The only thing that kept me from throwing this across the room was that it was on my Kindle. The only thing that made me finish was to see how it turned out. Characters while well drawn were all either simpering or dissolute, and I was unsympathetic to most of them. I think the problem here was just too much description. While well done - just agonizingly too much. ( )

From the viewpoint of historical fiction; this is some really good stuff. Set during the politically tumultuous time of the change from the House of Stewart to the House of Hanover in the British monarchy; this was an era of intrigue, rebellion, betrayal and retribution. The political maneuverings in this book are substantial and fascinating.

So there is a romance involved; I will admit that I don't read romance novels but I don't let romance get in the way of a good historical novel. Poor young Barbara Alderley; I do feel for her. The tender heart and romantic dreams of a 15 year old girl.....so sweet, so impossible. Just wait, sweetie, once you have had your babies and hit mid-life, an arranged marriage with a 20-years-your-senior, titled and wealthy gay man is going to seem like the answer to your prayers.

I adore the Dowager Duchess of Tamworth; she has become one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. I like Barbara's cousins; Mary, and Tony, the young Duke of Tamworth. Some of the servants are wonderful; Annie, Perryman and the young footman, James, really liven up the scenes at Tamworth. Montrose, White, and Therese, from Barbara's household also add depth and interest to the human drama. The non-human drama is pretty good, too. Dulcinea is one of the most fully realized fictional felines I have ever had the joy of reading about. As I am a non-partisan lover of dogs and cats I also enjoyed reading about the pugs; they seem very much like some of the pugs I have met during my life.

The bad guys in this book are also startlingly realistic. Some of the bad guys are just selfish people, like Barbara's mother, Diana. Others, like the Duc du Richeliu and that horrid little French princesse, are more actively evil and destructive.

I enjoy Koen's writing style; I thought it was elegant and inspiring of imagery without being too pretty or overwrought. The woman has a way of telling a story; I have to give her that. Much happens in this novel, both in the story arcs of the characters and the historical era. We are left with a real cliffhanger at the end.

Don't worry, there is a sequel.










l. ( )

The easiest and quickest way to describe Through a Glass Darkly is to say it is an 18th century soap opera. A saga written in 1986, it follows the fortunes and failures of a noble family, the Alderleys, in the early part of the century.

Even as a child, Barbara Alderley was besotted with Roger Montgeoffry. A sophisticated, handsome man about 25 years her senior, they marry when she is fifteen. After a short time in London, they reside in Paris where the beautiful young bride becomes a sensation. Intrigue, betrayal and debauchery rule the time and their lives.

Compelling enough to keep the reader wondering what was coming next with the Montgeoffrys or the Alderleys, it's on the other hand much too long (673 pages) and often repetitive. At about 500 pages I began scanning. Note that some readers could be offended by the sexual escapades of some characters which I thought grew rather tiresome. ( )

One of my favorite books of all time. I've read this novel many, many times and I still love it. Beautifully written...I cried more reading this book than I have with any other. There aren't enough words to explain how much I adore it. ( )

I read this historical fiction series backwards (not recommended) and sadly this first book was my least favorite. Quite possibly, however, that was because I do not enjoy this time period as much. That said, Koen's characters are very well written and she really does draw you into England and France. ( )