Description
‘Borman’s expertise as a historian of the period is much in evidence throughout a lively, entertaining novel’ The Sunday Times
‘So vividly evoked that you are there’ Alison Weir
‘Rich evocation of 17th-century life’ The Times
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Frances Gorges has already survived the accusation of witchcraft. But if her torturers at the court of King James knew of her love for Tom Wintour, one of the executed members of the gunpowder plot, it would mean certain death. Pregnant with Tom’s child, hiding under the reluctant protection of her spiteful and ambitious brother, Frances lives in fear – until she is offered the chance to make a respectable – if loveless – marriage and return to court.
She will not be expected to sleep with her husband. The only price she must pay for safety is to give up the cause for which her lover died. But old loyalties are hard to deny, and soon Frances is drawn back into the snake-pit scheming of the factions trying to take the throne.
Everywhere she turns, it seems that someone has the power to force her deeper into danger until, all too late, Frances hears the warnings of her own heart.
Compelling, sensual, suspenseful, The Devil’s Slave is a standalone sequel to The King’s Witch and further evidence that one of our finest historians is also a brilliant novelist.
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Praise for The King’s Witch:
‘The adventures of her courageous heroine put flesh on the bones of a fascinating historical framework’ Sunday Mirror
‘Tracy Borman’s debut historical novel has it all: conspiracy, betrayal, dark intrigues, bloody deeds, a poignant love story – and the most famous plot in English history’ Alison Weir, author of the Six Tudor Queens series
‘An accomplished novel with a vivid historical setting . . . the scenes in which Frances defends herself against accusations of witchcraft are particularly strong’ The Times
uriel walker (verified owner) –
I read the first in the trilogy and thought it was well written but that the main character was mainly in the periphery of the plot so it lacked any real sense of danger.
This second book does not have the same issue at all. This time our heroine drives the action and is in very real peril. The repercussions from the first book run through this story and the villains are so well drawn that the fear is palpable.
I’m really looking forward to the final chapter later this year. And will certainly keep a look out for anything else the author writes.