I'm about halfway through this historical fiction novella. It takes place on the night Mary, Queen of Scots' private secretary, David Rizzio is assassinated.
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Rizzio: A Novella | 
I'm about halfway through this historical fiction novella. It takes place on the night Mary, Queen of Scots' private secretary, David Rizzio is assassinated.
pickBook #2 of the McIlvanney Prize longlist done and it was a doozy. I know little of Tudor-era Scotland and England, but this novella brings to life the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Queen Mary Stuart‘s personal secretary, David Rizzio. Mina‘s prose is crisp and compelling and she crafts the story brilliantly. I did not want to put it down and I didn‘t want it to end.
pickWritten in tight, present-tense prose, this gut-punch of a novella peers over the shoulders and into the minds of conspirators, loyalists, pawns, and victims as the titular assassination of Rizzio and the attempted overthrow of the queen unfolds. As she has shown time and again with her other works, Mina is an author who knows how to captivate and keep her audience, and Rizzio is no exception.
pickWhew, that was intense! Really enjoyed this gripping novella. Now I want to learn more about Mary, Queen of Scots. Illustration from History of England by Henry Tyrrell.
#12Booksof2021 #October
October was a month of stand out novellas for me. Rizzio was my favourite: fast-paced, intense, political intrigue with a side of wit.
Honourable mentions:
📚 All Systems Red (Murderbot is awesome)
📚 A Spindle Splintered
pickDark & Delicious and expertly narrated. On March 9, 1566 David Rizzio, personal secretary and friend of Mary,Queen of Scots is brutally murdered in a coup. This short novella puts you inside the royal palace as the crime unfolds. Using this for #Booked22 #AboutRoyalFamily would also work for #AboutReligion and #pop22 #OneSeatingRead Special shoutout to @TheKidUpstairs for putting this on my #ReadersRadar #Hoopla
KarenUK, Megabooks, Kalalalatja, BarbaraTheBibliophage, Cortg, Laughterhp, alisiakae, BarbaraBB, RaeLovesToRead
pickA fast paced, intense novella about the assassination of David Rizzio, Private Secretary to Mary Queen of Scots. Full of intrigue, blood, and a healthy dose of wit. I needed to shake things up with something gripping and satisfying and this one totally fit the bill. Highly recommended!
#Booked2021 - #Newin2021 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage
"In a courtly world where the placement of a kerchief has a special symbolic meaning, Ruthven's outfit resembles confusion screamed in high C by a panicked goat."
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