Author:Victoria Lamb,Carole Boyd
London, 1583.
When young, aspiring playwright William Shakespeare encounters Lucy Morgan, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies-in-waiting, the two fall passionately in love. He declares Lucy the inspiration for his work, but what secret is Will hiding from his muse?
Meanwhile, Lucy has her own secret – and one that could destroy her world if exposed. No longer the chaste maid so valued by the Virgin Queen, she also bore witness to the clandestine wedding of Lettice Knollys and Robert Dudley, a match forbidden by the monarch.
England is in peril. Queen Elizabeth’s health is deteriorating, her throne under siege from Catholic plotters and threats of war with Spain. Faced with deciding the fate of her long-term prisoner, Mary, Queen of Scots, she needs a trusted circle of advisors around her now more than ever. But who can she turn to when those closest to her have proved disloyal?
And how secure is Lucy’s position at court, now that she has learned the dangerous art of keeping secrets?
A powerful portrait of the pain incurred by the queen who turned herself into a living legend
—— The LadyThis extraordinary debut combines a true gift for storytelling with a liberal dose of racy encounters. But what really sets it apart is exquisite characterisation, so vivid that the cast seeps into the reader's psyche
—— Daily RecordLots of sex and gripping story lines
—— The SunThey are powerful, sexy and unputdownable
—— Victoria Loves BooksA moving tale . . . prepare to weep
—— New York TimesIrresistible . . . seductive . . . a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page
—— Oprah MagazineA spectacularly sure storyteller . . . Reading The Light Between Oceans is a total-immersion experience, extraordinarily moving.
—— Monica Ali, author of BRICK LANE and LOVE MARRIAGEThe Light Between Oceans unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Into the spaces between words, Stedman breathes an anxiety and pulsating intensity that roils with the ocean and the lighthouse beacon
—— Sydney Morning HeraldThe characters are beautifully drawn . . . A completely unique read. ****
—— Heat MagazineA moving tale. One of this year's must-reads
—— Stylist MagazineTold with the authoritative simplicity of a fable . . . engrossing . . . immediate and familiar
—— The New YorkerMesmerising . . . the sheer passion and poetry of Stedman's prose carries us on a wave of emotion and heartbreak
—— Australian Woman's WeeklyPick of the month: The memorable and moving tale of one couple’s search for happiness
—— Woman and HomeA haunting story peopled with characters you care about
—— Choice MagazineLyrical . . . Stedman’s debut signals a career certain to deliver future treasures
—— PeopleStunning and memorable
—— BooklistHeart-wrenching
—— Publisher's WeeklyExquisite
—— KirkusDelicate and imaginative . . . beautifully written . . . deserves every single bit of its success
—— ScotsmanLike a lighthouse, [The Light Between Oceans] shines a light in dark places, and its emotional resonance will stay with you for days
—— Irish ExaminerA thought-provoking debut novel . . . this beautifully delineated tale of love and loss, right and wrong, and what we will do for the happiness of those most dear to us, is moving without being maudlin
—— Boston Globeclever, funny and razor-sharp
—— Independent on Sundaythoughtful and ambitious
—— GuardianExcellent and astutely observed
—— Evening Standard