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A review by kdowli01
The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the third in the Tudor Rose series, and my favorite! This tells the story of Mary I, the first daughter of Henry VIII and the queen who eventually became known as "Bloody Mary". She was also the first woman to successfully claim the English throne, an impressive feat that I think is often overlooked given the rest of her legacy.
*
I've read a ton of nonfiction and historical fiction about the Tudor era, so I went into this knowing a lot about Mary I, but still felt like I got a new perspective of her life. This does a great job of showing how the tumult throughout her life could have affected her, and led to her making the decisions she made.
*
I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the persecution of Protestants, she's responsible for a lot of deaths but it felt like a very minor part of the story.
*
All that said, I very much enjoyed reading this! If you're into this time period, I would definitely recommend reading (although be warned - it is long and very detailed, I think it could be boring if you're not really excited about it). This is part of a series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.
*
I've read a ton of nonfiction and historical fiction about the Tudor era, so I went into this knowing a lot about Mary I, but still felt like I got a new perspective of her life. This does a great job of showing how the tumult throughout her life could have affected her, and led to her making the decisions she made.
*
I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the persecution of Protestants, she's responsible for a lot of deaths but it felt like a very minor part of the story.
*
All that said, I very much enjoyed reading this! If you're into this time period, I would definitely recommend reading (although be warned - it is long and very detailed, I think it could be boring if you're not really excited about it). This is part of a series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.