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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Honestly I really enjoyed this book and was very much drawn to Kathryn Parr. This was my first Philippa Gregory novel that I have read but I will definitely be purchasing more. If anyone has any books regarding the Tudors that they would recommend to me I would be very grateful!
I stuck with this book but I'm not sure it was worth it. I found the main focus (religious reform) to be less interesting than the dynamic between Kateryn Parr and King Henry VIII/his court, but the book was told from Kateryn's point of view and she was excluded from Henry and his advisors for much of the book. I also found the ending to be disappointing: all the build-up to King Henry's death and how Kateryn was named regent and it was wrapped up in a few pages with no real mention of what events happened after Henry's death, of what happened after she was no longer queen. Not my favourite Philippa Gregory book.
I didn't find this one as interesting as previous ones in the series. It was much more focused on the religious arguments of the time rather than the actual people involved. This was a little dry for my reading taste.
4.5 stars - this was incredible! I knew nothing about Katherine Parr before reading this, and that is a travesty. She was such a bright, thoughtful, cunning woman who fought for what she believed in. She was the first woman to publish in English! I'm so glad to be back on the Philippa Gregory train.
I loved this portrayal of Katherine Parr, who is considered to be one of Henry's smartest wives as she was able to outlive him! The book plays on a couple different historical myths, including the one that Katherine was in love with Thomas Seymour. This was probably the case, as she married him right after King Henry died, and I love how Gregory played it into the book! She was also a smart woman, who was allowed to study and debate theology! This is something that was rare back then, and I love how she was portrayed as an inspiration to women back then! I highly recommend this piece of historical fiction as it will teach you about the reform of the church during the end of Henry's reign, as well as the different perspectives and beliefs!
An interesting point of view with the last of Henry VIII’s wives telling the story of his final years. His mercurial temper and easily swayed opinions were not surprising but Parr’s spiritual dedication and quick thinking were revealing; I appreciate the attention given to this often-overlooked shrewd woman who many think was simply lucky to outlive her husband.
Unlike the faster-paced, intriguing details filling Gregory’s other novels, this one was a bit bogged with unrelenting uncertainty around the king & his Catholic henchmen + the melodrama of her forbidden love, Thomas Seymour.
Unlike the faster-paced, intriguing details filling Gregory’s other novels, this one was a bit bogged with unrelenting uncertainty around the king & his Catholic henchmen + the melodrama of her forbidden love, Thomas Seymour.
This was awesome! I'd never read a Philippa Gregory book before this one, but based on my experience reading The Taming of the Queen, I will definitely be reading more of her work.
Potentially this could've been quite a boring book, since, for me at least, the religious reforms of the period don't make for compelling reading and don't tend to pique my interest. However there is so much more at play here in terms of relationship dynamics, betrayals, exchanges of power and character development that it actually makes an incredibly compelling read. It got me out of what had been a very long reading slump, it's written beautifully and is very well-paced.
Potentially this could've been quite a boring book, since, for me at least, the religious reforms of the period don't make for compelling reading and don't tend to pique my interest. However there is so much more at play here in terms of relationship dynamics, betrayals, exchanges of power and character development that it actually makes an incredibly compelling read. It got me out of what had been a very long reading slump, it's written beautifully and is very well-paced.
It was mostly boring.
I was expecting the book to go into details about how the king died (but maybe we don't know that, I am not super into Tudor history so I don't actually know myself), or what life looked like for the protagonist after the king died (short-lived, so maybe we don't really know that either). After reading more about the actual relationship between Thomas Seymour, I didn't really appreciate their harlequin-style love story particularly either.
I was expecting the book to go into details about how the king died (but maybe we don't know that, I am not super into Tudor history so I don't actually know myself), or what life looked like for the protagonist after the king died (short-lived, so maybe we don't really know that either). After reading more about the actual relationship between Thomas Seymour, I didn't really appreciate their harlequin-style love story particularly either.
A incredibly different book I have never really read or known about Katherine parr except for the fact she was the last queen that she had to beg for her life and that she married Thomas Seymour after and the business of what happened with queen Elizabeth.
So the chance to know more about her reign and with my favourite author telling me more I was intrigued to read the book and that did not fail it was simply amazing and spell binding from start to finish once you picked up you could not put down such a enjoyable read such as what I read !
Well done Philippa another great read !☺️
So the chance to know more about her reign and with my favourite author telling me more I was intrigued to read the book and that did not fail it was simply amazing and spell binding from start to finish once you picked up you could not put down such a enjoyable read such as what I read !
Well done Philippa another great read !☺️
Before reading this book I didn't know too much about Catherine Parr despite haven read a lot of books about the Tudors before. She is such a fascinating historical figure, I want to learn more about her after reading this book. The book really pulled me into the story, I love most of Gregory's books and this one is no exception. Parr lived through such an interesting time, between religious factions and a king at the end of his reign trying to control his kingdom. Parr was only married to the king for a few short years but those years give more than enough material for a fascinating story.