Title: The Other Countess
Author: Eve Edwards
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: July 2010
ARC: 333 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Young Adult
Rating: 8/10 – Brilliant, couldn’t put it down!
Summary:
It’s 1582 and eighteen-year-old Will Lacey’s family is in trouble. After years of wasteful spending, his late father has run Lacey Hall to near ruin. Tasked with marrying his family back into fortune, the new Earl of Dorset is all set for a season at court to woo not just the Queen but potential brides with his jousting skills. But when Ellie – a strong-willed girl with nothing to her name but a worthless Spanish title – catches Will’s eye, he faces a bigger battle than he could ever have anticipated.
Review:
The Other Countess is Edwards’ debut novel and I am really impressed. It’s such as sweet book with really likeable characters and superb dialogue. It’s never condescending to its target audience and passages of descriptive detail are done beautifully. I really got a sense of the time period and enjoyed it so much I wanted to learn more about Queen Elizabeth 1st and her reign.
I really liked Ellie, her full title being Lady Eleanor Rodrigues of San Jaime. She’s soft and gentle, and yet a feisty young lady and doesn’t take kindly to insults, regardless of the persons rank and is determined to stand her ground and defend herself as best she can. She’s unfortunate to have an alchemist for a father, who is more interested in trying to turn metals into gold instead of being a father to Ellie. They are pretty much penniless and spend many months and years sleeping in barns or a friends spare room.
Will, the Earl of Dorset, is an interesting character but I didn’t like him so much at the beginning as he’s rather cruel to Ellie, aged twelve, and her father. However, deep down it is because his father has just died, which he believes to be the fault of Ellie’s father and his alchemy practises, hence his hostility. He is also only fourteen and now head of his family’s estate and fortune, and all the burdens that come with such a responsibility.
What I enjoyed most about Will was seeing him grow as a person, watching him work things through in his mind and coming to realise that his words and actions are spiteful and how, against his pride, he eventually apologises to Ellie when they met again in the future.
When Ellie and Will meet again four years later he doesn’t recognise her, so they flirt and play and you get a real sense of their growing love for one another. Of course, things don’t run smoothly and Will eventually finds out who she is. I was hoping for more passion as the writing itself seems to be aimed at the higher age bracket in the young adult market, but the romance is so sweet that the lack of passion didn’t hinder me from finding this book an absolute treat.
Verdict:
I am very impressed with this debut. I loved Edwards writing style, and although everything happens at a fairly slow pace throughout The Other Countess, not once did I wish away the pages. The writing is beautiful and the characters are so vivid that I loved every word. I will definitely be reading the sequel, The Queen’s Legacy, which is to be released sometime in Spring 2011, but until then I urge any fan of historical fiction or romance to read The Other Countess!
Source: Thank you to Penguin for sending me this book for review
You can find out more about the author here:
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Next up on ’10 Fun Days of YA Fiction’: Later today Eve Edwards is stopping by with a guest post and there’s a chance to win one of five copies of The Other Countess!
16 Comments
I don't think I've ever read any YA historical fiction book so this make this finding a thoroughly exciting one for me. And the way you summarise the book at the final paragraph did ensure me that this would be an enticing read!
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This is going on my wish list, great review!
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Great review! I am intrigued by this novel now. I really have to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
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YA historical fiction? COOL!
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Although I love historicals, I haven't read any YA historical & this one sound really great! I'd love to read it, so one more for my wishlist!
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This sounds wonderful! I've put it on my wish list. Thanks for the review.
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Shy – If you haven't read a YA historical then this book is a great place to start!
Dot – Thanks! I'm sure you would like this one
Irena – You're welcome! I would definitely check it out, it's a really great book
Darlyn – YAY!
Aleksandra – It's really a wonderful read and if you enjoy historical novels then I can't see why you wouldn't love this one
Sarah – Definitely one for your wishlist – it really is a fab read
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Great review. Lovely cover
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Ohh, this sounds wonderful. Lovely review!
There's something about historical romance where I just can't get enough of it
. The Season by Sarah MacLean has caught my eye, but I'm holding off because it's in hardcover.
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Great review Carolyn, and a great way to start YA-10. I'm reading this in the next couple of days – looking forward to it!
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Juju – Thanks! And yes, I agree, cover is lovely
Lou – Thank you! I'm feeling that at the moment too – can't get enough of historical romance LOL I've only recently started reading it and I'm really enjoying it – a great respite from my usual horror and urban fantasy books
Jenny – Thanks – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts
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I have not read any books by Eve but I would love to read this one. I love historical fiction and of course romance. I have added Eve to my new author list and The Other Countess to my wish list.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
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Sounds great I love YA and I love historical fictions, especially the tudors, so this sounds like a book for me! Thanks for the review.
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I've never read any historical romance (or anything i think would be classed as romance) but more and more people seem to be recommending it so i might give it a try.
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Misskallie2000 – If you love historical fiction and romance then this book is for you!
Alexa – It really is a great YA – I highly recommend it
Cardnoc – I hadn't read anything historical or romantic up until a few weeks ago myself and now I really enjoy it, so I would definitely give this one a try
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I absoulutely loved this book…. I am currently reading it for the second time in as many days! The romance is fufilling and I hope that Eve Edwards conitnues to write romance novels! It is hard to believe this is her debut!! I cannot wait for the sequel ( and isnt there supposed to be a third??)Definitely a book to read and re-read and then read it again, I will recommend it to all my friends!
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