Cara (cheddy) reviewed on 6/5/2009 + 29 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

It is 1553, Elizabeth is sister to Mary, who would be queen. Childless and alone, Mary seeks to marry Philip of Spain in the hopes that there will be a male heir to the throne. Forces within England are plotting against the Catholic queen. "A child but no child, a king, but no king, a virgin queen all forgotten..." predicts Hannah Green, a fourteen year-old seer.

One of my favorites by Philippa Gregory. In sequence, this book comes after The Other Boleyn Girl and the Boleyn Inheritance. It covers the time period from Queen Mary (daughter of Katharine of Aragon) and the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's rule (daughter of Anne Boleyn). Hannah is 14, and dressed as a boy she becomes vassal to Robert Dudley. Lord Dudley is sentenced to treason and is eventually released, but his movie star looks and rakish attitude make him an attractive foil. Hannah is engaged to Daniel Carpenter, her long suffering beau.

Some readers may be bothered by the lack of historical accuracy, but to me that is easy to overlook in this fine work of fiction.

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