Review: C. E. Murphy

Title: The Queen's Bastard Author: C. E. Murphy Format: TP Available Formats: Kindle, Sony eBook Page Count: 428 Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy/Historical Fantasy Publisher: Del Rey Pub. Date: April 29, 2008 ISBN-13: 9780345494641

My coworker recommended this novel to me on the day that the sequel The Pretender's Crown was published. Curious from her description, I picked up the book. I was rewarded with a book that has made me think for an entire month after.

The Queen's Bastard follows Belinda Primrose, who is known for much of the novel as "Beatrice Irvine". Belinda is used as a tool in games of political intrigue by her queen-mother, who does not acknowledge her, and her spy-master father. Mostly, Belinda operates in situations as one from the lower end of society, but when Belinda is matched against the prince of Belinda's direct enemies the two bond over the powers they share and have seen in no one other than Belinda's father: "witchbreed". Spying on the prince she is beginning to love, Belinda starts to become drunk on her own power...

One of the great draws--for me--to The Queen's Bastard was that the characters are not perfect. In fact, the flaws that the cast bears may well kill or ruin them later in the series. Belinda definitely has a taste for dominance, power, and control. This shows up dangerously in her interactions alongside Javier as well as in her sexual incidents (Particularly the distasteful treatment of both her maid and Marius).

However, these flaws and the play for power only make The Queen's Bastard all the more interesting. Definitely well worth picking up for anyone who likes political fantasy or history-based fantasy.

Excerpt:

He was studying her now, pale eyebrows drawn down in thought. "Are you chastising me, Lady Irvine?" "If you feel sufficient guilt in your station that my comment strikes you as chastisement, my lord, then yes, I probably am." Belinda arched her eyebrows slightly, knowing she lay down a challenge. Javier's eyes narrowed. Beside her, Marius inhaled a deep breath of caution, but the words were already spoken, and she met Javier's eyes with her own forthright gaze, waiting.

Quick and Dirty: The Chemistry is Undeniable.
The Queen's Bastard definitely carries elements of the political intrigue and betrayals of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones and at the same time reminds me of the Renaissance world and dominance/submission sexual situations of Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart. A great read from an author who hasn't quite risen into fame yet. Definitely check this one out.