"Isabella's Daughter" by Charity Bishop

Is there anything more awesome than a book series ending on an absolute high note?  Having the last book in the series also be the best book?  I think there are few storytelling highs as lofty as that.  Well, Isabella's Daughter brings the Tudor Throne series to an incredibly satisfying conclusion.  I thought there was no way I was going to love any book in this series more than The Last Fire Eater, but I was wrong.  I love Isabella's Daughter even more.  Even though there were a couple chapters where I was just super angry at everyone for not being where they needed to be, and very, very, extremely worried about their wellbeing.

(SPOILERS IN THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS) 

Also, um, I was really quite convinced that Thomas Lovell was going to die in this one.  Because he's been my favorite all through the series, but he's not exactly the main character, and he just has been on this very gradual redemption arc, and I was pretty sure he was going to end up giving his life to defend someone.  And that made me worried.  I purposely didn't look up his actual history because I didn't want to know how things ended for him, in case they were spoilery, and because I was afraid I would get sad ahead of time.  And who needs advance sadness?

Well, Bishop explains at the back of the book that she did take a few liberties with history to wrap things up in this book, and one of those involves Lovell, but I won't spoil you more than that.

(END OF SPOILERS)

I was very excited that Davina and Lambert got to take part in this last book because I kind of thought they had exited the storyline, but they fitted back in quite naturally, and even got to do some Important Things.  Quite awesome.

This book centers around Katherine and her sister Juana, daughters of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and the political intrigue surrounding them in regards to the English court.  Plus, you've got Suffolk trying to organize another rebellion against King Henry VII, Isabel Lovell is pregnant and worried she'll lose her baby because her husband won't repent of all the things he's done in the king's service, and poor Nan Browne can't get her baby daddy to marry her the way he promised to.  Intrigue and mystery and suspense galore!

Particularly Good Bits:

"I admire the deviousness of your enforcer.  He snuck a note to me last night inside a roasted duck to inform me of this meeting."

A cruel twinkle in his eyes, Lovell kisses her cheek and strides away.

They will make their mothers proud.

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for a scene with childbirth, discussion of a child born out of wedlock, violence, suspense, and a smattering of bad language.

This has been my 26th book read off my TBR shelves for #TheUnreadShelfProject2022.