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Deborah (162 KP) rated The Queen's Promise in Books

Dec 21, 2018  
TQ
The Queen's Promise
Lyn Andrews | 2012
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Yes, it's another Tudor historical novel and yes, it's another Tudor historical novel about Anne Boleyn!

This one I think is worth reading though. Although Anne carries one of the main narrative threads the book is really more about Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, who had some sort of understanding with Anne before she caught the eye of that other Henry. I don't think his life is as well documented as other more prominent figures at court, but there is enough information there to give a foundation to his story. Our other main character is Will Chatton, who, along with his wife, is a fictional character created to give us a broader view of Tudor society and to assist Henry Percy and move the narrative along. Will is also friends in the novel with Robert Aske, who was a real historical figure.

Henry Percy has not generally been given much prominence, even in fiction, so this was a new angle, drawing out his character. His is not really a happy story, but he is certainly a sympathetic character and the author uses the forced break up of their relationship as a sort of catalyst for the change in Anne's behaviour to a harder outlook, so the reader can still sympathise with her. One thing that does puzzle me in 'real' history, and which I feel the author didn't convincingly explain in her own narrative, was why it was found necessary to break up Anne and Henry's relationship? That point aside, I thought this was a good read and a bit different to the usual court focused novels.
  
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Deborah (162 KP) rated Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England in Books

Dec 21, 2018  
WK
Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England
Thomas Penn | 2011
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
There's an old Chinese curse that runs "may you live in interesting times". Penn throws some new light on an era that certainly can be described as 'interesting' and somewhere I'm sure I wouldn't want to be living!

The Winter King of the title is Henry Tudor. Although more a history of the reign than biography (his early life is described only in brief), Henry doesn't come across as particularly likeably - not someone you'd like to sit down to dinner with! His whole style of kingship seems to be based around control of everyone around him and control was often achieved through financial means rather than physical threat. The story unfolds as almost horrific where we see innocent people 'informed' against, imprisoned illegally, tried with 'packed' juries and presented with crippling fines! The wonder really is that such a king was not overthrown! We see here how the notorious Empson & Dudley really worked, and although in a way they were scapegoats for many in the old Henrician regieme when Henry VIII came to the throne, you can see how imprisoning and then executing this unpleasant pair would have been a great crowd-pleasing move!

This book also shines some light on other charaters; it goes someway to explaining the later behaviour of Henry VIII for starters! The insight into the relationship of Philip of Burgundy and Juana of Castile was brief, but enlightning.

Many Tudor writers go straight for the two obvious targets; the larger than life Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I, so here it made an interesting change to see the earlier Tudor world and how Henry VIII grew up in this; even if it was a place full of paranoid and insecurity!
  
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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Building Love in Books

May 29, 2018  
Building Love
Building Love
M.E. Tudor | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a sweet story that also deals with some difficult issues. The main characters were developed and their stories plausible. The fact that both had to deal with bullying from the same family might seem unbelievable to some readers but if you grew up as the poor kid in a small town it is very realistic. I was a bit surprised by the ages of the main characters because just reading the description made it seem they were adults. That said I will read more by Tudor and this is a quick, enjoyable read.
  
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Deborah (162 KP) rated Forensic Shakespeare in Books

Dec 21, 2018  
FS
Forensic Shakespeare
Quentin Skinner | 2014
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Forensic doesn't mean this is the Shakespeare equivalent of Silent Witness - this is a book looking at a group of Shakespeare's plays (and one poem), of which several are often considered 'problem' plays and the use of rhetoric within them. Skinner argues that this is deliberate and relates to a re-emerging interest in the Roman Rhetoricians in the Tudor period. The book is based on a series of lectures given by Skinner, so although as a casual reader I found it interesting, it was also hard work at times, particularly the opening chapters.
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated The Boys Volume 11: Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men in Books

Oct 31, 2019 (Updated Oct 31, 2019)  
The Boys Volume 11: Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men
The Boys Volume 11: Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men
Garth Ennis | 2012 | Comics & Graphic Novels
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The is the end (or is it?!)
Here it is, what the series has been building to. This volume sees Butcher and Homelander move towards conflict, with Vought and The Boys hoping it is avoided/delayed.
Some epic twists in this story, as Homelander's plans to press superheroes' place in society start to unfold.
If you aren't humming the tenpole tudor song every time you pick this book up, there is something very wrong with you.
This should really have ended the story nicely with minimal doubt. However, there was another volume!