Mary, Bloody Mary

Summary: The story of Mary Tudor s childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary s rights to the throne. Believe it or not, it s all true. Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the dramatic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marraige to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter. Carolyn Meyer has written a compassionate historical novel about love and loss, jealousy and fear—and a girl s struggle with forces far beyond her control.


About: 
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Pages: 227
Published: 1999


Review:
My first read on the infamous Bloody Mary! The first time I picked this book up was in the fifth grade, way before the beginning of my obsession with Tudor England. I didn't know about bear fights, so when I opened this book up I was so horrified that I put it right back! And then after I read Doomed Queen Anne, I returned to this book out of curiosity, and did find it quite enjoyable.


It was basically a retelling of Anne Boleyn's story, except from the perspective of Princess Mary Tudor. It surprised me, really, how just by changing the point of view in the story, everything changed.When I read Anne's tale, I didn't think much about the poor Mary; I was too much a fan of Anne. This book didn't change my steadfast love for Anne at all, but it did give me much sympathy to the younger Mary, and definitely put some humanity in Mary I, now known as the monster Bloody Mary. I now understand why she could never forgive Anne; if I were in her position, I know I would feel same.


This was definitely a good, historically accurate novel for not just young adults, but anyone curious about the real Mary I, in her younger years. 


Rating:
5 stars/5 stars

The Royal Diaries: Cleopatra VII, Daughter of the Nile

Summary: The year is 57 B.C., and 12-year-old Cleopatra, Princess of the Nile, has a lot on her mind. Her father, the Pharaoh of Egypt, nearly died when a venomous adder meant for him attacked and killed his favorite servant. Now the Pharaoh has gone into hiding, hunted by his enemies, and the young princess has to keep her head--literally--as her power-hungry older sister Tryphaena threatens to grab her father's throne.

In an elegantly written royal diary, Cleopatra VII has recorded every rich detail from this tumultuous time: her hairsbreadth escape by boat to Rome, where she and her father must plead for help; her struggle to absorb the overwhelming sights (and smells) of this new city and its "barbarian" ways; and her poise and quick thinking as she deals with the likes of General Pompey, Marc Antony, and the famous orator Cicero ("words fly from him like darts!").

About:
Author: Kristina Gregory
Pages: 224
Year Published: 1999

Review:

This was my first read on Cleopatra VII, who is, the Cleopatra that we're always talking about. I've got to say it was a good read, and really has fueled some interest for Cleoptra, in me. I really never thought of her as a person before this; I just thought of her as the wanton Egyptian queen, as do most. However, I learned that as Princess of Egypt, she was very well-educated in several different languages, politics, reading, writing, and more.

I liked the way Miss Gregory wrote this book. I really saw things from Cleopatra's eyes, and, honestly, I can't say whether anything was historically inaccurate, because I don't know much of this time period (I'm definitely more a Tudor England person, but I still find this time period interesting). However, everything was well-written; I could see a real story in this, a real girl writing this diary, which made it a great reading experience. 

I think anyone curious about Cleoptra VII and has never been exposed to historical fiction related to her would enjoy this book. It's a great first start, and because of it, I think I will be reading more related to this Egyptian Queen. Stay tuned?

Rating:

5 stars/5 stars

Doomed Queen Anne

Summary: Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England's most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and persuade him to defy everyone--including his own wife--to make her his new queen. But Anne's ambition was her fatal flaw. This is the true story of the girl everyone loved to hate. 

About:

Author: Carolyn Meyer

Year Published: 2004

Pages: 230

Review:

Obviously, this was a young adult novel written for children of about 12-12+, and so you can't expect an incredibly complex vocabulary or a story dripping with intense drama and ridden with sex scenes. However, I do think that given the intended age group, this book was wonderfully written. I found it easy to follow and well-written; it was a great overview of Anne's live from 1520-1536, and, unlike a Philippa Gregory novel, I found it to be quite accurate. This novel is great for anyone interested in Anne Boleyn and looking for some truth about her, or any first-time Tudor England novel reader. 

There isn't much to say about this novel, really. It got me started/hooked on Tudor England historical fiction works, and started my obsession with Anne Boleyn in the seventh grade. I think it's a great read for anyone interested in the time period, especially if you don't know where to start. Start here, maybe?

Rating:

5 stars/5 stars