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gooberdawn's review against another edition
5.0
I love all of Jean Plaidy's books I have read up to this point. I feel she brings historical characters to life and makes you feel as though these could be anyone or that any person could go through the same pitfalls and triumphs as the historical figures featured in each book. Worth reading.
claws13's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Even though I have read this story about 15 different times by 15 different authors. This one felt more real.
banjo_bunny's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
vampar's review against another edition
3.0
Another look at the troubled life of Katherine of Aragon. Plaidy breaks up the story of Katherine into three books and this one focuses on the period of betrothal, doomed marriage, and endless forgotten waiting the young woman was subjected to. To pad the story, she focuses on the trials of Katherine's family, specifically her father Ferdinand and sister Juana, the "mad" queen. While this is all interesting and relevant to what happened to Katherine, it was an unexpected detour in the story for me. There are other side stories regarding some of Katherine's household members and reveal the motives behind their actions. Again, while interesting it was unexpected. For me these side stories made me impatient to get back to Katherine. It makes me reluctant to continue on with the trilogy despite the quality of the writing and my interest in the topic.
novellenovels's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dianthalikesyellow's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fine read for any fan of period dramas. The characters are well-built and interesting. This review is written after my third read, so it's definitely interesting enough to reread.
What throws me off a little in this book is the large part about Juana, Katherine's sister in Spain. I admit that the story of Katherine is a bit boring in its lack of events. But I was hoping to read more about the relationship with her maids, a more in-depth narration of the fears and delights Katherine must have felt in isolation.
Instead, Jean Plaidy made the choice to spend a good number of pages on Juana. I like the story of Juana and it would be a wonderful story about mental illness and coping with loss in itself.
As a side story (which is at the same time more eventful than the main story of the book) it only adds to the lingering opinion that by spreading the focus, the novel didn't manage to *really* intrigue in either of its two main storylines. Missed opportunity.
What throws me off a little in this book is the large part about Juana, Katherine's sister in Spain. I admit that the story of Katherine is a bit boring in its lack of events. But I was hoping to read more about the relationship with her maids, a more in-depth narration of the fears and delights Katherine must have felt in isolation.
Instead, Jean Plaidy made the choice to spend a good number of pages on Juana. I like the story of Juana and it would be a wonderful story about mental illness and coping with loss in itself.
As a side story (which is at the same time more eventful than the main story of the book) it only adds to the lingering opinion that by spreading the focus, the novel didn't manage to *really* intrigue in either of its two main storylines. Missed opportunity.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
5.0
Review - Possibly the best novel I've ever read on Katherine of Aragon, particularly on her early life, before her marriage to Henry VIII. I loved the focus on her domestic situation and relations with her ladies and the various Spanish ambassadors. It's a clever mix of politics and domestic matters that all intertwine together. If there was anything that would get me interested in the actual history of Katherine of Aragon, this would be it, as this early period is what made her into the amazing queen she was.
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Katherine of Aragon / Maria de Salinas / Henry VII / Henry VIII / Prince Arthur Tudor / Elizabeth of York / Princess Mary / Princess Margaret / Isabella I of Castile / Ferdinand II of Aragon / Philip of Burgundy / Juana the Mad
Setting? - London (England) & Ludlow (Wales)
Series? - Tudor #2
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 19/20
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Katherine of Aragon / Maria de Salinas / Henry VII / Henry VIII / Prince Arthur Tudor / Elizabeth of York / Princess Mary / Princess Margaret / Isabella I of Castile / Ferdinand II of Aragon / Philip of Burgundy / Juana the Mad
Setting? - London (England) & Ludlow (Wales)
Series? - Tudor #2
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 19/20
june1832's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mkundert104's review
1.0
I am so disappointed in this book. I read Jean Plaidy quite frequently in high school and was excited to read a book of hers I had yet to read. Unfortunately, everything about this book was choppy. The scene to scene transitions were as smooth as tree bark, an awful cherry on top to the novel's bizarre abrupt pacing. The narration style was annoying, conveying little emotion, and jumping from character to character awkwardly. There is no reason I need to know the thoughts of every single character in a single scene. I did not finish this book because 51 pages in, I could no longer take it.
bibliobethreads's review
This is the second in jean plaidys Tudor series and a very enjoyable read, although i am a little confused over why plaidy focused on her plainness so much, wasn't she supposed to have been beautiful?