By Neil Blackmore
The kingdom of love is a frightening place. A dangerous place. What kind of fool wants to live there?
How have I, Francis Bacon, well-known as the cleverest man in England, been caught in this trap? For years I survived the brutal games of the English court, driven by the whims of the idiot King James I - and finally, I was winning. Forget what my friends Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare say about love. I had that which men truly crave above all else: power.
But now, at the moment of my greatest success, a deadly alliance of my enemies has begun closing in on me. Led by the King's beautiful and poisonous lover Carr, this new alliance threatens to turn our foolish King against me, so that I may rot in the Tower.
I refuse to go down without a fight. I have concocted a brilliant new plan: I will find my own beguiling young man and supplant Carr in the King's bed, and take power for myself. All I need to do is find him, my beautiful and mysterious creature, my perfect chess move.
In the dangerous kingdom of love, those who understand desire win. And I intend to win, at all costs.
♥ Review ♥
This novel was a real page-turner and a fascinating insight into the life of Francis Bacon. The narrative was compelling and I lost track of time as I read this book. A wonderfully written novel that delves deep into the court of King James I.
If you enjoy quality historical fiction then this book really has to be on your to-read list. I highly recommend this novel.
♥ Amazon ♥
His third novel, The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle, was shortlisted for the Polari Prize for LGBTQ+ Fiction. The Dangerous Kingdom of Love, his most recent title, was memorably described as 'Hilary Mantel on acid' and chosen as one of The Times' Best Historical Fiction Novels. He lives in London.
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