savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

I think this is the best book out of the three; the plot is clearly defined and there is actually a beginning, middle and end to it, which serves to tie all of the strings from the series together. It certainly held my attention better than the previous two and the narrative flowed quite nicely throughout. 

While I do like the world the author has created, I do feel that it comes across a bit flat throughout the series; I found it very difficult to actually picture the people and places being described. And while I did feel drawn to many of the characters, none of them have made me want to bring them to life in my imagination after the book was closed.

As I said in my review of 'The Novice', throughout I've only been able to imagine Akkarin as a Voldemort-esque figure, robed and hooded with an air of mystery and darkness about him, which I thought is what the author was going for. But suddenly in this book we're meant to see him in a very different light; more tragic, more handsome,  more human. However, the shift seems to happen in the blink of an eye, and it just doesn't work for me.

Again, I have no problem with the age gap, but it's the whole student/teacher dynamic (especially from his side) that's giving me the ick this time. It feels like the author realised as she was writing that she hadn't included a romance element and so just threw her characters together for the hell of it. And it also made the ending 'surprise' entirely predictable.

I know there is a follow up series to this, and so I'm wondering if the introduction of Savara might be a set up for that. If it isn't, she feels like a character with so much potential that has definitely been wasted. 

Overall, I would probably buy these books if I saw them as a set in a charity shop/second hand, but they haven't entranced me enough to want to rush out and buy them new. I maintain my previous assertion that this would probably make quite a good TV show/film, as I think the visuals would translate well and, for once, I think stripping back the story to make it work in that format may just improve the overall quality.

Another quick one that I could pick up and put down at a moment's notice.

This fictional diary of a girl in Catherine of Aragon's train as she comes to the English Court to marry Prince Arthur follows the same pattern as the rest of the books in the series. However, there is one small difference; this one actually links directly to another book. The main character in this one, Eva De Puebla, is the mother of the main character in the book I read yesterday, 'Anne Boleyn and Me' (although this book ends before Elinor is born). It's a nice addition, as you get the view of the whole of Catherine of Aragon's English life through the eyes of one family, and the narrative all ties together really well. 

This one feels like it has more personality behind it though; I feel like I know more about Eva and her life and thoughts. The author has achieved more of the diary feel in this one, rather than just a simple recounting of events. 

That being said, again it is stretched out over a long time period, and so there are some quite big omissions - very little is said about Catherine's marriage to Arthur; one moment they're married and the next he's passed away. Given that very little is known about that period, it does feel like an opportunity has been missed to weave a little tale into that gap. Likewise, the years that Catherine spends waiting for her fate to be decided are really only marked out by the effect of the various Spanish ambassadors, rather than by the daily struggles. I do wonder if this book would have been better focusing on these aspects and telling Eva's story, ending with the triumphant wedding of Henry and Catherine. 

I'm not sure that this one would hold a child's attention as much as others in the series, but as an introduction to the 'did they didn't they?' question that leads to the King's Great Matter, it's a well written piece that goes into enough detail so that the reader can understand, but not so much that you wouldn't feel comfortable giving it to a child to read.

It's been a rough few days, so I needed something quick and simple that I could read in very small chunks if necessary, so I turned to one of my favourite childhood series; the 'My Story' diaries, and a book I've read before (albeit quite some time ago). This particular book focuses on the story of Elinor, a lady-in-waiting at the Court of Henry VIII, and her view of the King's 'Great Matter'; his separation from Catherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

The reason I loved these as a kid and still do now is that they take well known events of history and bring them right down to earth. The diary format is a great way of personalising these milestones, and drawing the focus away from the main players to imagine how an 'ordinary' person may have viewed events in the context of their own lives. It's a very clever balance that's struck between involving these fictional young girls in real events, while also staying true to history and giving the reader a glimpse into their 'normal' lives.

Where this one falls down slightly is that the diary format doesn't really work, as it covers such an extended period of time. As a result, Elinor's diary entries have been spaced quite a long way apart. I appreciate that if it had been done with entries for every few days, the book would be huge, but when you're looking at an average of one entry every two to three months, it just doesn't feel like you get the depth you would expect from a person recording their intimate thoughts. It really is jst an overview of the main plot points of this moment in history - the pace is very quick as you bounce from one recognisable moment to another, with very little in between. There are some personal touches, but just not enough to make it feel as 'real' as many of the other books in the series. However, the fact that it doesn't go into a lot of depth means that it is an engaging read for someone with a short attention span (me at the moment!).

If I were a child learning about the Tudors for the first time, and thus a member of the target demographic for this book, I'd learn an awful lot very quickly. This series is a great way into history for the uninitiated, and I love the fact that they also include some additional material such as a timeline, images that relate to the story etc. in the back of each book so that children can be guided to further reading and understand where the story fits within history. I know I certainly made use of the information I found in there on more than one occasion (even as an adult!).

Usually, these books are pretty good at sticking with established fact, right down to the little things. But, there is one absolute clanger of a historical inaccuracy right at the end, which really annoys me - Anne Boleyn did not have a block at her execution! In light of this and the big gaps in the narrative, it does make me wonder if the author of this particular book was given a subject to write on that she only had limited knowledge of? It feels like perhaps she mainlined a couple of the major works of non-fiction on this period and fairly quickly rehashed them into a fictional narrative.

I'll always enjoy a book on the Tudors, and this one certainly did what I needed it to in this particular set of circumstances, but there are definitely better books in the series.

Two short stories that form prequels to the 'Red Queen' series; 'Queen Song', telling the story of Cal's mother, Queen Coriane, and 'Steel Scars', telling of Diana Farley's background. Although I imagine these could be read anywhere after 'Red Queen', I'm quite glad I read them after I had finished the series proper. 

'Queen Song' is quite a sweet little Cinderella story; Coriane is a minor member of an impoverished House, but nonetheless manages to catch the eye of Prince Tiberias. It gives  lovely insight into the relationship between her and her brother, and her best friend, which gives depth to the inferences made in the main series. Likewise, it makes you feel the gap that has been left in Cal's life, and even more hatred (if that's possible) for the woman who took her place. While there are no real plot spoilers in this prequel, if you were to read it before completing the main series I think some of the emotional resonance would be dampened, especially in the final book.

On the other hand, 'Steel Scars' does include a major plot spoiler for 'Red Queen' so under no circumstances should be read before you start the main series. I feel that this story wasn't as well executed; it's punctuated with coded messages between various members of the Scarlet Guard, but I found in most instances that they just got in the way of the narrative flow. I also don't think this tale does Farley justice; she's such a strong character in the main series, so I was hoping that this would really show her off. Unfortunately, it felt like her actions were limited to reconnaissance and you didn't get to see her in all her glory, in her own right. Nor did you get the background that might be expected. So this just felt like a bit of a damp squib.

Nice to have, but not necessary to enjoy the series.

As much as I enjoyed this book as the conclusion of the 'Red Queen' series, I can't really offer a proper review. Read in snatched moments while my head is most definitely elsewhere. 

It ties all of the plotting and scheming together nicely and is filled with the same energy as 'Mockingjay' throughout. I know I keep using the Hunger Games as a comparable, but it just gives a really good illustration.

Things I didn't enjoy so much; there are too many perspective changes in this one. I get telling the story from all sides, but in this case the author tried to let all of the main characters have their input, which made the flow a little choppy for my liking. 

And I was slightly disappointed by the ending... right now I needed a 'happily ever after' and I didn't quite get it.

I will hopefully come back to this series in future and be able to offer something a bit more constructive.

"Lizzie Borden took an axe
and gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty one."

So says the children's playground rhyme I first heard in a drama class when I was around 15 years old. I can't remember what script it was a part of, or what we were doing with it, but I've never forgotten that rhyme. But nor have I ever done more to find out exactly what Lizzie's story was all about. Until I found this book in a charity shop not so long ago.

Upon reading the blurb, I was expecting this to be a 'fresh take', with the author explaining the murder itself, the trial that followed, and then using modern eyes to reexamine the evidence and draw her own conclusion. However, while this is not the case - the book purely sets the scene and follows the events as they happen, with no revisionist input - for someone wholly unfamiliar with the story I actually found the complete objectivity of it very helpful, as I don't feel like my views have been overly biased by the author's conclusions. It seems that primary sources have been used to great effect to give a clear understanding of the murders themselves and the subsequent scope and flow of the trial, and the arguments of prosecution and defence are stated pretty evenly.

What I also like is that Lizzie herself is not painted as either a femme fatale or a naive innocent, which would have skewed the narrative. It seems that no-one, then or now, quite knew what to make of this middle class, average looking lady of leisure, who may or may not have committed a heinous crime. She certainly doesn't come across to me as a likeable person, but nor does she seem to fit any of the stereotypical boxes you'd expect.

Talking of stereotypes, the author has turned this into a little bit of a commentary on the development of feminism through the repeated references to the fact that women in those days were considered prone to 'hysteria' and that it was almost impossible for people to countenance that a woman could commit such a grave crime. It's also noted that Lizzie's being on her period (her "monthly illness") when the murders were committed formed a fairly significant part of the original enquiry. None of this is overplayed by the author, but it's a constant undertone of the case that really grates on 21st century sensibilities. An all-male judiciary, legal team and jury, who can only stand to talk about menstruation in euphemisms for a couple of sentences before clearing their throat and moving swiftly on... 

I also find it quite telling at the repeated uses of quotes from news sources at the beginning of each trial day's coverage that the crowds waiting for seats in the public gallery get larger, and are comprised by a majority of women from all social classes (categorised by what their dresses are made of!); again, there's the subtle undertone that the journalists of the day disapprove of women being this interested and that it's proving their preconceptions that women are hysterical busybodies.

While I did find the book easy to read and very interesting, I would say that it felt a little dry - it sets the scene well, but it doesn't bring it vividly to life. It feels like more of an interest scholarly exercise (which I gather from the acknowledgements and references it was) rather than a passion project. 

I'm also a little perturbed by the fact that the author has included images not just of the scene of the crime (which is fine), but actually of the victims in the positions in which they were found. They're not close-ups, so they're not overly graphic, but it just doesn't sit well with me. I mean, I am totally squeamish about these things anyway so I could never appreciate it, but even if that weren't the case, it would still bother me. They're victims and, no matter how long ago the act took place, I feel like they deserve more respect than that. For clarity, this isn't directed specifically at this author - it's a general bugbear I have. 

Do did she do it? Short answer; no idea! It's a fascinating case where nothing quite adds up and there's no clear cut answer. I'd love to read a follow up where the author does give her own views! With my lawyer's hat on, if I were a member of the jury I'd probably have agreed with their verdict as I don't think anything was proved "beyond a reasonable doubt", but on the other hand this case does seem to subscribe to  the adage "When you eliminate the impossible, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truth".

A childhood memory fleshed out and filled in. Definitely worthwhile reading.

Book two of the Black Magician trilogy, Sonea has now been inducted into the Guild and is learning to hone her skills as a magician. But she's the odd one out, and so it's not long before the whispers, stares and taunts start. And not only does she have to deal with all of the usual 'playground' politics, but the spectre of the High Lord's secret only serves to put her and all those she cares about in danger. 

This is so much better than the first book in basically every way. There's a narrative plot that actually serves to move the story forward, the character development is deeper, it's got several sub-plots bubbling away nicely that hopefully will carry forward to book three, and generally it's just so much easier to read. 

I particularly enjoyed following Lord Dannyl's travels. He comes across to me as one of those people who are quiet, well meaning and happy to help, but can be quite naive and not always entirely entirely understanding of the bigger picture. So it's lovely to see him coming out of his shell. I think he's my favourite character overall, and something tells me a lot of the resolutions are going to fall on his shoulders once he manages to piece together exactly what's going on in the Guild. The clues are all there; he just has to put them together!

The High Lord has me on edge - in my head I see a Voldemort-esque figure, who surely can't be anything but evil, right? Except there's some lovely layering being done in this book which suggests that all is not as it seems. For me, this really adds an edge to the narrative; it's really difficult to even try and guess what his motives are. He's just creepy!!!

There are a few tropes in here though that do frustrate me. The fact that no-one is talking to each other because they're too scared has so many holes I could strain tea with it! And while the outcast being bullied by a fellow student with an over-inflated ego absolutely makes sense in this context for the wider story, at the same time each encounter becomes less and less effective and begins to just feel like filler. The inevitable resolution to this also feels like something of a disappointment.

I do have to keep reminding myself that Sonea is older than her peers. She says that most of her first class are immature because their attendance at the Guild effectively extends their childhood for five years, but she herself doesn't exactly come across as 'grown up'.

Which does give Dorrien's interactions with her a little bit of an 'ick' factor IMO. I have no problem with age-difference relationships (would be hard for me to when my husband is 11 years older than me!), and as much as the characters seem like they might be a good fit one day, something just doesn't sit right with me at this stage.

I am now definitely interested in how the story will resolve itself - there's plenty of questions left to answer! And the next book is already in transit to my local library, so hopefully not too long to wait!

The second book in Alison Weir's 'Tudor Rose' series, this also ties in with her 'Six Tudor Queens' novels. The women have had their say, but now it's time for the big man himself to tell his side of the story... and perhaps he might not be as monstrous as you think. 

First and foremost, this is a great effort in humanising Henry and seeing the man behind the magnificence. It's so easy to portray him as a monster, but in this the author starts to peel away the layers and imagine what his thought processes, motivations and fears may have been to cause things to go the way they did. It isn't always completely successful; for example, I'd say that his flip-flopping over whether to have Katharine Parr arrested is very quickly dealt with and glossed over, but even there there is some attempt at giving meaning to his actions. In historical terms, we're of course never going to know what went on in his head and I don't think it's remotely plausible to justify ordering the deaths of two wives, whether or not actual hard evidence of infidelity existed (although I of course acknowledge different time, different mindset), but I think fiction is a great medium in which to explore these possibilities. And, in the main, very few do it better than Weir.

That being said, she does make what, in my view, is the classic mistake in both fiction and non-fiction books concerning this period. In the 'Six Tudor Queens' series, all of the wives get books that are roughly the same length so you really get to dive into their lives and characters. In this, as per usual Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn suck up all the air, leaving you to canter through the later wives at lightening speed. Indeed, it always seems to me that Katharine Parr gets the rough end of the deal being number six, as she is so often overlooked. I do appreciate that Katherine of Aragon's 20+ year marriage is of course going to take up more time than the six months suffered by Anne of Cleves, but nevertheless I was hoping for a little more balance, especially because of the author's amazing prior works on the Queens.

I found the pace a little too quick throughout; there's very little pause for breath, you're just on a trajectory from one important historical event to another. However, it flows very well and was incredibly easy to read and follow. Except for the phrase 'you have the sow by the right ear'... I lost count of how many times that appeared, but by the end I was getting incredibly frustrated with the repetition.

The best way I can describe it is that it felt like reading a revision guide to the Tudor period - nothing important is missing, and yet it's not the same as reading a fully-fledged textbook. I had high hopes for this, but I've read better.

This has exactly the same premise and layout as the book I listened to a few weeks ago by the same author, 'A History of Britain in 21 Women'. Mini biographies of 21 women admired by the author for their impact on their community, country and/or world, but this time with an international outlook.

Once again, a wide variety of women are depicted in terms of ethnic diversity, historical period and fields of expertise. From Hatshepsut to Hillary Clinton, the author's clear admiration of her subjects shines through. I will admit to not knowing enough about most of the women to be able to determine whether she is providing a 'rose tinted' picture of their stories (I have read some comments that suggest she does not mention some more controversial or damaging parts of her subjects' stories), but I would argue that these are not meant to be full biographies. Instead, it is simply the author's personal notes as to why she holds herself in awe of them. They're introductions, encouraging you to go and do your own research and learn more about these women's lives so you can form your own opinion.

For example, I have absolutely zero interest in art, but I was most fascinated by the chapter on Frieda Khalo. She sounds like she really did defy the odds! And while I have way too much to read and probably won't specifically seek books on her out, if I do receive a recommendation I would definitely consider adding to my TBR list.

However, in this book I think we learn more about the author than we do the subjects. She does go off on a lot of tangents; I could have done without the five minute description as to why she named one of her dogs after Madonna. There feels like so many wasted words, which could have been used to provide deeper insight into her chosen subjects. As it is, it really does feel like a general overview.

While the chapters on figures from history do appear well researched if not overly detailed, my frustration was piqued by those chapters based on women whom the author has met in a professional setting, the Woman's Hour radio programme. For the most part, these chapters are just long transcriptions of her interviews. I would certainly advocate her using quotes from her own meetings to emphasise particular points, but something about listening to her have both sides of the conversation means something gets lost in translation. And very often, I don't feel that it added to your knowledge of the subject; it feels very much like the author revelling in the fact that she can tell stories about the time she met one of her heroes. 

I cannot judge the choice of her subjects; as I said above, these are the author's personal choices. I think everyone's selections would be completely different and it is an interesting little exercise to think about who you would include. For that alone, this book holds value. But I don't think this book did as good a job at exploring wider women's history as the Brit-centric one; while most of the women featured do have international appeal, their impact somehow seems more limited to their particular sphere of influence.

I am sad that this one didn't appeal to me; I really was hoping to discover some powerhouse women I'd never heard of, but instead I'm left shrugging my shoulders and moving on.

As the Tudor dynasty rose and fell, so did the Dudley family. From humble origins, hard work and luck lead to positions of power, influence and wealth. But when you're not the family sitting on the throne, fortunes can turn on a sixpence, and you're one wrong word away from the headsman's axe...

For me, this book is the epitome of narrative history. It reads like a proper history book, and yet it flows like fiction. The author's style is a perfect blend of factual context and descriptive prose; not only do you read this and learn about the Dudley family, but she also takes the time to immerse you into the world and events through flowing descriptions of particular events, conversations and introspection. I've never read any history book quite so good at storytelling.

While the emphasis does fall on the three 'patriarchs' of the family generations; Edmund, John and Robert, it doesn't just focus on them. It is a proper family affair, with the wives, children, siblings and wider relations all being pulled in to illustrate the tangled web of loyalties, rivalries and relationships that is the Tudor Court. The author has taken the time to tease out stories for most members of this vast brood, so you do get a far more rounded picture than you would from many other sources.

The ups and downs of each generation are dealt with in a very objective way, but equally there is a tacit recognition that these were people and that we need to look at them as more that just mere names in a textbooks. The nuances of thought and reasoning behind the actions each member of the family takes is considered, making them all feel like living, breathing souls. While, for example, I cannot imagine Edmund Dudley was a particularly nice man, I've never seen him portrayed as more than just the miserly tax collector, out to fleece the public for as much as he could. This gives him so much more depth! 

Likewise, so much time is usually spent on the age old question, Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I; was there something else going on? While in this book the question is asked, and there is a thread running through that section of the book that does keep you returning to consider the evidence placed before you, it's not intrusive and there's definitely more to Robert Dudley's story than whether he put paid to the 'Virgin' Queen. 

I think my only slight criticism is that the author does skip ahead a few times during the book, using nothing more than paragrap breaks. This is where is reads more like a novel, but I'm less accepting of the time jumps as ot feels like we could be missing out on some interesting tidbits of information.

In some respects, I do worry that this book perhaps isn't detailed enough for a non-fiction tome. It is very much a general overview of the dudley family and their relationships with the Tudors, and while it really does get into their heads and under their skin, precisely because of this style of writing it does feel perhaps a little light on historical detail in places. 

Overall however, I would thoroughly recommend this book. This is so readable even if you know nothing about the Dudley family and is a wonderful example of how engaging history books can and should be.