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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. This book got me hooked and I had to read the other four.
this book isn't something i'd be naturally drawn to, but since it's my mom and grandma's favorite, i felt generationally obligated to check it out!
it's difficult to read about young women being forced into nightmare situations by the men around them. some take it in stride, some not so much, but all suffer.
the final act was most compelling to me, when romance that i actually cared for was introduced (read: arguably the only truly consensual relationship in the novel) and the stakes at court escalated infinitely. did anyone else know that henry viii sucked????
it's difficult to read about young women being forced into nightmare situations by the men around them. some take it in stride, some not so much, but all suffer.
the final act was most compelling to me, when romance that i actually cared for was introduced (read: arguably the only truly consensual relationship in the novel) and the stakes at court escalated infinitely. did anyone else know that henry viii sucked????
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There's a reason it's called historical fiction, so I'm not gonna blast the book for historical inaccuracies. Plus, the book isn't nearly as inaccurate as Showtime's Tudors! The zipper wasn't invented until the 1850s for Pete's sake.
What the book did lack, as many people have said before me, was likable characters. Mary can't make up her mind; is she a spineless pawn for her family, deeply in love with Henry, or an independent woman who wants to raise babies in the country? Make up your damn mind, woman! The only character in the entire book that was likable was Mary's brother and he didn't really play a leading role. Anne, Mary, Henry and the rest are all one dimensional, boring and apparently very horny. The book was also about 100 pages too long due to the fact that the author goes into unnecessary detail about completely superfluous plot points and is excessively descriptive of the many sex scenes.
What the book did lack, as many people have said before me, was likable characters. Mary can't make up her mind; is she a spineless pawn for her family, deeply in love with Henry, or an independent woman who wants to raise babies in the country? Make up your damn mind, woman! The only character in the entire book that was likable was Mary's brother and he didn't really play a leading role. Anne, Mary, Henry and the rest are all one dimensional, boring and apparently very horny. The book was also about 100 pages too long due to the fact that the author goes into unnecessary detail about completely superfluous plot points and is excessively descriptive of the many sex scenes.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it was just too long… and mary got too ditzy.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes