Reviews

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

mdeck24's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-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? No

3.5

missbecca's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative 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? Yes

4.5

kristiinaness's review against another edition

3.0

This wasn't the most exciting book but I'm glad I read it before The Other Boleyn Girl because I feel like it was good background. Even though of course, it is very fictional historical fiction.

keraashley's review against another edition

3.25

I wish the author didn’t end the book where she did bc I feel like she stopped right when Katherine’s life get dramatic. Also to write about how destined she is to be queen and then cut out 13 years of her ruling? Okay. Sure. 
I like the idea that Katherine and Arthur did love each other and he wanted her to succeed with him. So cute. I can’t believe how much I care about never knowing whether those 2 ever had sex or not. And fuck you Henry VIII, big fucking sexual harassing man child. 

semperlunaris's review against another edition

3.0

Another of my insomniac reads; I have a great fondness for all of Henry VIII's wives, and I have often wondered what might have happened had Arthur survived.

It's an ok read with quite a bit of repetition in places, like most of Gregory's work.
If you're familiar with it, you know what you're getting into.

mermaid_mina's review against another edition

It was a slog. Too slow and not enjoyable.

gabmc's review

3.0

I liked how this story was told, with first person chapters and third person chapters. It was so interesting finding out more about Catalina/Katherine of Aragon - first wife of Henry VIII and born to be the Princess of Wales. She was betrothed to Henry's older brother, Arthur, from birth and married him when she was 16. Tragically he died after only five months of marriage. Then she married Henry and became Katherine. She was a great Queen but history only remembers her as the beheaded first wife of Henry VIII. Looking forward to reading more in this series.

labunnywtf's review against another edition

3.0

I wish I'd liked this more. It really fed my issue about being slow to read Philippa Gregory's works because I fear they will bore me.

This one bored me. ::sigh:: Not all of it, mind you. I did enjoy about 2/3 of it. But this just dragged so horribly and it felt like I was NEVER going to get through it.

This hasn't turned me off to her other books. I still intend to read The Queen's Fool, which I believe is her last Tudor-based book. It also makes me desparately want to re-read The Other Boleyn Girl, to see the Katherine she wrote before her research.

Overall, it just...I don't know. Left me blah and meh.

mrsbrewcrew's review against another edition

3.0

I liked the portrayal of 'the Moors' & how Catalina/Katherine's ideas about them changed as her character grew. It was interesting to watch her establish an identity for herself separate from her parents & Spain. It would be interesting to see how far our collective human culture could have progressed by now if not for losing knowledge through wars against certain ethnic/religious groups. Things that make you go hmmmm...
Another good read by Gregory.

herphoenixloves's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this book! The characters were so real!