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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. I keep reading PG because I loved TOBG and a couple of others. The last several novels have been repetitive and awful. This one was marginally better than the one before it (I can't even remember the title). So disappointing!
I am giving The Taming of The Queen 3 solid stars! Kateryn Parr is one of the lesser-known wives of Queen of King Henry VIII, it is such a delight to read that Kateryn is a strong, able woman. She is a survivalist and a scholar.
The two stars I docked off was because the book should’ve been a lot shorter, and the narrative did struggle a lot in delving the religion during that period.
Not my favorite from the series but definitely an interesting read!
Full review here: http://www.itsareadlief.com/book-review/historical-fiction/the-taming-of-the-queen
The two stars I docked off was because the book should’ve been a lot shorter, and the narrative did struggle a lot in delving the religion during that period.
Not my favorite from the series but definitely an interesting read!
Full review here: http://www.itsareadlief.com/book-review/historical-fiction/the-taming-of-the-queen
Loved the perspective of the book, but overall it was not that great.
Wow, it took me a good while to finish this.
Whilst nothing really happened in parts, on the whole, I enjoyed it.
Full review to come.
Whilst nothing really happened in parts, on the whole, I enjoyed it.
Full review to come.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my least favorite of the series. it was like she felt obligated to do it but wasn't inspired.
"I believe that to be a free woman is to be both passionate and intelligent; and I am a free woman at last."
Disclaimer: I will reviewing this book as if it is a more of a fantasy book than a historical fiction book. I have seen a lot of discussion about whether or not Philippa Gregory's books are historically accurate, and I do think I am qualified be able to say whether or not this book is fully accurate to the history it is based on.
Characters, specifically Kateryn:
Kateryn was a very well rounded, and likable character, in my opinion, and I liked how the author didn't just make her this formidable, unbreakable woman. It was good to see a woman who isn't portrayed as either weak or strong. I feel like Kateryn showed that just because you can break, you aren't a weak person. Her character was one of the things that made this book so enjoyable because she had so many sides.
Conflict?:
The way Philippa Gregory portrays court was very interesting. She shows in the book that court is divided between the reformers of the church, and the papists. Henry VIII's strategy to stay in power was to pit everybody against each other, so that they would be too busy fighting themselves to try to turn on him. This lead to a court where papists would rise and the reformers would be in danger, and then the next day reformers would be on the rise and papists would be in danger. Kateryn would always have to play her cards right in order to stay alive and to push the reform of the church.
Even though the readers know that Kateryn will live, due the fact that we know the history, Gregory manages to keep the readers in suspense over what is going to happen to Kateryn and her ladies. While many people know Kateryn outlived Henry VIII not many people know what happens to her ladies, so most of the suspense lies there. The author does a good job making you care about Kateryn's friends, so even though many of the bad things that happen in this book happen to Kateryn's ladies, it still is suspenseful.
Trigger warning:
There is a scene in this book where Kateryn is whipped and forced against her will to perform sexual acts for the king's pleasure, so if that is trigger for you I would not recommend this book to you. While they do not go into extreme detail, the aftermath of the event is difficult to read about in my opinion.
While I am still talking about that scene, I want to say that I feel like it is a major turning point in the book. Previous to that scene Kateryn knew that she was in danger, but I don't think she realized exactly how much danger she was in. I think once that happened to her she finally realized that she was on super thin ice with the king and she needed to be ten times more careful if she wanted to live.
Overall I believe that this was a very good book and there wasn't much that I disliked about it. If you are a lover of historical fiction I would recommend this book to you.
Also, I haven't written many reviews so I am very sorry if it feels like it is all over the place :)
Disclaimer: I will reviewing this book as if it is a more of a fantasy book than a historical fiction book. I have seen a lot of discussion about whether or not Philippa Gregory's books are historically accurate, and I do think I am qualified be able to say whether or not this book is fully accurate to the history it is based on.
Characters, specifically Kateryn:
Kateryn was a very well rounded, and likable character, in my opinion, and I liked how the author didn't just make her this formidable, unbreakable woman. It was good to see a woman who isn't portrayed as either weak or strong. I feel like Kateryn showed that just because you can break, you aren't a weak person. Her character was one of the things that made this book so enjoyable because she had so many sides.
Conflict?:
The way Philippa Gregory portrays court was very interesting. She shows in the book that court is divided between the reformers of the church, and the papists. Henry VIII's strategy to stay in power was to pit everybody against each other, so that they would be too busy fighting themselves to try to turn on him. This lead to a court where papists would rise and the reformers would be in danger, and then the next day reformers would be on the rise and papists would be in danger. Kateryn would always have to play her cards right in order to stay alive and to push the reform of the church.
Even though the readers know that Kateryn will live, due the fact that we know the history, Gregory manages to keep the readers in suspense over what is going to happen to Kateryn and her ladies. While many people know Kateryn outlived Henry VIII not many people know what happens to her ladies, so most of the suspense lies there. The author does a good job making you care about Kateryn's friends, so even though many of the bad things that happen in this book happen to Kateryn's ladies, it still is suspenseful.
Trigger warning:
There is a scene in this book where Kateryn is whipped and forced against her will to perform sexual acts for the king's pleasure, so if that is trigger for you I would not recommend this book to you. While they do not go into extreme detail, the aftermath of the event is difficult to read about in my opinion.
While I am still talking about that scene, I want to say that I feel like it is a major turning point in the book. Previous to that scene Kateryn knew that she was in danger, but I don't think she realized exactly how much danger she was in. I think once that happened to her she finally realized that she was on super thin ice with the king and she needed to be ten times more careful if she wanted to live.
Overall I believe that this was a very good book and there wasn't much that I disliked about it. If you are a lover of historical fiction I would recommend this book to you.
Also, I haven't written many reviews so I am very sorry if it feels like it is all over the place :)
Actual rating 3.5
Let's be honest here, I came for the pretty red-stained page edges and Catherine Parr nerd fangirling. I stayed for that and to lol "swive me". It's not a bad book and once I got into the flow of things I was caught up in the story, compelled to keep reading. Yet the characterisation and commentary- on women reading freely, studying, writing and discussing their faith- was as subtle as a brick. Moments that could have been poignant and lasting were swept away in drama and left me cold.
I enjoyed reading, but I wouldn't be compelled to revisit the book.
Let's be honest here, I came for the pretty red-stained page edges and Catherine Parr nerd fangirling. I stayed for that and to lol "swive me". It's not a bad book and once I got into the flow of things I was caught up in the story, compelled to keep reading. Yet the characterisation and commentary- on women reading freely, studying, writing and discussing their faith- was as subtle as a brick. Moments that could have been poignant and lasting were swept away in drama and left me cold.
I enjoyed reading, but I wouldn't be compelled to revisit the book.