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beastreader's review
3.0
King Henry VIII is dead. King Edward is lying in his bed about to die as well. Who will reign next? It was thought that Lady Jane Grey would but she has been executed. Now, it is between Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth knows she will be a better Queen than Mary. Unfortunately because Mary is the older of the two, it makes sense that Mary would be the next Queen. Of course, Mary does becomes Queen. Though not a lot of people are happy about it. There is a plot to get Mary out of the throne. Mary is stubborn and won’t give up the throne easily. Elizabeth is conniving and is trying to find a way to overthrow Mary. Will she succeed?
Elizabeth, Captive Princess is book two in the Elizabeth I trilogy. I read the first book, Young Bess because I was interested in getting to know Elizabeth better. A lot of the books about the Tudors is about King Henry VIII, his wife Anne, his daughter Mary and his son, Edward but there are not a lot of books about Elizabeth. I think she is overlooked. She is very intelligent and knows what her goals are and hold to achieve them. On the flip side, while I am liking this trilogy, I found this book to be a bit slow. I didn’t find the characters that interesting and at times the story moved really slowly. Though, there were some hit and misses with this book for me; I still can’t wait to finish this trilogy. Elizabeth, Captive Princess is a book fit for a Princess or Queen.
Elizabeth, Captive Princess is book two in the Elizabeth I trilogy. I read the first book, Young Bess because I was interested in getting to know Elizabeth better. A lot of the books about the Tudors is about King Henry VIII, his wife Anne, his daughter Mary and his son, Edward but there are not a lot of books about Elizabeth. I think she is overlooked. She is very intelligent and knows what her goals are and hold to achieve them. On the flip side, while I am liking this trilogy, I found this book to be a bit slow. I didn’t find the characters that interesting and at times the story moved really slowly. Though, there were some hit and misses with this book for me; I still can’t wait to finish this trilogy. Elizabeth, Captive Princess is a book fit for a Princess or Queen.
lreay89's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first of the trilogy. I think perhaps its focus was too short.
I would have loved to read more about Elizabeth in the tower and her blossoming infatuation with Robert Dudley someone who ultimately tried to usurp her own claim to the throne through Jane Grey.
I felt that the book didn't really bring across the real fear she must have felt at being her sisters prisoner seen as her mother was beheaded for treason.
The book felt as though Elizabeth knew all along that she was destined to be Queen rather then spending any real time on her numerous illnesses which in my opinion were probably caused by the great stress of the situation.
Mary's thoughts could have been more explored also.
Final verdict: a read that didn't really add any further knowledge to the Tudor period for me and could have been padded out some more with some explanation for key players behavior.
I would have loved to read more about Elizabeth in the tower and her blossoming infatuation with Robert Dudley someone who ultimately tried to usurp her own claim to the throne through Jane Grey.
I felt that the book didn't really bring across the real fear she must have felt at being her sisters prisoner seen as her mother was beheaded for treason.
The book felt as though Elizabeth knew all along that she was destined to be Queen rather then spending any real time on her numerous illnesses which in my opinion were probably caused by the great stress of the situation.
Mary's thoughts could have been more explored also.
Final verdict: a read that didn't really add any further knowledge to the Tudor period for me and could have been padded out some more with some explanation for key players behavior.
basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
helenephoebe's review
3.0
Review - This was a very interesting interpretation of Elizabeth's time in the Tower of London after the nine days reign of Jane Grey. It imagines the thoughts and feelings of Elizabeth after the death of her half-brother, Edward VI, and her thoughts on religion and how to overcome the difficulties besetting her, like clearing her path to the throne through her half-sister and controversy over religion.
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Elizabeth I / Mary I / Philip II of Spain / Jane Grey / Kat Ashley / Robert Dudley
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Elizabeth #2
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Elizabeth I / Mary I / Philip II of Spain / Jane Grey / Kat Ashley / Robert Dudley
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Elizabeth #2
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
drey72's review
4.0
Queen Elizabeth has always fascinated me, and when Sourcebooks offered up Elizabeth, Captive Princess for review, I jumped at it. After all, I did like Young Bess.
Elizabeth's half-brother Edward is King, and has been sickly. When she is summoned to his sick-bed, she instead pleads illness and refuses to make the journey, certain that he is already dead and she may be riding into a trap. Such is the auspicious start to this next novel in Margaret Irwin's trilogy on Queen Elizabeth, which covers the period from Edward's death to Mary's ascension to the throne and marriage to Philip of Spain.
I have never quite grasped all of the nicknames for the people revolving around Elizabeth, and had to actively remember who is whom. Luckily for me, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Fans of historical fiction and Queen Elizabeth should pick this one up--as well as Young Bess, if you haven't read that yet.
Elizabeth's half-brother Edward is King, and has been sickly. When she is summoned to his sick-bed, she instead pleads illness and refuses to make the journey, certain that he is already dead and she may be riding into a trap. Such is the auspicious start to this next novel in Margaret Irwin's trilogy on Queen Elizabeth, which covers the period from Edward's death to Mary's ascension to the throne and marriage to Philip of Spain.
I have never quite grasped all of the nicknames for the people revolving around Elizabeth, and had to actively remember who is whom. Luckily for me, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Fans of historical fiction and Queen Elizabeth should pick this one up--as well as Young Bess, if you haven't read that yet.
kirstysbookshelf's review
3.0
I am really not enjoying this book I can't put my finger on what it is I don't like about it. It is not one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read.
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