Joanna Beard's Reviews > The Serpent's Mark

What a beautifully made novel, inside and out. The hard cover has a deep purple colour with gold letters on the spine. It feels nice to hold and to read. I dint read the first book of Nicolas Shelby's adventures but it was easy to pick up as thought the book there was lots of references and reminders to what happen to make me feel like I know the characters and their background well enough. This story of treason and medical charlatans is engaging and terrifying at times. The chapters always end on an important moment making me want to read another chapter and another and another... I've read the whole part 3 in one day ! Its totally gripping and cleverly written. The use of old language makes more realistic and transfers you the the real 16th century England. It's a first historical drama that I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!