The Crimson Crown (Onyx) [Paperback]

Edith Layton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Layton's ( Surrender to Love ) novel of late 15th-century England is an overburdened effort to construct an alternate fate for the "two unlucky boy princes'ix '--Edward and Richard Plantagenet--competitors for the throne who were supposedly murdered in the Tower of London. After eight years of spying throughout Europe for Henry VII, Lucas Lovat returns to England only to be caught up in the king's continuing attempt to protect his throne from rival claimants. Most dangerous is Perkin Warbeck, who says he's Richard Plantagenet and may still have a secret, devoted following. Lucas knows better, as he himself is Edward Plantagenet (his brother, Richard, is Henry's right-hand monk). But he accepts his assignment to ingratiate himself with Warbeck's wife, Lady Katherine, and her attendants in hopes of uncovering possible intrigues. While there, Lucas is caught in the spell of Megan Baswell, attendant to Lady Katherine and another of Henry's many spies. Plots, machinations and identities are revealed at last; none have the spark needed to raise this tale above the ordinary.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (December 4, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451402278
• ISBN-13: 978-0451402271
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do not read the PW description - big big spoiler, November 24, 2009

By 

Misfit (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Crimson Crown (Onyx) (Paperback)

Sigh....can't believe I have to do that and I have informed Ammy but I'm not holding my breath it will get fixed. Onward -

The story begins in 1498 as That Upstart Henry Tudor (can you tell I don't like him?) maintains his hold on the crown despite the multiple pretenders claiming to be one of the lost princes in the tower - including the latest claimant Perkin Warbeck. Lucas Lovat returns from an extended tour of Europe where he traded goods for his father and earned quite the reputation as a lady's man, but also acted as a spy for Henry. The King sends Lucas to the Queen's court at Greenwich Palace to spy on Warbeck's wife Katherine Gordon as well as to seduce one of her ladies - Megan Baswell. Never fear though, Henry sets spies upon his spies and Megan is forced to report back to Henry on the actions of Katherine and Lucas.

Despite Lucas' best efforts, Megan is determined to hold onto the one coin she still owns - her chastity. Lucas soon finds he cares for Megan a great deal but the ghosts of his past prevent him from declaring himself. Lucas begins a deadly game of cat and mouse as a big secret from his past is revealed and he determines to ascertain Warbeck's true identity at all costs. Is Warbeck truly Richard Plantagenet or just another imposter? Will Warbeck escape the tower and make another attempt at Henry's crown? Can Lucas and Megan survive it all with their heads intact?

And that's about all I can tell you - there are a couple of big plot twists and going any further would give it all away. Improbable as it is, this was still a very entertaining *what if* novel where the author took that never ending mystery of the princes in the tower and put her own spin on it. The scenes in the tower were sufficiently creepy (the walls did have ears) and Warwick just broke my heart. While this is billed as an historical romance, you're not going to get your payola until the very end and when you do it is quite tame by today's standards, so if you're looking for a book filled with nothing but sex I suggest you look elsewhere. If you are a fan of the period and looking for something a little different I'd definitely go for it, and at the price it's selling for what have you got to lose?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, November 16, 2005

By 

Cajunbooks (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crimson Crown (Onyx) (Paperback)

I recently read this book and found that although it had some romance, it really was more of a historical fiction. Half way through reading it, I found it reminded me of Dorothy Dunnet's Lymond series. It had a haunting quality to it. It really got to me toward the end. I found myself going back and re-reading sections of it.

If you are looking for fluffy romance, this is not it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved This Book, September 1, 2010

By 

SkyRidge "Anglophile" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crimson Crown (Onyx) (Paperback)

As a lover of this period of English history, I found this book to be a great read. It had a new and original plot and as I was reading it and figured out who the main character was, I was stunned! Loved it and have read it over and over.