Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: June 11, 2013
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To be a member of the Tudor court was to accept a life that coexisted with the specter of death. For some, it was a necessary evil, worth the privileges of rank, but for others, social status was a burden, a shadow they'd just as well live without. This is the world that comes brilliantly to life beneath Brandy Purdy's pen in The Queen's Rivals.
Now I've read fictional accounts of Jane Grey before, but none of them come close to this book. Purdy examines each of the Grey sisters in equal measure, but her nontraditional character portraits really make her work stand out. Jane is normally portrayed as an innocent sacrificed on the alter of family ambition, but Purdy gifts her a much more astute and complex personality. Katherine is an understandably romantic figure, but here again Purdy found room to exhibit a rare degree of depth. And telling their stories through the oft ignored Mary? Genius
Not just with the sisters themselves, but all round, I found myself fascinated by the intensity of Purdy's characterizations. I didn't always find her cast to my liking, she does take certain liberties in her portrayals, but each and every character has such a distinct makeup and individual role... I can't speak to her style of storytelling as I have no previous experience with her work, but Purdy's spirited imagination made a very definite impression on me even when our views were in opposition.
Would I recommend the book to other readers? It would depend on the reader. The Queen's Rivals offers a unique take on the Grey sisters and stands as a truly singular piece in the realm of Tudor lit, but at the same time I think it best suited to open-minded readers, those who wont outright object to Purdy's unconventional treatment of Tudor history.
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Beyond my window the dark hulk of the Tower of London looms like a monster in a child's nightmare. I used to tell my husband I wanted a quiet life, a simple life, no great, grand palaces for me, thank you, I'd had all that before - Bradgate Manor in Leicestershire, luxurious London town houses, and the Queen's many palaces - and love always meant far more than luxury to me.
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Check out all the stops on Brandy Purdy's The Queen's Rivals Virtual Book Tour
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