredibly fun story. Rich imagery, a truly original premise and excellent writing all combined to make me a fan and I look forward to reading the other books in the Maids of Honor series.
Notable Scene:
“The Queen, though she has no reason to do so, considers me a sort of lesser rival.” I shrugged. “She thinks to keep her friends close, and her enemies closer.”
He nodded, but his eyes glittered in the half-light. “That is part of it, true enough. She also, however, seeks full domination over you as a woman, not just your Queen. Or have you not noticed how sharp her tone has turned when she addresses you, and how pointed her stare?”
Uneasiness threaded through me. Walshingham could not question me without the Queen’s presence, but that did not mean he could not fill my ears with lies. Or, perhaps worse, truths.
“I am afraid I do not understand your meaning, Sir Francis,” I said as we turned the final corner on the Western corridor. “The Queen has ever treated me with grace.”
“Oh, come now. Now that the Cavanaugh alliance has been broken, she means to stick you in some hole in the middle of nowhere, Lady Beatrice. You know it as well as I do,” Walsingham said. “She merely has yet not found one sufficiently deep.”
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Maid of Deception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The premise behind the Maids of Honor series intrigued me and I’m happy to say that Maid of Deception far exceeded my expectations for a YA Historical Fiction. I don’t hesitate to recommend this story to high-school aged readers but think older booklovers will enjoy its rich imagery and sweet romantic element as well. McGowan’s characters are not as fully developed as I would’ve liked, yet the story easily kept my interest with its interesting plot and underlying mystery.
Opening Sentence: There would be no tears on my wedding day.
The Review:
Being one of Queen Elizabeth I’s handpicked spies known as the Maids of Honor is definitely not a privilege for Beatrice Knowles. Her uncanny ability to discover the whispered secrets of the court is a highly valuable skill…and dangerous when one of the secrets belongs to her bitter enemy, the Queen. Forced to do the vindictive Queen’s bidding with a smile on her face to keep her precarious position at Court (and her head), Beatrice’s only hope in escaping a life of servitude is through marriage.
Even though she’s only in her late teens, Beatrice has spent ten years plotting to marry one of the wealthiest families in the Kingdom. Walking down the aisle toward the much older, wealthier and more prominent Lord Cavanaugh is the crowning moment in her young life and no one, especially not the boorish but handsome Scotsman Alasdair MacLeod, will ruin her triumph. No one except the Queen, whose cruelty and spitefulness is apparent as she halts the wedding when Beatrice and Lord Cavanaugh are literally seconds away from being wed. Completely unremorseful for her actions, the Queen reminds Beatrice that her life is forfeit to the whim of the Crown while she serves as a Maid of Honor. And right now, the Crown requires her to appear to be enamored with Alasdair MacLeod to discover the secrets of a possible Scottish alliance against the French in an upcoming war. Beatrice is crushed by the delay even if she viewed her marriage as a beneficial relationship devoid of emotion. She unwillingly throws herself into her work, becoming closer to the Scotsman as her schemes crumble around her amongst the political secrets of the court.
What impressed me most about Maid of Deception was the quality of the writing. Though intended for a younger audience, McGowan doesn’t hold back on the scandals and aristocratic English bigotry common for the timeframe. She delivers a story of political intrigue, spiteful jealousy and forced allegiances typically reserved for the romantic historical fiction pieces marketed to adults – and she does it better than many. Growing up among the Royal Court’s treacherous elite have taught Beatrice that the only things she can hope to find in a marriage are a relative safety from the whims of a vindictive Queen, a secure position of prominence at Court and a wealthy household to call her own. She unabashedly admits she would never look at a man who didn’t possess money and prestige. She also willingly toys with a man’s affection, using her beauty and charm to lure him into giving up whatever secrets the Queen has asked Beatrice to discover. She’s arrogant, petty and an expert manipulator.
McGowan has the writing chops to elicit a sympathetic response for a character with some pretty hefty personality flaws, though. As Beatrice faces each new obstacle, we see there are many layers to her character and not all of them are obnoxious. She may be treated as an adult, but is in reality a very young woman in an incredibly stressful situation with (initially) no obvious support system. She knows how to play the game because it’s the only thing she’s ever been taught. The understanding that she’s never had a real relationship – that she’s been too frightened to show true emotions or unguarded thoughts – certainly made me feel softhearted toward her. Without truly realizing when the change occurred, I began noticing her flaws less and her good traits more. She may still be a scheming liar with more than enough haughty pride, but Beatrice also becomes a courageous young woman with a soft heart.
Which brings me to the roguish Alasdair MacLeod. This is Beatrice’s story, so it’s understandable the focus will be on her. Her interactions with her co-conspirators, the other Maids of Honor, were relatively minor but gave me a basic understanding of these girls. The same can be said for the Queen, as each girl has a different relationship with her. Yet somehow Alasdair never quite developed into more than the template of a brawny rescuer of our spunky heroine. Given that this is a story for a younger audience, I didn’t expect the typical romantic Highlander story. I enjoyed the flirty banter between Beatrice and Alasdair and my heart melted appropriately at the sweet words and chaste interactions. Still, I would’ve enjoyed it even more had there been some substance to the Scottish hunk with respect to the historic relationship between Scotland and England.
In spite of this relatively minor issue, Maid of Deception was overall an incredibly fun story. Rich imagery, a truly original premise and excellent writing all combined to make me a fan and I look forward to reading the other books in the Maids of Honor series.
Notable Scene:
“The Queen, though she has no reason to do so, considers me a sort of lesser rival.” I shrugged. “She thinks to keep her friends close, and her enemies closer.”
He nodded, but his eyes glittered in the half-light. “That is part of it, true enough. She also, however, seeks full domination over you as a woman, not just your Queen. Or have you not noticed how sharp her tone has turned when she addresses you, and how pointed her stare?”
Uneasiness threaded through me. Walshingham could not question me without the Queen’s presence, but that did not mean he could not fill my ears with lies. Or, perhaps worse, truths.
“I am afraid I do not understand your meaning, Sir Francis,” I said as we turned the final corner on the Western corridor. “The Queen has ever treated me with grace.”
“Oh, come now. Now that the Cavanaugh alliance has been broken, she means to stick you in some hole in the middle of nowhere, Lady Beatrice. You know it as well as I do,” Walsingham said. “She merely has yet not found one sufficiently deep.”
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Maid of Deception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
July 3, 2023
Dandy mix of intrigue, romance, and how women were treated in the 1500s. Beatrice is the daughter of a seemingly impoverished English nobleman and a mother who is addicted to alcohol and laudanum. Pressed into service as one of Queen Elizabeth secret protectors (read spies), she's treated quite shabbily not only by her father, but by the queen. She's betrothed, then suddenly isn't, thanks to Elizabeth's arbitrary and capricious whims.
It seems that every time she thinks she might have returned to equilibrium, the rug is pulled out from under her. Enter Alasdair MacLeod, a Scottish noble looking for the queen's support in a struggle against the French. At first, Beatrice is irritated by his brashness and extreme confidence, but the more she's around him, the easier it is to talk and feel comfortable. By the end of the story, she's been pulled through many a wringer, but has a happy ending. Satisfying story.
It seems that every time she thinks she might have returned to equilibrium, the rug is pulled out from under her. Enter Alasdair MacLeod, a Scottish noble looking for the queen's support in a struggle against the French. At first, Beatrice is irritated by his brashness and extreme confidence, but the more she's around him, the easier it is to talk and feel comfortable. By the end of the story, she's been pulled through many a wringer, but has a happy ending. Satisfying story.
March 7, 2018
Well, it took me long enough to read this one.
I have to say, this was the perfect book for me to read now. I just went through a really heartbreaking read so I wanted something light and airy. This fit the bill perfectly.
I just had one big problem. I'm not Beatrice's biggest fan. She was so stubborn. Holy. Shit. There were some points where I was just like come on Beatrice. You have to move past all of this. But, there were times where I thought that she was great. I really loved how quick witted she was and she was fiercely loyal. That is something that I definitely can appreciate.
Not a bad read and perfect if you are looking for one that you don't really have to think about while you read. I might continue on with the rest of the series but I'm not sure! Anyways, I'm glad to get this off my currently reading shelf.
I have to say, this was the perfect book for me to read now. I just went through a really heartbreaking read so I wanted something light and airy. This fit the bill perfectly.
I just had one big problem. I'm not Beatrice's biggest fan. She was so stubborn. Holy. Shit. There were some points where I was just like come on Beatrice. You have to move past all of this. But, there were times where I thought that she was great. I really loved how quick witted she was and she was fiercely loyal. That is something that I definitely can appreciate.
Not a bad read and perfect if you are looking for one that you don't really have to think about while you read. I might continue on with the rest of the series but I'm not sure! Anyways, I'm glad to get this off my currently reading shelf.
July 5, 2020
Love this series. It is YA but honestly, given the nature of life for a young woman older than 15 years as well as the elegant writing of the author, it reads as a more adult story. The content is very much PG but you don't feel as if you're back in high school or puberty!
I have been studying Elizabeth I and Elizabethan times for 20 years (discovered her in 4th grade and am still just as fascinated with her as I was then) and it was so refreshing to find an original look at her court and country.
Highly recommend 🌹🌼(just pretend the white flower is a rose as well lol)
I have been studying Elizabeth I and Elizabethan times for 20 years (discovered her in 4th grade and am still just as fascinated with her as I was then) and it was so refreshing to find an original look at her court and country.
Highly recommend 🌹🌼(just pretend the white flower is a rose as well lol)
March 21, 2017
McGowan hits it out of the park again. I especially love that she doesn't make Elizabeth a Queen who is nice and fairy tale like. Modern movie adaptions often show Elizabeth to be complex but not necessarily ruthless but the Queen is certainly that and honestly, Beatrice deserves far better. I didn't particularly care for her in book one but she's honestly turned into one of my favorites!
September 17, 2017
This was definitely more of a romance, which is typically right up my alley; however, I found that I enjoyed the 1st book much better. Nothing against Beatrice, but Meg was more relatable. Loved it all the same, Gowan is a master of keeping eyes on her pages.
January 4, 2018
This book was one of the most amazing and heart enduring books I've read. It has a lot of twist plots in which the author makes it seem like it will go one way but it goes another way. I can't wait to read the next book of this series.
January 8, 2020
I would have loved this series when I was a teen—I devoured anything about Queen Elizabeth’s court. Back then, that meant reading adult historical romances from the library. Lots of intrigue, smart and dutiful ladies and corrupt men in this novel.
June 1, 2024
Wow! Again, Jennifer McGowan wrote a great novel. I really enjoyed this story and Beatrice. She is such a steadfast and strong young woman, I loved following her through this journey. I am excited to read the next one!
August 24, 2017
*3.5 stars
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