3 stars to [author:Nicola Cornick|63843]'s [book:House of Shadows|25715447], an ARC I received through NetGalley last week in exchange for an honest review. I realized it takes time to build up a good rating before publishers choose you to read new releases by famous authors, and so I set about choosing books by new authors or unknown authors that I might enjoy. Little did I realize, Cornick has several published series I could have gotten familiar with. While this book's plot and setting initially attracted me, I feel it could have been stronger in the execution. Let's get to the deets:

<b><u>Story</u></b>
Holly receives a phone call from her 6-year-old niece in the middle of the night, noting her father (Holly's brother), Ben, has gone missing. Holly takes the long train from London to a distant Oxfordshire town where their family owns an old English home. Ben had been staying there for a few days doing research on the family tree when he disappeared. Holly's just separated from her fiance and chooses to stay at the country home and search for Ben. As she traces clues, she learns he may have stumbled upon (1) the pearl and (2) the crystal mirror that the Winter Queen of a German duchy, Elizabeth Stuart, of the English Stuarts (Charles and James, Scottish kings) used with her husband, Frederick, as powerful objects to create fire and floods when in their wars. They were originally given to Mary Queen of Scots by her cousin Elizabeth I of England, as a wedding present after being previously stolen from another member of the family. The story is told through three time periods: (1) 1630's with Elizabeth, (2) 1800s with Lavinia and (3) 2000s with Holly. Somehow they are all connected, and it seems someone used the power of the pearl and the mirror to wreck havoc over the centuries. But how it all comes together, who is related to whom, and what happened to Ben are at the crux of this multi-level story.

<b><u>Strengths</u></b>
1. The story is intriguing. Real people (Elizabeth, Frederick, Mary, etc.) are woven with fictional people to create an imaginative story to capture readers attention. You'll find yourself flipping between the book and Wikipedia trying to figure out which parts are true. Did the pearl exist? Was the affair real? Did she really go on to have 11 children that eventually gave rise to most of the European thrones?

2. The story is very descriptive and you will clearly picture all of the setting and backdrop. It seems quite beautiful. You can separate easily from the views of the house in 2 of the 3 time periods, given it didn't exist in one of them. The best word I can use is to say it is "pretty." It sounds like the author has been dreaming of this story for a long time, so kudos to her for bringing it to full fruition.

<b><u>Suggestions</u></b>
It felt like something was missing, and the parts that were present didn't fully line up for me. I love telling stories over multi-time periods, trying to figure out the connections among each of the characters. And some parts of this story handled it well; however, the ending was rushed which felt like I didn't have time to absorb the consequences of each lie, affair or murder that occurred over the 400 year period. I think there should have been less focus on the current story's secondary characters (Ben's potential affair, Holly's hook-ups, the multiple friends who didn't really contribute much) and more focus on drawing out the connections among the different families over the years.

<b><u>Final Thoughts</u></b>
Given it had some good parts and some so-so parts, I give this one a 3... I'd recommend it for fans of this genre who like things a little open-ended, who like royal and non-royal connections and who love the English countryside.

I'd read a sample of this author's work again, as the writing and language was good (a little slow at times), but the plot would have to be pretty strong for me to jump on the next one. That said, it is a fair book -- just not as good as others in this genre that I've read and loved.

This thoroughly enjoyable book goes back and forth between 3 time periods: the 1600's, the 1800's and today. Holly has left her fiancee and London for Ashdowne, Oxfordshire to look into the disappearance of her brother Ben. Apparently he was researching their family tree before he inexplicably vanished without a trace. Holly decides to do research of her own, hoping that will lead her to Ben.
I was fascinated by the 1600's, featuring the Winter Queen, Queen Elisabeth of Bohemia who was exiled in the Hague, the Netherlands, while her husband, King Frederick of Bohemia was off fighting wars to reclaim his Kingdom. It led me to Google quite a bit, learning about a history I knew nothing of. Lovely to not only be entertained, but learn something in the process.
We also meet a courtesan, Lavinia, who lives at Ashdowne House in the 1800's until it burns to the ground.
There are 2 items that bind these 3 women: a crystal mirror and a pearl. Whoever owns these 2 and is driven by greed, chances death by water or fire.
If you like history, romance and a mystery, you will love this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Nicola Cornick's new book "House of Shadows" will have you captivated from the very beginning. There are struggles, romance, royalty and danger all of which synchronize to make an intriguing historical fiction.

Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia (Winter Queen) is depicted as devoted to her husband and maintains her royal influence and poise throughout the novel. Elizabeth's character is hard to relate to because of her royal status and as a reader we do not get to hear her opinion as much as we do the other two female protagonists. Lavinia however offers a dichotomy between royalty and a commoner.

Lavinia live a life far from the safety of the royal court. Lavinia's life is dependent upon her protectors and through her diary we get a glimpse into her emotions and frustrations.

Holly, the third female protagonist of this story, plays detective in the present day. Holly's character connects the history of Ashdown House in Oxfordshire for us and she is also just as complex and insightful as the other two heroines. Her brother Ben has gone missing and everyone around her seems to be downplaying his disappearance. Ben's disappearance leaves Holly feeling uneasy, she suspects something terrible has happened to him but she can't explain why and she also can't seem to interpret the sudden visions she has been having.

Cornick captures the spirit of a time slip narrative. At times "House of Shadows" can be deeply interesting from a historical perspective and at other times it is a page-turner you won't want to put down until you have solved the mystery! I would highly recommend reading this whether you are a lover of the historical fiction genre or just looking for a great read!

I would also like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher Graydon House for receiving a copy of this book to read and review.

This was a fantastic story that swept me through time and place! Even with the dual POV, there was never a question of who was narrating and who's story was being told.

This is a story about finally finding your own happiness and of closing the patterns of life. I related well to both Holly and Elizabeth, and I would recommend this wholeheartedly to anyone looking to take a glimpse into history, while knowing some things are never as far away as the present.

Beginning in 1596, at the Palace of Holyrood House in Scotland, this wonderful historical fiction book, King James is looking at a black velvet box, sent from Queen Elizabeth as a gift at the christening of his daughter, named for Elizabeth even though she had brought about the death of his own mother, Mary Queen of Scots.

The box contains the Sistrin Pearl and a diamond encrusted hand mirror. The pearl, born of water, found in the oyster beds of the River Tay centuries before, a part of the collecion of King Alexander I. The mirror, forged in fire by the glass blowers of Murano, encrusted with diamonds of the finest quality and given as a gift to King James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots on her marriage. It was said to have powers of prophecy and destruction through fire and flood.

Following Elizabeth after she marries Frederick, an English princess marrying a German Prince, joining lands and armies. Frederick is easily seduced by the powers of the mirror and pearl. Away fighting wars to regain his lands, Elizabeth bears children and waits.

She is waiting more for her husband's man, William Craven, than for her husband. As we easily go back and forth in the book to their story in the 1600's to present day at Ashdown House, built by Craven for Elizabeth. It is also a story told through the eyes of the woman who did live in the house, Lavinia, a courtesan with a connection to both the past and the present.

I can imagine quite a few different readers for this book. The history buffs of course. The love stories, those interested in the Kinghts of the Rosy Cross.

This book tells a story in three parallel timelines. All three connected by a house in Oxfordshire, Ashdown, and by 2 magical antiques, a mirror and a pearl.

The first timeline tells the story of a 19th century courtesan, Lavinia. Lavinia wants to find a way to live a life free from being a courtesan.

The second timeline tells the story of Elizabeth Stuart, the "Winter Queen" in the 17th Century. When her husband's land is taken from them and they must take refuge in the Hague, he takes the instruments in order to use their magic and see the future. Elizabeth turns to William Craven, a man who is suddenly there for her whenever she needs someone.

In the present timeline, Holly searches for her missing brother Ben. Holly finds an antique mirror and Lavinia's diary as she searches for Ben. She begins retracing his steps. While doing so, Holly meets a man; however, she's already involved with someone, but is he the one for her?

I was drawn to this book because I love books that have a good combination of history and romance. If it also has a little of the supernatural even better. I have also read many good things about this author and wanted to try her. The only issue I have is that the information from the Publisher's site compares her to Kate Morton. Kate Morton is one of my favorite authors and while Cornick does write well and with all of the elements that Morton uses, Morton's books are a notch above Cornick's for me. They just have that special fairy tale element/ otherworldliness that this book did not have. Some people may prefer Cornick. The great thing is when you are waiting for one to publish a book, you can read a book by the other one.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for this free copy.

Terrific story that has history and mystery rolled into one. Loved it so much!

Queen Elizabeth is married to King Frederick who is a member of the Order of the Rosy Cross. From this group she was given a crystal mirror surrounded by diamonds plus a large pearl known as the Sistrin pearl. Both of these things are said to be powerful and while the force was once used for good, the power has now been corrupted by the greed of men. Thus begins the story of how this mirror and pearl have affected the lives of people from 1596 to the present day.

William Craven was a loyal courtier to Queen Elizabeth for many years. It is said that they had married after the death or King Frederick. Craven did the Queen’s bidding in many different ways. Knowing that the mirror and pearl have now become symbols of evil, Craven thought he had destroyed them. But they resurfaced many years later.

Today, we find Holly whose brother, Ben, has gone missing from their vacation home called Ashdown Mill. The area was once part of a home that Craven had built for Elizabeth. Holly decides to move into the house while the search is on for Ben. When she starts researching the area and the history of Craven and Elizabeth, she uncovers information about the mirror and pearl. In addition, she finds an old diary written long ago with ties to this significant past.

This was an interesting book, but a bit too long and detailed for my taste. It goes back and forth from the 1600’s to present day. History buffs will probably love it.

Connie for b2b

Holly Ansell is looking for her brother after he disappeared from Ashdown Park while researching their family history. In her search, Holly comes across a journal kept by a 19th century courtesan, Lavinia Flite, who was “kept” as Ashdown Hall be her wealthy employer. Through the journal, readers get to know Lavina, a woman who wants more than to be a rich man’s plaything, but who finds herself trapped in a world where women have few choices. Interweaving the stories of Holly, Lavinia and the doomed queen who lived at Ashdown Hall along with the utter destruction of the home in a massive fire, Cornick creates a world of three very different women, all linked by DNA and destiny