"Since childhood Lady Juliana has depended on her allure for survival. So when a sudden, debilitating illness robs her of her looks, her sense of place in the world is shattered. The court that once idolized her spurns her. Who is she, if not the siren of men's dreams? Enter Felix Ossolinski - scholar, diplomat, Renaissance man. A riding accident in his teens forced him to redirect his energies from war to the life of the mind, and alone among the men of the sixteenth-century Polish court he sees in Juliana a kindred spirit, a woman who has never appreciated her own value and whose inner beauty outweighs any marring of her face. At Felix's suggestion the Polish queen offers Juliana a way out of her difficulties: spy for the royal family in return for a promise of financial independence. Facing poverty and degradation, Juliana cannot refuse, although the mission threatens not only her freedom but her life. Felix swears that he will protect her. But no one can protect Juliana from the demons of her past."
I loved this novel! Part of the attraction is that it takes place in Poland, Lithuana and Russia. There are not many historical fiction books that take place here and it added a new excitement for me. It is always enjoyable to find a new place to read about other than the usual books taking place in Italy and England. While it is my first book of Lesley's that I have read, I did not need to have read her prior books concerning the Juliana character in order to follow the plot. In addition, Carolyn Pouncey, who writes as C. P. Lesley, is a historian by trade and her knowledge of this era was abundantly evident. She wrote into the story plenty of background information on the political climate in Poland, Lithuania and Russia. Several historical figures were also woven into the story.
I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series! 4 out of 5 stars.
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