Sword of Albion by Rosemary Edghill and Andre Norton

[snugglekitty]

I looove Napoleonic fantasy. I always have. When I saw this in the fabulous bookstore The Book Rack, I knew I had to give it a try. Heck, I was just plain fascinated by the idea of a collaboration between Norton and Edghill - I probably would have bought it if it was about magic socks. Or a hedgehog.

The Marchioness of Roxbury must perform a desperate spell in order to keep her promise to the fey. Knowing her own death is near, she calls forth another version of herself, one who has not known a life of pampering and privilege. Sarah Cunningham of Baltimore finds herself in a world where the colonies never rebelled, suddenly heir to power she's never known - and a betrothal she didn't sign up for. Her fiancee, the Duke of Essex, is growing to love this Sarah, but he has a secret that he fears will mean losing her forever. Little does he know, she has a secret of her own...



Grillot stopped just short of the tiny ornamental gazebo.
"But you will wonder, my dear Chevalier, that Madame la Princesse's garden is so quiet?"
"Will I?" asked Wessex politely. He glanced behind him. They were out of sight of the house. Good.
"The English boy who was here now awaits the Jacquerie in the kitchen -- but he will not be lonely long. Madame la Guillotine's kiss is one that he will remember for eternity -- thus perish all such enemies of France!"
"My dear Grillot, now that you have discovered all, there is one question I should like to have answered," Wessex said -- in English and a voice quite unlike "Citoyen Reynard's."Did you actually believe that you might sentence an Englishman to death with impunity?" (p 45-46)



This book pleased me extremely. I loved the characters and the plot. (Admittedly, I am not enough of a history buff to appreciate all of the details of who inherited the throne and why it matters.) The dialogue is witty and the escapes are narrow. Fans of "manners" fantasy, The Great Game, and alternate-history scenarios will find it impossible to put down. Four and a half stars. Happily, there is a sequel, although reviews suggest it's not as excellent. Curses!

Comments

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

oooh! i lovelovelove rosemary edghill. as you say, even if it's about a hedgehog. :>

may i borrow?

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Indeed, you may. :) I will put it in the out basket for you.