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REVIEWS

The Heretic’s Servant

AMAZON

A thrilling first installment

The story is beautifully written and completely mesmerising. Ms Adams’ attention to detail in the depiction of the reality of medieval life is astonishing and sometimes traumatic! I enjoyed the escape it provided from the stresses of modern life. Highly commended and well done Ms Adams.
Amazon review, rated 5 stars

Exceptional Read

This is the first book of this genre that I have ever read, I found it extremely well written and educational as well as compulsive reading. I can’t wait for book two!
Amazon review, rated 5 stars 

Move over Philippa Gregory

As atmospheric as Eve Chase and as immersive as Philippa Gregory, The Heretic’s Servant grips you on page one and doesn’t let you go until the (bitter) end. Loved it.
Amazon review, rated 5 stars 

A beautifully written and researched tale of love and power during a dark period in history…

What can I say? I loved this book. It was brilliantly written and, for someone who doesn’t read much historical fiction, I raced through it. I cared about the main characters and the villain was chilling. Lots of twists and darkness. A really good debut novel. Da Iawn. 🙂
Amazon review, rated 5 stars 

Well written tale

A well written tale describing life for a family in Tudor time. A fascinating picture is drawn of the turbulent years when there were attempts to stamp out the Roman catholic religion, smallpox was rife, and women thought to be weaker. A servants perspective of life in a busy household, the illnesses, deaths and heartache are brutal but symbolic of the times. However joy, love , friendship and loyalty were very evident. There was no papering over to make unpleasant events more palatable. A story with interesting characters, although there was room for development for some of them, I would like to have followed their lives further.
Amazon review, rated 4 stars 

Great read

I finished this book in just over a day due to the writing style and story making it hard to put down. The unlikely heroine and the evil villain pulled you into the story and had you on side immediately. The Elizabethan era this was set in did not overload the story with historical facts but provided the background required. Was not expecting the ending but it made the book that bit more real. Great book, thoroughly enjoyed this authors debut novel and will be keeping an eye out for her next. Thoroughly enjoyable, easy read.
Amazon review, rated 4 stars 

A little slice of horrifying history

The Heretic’s Servant is set at a fascinating but often terrifying time in English history. Elizabeth I is on the throne and Catholics live in fear of their lives. If branded heretics they could be burned, pressed (a barbaric practice of being crushed by heavy stones placed on top of a person until they cannot breathe), hung or beheaded. The family of the heretic could suffer the same fate or merely be left destitute and cast out.
This book not only delves into this but also the various plagues that ravaged the country at the time smallpox being rife. I found the book, told from the POV of a servant called Molly a very interesting one. However I wanted more, much more. I would be interested in more books following the families’ progress at what was a turbulent time in England’s past.
Amazon review, rated 3.5 stars 

GOODREADS

I eagerly await the continuation of this series.

The characters grabbed me from the start, especially the narrator. The domestic focus in this the deeply moving tale of love and loss serves to highlight the harsh realities of life in Tudor England. The author doesn’t shy away from the pain, but she doesn’t revel in it either. This is a story that neither glorifies nor sanitises the past, but simply shows us a life that feels as real and as subtle as any other, past or present. I eagerly await the continuation of this series.

GoodReads review, rated 5 stars 

Look forward to more

I really enjoyed reading this, Deanne Adams has a great writing style. I enjoyed the use of the Tudor dynasty and the mystery going on. It was a great thriller going on and I was on the edge of my seat. It did what I was hoping for and look forward to more from this author.

GoodReads review, rated 5 stars 

…very satisfied with the ending

I am a fan of historical fiction, especially from the Tudor period. This story captures the nuances of nobility and political themes that were the focus under the reign of Elizabeth I. The status of women and servants is depicted true to form for that time. Molly has strength throughout the story, as well as how all the other women bore the events. I was very satisfied with the ending as it was important to end this way to wrap up the plots. I look forward to other works from Deanne Adams.

GoodReads review, rated 5 stars 

In the last pages my heart was racing

I chose this book, because I like stories with history. I’ve read a lot of books about the Tudor time. And therefore, I understand the religious struggles of that time.
Until the very last moment the book held my attention. In the last pages my heart was racing. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t see the easy solution I had thought of. I waited and waited to know what their plan was, because they had a plan. But what? What would they do? The culprit already arranged a good person to be executed, murdered. Why not get rid of him right away? Then, in the final pages I understood why. It was the perfect moment.

GoodReads review, rated 5 stars 

A tense story

A tense story that follows the journey of a catholic family, who are slaughtered with tragedy after giving shelter to a priest. Molly, the servent, will try to save her mistress of the malice of that prisest. It is a book that takes place in Tudor´s London at a time it was a crime to be catholic, also shows who badly the woman were treated.

GoodReads review, rated 4 stars 

…not quite what I expected, but in a good way!

THE HERETIC’S SERVANT was not quite what I expected, but in a good way! I enjoyed the characters, and I am always excited to read a book set in Tudor/Elizabethan England. The ending was both what I expected and yet… not. If I had anything to complain about it is that I almost wanted some kind of epilogue. Molly was a good character, and the relationships between the different characters were varied and interesting. If anything, I almost wished for more back story/insight into the characters and why they are the way they are. If you enjoy historical fiction set during this time period, I would recommend it.

GoodReads review, rated 4 stars 

…wish the novel were longer!

A quick, easy read which I really enjoyed! Well written, well researched, good characterisation as well as a compelling plot. I only wish the novel were longer!

GoodReads review, rated 4 stars 

The author did a wonderful job

I chose to read this book based off of the description and that cover! That cover really drew me in. I was pleasantly surprised with the story. The author did a wonderful job of getting the reader to know the characters and the history surrounding heresy at the time. There were some points where the MC just made me so mad at the decisions she made and at the same time, the author made you really root for her. I really wish the author could have gone into a little bit more detail about what happened to the family after they left, the ending felt like it was a little incomplete and empty. Overall I really enjoyed this authors writing style and am looking forward to reading more in the future 🙂

GoodReads review, rated 4 stars 

Contact Deanne Adams

info@deanneadams.com