The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley/Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: March 18, 2015

The next page-turner in the award-winning Joanna Stafford series takes place in the heart of the Tudor court, as the gutsy former novice risks everything to defy the most powerful men of her era. After her Dominican priory in Dartford closed forever - collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII’s quest to overthrow the Catholic Church - Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King’s attention. Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King, and fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. Her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall. Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be the King’s mistress. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, naïve Catherine from becoming the King’s next wife and, possibly, victim. Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna Stafford must finally choose.

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Henry VIII seated beneath a tapestry cloth of state
circa 1545.  Artist unknown.

I've a confession folks, one I'm almost afraid to admit. I love historic fiction and there isn't a lot that doesn't interest me, but the truth is I'm all but burnt out on Henry VIII. I wish it were otherwise, but I've grown reluctant to pick up pieces involving the mercurial monarch and his scandal ridden court. With so many titles on the market it's difficult to imagine a writer bringing anything new to the table and I know sex sells, but I'm frankly bored with the salacious twists writers of this particular period have come to favor.

Having said that, one might wonder why I'd tackle Nancy Bilyeau's The Tapestry. I myself questioned my sanity on accepting the title for review, but something in the back of my mind prompted me to put my doubts aside. Make no mistake, I waited till the last possible moment to crack the book open, but when I finally did, I conceded my skepticism had been misplaced. 

The market may be overrun, but Bilyeau's work has a feel and flavor few can rival. Her attention to detail is practically flawless and I love the balance she strikes between personal and political drama. Joanna Stafford is not the typical Tudor heroine and Bilyeau never loses site of that. The character's background and convictions dictate her actions and I like that her principles often find her at odds with the royal family. Bilyeau's characterizations of historic figures like Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, Jane Boleyn and Thomas Culpeper defy the stereotypes and bring a refreshing degree of originality to well-known events while her illustration of textiles and the art of tapestry add an unexpected glimpse at a fascinating cultural element of sixteenth century life. 

At the end of the day, I'm glad I took exception for the third installment of Bilyeau's Joanna Stafford series. Like its predecessors, the book proved both original and entertaining and while there were a few slow moments, I can't say the time I spent with this piece left me disappointed. 

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As much as it was possible to plan in a time of chaos, I planned to lead a quiet life: weave tapestries, honor friends, submit to God’s will. It would be an honorable existence; after all, I was the daughter of Sir Richard Stafford and Isabella Montagna. Living without honor was unthinkable. But there would be no more dangerous quests or conspiracies. My fervent hope was never again to hear the word prophecy, nor to find myself among spies, seers, and necromancers. That was the world of fear, of darkness. I wanted only light.

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Check Out All the Stops on Nancy Bilyeau's The Tapestry Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 16
Review at Peeking Between the Pages
Review & Interview at Words and Peace

Tuesday, March 17
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at The Eclectic Reader
Review at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, March 18
Review at Writing the Renaissance
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Thursday, March 19
Review at A Book Geek
Review & Interview at Tea at Trianon
Interview at Writing the Renaissance

Friday, March 20
Review at Impressions in Ink

Monday, March 23
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, March 24
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Broken Teepee

Wednesday, March 25
Review at Luxury Reading
Guest Post at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Thursday, March 26
Review at She Reads Novels

Friday, March 27
Review at 100 Pages a Day – Stephanie’s Book Reviews

Monday, March 30
Review at Bibliophilia, Please

Tuesday, March 31
Review at The True Book Addict
Guest Post at Bibliophilia, Please

Wednesday, April 1
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Thursday, April 2
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Friday, April 3
Review at Layered Pages
Review & Guest Post at Always With a Book

Blood Divide: A Novel of Flodden Field by John Sadler

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: February 11, 2015

Gripping, visceral, and accessible historical fiction. The Battle of Flodden in September 1513 was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on British soil, in which James IV, King of Scots, and virtually the whole of his nobility and gentry were annihilated in an afternoon along with 15,000 soldiers. Five centuries later, the slaughter still occupies a core position in the Scottish nationalist debate and in the pantheon of heroic failures. This novel puts you in the heart of the action; you'll feel the sweat and the fear, the curtain of red mist. The narrative covers April through September 1513, focusing around a handful of key characters: John Heron, Bastard of Ford, swaggering, violent, and disreputable, the black sheep of a good English family; Sir Thomas Howard, leader of the English forces and skilled strategist; Alexander, 3rd Lord Hume, leader of the Scots, bold but impetuous; Isabella Hoppringle, Abbess of Coldstream, hub of a web of influential women throughout the Scottish borders, a woman of significant influence and charisma. Laced with dark humor and fascinating period detail, Blood Divide reminder readers that political intrigue and human folly are timeless.

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I knew I'd be reading John Sadler's Blood Divide the moment I stumbled over it. Being a sucker for Scottish history, I'd love to say I was captivated by the premise, but I am honest enough to admit I'm shallow and my initial interest was in fact sparked be the cover art. I know it doesn't really matter, but somewhere there's a jacket designer who is happy their work is being appreciated so let's not debate my offering recognition as part of my review.

In terms of content, I loved how comprehensive Blood Divide felt. Sadler has an amazing understanding of the Battle of Flodden and tackles it from a variety of angles which is something I found particularly interesting. More often than not, readers enjoy a single perspective of any given event and I was pleasantly surprised to see an author tackle both sides of conflict from multiple points of view. 

That said, I couldn't help wanting more from John, Thomas, Alexander and Isabella. I don't mean to split hairs because a lot of the material is really well-done, but I felt character development took a backseat to the politics and grim realities of war. I know I'm nitpicking and I don't mean to overly critical, but there it is. 

All told, Blood Divide is an impeccably researched piece that proved well-worth my time. Rough edges aside, it is a title I'd easily recommend alongside Anvil of God or Sebastian's Way.

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Dead kings on the battlefield look pretty much like everyone else- stripped naked and flung aside in the mass anonymity of violent death.

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The French Executioner by C.C. Humphreys

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Author/Agent

Read: October 28, 2014

It is 1536 and the expert swordsman Jean Rombaud has been brought over from France by Henry VIII to behead his wife, Anne Boleyn. But on the eve of her execution Rombaud swears a vow to the ill-fated queen - to bury her six-fingered hand, symbol of her rumoured witchery, at a sacred crossroads. Yet in a Europe ravaged by religious war, the hand of this infamous Protestant icon is so powerful a relic that many will kill for it... From a battle between slave galleys to a Black Mass in a dungeon, through the hallucinations of St Anthony's Fire to the fortress of an apocalyptic Messiah, Jean seeks to honour his vow.

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If you're anything like me, you're looking at the cover of C.C. Humphreys' The French Executioner and stifling a groan. Titles like Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, To Die For, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, The Lady in the Tower, The Dark Rose, Dark Eyed Queen, The Concubine, The King's Secret Matter, Murder Most Royal, and The Other Boleyn Girl are flashing through your mind and you're seriously questioning if you've the stomach for more.

Pardon my cynicism, but that's where my association with this title started and it would be difficult to appreciate the depth of my admiration without understanding where I stood prior to picking up the book. Anne Boleyn is a fascinating character, but her story has been done to death and frankly, I'd be hard pressed to give a damn about yet another adaption. Thankfully, The French Executioner is not Anne's story, but that of the swordsman who freed England's magisterial monarch of his second wife... or was it her from him? 

To get right to the point, I liked this book and not just because Humphreys re-imagined Anne's execution as a beginning rather than an end. I think his characterization of Jean Rombaud inspired and I found the intrigue he created around her famous appendage intensely provocative. Anne's legacy is forever intertwined with the history of the English Reformation and I love the idea that her earthly remains might have fed the fanatical fires that burned after her death. 

I'll grant there are some gruesome elements to the story and I felt the pacing dragged during the battle scenes, but I've very few complaints overall. The plot itself is fascinating and Humphreys' characters comprise one of the best ensemble casts I've had fortune to come across. Major and minor players have distinctive roles and I loved how Humphreys was able to bring so many different personalities and backgrounds to the table. Supporting figures like Abraham and Da Costa are as memorable as Fugger, Cibo, Beck, Januc and Haakon and that attention to detail made reading this piece a real pleasure. 

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She glanced around at the embarrassed, averted faces. “Why are you all so glum? Do you not know the relief it is to be a woman again after a thousand days of woe as Queen? My head is lighter for the loss of a crown and soon my shoulders will be lighter— ”

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Inglorious Royal Marriages: A Demi-Millennium of Unholy Mismatrimony by Leslie Carroll

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: August 31, 2014

It’s no secret that the marriages of monarchs are often made in hell. Here are some of the most spectacular mismatches in five hundred years of royal history... In a world where many kings, queens, and princes lacked nothing but true love, marital mismatches could bring out the baddest, boldest behavior in the bluest of bloodlines. Margaret Tudor, her niece Mary I, and Catherine of Braganza were desperately in love with chronically unfaithful husbands, but at least they weren’t murdered by them, as were two of the Medici princesses were. King Charles II’s beautiful, high-spirited sister “Minette” wed Louis XIV’s younger brother, who wore more makeup and perfume than she did. Forced to wed her boring, jug-eared cousin Ferdinand, Marie of Roumania—a granddaughter of Queen Victoria—proved herself one of the heroines of World War I by using her prodigious personal charm to regain massive amounts of land during the peace talks at Versailles. Brimming with outrageous real-life stories of royal marriages gone wrong, this is an entertaining, unforgettable book of dubious matches doomed from the start.

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Leslie Carroll's Inglorious Royal Marriages is the kind of nonfiction I wish I came across more often. It tells a story and it's wonderfully detailed, but it is at the same time playful and entertaining. 

Capitalizing on public interest for gossip and celebrity drama, Carroll boldly delves into the high stakes game of royal marriage and the spectacular fallouts that ensued when husband and wife found themselves utterly incompatible. Some of the haplessly wedded royals are very known, others less so, but I found that even the sections covering material with which I was already familiar delightfully witty. 

I also love that Carroll took the trouble to explain the political wheeling and dealing that led to each unfortunate alliance. Royal marriages were essentially business transactions, contracts made for wealth, power and favors and I think that incredibly important to understand when examining royal unions. 

All told, Inglorious Royal Marriage is an excellent collection for those in the know as well as those discovering these stories for the first time. Highly recommended. 

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No one expected the spouses to be in love, or even to love each other, and yet their families and friends would always act surprised when the man and wife barely got along and the marriage failed.

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Check Out All the Stops on Leslie Carroll's Inglorious Royal Marriages Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, September 2
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Interview at Scandalous Women

Wednesday, September 3
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry

Thursday, September 4
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Friday, September 5
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, September 8
Review & Giveaway at Bibliophilia, Please

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Spotlight at Princess of Eboli

Thursday, September 11
Review at The Lit Bitch
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, September 12
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Monday, September 15
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Tuesday, September 16
Spotlight & Giveaway at Reading Lark

Wednesday, September 17
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Saturday, September 20
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Tuesday, September 23
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, September 24
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Review & Giveaway at To Read or Not to Read

Thursday, September 25
Review at Bookish
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Friday, September 26
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: May 30, 2014

From the author of Queen’s Gambit, which People magazine called, “A must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a gripping historical novel about two sisters who tread as dangerously close to the crown as their tragic sister, Lady Jane Grey, executed after just nine days on the throne. Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal execution of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, Lady Jane Grey, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Freemantle brings these young women to life in a spellbinding Tudor tale of love and politics. Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous life at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.

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I was eager to get my hands on Elizabeth Fremantle's Sisters of Treason. I read The Queen's Rivals last year and while I enjoyed Purdy's take on the Grey sisters, the book lacked the gravitas I crave. I needed something I could sink my teeth into, something with a little more meat on the bone if you get my meaning. 

Fremantle caught my attention with Queen Gambit, but I'll be honest, I think her sophomore release stronger than its predecessor. There is an urgency and weight to the story, an imperativeness to the decisions Catherine and Mary must make, a tension that captivates even those who know the history of the younger Grey girls and anticipate where the narrative is headed.

Tone is not the only thing that stands out when reflecting on this piece. Jane, the traditional headliner, has a very interesting role in the narrative. She appears briefly early on, but her memory is a character in and of itself, guiding her sisters from beyond the grave. The same originality is echoed in Fremantle's interpretations of Elizabeth I and Frances Grey. These characters were familiar to me going in, but Fremantle's unconventional approach to their personalities and roles resulted in something both unique and memorable. 

Fremantle adds dimension to the story through Levina Teerlinc. A minor historical footnote, Levina is an artisan. A court-painter who exists in the privileged circles of the elite without belonging to it. Her voice balances those of her social superiors, but really liked how her story arc paralleled and played against those of Catherine and Mary. 

Richly detailed and vividly dramatic, Sisters of Treason, is a genuinely first-rate historical. Engaging, provocative and damn near impossible to put down. 

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It is the book, dear sister, of the law of the Lord. It is the testament and last will, which he bequeathed unto us wretches, which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy. And if you have a good mind to read it, it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life. It shall teach you to live and learn you to die.

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Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: February 18, 2014

From the author of At the Mercy of the Queen comes the gripping tale of Mary Shelton, Elizabeth I’s young cousin and ward, set against the glittering backdrop of the Elizabethan court. Mistress Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ward, enjoying every privilege the position affords. The queen loves Mary like a daughter, and, like any good mother, she wants her to make a powerful match. The most likely prospect: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. But while Oxford seems to be everything the queen admires: clever, polished and wealthy, Mary knows him to be lecherous, cruel, and full of treachery. No matter how hard the queen tries to push her into his arms, Mary refuses. Instead, Mary falls in love with a man who is completely unsuitable. Sir John Skydemore is a minor knight with little money, a widower with five children. Worst of all, he’s a Catholic at a time when Catholic plots against Elizabeth are rampant. The queen forbids Mary to wed the man she loves. When the young woman, who is the queen’s own flesh and blood, defies her, the couple finds their very lives in danger as Elizabeth’s wrath knows no bounds.

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It's been nearly three months since I reviewed a Tudor era fiction. I'm not sure if that's a personal record, I'm not exactly a Tudor junkie, but it does seem as though I'm due. Today's title? Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill.

I'd looked forward to this title and was initially really excited about reading it. That enthusiasm, however, faded early on and by the time I finished the book, dissipated entirely. I didn't particularly like Barnhill's interpretation of Mary or Elizabeth, but it was the inconsistency in those characterizations that left me genuinely dissatisfied. The action seemed forced and I'm not entirely sure I understood everything Barnhill was getting at with the Mary Queen of Scots story line, but my biggest problem with the novel comes down to God. 

God's Heart, God's Eyes, God's Knees, God's Ribs, God's Blessed Bones, God's Wounds, God's Holy Wounds, Christ's Wounds, and my personal favorite, God's Bowels all appear once within the text. God's Breath and God's Bones were referenced four times a piece. God's Death is cited seven times and God's Teeth fourteen. The expletive of choice, however, is clearly God's Blood which is blasphemously uttered on thirty-five separate occasions. 

All told, seventy-three oaths are sworn with direct reference to the Lord which is rather surprising in a court where adherence to faith can be a matter of life and death. I can see it being used from time to time, but Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants all agree, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain so I can't help but wonder at the historical context of such speech. More importantly though, the phrase in any form is seriously annoying to read ad nauseam. It loses its power when thrown about with such regularity and serves as a deterrent to those readers who pay attention to language and prose.

Bottom line, the piece was memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. I hate to be such a downer, but the clumsy construction and horrendous dialogue make it very hard for me to look on Queen Elizabeth's Daughter with any degree of favor. 

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If only she knew the torment my unmarried state gives me! If only she could realize the sacrifices Elizabeth, the woman, has made for Elizabeth, the queen! How can I demand the obedience when now she sees me as a vessel for sin? How can I command her respect when she has seen me in my Sweet Robin's arms?

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The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Andersen

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: March 5, 2014

Henry IX, known as William, is the son of Anne Boleyn and now the leader of England, his regency period finally at an end. His newfound power, however, comes with the looming specter of war with the other major powers of Europe, with strategic alliances that must be forged on both the battlefield and in the bedroom, and with a court, severed by religion, rife with plots to take over the throne. Will trusts only three people: his older sister, Elizabeth; his best friend and loyal counselor, Dominic; and Minuette, a young orphan raised as a royal ward by Anne Boleyn. But as the pressure rises alongside the threat to his life, even they William must begin to question-and to fear...

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They say confession if good for the soul so perhaps it's best that I just admit I've been avoiding this review. I've allowed Laura Andersen's The Boleyn Deceit to languish in my pending folder for months to circumvent penning what I knew would be somewhat negative commentary, but no more. It's time to bite the bullet and be done with it. 

I realize I'm in the minority here, but I genuinely feel the second installment of Andersen's Boleyn Trilogy lacked the 'oomph' of its predecessor. I know sequels have a hard time of it, but I can't help looking back on this piece and wondering what the hell happened. Consider this your warning folks, there be spoilers ahead.

The love triangle Andersen carried through book one utterly stagnates in book two. It isn't until the final chapters that I felt tangible emotion or movement, at which point the affair felt entirely slapdash. Call me crazy, but I feel Andersen misstepped in neglecting the romantic subplot for so much of the narrative and overcompensated in her attempt to revive it in her build up to book three. 

Having so enjoying Andersen's interpretation of Elizabeth in The Boleyn King, I was bitterly disappointed to see her role much reduced in The Boleyn Deceit. I felt her the strongest of the four leads in Andersen's debut and was frustrated to witness her playing a less astute second fiddle to supporting characters like Dudley and Northumberland this go round.

William is fast becoming a carbon copy of his father which is something I found particularly frustrating. Andersen has the freedom to do anything she wants with this character and she chooses to create a doppelganger of Henry VIII. Creative? Inventive? Imaginative? I think not. 

And while we're on the subject, let's talk about Alyce de Clare’s unfortunate and untimely death. Were readers supposed to be shocked and surprised by the identity of her lover? I mean, it isn't as if poor Alyce is the only Tudor era courtier to take a tumble down a flight of stairs. I told myself from the start that the solution was too obvious to be correct, but no, there it was, staring up at me in prosaic black and white. 

Bottom line, I felt the book rushed, disjointed, predictable and dull. There are moments involving Guildford Dudley, Mary Stuart, Francis Walsingham and Amy Dudley that I greatly enjoyed, but taken as a whole this piece left me disenchanted with the series and is proving a significant obstacle in my effort to rouse enthusiasm for book three.

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Robert raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice that half step that made Elizabeth’s blood warm. “We choose our battles with care—political, religious … personal.”

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My Lady Viper by E. Knight

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: April 14, 2014

May, 1536. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. When Anne Boleyn falls to the executioner's axe on a cold spring morning, yet another Anne vows she will survive in the snakepit court of Henry VIII. But at what cost? Lady Anne Seymour knows her family hangs by a thread. If her sister-in-law Jane Seymour cannot give the King a son, she will be executed or set aside, and her family with her. Anne throws herself into the deadly and intoxicating intrigue of the Tudor court, determined at any price to see the new queen's marriage a success and the Seymour family elevated to supreme power. But Anne's machinations will earn her a reputation as a viper, and she must decide if her family's rise is worth the loss of her own soul...

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Tudor fiction. The phrase alone makes me cringe. Wolf Hall, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Autobiography of Henry VIII, The Sixth Wife, Secrets of the Tudor Court, Queen's Gambit… there are enough titles on the market that I could go on all day. 

With so many options, it’s hard to imagine an author bringing something new to the table. Are there really angles that haven’t been tried, schemes that haven’t been woven, or characters who haven’t been featured? I know it sounds improbable, but such a distinction does not make something in and of itself impossible which leads me to E. Knight’s My Lady Viper. 

Overflowing with intrigue, conspiracy, and romance, this book had me hooked from the first chapter and that isn’t easy for a skeptic such as myself to admit. Henry’s court comes vibrantly to life under Knight’s pen, drawing the audience into a refreshing original web a danger and deceit. 

Anne Seymour’s divided loyalties and multiple alliances really appealed to me. The complexity of her situation built tension I’m entirely unused to seeing in this subgenre and conveyed a tangibly authentic degree of turmoil within the narrative. 

The nontraditional love triangle was equally alluring. Anne’s emotional connections to Edward and Anthony are not clear cut or easy define and though they are remarkably different, both are passionate affairs that leave the reader genuinely absorbed in Anne’s romantic liaisons. 

A brilliant illustration of a capricious monarch and the nest of serpents that surrounded him, My Lady Viper is an absolute must. Intricately detailed, cleverly constructed and utterly irresistible.

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The people mirrored the moods of the king. If he was in mourning—they mourned. If he was angry—they rallied for justice on his part. If he was filled with merriment—they laughed and danced. We were all little puppets, and the world, the king’s stage. We cheered today, but what would we do tomorrow? Or even tonight?

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Check out all the stops on E. Knight's My Lady Viper virtual book tour schedule!

Monday, May 5
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight at The Tower of Babel
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, May 6
Spotlight & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, May 7
Review & Giveaway at The Tudor Enthusiast

Thursday, May 8
Review at Curling Up By the Fire

Friday, May 9
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Monday, May 12
Review & Giveaway at The Tudor Book Blog
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Tuesday, May 13
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, May 14
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Thursday, May 15
Review at Luxury Reading

Friday, May 16
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Interview & Giveaway at Luxury Reading

Monday, May 19
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, May 20
Review at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, May 21
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, May 22
Review at Bibliophilia, Please
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, May 23
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

The Boleyn Bride by Brandy Purdy

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: January 15, 2014

From carefree young woman to disillusioned bride, the dazzling lady who would become mother and grandmother to two of history's most infamous queens, has a fascinating story all her own... At sixteen, Elizabeth Howard envisions a glorious life for herself as lady-in-waiting to the future queen, Catherine of Aragon. But when she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner, Elizabeth is left to stagnate in the countryside while her detested husband pursues his ambitions. There, she raises golden girl Mary, moody George, and ugly duckling Anne—while staving off boredom with a string of admirers. Until Henry VIII takes the throne.. When Thomas finally brings his highborn wife to London, Elizabeth indulges in lavish diversions and dalliances—and catches the lusty king's eye. But those who enjoy Henry's fickle favor must also guard against his wrath. For while her husband's machinations bring Elizabeth and her children to the pinnacle of power, the distance to the scaffold is but a short one—and the Boleyn family's fortune may be turning...

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Scarlett O'Hara!

Sorry folks, couldn't help it. I look at this cover and my mind jumps immediately to Vivian Leigh and Max Steiner's iconic accompaniment. Probably not what the jacket artist was going for, but that's neither here nor there. 

Far removed from the reconstruction of the American South, Brandy Purdy's The Boleyn Bride is actually a fictional chronicle of Elizabeth Howard - wife of the first Earl of Wiltshire, mother of the Marquess of Pembroke and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I. Usually regulated to the sidelines, Purdy's latest novel turns the spotlight on Lady Boleyn, in an attempt to illuminate her oft forgotten role Henry VIII's "great matter".

Like most who read Tudor era fiction, I've seen this story a hundred times, but even so, I found the idea of seeing it from a nontraditional point of view intensely fascinating. Historically speaking, we know very little about Anne's mother and I'd hoped Purdy's depiction would offer perspective, both on her character and that of Henry's court. 

Unfortunately, Purdy's tendency to characterize Elizabeth as an outside observer left me rather underwhelmed. With rare exception she didn't feel like the lead character in this story, reading more like a Watson than a Holmes if you take my meaning. Don't get me wrong, I loved the prologue, epilogue and Elizabeth's romance with Remi Jouet, but the rest of the narrative felt much like any other novel of Anne's rise and fall. 

Distanced as she is from her more illustrious relations, Elizabeth proves a fickle narrator, but her inconstant nature make her all the more difficult to understand. At times it seems Elizabeth's sole motivation is to revenge herself on Thomas, but the Boleyn patriarch spends much of the narrative absent from both her side and conscious. She claims no satisfaction in motherhood, yet is emotionally devastated at the respective fates of her children. A walking contradiction, Purdy's characterization lacked the coherency I feel necessary in a leading lady. 

A light and flirtatious fiction, The Boleyn Bride has its moments and will certainly be appreciated by fans of Tudor era fiction, but despite the originality of Purdy's angle, I think the final product more fluff than substance. 

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Did someone spy me, a slender, black-haired woman in the shadows indulging in some quick and indiscreet intimacy with Mark Smeaton, and mistake me for Anne because the light was dim or because there was already malice in their mind? Did I unwittingly, with my own indiscretions, help condemn my daughter? I will never know.

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