BOOK REVIEW: Immortal Queen, A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots by Elizabeth Byrd

Blurb:

This novel of Mary, Queen of Scots overflows with romance, elegance, power, treachery and court intrigue on the grand stage of Europe in a time when nations teetered on the edge of war and the Christian world was split between Catholics and Protestants.

Born with a future claim to the English throne, Mary is crowned Queen of Scotland six days after her birth. From her childhood in the French court of Henry II, through her return to her Scottish kingdom and tensions with Queen Elizabeth over the English throne, Mary’s story is captured by Elizabeth Byrd in this wonderful narrative, bringing one of the most captivating women in English history to life.

My Review:

“Immortal Queen” by Elizabeth Byrd was an absolutely fantastic read! This is the first novel that I have read that is all about Mary, Queen of Scots. I have read several novels where she has been mentioned, or was a minor character, but in this novel she was the main character, and she was a character that I loved! I can’t believe that this is the first novel I have read about her, considering how many historical fiction novels from that time period I have read. I’m so happy that I came across this novel and decided to purchase it, it was definitely worth it!

I love that the book covered her entire life, from childhood until death. Her life was a crazy soap opera, and it was interesting from beginning until end. It really helps the reader to understand her as a person better, because you get to see her grow up throughout this novel. The characters in this book were great. Mary’s character was someone that you definitely cared about and were rooting for, also, her husband Lord Bothwell and her half-brother James were also great characters. They were well-written and completely believable. Mary is a strong character, but she also has an innocence about her, and you just want someone to protect her. It seems that no matter what decision she makes, it is the wrong one. Time and time again she brings failure upon herself, and death to those who support her, though she does not do it on purpose. It seems like there is a dark cloud following her around as she gets older. At times she really frustrates me, because she is lead completely by her heart, and she doesn’t listen to the advice of others. If she would have just listened to others, and really thought about her decisions, than so many things in her life would have turned out differently, and who knows how her history would have been written in the history books?

Overall this was an excellent book. All lovers of historical fiction, especially the Tudor Era, should definitely check this book out. It’s so good that you will have difficulty putting it down after you begin reading it!

I give “Immortal Queen, A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots” a FIVE out of FIVE stars!

PURCHASE IMMORTAL QUEEN HERE!

The Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle

Blurb:

Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. However, obliged to return to court, she attracts the attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII, who dispatches his love rival, Seymour, to the Continent. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal so, haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two

executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and become his sixth queen.

Katherine has to employ all her instincts to navigate the treachery of the court, drawing a tight circle of women around her, including her stepdaughter, Meg, traumatized by events from their past that are shrouded in secrecy, and their loyal servant Dot, who knows and sees more than she understands. With the Catholic faction on the rise once more, reformers being burned for heresy, and those close to the king vying for position, Katherine’s survival seems unlikely. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.

My Review:

The Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle was an all around, excellent book. I loved the author’s writing style, and also how she portrayed Henry VIII's sixth queen, Katherine Parr. I also enjoyed reading about the lives of the two people closest to Katherine, Dot and Meg. I’ve read a few novels about Katherine Parr’s life, and prior to this book I viewed her as the ‘boring' one of Henry VIII's six wives. Elizabeth Fremantle was able to really bring her to life in this novel. I also love how she brought Dot’s story into the novel to show how the normal people who inhabited the world of kings and queens lived. Dot’s character was easy to get attached to, because she was very likable, and it was sweet to see her love affair progress.

The author’s writing style was fantastic. She was so descriptive, and used a lot of figurative language as well as imagery in her descriptions of people and places. As an English teacher, I can appreciate good use of figurative language!  I applaud the author for staying as close to historical fact as possible, yet still keeping the novel extremely interesting. I love when an author of historical fiction relies more on fact than fiction, but is still able to really bring the characters to life for the reader. I really enjoyed how the novel was ended, it gives the reader something to think about, kind of a 'what if' scenario.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It’s a wonderful read for lovers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy reading about the Tudor era.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about the past.

I give this novel FIVE out of FIVE stars!