The Dark Queen

A great historical/romance read

It tells the story of three sisters, the eldest, Ariane, who has inherited the Faire Isle, struggles with her position as Lady of Faire Isle, a rather stubborn suitor that doesn't take no for an answer, two sisters who have issues of their own, a father who hasn't come back yet, and a dark threatening Queen Catherine who plots from afar.

There is enough history and politics here to keep you very intrigued. France is in religious upheaval, Queen Catherine plots from behind the scenes and of course, you have witch hunters. At first, I was a little skeptical as the book certainly starts off looking like a bodice ripping romance novel. Guy wants girl, girl can't stand him, guy gets persistent..yeah you get the usual romance plot idea. However Susan Carroll adds a good amount of magic (magic being more of a wise woman sense not your fantastical kind..well sort of) and political plotting to keep you distracted enough to give the book a fair chance if you're not a romance novel fan (like I am). There is a good amount of everything here in this book. Romance, action, fantasy, intrigue, and drama. I wouldn't say there is much fantasy in it. Although the younger sister does talk to animals so I suppose you could say that's fantasy wouldn't you? In any case, there is enough of all the genres mentioned previously to keep you satisfied.

Renard and Ariane are a couple that just "look" good together. I think it's their personalities that make them both suit each other so well that you can't help but just read on and hope they'll work out their differences for that lovely happy ending. Each of the Cheney sisters have a romantic involvement, however that's as far as I'll go without going too much into detail. It's Gabrielle I feel for the most though. As she went through a lot as explained in the beginning of the story.

There is an explicit scene or two (romance wise) but nothing to really be bothered about it. Action wise, I don't really see too many gory details but I have to admit the mysogyny displayed in Le Vis just makes you want to wring his neck until it breaks like a chicken. However I'm sure the sort of behavior displayed by the witch hunter is probably very real and frightening and it makes you learn how much people went through just because they were perceived as different. There will be other books following after this and I will be picking them up. There are some unanswered questions I would like answered!

I will definitely be reading the second book (The Courtesan) which will be featuring Gabrielle's story. This is a book to pick up if you're wanting a book with a little bit of everything but if you're a romance lover yes, grab it. Renard and Ariane are perfect.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Hi

Can you guys tell what the age group on this should be?

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Never wanted it to end

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, so I kind of knew what to expect...colorful imagery, handsome men, and an astromoical castrophy. Knowing all of that, this book wowed me. It had everything a good book should have, love,sex,despair,action,believable dialog. When you finish a book and are sad that it is over, that is the sign of a great book. I literally started back at page 1 after finishing the last page.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Book and Series.

I first found this book on Amazon and was charmed by the character of Renard who was delightfully stubborn, pigheaded, and downright seductive. He was very entertaining and how he and Ariane Cheney (the heroine) interacted with each other was hilarious at times due to how he frustrated her so much by constantly dogging her to marry him. I personally loved the take on witches that Mrs. Carroll took. The "Daughters of the Earth" were the modern sense of witches and pagans: kind, righteous, and virtuous women young and old.

I personally can't wait to read the next book and I hope that the series continues strong.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dark Beginnings

I read this book once before, but too long to not read it again before going through the whole trilogy, and it is just as wonderful--if not more so--as the first time. To center around Ariane and her three sisters, Susan Carroll weaves a very realistic portrait of family life and the behavioral ethics of each of them considering the way their family stands at the moment the story takes place, and the circumstances they have been through. Catherine de Medici, as seen here, is an incredibly enigmatic (despite who she is in the book) individual, interesting to browse upon as one goes through the motions of the book, and engaging. The Dark Queen certainly makes the whole work all the more worthy of being read--for despite the other characters being fantastic, and the book itself being able to survive without the dowager queen of France, she makes the entire thing even better. Renard is magnificent, and his interactions with Touissant are endearing and touching in contrast to the passionate (though quietly at first) and spell-binding (truly, to me) undertakings had with Ariane. Seeing the ways of Gabrielle and Remy in this first book, it paves the way perfectly for the second installment (which I'm currently reading) in the series. This is certainly a book worth reading not once, but twice!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Princess Rini

Link, why cant you be a prince? And person who wants to be a princess, sorry we already have five. Unless you would like to be a queen. there are three choice queens. Queen Anne of the Kingdom of the Blessed, Queen Lucinda of the Kingdom of Hope, and Queen Mioka of the Kingdom of the Sakura Blossoms.

princess rini

the prince who will heal my broken heart. The prince could even be you.

Princess Rini

I just wonder, how long must I go on kissing frogs, hoping to find the prince?

Princess Rini

Yes, I'm alright

Princess Rini

it doesnt matter what the prince looks like, it matters what on the inside. Bravery, loyalty, mercy and much more. I have seen all this in you. You are a prince to me.

Princess Rini

Are you alright?

Princess Rini

Mamma, when will I find a prince?

Princess Rini, The Pure

Then You too have seen the phrophecy of the five kingdoms. I am Princess Rini, The Pure.

Queen of Hearts (Princess Anna's Mother)

My daughter Anna is being attacked by the Dark Lord! Someone help her! She's at kingdom of heart first result.

Princess Rini

I am alright mammma. Also how will I become a queen if I dont even have a prince? and Link, someones looking for u at zelda result one. (I am using the computer and thats why I have two reviews.)

Flameclaw!

I need someone to go to despicable first result and tell them im locked out i know someone here already did but the must have not looked

Bluefinch

Stay off our land!!!!

Lunas, Kilo, and Ashaken

(3 small black wolves walk up. One has a red circle around one eye) "May we join?" says the cat with a circle around his eye. "My name is Lunas. We are considered to be the strongest wolves on Earth. I am the Agent of Sneak. Kilo is the Agent of Subterfuge. Ashaken is the Agent of Strife. We all have 5 lives."

Neo Queen Serenity to Dark Forest Queen

Remember the goodness in your heart,sister. You used to be a kind and gentle ruler but look at yourself now. Why destroy innocent cats lives. they have done nothing wrong.The one who has done wrong is you,dear sister. Please come back to Silver Millenium.

SEXSLAVES for sale

Go to buy now result one for detail. Order at result two