The new reigning queen of Deravenels, the UK's largest global conglomerate, is Elizabeth Turner, a 25-year-old, auburn-haired beauty who regained control of her family's multifaceted enterprise following the death of her half-sister, Mary. Ruthless in her grasp of power yet an ineffective manager, Mary nearly succeeded in bankrupting Deravenels, and it now falls to Elizabeth to staunch financial losses and bring the corporation into the twenty-first century. As with any ruling entity, however, Elizabeth has both loyalists who would do anything to protect her and schemers who will stop at nothing to destroy her. Another Mary is lurking on the horizon, a cousin who erroneously believes she is the true heir to the Deravenel fortune; but aided by a triumvirate of trusted allies, including her lover, Robert Dunley, Elizabeth may just be able to stave off another family coup. Milking the royal metaphor for all it's worth, Bradford saturates her novel with the kind of intricate internecine plotting best suited to a Shakespearean drama. Despite the obsessive restating of characters' identities, personal connections, and past misdeeds, however, it is imperative that readers have prior knowledge of the first two entries in Bradford's Ravenscar trilogy to be able to appreciate the complexities of the final installment.--Haggas, Carol Copyright 2008 Booklist

Verdict: In the final book of Bradford's "Ravenscar Trilogy" (after The Ravenscar Dynasty and The Heir), the best-selling author retells in modern-dress form the story of Queen Elizabeth I. Despite an interesting premise, this bloated novel is a disappointment, stuffed with unnecessary and stilted dialog and marked by a simplistic writing style that makes the reading experience even more unpleasant. It's unlikely that Bradford will gain any new fans with this offering. An optional purchase for most libraries. Background: Young, red-headed, unmarried Elizabeth Deravenal becomes managing director and the largest shareholder of her family's business empire when her estranged and childless sister Mary dies. Unfortunately, the business suffered under Mary's leadership, and Elizabeth must work hard to save it. Luckily, her handsome friend and confidante Robert Dudley (whom she sometimes calls "Robin," which makes keeping track of the many characters even more difficult) is there to help her deal with hostile board members, takeover attempts, and other problems.--Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.