I received a free copy of The Queen’s Rivals from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. All purchase links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one I receive a small commission which helps to keep the Farm cats in treats.
About the Book:
Kensington Publishing
Paperback; 384p
ISBN-10: 0758265999
About the Author:
Brandy Purdy (Emily Purdy in the UK) is the author of the historical novels THE CONFESSION OF PIERS GAVESTON, THE BOLEYN WIFE (THE TUDOR WIFE), THE TUDOR THRONE (MARY & ELIZABETH), THE QUEEN’S PLEASURE (A COURT AFFAIR), and THE QUEEN’S RIVALS (THE FALLEN QUEEN). An ardent book lover since early childhood, she first became interested in history at the age of nine or ten years old when she read a book of ghost stories which contained a chapter about Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London. Visit her website at www.brandypurdy.com, you can also follow her, and her cat Tabby, via her blog at http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com where she posts updates about her work and weekly book reviews.
My Opinion:
This novel tells the tale of the three Grey sisters; Jane, Mary and Kate. I was quite familiar with Jane’s story of course, but not so familiar with her sisters’. It starts from their girlhood and progresses through their tragic ends. It’s narrated by Mary – the last of the three to die.
The girls came to their adulthood in dangerous times carrying a dangerous heritage; they were next in line to the throne after Henry VIII’s offspring and were therefore used as rallying points for those opposed to the rules of Mary and Elizabeth.
I enjoyed learning more about the other two Grey sisters and Tudor intrigue is always fascinating but the characterizations were so one note for all of the major characters it was frustrating; Jane was always an uptight, religious fanatic. Mary was always a perfect, sweet girl. Their mother was a dominating, horse mad woman. Minimal nuance at all within a character. The plot was a foregone conclusion but I found plenty to keep me interested in the stories of the other two girls.
Rating:
3.5
Other Books by Brady Purdy:
You can read my review of The Boleyn Bride
You can read my review of The Ripper’s Wife
You can read my review of The Secrets of Lizzie Borden
You can read my review of Two Empresses
