Helpful Score: 1
ARC won from Goodreads First Reads.
This was a very good book. I was intrigued by the premise, and felt that I was not let down by the author. It was very easy to read, even the parts about history and politics, subjects that I usually tune out while reading. Sometimes it was hard to forget the parts of history that really happened, for instance, the remaining 4 wives of Henry, but most of the time, I was just lost in the story, taking it for what it was, an alternate history novel.
The story is told from alternating view points, but is easy to follow. Some are regular narrative, other parts are told through the diary entries of one of the characters.
Based on the ending, I'm assuming that this was the first in a series. I have recently been tired of all the books coming out that are part of a series. Can't an author just write a story and be done? Part of the beauty of reading is being able to imagine how everything turns out. I must say however, that this for this book, I'm glad it will be continued. For some reason (and not just because of how the ending was written) I wasn't ready for this story to be done. I need to know how it all turns out! Will Elizabeth eventually be queen, or Mary? Who will William marry, if anyone? Will the story segue back into reality at some point? These are things I have to know, and I can't wait to finish the series and find out. Beautiful debut, Ms. Anderson!
This was a very good book. I was intrigued by the premise, and felt that I was not let down by the author. It was very easy to read, even the parts about history and politics, subjects that I usually tune out while reading. Sometimes it was hard to forget the parts of history that really happened, for instance, the remaining 4 wives of Henry, but most of the time, I was just lost in the story, taking it for what it was, an alternate history novel.
The story is told from alternating view points, but is easy to follow. Some are regular narrative, other parts are told through the diary entries of one of the characters.
Based on the ending, I'm assuming that this was the first in a series. I have recently been tired of all the books coming out that are part of a series. Can't an author just write a story and be done? Part of the beauty of reading is being able to imagine how everything turns out. I must say however, that this for this book, I'm glad it will be continued. For some reason (and not just because of how the ending was written) I wasn't ready for this story to be done. I need to know how it all turns out! Will Elizabeth eventually be queen, or Mary? Who will William marry, if anyone? Will the story segue back into reality at some point? These are things I have to know, and I can't wait to finish the series and find out. Beautiful debut, Ms. Anderson!
In The Boleyn King, Laura Andersen asks us to set aside what we know of history & go on a journey into an England where Anne Boleyn successfully gave birth to a son, kept her marriage (and her head), and is living into a ripe old age. Its a fantasy I have indulged in a time or two, being a big fan of Anne, so this story was right up my alley.
The very beginning of the story starts out while Anne is in her confinement, about to give birth to another child. Those who know Annes story are aware that towards the end of her life, she gave birth to a boy who was premature & did not live. In this story, he is born in fact born as William, and is quite healthy when we meet him in the second chapter, at the age of 17. William is king, known as Henry IX under The Lord Protector, his uncle George Boleyn aka Lord Rochford. We pick up this story not just with William, but with his sister Elizabeth, her good friend Minuette, and Dominic, Williams oldest and most trusted friend...
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
The very beginning of the story starts out while Anne is in her confinement, about to give birth to another child. Those who know Annes story are aware that towards the end of her life, she gave birth to a boy who was premature & did not live. In this story, he is born in fact born as William, and is quite healthy when we meet him in the second chapter, at the age of 17. William is king, known as Henry IX under The Lord Protector, his uncle George Boleyn aka Lord Rochford. We pick up this story not just with William, but with his sister Elizabeth, her good friend Minuette, and Dominic, Williams oldest and most trusted friend...
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
Oh how I wanted to love this twist on historical fiction. At first I wondered if I'd even finish it, dissapointing because I already had the second of this trilogy on my shelf. I felt at the start that it was a little too "YA" for my taste. The story could have taken place in any time as well. The writting got better, the story moved along there was some bit of intrigue that was not overly layed out. I could have done with out the who will she chose story line- the least complex or interesting part of the story. I will read the second-following this one, and I'm sure will need to read the last but, It could have been better.
I have really fallen in love with historical fiction in the last few years so I was excited to discover a new author. The Boleyn King is the first in what I believe is a trilogy. The author takes a unique angle at telling the Boleyn story - she writes it as a "What if" scenario as in, what if Anne Boleyn's final pregnancy had not ended in a miscarriage ?
This book tells the story of William Tudor, Son of Anne and Henry, as he turns 18 and becomes the next king of England. It is told mostly from the perspective of Genevieve "Minuette" Wyatt who was born on the same day as William to Anne's best friend Marie. Marie died when Minuette was very young so she has spent the majority of her life being raised alongside Elizabeth and William. Together with their good friend Dominic, the foursome have been a tight knit group for most of their young lives.
I really enjoyed this book. I am not a huge history buff so I wasn't bothered by the way events changed to fit the alternate storyline. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what's in store for all these characters. No matter which HF author I read, they all seem to depict this era as a time filled with selfish, double crossers !
This book tells the story of William Tudor, Son of Anne and Henry, as he turns 18 and becomes the next king of England. It is told mostly from the perspective of Genevieve "Minuette" Wyatt who was born on the same day as William to Anne's best friend Marie. Marie died when Minuette was very young so she has spent the majority of her life being raised alongside Elizabeth and William. Together with their good friend Dominic, the foursome have been a tight knit group for most of their young lives.
I really enjoyed this book. I am not a huge history buff so I wasn't bothered by the way events changed to fit the alternate storyline. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what's in store for all these characters. No matter which HF author I read, they all seem to depict this era as a time filled with selfish, double crossers !
Interesting premise derailed by a glacial pace and an unforgiveable cliffhanger ending; first of a trilogy I won't be pursuing. Good idea, though -- what if Anne Boleyn had eventually given Henry a son who succeeded him. Would the whole history of the Western world be changed, or would the timeline correct itself eventually to put Elizabeth I on the throne?
I was disappointed in this. The premise was intriguing, and I think if the author had stuck to telling an alternate story of the royals it would have been a much better book. Instead, far too much time is spent on the narrator, the fictional Minuette, a girl who can apparently do no wrong and is surpassingly lovely, and every man in sight falls for her. Gag Gag. Then you have Dominic, the male version of Minuette. I don't generally care for historical romance, and this book showed me why. If that is your taste, then it's probably an enjoyable book, but it is not my taste. I decided not to bother with the sequels.
