emmalita’s review of this novel intrigued me, and given my interest in certain periods of English history, I was curious to see how an alternate history of Jane Grey would work. Lady Jane Grey is one of those historical figures I have honestly not done that much reading on. She held the title of queen for nine days after the death of her Protestant cousin King Edward, and always felt more like a pawn trapped in historical circumstances. Her cousin knew he was dying, and […]
More Like This, Please
This review is for the audiobook version of Bristol House, by Beverly Swerling. This book is practically Sarah bait. History, adventure, ghosts, and a little romance, what more could I want? The story follows Annie Kendall, Tudor historian specializing in religious symbols on doors, as she begins a new research project in London. Annie is a recovering alcoholic trying to rebuild her academic career and has been given a fantastic opportunity to research Jews in the Tudor era, and is set up in an […]
History and intrigue and a dash of WTF
I did not do myself any favors waiting so long to review The Serpent Garden, because now what I remember is that this book alternates between being pretty interesting and completely off-the-wall crazy. Let’s start with the good, for which I’ll just refer to the Goodreads summary: “The book opens in Tudor England, where Henry VIII and his Machiavellian counselor Cardinal Wolsey are scheming to put an English heir on the French throne. They are arranging to marry Henry’s pretty, frivolous younger sister, Mary, to […]
Finally a Philippa Gregory book I actually enjoyed
Young Jewish girl Hannah Verde flees the Inquisition in Spain with her father after her mother is burned for heresy. They travel through Europe to England, calling themselves “Green” and making a new life for themselves as loyal Christians. Hannah´s father has a printing press and soon his skilled work comes to the attention of scholars like John Dee. While John Dee is visiting their print shop with his patron, Lord Robert Dudley, Hannah has one of her visions, seeing an angel over their shoulder. […]