Very much for the Philippa Gregory market this is a great historical novel set in the court of James I following the plight of his daughter Elizabeth as she fights to marry the man of her choosing. Politics, intrigue and lots of historical detail make for a gripping and enthralling novel. Highly recommended.

Synopsis

Superb historical novel set in the Jacobean court, in which Princess Elizabeth strives to avoid becoming her father's pawn in the royal marriage market. The daughter of a king -- on sale to the highest bidder. As First Daughter of England, Elizabeth seems to live a life of privilege and luxury. Yet she is imprisoned by duty; a helpless pawn in the political machinations of her father, James I. She trusts only her beloved brother Henry until she is sent a slave-girl, Tallie, who becomes her unlikely advisor. As their friendship grows, the innocent Elizabeth must learn to listen to dangerous truths about her louche father and his volatile court. Can she risk playing their games of secrecy and subterfuge in order to forge her path to love and freedom? Tragically robbed of Henry in mysterious circumstances, Elizabeth must summon all her resilience and courage to determine her own future. As a stream of suitors are invited to court, her father's unpredictability and the unstable political climate threaten to destroy her one chance for happiness and perhaps even her life. A heart-breaking tale of romance and rivalry, deceit and devotion, set against a colourful backdrop of dramatic and historical change.

Reviews

Praise for The Principessa:

'The perfect companion for long autumn evenings. It's an absorbing historical adventure!a satisfyingly intricate plot'
First

'This is a fabulous read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical adventure and intrigue, twists and turns but also to those who revel in a poignant and powerful love story. There's something for everyone and what's more, it's beautifully written. What more could anyone ask? I cannot for the life of me understand why Christie Dickason's novels are not better known and appreciated. It's high time.'
Historical Novels Review

Praise for The Firemaster 's Mistress:

'A rich mix of romance, suspense, adventure and lightly-worn knowledge. Gunpowder, treason and plot have never been so entertaining.'
Kate Saunders, The Times

'Atmospheric and impressively researched, it is highly entertaining.'
Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times

'The Firemaster's Mistress is that rare historical novel: utterly congruent with history and successful as a work of fiction. It tells the story of an engaging man betrayed both by his own honour and his love for a Roman Catholic woman. His skills with explosives lead him into the very heart of the conspiracy, walking a difficult line with plotters, spymasters, and his own fears. The England of James I is magnificently evoked in this engaging novel.'
Philippa Gregory

About the Author

Christie Dickason was born in the USA in the state of Indiana, but grew up in homes all over the world, including Mexico, Thailand (where she received formal dance instruction with a princess in the royal court of Bangkok), and Switzerland. Though she has written since the age of five, she began to take it seriously when she found herself seriously ill in hospital. In the following nine months of convalescence, she wrote her first, but unacknowledged, novel, which is composting quietly somewhere in a file drawer but led to a commission for the first published novel. Her first two novels were political thrillers centred on a strong French-Vietnamese heroine. The Dragon Riders (published in the US as Indochine) explored the explosive early days of the French-controlled drug trade in Indochina in the 1920s and the deadly shift from legitimate business to Mafia Rule. The Tears of the Tiger, her second book, involved the search for missing American POWs and the dangerous love affairs of the heroine with a Vietnamese war lord and his rival, an American undercover agent. Both books were international bestsellers. Now settled in East Sheen, London, Christie travels in her latest novel The Firemaster’s Mistress back to 1605 to look at an unknown side of conspiracy, treason and romance. The novel is a romantic historical thriller, which explores and challenges our image of the infamous Gunpowder Plot. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation