Eliza dreams of being a playwright for the king’s theater, where she will be admired for her witty turns of phrase rather than her father’s wealth. Beth is beautiful as the day but poor as a church mouse, so she must marry well, despite her love for her childhood sweetheart. Zabby comes to England to further her scientific studies—and ends up saving the life of King Charles II. Soon her friendship with him becomes a dangerous, impossible obsession. Though she knows she should stay away from the young, handsome king, Charles has a new bride, Queen Catherine, and a queen needs ladies in waiting. And so Zabby, Beth, and Eliza, three Elizabeths from very different walks of life, find themselves at the center of the most scandal-filled court that England has ever seen.
Ladies in Waiting
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-In 17th-century England within King Charles II's court are three young women, all of whom are named Elizabeth. They become Queen Catherine of Braganza's maids of honor and swear an oath of eternal friendship to one another. Wealthy Eliza is interested in theater and in avoiding marriage; poor Beth in finding her one true love; and Zabby, there by accident, in science and learning. The Elizabeths pursue their passions while serving the king and queen as best they can, including disguising themselves and taking the queen out to learn about "the world of men." The book traces the stories of their three divergent paths. The language is sophisticated, and many of the scenes are earthy or bawdy. Societal mores are woven into the plot, such as gender inequality and marriage of convenience rather than for love. Ultimately, this is a love story, but not one that ends happily ever after, and it will leave many readers unsatisfied. The framework laid down in this book presents great promise, but stunted character development and what feels like incomplete plot realization result in too many loose ends.-Jesse L. Ray, Seattle Public Library, WAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
"Entertaining. . . . a Philippa Gregory spin-off for teens."--VOYA
"[Sullivan] paints a colorful and largely accurate portrait of Restoration London. The unusual ending, especially, anchors the book more to history than to romance."--Kirkus Reviews
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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I am absolutely amazed that "Ladies in Waiting" is aimed at the teenage market, when it became obvious to me after reading a few chapters that due to its strong sexual content it is more suitable for adults. The novel is set during the Restoration period of English history (late 17th century) when Charles II was returned to his rightful place on the throne after the death of Cromwell. It was a bawdy time period, and it is apparent that the author, Laura Sullivan, wants to recreate that atmosphere for the reader. In that she succeeds, but at the price of eliminating this book from the teenage market.
"Ladies in Waiting" is the story of three young women all named Elizabeth but going by their nicknames -- Eliza, Beth, and Zabby -- who end up by different routes at the court of Charles II and his neglected queen, Catherine of Braganza. Eliza wants to be a playwrite (there were women during that period who wrote plays, so there is some accuracy to this ambition), Beth is of noble birth but poor (and saddled with a mother monsterously disfigured with a sexually transmitted disease), and Zabby is from Barbatos, where she became interested in science (a fascination shared by Charles II). All three are looking for fullfillment at the court -- whether it is in a husband or in a career. Zabby, after an encounter with the king during which she saved his life, has fallen in love with the married monarch. She feels somewhat guilty because he is married, but sees her infatuation with Charles as somehow different from the lust felt for him by his mistresses, especially Barbara Palmer.
There are many references to adultery, to bestiality, and to other sexual practices that make it impossible for me to recommend this to young adults under the age of 16, while the publisher puts the target audience as young as 14. On the positive side, the author has researched her time period, and seems to be attempting to give a balanced picture of Charles. Her most successful character, in my opinion, is that of the queen, poor Catherine, who is frequently referred to as the "sallow bat." In truth,Catherine was very short, very plain, and had a sallow complextion not enhanced by the dull colors she wore. Charles was able to father children with his mistresses, but Catherine was barren, so ultimately there was no heir to the throne except James II, the Catholic brother of Charles, which is a story for another time. Had the author paid more attention to the historic aspects and tried less to introduce unnecessary salacious elements into the plot, this would have been an excellent introduction to the time period for teens.
"Ladies in Waiting" is the story of three young women all named Elizabeth but going by their nicknames -- Eliza, Beth, and Zabby -- who end up by different routes at the court of Charles II and his neglected queen, Catherine of Braganza. Eliza wants to be a playwrite (there were women during that period who wrote plays, so there is some accuracy to this ambition), Beth is of noble birth but poor (and saddled with a mother monsterously disfigured with a sexually transmitted disease), and Zabby is from Barbatos, where she became interested in science (a fascination shared by Charles II). All three are looking for fullfillment at the court -- whether it is in a husband or in a career. Zabby, after an encounter with the king during which she saved his life, has fallen in love with the married monarch. She feels somewhat guilty because he is married, but sees her infatuation with Charles as somehow different from the lust felt for him by his mistresses, especially Barbara Palmer.
There are many references to adultery, to bestiality, and to other sexual practices that make it impossible for me to recommend this to young adults under the age of 16, while the publisher puts the target audience as young as 14. On the positive side, the author has researched her time period, and seems to be attempting to give a balanced picture of Charles. Her most successful character, in my opinion, is that of the queen, poor Catherine, who is frequently referred to as the "sallow bat." In truth,Catherine was very short, very plain, and had a sallow complextion not enhanced by the dull colors she wore. Charles was able to father children with his mistresses, but Catherine was barren, so ultimately there was no heir to the throne except James II, the Catholic brother of Charles, which is a story for another time. Had the author paid more attention to the historic aspects and tried less to introduce unnecessary salacious elements into the plot, this would have been an excellent introduction to the time period for teens.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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LADIES IN WAITING is a well-written book. It just wasn't for me.
The cover is perhaps misleading; the girls look modern, twenty-first century young women dressed up in seventeenth-century garb. So you pick up this book and think that it's going to be something like GOSSIP GIRL, just set in seventeenth-century England. And it's not. To be honest, I'm not sure how wide an audience this will find; it's not a trashy YA historical romance novel, and I wonder how many people will pick this up and then be disappointed that it's actually a well-done work of historical fiction more focused on accurately portraying the characters' world.
LADIES IN WAITING mostly follows three young women, all named Elizabeth, who are come to the court of Charles II to serve as maids of honor to his Catholic Portuguese princess wife, Catherine. There's the aspiring playwright, daring Eliza, the commoner daughter of a very wealthy Puritan merchant. There's quiet, beautiful Beth, who dreams of true love despite her mother's attempts to marry her off to gain back their lost wealth. And then there's science-minded Zabby, who grew up on a plantation in the Caribbean and becomes the confidante of the king. They vow to be friends and support one another through the perils and scandals of court life.
The three main characters are well drawn characters. Sweet, innocent Beth is very much the seventeenth-century lady, but she has spunk. Sullivan ensures that Beth is still a real character and that she is not overshadowed by her two friends. Eliza is a smart, strong young woman who knows what she wants and is unafraid to make her dreams come true, and although she does not fit into role of a proper young woman, she still seems like a believable product of her time. To me, she never came across as too modern, despite her determination to be independent. Neither does Zabby, whose different upbringing explains her science-driven studies, and yet Zabby is still suspectible to the emotions that belabor a teenage girl. All three characters are easy to relate to and easy to like, and the supporting cast is also well-drawn and three-dimensional.
I am not an expert in the court of Charles II, so I really can't speak as to the historical accuracy of the story itself and the historical figures, but I do think that Sullivan crafted an excellent version of this court. Either she did her research well or she knows how to convince her readers that she did. Her descriptions evoke the sights, smells, and sounds of the seventeenth century. No hint of modernity creeps into her prose, nor do her characters ever slip into a more modern tone of voice. For the whole time I was reading this book, I was in her world completely, and it takes a skilled author to do this.
And as a side note to that: There's a lot of coarse, suggestive dialogue in this book. Sex played a huge role in the politics and daily life of the seventeenth century, and Sullivan makes no attempt to hide that. (There are no graphic scenes.) Everything maintains its historicalness, but Sullivan's characters - some more than others - frequently make bawdy comments and jokes. There will definitely be readers turned off and made uncomfortable by Sullivan's frankness in dialogue and description, although personally, I think thought that it added to thhe book. I don't think it's too much for mature teenagers to handle, but I wonder how many of them will find the conversation enjoyable.
Unfortunately, LADIES IN WAITING is told from an omniscient point of view. I prefer staying with one character over the course of the novel. I like knowing what only one character thinks, observes, and feels, and Sullivan dives into the minds of all characters and even provides insights and information that none of the characters would know. It does help portray her world more fully, so this might not bother every reader, but it's something that I wish I would have known before reading this book. In addition, if you are a reader who likes conclusive endings, be warned that LADIES IN WAITING ends with a bunch of loose ends. If, however, you like open endings, this probably won't bother you. All in all, LADIES IN WAITING is a good book. It's just not entirely what I was expecting.
The cover is perhaps misleading; the girls look modern, twenty-first century young women dressed up in seventeenth-century garb. So you pick up this book and think that it's going to be something like GOSSIP GIRL, just set in seventeenth-century England. And it's not. To be honest, I'm not sure how wide an audience this will find; it's not a trashy YA historical romance novel, and I wonder how many people will pick this up and then be disappointed that it's actually a well-done work of historical fiction more focused on accurately portraying the characters' world.
LADIES IN WAITING mostly follows three young women, all named Elizabeth, who are come to the court of Charles II to serve as maids of honor to his Catholic Portuguese princess wife, Catherine. There's the aspiring playwright, daring Eliza, the commoner daughter of a very wealthy Puritan merchant. There's quiet, beautiful Beth, who dreams of true love despite her mother's attempts to marry her off to gain back their lost wealth. And then there's science-minded Zabby, who grew up on a plantation in the Caribbean and becomes the confidante of the king. They vow to be friends and support one another through the perils and scandals of court life.
The three main characters are well drawn characters. Sweet, innocent Beth is very much the seventeenth-century lady, but she has spunk. Sullivan ensures that Beth is still a real character and that she is not overshadowed by her two friends. Eliza is a smart, strong young woman who knows what she wants and is unafraid to make her dreams come true, and although she does not fit into role of a proper young woman, she still seems like a believable product of her time. To me, she never came across as too modern, despite her determination to be independent. Neither does Zabby, whose different upbringing explains her science-driven studies, and yet Zabby is still suspectible to the emotions that belabor a teenage girl. All three characters are easy to relate to and easy to like, and the supporting cast is also well-drawn and three-dimensional.
I am not an expert in the court of Charles II, so I really can't speak as to the historical accuracy of the story itself and the historical figures, but I do think that Sullivan crafted an excellent version of this court. Either she did her research well or she knows how to convince her readers that she did. Her descriptions evoke the sights, smells, and sounds of the seventeenth century. No hint of modernity creeps into her prose, nor do her characters ever slip into a more modern tone of voice. For the whole time I was reading this book, I was in her world completely, and it takes a skilled author to do this.
And as a side note to that: There's a lot of coarse, suggestive dialogue in this book. Sex played a huge role in the politics and daily life of the seventeenth century, and Sullivan makes no attempt to hide that. (There are no graphic scenes.) Everything maintains its historicalness, but Sullivan's characters - some more than others - frequently make bawdy comments and jokes. There will definitely be readers turned off and made uncomfortable by Sullivan's frankness in dialogue and description, although personally, I think thought that it added to thhe book. I don't think it's too much for mature teenagers to handle, but I wonder how many of them will find the conversation enjoyable.
Unfortunately, LADIES IN WAITING is told from an omniscient point of view. I prefer staying with one character over the course of the novel. I like knowing what only one character thinks, observes, and feels, and Sullivan dives into the minds of all characters and even provides insights and information that none of the characters would know. It does help portray her world more fully, so this might not bother every reader, but it's something that I wish I would have known before reading this book. In addition, if you are a reader who likes conclusive endings, be warned that LADIES IN WAITING ends with a bunch of loose ends. If, however, you like open endings, this probably won't bother you. All in all, LADIES IN WAITING is a good book. It's just not entirely what I was expecting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Reading the last chapters of "Ladies in Waiting" convinced me that this was the first book of at least two, if not three. The lives of the three Elizabeths are far from settled by the end of the book, and it feels as if there's just more story to be told. Unfortunately I found no indication that this is anything but a stand-alone book, which makes it less satisfying than it should be. Also less-than-satisfying is the characterization. Even Zabby, who is arguably the central figure in the book, is a little flat. Her internal life seems to consist of nothing more than wanting to be a scientist and wanting to sleep with the king. There's something of the Mary Sue about her, too, a woman so smart and beautiful that she could bewitch a king without actually bedding him. The other characters are similarly drawn, leaving the reader with the sense that even Charles II of England, one of the more vivid monarchs to sit on that throne, is just another guy who happens to be a king.
The book itself is aimed at the young adult market (14+, according to the jacket) which makes sense in this case because characterization and subtlety aren't hallmarks of young adult fiction. However, as you might gather from reading some of the other reviews, there is a sexual element here which troubles some adults. I do think that some of the themes and language are a bit much for a 14 year old reader. Probably a better lower end of the age range would be 16.
The writing itself is workmanlike, if a bit too free with point-of-view, which makes for an occasionally confusing narrative. Determined readers won't be put off. On the whole, I can't say that I found the book all that compelling, but it wasn't a bad read. If you're a romance reader, be aware that there's less romance here than you might like. A whole load of unfulfilled longing, but not a lot of romance. And happily ever after? Not so much.
The book itself is aimed at the young adult market (14+, according to the jacket) which makes sense in this case because characterization and subtlety aren't hallmarks of young adult fiction. However, as you might gather from reading some of the other reviews, there is a sexual element here which troubles some adults. I do think that some of the themes and language are a bit much for a 14 year old reader. Probably a better lower end of the age range would be 16.
The writing itself is workmanlike, if a bit too free with point-of-view, which makes for an occasionally confusing narrative. Determined readers won't be put off. On the whole, I can't say that I found the book all that compelling, but it wasn't a bad read. If you're a romance reader, be aware that there's less romance here than you might like. A whole load of unfulfilled longing, but not a lot of romance. And happily ever after? Not so much.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Elegantly Written"
"Ladies in Waiting," is about three young girls in 17th-century England who attend King Charles II's Catholic Portuguese princess wife, Catherine. Read more
Published 3 months ago by L.Davis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good for teens
I don't think I'm the target audience for this book. It's well written, and page-turning, but I like a bit more "meat" to my historical fiction and less emphasis on drama, drama,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cherchezlafemme
3.0 out of 5 stars
Looking for a good historical novel? Look elsewhere...
Historical fiction is a genre I either love or hate. There is no middle ground with this genre. It's either super fascinating and unputdownable or something that bores me to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Butler
3.0 out of 5 stars
an interesting view into 1600s England
This is an interesting account of the 1600's in England. It's a work of fiction, but the author clearly did her research and utilized actual, historical characters well. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tabitha
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of scandal, little romance
Customer Video Review
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Published 11 months ago by AboutToRead
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay, so guys like me probably aren't expected to be wild about this...
However, I don't really see that many women enjoying this. Maybe teenagers, but this is pretty full of sex, though not graphic, and brutality for under 18. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Neal C. Reynolds
2.0 out of 5 stars
Started Strong...
LADIES IN WAITING by Laura L. Sullivan started strong. Well, it grabbed my interest for the first 30 pages or so. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Alien Lurker
2.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious
I had so many high expectations for Ladies in Waiting! I've read other great works of historical fiction depicting this time period and was prepared for court intrigue, witty... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Prather
3.0 out of 5 stars
Story puts the "Adult" in young adult fiction: 2.5 stars
"Ladies in Waiting", set during the early reign of England's Charles II, tells the story of three fictional maids of honor to Catherine of Braganza, Charles' Portuguese Queen. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Avid reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ladies in Waiting
Ladies in Waiting
I would call this average teenage literature. It had some girly characters, dashing heroes who aren't quite as good as the women, and a plot that just... Read more
I would call this average teenage literature. It had some girly characters, dashing heroes who aren't quite as good as the women, and a plot that just... Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Reynard
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