Queen Mary's Daughter


Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 02/02/2018
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

Author Biography

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

    Book Review

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Queen Mary’s Daughter by Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a book that explores the possibility that there could have been another heir to the Scottish throne, and follows the life of a powerful, well-developed female protagonist, her work, and unusual adventures that bring history to life, compelling readers to ponder on a Scottish history that is culturally rich and filled with possibilities.

The poetic and descriptive nature of the prose gives the story an enjoyable feel that is pure delight to the reader. The dialogues feel real; they drive the plot forward, and they are fundamental in the development of the conflict. Emily-Jane Hills Orford conjures up vivid images like: “Light peeked through the curtains, casting shadows that danced across the plush quilt and left colourful streaks along the walls.” The characters are rich and well-fleshed out and there is a realism infused into the story that makes it irresistible. This novel is a masterpiece, written by a great storyteller, one who leads readers into the workings of the hearts of her characters and allows them to explore the conflicts inherent to human nature.

Queen Mary’s Daughter features powerful themes, including love and family, inheritance, and the dignity of human work. Readers immediately take a liking to Mary Elizabeth from the very first page and her work in the publishing industry is described with much realism, and this realism permeates every scene in Orford’s narrative. I enjoyed the way the conflict builds up and how the author weaves thought-provoking questions into the narrative. I enjoyed Orford’s characters very much. The story is as entertaining as it is believable.

Kayti Nika Raet

In Queen Mary’s Daughter, a time traveling novel, author Emily-Jane Hills Orford poses a simple question: What if King James VI of Scotland didn't succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? What if there had been another heir to the throne of Scotland? What follows is a tale of intrigue, danger, and a dash of clean romance as Mary Elizabeth travels from Toronto to her grandmother's home country of Scotland. Looking to connect with her late grandmother and discover the secret of her past, Mary instead finds herself whisked into the 16th century in the midst of Scotland's political upheaval after the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Scotland and its history is obviously a passion of Orford's and it shows from the rich details of the setting to the historical facts peppered throughout. On its own, Queen Mary’s Daughter would make for the perfect historical fiction read, but with the time travel element things are given a new twist and it's interesting to see how Orford manages to incorporate that knowledge into this alternate timeline. Queen Mary’s Daughter is an enjoyable read and is perfect for those looking to move away from dark, angst-ridden novels and are looking for something lighter but no less thrilling. While in no way political, in the wake of current events Queen Mary’s Daughter by Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a book that will nonetheless have you intrigued by Mary Elizabeth's adventure and the nature of what if, and attracted to the genuine charm of the land and its inhabitants.