Isabella Lacey and her daughter, Emily, are beginning a new chapter with Isabella’s aunt in her home, Crestwell Hall. The home once belonged to Isabella’s Uncle Phillip who believed that the Hall had a connection with the famous Gunpowder Plot. During renovations of the Hall, and Phillip’s hoarding collections, Isabella discovers a bible that alleged belonged to Bess Throckmorton, or Lady Walter Raleigh. Bess’s bible is also her diary and shows a new version of the Plot as told by the women.
When Emily is suddenly in danger, Isabella feels a connection with Bess that transcends all of time. And how one woman could possibly save them all.
I loved this novel, not just for the plot, characters, and overall story, but the obvious in-depth research. However, the research didn’t just extend to the immediate characters. The author researched all of the members of the Gunpowder Plot, the royal family, architecture, Shakespeare and his literature, and other literature that was inspired by the Plot. It made me want to go out and find an autobiography of Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton, Walter Raleigh, the Plot, and so many other topics. There were many things that I did not know about.
Each character was a strong, compassionate female with such motivations to save their families as well as themselves. Never did any of the woman, Isabella, Thalia, Bess, or young Emily, make the reader feel like women were insignificant. Quite the opposite, the author wrote these characters giving the reader the feeling of taking on the world. Thalia, though, was by far my favorite character, and I would love the author to create a secondary story but with Thalia as the main character. I loved her storybook energy, and her resilience. I just really loved this novel overall.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
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