Review: The Rules of the Game by Liz Duffy Adams & Delia Sherman

Title: The Rules of the Game
Author: Liz Duffy Adams & Delia Sherman
Series: Whitehall ~ Season one, Episode V
Publication: June 15th 2016 by Serial Box Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Review copy received in exchange for an honest review.

New arrivals cause a stir in the fifth installment of Whitehall, an episodic royal tale full of true history and sensual intrigue, new from Serial Box Publishing.

Changes at court reflect the nation’s own transformation as new faces and sleeping arrangements upset the status quo. But not everyone is happy, and plots against the queen grow amongst the discontented.

This episode is brought to you by Liz Duffy Adams and Delia Sherman, who advise you to be wary of newcomers.

"The Rules of the Game" continues the 13-part serial, Whitehall, presented by Serial Box. Intrigue, romance, and scandal fill the palace halls in this historical tale, collaboratively written by Liz Duffy Adams, Delia Sherman, Barbara Samuel, Madeleine Robins, Sarah Smith, and Mary Robinette Kowal.

It's funny how with each story I read in this serial, I find a new favorite. But I just can't help it. It was yet another great addition. And the end... talk about a cliffhanger! 

The Rules of the Game was written by Liz Duffy Adams & Delia Sherman. The first episode was also written by them. This part continues the story. There's more intrigue, someone new arrived at court and the end actually made me gasp out loud because this might change things a lot. And if I'm not mistaken the next episode won't come until July 13 so I'm going to have to wait a for a little while. 

I really love these episodes. It's interesting to read how Catherine who isn't yet used to the English court navigate it and I do love her relationship and chemistry with Charles. Also, the writing is excellent.

As always it was a quick read and I think it's perfect for people who want to read something short but that's also actually a great story. And it, being historical makes it even more perfect in my opinion. So if you haven't checked out this serial I would highly recommend you doing so!

About Liz Duffy Adams

Website | Twitter

Liz Duffy Adams is a playwright whose play neo-Restoration comedy Or, premiered Off Broadway at Women's Project Theater and has been produced 40 times since, including at Magic Theater and Seattle Rep. She's a New Dramatists alumna and has received a Women of Achievement Award, Lillian Hellman Award, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Weston Playhouse Music Theater Award, and Will Glickman Award. Her plays include Dog Act; A Discourse on the Wonders of the Invisible World; Buccaneers; Wet or, Isabella the Pirate Queen Enters the Horse Latitude; The Listener, The Reckless RUthless Brutal Charge of It or, The Train Play; and One Big Lie.

About Delia Sherman

Website | Twitter

Delia Sherman is the author of numerous short stories, as well as the novels Through a Brazen Mirror and The Porcelain Dove. She has judged the Crawford Award for Best First Fantasy Novel, The Jame Tiptree, Jr. Award, and the World Fantasy Award. She has taught SF and Fantasy writing at Odyssey: the Fantasy Writing Workshop, the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers' Workshop, The Hollins University Graduate Program in Children's Literature, the Alpha Workshop for Young Writers, and workshops at colleges and science fiction conventions all over America.

Review: Wit in All Languages by Madeleine E. Robins

Title: Wit in All Languages
Author: Madeleine E. Robins
Series: Whitehall  ~ Season One, Episode IV
Publication: June 8th 2016 by Serial Box Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Review copy received in exchange for an honest review.

Fortune favors the bold in the fourth installment of Whitehall, an episodic royal tale full of true history and sensual intrigue, new from Serial Box Publishing.

Stars rise and fall and tides turn when a royal ball causes quite the stir in more ways than one. Charles makes a dramatic move in his war of wills with Catherine – but the battle’s true victor remains to be seen.

This episode is brought to you by Madeline Robbins, who knows how to make an entrance and a stand.

"Wit in All Languages" continues the 13-part serial, Whitehall, presented by Serial Box. Intrigue, romance, and scandal fill the palace halls in this historical tale, collaboratively written by Liz Duffy Adams, Delia Sherman, Barbara Samuel, Madeleine Robins, Sarah Smith, and Mary Robinette Kowal.

Wit in All Languages is my favorite part so far. The others were also great, obviously, but for some reason I enjoyed this one just a little more.

At the start of this story the king and queen are still at odds with each other because Catherine still doesn't give in to letting the king's mistress, Barbara, be a part of her inner circle. Because of that Charles sends away a big part of the queen's Portuguese retinue.

My favorite part in this part though was the masquerade ball. I'm a sucker for masquerades. And I loved how although Barbara dressed as the moon, to go with king Charles as the sun, that queen Catherine still came out shining after all. It was one hell of an entrance.

Wit in All Languages was such a quick read, mostly because I enjoyed it so much so you gotta savor as much of it as you can. Excellent writing combined with the intrigue of this story made it really my favorite so far. 

       About the Author:

       Website | Twitter

Writing gives Madeleine Robins the chance to focus on many of her ruling passions: cities, history, swordplay, the history of disease, and the future of mankind–with a side order of historical costuming and infrastructure (urban plumbing is far more interesting than you’d think).

Born in New York City, the Author has been, in no particular order, a nanny, a teacher, an actor and stage-combatant, an administrator, a comic book editor, a baker, typist-clerk for Thos. Cook’s Houses of Parliament office, a repairer-of-hurt-books, an editorial consultant, and a writer. She holds a degree in Theatre Studies from Connecticut College, and attended the Clarion Science Fiction Workshop in 1981. She is a founding member of the BookViewCafe, where her first five books — all Regency romances — are available for sale.

A lifelong and passionate fan of cities and all things urban, Madeleine lives in San Francisco with her family, dog, and one hegemonic lemon tree.

Find my other reviews of Whitehall here:

#1 - Embarkations

#2 - Skilled Artifice

#3 - On His Blindness

Review: On His Blindness by Barbara Samuel

Title: On His Blindness
Author: Barbara Samuel
Series: Whitehall ~ Season one, Episode III
Publication: June 1st 2016 by Serial Box Publishing
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Review copy received in exchange for an honest review.

A king and queen wage a war of wills in the third installment of Whitehall, an episodic royal tale full of true history and sensual intrigue, new from Serial Box Publishing.

The honeymoon is over as Charles and Catherine cross swords over the matter of his sultry mistress. With her eye on a lofty position in the queen’s inner circle, Barbara’s manner of persuasion proves pleasurable for some and painful for others.

This episode is brought to you by Barbara Samuel, who could persuade the devil himself.

"On His Blindness" continues the 13-part serial, Whitehall, presented by Serial Box. Intrigue, romance, and scandal fill the palace halls in this historical tale, collaboratively written by Liz Duffy Adams, Delia Sherman, Barbara Samuel, Madeleine Robins, Sarah Smith, and Mary Robinette Kowal.

On His Blindness is episode III of Whitehall and it sure brings some sparks to the story between the king and queen. Catherine refuses to let Charles' mistress Barbara have a position in her inner circle, which enrages Charles because Barbara keeps insiting on it. 

So this is the first time we've seen Charles and Catherine argue. I won't say I like that they argue and I do feel bad for Catherine in this story because Barbara makes the king trick his wife into acknowleding her but... it sure is very entertaining to read all of Barbara's schemes. This part was written by Barbara Samuel, yet another unknown author to me. 

And other than that I'm still enjoyed these stories a lot. The intrigue, drama and life at court interest me greatly. And yet again the writing was excellent. I'm also excited to read more of this serial!

       About the Author:

       Website | Facebook | Twitter

Barbara Samuel (also known as Barbara O'Neal) is the bestselling author of more than 40 novels. Her recent titles include The Lost Recipe for Happiness, and How to Bake a Perfect Life, a Target Club Pick. Her books have been translated into many languages, including Polish, Turkish and Chinese, a fact she finds dazzling. She is a two-time Colorado Book Award winner, a member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame, and a 7-time RITA award winner. She is also regular blogger at Writer Unboxed, and teached writing around the world—anywhere they'll have her.

Find my other reviews of Whitehall here:

Embarkations

Skilled Artifice

Review: Skilled Artifice by Mary Robinette Kowal

Title: Skilled Artifice
Author: Mary Robinette Kowal
Series: Whitehall ~ Season one, Episode II
Publication: May 25th 2016 by Serial Box Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Review copy received in exchange for an honest review.

Weddings, baptisms, and a birth make up a recipe for drama in the second installment of Whitehall, an episodic royal tale full of true history and sensual intrigue, new from Serial Box Publishing.

Weddings and births are usually causes for celebration – but no joys are simple when a royal family is involved. Jealousy and suspicion lurk everywhere as questions of loyalty – to faith, to promises, and to the heart – shadow the new king and queen of England.

This episode is brought to you by Mary Robinette Kowal, who cautions all against the green-eyed monster.

"Skilled Artifice" continues the 13-part serial, Whitehall, presented by Serial Box. Intrigue, romance, and scandal fill the palace halls in this historical tale, collaboratively written by Liz Duffy Adams, Delia Sherman, Barbara Samuel, Madeleine Robins, Sarah Smith, and Mary Robinette Kowal.

Skilled Artifice continues where Embarkations left off. I'm glad I can say I enjoyed this second story as much as the previous one. It also has its fair share of delicious drama when the king's mistress Barbara gets jealous of Charles spending more time with his new wife Catherine. 

I really like Catherine in the story. I also felt she took more things in her own hand, like "seducing" her husband. I also like Jenny a lot and am shipping her now with Thom. I hope something will happen there. This story was writting by Mary Robinette Kowal. Another author I didn't know but the writing was very good. 

I've got to say I'm not a big fan of Barbara because I'm really rooting for Charles and Catherine for some reason but at least it never gets boring like this. Who doesn't like a bit of melodrama, right? And I'm expecting a lot more of that in the next stories with how this one ended. It's bound to be very dramatic, I'm sure! 

       About the Author:

       Website | Facebook | Twitter

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of The Glamourist Histories series of fantasy novels. She has received the Campbell Award for Best New Writer, three Hugo awards, and the RT Reviews award for Best Fantasy Novel. Her work has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards. Her stories apear in Asimov's, Clarkesworld, and several Year's Best anthologies. Mary, a professional puppeteer, also performs as a voice actor, recording fiction for authors such as Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi. She lives in Chicago with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters.

Find my review of episode one: Embarkations here