Audiobook Review – A Net For Small Fishes

Title: A Net For Small Fishes

Author: Lucy Jago

Genre: Historical Fiction/ LGBTQIA/ Mystery

Goodreads Rating: 4.02

My Rating:

Source: ARC

Synopsis:

Based on the true scandal that rocked the court of James I, A Net for Small Fishes is the most gripping novel you’ll read this year: an exhilarating dive into the pitch-dark waters of the Jacobean court

Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family – and is the most unhappy creature in the world.

Anne Turner has wit and talent – but no stage on which to display them. Little stands between her and the abyss of destitution.

When these two very different women meet in the strangest of circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frankie sweeps Anne into a world of splendour that exceeds all she imagined: a Court whose foreign king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient families fight for power, and where the sovereign’s favourite may rise and rise – so long as he remains in favour.

With the marriage of their talents, Anne and Frankie enter this extravagant, savage hunting ground, seeking a little happiness for themselves. But as they gain notice, they also gain enemies; what began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that could cost them everything.

My Review:

I love historical fiction, particularly when it concerns the history of the kings and queens of England. When this one popped up on NetGalley Audio I decided to give it a try. I’d like to thank Bloomsbury UK and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

Knowing this was based on true events made it more shocking and whilst there were some elements of fiction in there Lucy Jago had done a brilliant job at researching. So much so that I couldn’t tell the fact from the fiction, everything about the story was believable and plausible. The writing was sublime and the characters were beautifully developed, Sarah Durham also did an excellent job with the narration.

The story is told entirely from the POV of Anne Turner and what a protagonist she was! Anne was a fighter, a mother and above all a loyal friend. She fought tooth and nail to keep her family going which made me admire her even more. She knew the role she played in society and what the correct etiquette was but the didn’t stop her from seeking a better life for herself and Frankie.

Frances (Frankie), unhappily married, wants nothing more than to be happy and escape the abusive arranged marriage she finds herself in. I felt she brought Anne out of her shell and made her less timid whilst Anne did her best to rein Frankie in at times. Together they formed an unlikely friendship that made them cunning, determined and brave in their decisions.

As the story progressed their friendship flourished and remained resilient until the end. It was the final parts of their stories that truly showed how deep their loyalty ran. Their friendship was timeless and I thought the epilogue was a beautiful addition to Anne and Frankie’s story, that brought tears to my eyes.

This is a story of our history told with a twist of magic, desire and misogyny. It shows the true power of womanhood, friendship and devotion.