I really loved Laying with Lions, very fitting title and also one I'd pick up at the store. I also love the cover. I wish I could put it in my bookshelf tbh. It's simple, yet elegant. I rate this with 4 stars because of the slow and heavy start for me, but otherwise it was a fantastic read I truly enjoyed. Great character development, interesting story, scandal, death, murder, mystery and an end I truly didn't see coming! I mean what the hell! I loved the end and yet it broke my heart completely but also made me happy! I don't want to spoil it so no hints or details on it but you'll love the end!

Anyway, if you want to pick up a great read, love historical fiction and some LGBTQ romance, go pick up Laying with Lions!
It's out on 21st June.

[full review on my blog! :) ]

Thank you to NetGalley and Anastasia Rydaeva for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: rape, child death, murder

Lying with Lions is a gothic historical novel with a Wuthering-Heights-esque energy. Our Main Character Agnes, a Woman pushed from a well-off position in life by the debt and alcoholism of her Father, is an Archivist for the Family of a Baron. It is her job to comb through and sort hundreds of years of letters and documents the family has been collectiong in the expanse of tunnels under their estate. This endeavour opens up possibilities for Agnes as she discovers secrets long-forgotten or put to rest. When the Baron is poisoned, the estranged Son to be contacted and the Lady of the House in need of companionship and counsel, Agnes is close at hand. So begins a tale of love and lust, of greed and servitude, of guilt and betrayal. So begins the tale of Helen and Agnes.

This book grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. The way it was written kept me hanging on to every word. The imagery was rich, the storyline flowing. The Characters were fleshed-out, their motives clear where they needed to be and unclear when it was better. If you are a fan of morally grey characters, then this book (and this genre) is for you: the multidimensionality of horrible acts and unjust justification of inexcusable acts were expertly displayed.
I particularly enjoyed the sapphic romance. It was, as romances often are in gothic fiction, not a healthy relationship dynamic. However, watching the development of the relationship, the waxing and waning of love and resentment side by side, was very enjoyable. I did think it felt a little rushed in the beginning, though this is ultimately forgiveable given how much I loved the rest of the book.
Beware the ending, it will destroy you. Also it was amazing and inevitable and fitting. All roads lead to rome and all.
If you loved Wuthering Heights and the Bridgerton Series, but wish they were sapphic, then you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.

This review will appear on my instagram @/flybybooks on 13.06.21

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

A very interesting. I wasn't sure if I like this one right away but I'm glad that I stuck it out the ending was fabulous.

“Shared secrets tend to raise awareness of one another in a certain way. Heighten the sensitivity like flayed skin.” — LYING WITH LIONS, Annabel Fielding
•
{𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖} ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

LYING WITH LIONS is a fantastic historical novel set in Edwardian England, where secrets are just as abundant as social climbers. Filled with ambitious characters, political machinations, morally grey characters, and at its center is a brilliant woman who manages to outsmart (and outmaneuver) them all.

{𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃}⁣
* The time period. The majority of the tale is set during the time when WW1 is on the horizon. It had all the feels of a Victorian novel, but with delightful motorcars and more modern conveniences.
* The characters. Each one has secrets, each one has goals, each one wants power. Agnes in particular managed to fool them all when in reality, she’s just as power hungry as the rest of them. She just hides it better.
* The relationship between Helen and Agnes. I love me a good sapphic love story, and these two were perfect for one another from the beginning.
* The political machinations, scandals, and the cutthroat atmosphere that goes along with that.
* The overall tone and air of mystery. Fielding manages to keep readers guessing not only about the secrets each character keeps, but about their motivations and who they are as people. I live for morally grey, and each and every character in this book falls under that description.

Bottom line — an interesting and immersive read that’ll keep you guessing until the end. There’s mayhem, murder, secrets, lies, and betrayal, with a little f/f romance to round it all out. 4 stars.

The combining of gothic, murder mystery, history and LGBTQ romance made for a captivating, compelling and enthralling story.

It was a rollercoaster page-turner of suspense with many twists and turns.

The beautiful vivid descriptions of the different settings were the perfect backdrop.

Throughly researched by the author.

A wonderful historical novel.

Agnes Ashford is hired by the prestigious Bryant Family to work as an archivist. When she comes across a secret that could potentially affect the reputation of the family, she falls into a trap trying to maintaining her position and saving her job at the same time. She also finds herself drawn to the charming Lady of the house, Helen, who is as equally beautiful as she is ruthless. I would have preferred a tug of war between the two women instead of the blossoming relationship between the two female characters. The perfect book to curl up on the sofa with.

Agnes Ashford the archivist uncovers mystery after mystery at Hartfell Hall, the sprawling estate of the Baron of Willoughby aka Lord Alastair Bryant, and his beautiful (and ebulliently wealthy) wife Lady Helen Bryant. Ensuing intrigue involves their children Gregory, Harold, and Meredith, his Lordship's sister Lady Sylvia Lowe, and Lady Helen's brother Reginald. The author Annabel Fielding tells a tight story, the many family members are given depth and characteristics making them easy to keep track of, despite the ambling range of the tale throughout history, from 1648 when the Bryants were loyal royalists, to 10 yr-old Gregory's tragic death of extenuating circumstances in 1895, through pivotal moments in British WWI history to a post-war ending.

I loved the feminist tone to this story about two different types of very strong women, and the numerous nods to historical names and events. Not that it's a major issue, but I do think the title might have been referenced earlier than 99% of the way through the book.

I intend to avoid spoilers.

I received this book from NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review!

Let me say this, from the first page I was blown away by the care the author took to details. Whenever you tackle historical fiction it's important for the author to try and remain true to the time they are depicting--this one a gem from the start. Fielding described the Edwardian era vividly.

The story follows Agnes Ashford, who's been sent to the Bryant family to trace their family tree and keep order in their family's timeline of events. As she tours the tunnels below the large estate, she begins to uncover strange happenings and secrets that the Bryant family would like to leave uncovered....and the plot thickens...
*Cue* dead son...but did he die the way they said?

Along the way, Agnes gets entangled with the lady of the house, Helen Bryant. They engage in sharing secrets and then an affair. I did expect a touch more romance, but I still enjoyed it.

At first, I thought Agnes was this "goodie goodie" character, but as the book moves on Agnes becomes much more and resembles the morally grey characters we all love.

My only complaint was pacing. Sometimes I wanted more in chapters or for the story to slow down rather than jumping in progression.

I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, mystery, LGBTQA+

Thank you to the author for the ARC! I was asked to take part in a blog tour (my first one!) and share my thoughts about this sapphic historical novel.

LYING WITH LIONS takes place in Edwardian England and follows Agnes, a young archivist who has been hired by the head of the Bryant family, the Baron of Willoughby, to organize the family’s extensive history. She is grateful for the work, having lost both her parents and with no other means of supporting herself. However, along the way she uncovers potentially dangerous family secrets, which brings her to the attention of the cunning Lady Helen, wife of the Baron. All of a sudden, Agnes is playing a much more important role in the lives of these important people and Agnes has to decide how far she is willing to go at the side of this ambitious woman.

One of my first overall impressions of this book is that Agnes inhabits a world where the men are all kind of silly, despite being the ones officially in power. The Baron is a ridiculous (and loathsome) man who doesn’t seem to care about anything beyond who will end up in his bed that night. Lady Helen’s brother, who raised her son Harold after an accident in his youth, is portrayed as a selfish cad who only really looks out for himself. Harold, who inherits his father’s title after an untimely death, is inexperienced and makes a fool of himself several times, having grown up far away from his family’s estate and unfamiliar with the ways of gentry life. These impressions are undoubtedly colored by the fact that Agnes is in love with a woman, Lady Helen. She has no patience for, or interest in, men and the ones that cross her path don’t particularly impress her.

In this world, the women are the interesting ones: Helen who hates her husband (rightfully so) and desires power, which she will do almost anything to get. Sylvia, sister of the late Baron, who tries to disinherit her nephew with a ridiculous, if clever, claim. Meredith, daughter of Lady Helen, who would much rather live in Ancient Greece than Edwardian England. Penny, a servant whose role in the story I don’t want to give away. And Agnes: at first a lowly archivist, but an ambitious, observant, and clever girl who rises to be Lady Helen’s companion and secretary, at least to the outside world. Agnes is in actuality her confidant, friend, and lover (she even refers to herself as Lady Helen’s wife after a few years).

Agnes is the connector between the servants and the family, occupying a sort of in-between place as the family archivist. This is a world where roles are clearly defined, so movement between the classes is not normal. Agnes’ ascent from hired help to Lady Helen’s companion is unusual--compare it to Tom Branson’s move from chauffeur to member of the household in Downton Abbey, which takes place around the same time. Agnes, of course, has ambitions of her own, so she will take any advantage she can get, and a close relationship with a rich widow is definitely advantageous compared to the life of an archivist-for-hire.

LYING WITH LIONS is at its core a story of ambition, and all the potential darkness that comes along with it. Lady Helen’s ambition, and Agnes’ own. As the tale goes on, it gets darker and darker and Agnes becomes more and more willing to do what Lady Helen asks of her to get and retain power in a world where a woman has very little. Also, the romantic relationship between Agnes and Lady Helen was interesting. The power dynamics and the age difference between them certainly played a part, whether it was acknowledged or not. Agnes often saw herself as Lady Helen's equal, having been intimately acquainted with her for years and having been trusted with secrets and deception. But Lady Helen never quite forgot that Agnes was at her mercy and a few decisions away from complete ruin.

Oddly, it’s also a quiet story. It’s rather slow-moving most of the time, with bursts of surprising action. There are times when the plot gets a little bogged down in description--the book is less than 250 pages but it took me a week to read it. The action was the most interesting part, and when Agnes was scheming with Helen or plotting behind the scenes, that was when the story was at its best.

As someone who doesn’t read much historical fiction anymore, it was still an enjoyable read! Like I said before, a little slow at times, but a well-rounded story. Fans of the genre would definitely like it, and it was clearly well-researched.

Agnes is working on the archives for the Byrant family when a terrible incident happens. She uses this incident to propel herself as a companion for Lady Helen. As more obstacles affect the family, Agnes uses her brains to make sure that she keeps her place.

There is a lushness in the narrative that makes this feel like a dark Victorian tale on the Moors. Instead, this takes place in the Edwardian period, mostly in London. Agnes is brilliant with her ability to work the system.

My one problem was that I didn't completely get the feel of Agnes. At one point, I thought she was capable of murder. I was surprised to find out she isn't.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

An unusual time period, but really works for this historical novel.
Felt a bit Agatha Christie meets Sarah Waters for all the right reasons. Loved Helen and Agnes' relationship too.
Agnes really changed my perceptions of her as the book continued and I found her particularly intriguing.
Lots of characters that add to the plot and the small time hops are also interesting,
Its packed in so many things that it felt pacey and kept my attention throughout,
Good to see LGBTQIA representation in this type of novel- not enough in my opinion.
A wonderfully written read, very enjoyable.

This book was a wonderful surprise!
I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this one was no exception. The plot was intriguing enough: Agnes Ashford, an archivist is employed by the Bryant family to catalogue their archives but uncovers secrets that changes everything.
I loved the mystery aura this book had. We learn through the main character, Agnes, secrets about the mysterious family and how they each navigate them. The subdued mystery/ crime aspect was thrilling.

But the best part was the author’s voice. As it is mentioned in the Author’s note, so many elements of the story are inspired by historical events and historical figures but the author added their unique and interesting voice. The prose was beautiful and I highlighted so many quotes.
I liked the narration which focused on Agnes, who is a social climber with a lot of ambition. How could she not be in the world she was living in? I didn’t find her to be especially likable but that didn’t bother me at all. On the contrary, I loved reading about her ambition, the way her beautiful brain worked and how devoted and loyal she was (even if it was sometimes for her own gain). I will forever root for cunning, smart and ruthless young women. Her character development was the best part of the story; she began the story as a naive “little lamb” to becoming a ruthless lion under Helen’s supervision.
That’s another element I loved: the romance between Agnes and Helen! I loved the fact that there was a sapphic relationship in this setting and I regret that most of the romance aspect happened off the page even though their closeness could be seen by everyone. I loved how they helped each other in their own way and also how unhealthy it was. It was raw and honest and I couldn’t get enough. And there were the other characters: Henry and Meredith who I couldn’t help rooting for. They were great “supporting” characters and it was nice to read their thoughts when the author shared them.

At some point the characters travel to Italy and the description was excellent because I felt as though I was traveling with them. This voyage was accompanied by talks of history and art which I truly enjoyed and I think the author captured Edwardian England pretty well.


I really recommend this book if you enjoy historical fictions, laced with political scheming, secrets, romance and betrayal.

I told myself I didn’t have time for any more ARCs… but when Annabel Fielding asked me to be on the blog tour for LYING WITH LIONS, I couldn’t refuse - historical lesbians are my kryptonite!

READ THIS IF… you like historical fiction, dark family secrets, and sapphic romance.

THE STORY… In Edwardian England, Agnes is tasked with cataloguing the archive of the Bryant family. In doing so, she learns of their darkest secrets, which in turn brings her closer to Lady Helen. Her companion by day, and her lover by night, Agnes is swept into the Bryant’s world - but how much is she willing to risk for them? And what would they risk for her?

I… fell headfirst into Agnes’ world, immediately captivated by the secrets of the archive, her apparent distaste for men, and her growing relationship with Lady Helen. This is a thoughtful and delicately written book, which struck me with its wisdom on multiple occasions. “The world rarely gives us what we want, and when it does, it is usually to twist our heart out on the next turn” declares Lady Helen, speaking aloud a central theme of the novel. Secrets of murder, infidelity, and family divides crop up at each turn, with twists and heightened stakes coming when you least expect them.

At the heart of the novel is the relationship between Agnes and Lady Helen - tender and trusting, but always threatened by the fear of discovery, and the power of ambition.

NOW… I definitely need more historical lesbians in my life! Do let me know if you have any recommendations. I would definitely read another book by Annabel Fielding.

*Copy provided by netgalley and Annabel Fielding in exchange for an honest review*
At the time of writing this review, I have just finished Lying with Lions and can state that I have enjoyed this book. Even though it has its flaws, particularly in what regards our main character construction and motivations, and the fast pacing that makes you wander from one subject to another without actually focusing on a narrative, it has a beautiful prose with immersive descriptions, very much needed when approaching the subject of a noble family in the Edwardian era, and the secrets they keep… and where they are willing to go to actually keep them.
I adored how our main characters were two intelligent and driven female characters, and the female-female relationship that arouse from their interactions was interesting and well written, given more to the story than if it hadn’t been there. For me, the best part of the story was the ending, the payoff and the resolution for the characters was exactly what I would hope for, and I applaud the author for it.
Even though most of the plot points were fairly predictable, in no way did that deterred the reader from enjoy the cozy mysteries that Annabel Fielding crafted throughout the novel, and I am confident that the love for historical mysteries and nobility scandals that pour in each page will develop into incredibly interesting new books by this author.

I really wanted to love this book! I usually enjoy historical fiction and add in some LGBQT+ representation and it sounded like a brilliant read! Unfortunately it fell short. The characters felt quite flat and one-dimensional and there were stretches of the book that were quite boring, unfortunately. I struggled through it in places.

Lying with Lions wasn't amazing. I admit that I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction to begin with, but this book's description piqued my interest. The presence of a character who's an archivist AND queer elements? That sounded exciting.
The story was well-researched; it's obvious that the author put a lot of care into portraying Edwardian England in the most realistic way possible. The political parts of the book were kind of boring to me, and I'm someone who usually loves a bit of political intrigue and drama. I did enjoy the romance between Agnes and Helen, but I think their relationship could've been more developed/fleshed out; perhaps this could've been possible if a little bit more of the book had been dedicated to it. All in all, I didn't find this book to be incredibly remarkable, both because of my personal aversion to historical fiction and because I found it slow and somewhat boring at certain parts.
I wish I had seen some content warnings before I dove into the book, so I'd like to add a couple to this review:
CW for suicide and rape (off-page).
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a historical fiction novel that centres around strong-willed and morally corrupt women, then this is the book for you.

The book follows Agnes, an archivist working in a big house for Lord and Lady Bryant. She unearths secrets even before the real events of the novel take place. Any big family has their secrets, but events ramp up and soon, they are at breaking point.

Female characters have agency in this book. Usually, it is the men who sneak around and try and backstab other rich and noteworthy men to gain more power and money. Here, we see women doing it and we also see a woman take control of her narrative to better her lot. Agnes comes from a very humble background and manages to climb high up within the Bryant household.

My main struggle was finding a connection with any of the characters. I mainly felt for Harold seeing as he suffered quite a bit during the course of the novel. Despite the trauma Helen had suffered by being raped by her husband, she does not come across as a very sympathetic character as she is also part of the problem within high society. She does not seem to care about her son nor her daughter. Only their titles and money.

Again, it is usually men who are the focus of these types of novels, and I enjoyed that it mainly focused on Agnes and Helen. I also enjoyed their relationship and power dynamic. Just not sure I fully appreciated the story as I did not care for either of them.

I really wanted to like this book, as the premise and story is incredible! However the writing style was very jarring to me with the third-person present tense (even passive present in some areas) and it made it difficult to be immersed in the world.

Not only that, but the characters felt very shallow. Many times we're told that they have depth and are mysterious, but we aren't really shown it. The reader is consistently told how characters feel and how "mysterious" they are, rather than shown the depth and intricacies of each character.

Agnes as a narrator felt very empty. I wanted to feel as she did, rather than be told how she felt. Overall, it was just a very different writing style than most books and wasn't for me.

This book was great! I loved the Edwardian setting and our protagonist, Agnes. I love how she is this fierce young woman with a great sense of duty.
I loved the political aspect in this book and how the loyalties were changing. Also, I loved the romance, it was so sweet and lovely... I'm a huge fan.
I absolutely loved the ending and secretly hoping for a second book, just because I want to see more of these characters.
P.S I know this review is kind of short but I just couldn't get more into it without this being at least 20 pages long. I hope you guys will give this book a try.
My rating is actually 4.5 stars.

Set in Edwardian England, Agnes Ashford takes a job as an archivist for the powerful Lord and Lady Bryant. Deep inside the tunnels below the family’s castle, she searches through artifacts and letters from the family and their ancestors to piece together their history, then sort everything in chronological order. Her responsibilities to the family change in an instant; however, upon Lord Bryant’s sudden and unexpected death. Agnes pulls herself out of the dark tunnels by her wits, becoming Lady Helen’s secretary, confidant, lover, and henchman. As Lady Helen’s estranged son assumes his position as the head of the family, Agnes helps them hold onto power and hide the secrets that would threaten it. All the while, Agnes has secrets of her own.

An engrossing tale and captivating snapshot of the years leading up to WWI, “Lying with Lions” by Annabel Fielding was my first foray into historical fiction, not to mention LGBTQ historical fiction. I found myself getting swept away by the vivid descriptions of the Bryant’s Hartfell Hall home and other locations in the book. Not knowing much about this period of time, I was worried the book would seem heavy, and I would get lost in an over 100 year old setting. However, that was never the case. Author Annabel Fielding carries you back in time and gently lowers you into the atmosphere, customs, and sights. You’ll be able to clearly see Lady Helen in her gowns and hear the characters’ voices as if you were there yourself.

Still waters run deep in this book. Agnes, although sympathetic at first, is a social climber out for herself. Already wealthy and powerful, Lady Helen seems to give Agnes what she wants as she seeks to hold onto to power. Neither were all that likeable. However, any negative feelings I had about them didn’t detract from the story. If anything, they made the book all the more compelling. I became so deeply immersed in the story that I felt like part of it, like one of the Bryant family’s maids, observing everything silently.

“Lying with Lions” is a beautifully written tale that contains a flicker of romance and a lot of selfishness, corruption, and greed. Since I don’t usually read historical fiction, I can’t compare it to others in its genre to make a recommendation. But since I don’t usually read historical fiction and got hooked on the story, I can recommend it as a book that grabbed my attention and delivered an intriguing read.