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katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I thought this would be a story of Jane Seymour's life both before and after meeting and marrying Henry VIII. There is only the tiniest snippet of Henry in this, the story is more about the footnote in history taken up with her brother Edward and his young wife Katherine Filliol.
Jane takes on most of the narration (indeed, it was a surprise when other voices suddenly appear), and unfortunately I found her a rather dull, dutiful and not at all sparky or even interesting young woman. I know history would also paint her this way, but it made it hard to listen (I read an audio version), when she doesn't pick up on subtle hints around her, never understanding what is going on.
Our young woman at Wolf Hall sees her favourite (and much revered, to the point of inanity) brother bring home a wife, a lively and incorrigible bride who dances to her own tune, and is promptly left alone by the husband eager to return to and climb the greasy Court pole with King Henry. The story follows their lives in the remote grand house, which actually does offer interesting snippets of Tudor life, but did also feel claustrophobic, as if all the interesting action is happening somewhere else (it probably is - where Anne Boleyn is making headway into the King's heart).
Eventually the plot takes off, when Katherine is accused by her husband of something shocking and scandalous, and Jane sees how wives can be treated. It is meant to mesh with the royal story here, of Henry throwing off his first wife for Anne Boleyn, but this feels rather tacked on and not at all a part of the story, as Jane goes to work for Catherine of Aragon when the Wolf Hall storyline dries up and her sister-in-law is dealt with, and she finally sees some history being made at Court.
This dragged a bit for me, Jane did not make an appealing heroine, and though there were glimpses of her future (she is telling the story from the time she is a queen-in-waiting), we never get to see the courting of her, the marriage, the short reign, which is what I had been waiting for.
Interesting for the forgotten story of Edward Seymour's first wife, but there are other historical writers who have brought out the drama and intrigue more, though Jane was never going to be the liveliest of narrators.
I thought this would be a story of Jane Seymour's life both before and after meeting and marrying Henry VIII. There is only the tiniest snippet of Henry in this, the story is more about the footnote in history taken up with her brother Edward and his young wife Katherine Filliol.
Jane takes on most of the narration (indeed, it was a surprise when other voices suddenly appear), and unfortunately I found her a rather dull, dutiful and not at all sparky or even interesting young woman. I know history would also paint her this way, but it made it hard to listen (I read an audio version), when she doesn't pick up on subtle hints around her, never understanding what is going on.
Our young woman at Wolf Hall sees her favourite (and much revered, to the point of inanity) brother bring home a wife, a lively and incorrigible bride who dances to her own tune, and is promptly left alone by the husband eager to return to and climb the greasy Court pole with King Henry. The story follows their lives in the remote grand house, which actually does offer interesting snippets of Tudor life, but did also feel claustrophobic, as if all the interesting action is happening somewhere else (it probably is - where Anne Boleyn is making headway into the King's heart).
Eventually the plot takes off, when Katherine is accused by her husband of something shocking and scandalous, and Jane sees how wives can be treated. It is meant to mesh with the royal story here, of Henry throwing off his first wife for Anne Boleyn, but this feels rather tacked on and not at all a part of the story, as Jane goes to work for Catherine of Aragon when the Wolf Hall storyline dries up and her sister-in-law is dealt with, and she finally sees some history being made at Court.
This dragged a bit for me, Jane did not make an appealing heroine, and though there were glimpses of her future (she is telling the story from the time she is a queen-in-waiting), we never get to see the courting of her, the marriage, the short reign, which is what I had been waiting for.
Interesting for the forgotten story of Edward Seymour's first wife, but there are other historical writers who have brought out the drama and intrigue more, though Jane was never going to be the liveliest of narrators.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Review - I don't always enjoy books by Suzannah Dunn, but her later books seem to have improved, as I really liked this one, and [b:The Lady of Misrule|25673947|The Lady of Misrule|Suzannah Dunn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435193222s/25673947.jpg|42208066]. I loved the idea of telling the story of Edward Seymour's first marriage to Katherine Filliol through the eyes of his younger sister, Jane. The title is clever as it refers to both the wedding of Edward and Katherine, and Jane Seymour and Henry VIII. It's an easy read and very engaging.
Genre? - Historical
Characters? - Jane Seymour / Edward Seymour / Katherine Filliol / Thomas Seymour / Margery Seymour / John Seymour / Elizabeth Seymour / Anne Stanhope / Henry VIII / Katherine of Aragon
Setting? - Wolf Hall & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 16/20
Genre? - Historical
Characters? - Jane Seymour / Edward Seymour / Katherine Filliol / Thomas Seymour / Margery Seymour / John Seymour / Elizabeth Seymour / Anne Stanhope / Henry VIII / Katherine of Aragon
Setting? - Wolf Hall & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 16/20
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Wolf Hall is really having its moment, isn't it? Ditto the Seymour family! This is supposed to be Jane's story, very much pre-her becoming King Henry VIII's wife, but really most of it is Jane's impressions of, and reacting to, her sister-in-law Katherine. The reality is the very little (virtually nothing) is known about Katherine, which gives the author a lot of room to play.
It's a pacing problem that cost this stars: if this were a longer book, the slow pacing would have been more appropriate, but as it is the ending is rushed while our getting to know Katherine and the life at Wolf Hall take too long to unfold. Because this is from Jane's point-of-view, there are things that happen that somewhat escape her but are critical to the story.
While I love historical fiction and nonfiction about this period, this isn't a book I'd necessarily recommend before works by Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir or Hilary Mantel.
ARC provided by publisher.
It's a pacing problem that cost this stars: if this were a longer book, the slow pacing would have been more appropriate, but as it is the ending is rushed while our getting to know Katherine and the life at Wolf Hall take too long to unfold. Because this is from Jane's point-of-view, there are things that happen that somewhat escape her but are critical to the story.
While I love historical fiction and nonfiction about this period, this isn't a book I'd necessarily recommend before works by Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir or Hilary Mantel.
ARC provided by publisher.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
2.0
Twice my life has turned on the step of a girl through a doorway; first when I was fifteen and my new, first-ever sister-in-law came walking into Wolf Hall.’
I thought, when I picked up this novel, that it would be about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII. A reasonable expectation, I thought, given that the tagline states ‘Marrying the King was Jane Seymour’s destiny and her revenge’. No, the novel is about Katherine Filiol’s marriage in May to Jane Seymour’s brother Edward when Jane was aged 15, and their subsequent friendship.
The story is told by Jane, and starts when Edward brings his bride Katherine home to Wolf Hall. Katherine is aged 21, and is a breath of fresh air to the Seymour household. Jane, the quiet dependable daughter, is captivated and the two become good friends. Katherine is left at Wolf Hall while Edward serves the King in France and then pursues his career at court. But then, after two sons are born, Edward makes shocking allegations against his wife and his father. Edward puts Katherine aside.
‘This is over now and the rest of your life can begin.’
Jane joins Catherine of Aragon’s household, and then sees Henry VIII put Catherine aside in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Then Anne herself is put aside, and on 30 May 1536, Jane becomes the May Bride of Henry VIII.
While the novel wasn’t what I was expecting and I enjoyed aspects of it, I wouldn’t have picked it up if I’d realised it wasn’t primarily about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII. We don’t know why Katherine Filiol was put aside by Edward Seymour. And although Ms Dunn’s take is interesting, Katherine Filiol is not the May Bride I really wanted to read about. If you enjoy fiction set in Tudor times, if you want a novel that deals with aspects of Jane Seymour’s life before she married Henry VIII, you may well enjoy this novel more than I did. But if you are looking for a novel about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII, this is not it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I thought, when I picked up this novel, that it would be about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII. A reasonable expectation, I thought, given that the tagline states ‘Marrying the King was Jane Seymour’s destiny and her revenge’. No, the novel is about Katherine Filiol’s marriage in May to Jane Seymour’s brother Edward when Jane was aged 15, and their subsequent friendship.
The story is told by Jane, and starts when Edward brings his bride Katherine home to Wolf Hall. Katherine is aged 21, and is a breath of fresh air to the Seymour household. Jane, the quiet dependable daughter, is captivated and the two become good friends. Katherine is left at Wolf Hall while Edward serves the King in France and then pursues his career at court. But then, after two sons are born, Edward makes shocking allegations against his wife and his father. Edward puts Katherine aside.
‘This is over now and the rest of your life can begin.’
Jane joins Catherine of Aragon’s household, and then sees Henry VIII put Catherine aside in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Then Anne herself is put aside, and on 30 May 1536, Jane becomes the May Bride of Henry VIII.
While the novel wasn’t what I was expecting and I enjoyed aspects of it, I wouldn’t have picked it up if I’d realised it wasn’t primarily about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII. We don’t know why Katherine Filiol was put aside by Edward Seymour. And although Ms Dunn’s take is interesting, Katherine Filiol is not the May Bride I really wanted to read about. If you enjoy fiction set in Tudor times, if you want a novel that deals with aspects of Jane Seymour’s life before she married Henry VIII, you may well enjoy this novel more than I did. But if you are looking for a novel about Jane Seymour’s marriage to Henry VIII, this is not it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
erin_moran87's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best Tudor novel I've read (and I've read a fair amount) but it is a quick and enjoyable read.
meli65's review against another edition
4.0
This was most enjoyable, especially because the story I was expecting to hear didn't take place until the very end. I want to read more of her books -- she has a "you are there" style that helps me imagine what it was like for a human being to live in those times (sleeping four to a bed in the king's palace!).
librarianmel's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book a fair amount, but found it clunky at times. It is told by Jane Seymour (future queen of England), when she's 15. Her eldest brother gets married and it's all about Jane's reaction to, and observances of others' reactions to, his new bride.
Things that bothered me:
-Jane is written like a hill-billy. Well, gosh, new bride sure is swell, if only I could be half as wonderful!
-The scandal that follows...(it's pretty juicy if you know your Tudor era history)...has been changed from what is commonly thought to be what happened. The only real evidence was a footnote on a document, so the author decided the footnote was a cover-up of a different person's involvement.
Things that bothered me:
-Jane is written like a hill-billy. Well, gosh, new bride sure is swell, if only I could be half as wonderful!
-The scandal that follows...(it's pretty juicy if you know your Tudor era history)...has been changed from what is commonly thought to be what happened. The only real evidence was a footnote on a document, so the author decided the footnote was a cover-up of a different person's involvement.
ksargent's review
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
indiepauli47's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 stars.
I guess I wasn't ready for historical fiction, I have tons but never read them. I don't know why, I'm so interested in history, and yet never pick the books I own.
So I tried with this one, and it just didn't work. It's basically the story of one family's scandal. And I was so bored. Soooo bored.
Wasn't for me, that's all.
I guess I wasn't ready for historical fiction, I have tons but never read them. I don't know why, I'm so interested in history, and yet never pick the books I own.
So I tried with this one, and it just didn't work. It's basically the story of one family's scandal. And I was so bored. Soooo bored.
Wasn't for me, that's all.
i_love_audiobooks's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure if this is a 3 or 4 stars... but as a night time listen I really enjoyed it, so I guess it's a 4. The audio narrator was EXCELLENT. I would recommend this book to someone who likes historical romance.