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alexhgomez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
alana_jg's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
eneasen's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhat simple romantic plot, but had me engaged from start to stop. Made me feel hopeful, disgusted, embarrassed and irritated - in a good way.
nicholslaw's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emileers's review against another edition
3.0
It was mostly boring.
I was expecting the book to go into details about how the king died (but maybe we don't know that, I am not super into Tudor history so I don't actually know myself), or what life looked like for the protagonist after the king died (short-lived, so maybe we don't really know that either). After reading more about the actual relationship between Thomas Seymour, I didn't really appreciate their harlequin-style love story particularly either.
I was expecting the book to go into details about how the king died (but maybe we don't know that, I am not super into Tudor history so I don't actually know myself), or what life looked like for the protagonist after the king died (short-lived, so maybe we don't really know that either). After reading more about the actual relationship between Thomas Seymour, I didn't really appreciate their harlequin-style love story particularly either.
hazelcoleman's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bookishagata's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most interesting books that I have already read this year. I love history of England.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Even though most readers will know how this story ends, it didn't stop me spending my reading time pretty tense, worried for Katherine. What stories we can take from history!
I've read another version of this story before (Elizabeth Fremantle's 'Queen's Gambit'), and am still fascinated by this marriage - a fat, ageing and twisted Henry, taking the widowed Katherine as his sixth wife.
It is a complicated story of politics and religion. Gregory does a fantastic job of recreating the scheming and back-stabbing life of the Tudor Court, the fine line everyone trod between the hangman's noose and the King's favour.
I couldn't believe just how DULL life must have been - everything and I mean EVERYTHING is based on God, the church, Mass, the Bible, praying, choosing carefully your particular brand in case the King changes his mind yet again. I cannot understand how people can say they would like to visit this period and live there - Katherine herself shows us just why that is the most dangerous idea.
Henry is well drawn - though he has tender moments, one could never let down one's guard around him, even his wife. Forever testing, forever scheming, he is a pained and poisonous man. One scene is particular is so disturbing that I hope it has no root in fact. The whole country and even the world felt the effects of his whims.
I enjoyed seeing his children portrayed here, even though it was less that I would have liked. Gregory sets up their own stories through her characterisation. I hope to learn more of little Edward in a future book, perhaps...
Keeping characters straight is always an issue for books set in this period, with so may similar names and backstories, but it didn't feel too much of a trial with this story.
Katherine's tale is an incredible one, her life unrivalled in terms of what she overcame, what she achieved, and what she saw. I could smell the King's wound at times, and feel the weight of the arrest warrant so oft threatened. Such a clever woman, to submit to the will of a madman.
If you're already a fan of Gregory, I'm sure nothing I can say will put you off reading this. As it shouldn't - it's an excellent addition to the Tudor family saga, very readable, and very enlightening.
If you've not read any before, you can start anywhere with Gregory, I would say, and you'll probably find you can't stop at one...
I've read another version of this story before (Elizabeth Fremantle's 'Queen's Gambit'), and am still fascinated by this marriage - a fat, ageing and twisted Henry, taking the widowed Katherine as his sixth wife.
It is a complicated story of politics and religion. Gregory does a fantastic job of recreating the scheming and back-stabbing life of the Tudor Court, the fine line everyone trod between the hangman's noose and the King's favour.
I couldn't believe just how DULL life must have been - everything and I mean EVERYTHING is based on God, the church, Mass, the Bible, praying, choosing carefully your particular brand in case the King changes his mind yet again. I cannot understand how people can say they would like to visit this period and live there - Katherine herself shows us just why that is the most dangerous idea.
Henry is well drawn - though he has tender moments, one could never let down one's guard around him, even his wife. Forever testing, forever scheming, he is a pained and poisonous man. One scene is particular is so disturbing that I hope it has no root in fact. The whole country and even the world felt the effects of his whims.
I enjoyed seeing his children portrayed here, even though it was less that I would have liked. Gregory sets up their own stories through her characterisation. I hope to learn more of little Edward in a future book, perhaps...
Keeping characters straight is always an issue for books set in this period, with so may similar names and backstories, but it didn't feel too much of a trial with this story.
Katherine's tale is an incredible one, her life unrivalled in terms of what she overcame, what she achieved, and what she saw. I could smell the King's wound at times, and feel the weight of the arrest warrant so oft threatened. Such a clever woman, to submit to the will of a madman.
If you're already a fan of Gregory, I'm sure nothing I can say will put you off reading this. As it shouldn't - it's an excellent addition to the Tudor family saga, very readable, and very enlightening.
If you've not read any before, you can start anywhere with Gregory, I would say, and you'll probably find you can't stop at one...
smartasfrankeinstein's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kenneys0615's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75