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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Oof! King Henry VIII makes me so mad! Still enjoying this series telling English royal history through the POV of women.
3.5 There was a lot of repetition of how great the Plantagents were, how noble and royal and good. I'm still glad I read this - the last of the Cousins' War series. I'm compelled now to find biographies of all the major players. And, I do have Acroyd's Tudors, so I think I'll read that next :-)
I really enjoyed reading this book, even though there were spots where I thought it got a little slow. This is not my favorite of the series but I think it is a good alternate view on what was going on during the time of the New Learning and Henry VIII turmoil over not having a male heir. Overall, I think it was a good read but not as great as some of her other novels, all of which I have enjoyed immensely.
For fans of her work, this was another sprawling read. Informative and immersive this was an enjoyable read for those who are into the subject matter.
Rounded up from like… 3.75 stars for me. I felt it was overall a bit long. But Margaret Plantagenet had a long life so I guess that tracks! Her story and life are incredibly tragic and it was so heartbreaking to watch every good thing she had in her life torn away from her. I wonder if her relationship with Mary Tudor was as strong in real life as it was depicted here. This book really spells out just how terrible Henry VIII was to everyone around him, not just his wives.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you are a fan of history, the Tudor era, of Phillipa Gregory you should read this book. It is more than just a story of this one lady and her family, it is the story of tyranny, power, and the need, the ever present need, for someone to stand up and speak out. Never be trampled on, never let your voice be silenced. Reading this book i am reminded of the horrors of Henry’s reign and throughout the poem “The Hangman” by Maurice Ogden kept springing into mind. That poem is a must read for anyone anywhere, and you may have read it in school. Give it a reread.
The King’s Curse tells the story of Margaret Pole, who was the daughter of George, Duke of Clarence and brother of Edward IV. Despite being married off into oblivion, she becomes a trusted advisor to Henry VII and his wife (her cousin), Elizabeth. She becomes close friends with Katherine of Aragon, who is married to Arthur, heir to the throne of England, and promises to help her become Queen of England after Arthur’s untimely death. What enfolds next is the story of Henry VIII, a time period well explored by Philippa Gregory, from the eyes of Margaret Pole. This was a fascinating read that made me want to go back and reread many of Gregory’s other books, starting with The Constant Princess.
I'm kind of sitting on the fence about the King's curse. I did enjoy it, but I didn't really care about any of the main characters.
This book was at least three times as long as it needed to be, and situating the narrator so far from the action of the book was a really weird choice. I still think Gregory is a compelling writer, but this book was a huge misstep in my eyes.