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Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen
Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen
Alison Weir | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
144 of 250
Book
Katherine of Aragon the true Queen ( Six Tudor Wives)
By Alison Weir

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

A Spanish princess. Raised to be modest, obedient and devout. Destined to be an English Queen.

Six weeks from home across treacherous seas, everything is different: the language, the food, the weather. And for her there is no comfort in any of it. At sixteen-years-old, Catalina is alone among strangers.

She misses her mother. She mourns her lost brother.
She cannot trust even those assigned to her protection.

KATHERINE OF ARAGON. The first of Henry's Queens. Her story.

History tells us how she died. This captivating novel shows us how she lived.


It took me a bit longer than normal to finish this book I really enjoyed it but came away feel so sad for Katherine. I’m fascinated with this period of history and she is one queen who always hits the heart when I read her story. This is one of the best ones I’ve read so far and knowing Alison kept as close as possible to history made me even more sad. Something about the princesses of Wales they always get dealt a hard blow by the monarchy. Overall it was a beautifully written version of her. Looking forward to reading Anne’s next.
  
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ClareR (5716 KP) rated End of Story in Books

Apr 14, 2023  
End of Story
End of Story
Louise Swanson | 2023 | Contemporary, Crime, Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
End of Story had me on the edge of my seat, desperate to know what would happen next - and completely bewildered.

It’s 2035, fiction has been banned for the last five years, and even owning a work of fiction is a criminal act. Fern Dostoy had won a prestigious book award before the laws came in to force, and now she isn’t allowed to write. She has random home checks by frightening men in suits, is threatened by imprisonment - or worse.

I found this a very disturbing read - I mean, I would be among the first to be booked in to a stay at His Majesty’s Pleasure (aka, prison). And is this so very far from the truth right now?

Some aspects of the pandemic are referred to, especially the isolation that so many people struggled through.

This is a pretty bleak read, but I just loved it. It’s touching, too, and gave me a lot to think about. This isn’t a book to race through (or it at least needs a second read), because it throws up so many questions with regards to fiction, the arts and society in general.

As Fern says: “if you tell a story we’ll enough, it’s true”. I honestly hope not in this case!

Highly recommended - and many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Louise for reading along with us.