jmatkinson1's review against another edition
3.0
The story of Lady Jane Grey, Queen for 9 days, is well-known. In this fictionalised account of her final months Dunn has as her narrator Elizabeth Tilney, lady-in-waiting/companion to Jane. Tilney is a real character, she accompanied Jane to the scaffold, but Dunn models her character and uses her to explore the politics of Jane's execution as well as create a story for Tilney that explores the life of a Tudor woman.
Unfortunately this book is neither a fictionalised account of Jane Grey nor a successful story about a tudor woman - the two get tangled together. Leanna de Lisle biography of Jane and her sisters ('The sisters who would be queen') is a great biography. Whilst perfectly pleasant I didn't really bond with this book as much as I would have liked.
Unfortunately this book is neither a fictionalised account of Jane Grey nor a successful story about a tudor woman - the two get tangled together. Leanna de Lisle biography of Jane and her sisters ('The sisters who would be queen') is a great biography. Whilst perfectly pleasant I didn't really bond with this book as much as I would have liked.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Review - A very interesting book about Jane's time in the Tower. Not a lot is known of the time when Jane was imprisoned after her nine days reign. There is little surviving evidence, not even the names of her attendants. This seems a very plausible explanation of what happened in those missing months, although I did feel like the end was a little rushed. I also liked the addition of real people like John Feckenham, who was sent to try and get Jane to recant her Protestantism, and who are often overlooked.
Genre - Historical / Drama
Characters - Lady Jane Grey / Elizabeth Tilney / Guildford Dudley / Mrs Partridge / Mr Partridge / Goose / William / Harry
Setting - Tower of London (England)
Series - N/A
Recommend - Yes
Rating - 17/20
Genre - Historical / Drama
Characters - Lady Jane Grey / Elizabeth Tilney / Guildford Dudley / Mrs Partridge / Mr Partridge / Goose / William / Harry
Setting - Tower of London (England)
Series - N/A
Recommend - Yes
Rating - 17/20
maddieden's review against another edition
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
1.0
verityw's review against another edition
2.0
***Copy from NetGalley in return for a (Belated) review****
This was fine, but it wasn't really my thing. I liked the premise, but it just didn't grab me in the execution. But I am struggling with Tudor-y set novels at the moment, so it may just be me.
This was fine, but it wasn't really my thing. I liked the premise, but it just didn't grab me in the execution. But I am struggling with Tudor-y set novels at the moment, so it may just be me.
librarianmel's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for Tudor novels, while this book doesn't concern itself with any of the court intrigues which are usually my bread-and-butter, I still really enjoyed it.
It begins with Mary Tudor returning to England to take the crown after the death of her half-brother, however, her brother "willed" the crown to his Protestant cousin, Jane Grey. The opening scene of the book is Jane and her husband being placed in custody, awaiting Mary's return to London and ends with the inevitable beheadings.
The plot is driven by the experiences of her sole maid, Elizabeth, who uses Jane's imprisonment as a way out of her house and a relationship with an older man which we find out through the book had started to turn bad. I really enjoyed this tack, but I wish it contained some sort of epilogue. The book ends with Elizabeth, covered in Jane's blood and in shock, being given a ring, being told not to return to the rooms she and Jane had lived in for the past months, and being told to say the Dudleys had given her passage.
It begins with Mary Tudor returning to England to take the crown after the death of her half-brother, however, her brother "willed" the crown to his Protestant cousin, Jane Grey. The opening scene of the book is Jane and her husband being placed in custody, awaiting Mary's return to London and ends with the inevitable beheadings.
The plot is driven by the experiences of her sole maid, Elizabeth, who uses Jane's imprisonment as a way out of her house and a relationship with an older man which we find out through the book had started to turn bad. I really enjoyed this tack, but I wish it contained some sort of epilogue. The book ends with Elizabeth, covered in Jane's blood and in shock, being given a ring, being told not to return to the rooms she and Jane had lived in for the past months, and being told to say the Dudleys had given her passage.
whatvictoriaread's review against another edition
2.0
This didn't capture me as much as the other Dunn books I've read but it was well written and an interesting look at a section of our history that I don't know much about.
miss_macnaughton's review against another edition
2.0
The modern, 21st century narrating really made it hard for me to imagine the 16th century events. Didn't like the main character at all. I didn't dislike her either. She was just...there. Considering what the book is about, I thought it would be focusing more on actual historical figures and events, but it was actually just the inside of an insanely monotonous character's mind. The narrating really was awful - so repetitive.
ladyonequestion's review against another edition
2.0
Deeply turned off by the modern colloquial language the characters speak. For a historical novel it didn't give much of a flavour of the period, perhaps as it was mainly set in one room. Having read a few historical books about Jane, I thought this book missed out showing her passionate side. The narrator doesn't ever seem to understand her so the reader doesn't get an insight into her character either. The political events are skimmed over in favour of an unnecessary subplot with the narrator and an affair she had previously. It seemed muddled which was a pity as it had potential.
historynerd04's review against another edition
1.0
At just over 70 pages in, I'm calling it...This is my first DNF of the year because life's too short to read frustrating books.
I had high hopes for this title, too, so that makes it even tougher to throw in the towel. As other commenters have mentioned, the anachronistic speech just pushed me over the edge. Plus, the main characters just seemed so vapid. Sad to say when at least one of the main characters is based on a real life historical figure.
Doubtful that I'll pick this up again at a later date.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads First Reads program.**
I had high hopes for this title, too, so that makes it even tougher to throw in the towel. As other commenters have mentioned, the anachronistic speech just pushed me over the edge. Plus, the main characters just seemed so vapid. Sad to say when at least one of the main characters is based on a real life historical figure.
Doubtful that I'll pick this up again at a later date.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads First Reads program.**
amylikestoread's review against another edition
1.0
I DNF'ed this at around 1/3 of the way through. I couldn't get into the writing style and didn't like the protagonist. I struggled with Dunn's Katherine Howard book too and I don't think I was able to finish either of them.