Anyone who's a fan of Buffy comics should pick this book up, even if they've read some of the comics in it already. The Omnibus collects together Buffy comics in chronological order, rather than publishing order, which gives the book more of a flow than one might get from reading the comics individually.

The comics themselves are good as well. As this is the first volume, the comics all take place before the series. There is a retelling of the movie based on the original script, followed by a couple of comics bridging the gap between the movie and the series. Also included is a short comic about Dawn and a very special teddy bear, and a comic about an adventure involving Spike, Drusilla, the World's Fair, some ninjas, and an elder god that is as action-packed as it sounds. Angel fans will enjoy his appearance in a couple of the comics.

Of course, the problem with the Omnibus is the same problem that fans encounter with any Buffy comic (other than Season Eight): the question of whether or not they fit into the series canon. Until Joss sits down and compiles a guide to canon, however, each fan will have to decide that for him or herself. Either way, fans should pick up the Omnibus--it's a good read.

I read The Doublet Affair shortly after To Shield the Queen and was pleased to find that it picked up shortly after the first book and was just as enjoyable a read.

Continuing from To Shield the Queen, The Doublet Affair follows Ursula Blanchard as she gets involved once again in matters of state and religion. After her success in discovering a plot against the Queen, Ursula is sent to investigate rumours of another Catholic scheme. In order to do this, she must assist an overwhelmed noblewoman in running her chaotic household--and still find time to be a spy. Complicating matters is Ursula's own tie to a certain Catholic...

The Doublet Affair builds well on the characters and settings of the first book. Ursula's internal conflict about her situation is well-written and understandable, and effectively mirrors the conflict outside. Characters from the first book are fleshed out, and Buckley's knowledge of the time period and history once again shows in the details. The mystery itself is somewhat more straightforward than the first one, but there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

I picked up A Play of Lords while sitting around the library, and started reading it without having read the other books in the Joliffe series. I'll have to find them when I get a chance.

A Play of Lords is a well-written historical mystery. Using players--actors--as the main characters offers an unusual viewpoint and allows the characters to be involved in politics at many levels, generally as outsiders. This works well with the mystery aspect of the book, which is very political rather than being a straightforward mystery. If you prefer your books to be whodunits, A Play of Lords is probably not for you. If, on the other hand, you like politics of all sorts--court-related, governmental, economical, personal--and historical settings, you should definitely give this book a try.

The writing is even and enjoyable. Frazer knows her setting well, and it shows in the details of the settings, clothing, speech, and politics. Joliffe is a good lead character, but he lacks depth in this book in some ways--there are hints dropped about his past, but his personality doesn't have much effect on the book's events in many ways. However, this works in this particular book, as he is getting swept up in something far bigger and complicated than what he sees and knows of it.

Overall, a very enjoyable book, and I'll be keeping an eye out for other books by her.

I picked To Shield the Queen up on a whim while browsing the mystery section at my local library. I enjoy mysteries, and historical fiction, but I haven't read many historical mysteries for some reason. This one caught my eye mainly because I liked the font used for the title--not necessarily the best way to choose books, but I'm glad I did, in this case.

To Shield the Queen is a well-written, enjoyable book. Fiona Buckley is knowledgeable about the time period--the reign of Elizabeth I--and it shows in her writing. The details of the time add depth and believability to the story, and the intrigues of court and religion create an apt setting for mystery. There are a few mysteries in this book, and it isn't always easy to figure out which trail the characters are following, adding an extra level of intrigue to the story.

The main character, Ursula Blanchard, is a strong female character without breaking the historical accuracy of the novel. She has a depth of character that makes her dilemma believable, and her curious nature leads easily into the mystery. The supporting characters are not quite as well-rounded, but still add to the story.

Overall, an enjoyable, well-written mystery