angelqueen04's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the similarity in structure that the book had to The Boleyn Inheritance, dancing between three characters' perspectives and how they saw the events of the book. I think Bess was my favorite, watching her struggle to deal with the expenses that Mary Stuart was incurring on their fortune, as well has having to watch her husband fall in love with the captive queen. It was sad, watching Bess and George talk, of her warning him about what Mary Stuart was doing to their fortunes, and yet he just never seemed to comprehend her.
George, I admit, was frustrating, with his snobbish belief in his and the other lords' divine right to advise Elizabeth over Cecil, but I suppose that's because of the differences in my own upbringing. And watching him fall into the web woven by Mary made me want to slap him to just get him to wake up and realize what was happening. He ultimately saw it anyway, but not until it was practically too late -- he was heavily in debt, to the point where he had to return his wife's fortune and properties that she had given him as her dowry, and he'd lost his wife's love and affections as well because of his behavior with Mary (even if they never took the ultimate step and had a physical relationship). Talk about destructive love.
Mary... Mary was pretty much how I always imagined her to be -- spoiled, entitled, clever, and yet completely unaware that she was playing with fire. Even when her allies were dying around her, put to death because of her refusal to admit defeat, she didn't seem to comprehend the danger she was in.
A lovely spin on the captivity of Mary, Queen of Scots, and how Elizabeth wasn't the only 'bad guy' in this. Mary played her part in driving Elizabeth's actions, just as much as Elizabeth drove Mary.
George, I admit, was frustrating, with his snobbish belief in his and the other lords' divine right to advise Elizabeth over Cecil, but I suppose that's because of the differences in my own upbringing. And watching him fall into the web woven by Mary made me want to slap him to just get him to wake up and realize what was happening. He ultimately saw it anyway, but not until it was practically too late -- he was heavily in debt, to the point where he had to return his wife's fortune and properties that she had given him as her dowry, and he'd lost his wife's love and affections as well because of his behavior with Mary (even if they never took the ultimate step and had a physical relationship). Talk about destructive love.
Mary... Mary was pretty much how I always imagined her to be -- spoiled, entitled, clever, and yet completely unaware that she was playing with fire. Even when her allies were dying around her, put to death because of her refusal to admit defeat, she didn't seem to comprehend the danger she was in.
A lovely spin on the captivity of Mary, Queen of Scots, and how Elizabeth wasn't the only 'bad guy' in this. Mary played her part in driving Elizabeth's actions, just as much as Elizabeth drove Mary.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 Stars
"This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman." (From Amazon)
I found the book too descriptive and is more talk than action. Gregory has not always been historically accurate with the Tudors so I am not sure what is true or not.
"This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman." (From Amazon)
I found the book too descriptive and is more talk than action. Gregory has not always been historically accurate with the Tudors so I am not sure what is true or not.
act_10's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely not the best of Gregory's works. I would say it's biggest problem was that it was a bit anti-climactic.
bookishgirl19's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bamairi's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
sabregirl's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it would be a bad book just by the number of reviews that I saw it wasn't all that favorable. Especially by the number of stars that it would gain. But I really enjoyed this book. When I was going in I didn't know all that much about the Queen of the Scots so I really had no idea how it would possibly turn out (my friend of course 'ruined' it for me by saying she was beheaded) but I liked that.
My only problem with the book was the sudden abruptness of how it ended. George has a dream about Mary's execution and then suddenly it's 16 years later and Beth is recalling Mary's beheading. It seemed way to rush, but I did like how Beth's story was finished up.
My only problem with the book was the sudden abruptness of how it ended. George has a dream about Mary's execution and then suddenly it's 16 years later and Beth is recalling Mary's beheading. It seemed way to rush, but I did like how Beth's story was finished up.
aliciablack's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
0rdinaryreader's review against another edition
3.0
This was definitely an interesting look at the time period. It’s funny because when I started this book, Bess and Mary annoyed me, almost to the point of DNF-ing the book. By the time I finished it, yes, they still annoyed me, but I appreciated them for the strong woman they are. I appreciated for fighting for what they felt was theirs, and for staying true to who they are.
So the love-hate relationship that I had for this book when I was half way through has leaned more toward the side of Love, but Instill found it tough to get through at times. All in all, still an interesting read if you’re looking for a good book about the Queen of Scots.
So the love-hate relationship that I had for this book when I was half way through has leaned more toward the side of Love, but Instill found it tough to get through at times. All in all, still an interesting read if you’re looking for a good book about the Queen of Scots.
nickylizzy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
aly_anne's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful insight into the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her hosts/jailors - George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsberry, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick. Not a period spoken much about in your average history textbooks, nor people the average history students knows much, this book does a great job explaining the political and familial implications and connections of Mary's claim to the English throne. And as a bonus, both Mary and Bess are kick ass women who stand up for what they believe in and show that they don't necessarily need a man to get what they want and think they deserve (despite Mary's eventual execution).