Twilight of a Queen: A Novel [Paperback]

Susan Carroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

As war and treachery loom, an ambitious man’s mission threatens to topple two dazzling realms and their formidable rulers: Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen, and Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle.

It is 1588, and as the Spanish Armada prepares to besiege England, Paris balances on the brink of revolution. To maintain her grip on the throne and on the dark magic that has become her obsession, Catherine de Medici turns to Louis Xavier, a ruthless corsair who was schooled in the dark arts and has mastered piracy along the Spanish main. But Louis’s basest instincts are held in check by the kindness of Lady Jane Danvers, a British exile whose innate sense of honor is but one facet of her complex and passionate nature.

On Faire Isle, Ariane Cheney, unaware of the escalating threat from the Dark Queen, struggles with the task of protecting the daughters of the earth and their vast store of ancient magical wisdom. Weak and desperate for an advantage, the ailing Catherine makes a devil’s bargain that will cast a shadow over all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Carroll's conclusion to her Dark Queen series, Catherine de Medici returns, still eager to claim the knowledge of the Book of Shadows. Catherine enlists the ruthless Louis Xavier to kidnap Meg Wolfe, a sorceress who is reputed to have the knowledge, from Faire Isle where she is under the protection of Ariane Deauville. Xavier, who has unfinished family business on Faire Isle, wants nothing to do with the place, but washes ashore there when his ship veers off course in a storm. Once on the island, he falls in love with Lady Jane Danvers, Ariane's successor, but his peace is shattered by the reach of the Dark Queen, who must be destroyed if any of the women of Faire Isle are to survive. While the focus is mostly on Louis Xavier and Meg's stories, familiar characters from previous installments appear. The backdrop of political upheaval in France in 1588 is an exciting and extravagant setting, but the ending feels anticlimactic in light of the terrifying threat the Dark Queen has posed throughout the series. Carroll's fans, however, should be well satisfied. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Susan Carroll’s Dark Queen series:

“An intoxicating brew of poignant romance, turbulent history, and mesmerizing magic.”
—Karen Harper, author of The Hooded Hawke


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449221091
• ISBN-13: 978-0449221099
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #408,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fifth in Dark Queen series, July 31, 2009

By 

Helen Hancox "Auntie Helen" (Essex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)

Although 'Twilight of a Queen' is the fifth in a series I didn't actually realise this until I had been reading for a little while. The author makes it easy to follow the story and to learn about the characters as they are introduced into this tale.

Although the book focuses most on Captain Xavier, a pirate who finds himself washed up on an island of 'daughters of the earth' (read white witches) and on Lady Jane Danvers, a widow without an obvious future or role on the island, we also read the story from the point of view of Catherine de Medici, mother of King Henry of France, and of Meg Wolfe, a young witch on the island. The variety of points of view added some interest although I felt at times that I knew more about Meg than about Jane, who was a surprisingly quiet heroine.

Mixed in with the historical novel aspects, as the Spanish Armada prepares to sail against Britain, we read of sorcery, scrying glasses, necromancers, trances etc. Catherine de Medici is an evil queen who is trying to have Meg Wolfe kidnapped, using Captain Xavier to carry out his dirty work. But Xavier has finally found someone who can make him put his rather wasteful and amoral life behind him - if she can trust him.

I did enjoy this book, finding the pacing good and the events well written. I was left feeling a little unsure how hero and heroine, so different from each other, would deal with each other in the long term, but this is definitely worth a read.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting and Immersive Tale, August 24, 2009

By 

Ashley L. Sheppard (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)

Twilight of a Queen is historical fiction, and also more of a romance than I expected it to be, not that I minded that.

The story changes perspectives between many of the characters, good and bad alike. I sometimes don't like that style, but actually enjoyed it in the case of this novel. The characters have many dimensions and this is part of what makes this novel so great. It is so often that you read a book with poor development in this area that it was nice to have some realistic characters.

It is also very suspenseful, but not wickedly so. You will feel good after the ending, and appreciate the way the characters grew throughout. Susan Carroll creates an exciting and realistic world with this novel, and I would highly recommend it. It kept me very engaged, but despite reading it quickly, the length felt satisfactory.

One more note; I absolutely loved the female characters in this book. They were very independent and courageous, which was refreshing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Continuation to the Series, August 8, 2009

By 

Ashley K. Rooks "grneydfairy" (Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twilight of a Queen: A Novel (Paperback)

Trying her hardest to protect the throne of France from Duc de Guise, Catherine de Medici turns to pirate Louis Xavier for help. King Henry's lack of strength and his carelessness for the protection of the throne influences Catherine to create a plot for Xavier to invade Faire Isle and kidnap the most powerful Daughter of the Earth, the Silver Rose. Xavier willingly accepts this task, and the Dowager Queen's coin, but soon finds out that another woman will have more power over his actions. Lady Jane Danvers captures the heart of Xavier and soon his mission of capturing the Silver Rose is deterred which infuriates Catherine. Out of fear of inexistence, Catherine tries to take matters into her own hands in the midst of chaos created by Henry's actions, the Duc's desire for power and the Spanish Armada.

I absolutely loved the whole Dark Queen series by Susan Carroll and I feel like I waited so long for this book to finally be released. Carroll writes expertly, embellishing the story with both fiction and history. I enjoyed the love story between Jane and Xavier and wish that there was more to read about the future of the two. It is apparently the last book in the series but is there any possible way Carroll will write another?