The start of a compelling series of Tudor thrillers. This book got me hooked, I then read all the other books in the series within a week. It's good to read books which don't focus on the Tudor royal family but instead explore more what the life of other people living in this period was like. The series follows a family through the generations and how their lives interlink with those of the Tudor monarchs. This book was so close to five stars. A few things kept it from being five stars. The first was the author's characterization of Thomas More. The idea of the man as some sick pervert just did not work for me. To argue what Thomas More experienced in the course of the story was lust, not perversion, does not appeal to me. In my opinion, the author characterized him as a pervert and I cannot get on board with that particular interpretation. My second issue with the book came in the author's notes. I know, it hardly seems fair to take issue with the author's notes as they don't really have anything to do with the actual story. In the author's notes, Ms. Kyle uses the phrase "Flanders mare" to describe Anne of Cleeves. No one during Henry VIII's reign used that term. That is a contemporary term. Henry VIII told Cromwell "I like her not". I am not going to list all of the sources that support the above statements. A Google search will confirm the above. Of course if you would like, a Google search will also tell you my statements are incorrect. Ah...the internet. I would just like to point this out because I'm starting to get more than a little annoyed with authors of historical fiction who express a desire to be historically accurate as much as possible but then throw out things like "Flanders mare" (or Anne Boleyn miscarrying the Satan spawn of her brother)Aside from those few things I found this book to be very enjoyable. I thought it painted a vivid pictures of life in England during the time of Henry VIII. The heroine was likable and I look forward to reading the next book in the series which I see focuses on the next generation of Thornleighs. I have read my fair share of historical fiction and I am coming to find that some of my favorite reads are those about fictional characters instead of historical characters. This book is no different. My favorite characters were the fictional characters. Can there be a stand alone novel about Pieter? I adored that little boy!
What do You think about A Aia Da Rainha (2010)?
thanks to The Other Boleyn Girl, I am excited to read this one...here we go!
—bekahood
