Master Lilly is an astrologer who also dabbles in the occult. In London in the 1640s the former is acceptable but the latter is a death warrant as both Royalists and Puritans seek out witchcraft. Lilly is a favoured astrologer whose dealings with prominent people on both sides mean that he has knowledge that could be valuable but also dangerous and Lilly is learning to balance both sides. However when he falls in love with a troubled noblewoman Lilly discovers that the predictions he reads in the stars can be more trouble than he wants to know.
It was not until I reached the end of this book and read the author's notes that I realised that William Lilly was actually a real-life character who had a certain degree of fame as an astrologer. So captivating was Learner's prose that I assumed the tale was of a fictional character. Of course the plot and detail are fictional but by marrying the fantastical and bedding it into a well-researched tale of the antecedents of the Civil War Learner has created something special. ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2018/09/201853-magick-of-master-lilly-toshba.html ( )