I was wondering if anyone else had read this and what you may have thought about it. I felt that the ending seemed flat. I was a bit taken back by what happened with Douglas.

I only recently started reading Historical Fiction again having given up on it years ago after reading several "stinkers". I started again with Dark Angels and now read both fantasy, historical fiction and new fiction.

Awww...I hate to hear that the ending stunk! I had high hopes for this one, it sounds like it would be so good.

Welcome back to H/F!

I won't say that I disliked the book but just that the ending felt a little awkward and flat. Thanks for the welcome! Any recommendations? I prefer less romance and more history and intrigue.

Historical fiction with an intrigue sub-theme. What a great question!

You might like:

1) Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey - about Richard III's character. Was he truly evil or a victim of history as told through the eyes of the victors? Her thesis is dated, but it's still an enjoyable read.

2) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Research gets dangerous when Dracula is the subject.

3) Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennet - Did Hans Holbein paint secret codes into the pictures of Thomas More's family - codes that reveal the whereabouts of the missing princes?

4) Death Comes As Epiphany by Sharan Newman - better than average historical mystery centered around the basic tenets of Peter Abelard's (d. 1142) religious philosophy.

5) Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon - a light mystery centered around the death of Lord John's father. Even better, is the short story Succubus, which appears in Lord John and the Hand of Devils. While serving as a major in the English army, Lord John investigates rumors and deaths attributed to succubi.

These are from last year's reading list. If you want more, I have to go farther back in time, which means I'll have to jumpstart the ole noggin. ;-)

Genie

I did like Portrait of an Unknown Woman. :)

Disliked most of the characters in the book.  I read it to the end, but my final take?  Meh.

Heh. marci-  that  was my exact word when I closed the book.