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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This is the story of three women in the Tudor court: Jane Boleyn, Anne of Cleves, and Katherine Howard. Told through each of their perspectives, we see the rise and fall of two more wives of Henry VIII. At this point, Henry VIII is no longer a handsome young prince. He is an aging man with a stinking, festering wound on his leg. He is no longer strong, but limps around on his good leg. Nevertheless, he insists to be treated as he always was--as the most handsome and strongest man in the room. Although nearing 50, he behaves as a spoiled child. This is not only unbecoming in a man, but is it dangerous in a king. This, coupled with his constant paranoia and suspicion, lead to a very dangerous tyrant. Circling in his court are Jane, Anne, and Katherine. Jane is a lady in waiting, as she had been for the last three queens of King Henry. Now she is the lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves, as she is brought from the Netherlands to be the bride of King Henry. These women struggle not only to maintain their place, but also to keep their heads. Literally.
We have been introduced to Jane Boleyn--the wife of George Boleyn--in The Other Boleyn Girl. In The Boleyn Inheritance we see things from her own perspective. Were the Boleyn sibling wrong about her? Or is she simply mad? Anne is a sweet and innocent girl who only wants to be the best Queen she can be. This, however, is difficult after accidentally offending the King. Will she be cast aside? Will she escape with her life? Kitty Howard is the youngest of the three, a frivolous maid in waiting to Anne. She is quite beautiful, however naive, and catches the eye of the king. However, is this a blessing or a curse?
I enjoyed this book. For the most part, it was less salacious than is predecessor, and I appreciated that. I also liked how the story was told through each woman's point of view. The other Gregory books I have read have been told solely through one POV, so I liked that here she shook things up a bit. This also worked very well for this particular story because it allowed you to not only see the inner workings of each character's mind, but you could also see how they appeared to the other women. For example, Jane thinks she is always doing the right thing. But, as some question, is she really trustworthy? I thought this book was really good, but I took a star away for the unnecessarily graphic sex scene and sexuality in the last third of the book. It had been really good up until then.
We have been introduced to Jane Boleyn--the wife of George Boleyn--in The Other Boleyn Girl. In The Boleyn Inheritance we see things from her own perspective. Were the Boleyn sibling wrong about her? Or is she simply mad? Anne is a sweet and innocent girl who only wants to be the best Queen she can be. This, however, is difficult after accidentally offending the King. Will she be cast aside? Will she escape with her life? Kitty Howard is the youngest of the three, a frivolous maid in waiting to Anne. She is quite beautiful, however naive, and catches the eye of the king. However, is this a blessing or a curse?
I enjoyed this book. For the most part, it was less salacious than is predecessor, and I appreciated that. I also liked how the story was told through each woman's point of view. The other Gregory books I have read have been told solely through one POV, so I liked that here she shook things up a bit. This also worked very well for this particular story because it allowed you to not only see the inner workings of each character's mind, but you could also see how they appeared to the other women. For example, Jane thinks she is always doing the right thing. But, as some question, is she really trustworthy? I thought this book was really good, but I took a star away for the unnecessarily graphic sex scene and sexuality in the last third of the book. It had been really good up until then.
Every time I read a book set in Henry VIII’s Court I despise him a little bit more; a tyrant, a paedophile (I know things were different back then but factually true considering Katherine Howard’s age), a megalomaniac, an absolute grade A arsehole. I liked the book, I thought the alternating chapters really worked and accelerated the story. I felt sorry for Anne of Cleves in particular. Anyway I’ll stop here because the whole thing makes me angry. Anyone who can sentence someone to be burned alive is evil, I don’t care which imaginary friend told you it was right.
Pretty good book. Told me lots about Anne of Cleves and Anne Howard that I didn't know. Of course, then you read the end of the book and the author says that they don't really know a lot about either queen, so a lot is supposition. Still, good read.
I LOVED the Other Boleyn Girl and was excited to read this book. It held my interest and was the escape I needed over Thanksgiving. It tells the story of Jane Boleyn (evil!), Anne of Cleves, and Katherine Howard. I would totally recommend this to someone who enjoyed her other books.
I'm not sure what it is about this series, but I always start off not really liking the book very much and by the end of it I can't put it down.... I'm hooked and can't wait to read the next drama filled book. I do have to say that I was not a fan of Kitty Howard. I know she was young, but half the time it was her "chapter" I found myself annoyed by her.
More Henry VIII. However, this focuses on the little-covered wives, Anne of Cleaves and Katherine Howard.
I'm always intrigued by historical fiction and Anne if Cleves and Katherine Howard are probably the 2 wives of Henry VIII that we hear the least about so this made an intriguing story.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
I truly enjoyed this book, which is my first read in her Tudor series. Her writing is flawless. It's filled with humor and intrigue. Plus, books with fiction intertwined with a history lesson is always an interesting read. I can't wait to read her other books!
I really enjoyed this book ... just as I loved The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory definitely exaggerates some characters and fills in some dead air but this time period is genuinely interesting and a great amount of fact is present in the book. I have officially decided to read all of her books on the Tudors.