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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a really good time reading how disgusting, crazy, and awful Henry was because like yes the man is the problem!!
Not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl - I think multiple narrators threw Gregory off her game - but it was fun, in a horrific kind of way.
An interesting read. Not too much romance but a little more than I typically prefer.
I will probably read the rest of the series.
I will probably read the rest of the series.
I knew hardly anything about these two wives, but much like The Other Boleyn Girl I very much enjoyed this read. I understand that certain liberties were taken to make the story more dramatic and suspenseful. But much like other historical fiction I have read, I am going to read more non-fiction about Anne of Cleves as I find myself fascinated by her and her survival of Henry VIII.
2.5 (4.57 on CAWPILE)
I will admit that this one was probably the one I was least interested in from the series. The span of time covered was bound to be shorter and it centres on women that I am generally disinterested in in history. Therefore this book had quite the uphill battle. However, I did have quite a few issues with this book that I (thankfully) think were simply a question of me and this book being ill matched.
The plot of this story is essentially following England in the years that followed the fall of the Boleyns. Henry now has unrivalled power and even the pope cannot keep him in check. The queen is dead and any who displease him will soon follow. We are following three women tangled in the courts at that time. This story tried to show the mess of the Tudor Court at this time in history. Personally it was simply a messy book for the sake of being messy. I struggled to get invested in the story, made worse by knowing the outcome because... you know... history? We have Anne fearing for her life as though it is a tense moment, despite knowing she outlives him? The tension and logic were both lacking for me in this book but I can understand why it may be appealing to others as it does centre a lot more on the drama and the interpersonal relationships.
In this story we get three perspectives:
· Anne of Cleaves, germanic princess and bride to Henry to form an alliance. Henry not only finds her unattractive but the need for the marriage becomes obsolete so quickly that he is angered by being persuaded to go through with it. She spends most of the book transitioning between utter confusion, bewilderment at recurring behaviours and patterns, and occasionally internally trying to assert that she is a queen.
· Katherine Howard, niece to one of the most prominent men in England but as her father was impoverished she had a lax upbringing. This leads to a promiscuous past and a lack of education. She is lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleaves, cousin to Anne Boleyn and eventual lover of Henry. When he successfully divorces Anne he proceeds to marry Katherine. Katherine spends the whole book reiterating how stupid she is while also boasting how attracted everyone is to her.
· Jane Boleyn (neé Parker), Viscountess Rochford. Widow of George Boleyn and sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn, cousin to Katherine Howard and court gossip. Having managed to survive the Boleyn downfall but with barely a penny Jane returns to court to wait on Anne when she becomes queen. Jane later serves Katherine when she becomes queen and facilitates Katherine's affairs. Jane spends the whole book reminding herself to not let the same fate as the Boleyns received happen to her, while simultaneously committing treason.
As I have previously said this book was not the most logical and I really struggled to care because I was too busy trying to suspend my disbelief.
This book did offer some progression of the series which I found the previous book lacked as it did set the stage of the next book and Jane's character seemed in keeping with the previous book, as did Henry's.
This book once again was a story where Gregory clearly had a frame of narrative she wanted to put forward and therefore had to alter or exaggerate historical events. I didn't mind it in this book so much as it seemed less glaring than in the previous book.
Overall this book along with The Other Boleyn Girl is set to be the most accessible book. With drama and court intrigue and easily read prose. Though it didn't work for me personally as it is not what I'm looking for, I can completely understand why others would adore this book.
I will admit that this one was probably the one I was least interested in from the series. The span of time covered was bound to be shorter and it centres on women that I am generally disinterested in in history. Therefore this book had quite the uphill battle. However, I did have quite a few issues with this book that I (thankfully) think were simply a question of me and this book being ill matched.
The plot of this story is essentially following England in the years that followed the fall of the Boleyns. Henry now has unrivalled power and even the pope cannot keep him in check. The queen is dead and any who displease him will soon follow. We are following three women tangled in the courts at that time. This story tried to show the mess of the Tudor Court at this time in history. Personally it was simply a messy book for the sake of being messy. I struggled to get invested in the story, made worse by knowing the outcome because... you know... history? We have Anne fearing for her life as though it is a tense moment, despite knowing she outlives him? The tension and logic were both lacking for me in this book but I can understand why it may be appealing to others as it does centre a lot more on the drama and the interpersonal relationships.
In this story we get three perspectives:
· Anne of Cleaves, germanic princess and bride to Henry to form an alliance. Henry not only finds her unattractive but the need for the marriage becomes obsolete so quickly that he is angered by being persuaded to go through with it. She spends most of the book transitioning between utter confusion, bewilderment at recurring behaviours and patterns, and occasionally internally trying to assert that she is a queen.
· Katherine Howard, niece to one of the most prominent men in England but as her father was impoverished she had a lax upbringing. This leads to a promiscuous past and a lack of education. She is lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleaves, cousin to Anne Boleyn and eventual lover of Henry. When he successfully divorces Anne he proceeds to marry Katherine. Katherine spends the whole book reiterating how stupid she is while also boasting how attracted everyone is to her.
· Jane Boleyn (neé Parker), Viscountess Rochford. Widow of George Boleyn and sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn, cousin to Katherine Howard and court gossip. Having managed to survive the Boleyn downfall but with barely a penny Jane returns to court to wait on Anne when she becomes queen. Jane later serves Katherine when she becomes queen and facilitates Katherine's affairs. Jane spends the whole book reminding herself to not let the same fate as the Boleyns received happen to her, while simultaneously committing treason.
As I have previously said this book was not the most logical and I really struggled to care because I was too busy trying to suspend my disbelief.
This book did offer some progression of the series which I found the previous book lacked as it did set the stage of the next book and Jane's character seemed in keeping with the previous book, as did Henry's.
This book once again was a story where Gregory clearly had a frame of narrative she wanted to put forward and therefore had to alter or exaggerate historical events. I didn't mind it in this book so much as it seemed less glaring than in the previous book.
Overall this book along with The Other Boleyn Girl is set to be the most accessible book. With drama and court intrigue and easily read prose. Though it didn't work for me personally as it is not what I'm looking for, I can completely understand why others would adore this book.
Combining the taut gender politics and international alliance market with the tempestuous Tudor, and the tight line women would have to walk, Philippa Gregory pens a convincing portrayal of the short-lived Queen of England. No woman more than Anne of Cleves came out on top of a tyrant like Henry VIII. The King's sister, gifted with Hever and outliving everyone else is the incredible basis for this novel. A woman tainted by 'the Flanders Mare' Henrician propaganda is the perfect voice for women in many different status'- proving that women were treated in the same 'quiet, humble and penitent' way, no matter your status or title. Anne, the woman that you are, i just wish you were allowed home.
I did not like this book nearly as much as I liked the Other Boleyn Girl. I would have probably preferred it if the whole book was about Anne. The other two characters were pretty unlikable. That said, Philippa Gregory wrote that period of Henry's life very well. I was stressed most of the book!