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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you enjoy Gregory's historical fiction I'm sure you'll like this one too. I always find myself doing lots of googling to separate fact from fiction. I enjoyed this one on Audible, I find that these long novels are perfect to listen to while knitting or doing stuff around the house.
The last of the 'Cousin's War' series from Philippa Gregory, The King's Curse tells the story of Margaret Pole one of the few remaining Plantagenets to survive Henry VII's conquest of the English throne. Over the course of 600 odd pages her fortune rises and falls according to the whim of an increasingly tyrannical Henry VIII against a backdrop of political and religious turmoil.
Well crikey it was a slog! I'm not really sure why I persisted with it to be honest, I suspect it was my ghoulish nature wanting to see out what I know from history to be a particularly sticky end (and that actually, was a disappointment).
Margaret Pole became incredibly irritating by about half way which I can only put down to Gregory's repetitive style and unnecessary exposition. Did we really need to hear Pole declare that she is a Plantagenet every 5 pages and that she is of royal blood? Was an editor even involved in the process of publishing this book I wonder? What was written could have been condensed by about half and would have encompassed everything that was necessary to tell the same tale.
Well crikey it was a slog! I'm not really sure why I persisted with it to be honest, I suspect it was my ghoulish nature wanting to see out what I know from history to be a particularly sticky end (and that actually, was a disappointment).
Margaret Pole became incredibly irritating by about half way which I can only put down to Gregory's repetitive style and unnecessary exposition. Did we really need to hear Pole declare that she is a Plantagenet every 5 pages and that she is of royal blood? Was an editor even involved in the process of publishing this book I wonder? What was written could have been condensed by about half and would have encompassed everything that was necessary to tell the same tale.
Good, but not that gripping and only really made me want to read on right at the end. Some interesting history that I didn't know before.
I really enjoy Gregory's versatility. She's always able to create convincing (and vastly different) characters from book to book, and I always find myself invested in them regardless of how likable I find them. Her vast historical knowledge serves her well as she is able to compellingly speculate at the contents of the lives of often overlooked (and therefore underrepresented in surviving documentation/narrative history) women. I love reading the Author's Note at the back as she'll often reveal what parts of her book are speculation, and what historical evidence she's extrapolated from to arrive at her narrative. I had completely forgotten the name Margaret Pole and the history that went along with it, so (without giving plot away) I was riveted until the very last page.
I am reading Philippa Gregory's books but I needed to read this one before watching The Spanish Princess on Starz. This is a horrible time in England's history so these books are not rainbows and unicorns. Henry VIII was a terrible human being. This book is about Margaret Pole who raised Henry VIII's brother to be a great king. Unfortunately Arthur died and Arthur was married to the Spanish Princess, Catharine of Aragon, who was raised to be the Queen of England. She then marries Henry VIII. I was very proud of myself for not looking up how Margaret Pole died so I would not spoil the ending of the book.
ARC provided by Touchstone
Philippa Gregory is one of my favourite authors. She successfully combines two of my favourite things: history and fiction. On second thought, three of my favourite things: history, fiction, and England. I’ve read and loved many of her books, but I must say my favourites have been in this series—The Cousins’ War. I was initially intrigued by her retelling of the famous mystery of the princes in the Tower. From there, I had to know about the life of those involved. I’ve found this series so captivating—even more so than her books about the Tudors.
Born with royal, Plantagenet blood in her veins, Margaret finds herself thrust into a shaky existence as the Tudors seize control of England. Her once precious lineage has now become a liability. Her father was beheaded, her uncles killed, her cousins murdered, and her brother, while still a child, was imprisoned in the Tower—all because of their name. The Tudors strip Margaret of her family’s land and name, hiding her in marriage to a lowly knight in Wales. Margaret must find a way for the Plantagenet’s to survive and remain true to their royal blood.
This, the final instalment of The Cousins’ War series, chronicles the life of Lady Margaret Pole. It is the connecting link between the Cousins’ War series and the Tudor series, as as it tells of Margaret’s roller coaster ride of favour and suspicion among the Tudor family’s court.
Gregory once again breathes life into long dead characters and fills in the parts the history books left out. She seamlessly weaves together fact and inference to create a believable and poignant tale of the life of Lady Margaret Pole. I really enjoyed this book and often found myself filled with hope for Margaret’s success. Although I knew how history treated the Plantagenets, I couldn’t help but root for them to succeed! While reading it I really felt like they could beat the odds, even though deep down I knew they didn’t. I hoped that they would win, the the king would restore the church, and that he would make Princess Mary his heir—and I was sad when things didn’t go as I wanted them to.
Philippa Gregory, who has been heralded as the queen of royal fiction, has created another hit! Loved it (but the White Queen is still my favourite).
Philippa Gregory is one of my favourite authors. She successfully combines two of my favourite things: history and fiction. On second thought, three of my favourite things: history, fiction, and England. I’ve read and loved many of her books, but I must say my favourites have been in this series—The Cousins’ War. I was initially intrigued by her retelling of the famous mystery of the princes in the Tower. From there, I had to know about the life of those involved. I’ve found this series so captivating—even more so than her books about the Tudors.
Born with royal, Plantagenet blood in her veins, Margaret finds herself thrust into a shaky existence as the Tudors seize control of England. Her once precious lineage has now become a liability. Her father was beheaded, her uncles killed, her cousins murdered, and her brother, while still a child, was imprisoned in the Tower—all because of their name. The Tudors strip Margaret of her family’s land and name, hiding her in marriage to a lowly knight in Wales. Margaret must find a way for the Plantagenet’s to survive and remain true to their royal blood.
This, the final instalment of The Cousins’ War series, chronicles the life of Lady Margaret Pole. It is the connecting link between the Cousins’ War series and the Tudor series, as as it tells of Margaret’s roller coaster ride of favour and suspicion among the Tudor family’s court.
Gregory once again breathes life into long dead characters and fills in the parts the history books left out. She seamlessly weaves together fact and inference to create a believable and poignant tale of the life of Lady Margaret Pole. I really enjoyed this book and often found myself filled with hope for Margaret’s success. Although I knew how history treated the Plantagenets, I couldn’t help but root for them to succeed! While reading it I really felt like they could beat the odds, even though deep down I knew they didn’t. I hoped that they would win, the the king would restore the church, and that he would make Princess Mary his heir—and I was sad when things didn’t go as I wanted them to.
Philippa Gregory, who has been heralded as the queen of royal fiction, has created another hit! Loved it (but the White Queen is still my favourite).
A bit of a drag at some points, but she covered a lot of history. Still, I gave up and skimmed the last couple of chapters since I already knew the history. If you do that, still read the last 2 pages.
Any book to do with Henry VIII and in fact that whole period just makes me really angry. I don't know why I continue to do this to myself! Nothing back then was fair but I still get mad when I think of all those innocent people who went to the scaffold, or to the block, or the fire, just because one man was having a tantrum. I know other monarchs sent people to their deaths but he seemed like the majority of it was because his ego was threatened. He is in my opinion what incels are like today; spoiled, little boys, having a tantrum because they've heard the word no.
I thought the story surrounding Margaret Pole was interesting. I actually didn't remember that she was executed and I spoiled myself before the end by reading the Author's Note before I finished the book. I then admonished myself for thinking of it as a spoiler given that it did happen 500 ish years ago and I really should have already known about it, not really a spoiler when I think about it.
I think I only have one more Philippa Gregory novel to go before I've read all of them so I really need to start branching out to other historical fiction writers. I really did enjoy this book despite the gnawing anger it provoked.
I thought the story surrounding Margaret Pole was interesting. I actually didn't remember that she was executed and I spoiled myself before the end by reading the Author's Note before I finished the book. I then admonished myself for thinking of it as a spoiler given that it did happen 500 ish years ago and I really should have already known about it, not really a spoiler when I think about it.
I think I only have one more Philippa Gregory novel to go before I've read all of them so I really need to start branching out to other historical fiction writers. I really did enjoy this book despite the gnawing anger it provoked.