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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An excellent book for a plane ride. Very good for what it is, historical fiction. Emphasis on the fiction.
This was a good story. Perhaps not as compelling a story as her other books, but gave a lot of information about two of Henry VIII's other wives, and the aftermath of Anne Bolyn's execution.
Its always hard to read a book in which you cant hope for a better ending. Well written and gives a kinder view of Katherine than history does. She was, after all, only sixteen.
On to a little fluff. I enjoy these books more than I like to admit...
This was pretty readable and interesting, in spite of already knowing how it was going to end. I was entertained and kept reading to see how Anne was going to keep her head.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The "voices" Gregory gives Anne of Cleves, "Kitty" Howard, and Jane Boleyn are so distinctly different, it's difficult to remember the same author was responsible for all. Definitely an enjoyable read, and certainly paints Katherine Howard as more of an ignorant ditz than a conniving tramp. Also illustrates just how grotesque Henry had become in his later years, due to his injuries and failing health. Fair? Maybe not, but that part at least was likely quite true.
4.5/5
I have to say this is my favourite book of the Tudor side of this series that I have read so far (The White Queen and the Kingmaker's Daughter will always be my favourite Plantagenet novels). I believe this is the first Philippa Gregory novel I have read that is split into more than one POV and I actually liked that because I felt that some of the other novels were too one-sided.
I took .5 away from my rating because of the repetition, which I'm now used to when I read Philippa Gregory. I put up with it for most of the novel, but by the end, "Now let me see, what do I have now?" got sooooo annoying. I also got sick of the characters calling her "Kitty"Howard, but then again, Gregory is also known for adding in the weird nicknames (anyone else remember Marianne and Annamaria? Ugh).
Speaking of Katherine Howard, I found her portrayal in this book to be very similar to how they portrayed her on the tv show The Tudors. She was annoying the hell out of me and was completely childhish (I don't know how accurate this is, but she's one of those characters you love to hate). On the show, I found her much bitchier, while in this book, she was more of a naive kind of annoying. In the end, I felt a little bad for her when she didn't understand that she was actually going to be executed.
I liked the character of Jane Boleyn, though. I liked how she was constantly wrestling with her betrayal of Anne and George throughout the entire novel. I also liked how she believed that the Duke of Norfolk was actually going to set up a match for her. To me, it was completely obvious that he was using her, but that chapter
I also really liked Anne of Cleves, although I found her chapters less interesting towards the second half of the book, when not much was going on for her. I think she was the most aware out of the three main characters and I liked how the book ended with her outliving the King.
Overall, it was a great read and I preferred it over The Other Boleyn Girl!
I have to say this is my favourite book of the Tudor side of this series that I have read so far (The White Queen and the Kingmaker's Daughter will always be my favourite Plantagenet novels). I believe this is the first Philippa Gregory novel I have read that is split into more than one POV and I actually liked that because I felt that some of the other novels were too one-sided.
I took .5 away from my rating because of the repetition, which I'm now used to when I read Philippa Gregory. I put up with it for most of the novel, but by the end, "Now let me see, what do I have now?" got sooooo annoying. I also got sick of the characters calling her "Kitty"Howard, but then again, Gregory is also known for adding in the weird nicknames (anyone else remember Marianne and Annamaria? Ugh).
Speaking of Katherine Howard, I found her portrayal in this book to be very similar to how they portrayed her on the tv show The Tudors. She was annoying the hell out of me and was completely childhish (I don't know how accurate this is, but she's one of those characters you love to hate). On the show, I found her much bitchier, while in this book, she was more of a naive kind of annoying. In the end, I felt a little bad for her when she didn't understand that she was actually going to be executed.
I liked the character of Jane Boleyn, though. I liked how she was constantly wrestling with her betrayal of Anne and George throughout the entire novel. I also liked how she believed that the Duke of Norfolk was actually going to set up a match for her. To me, it was completely obvious that he was using her, but that chapter
Spoiler
where he completely destroys her spirits and tells her the truth that her reputation is ruined was fantastic!I also really liked Anne of Cleves, although I found her chapters less interesting towards the second half of the book, when not much was going on for her. I think she was the most aware out of the three main characters and I liked how the book ended with her outliving the King.
Overall, it was a great read and I preferred it over The Other Boleyn Girl!