Plain Jane - Book Review

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.

Queen's Own Fool - Book Review

I don't have may Tudor books about Elizabeth's cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Still, while looking through the bookstore, I became interested in Jane Yolen & Robert J. Harris novel of Mary Queen of Scots.

Mary's story is told by her French fool La Jardiniere (who is a real person in Mary's entourage). Her real name was Nicola and she was part of Troupe Brufort (basically a circus family). Her uncle Armand was very abusive but more so towards Nicola, whose mouth sometimes gets her into trouble.

On a faithful rainy day, Troupe Brufort performs for anyone that passes. Then a noble notices them and decides that they will do. It turns out that Mary, Queen of France wanted some lively entertainment to put a smile on King Francis II even though his father has recently passed. The troupe couldn't believe their good fortune and they vowed to wow their royal audience.

You can imagine things went well except when Nicola accidentally rolled under the table. In order to save the performance, she made some witty comments to the delight of the nobles but not to the delight of her uncle. She gets into trouble and runs away into the garden of the palace. Here is where Mary, Queen of France finds her and enjoys talking to Nicola. She will buy Nicola's freedom from her uncle (who doesn't think twice) and Nicola becomes La Jardiniere, the queen's fool. Mary would reference Nicola has her flower in the garden, hence her name.

Nicola meets Mary's friends who are all named Mary. Nicola thinks of nicknames to distinguish them: Regal Mary, Pious Mary, Jolly Mary and Pretty Mary.

Nicola describes Mary's time as Queen of France, with all the good and the bad. As part of Mary's entourage, Nicola learns to read and write. The saddest part of Mary's life is when her beloved husband, Francis II dies. When the talk of remarriage is introduced by her uncles, Mary is not sure of what to do. Mary's mother-in-law Catherine de Medici becomes regent until her son becomes of age, which leaves Mary deciding to return to Scotland (thanks to Nicola's little story). Not everyone is happy to return to Scotland.

The rest of the novel focuses on Mary's time in Scotland. Nicola is amazed at the difference between France and Scotland. The nobles that she meets, she doesn't instantly like even though Mary fully trusts them. It seems that Mary's time in Scotland for the most part was good. Her people loved her and were happy to see her, except for a Protestant reformer John Knox (who didn't like Mary and as her story continues, the more he dislikes her). It starts getting worse when she meets Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. She becomes in love with him (despite Nicola wanting to warn her mistress) and eventually marries him. By this time, Nicola has a first real friend, David Riccio, who they share a kinship.

Nicola witnesses Mary's marriage even though she sorely dislikes Darnley, who is not that faithful to Mary. Despite it all, Mary stays in the marriage even when things do not work out between husband and wife. Still, Mary becomes pregnant thus carry the heir who will inherit Scotland and God willing, also England (due to both parent's pedigree).

At one point, things were so bad for Mary that she was locked away in her chamber because Darnley wanted the crown matrimonial (basically he would rule if something happened to Mary). Quick thinking Nicola decides to play with Darnley's emotion thus freeing Mary. The people involved ran into exile to England to escape punishment when they realized that Mary escaped and they didn't have Darnley anymore. Things between husband and wife were on the edge until Darnley becomes sick. As a faithful wife, Mary tries to nurse him at Kirk o'Field so it seemed that things were on the mend. Around this point, Nicola expresses her dislike for the Earl of Bothwell. Something about him made Nicola dislike him. On one faithful night, Mary thought to send Nicola on an errand to bring a cross that would hope to keep Darnley safe. As Nicola makes her way to Kirk o'Field, she realizes that the king was in danger and tries to save him. Despite her efforts, she witnesses his murder.

As a key witness, Nicola goes into hiding at first with friends of the Queen then to Mary Seton's house. Nicola hopes that Bothwell will be convicted of Darnley's murder but to her disappointment, he was not. Still rumors rise that Bothwell murdered the king and/or Mary was a part of the murder plot.

The last several chapters of Mary's story is during her imprisonment in Loch Leven Castle. With the the four Marys, Nicola becomes involved in trying to help the queen escape. However since the castle is surrounded by a loch, it would be difficult. Mary Seton and Nicola are able to enter the services of the queen during her imprisonment. During this time, Mary had already abdicated her throne for her son, James and until he was off age, Lord Moray would become regent. It would seem that Mary has resigned of any hope of leaving this unhappy castle.

The story ends when Mary releases Nicola from her services right before she goes to England to get sanctuary from her cousin Elizabeth I.

The novel I think gives a different side of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was close to those that were loyal to her and she tried to rule a country that was thought to be unruly. Still, as Elizabeth I would not do, Mary, Queen of Scots ruled with her heart. As she told Nicola to remind her, Mary, Queen of Scots was only a mortal.

Death and the Virgin Queen - Book Review

I normally don't read non-fiction books but I was actually intrigued when I saw 'Death and the Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I and the dark scandal that rocked the throne' by Chris Skidmore. It focuses on Elizabeth's relationship with Robert Dudley, Amy Dudley's sudden death and the aftermath.

In the beginning, it seems that Amy and Robert had a good relationship since they did marry for love. Even though Amy barely saw her husband, he always seemed to managed to send her gifts via servants, which is different from Robert not doing anything for his wife while he was at court. There is a possible picture of Amy in the book but since the painting does not say who it is but the author makes a possible explanation that it could actually be a picture of Amy Dudley. The close relationship of Elizabeth and Robert is also looked at. It was so close that she had contemplated on marrying him after his wife died. Did she know that Amy was to die soon?

Of course the mystery of Amy's death is speculated in the book. Robert wanted to investigate his wife's untimely death right away so as not to damage his reputation. At the time, he was hoping to marry the queen so any link to him would hurt his chances. The book also goes into what if Amy was murdered. If so, who could have done it? The book makes an interesting case that maybe it was one of Robert's servants. The talk of poison by bribing a doctor makes an interesting case. Robert's servants would want to do away with his wife to speed up her so called sickness.

The book also goes into the years after Amy's death. How Robert's chances of marrying the queen was slipping away that it came to the point that Robert realized that he would never marry the queen. I didn't know that Amy's half brother wanted to take matters into his own hands by finding out what had happened to his sister. After the first year of Amy's death, any speculation about her death started to fade and things went back 'to normal'.

The most interesting fact is the Leicester's Commonwealth, which was written some years after Amy's death. It was a book that wanted to bring damage to Robert's reputation. After all, by then, he accumulated so many enemies. Most people thought that he was the reason why the queen never married. The most damage was pointing the finger at Robert for the death of his wife. It's interesting as to why the author thought that it was Robert's fault, even bringing evidence that wasn't really known. Elizabeth was quick to renounce this book but those during that time remembered the sudden death of his wife. As Cecil thought, the death of Amy Dudley would forever haunt Robert. I believe it did even though he was proven innocent during the initial investigation of Amy's death.

The book was interesting by stating facts and bring into light about the mystery of Amy's sudden death and the aftermath. I don't see many fiction books that looked into the sudden death of Amy Dudley so this was a change from what I normally read. I may look into Chris Skidmore's book 'Edward VI' in the future.

The Light Between Oceans - Book Reivew

Something drew me to this book. Maybe it's because I'm a mother and would do anything to keep my son safe as possible. 'The Light Between Oceans' by M.L. Stedman is about two families, one that finds a baby when they could not have one and the other thinking she has lost one.

Tom Sherbourne was a solider and returns home to Australia to take a part time job as a lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse is out on Janus, a lonely place that all you hear are the waves and goats. Seems to be a perfect place for Tom, who tries to leave behind the war in his past.

He meets Isabel Graysmark who has lived on Partageuse all her life. The only surviving child after her two older brothers died in the war overseas. She is full of life despite the sorrow that falls on her family.

Eventually the two fall in love and Isabel comes to live on Janus with Tom who is now a full time lighthouse keeper. They mostly stay on Janus for three years, being visited by Ralph and Bluey every couple of months to replenish supplies and return to the mainland when they get permission. Not exactly a life I would lead but Tom and Isabel have each other.

Two miscarriages and a devastating stillbirth leaves Isabel in a sorry state. No one to comfort her and Tom is at a lost of what to do. Then in the wind, Isabel hears a baby cry but thought that it was her imagination. Then Tom tells Isabel that a boat had washed up. They investigated to find a dead man and a baby girl in the boat. As a lighthouse keeper, Tom is to report everything that goes on at Janus (even when the weather is calm). He wants to report the body and the baby but Isabel comforts the baby and eventually convinces Tom to not report till the next day.

As you can imagine, they keep the baby girl assuming the mother died out at sea. They rename the baby girl as Lucy and they seem to be a happy family. The only thing is that Tom still feels that he should report it. His conscious gets the better of him when they come to realize who the mother is. Isabel feels that they've lived this lie for so long that they can't give up Lucy without damaging their little family.

The other half of this story is the true mother of the little girl, Hannah Roennfeldt. She believes that both her husband Frank and daughter Grace are still out there even though it's been a few years. Her story is a sad one, considering that the people of Partageuse hated Frank for being 'German'. People in town let her be.

The two families collide when someone recognizes a rattle that was with Lucy/Grace in the boat. Tom tries to protect Isabel from the decisions made on Janus that night they found Lucy/Grace. Isabel is torn by the lost of her daughter that she wanted revenge on Tom for breaking up their family. Hannah on the other hand is happy to have her daughter back but devastated that her daughter calls another woman 'momma'. In the middle is a little girl that doesn't understand what is going on.

It makes you wonder what you would have done if you were in Tom and Isabel's place. Or even if you were Hannah, wondering if you should give up your happiness and give back your daughter to the ones that raised her. For me, this is a very moving novel because for me, it's sad but it also makes you look how important family really is.

Mistress of Mourning - Book Review

 After reading 'The Irish Princess', I started to read Karen Harper's latest book 'Mistress of Mourning'. Something drew me to this book, mainly because it was based in early Tudor times and it was full of suspense. This was based when Prince Arthur married Catherine of Aragon and later the mystery surrounding his death. I didn't think there was any mystery to his death but later I learned what if he was poisoned so that his healthier, younger brother could be king.

Actually, there are two mysteries in 'Mistress of Mourning'. The other mystery is the well known mystery of what happened to the Princes in the Tower. Karen Harper explores one of the possibilities of what happened to the two princes.

The book is narrated by both Queen Elizabeth of York and a woman candlemaker Varina Westcott. Varina took over the Westcott candlemaker shop after her husband died and makes these beautiful angel candles. However, these angel candles are somewhat forbidden by the candlemaker guild. In order for her to sell these candles and have her brother be a part of the guild, she would have to marry her suitor Christopher Gage. I didn't really like her suitor by the way he makes Varina feel like she needs him to make it in this man's world.

Varina meets Queen Elizabeth of York because of those angel candles. The queen's people, one of them being Nick Sutton tells that Varina is needed in the palace for a special project for the queen. It turns out, the queen wanted wax figures of her recently deceased children and her brothers. A weird request but it's from a mourning mother's heart that can not let go of the dead.

The story picks up when Prince Arthur suddenly dies. As a close confidant of the queen, Varina and Nick set out to Ludlow Castle to make sure that the funeral arrangements are made but also to see if there are any clues of what really happened to the prince. Before this, Varina already had a close encounter with some mysterious figure who wanted to do harm. Some where in the shadows lurks a figure who wants to do harm to the Tudors and anyone with close access to the royals. You kind of have a clue of who it could be just from Nick's descriptions of his mortal enemy.

A lot of twist and turns keep you glued to this book as Varina and Nick try to unravel the mystery of what really happened to Prince Arthur. Within this mystery, Queen Elizabeth of York asks her husband Henry Tudor VII if he can inquire of what happened to her brothers. Queen Elizabeth of York can not let go of the guilt that she felt when she told her mother to let Prince Richard join their brother King Edward Vin the tower.

If you ever wonder why kind of marriage Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York had, it turns out that they truly loved one another and I'm surprised how Queen Elizabeth of York goes against any Yorkist in the realm. Even though Henry Tudor did have a bad temper, he would actually do anything for his faithful, loving wife.

I thoroughly liked this suspense filled novel. It explores the conspiracy of Prince Arthur's death and what may have happened to the Princes in the Tower, which I think there are not that much historical fiction books out there (well, maybe for the Princes of the Tower). You also have two interesting characters who try to make a living in the Tudor era. They would lay out their lives for the queen and her family as the mystery becomes more dangerous as you turn each page.

The Irish Princess - Book Review

 At first, I wasn't too interested in reading 'The Irish Princess' but once I found out that it was tied to the Tudors then I decided to read it for the Tudor book challenge.

Karen Harper tells the story of Elizabeth 'Gera' Fitzgerald, the uncrowned Irish princess whose tragic past connects her life to the Tudors. Her family (the Geraldines) were actually the uncrowned royal family of Ireland because of their wealth and power. It also turned out that Gera was also half English due to her mother Elizabeth Grey. I didn't realize who she was at first but Gera's mother is actually a granddaughter of Elizabeth Woodville.

Gera's family pays respect to King Henry VIII so her father, the 9th Earl of Kildare usually travels to England to give reports of what was going on in Ireland. As the story unfolds, her father would become imprisoned in the Tower on charges that he overstepped his bounds. Gera's half brother, Silken Thomas (you would have to read the book to see how he got his name), would become the 10th Earl of Kildare and decides to enrage the King of England. Well, you know that's a bad thing. Gera's mother on the other hand travels to England with two of her children to try to plead with her royal cousin to release her beloved husband.

As you can imagine, things do not go well for the Geraldines. Eventually, Gera's English uncle Leonard Grey comes to make peace with Gera's five uncles but in reality, he came to Ireland to arrest them and Silken Thomas for treason. Gera would go with them to be with her mother. Thankfully, her brother Gerald has escaped and in hiding.

On her trip to England, this would be the first time she met Edward Clinton, the future Lord High Admiral of Elizabeth I. Not exactly love at first sight.

Gera is finally reunited with her mother and other siblings but it's really bittersweet. The Fitzgerald men are tried for treason and go to a traitor's death at Tyburn. This gives Gera the more reason to hate the Tudor king. She vows to get her revenge on the Tudor king and bring her family back to power in Ireland, which fuels her throughout the book.

Gera's story continues when she's in the household of Mary Tudor. Even though she hated the Tudor king, she could not bring herself to hate his daughter. Actually, she could not bring herself to hate either daughter but instead try to make them both pro-Irish. From the very start, Gera has a special bond with Elizabeth Tudor. There are times that she encounters Edward Clinton and each time, she has to keep her feelings in check but also warns her to not act too rash. After all, her two people on her hit list are of course King Henry VIII and John Dudley.

Gera marries her first husband, Anthony Browne, who actually was very close to the king. This would give Gera the chance to kill the ailing king and bring justice to her family. On King Henry VIII's deathbed, she was close to killing him but instead scared Henry VIII that he was not going to heaven. Henry VIII was already delusional, thinking that Gera was poor dead Queen Jane so why not make him more worried about his soul.

The rest of Gera's story goes by rather quickly during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. Both Gera and Edward become widows, though not at the same time. Still, during King Edward VI reign, Gera was able to have her brother Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare come to England. Gera was still very close to her stepdaughter Mabel Browne and Mabel would eventually become Gerald's wife towards the end of the book.

As you can imagine, Gera and Edward finally become married after longing for each other from afar. Things don't get well for the kingdom when Gera finds out that John Dudley sends his son Robert to capture Mary and that Edward VI dies. In order to save Mary I from Dudley's hands, she goes to warn the new queen. The rest of what happened when Mary does claim her throne goes by yet Gera still admires Lady Elizabeth.

An interesting story of Gera that Karen Harper includes was when Gera took a ship to capture Martin Frobisher, who was a thorn at Elizabeth I's side. Of course some of that cargo was going to help Gerald and Ireland.

I admit that when I was reading this book, I wasn't fully captured. Even though the Tudor story was told in someone's eyes, maybe it's just the way the story was going. Oh there were parts that I wanted to know what happened next but it didn't make me want to not stop reading. Still, Elizabeth 'Gera' Fitzgerald was a new person that I didn't know about that was actually an influential person in Queen Elizabeth I's court and whose life was impacted by King Henry VIII.

The King's Damsel - Book Review

This is the fifth book in the Secrets of the Tudor Court series by Kate Emerson. This time, Kate recreates a character since the 'real' king's damsel is unknown. Kate introduces Thomasine Lodge, who is the heiress of Hartlake Manor. Now the problem in Thomasine's story is that she is still underage to take over her own estate. You would think that her stepmother would be her guardian but in the Tudor world, her wardship can actually be purchased through the king. In other words, more money into the king's coffers.

Through the money hungry Sir Lionel Daggett, Thomasine (or Tasmin) enters the court of the Princess of Wales as maid of honor. Through her years in the princess Mary's court, she grows in love with the princess and would do lay down her life for her (which is actually a part of their oath). Through the eyes of Tasmin, you enter the world of Princess Mary's court.

Even though Tasmin is happy in Princess Mary's service, there are times that Sir Lionel Daggett comes to check on her and remind her to advance him in the Tudor court. Once Tasmin reaches her 14th birthday, she is suppose to have ownership of her properties. However, Sir Lionel Daggett has her sign a document in Latin. You might already guess what that document contains.

Tasmin enters the service of Lady Anne Boleyn thanks Sir Lionel Daggett by being a chambermaid. Not exactly a maid of honor but it makes it easier for Tasmin to be close to the concubine. Tasmin is still Princess Mary's friend as she pretends to be Lady Anne Boleyn's friend. Lady Anne Boleyn's rise to power and eventually queen is familiar to those that love anything Tudor. The ideal of courtly love is emphasize in this book.

As a spy for the Princess Mary, Tasmin becomes friends with Rafe Pinckney (a silkwoman's son). They come up with different codes using the different color of silks. Even though Tasmin seems to care for Rafe, she could not jeopardize her position at court and try to help the Princess Mary to be back in her father's favor.

Becoming the king's damsel doesn't happen for Tasmin till the last several chapters of the book. Considering that there is not much known who the 'real' unknown damsel was, Kate Emerson did a good job of recreating the unknown damsel. As the king's mistress, Tasmin becomes close to the king even though the danger of facing Queen Anne's Boleyn's wrath grows every day.

Eventually her tenure as mistress comes to an end and Queen Anne is finally rid of Tasmin when Sir Lionel Daggett comes to fetch her. If you're wondering if she ever ends up with Rafe, then read Kate Emerson's latest book. Kate Emerson gives the readers an understanding of how wardships are handled at the Tudor court, the idea of courtly love and the dangers of the Tudor court.