Maid of Deception: Maids of Honor, Book 2
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sequel trades action for romance, loses some charm.
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What's the Story?
Beatrice Knowles is a maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I. When news of a Scottish rebellion arrives at Windsor Castle, along with the mysterious and dashing delegate Alasdair MacLeod, Beatrice is forced to postpone her wedding to England's most eligible bachelor; the queen wants Beatrice to use all her charm and guile to find out whose side Alasdair is really on. At first repulsed by Alasdair's rough, unrefined ways, Beatrice finds herself increasingly attracted to him. Is love just a weapon in Beatrice's arsenal, or is there a real future for her with Alasdair?
Is It Any Good?
This book picks up where Maid of Secrets left off, but it changes gears along with narrators; gone are the action, adventure, and mystery as Meg navigated her way through an unknown world. Romance fans will delight as events are now seen through Beatrice, a court veteran on the verge of getting married. Missing are vivid and colorful descriptions of daily life that add charm and depth to the historical setting, although readers of the first installment might be satisfied with such already-established details. The focus here is on hand-wringing of the "will he or won't he, does he or doesn't he?" variety. Fans of historical romance will enjoy it, but those looking for strong, independent, action-oriented characters may have to wait for the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why romances are so popular. Why do we like them so much? Can we learn about real relationships from them, or do they create unrealistic expectations?
Did you read the first book in the series, Maid of Secrets? How does this book compare? Which did you like better, and why?
How does Queen Elizabeth come across as a character? How does Beatrice's opinion of her affect how we, the readers, see her? Do you think Beatrice's opinion is justified?
Book Details
- Author: Jennifer McGowan
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Friendship , History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: August 26, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 416
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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