HISTORICAL
ROMANCE
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HISTORICAL
FICTION |
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Mir Akbar Ali Khan Siddiqi Sikander Jah Asaf Jah III, Nizam of
Hyderabad, was the ruler of Hyderabad state in India from 1803 to 1829.
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Battle of Assaye,
Maratha War, a conflict between the British East India Company and the
Maratha Empire in India
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
by Lauren Willig
Wonderful mix of
romance, rich historical detail, and spy intrigue
When Penelope Deveraux's hasty
marriage to Lord Frederick Staines becomes the talk of the town, she
finds herself in new territory. Whisked away to Hyderabad,
Penelope finds her husband's attention lies elsewhere. In this
world, Penelope finds herself at odds and emotionally isolated until
Captain Alex Reid appears on the scene, charming her. In the
court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, appearances mask true intent.
Captain Reid seems to be the one person Penelope can trust, especially
as rumors of a dangerous spy called the Marigold surface as members of
Penelope's social circle become threatened. Captain Reid thinks
he has better things to do with his time than watch the aristocracy
until he meets Penelope, a woman who doesn't exactly follow social
conventions and who can outdo him on several fronts. Captain Reid
can't help but notice the inexplicable connection between the
Marigold's deadly acts and their connection to Penelope. By
allying himself to her, perhaps he can uncover the clues to unravel a
plot that threatens the British Empire itself.
Sixth in the Pink Carnation series, Lauren Willig's THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is a
fantastic, exciting addition to the series. Lauren Willig takes
all the elements fans have grown to love to a new setting in Hyderabad,
India. As the French presence in India inspires a desire
for consolidation of British control, the history of Maratha War forms
a
backdrop for the action of the story. Set within the context of a
present day (2004) graduate student's search for clues about spies
during the Napoleonic Wars, THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY brings
together the beauty for readers of the magic of historical romance: the
discovery of history and passion in the lives and hearts of men and
women living in a distant age. Like the novel's researcher, the
reader feels the moment of discovery. The embedded story within a
story gives a richness to the unfolding of the narrator's relationship
to Colin and Penelope's relationship to her husband and Captain
Reid. Each separate story fascinates on its own but together each
story gives richer depth to the other. If you are new to the
series, THE BETRAYAL OF THE
BLOOD LILY can be read as a stand alone but take this warning:
this book leaves a reader craving more of the wonderful mix of romance,
rich historical detail, and all the intrigue and mystery of spies
lurking actively beneath the surface. Whether you start the
series here with the sixth book or the first, this is a series not to
be missed.
Lauren Willig's THE
BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is the perfect choice for romance
readers who crave more history in their romance --- and for historical
fiction readers who want more romance and intrigue in their historical
fiction. Penelope is
a wonderful heroine. While circumstances leave her alone, she is
not a woman to sit meekly in the corner. Daring in the face of
rigid social regulations, she is active athletically and
intellectually. While true to the period, she is also a woman a
modern reader can admire. Captain Alex Reid's complex background
makes him a wonderful hero. Separate from the aristocracy, he is
a man who earns his way in the world rather than being given it as part
of his social position. Through Alex's family, one sees the
racial tensions and discrimination underlying the British India society
of the time. In one sense, both Penelope and Alex are outsiders,
caught between two worlds. In THE
BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY, Lauren Willig creates wonderfully rich
characters giving a satisfying depth to the romance. In a word, THE
BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is a keeper. THE
BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY is excellent in the first reading but
it
also a book rich enough to encourage re-reading or excellent book club
discussions. Superb in each and every way!
Publisher: Dutton
(January
12, 2010)
Author
website
Other books in the series: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
(2005), The Masque of the Black Tulip (2005), The Deception of the
Emerald Ring (2006), The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (2008), The
Temptation of the Night Jasmine (2009)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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