A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.
Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father's court. But the King wants a son and heir.
With her parents' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary's perfect world begins to fall apart. Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.
The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?
MARY I. HER STORY.
Alison Weir's new Tudor novel is the tale, full of drama and tragedy, of how a princess with such promise, loved by all who knew her, became the infamous Bloody Mary.
What did I think?
Mary I: Queen of Sorrows is the third book in the Tudor Rose series but it can definitely be read as a standalone as I haven't read the first two books but I absolutely loved this book. I will definitely be seeking out the other books in the series to complete my collection.
I love reading historical fiction set during the Tudor period, although I have mostly read about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. I think I have overlooked Mary I as she gets so much bad press but perhaps to understand the actions that led to her nickname Bloody Mary we have to understand the woman who is wearing the crown. Alison Weir gives us such a wonderful glimpse of Mary as a daughter, a princess, a woman and a queen.
It's quite a chunky book at 527 pages (including the author's notes, which are well worth reading) but it is very easy to read as it feels so authentic; it's almost as if Mary herself is talking throughout the book. I certainly saw Mary in a different light and, although she is well deserving of the name Bloody Mary, I can understand more about how all of the bloodshed came about.
Authentic, engrossing and fascinating, Mary I: Queen of Sorrows is an unmissable book for historical fiction fans and it's worth buying the hardback for the stunning endpapers. A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars.
I received a beautiful hardback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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About the author:
Alison Weir is a bestselling historical novelist of Tudor fiction, and the leading female historian in the United Kingdom. She has published more than thirty books, including many leading works of non-fiction, and has sold over three million copies worldwide.
Her novels include the Tudor Rose trilogy, which spans three generations of history’s most iconic family - the Tudors, and the highly acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII, all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers.
Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.
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