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Whitehall #1.4
Wit in All Languages
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.
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.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
41 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2016
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine E. Robins
44 books124 followersWriting 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 Book View Cafe (http://bookviewcafe.com) where most of her short fiction is available for free!
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 Book View Cafe (http://bookviewcafe.com) where most of her short fiction is available for free!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 14, 2016
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.
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.
Read
June 11, 2016I thought this one the best episode yet.
Beautifully evoking Charles' court, Robins brings not only the three main players to life--Charles, Catherine, and Barbara--but does an excellent job with Clarendon, Rochester, and the servant girl Jenny, in a vivid, graceful blend of period detail and accessible modern language.
Beautifully evoking Charles' court, Robins brings not only the three main players to life--Charles, Catherine, and Barbara--but does an excellent job with Clarendon, Rochester, and the servant girl Jenny, in a vivid, graceful blend of period detail and accessible modern language.
May 28, 2020
***I had a horrible experience with the actual serial box app. The programmers only responded to tell me the issue was my fault, their suggested fixes didn't apply and otherwise my problems that made the program unusable were ignored. Their books are available through the library and pirating sites. I would not advise anyone purchase through them since my program was unusable and I ended up reading the free copy from my library***
Moving along nicely
Moving along nicely
June 13, 2016
This was a well-written, fast paced, enjoyable story. The fourth episode of Whitehall's first season finds King Charles II at odds with the Queen, Catherine, after installing his mistress, Barbara as a Lady of the Bedchamber. He can't allow rebellion from his Queen, and sends most of the retinue who traveled to England with her back to Portugal. His mistress suggests he throw a ball "for the Queen." The Queen is beginning to learn it is up to her to make her own way as a Queen and this episode was exciting to read - I can't wait to read the next episode! I was given a copy of this episode in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This was a well-written, fast paced, enjoyable story. The fourth episode of Whitehall's first season finds King Charles II at odds with the Queen, Catherine, after installing his mistress, Barbara as a Lady of the Bedchamber. He can't allow rebellion from his Queen, and sends most of the retinue who traveled to England with her back to Portugal. His mistress suggests he throw a ball "for the Queen." The Queen is beginning to learn it is up to her to make her own way as a Queen and this episode was exciting to read - I can't wait to read the next episode! I was given a copy of this episode in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This was a well-written, fast paced, enjoyable story. The fourth episode of Whitehall's first season finds King Charles II at odds with the Queen, Catherine, after installing his mistress, Barbara as a Lady of the Bedchamber. He can't allow rebellion from his Queen, and sends most of the retinue who traveled to England with her back to Portugal. His mistress suggests he throw a ball "for the Queen." The Queen is beginning to learn it is up to her to make her own way as a Queen and this episode was exciting to read - I can't wait to read the next episode! I was given a copy of this episode in exchange for an honest review.
serial-chapters
August 8, 2016"Is it Queen Catherine you dislike, or the fact that she exists and--it seems--is not a cipher to be ignored?"
A good question. And not one that is answered in this installment! There's some cause to pity Catherine as her husband whimsically dismisses her Portuguese retinue and sends them home. Barbara's prank in the latter few pages comes across as puny and petty... but if your war is all about determining whose knickers the king most wants to get into, dignity isn't always at the forefront, I suppose. Catherine rises to the challenge, and at the end of this chapter I believed she is up for whatever her position might throw at her. This episode by Madeleine Robins is a wicked delight. Onward!
A good question. And not one that is answered in this installment! There's some cause to pity Catherine as her husband whimsically dismisses her Portuguese retinue and sends them home. Barbara's prank in the latter few pages comes across as puny and petty... but if your war is all about determining whose knickers the king most wants to get into, dignity isn't always at the forefront, I suppose. Catherine rises to the challenge, and at the end of this chapter I believed she is up for whatever her position might throw at her. This episode by Madeleine Robins is a wicked delight. Onward!
June 16, 2016
This newest installment of Whitehall was a lot of fun. The Queen and King are still butting heads. King Charles makes a bold move to put Catherine in her place. Barbara, his mistress, is still trying to tilt things in her favor. Catherine has her own plan. Can she beat her husband's mistress at her own game? Who will Charles favor when it's all over?
I was given this serial book free in exchange for an honest review.
I was given this serial book free in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2016
I am absolutely loving this series, I think its great! I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this is one of the better ones of recent years. The characters are brought to life with the writing styles and even though the different episodes are being written by a selection of different writers you wouldn't be able to tell, the story is flowing seamlessly - very, very good - highly recommended
June 15, 2016
This is the 4th part of the Whitehall Season serial and continues the story of King Charles II and his wife, Catherine in England during the 1600's. I felt the story stalled a bit during this installment without much added to the conflict in the royal marriage. I did enjoy the description of the costume ball though.
Thanks to the Inner Circle for the copy of this book.
Thanks to the Inner Circle for the copy of this book.
June 29, 2016
The queen triumphs over the mistress in this episode that includes a ball. I dislike that Catherine had to accept the kings mistress, it wasn't right that he not only took her money but took her choices away from her, but that's how it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2016
A Queen learns the only weapon she needs in this new land is her station. She will bring honor to England and King. And to native land. By being the best Queen she can be.
June 28, 2016
I really liked this part because Catherine gets some great character development. I did not really like how her conflict with the king ended but it makes sense when taking the era into account.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews