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shelfexplorer 's review for:
The Puritan Princess
by Miranda Malins
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Puritan Princess was such a pleasant surprise. Based on what little I knew of Oliver Cromwell, and the seriousness of the cover, I was expecting a rather rigid, dark story. In fact, Oliver Cromwell himself was merely a side character. Instead, led by our protagonist Frances Cromwell, we got a book bursting with life. This story was equal parts romance and tragedy, with a well researched historic foundation.
I gather Cromwell is a rather contentious figure. In The Puritan Princess we learn about him through the lens of his youngest daughter, which does paint him in a flattering light. I absolutely adored Frances, Mary, and much of the Cromwell family. If nothing else, the life of this family was certainly extraordinary. Despite the long chapters, I was completely engrossed by not only Frances' story, but also that of the political landscape at the time. Rather than being a focal point of the story, this was more of backdrop on Frances' life whilst she was more concerned with her own personal story.
We join Frances as she starts her pursuit for a husband, whilst her father's success is at its peak. She is headstrong and willful, but loyal to her family nonetheless. She dreams of marrying for love, but her family's newly established circumstances make her an ideal candidate for a political match instead.
This was a beautifully written, compelling read. I thoroughly enjoyed The Puritan Princess, and I will be reading Miranda Malins' other book about Frances' sister, Bridget, in the near future.
I gather Cromwell is a rather contentious figure. In The Puritan Princess we learn about him through the lens of his youngest daughter, which does paint him in a flattering light. I absolutely adored Frances, Mary, and much of the Cromwell family. If nothing else, the life of this family was certainly extraordinary. Despite the long chapters, I was completely engrossed by not only Frances' story, but also that of the political landscape at the time. Rather than being a focal point of the story, this was more of backdrop on Frances' life whilst she was more concerned with her own personal story.
We join Frances as she starts her pursuit for a husband, whilst her father's success is at its peak. She is headstrong and willful, but loyal to her family nonetheless. She dreams of marrying for love, but her family's newly established circumstances make her an ideal candidate for a political match instead.
This was a beautifully written, compelling read. I thoroughly enjoyed The Puritan Princess, and I will be reading Miranda Malins' other book about Frances' sister, Bridget, in the near future.