I received this book for free from the author as a free story in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the author as a free story
"The Queen's Witch"
by
Karen Chance
It is part of the Cassandra Palmer #0.6 series and is a urban fantasy in eBook edition that was published by the author on May 14, 2010 and has 26 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads
Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Curse the Dawn, Death's Mistress, Hunt the Moon, Chicks Kick Butt, Fury's Kiss, "The Gauntlet", "House at Cobb End", Midnight's Daughter, Claimed by Shadow, Touch the Dark, Embrace the Night, Tempt the Stars, "In Vino Veritas", Updating Pritkin, Reap the Wind,, Ride the Storm, "Black Friday", Brave the Tempest, Masks, Shatter the Earth, Shadow's Bane, Queen's Gambit
The second prequel in the Cassandra Palmer urban fantasy series. This one actually takes place in Elizabeth England and is the sequel to “The Gauntlet“.
Available free on Karen Chance’s website.
My Take
I do enjoy an historical tale. And I’m thrilled to find out what happened to Gillian after her prison break in “The Gauntlet“! It is a short story, so it is more of an introduction to her new life. Still, it does gather up the flavor of the time and the historical animosity between the English and the Spanish.
Gillian certainly is a flexible thinker — once Kit points out a few things. There’s an interesting bit on the difference between fake and real jewels. Amazing to think they had such skill back then. Then there’s the explanation for why we think witches fly about on brooms!
I did enjoy the one-ups Gillian got in this.
The Story
The Silver Circle is closing in on Gillian, and she’s desperate to escape. Too desperate to be careful.
It’s not chance that gives her some breathing room…oops, it is Chance that helps her out..!, but Kit Marlowe. If she will just agree to a short impersonation.
The Characters
Gillian Urswick is a witch, a wardsmith, who escaped the Silver Circle in “The Gauntlet” with her seven-year-old daughter, Elinor.
Kit Marlowe is a vampire in need of an entree to a meeting that may be plotting against the Queen.
Angus Trevelyan is a Cornish witch allied with the Black Circle. His specialty is poisoning. Señor Garza is presenting La joyel de los Austrias to the queen. John Dee is an historical figure who dabbled in mathematics, astronomy, alchemy, and navigation as well as what was perceived as the more magical sciences of that time period. He was actually quite respected.
Solomon le Bone is a magic user who runs a grotty tavern, the Dead Spaniard, in London. Fulke is his equally traitorous son.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a bit odd. It’s Gillian all dressed up in her borrowed finery about to pass through a doorway, only the room looks quite contemporary.
The title is to the point and all about the “The Queen’s Witch”.
