The Honey and the Sting by E.C. Fremantle was published by Michael Joseph on 6th August 2020. My thanks to the author and the publisher for the review copy and in the invitation to take part in the blog tour.
Be drawn into this compelling, transfixing novel about the bond between three sisters from the author of The Poison Bed
Three sisters.
Three secrets.
Three ways to fall . . .
England, 1628.
Forcibly seduced by the powerful George Villiers, doctor's daughter Hester is cast aside to raise her son alone and in secret. She hopes never to see Villiers again.
Melis's visions cause disquiet and talk. She sees what others can't - and what has yet to be. She'd be denounced as a witch if Hester wasn't so carefully protective.
Young Hope's beauty marks her out, drawing unwelcome attention to the family. Yet she cannot always resist others' advances. And her sisters cannot always be on their guard.
When Villiers decides to claim his son against Hester's wishes, the sisters find themselves almost friendless and at his mercy.
But the women hold a grave secret - will it be their undoing or their salvation?
Because in the right hands, a secret is the deadliest weapon of all . . .
My Thoughts:
Every now and then I like to challenge myself with my reading and step completely outside of my comfort zone. I feel that this is what I managed to do with The Honey and the Sting by E.C. Fremantle. Historical fiction is something that I often shy away from but this book is proof of the reward for trying something different.
Set in the 17th century we learn about three sisters, Hester, Melis and Hope. This book also features George Villiers who was the 1st Duke of Buckingham and from what I could ascertain a thoroughly objectionable man. He gets Hester pregnant against her will and then Hester is cast out of the house. The sisters go on the run but they all have secrets to hide. Things get a lot more complex when George Villiers decides to claim his son. Is their secret going to be a help or a poison chalice?
I loved the gothic feel to this story and the inner strength portrayed by the women. They don't know who to trust but I was rooting for them and enjoyed the tension building up and finding out if the girls could evade George Villiers.
I enjoyed the beautiful writing and the drama that unfolded as the pages turned. I feel that I learnt quite a lot from the book and there are also supernatural elements. Intrigue built up as the book went on and carried on throughout.
I would definitely read more of this authors books in the future.
About the Author:
E.C. Fremantle holds a First for her BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck. As Elizabeth Fremantle she is the critically acclaimed author of four Tudor historical novels: Queen's Gambit, Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady and The Girl in the Glass Tower. She lives in London and Norfolk. Tower. She lives in London and Norfolk.
You can find the author on Twitter: @LizFremantle
Please do also have a look at the other stops on the blog tour.
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