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A review by dianthalikesyellow
Katherine, the Virgin Widow by Jean Plaidy
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.