The Laurentine Spy [Mass Market Paperback]

Emily Gee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

Following on from the success of Emily's award nominated first novel, comes The Laurentine Spy. Two spies must work together to avoid being caught at whatever cost.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Emily has a Bachelor of Science (Geology) and a Post Graduate Diploma (Rehabilitation).  She has lived and studied in Sweden, backpacked in Europe, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica, a waitress on the Isle of Skye, and a rehabilitation instructor in New Zealand. She currently works in the wine industry in Marlborough, New Zealand. Her first novel, THIEF WITH NO SHADOW, has been short listed twice for the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Solaris; 1 edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844166031
• ISBN-13: 978-1844166039
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #978,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Emily Gee grew up in a house full of books--her mother worked as a proofreader and librarian, and her father is a well-known New Zealand novelist. Emily has studied a wide number of subjects, including geology and geophysics, canine behavior and ancient Greek. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye. Most recently she has worked in the wine industry in Marlborough, New Zealand.

Emily loves to travel and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China and North Africa. She enjoys climbing hills, yoga workouts, watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reading. She is especially fond of Georgette Heyer's Regency and Georgian novels.

Emily writes dark, romantic fantasy novels as Emily Gee and Regency romances as Emily May.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical Romance with a small bit of magic., April 25, 2009

By 

Detra Fitch "Always hunting good books." (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Laurentine Spy (Mass Market Paperback)

She was born dirt poor, below even the peasants. Dreading the life open before her, Saliel takes an opportunity to become a spy in the Corhonase citadel. With the money she earns Saliel could buy a better life for herself. She could have her independence and land with a small cottage by the sea. She becomes part of an elite spy group. She is only called Three whenever she meets with the others. Two is a servant and One is a nobleman. They meet secretly, deep under the citadel, within the catacombs. They are cloaked and wear hoods, keeping each ignorant of the others' identities. Only the Guardian knows their true names and faces. Up in the citadel, in the ballrooms and salons of the nobles' Court, she is believed to be Lady Petra.

After so long, Saliel's time of spying is almost over. Arrangements are being made for her departure. The only things left to do are to copy the third code book and disappear forever. But a sadistic Spycatcher is brought in. His pale eyes force people to speak the truth. Saliel is the only spy with the ability to lie to the Spycatcher. She keeps quiet as to how she accomplishes this. Should it ever become known that she has just a bit of magic, she would be burned at the stake.

**** This story is very much like a Historical Romance with small tad of magic thrown in. If you are looking for more magic than what seems to be hypnotizing, you will be disappointed. The setting is much like the Regency era of London's past. Saliel is the heroine of the story, but there is also a hero, Athan of House Seresin. Once out of the citadel, the story does not dwindle to a stop. On the contrary, it actually picks up and becomes even more exciting. The two spies must learn to trust each other and share their darkest secrets if they are to escape their pursuers. A believable story that shows prime examples of how far people may go for love and loyalty. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historial Romantic Fantasy, May 27, 2009

By 

HHK "Fantasy/History Fan" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Laurentine Spy (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed EMily Gee's first novel Thief With No Shadow, so when I saw she had another book coming out, I ran and got it. Fantasy with romance is my favorite genre.

This book was mostly historical adventure romance. The concept of three spies working at the same time and not knowing each other identities was fun and suspenseful. I enjoyed the heroine Saliel. The first half of the book was definitely 5 star material.

The second half of the book where the hero and heroine are on the run, was not as suspenseful or interesting. The ending felt a little rushed. Hence my detraction of 1 star.

Still, if you enjoy the combo of fantasy, romance, and adventure set in a pseudo historical setting, you will like this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GEE, Give me more!, November 3, 2009

By 

Julie W. "jujubean122" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laurentine Spy (Paperback)

Saliel is in over her head. Masquerading as a noble lady in the fortress of Laureant's greatest enemy, she sneaks into the old disused catacombs every other night to meet One, Two, and the Guardian, other Laurentine spies whose true identities she doesn't know.

After foiling an enemy plan to take over another fought-over land, Saliel learns that the Prince and his consort know there are spies in the fortress and have hired a notorious and feared spycatcher. Saliel and the other spies still have work to do however, and must stay one step ahead of him in order to accomplish their goal. All the time Saliel must play a part -- a part she know she has no business playing -- and longs to be back home in Laureant, independent and finally free from playing roles. And free from her past.

I could not put down The Laurentine Spy. From the first chapter, Gee pulled me into the Laurentine spy network. My heart was racing throughout the entire book and I often found myself murmuring advice to the characters in order to keep them one step ahead of the evil spycatcher who was all too real and incredibly scary.

Gee's knack for creating suspense could rival Alfred Hitchcock's. Gee also was able to do something that too many authors can't: she made me care about the characters from the very first chapter. I could relate to Saliel and shared in her fear and frustration throughout the entire book -- she was an engaging character who I could wrap my head around. It was fantastic.

The Laurentine Spy was truly an engrossing novel. This is what good fantasy should be: edge of your seat, page-turning, late-night reading, heart-racing entertainment. I was captivated and I will definitely be reading more of Gee's works.

My only complaint is that there was no map to refer to. I would have loved to have had a map of the world so I could gauge the distances. A map of the citadel would have also been very welcome. This was truly a minor thing however, definitely not a reason not to pick up The Laurentine Spy.