A review by ohmygodlinda
Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey by Nicola Tallis

challenging medium-paced

3.0

This is an incredibly well-researched deep dive into Jane Grey. I've always been fascinated by her as a historical figure, but it wasn't until reading this book that I felt I knew any of her dimension, and Tallis has done a tremendous job using primary sources to give color and substance to the paper cut out of a martyred, innocent girl. She's smarter, stronger, and as more agency than we give her credit for in popular culture, and it's a delight and a revelation to learn more about her. My star rating is driven by the fact that while the scholarship is on point, the writing itself isn't as strong, and even as someone who loves historical biography, I put this book down for a long time in the middle before returning to it. (That said, the last chapter did make me cry, so really I'm a clown.)
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