Tudor Rose by W.H. Doyle follows two young women as they journey to London, Sybille to be married, and Rose as her companion. Sybille was to be a lady-in-waiting to Lady Agnes, one of Queen Elizabeth’s ladies-in-waiting, and sister to Valentine, Sybille’s fiancé. However, Lady Agnes passes from what seemed like pneumonia, or possibly tuberculosis. Sybille is determined to take Agnes’ place, bringing her into conflict with her fiancé’s other sister, Avis. A confrontation at banquet catches the Queen’s attention. She charges each of the three girls to throw a gala, and the winner will be part of the Queen’s progress.

Before leaving for London, Rose received a mysterious book from one of the Queen’s advisors, Dr John Dee. The book helps her in more ways than one, starting with being able to answer a question posed to the girls by the Queen. The rest of the story follows Sybille and Avis as their rivalry grows, and Rose as she works to decipher the book Dr Dee gave her.

Much of this book is taken up by the rivalry between Sybille and Avis, both of whom are shitty brats in need of an ass-whuppin’. Just sayin’… Each thought they were better than everyone else, and tended to treat all others as less than. Rose was supposedly Sybille’s best friend, but Sybille never really treated her as a friend. For the most part, Rose just tried to stay out of everyone’s way, working on the diary and trying to avoid the attentions of the nobleman, Fulke.

Rose was by far my favourite character. She was level-headed and intelligent. By the end of the book, she had more than proven her intelligence, and cunning. There were times, though, when I questioned that. Such as when she followed Dr Dee to a room, and upon entering, did not find Dee, but rather a full hot bath (how?). She then proceeded to shuck off her clothes and get into the bath! Who knows what might’ve happened? Though we didn’t see him much, and only through Rose, I know him as an historical figure, and a quite interesting one as well. One wonders if later stories will have Edward Kelly in them as well.

There were times when things felt rushed, or incomplete. Rose’s gala was a huge surprise considering we followed her more than Avis or Sybille. It felt like it came out of left field. Rose herself felt like a completely different person conducting her gala. I do hope there is a sequel! I want to continue to follow Rose’s story, and understand more about Dee’s interest in her. Recommended if you enjoy YA historical fiction.

***Many thanks to the author/ publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours.