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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredibly interesting story about a courageous woman. The pace of the book is slow, with lots of details and characters which at some parts makes it hard to read.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you read a historical novel written by a historian who is a renowned expert in the period of history covered by the novel, you do at least know that the history side of the novel will be as accurate as it can be. However there are some downsides as I found when reading Dan James’ first novel.
This book is obviously about Kathryn of Aragon who is portrayed almost as a saint given what she has to put up with (and also as a very clever lady who navigates her way to safety in almost impossible circumstances). Henry actually comes across as a decent husband for most of the book, eventually being led astray by his hunger for a male heir and his infatuation with Anne Boleyn. There is little alternative given to these two narratives - if you read Alison Weir’s history books you are presented with the facts (as best they are known) and can to a certain extent make up your own mind - but that isn’t really possible in this book.
The thing I liked the least about this book was its structure and language. Obviously the plot itself was written 500 years ago, but it often feels like the author has taken a fact from a history book, embellished it a little so it reads like fiction and then slotted it into the novel, before moving on to the next one. This means many chapters don’t really flow - and in fact some of the jumps from one paragraph to the next (albeit separated by a blank line to give you some warning a change is coming) are really quite jarring. One minute somebody is talking to the Queen, and the next minute she is receiving the news they are dead.
However the book is generally very easy to read - I don’t usually read books that are 600 pages long, but I got through this one very quickly. And by the end, I did want to read the next one, just so I could read about Anne Boleyn getting her comeuppance.
This has been one of my favorite books I have read so far this past couple years since covid. I loved Katherine’s journey to England, how Arthur’s death and her family issues back in Spain influenced her respect from the English royal family and to her new betrothal towards Henry. The suffering Katherine went through during each miscarriage, stillborn, and infant death kept me tearing up and praying the next one would live. Henry’s infidelity towards the end of the book justifies Katherine’s actions to keep him as she was deathly In love and she paid the price for her loyalty. How I loved this book and sympathize with her during it all. A true joy and well done book.