Customer Reviews

Twilight of a Queen: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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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

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.

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?

In 1588 as the Spanish Armada sets sail to blockade England, the Dark Queen Catherine de Medici fears her control of the throne is tenuous for the first time in her long rule. Ailing and unable to directly confront her rival the Lady of the Faire Isle she turns to mage Louis Xavier, a notorious pirate who has used the dark arts to achieve his watery superiority.

However, for the first in his life, Louis is distracted by passionate and courageous Lady Jane Danvers. Meanwhile, Ariane Cheney protects her beloved Faire Isle from the Dark Queen as three women prepare for battle on the mundane and magical planes with one another for who will sit on the throne. Ariane anoints Jane as her heir, which sends the vicious Dark Queen after her. Louis vows to protect his beloved or die trying.

The final Faire Isle historical fantasy (see THE DARK QUEEN and THE SILVER ROSE) is a super tale with strong adversaries and allies, and a terrific exhilarating story line that ties up the critical loose ends. Catherine de Medici is incredible as the evil one; Ariane appears to be her equal while Jane has to prove her worthiness under fire with Louis surprisingly as her protector with her supporters questioning his dark past. Fans will relish Susan Carroll's regal yet dark sixteenth century as the war between the light and dark clash with a royal finality.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this series. Historical fiction, romance, good versus evil, and a little magic to boot. Is there a 6th book???

Susan Carroll's Twilight of A Queen makes for a good Saturday-afternoon read. Mystical and historical, Carroll blends the last days of the reign of Catherine de Medici (the Queen Consort of Henry II of France) with the search for the powerful Book of Shadows. In her desperate search, Catherine falls prey to deception by Captain Xavier, disguised as a tribal seer.
After his false prophecy as to the whereabouts of the coveted spiritual pages, he ends up shipwrecked and washed up on an island colony of women who are protecting the very Book. As he heals, the "daughters of the earth" on Faire Island learns that Xavier has ties to the missing merchant father of Lady Jane Danvers, an exile in the midst of the white witches.
Jane and Xavier develop a hot and heavy romance, playing out against the threat of Catherine seeking to destroy the rightful heir of the Book of Shadows, as the Spanish Armada closes in on Catherine's rival, Britain. Moonlight rituals, Renaissance rivals, and rogue romance round out Carroll's Faire Island fantasy.
One can pick up a few basic facts about Catherine de Medici... all the while given a very detailed description of Xavier's male attributes from Lady Jane's perspective. Curl up on the couch, with a cup of tea, for this one.

Catherine de Medici is still on the lookout for the Book of Shadows. She hires a pirate, Louis Xavier, to help her find the book. Catherine is convinced the book lies with the white witch, Meg and sends Louis after her. When Louis falls in love with Meg, Catherine's plans are in danger. With the Spanish Armada closing in, Catherine has to act fast or lose it all.

The romance between Meg and Louis is sweet, but is not really what the story is about. The book is more about Catherine's search for the Book of Shadows, the thing that has been driving her for the whole series. With a large amount of history sprinkled throughout the book, the story focuses less on romance and more on action and intrigue.

For fans of historical fantastical fiction set during the reign of the Medici's, Twilight of a Queen is the book is for you. This is the final installment in the Dark Queen series. History lovers will love this detailed and exciting tale!


Niki Lee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is another wonderful edition to the Dark Queen series. Once again Carroll has woven an interesting story amidst a plethora of intriguing characters. She has returned to her usual storyline of a battle of wills between two destined lovers and the love affair between Captain Xavier and Lady Jane Danvers is just as entertaining as the rest have been. It reminds me somewhat of the storyline between Simon and Miri, but considering this was my favourite novel I was not disappointed by this.
The character of Meg is further developed in this novel, although her comical father Martin Le Loup is not present in this novel. Neither was Gabrielle Cheney, and it would be nice to see the return of these two characters soon. Perhaps in the next novel...?

Susan Carroll has become my favorite author ever since I stumbled upon "the dark queen" a few years ago. Since then, I've tried my best to read all her books. I've read 8 so far and loved them all. I give "twilight of a queen" 5 stars. It was very entertaining and never had a dull moment. The only thing that bothered me was how fast the two fell in love...not very realistic. Other than that, I loved it!!

The year is 1588. The Spanish Armada is threatening Elizabeth's Protestant England, the Duc de Guise is harassing the cross-dressing, Metrosexual French King, Henri and Henri's mother, Catherine de Medici, is still on the hunt for the Silver Rose.
The aging Catherine is not growing old gracefully and is desperate to find the Silver Rose. Louis Xavier, a necromancer, is Catherine's last hope and she hires him to go to Faire Isle and to abduct the Silver Rose. Unfortunately for Catherine, she has been played false and Xavier is actually a pirate with no intention of going to Faire Isle. However, fate has another plan in mind.

The Silver Rose, now called Meg, is safe among the Daughters of the Earth on Faire Isle. Ariane, the oldest of the Cheney sisters, heads up this coven of healing women and is busy preparing for the naming of her successor when a stranger (Xavier) washes ashore of Faire Isle. She is quite shocked, to say the least, when it is revealed who this stranger truly is.

Jane Danvers, has been persecuted and exiled for her religious beliefs by Queen Elizabeth and is now living on Faire Isle. Jane feels a strange connection with this stranger from the beginning and offers to care for him while he recuperates. They eventually fall in love. However, the "and they lived happily ever after" part is going to have to wait - Xavier's rouse has been found out by Catherine and she is one ticked off lady. Now he must do whatever possible to save himself, the Silver Rose and the other women on Faire Isle from The Dark Queen.

Twilight of a Queen is the fifth book in Susan Carroll's Dark Queen series. While it is not a required to have read the other four before this one, you would really miss out on some good reading and I am ever the neurotic one when it comes to reading a series in order. I do have to say that I was a bit under-whelmed by this one. I found the other four books in the series more entertaining ...Twilight of a Queen was more a love story, which is fine, but I wanted more Catherine and more drama!

Best Line: "Steel sheathed in velvet, that is what a woman must be in order to survive."