A Sweet Disorder

Dripping with historical detail, true love, a court full of ghastly gossip, a demanding queen, and lovable characters, A Sweet Disorder had me captivated from the very first page. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I forgot how much I love historical fiction set in the courts of England. Kolosov made the English palace, with all its splendor and danger, come to life. Not only do you get to relive lively jousting tournaments, dodge sneaky courtiers, but experience the height of tradition-arranged marriages. Since Miranda is a good seamstress, my favorite parts of the book was hearing about the elaborate dresses and wardrobes worn by the courtiers and the Queen. Besides the drama of the courts, A Sweet Disorder mentions many figures in history and is a great example of how we lived back in the Elizabethan Era (1558-1603). With her poetic easy to-read writing style, Kolosov has captured the true light of the sixteenth century and best of all, created a sweet disorder of high society, fashion, scandals, and innocent romance. A Sweet Disorder is sure to make you fall in love with the past. Jacqueline Kolosov is the author of two books for young adults, including The Red Queen's Daughter, and several volumes of poetry. She is a professor of creative writing at Texas Tech University. Age Group: 13+ Content: None Recommend? Yes

This is a charming book for both teens and adult. The setting is Elizabethan England. The protagonist is a 16 yo girl, Miranda. The prose if light and richly detailed at the same time. Once you start reading, you become immersed in the historical detail. This is historical fiction "lite". Enough detail to give the book authenticity and richness without weighing down the subject matter. I enjoy a little romance with my fiction, and this book has a lovely, clean romance thrown in as well. I thought the ending was a bit rushed. The elderly suitor/bad guy was very stereotypical. But this minor issues were not enough to detract from my enjoyment. I would say this is a G rated take on Philiipa Gregory's Elizabethan novels.

After her father dies in December 1579 while on a trip to Ireland for Queen Elizabeth I, shortly before her sixteenth birthday, Miranda Molyneux must face unpleasant changes in her life. Her hope for a possible engagement to Henry Raleigh is ended because of the debts her father left behind. And worst of all, she must leave her family, for she is sent to live with her father's relative, the earl of Turbury, and his wife, the countess. The countess is a very strict and religious woman, and Miranda finds little joy in her life there. The countess even disapproves of her embroidery, believing that wearing only simple clothing is part of living a godly life. Life again changes for Miranda when the countess brings her to Elizabeth I's court. Life at court, with its banquets, festivities, and elegant clothing is a welcome relief in many ways from the monotony, dreariness, and religious severity of life at Turbury. But she quickly learns that court is a complicated place full of people looking out for their own self-interests and who will do whatever is necessary to gain wealth and influence. Miranda quickly makes both friends and enemies, and is reunited with Henry Raleigh. The reunion makes her long even more that things didn't have to change and they could still marry. But the countess wants to marry Miranda off to Lord Seagrave, a man whom Miranda instantly dislikes and knows she would have a miserable life with. Jacqueline Kolosov brings to life the world of Elizabethan England in this elegant novel, Her writing style is lovely and detailed, with great attention paid to the clothing, food, and other aspects of life at the time. Miranda is a sympathetic heroine and readers will feel for her plight and hope for her to get her happy ending. I highly recommend A Sweet Disorder to readers, both teen and adult, who love historical fiction.