Customer Reviews

The Huntress: A Novel (Dark Queen)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was very surprised (albeit pleasantly) to find out that Susan Carroll's latest novel is the continuation of her previous Dark Queen trilogy. I loved her story about the Chenney sisters but she left out a few things in 'The Silver Rose' unanswered. So I eagerly devoured this book in one sitting last night. I loved it! Susan Carroll is a very talented writer and one of her main strengths is her ability to draw complex characters yet appear very real.

Catriona O'Hanlon is a refreshing heroine. She's free-spirited, feisty, able to wield her sword and shoot arrows with the best of them, and always speaks her mind. Although she appears to be fearless, she's actually quite vulnerable and a bit insecure inside thanks to her past treatment by her family and clan.

The book takes place a few years after the end of 'The Silver Rose' so Martin LeLoup has gone through some changes, perhaps not so much physically, but his experience as a father to talented Meg and life on the run has made him very cautious, if not downright suspicious, to anything magic. Thus he wouldn't allow Meg to even mention anything magic related.

Meg is also a unique character and Susan Carroll manages to capture Meg's innocence, confusion, and fear as a child filled with knowledge and power of magic beyond her years without making her appear to be some sort of Messiah or irritating know-it-all brat. The dialogues she had with Cat in one of the scenes when she started to open up a little bit nearly broke my heart for the little girl.

As usual, Susan Carroll also manages to combine historical facts and fiction so seamlessly that the story flows smoothly and evenly paced.
We get to know what happens finally to the Book of Shadow, and Ariana appears in a small dose and we get to know if she's finally able to have the child she longed for or not. We also get a glimpse of Catherine de Medici's ending.

All in all, it has been a pleasure reading this book. If only I could find 'meaty' historical novels like this more often.

I was so glad to find this continuation of the Dark Queen series. This novel is full of the same suspense and intrique as the other novels, but this one brings a new levity and sense of humor with it that the others lacked in. I hope that Susan Carroll will continue with the story lines of the characters introduced in this book, because while more of the Cheney loose ends were addressed, now there are a whole new set to contend with. Happy reading.

I greatly enjoyed 'The Huntress'--the fourth book in Susan Carroll's Dark Queen series.
This novel successfully tied up any loose ends from the first three, but also had it's own captivating tale. I enjoyed the character of Catriona, and thought she added a lot to the group of women that we are beginning to learn so much about.
I also loved that this novel took place in London, and not Paris or Faire Isle, as it was interesting to learn about a different city.
I do miss Gabrielle though, and her absence from not only this book but also it's predecessor is a little disappointing.

If you read the other books in the Dark Queen series you will want to read The Huntress. Alone, the book would not have a leg to stand on. The book follows the same plot lines as the previous novels in the series. The plot drags in a lot of areas and is very predictable. Cat, while interesting at times, could have been better developed as a character as well as Maegera. I also did not like when the book switched character point of views in some chapters.

Catherine's short appearances were another weaker point in the book. It did not add much in terms of plot development and the way she was written made her seem as threatening to the characters as a parakeet.

The Cheney Sisters were barely mentioned and Ariane only made a cameo appearance. Miri and Gabrielle, were absent for all of the book with a few short sentences making a few statements about Miri's life. Maybe the author is setting up for Book 5 by not discussing them in this book. Since the series is really about the Cheney Sisters I would have liked for them to be interwoven into the plot.

I have to be honest that I am a little surprised with all the 5 star reviews. The book carries a great deal of flaws. All in all a decent afternoon read but not a book I would recommend or give it a glowing review.

This novel is the fourth in a series set in the 16th century during the reign of Catherine de Medici and follows the Cheney sisters, daughters of the earth. Once you've read one book in this series you might as well have read them all. They all follow the same formula and plot development with happy ever after endings with only the main character and love interest changing with each book. The first book was worth reading but this was only okay. I would consider this to be more of a beach read than anything substantial or memorable.

Having read the previous books in the series and really enjoyed them, I was not disappointed with The Huntress. If you like your romance mixed with suspense, you'll enjoy this novel. I even re-read it!

The Huntress is another stunning chapter in Susan Carroll Dark Queen series. In this book we once again find ourselves brought into the world of those in Faire Isle, Ariane and her husband Justice are present but the main story focuses on the fiery Irish woman Catriona or simply Cat.

With the ageing Dark Queen having found out that little Megera or The Silver Rose was not killed, there is a grave danger to the girl. And so Ariane sends her Gallowglass Cat to find the girl and her father the roguishly handsome Martin Le Loup and bring them back to Faire Isle. And once again Susan Carroll wraps you up in the world of magic and intrigue. There are so many delightful twists and turns you hardly know where to look.

Cat finds Martin and Meg in England, Martin having established himself well and with ambitions for more. While Meg has to be a lovely young Lady and she is in love with the Tudor Queen of England, Elizabeth. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single book in this series. Generally when I read series the fourth book starts to drag. But not this one. The Huntress does not disappoint with intrigue, love and danger. Cat proves to be the fiercest of the heroines yet. She can easily stand up to any man; handle a sword, and most of all a bow. She protects Meg, and earns a friendship with her and her father. And so much more. If you love historical fictions you must read The Huntress, I promise you it will not disappoint. Susan Carroll's writing style is exciting and I know I am eagerly awaiting her next release in this series.

A dark prophecy... a sinister sisterhood...

The forces of good and evil collide and a fierce warrior, Cat O'Hanlon is dispatched from her home on Faire Isle to uncover plots and save a young girl, whose future hangs in limbo.

This book is about Cassandra's daughter Meg and the prophecy of the Silver Rose, which I don't know much about because, silly me, I didn't know this was not a stand-alone story, but rather the last (I think) book in a series. I would not recommend reading this one before cracking open The Dark Queen, The Courtesan, and The Silver Rose. I'm giving this book a 4 1/2 because while the story is a good one, the author's dialog seemed at times a bit too modern (although there were sprinklings of tis's and nay's). And maybe this only bothers me because when I think of the 16 century, I think of Shakespeare and 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks' sort of writing.

I love book series and Susan Carroll does a great job of bringing you back to the charecters you know, yet, if you are new to her writing still makes it a wonderful read. Having said that with this being the fourth book in the series was the toughest for me to get into. But if you like tales of the Silver Rose, combined with some history and romance , enjoy. I did. Can't wait for the next one.

Susan Carroll is the author of the Daughters of the Earth series: The Dark Queen, The Courtesan, and The Silver Rose.

This series is set in France in the 1580s. This book is the story of Cat O'Hanlon, the assistant to Ariane Cheney Deauville. Cat, the Huntress, is skilled in warfare of all sorts, including swords, and longbow. Ariane, the oldest of three sisters, is a healer and leader on Faire Isle, off the coast of France, a haven for the Daughters of the Earth, sort of white witches.

There are evil witches, including Queen Catherine de Medici, and a group sworn to serve the Silver Rose, a witch whose destiny is to destroy Catherine and lead the Daughters to great power through her ability to decipher the ancient Book of Shadows. The Silver Rose is actually Meg, the young daughter of Martin le Loup. Martin and Meg are in hiding somewhere in England, and Cat must find them and protect them, and bring them to the Faire Isle for safekeeping. Martin is in London working in the theatre, and for Walsingham, the advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, as a spy.

It is an exciting time when men can make their fortunes through strategic alliances. Martin is devoted to his young daughter, wants to raise her as a young gentlewoman, and hopes to make her forget all memories of her witch mother, Cassandra and her knowledge of the Book of Shadows. Cat cannot make Martin flee to the Faire Isle, so she remains in their house to keep them safe. Cat also tries to help a very confused Meg, and to ignore her feelings for Martin.

Evil and dark events threaten both Meg and Martin, as minions of the Dark Queen, Catherine de Medici and followers of the Silver Rose both try to get to Meg and the Book. Queen Elizabeth faces threats from plotters and must decide how to deal with the menace of her older Catholic sister, Queen Mary. There are dashing fights, fires, arrows, devious plots, arrests by the queen's soldiers, tattoos of allegiance, magic and romance galore in this thrilling sequel to The Silver Rose.

Armchair Interviews says: Susan Carroll does it again.