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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
At about half way through this book I was only planning on giving it 3-4 stars because the way they treated women (and the way the women took the treatment) was so irritating that I couldn't like any of the characters. I know it was historically correct but it was still annoying. Then Mary came to her senses (as much as she could for her time period) and I found myself interested in her story. This is the first book I've read by Philippa Gregory and I was amazed at how quickly she hooked me into reading this book. Even while irritated during the first half I loved her writing style and her ability to bring this story to life.
Historically inaccurate but if you can get past that, it's a really good read.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love this time in history and historical fiction. It is about Mary and Ann Boleyn’s rise to the top of the English royalty and all the deceptions, and evils that got them there. Ultimately there is a good sister and a bad sister as well as a gay brother. The book really intrigued me with the aspects of the royal court, how they take their children away immediately and don’t think about them or lay eyes on them for years, how important it is to have a male child and how male-dominated the society was then, how little control one had over their marriages (love had nothing to do with it), how little parents cared about their children, and the crazy historical events surrounding Ann’s rise to the top. I enjoyed learning about the goings-on in the court – the lavish dress and festivities. Im glad that I read this book, but it was more like a romance novel than a classic.
So my opinions are a little...biased(?) because I never did finish the book. I read some 200 pages in the right order, and then skipped around a bit.
This novel, I couldn't give two cents about how historically inaccurate it is, but my God. The characters are one dimensional. You are never give a chance to like Anne. She's evil, oh she is so evil. There is nothing to like about her. You want her dead. And you know what, I like Anne! I liked her in The Tudors. I like what I've read about her. So I don't appreciate her being turned into this bitch nobody likes, and her only good qualities are that she is sooo manipulative, which nobody actually appreciates duh.
And then there's the King, and all he wants is to be treated like a little child who wants what he wants, and what he want is to woo lots of girls (not because he's a King, but because of his "personality.") and have lots and lots of sex.
And of course, our heroine, who is so naive, and beautiful, and innocent. Oh STFU.
It isn't even written well enough for me to forgive everything else. In fact it's filled with tedious details that seem to be there just to fill space up. And I didn't even read the whole thing, so that is saying something.
Bad, bad novel.
This novel, I couldn't give two cents about how historically inaccurate it is, but my God. The characters are one dimensional. You are never give a chance to like Anne. She's evil, oh she is so evil. There is nothing to like about her. You want her dead. And you know what, I like Anne! I liked her in The Tudors. I like what I've read about her. So I don't appreciate her being turned into this bitch nobody likes, and her only good qualities are that she is sooo manipulative, which nobody actually appreciates duh.
And then there's the King, and all he wants is to be treated like a little child who wants what he wants, and what he want is to woo lots of girls (not because he's a King, but because of his "personality.") and have lots and lots of sex.
And of course, our heroine, who is so naive, and beautiful, and innocent. Oh STFU.
It isn't even written well enough for me to forgive everything else. In fact it's filled with tedious details that seem to be there just to fill space up. And I didn't even read the whole thing, so that is saying something.
Bad, bad novel.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Great novel. Not accurate historically but who cares, it's fiction.
This was a very interesting book.
It was around the first historical book on the Tudor Court I read.
It really displayed what it was like in that time period, and it showed you all the scandal that happened.
If you've never read it, I would suggest doing so!
It was around the first historical book on the Tudor Court I read.
It really displayed what it was like in that time period, and it showed you all the scandal that happened.
If you've never read it, I would suggest doing so!
i REALLY enjoyed this book.
the characters felt incredibly real, and i felt like i was beside them the whole time
it dragged a bit in the middle, but other than that i adored this
the characters felt incredibly real, and i felt like i was beside them the whole time
it dragged a bit in the middle, but other than that i adored this
I listened to the abridged audio version of this. Basically I got the jist. Making Anne Boleyn the villain was an....interesting take on things. I didn't love it to be honest.