An enjoyable historical mystery by a new author to me.

The Devil's Slave is the first book in the Tracy Borman's Stuart trilogy. Here we find Frances pregnant with the child of her dead lover.

Accompanied by her son George and her husband Sir Thomas Tyringham—whom she married conveniently to mask the true identity of her son’s father—Frances reunites with her former mistress, Princess Elizabeth, now of marriageable age, as well as other less friendly members of the court:

Prince Henry, heir to the crown who emulates his father’s brutality without scruple; Lord Cecil, eager to persecute Frances as a witch even as his own health rapidly declines; and King James himself, ever more paranoid and cruel towards alleged heretics and traitors.

Yet a surprising ally emerges in the person of Sir Walter Raleigh, himself a prisoner in the Tower of London.

The characters were well-crafted and believable. Overall, the story was interesting and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed the first book in this series so I was looking forward to the second installment of the trilogy. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by this book and won't be continuing the series.
Frances Gorges is presented as an intelligent individual but consistently puts those she supposedly cares about in danger with no apparent remorse. Tying the character into important moments in history may be the reason why she seems to make such poor decisions but it doesn't build empathy for the character.
Some characters seemed more like two-dimensional plot devices, especially characters such as the Princess Elizabeth, William Cecil, Arbella Stuart and Sir Walter Raleigh where the author missed the opportunity to really make them come to life.
If the main character were more likeable, I think I would have ignored the fact that the supporting characters were a bit colourless, but she didn't seem to mature or learn from any previous mistakes and her motivations were very difficult to understand.
Although obviously well-researched, this series is not for me.

Oh my GOSH, this novel!!

As a lover of this time in history, I've read just about all the books set in this era that I have been able to get my nerdy little hands on. (I'm so excited, I'm creating run-on sentences in my reviews, now. Great.) I had been hearing people in my little history-lover circles talking about Ms. Tracy Borman and her recent books, and quite honestly, I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. And y'all, you guys seriously need to dive into this world that the author has created for us. Whether the characters are those you've heard about in your history books, or those who originated with the talented pen of the author, they will work their way into your heart and keep you returning to the pages. The plot moves along at a brilliant pace, with enough suspense to keep you guessing, but not enough to make you eat your entire chocolate stash.

THE DEVIL'S SLAVE is literally the reason that historical fiction is my favorite genre.

Not a fan of historical fiction? You're about to be.

Francis is back in the second book of this series by Tracy Borman. She must once again navigate the dangerous court and do her best to stay above suspicion. Pregnant, unmarried and alone, she is in a very vulnerable position.

I am going to admit that I had more trouble enjoying this one than I did the first. This one seemed stretched and without the same enthusiasm as the first.

While this was not a terrible book by any means, it lacked the pizazz of the first.

The 2nd in a historical fiction trilogy set during Stuart England, I enjoyed the book though I did find the plot hard to follow at times possibly reading the first would have helped and I intend to do so

This is the second book of a series. Maybe I should have read the first book? I couldn't connect with the characters. I love books set in the court, but this one fell short for me.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
All opinions are my own.

I was not immediately familiar with this series when I started, so I will be the first to admit the title threw me a little. So the story ended up being surprisingly good. The story begins with our heroine, Frances Gorges, who after being accused and acquited of witchcraft by the loyal beagle of King James, has returned to her family home. After her husband Tom was sent to the gallows for conspiring to kill the King, Frances needs to keep a low profile because she is pregnant, and she cannot risk anyone seeing her and ratting her out for carrying the blood of a traitor. Frances finds unexpected salvation when Thomas Tyringham, a good friend of her now deceased husband offers to marry her and accept responsibility for her and her unborn son. He asks little of her other than she stay clear of any further catholic plots against the crown. Having few choices, Frances accepts his proposal. However, it isn’t long before old alliances start to creep back into Frances’s life, bringing fresh whispers of a resurgence in Catholic resistance. InitIally resistant to joining in with their cause, Frances finds secrets don’t like to stay hidden, and her old alliances threaten to expose her son’s true parentage. Feeling she has no choice, Frances decides to accept a role in their new scheme. With old and new enemies watching her, Frances accepts her new tasks, quietly trying to sway the tide in favor of the Catholic cause, while simultaneously trying to appear as a loyal citizen of King James’s court.
The characters and timelines in this story is for the most part historically accurate, and it definitely made this more interesting for me since I am not very familiar with this particular time in history. The story is beautifully written. There is a palpable fear for Frances, whose role in the Catholic resistance and as a natural healer, puts her in a position of assuming extreme risk. I will have to go back and read book one and definitely look forward to book three in this series.

The novels in this series are an entertaining way to learn about the Jacobean historical period and how people lived.
The historical background is well researched and vivid and it was a great way to learn about this historical period.
This is an engrossing and entertaining novel, I loved the well written and realistic characters.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
It was an excellent read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

My thanks to Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for a digital edition via NetGalley of Tracy Borman’s ‘The Devil’s Slave’ in exchange for an honest review. It was published in the USA on 3 September.

As the U.K. edition was published in June, I elected to purchase its audiobook edition produced by Hodder & Stoughton and narrated by Esther Wane This allowed me to combine listening with reading for an immersive experience.

This is the second in Borman’s Frances Gorges trilogy set in the early 17th Century during the reign of King James I. At the conclusion of the first in the series, ‘The King’s Witch’, Frances Gorges was pregnant with the child of her dead lover, Thomas Wintour, who had been executed for his part in the Powder Treason of November 1605.

Frances returned to her family’s estate intending to keep a low profile amid rumours of continuing conspiracies by Catholics against James. She agrees to a marriage of convenience to protect her reputation and her unborn child. A few years later Frances, with her husband and young son return to the Court. It continues to be a dangerous place for her.

This was an excellent work of historical fiction. Tracy Borman has written a number of nonfiction books on British royalty and holds the position of Joint Chief Curator with fellow historian Lucy Worsley of the Historic Royal Palaces. In addition to her solid background, she writes in a very engaging way.

I was a bit concerned that I might feel lost as I hadn’t read ‘The King’s Witch’ before this. However, the Prologue provides enough background so I didn’t feel lost.

Borman captures the period and the convoluted plots that were part of the Jacobean court with confidence. She also passes my ‘God’ test in that her characters’ religious beliefs are in keeping with the period depicted rather than imposing modern secular attitudes.

I was delighted to learn in the Author’s Notes that Frances was a historical figure, even though details of her life are scarce. Tracy Borman does make note of the real life events that informed her narrative.

Overall, I enjoyed it very much and plan to read the first in the series and look forward to her final book.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

I am enjoying learning about this time period through this trilogy. My lack of familiarity with many of the historical details actually makes the story more enjoyable for me, as I don't know how the plot will turn out. I'm looking forward to the third book.

Tom Wintour is dead and Frances is trying to raise her son in peace but that's not going to happen. She's called back to court to be a lady in waiting to the young Princess Elizabeth and to watch all the machinations going on in the Stuart court. This is the second in a series and I read (and loved) the first one, in part for Frances and in part because I learned something about a period I am less familiar with. Don't worry if you didn't read it, this is fine as a standalone. I will note that I found myself doing a little side research to keep track of who is who and how the various plots unfolded but those more versed in British history might not need to do so. Frances is married off to Lord Tryingham, who turns out to be a better egg than some of the other men in this novel (aka her brother Edward and Prince Henry, King James' heir). She makes some not good choices but keeps moving on. For a woman who was accused as a witch, participated in a treasonous plot, and bore the son of a man executed for that treason, she's in pretty deep with the establishment. I'm curious where the next installment will take her.....THanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction.

*Many thanks to Tracy Borman, Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
Having read Book 1, I was happy to have been provided with arc of Book 2 of this interesting HF by Ms Borman. Frances Gorges returns to the court of James I and again is involved in the political intrigues and religious dilemmas. Frances does not seem to have changed much, and at some moments she acts naively and irresponsibly, and this is my biggest complaint. However, I liked the presentation of the Jacobean court. Ms Borman expertly delivers historical background, including all main actors, to a reader who chooses fiction over non-fiction and would like to learn more about the period.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well developed and fit within their respected roles. The book is loosely surrounded by historical facts, but more based on the author’s interpretation of what the customs and feelings where at the time. The main character seems a little stiff in her feelings and ways at first. The story has many twists and turns that keeps the reader engaged. I would recommend this title to just about anyone who likes a historical based story that keeps the reader interested.

Tracy Borman is a talented historian, and in her role as Co-Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, she has access to some of the most amazing places and artefacts. This very much shows in her fiction. I could not put this book down, and got lost in the Stuart court! Borman perfectly balances the history and setting of the period with propelling her story, no easy feat. There is enough grounding in the actual history (including people, places, and events) to make it realistic, but not so much to grad down the storyline. Can't wait for the third book!

The Devil‘s Slave by Tracy Borman is Historical Fiction with dangerous political intrigue. This book is set in the reign of King James and his infamous court. The Devil’s Slave is the second in the Frances Gorges trilogy and the story begins where The King’s Witch ended after the gunpowder plot to kill King James. The plots include royalty from England and Europe and everyone has their own agenda. Suspense, power struggles, schemes and thrills are constant. The rule of that time period is if you have any power or influence you must watch and be alert every minute. Who is next to be sent to the Tower or put to death? Tracy Borman has written another thrilling book with exciting characters, historical facts and unbelievable secret conspiracies. I loved both The Kings Witch and The Devil‘s Slave and look forward to the third in this outstanding trilogy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This is the second of the author’s Stuart-era planned trilogy. This book picks up where the first book, “The King’s Witch,” left off. Frances Gorges is pregnant with the child of the now-dead traitor, Thomas Wintour. She has sought refuge at her family’s estate and is under the thumb of her ambitious brother, who wants nothing to do with his pregnant sister and her bastard child. Frances knows she is still in danger from Lord Cecil who knows she was part of the Catholic-driven Gunpowder Plot in 1605, that sought to kill the King and his councilors, but can’t yet prove her guilt. She had also been suspected of witchcraft because, like so many other women, she made potions to help ease pain, etc. Like other worshipers of the Catholic religion, Frances has gone into hiding because King James is Puritan and wants all other religions extinguished.

The book is well written for the most part, the characters are drawn well, and plot is, of course, taken right out of the history books. Frances can be a little irritating because she takes unnecessary risks. Her devotion to Thomas Wintour years after his death is hard to understand since he very nearly cost Frances and her unborn child their lives, and the danger to them continues years later. Her decision to become once again involved in a plot to kill the King is nothing short of incredulous.

Unfortunately, if you haven’t read the first book in this series and are not very knowledgeable about the Stuart era, this book may be difficult to read because Borman doesn’t give the new-to-her-series readers any information about who’s who. The reader will either be compelled to either go to Google for a quick overview in order to understand who the various historical characters are and their relationship to one another or set the book aside.

However, if you read “The King’s Witch” or have some familiarity with Stuart England, you may very well enjoy this book enormously.

My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for an e-ARC.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

I love Tracy Borman so was thrilled to be able to read this

This is the second in the series and although can be read as a standalone I now really want to read the first

I really enjoyed the level of detail and obvious research that has gone into this era

A wonderful read

I will fully admit to knowing very little about England after Elizabeth I. The Tudors are my historical wheelhouse. My go-to era. When The King's Witch caught my eye at the library, I was quickly drawn to the promise of a story of intrigue at the court of James I. The Stuart family, outside of Mary, Queen of Scots, is one I'm always looking to read about. The Devil's Slave is the follow up to The King's Witch and the second in a trilogy featuring Frances Gorges.

In the first novel, we see Frances attending Elizabeth I in her final days and later becoming an attendant to James' daughter, also Elizabeth. This novel takes us up to the events of the Gunpowder Plot. While the people around Frances are up to their necks in trying to put someone other than James on the throne, James makes Frances a target of one of his infamous witch hunts. The book ends with the failure of the Gunpowder Plot and Frances returning to her family's country home.

The opening of this novel finds Frances with a new husband and a new son. She's perfectly content in her new life away from court. Almost. When a blast from the past asks Frances for help, Frances immediately agrees and finds herself right back in the middle of all the court intrigue as a lady in waiting to the now teenage Princess Elizabeth. Past accusations continue to haunt Frances despite being a favorite of both the princess and Queen Anne. Not only is Frances fighting to keep her past behind her, she also manages to find herself in the middle of every single plot to remove James from his throne.

The plotting is what really slowed this book down for me. There were so many of them. I understand that all of those things are true. There really were a lot of plots. James I wasn't exactly winning popularity contests. However, I don't think Frances would have found herself in the middle of all of them at the same time. I found myself flipping back so I could remember who was supporting Arbella, who supports Princess Elizabeth, and who is Cecil chasing today. The attention was so scattered. I would have liked a little more focus on one plot.

Plotting was just one of my issues. Frances took a huge step backwards in this book. We are constantly being told how Frances desires to be away from court. How she wants to raise her son in peace. Yet here is Frances throwing herself right into the middle of everything because she feels like she owes more to the dead than the living. Frances makes a lot of bad choices and it is quite contrary to the Frances we meet in the first novel.

Frances does not win the prize for most irritating character. That award deserves to be equally split between two other major players. Prince Henry, James' heir, and Frances' brother, Edward were nothing more than caricatures. I had a hard time not picturing them with twirling mustaches and pointy beards. I'm not going to lie, I continued reading just because I wanted to see Prince Henry dead. I knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when.

At this point, one might wonder why I even bothered to finish this book. The simple answer is I wanted to see where it ended. I knew going into it there was a third book planned. What I really wanted to know by the end is where does this story stop. How far is Frances' story going to go? Realistically since there is so little known about Frances* (she doesn't even have a Wiki page), there's nothing to stop Borman from bringing Frances right up to Charles I.

*The little information I did find on Frances suggests she was married in 1610. A lot of things in this book don't work. The "real" events of this book start in 1610. When the story starts in 1610, Frances has been married for a few years. I would be interested in seeing the source notes.

I hadn't read the first book in this series when I found this one and began reading it, but the good news is, you can fully enjoy this story without having to read the first book. It stands alone quite well.

This is a fantastic book from an author that has become revered for knowing her history. I feel like when I pick up a book by Tracy Borman, either fiction or non-fiction, that I am guaranteeing myself a well-written and thoroughly researched book, and this one is no exception. Because of her knowledge, and the way that comes through in her fiction writing, I felt like part of the story whilst reading this.

I liked the main character very much and the image depicted of King James was so spot on according to everything that I have read about him, that it felt very genuine whenever he would appear in the novel. This book is a page-turner that kept me going from start to finish. I love that she included Belvoir Castle and the Flower women and look forward to seeing where she goes in the third book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. This was a great read and kept my interest throughout.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Absolute delight of a book.Easy to lose a few hours!
Set in King James court after the time of the GunPowder Treason this book follows the life of Frances.She is a healer but can’t practise openly for fear of being labeled a witch.Her life at court with her husband and son and trying to balance the different people who try to influence her forms the basis of this book.Very intricate plots woven together to form a richly hued tapestry of a story.
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