So I don't have many Tudor books that focuses on Jane Seymour. You always come across her in Anne Boleyn's story and it's usually very short.
I'm actually happy that I got Plain Jane by Laurien Gardner. The story starts during Jane's early life as her family sees her so very plain that she won't be able to make a good marriage. Her only future was to put her in a convent. Not exactly the life that Jane would like but it seemed to be the only option her parents thought would be best for her. Who would want to learn that you're so plain that no one would want to marry you?
I had some hope for her when she met William Dormer, who was also an awkward fellow. They seemed to have built a kinship and possibly companionship as they spent some days together. It would come to a surprise when her cousin, Sir Francis Bryan tries to help Jane and William get a marriage proposal. Her parents were up for it since the Dormers were well off but the Dormers had other marriage prospects for their eldest son. Once again, Jane's plainness comes into focus and she realizes that a marriage with William would never happen.
Even though it was a lost cause, Sir Francis is able to get a maid of honor position for Jane in the court of Queen Katherine. Here, Jane is exposed to court life and the divided loyalties for Queen Katherine and Anne Boleyn. Jane also sees something in King Henry that most people do not notice. He looks tired as his wife and Anne fight each other. When Jane sees this, she feels sorry for King Henry.
Laurien Gardner has Jane have a platonic relationship with Thomas Wyatt. But alas, that wasn't going to be since he is thoroughly in love with Anne Boleyn. Oh, he says things that he wished he could love her but Jane realizes later on that he is the type to suffer for love.
As Queen Katherine's court diminishes, her brother Thomas comes to fetch her to be a part of Anne Boleyn's court. Now in Anne's court, she is always made fun off, especially how plain she is compared to Anne. It would eventually go too far when the king actually notices Jane and gives her a miniature of himself. Of course Anne would feel threatened that her husband is swaying but instead of getting mad, she makes fun of Jane.
If you're a Tudor lover, you know how the story goes. Now here's a bit of Jane's story that I don't normally read. You get a little glimpse of Jane's marriage to King Henry. In Laurien Gardener's story, it seems that they had a loving relationship. During their first year of marriage, it seemed that she was not pregnant yet but Jane tries to restore King Henry's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth back in line of succession. It seems that she was somewhat able to at least restore Lady Mary to her father's good graces. In one point in her marriage, she overstepped her boundary by trying to stop the churches from being demolished. Well, it didn't go well with King Henry let's just say.
Towards the end of Jane's story, she is finally pregnant and gives birth to the future King Edward VI. After the baptism of her son, it is evident that she is succumbing to childbirth fever. She is 'haunted' by Anne's ghost during this feverish time, which is the theme in her marriage to King Henry. Still, as what we know, Jane dies as the only wife to give King Henry his beloved son and become his most beloved wife.
Laurien Gardener really tells a different story about Jane Seymour, seeing that it's actually a novel about Jane Seymour. Of course the theme of the book is how plain Jane was but somehow despite her plainness, she was able to capture the heart of a king and give him a son that he so much wanted. I look forward to reading the other two books by Laurien Gardner.
