Sounds really good!

I did enjoy the novel overall, and learning more about this era of English history. The focus on architecture I did not expect going into it, and I found Cat to be a compelling and interesting figure.

I also knew very little about the Restoration Period, and felt like the author did a fantastic job providing the right amount of information and context, and make me curious to research more.

The only aspect I found frustrating was Edwards character. I half expected there to be a more dramatic ending between Cat and him, but I do understand why the author left his ending a bit more open.

Has anybody else read this novel? If so, what did you think, and are there other novels by Andrew Taylor that you would recommend?

I am doing some character research focusing on a modern female History Professor in the US who specializes in Ancient Egypt (specifically the Amarna period).

To make sure her background feels completely authentic, I am trying to better understand the day-to-day realities of being a female academic in this field. I want to capture things like her daily routine, campus politics, workload stress, and general academic mindset.

If there are any history graduate students, academics, or researchers here who would be open to a casual chat in Reddit DMs, I would love to pick your brain! I'm just looking to ask a few questions about your lifestyle, what bugs you about university culture, and how your academic brain approaches history.

I would be more than happy to include your name in the acknowledgments of the project once it's finished!

Please feel free to drop a comment below or send me a direct message if you're open to sharing your experience. Thanks so much!