I loved ‘Kings and Queens’ and have been looking forward to ‘Last Child’, the sequel, coming out, and eagerly bought it the minute it landed on Amazon.
Although this could be read as a standalone I would hugely recommend reading ‘Kings and Queens’ first not only because it is a joy to read but you will also understand the background to the legacy of Harry Lanchester, his heirs, on who this book is based much better. There is however a comprehensive introduction at the beginning of ‘Last Child’ which brings you up to speed and gives you all you need to know about the setting for this story.
This book is hugely entertaining and has made me laugh, cry and everything in between those extremes. Hannah, the nanny and one of my favourite characters from ‘Kings and Queens’ takes a big lead role in narrating much of this story but others also take their turn and the different points of view are very well handled.
There is so much to say about so many fabulous characters both the good ones as well as the bad but without giving anything away about who, what, when and why I also loved many of the relationships in this sequel. Many that I perhaps shouldn’t have done but did, Jim Dudley who grew on me, Raine Grey – utterly heartbreaking… Robert Dudley firm but with the patience of a saint and Erin who I enjoyed watching develop from doing something truly horrible as a teenager into…well…I’ll leave you to find that out.
The characters Tyler creates are as real, sumptuous and lavish as the Lanchester Estates Headquarters and she gets all the voices spot on from Jaz as a teenager to those more mature in years as well as touching on mental illness and dementia.
I don’t have much time to read at the moment but I put aside time to savour this one and finished it in tears. However with the way this ended and with some delicious little teasers of what’s to come (Letty, as just one example!) I am daring to hold out a glimmer of hope that there may just be another book in this terrific series and if there is I shall be first in line for a copy.
Treat yourself to your own copy here!
In a bid to eventually get all of the reviews I’ve written on this site I have added the one I wrote for Kings and Queens here if you are interested.
Great review, Georgia.This one’s next up for me 🙂
Thanks Cathy, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Great review, Georgia and yet more for my TBR pile. I’m reading Round and Round by Terry at the moment and really enjoying it 😀
Thanks E! I enjoyed that one too 🙂 Hope you get to these ones eventually…it’s all time though isn’t it!!
Fabulous review I shall get to my own copy soon and am looking forward to even more now. Kings and Queens was a brilliant modern take on Henry VIII and I’m looking forward to see what happens to some more of the modern Tudors.
I’m sure you’ll love the read Rosie 🙂 many thanks for your comment.