Book Review: The Rose Without A Thorn by Jean Plaidy

The Rose Without A Thorn by Jean Plaidy

Book 11 in the Queens of England series

Paperback, 288 pages

Three Rivers Press

June 24, 2003

★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Personal collection

From the pen of legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy comes an unforgettable true story of royalty, passion, and innocence lost.

Born into an impoverished branch of the noble Howard family, young Katherine is plucked from her home to live with her grandmother, the Duchess of Norfolk. The innocent girl quickly learns that her grandmother's puritanism is not shared by Katherine's free-spirited cousins, with whom she lives. Beautiful and impressionable, Katherine becomes involved in two ill-fated love affairs before her sixteenth birthday. Like her cousin Anne Boleyn, she leaves her grandmother's home to become a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII. The royal palaces are exciting to a young girl from the country, and Katherine's duties there allow her to be near her handsome cousin, Thomas Culpepper, whom she has loved since childhood.

But when Katherine catches the eye of the aging and unhappily married king, she is forced to abandon her plans for a life with Thomas and marry King Henry. Overwhelmed by the change in her fortunes, bewildered and flattered by the adoration of her husband, Katherine is dazzled by the royal life. But her bliss is short-lived as rumors of her wayward past come back to haunt her, and Katherine's destiny takes another, deadly, turn.

I read this book immediately following Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Inheritance, which made sense seeing as they both cover the same characters. You can see my review of Gregory’s book here. I liked reading them back to back in order to get a more well-rounded view of the character of Katherine Howard.

Plaidy's Katherine is looking back on her life retelling all of the events that have led up to her present state of confinement. You even get some little side notes like "if I had only known" or "I would have done that differently". It's refreshing to see someone of that time period recognizing their faults, but I’m not sure that, in reality, Katherine actually realized what was happening. Plaidy makes Katherine likeable, naive, and comes of age very quickly at a time when one needed to fully understand the world around them. I actually enjoyed Katherine in this novel, where as in some other books, she is whiny, overly sexual, and just unlikable.

This was my first Plaidy read and it definitely made me a Plaidy follower. Her characters feel very real and there are so many little details about the world around them that you don’t get sometimes in other books. A wonderful read.

 

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Anne the Queen
• Jean Plaidy’s Royal Intrigue
  

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Jean Plaidy:

Jean Plaidy  also has written many other historical fiction books under several pen names.  The other books in this series include:

Loyal in Love (Book 1)

Queen of this Realm (Book 2)

Victoria Victorious (Book 3)

The Lady in the Tower (Book 4)

The Courts of Love (Book 5)

In the Shadow of the Crown (Book 6)

The Queen's Secret (Book 7)

The Reluctant Queen (Book 8)

The Merry Monarch's Wife (Book 9)
[My Review]

The Queen's Devotion (Book 10)

My other reviews by this author:

• The Merry Monarch's Wife
• Madame Serpent
• The Shadow of the Pomegranate

Find Jean Plaidy: Royal Intrigue Blog

 

 

Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Jean Plaidy Challenge 2010

The wonderful ladies at Plaidy's Royal Intrigue are hosting the Jean Plaidy Challenge again this year - but it is a little more formal. The challenge will run from January 15, 2010 until December 15, 2010.

There are 3 reading levels:

• Ms. Carr: read 6 Books
• Ms. Holt: read 8 Books
• Grand Plaidy Lady: Over 12 books

There will be a winner picked from each category at the end of the year. If you want your reviews posted on their website you just need to drop an email to them.

I think I am going to pick the Ms. Carr level - I only read 3 last year so we will see what happens this year.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Audiobook Review: The Shadow of the Pomegranate by Jean Plaidy

The Shadow of the Pomegranate by Jean Plaidy

AKA: Katherine of Aragon Compilation

Book 3 in The Tudor Saga series

Unabridged, 8 hr. 48 min.

Blackstone Audiobooks Inc.

Anne Flosnick (Narrator)

September 1, 2008
★★★☆ ☆

Genre: Historical Fiction, Audiobook

Source: Borrowed from Arleigh @ Historical-Fiction.com

“Whilst the young King Henry VIII basks in the pageants and games of his glittering court, his doting queen's health and fortunes fade. Henry's affection for his older wife soon strays, and the neglected Katherine decides to use her power as Queen to dangerous foreign advantage.

 

Overseas battles play on Henry's volatile temper, and his defeat in France has changed the good-natured boy Katherine loved into an infamously callous ruler. With no legitimate heir yet born, Katherine once again begins to fear for her future...”

The Shadow of the Pomegranate is the second part of the three book series about Katherine of Aragon. It spans the time period from shortly after Katherine’s marriage to Henry up until shortly after the birth of Henry’s son with Bessie Blount. This is the true heart and soul of the story of Henry and Kate.

One of the things that I enjoyed was the way the story of Bessie Blount was described. The feeling that I had gotten about her before what that she wasn’t really anyone. This story made her feel like more of a person and understand what Henry might have seen in her and how he could have rationalized his liaison (not that I really liked her). Another significant part of the novel was the viewpoints of Emperor Maximilian and King Ferdinand of Spain. I hadn’t read anything up to this point that had shown an outsider perspective of him. It does seem that they really did use him for their own ends. I enjoyed the depiction of Katherine in this book – she was angry and outspoken about his affairs. Although my all time favorite characterization of Katherine still has to be in The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory.

Although this is part of a trilogy, this book works well as a stand-alone – especially if you know anything about the relationship between Henry and Katherine.

★★★★☆

As this is an audio book, commentary on the narrator is a must. This narrator was very good. She had very convincing accents for the French, English, and Spanish characters. It added a whole new feel to everyone and helped keep the people straight. I really enjoy it when the narrator really gets into the character and their emotions.

You can preview a short sample of the audiobook (links to Audible)

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Jean Plaidy's Royal Intrigue

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Also by Jean Plaidy:

Author Jean Plaidy also has written scores of other novels.  The other books in The Tudor Saga include:

Uneasy Lies the Head  (Book 1)

Katherine the Virgin Widow (Book 2)

The King’s Secret Matter (Book 4)

Murder Most Royal (Book 5)

St. Thomas’s Eve (Book 6)

The Sixth Wife (Book 7)

The Thistle and the Rose (Book 8)

Mary, Queen of France (Book 9)

For a Queen's Love (Book 10)

AKA: The Spanish Bridegroom

Lord Robert (Book 11)
AKA: Gay Lord Robert; The Queen's Favorite

My other reviews of this author's books:

• Madame Serpent
• The Merry Monarch's Wife
• Rose Without a Thorn

Find Jean Plaidy: Fan Website

Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court

Mailbox Monday #10

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marica at The Printed Page.

This week I have received one book for review, one from a giveaway, and three that I purchased from the UK Book Depository. I was excited today when I opened my mailbox and there were 2 packages inside. My thought was "Score!", until I realized that it was for my boyfriend from paperbackswap.com, sigh. I find it funny that I was the one who signed up for it first, yet he gets his book first. I have to give my thanks to Marie from The Burton Review for mentioning that site so many times that I felt compelled to check it out and discover the gold!

Ok, now onto what actually came in the mailbox:

Review Copy from author Eva Etzioni-Halevy

• The Triumph of Deborah

Won from The Burton Review

• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory - it is a beautiful book - I absolutely love how the front and back covers are opposite each other!

Purchased from UK Book Depository (yes I know there is a US version now, but they don't have the same books I want (mostly Plaidy) with the beautiful covers!)

• The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory
• The Other Tudors by Philippa Jones
• The Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy

(PS to fill up the carousel widget I needed 6 items - so I threw in what my boyfriend got today, haha - Odd Hours by Dean Koontz!)

What came in your mailbox this week?




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Time to Expand Your Vocabulary Again

Hey Everyone, it's time for your regularly scheduled dose of vocabulary! This time the words are courtesy of Jean Plaidy and The Merry Monarch's Wife. I knew ahead of time that Plaidy uses a lot of old fashioned words, and boy does she ever. I had to keep a running list as I went. So here they are, hopefully they are new to you too.

Augury – (n) the art, ability, or practice of divination

Alacrity - (n) cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

Temerity – (n) reckless boldness

Felicitous – (adj) well-suited for the occasion, as an action, manner, or expression

Halcyon – (adj) happy, joyful, carefree

Saturnine – (adj) sluggish in temperament, gloomy

Tessellated – (adj) arranged in or having the appearance of a mosaic

Sylvan – (adj) of, pertaining to, or inhabiting the woods

Piquant – (adj) agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive

Chalybeate – (adj) containing or impregnated with salts of iron, as a mineral spring or medicine

Calash – (n) a light vehicle pulled by one or two horses, seating two to four passengers, and having two or four wheels, a seat for a driver on a splashboard, and sometimes a folding top

Abstemious – (adj) sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet

Calumny – (n) a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something

Macula – (n) a spot or blotch, esp. on one’s skin

Insouciance – (n) lack of care or concern; indifferent

Seraglio – (n) the part of a house or palace in which the wives and concubines are secluded; harem

Curate – (n) a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar

Whew, that was a long one!




Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Merry Monarch’s Wife by Jean Plaidy

The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy
AKA: The Pleasures of Love
Queens of England series 
Paperback, 336 pages
Three Rivers Press
January 22, 2008
★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Collection

“Charles II is restored to the English throne, and his court is lively and even scandalous. The country is eager for succession to be clear and certain: The next king will be the son of Charles II and his queen, Catherine of Braganza. Yet Catherine, daughter of the king of Portugal and a Catholic, has never been popular with the English people. She is also having great difficulty conceiving an heir, even as many of Charles’s well-known mistresses are bearing his children with ease. Catherine is aware that courtiers close to Charles are asking him to divorce her and take another wife—yet she is determined to hold her title in the face of all odds.”

Catherine of Braganza is a quiet, reserved, and innocent young lady when she comes to marry the Merry Monarch at the licentious court of Charles II. Her eyes are rather quickly opened when she is introduced to her new husband’s mistress, Barbara Palmer. Catherine would have to figure out how to handle her husband’s many mistresses: Barbara Palmer, Louise de Kerouaille, Nell Gwyn and many others. Catherine also has to handle the many plots that implicated her in attempts on the King’s life, hatred toward her for her Catholic religion, and failure to conceive an heir.

Plaidy does a great job at describing the many mistresses that Charles II has. We get to see not only how the court and countrymen reacted to these many women but also have an insight into what Catherine might have felt about them. She is a character that you can find much sympathy for, especially as another woman. I can imagine that it would be hard enough to handle one mistress, never mind several at once.

Prior to reading this book I had no experience with the court of Charles II. Charles is quite the interesting person. He was always lively and jovial and quick to brush off personal problems. It is amazing how carefree his life seems to be. While he cares about how his dalliances with other women affect his wife, he also expects her to handle them with decorum and not pay any attention to it (the nerve!).

Of the few Plaidy novels that I have read so far this is one of my favorites. The characters are very well developed and I could really feel for Catherine. Enough background information is given for a solid understanding of these people without having to look anything up to feel comfortable in that time period.

Plaidy is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors!

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Fresh Off the Shelf

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Jean Plaidy:

Jean Plaidy  also has written many other historical fiction books under several pen names.  The other books in this Queens of England series include:

Loyal in Love (AKA Myself, My Enemy)

Queen of this Realm

Victoria, Victorious

The Lady in the Tower

The Courts of Love

In the Shadow of the Crown

The Queen's Secret

The Reluctant Queen

The Queen's Devotion (AKA William's Wife)

The Rose Without a Thorn
[My Review]

My reviews of other books by this author:

• Madame Serpent
• The Rose Without a Thorn
• The Shadow of the Pomegranate

Find Jean Plaidy: Royal Intrigue Blog

Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court

Women of Charles II - Catherine of Braganza

Hello everyone, welcome to the first of a four part series on The Women of Charles II. Each day I am going to reveal one woman who played a major role in the life of King Chales II. I thought that it would be appropriate to start off the week with his wife: Catherine of Braganza.

Catherine came to England from the newly recognized country of Portugal. By marrying into England, she was able to protect her home country from invasion by Spain. Catherine and Charles were married on April 23, 1662 - she was 23, considered old for a first marriage, especially a royal one.

Catherine was not popular in England because she was a Catholic and they were still holding a grudge against Catholics after the reign of "Bloody" Mary Tudor. But, she was able to have influence over the people in one way; she introduced the custom of tea drinking to England. This is traditionally thought of as an English custom, but not until she started it!

Catherine had to share her life with Charles with his many other mistresses. Even in this situation, Charles insisted that Catherine be respected, as she was his wife. He took her side when plots were discovered trying to implicate her, as a Catholic, in plans to kill the king. He also refused many times to divorce her. Catherine was never able to carry a child to term, having at least 2 miscarriages, and not having a legitimate heir to the throne was a reason the people brought up the idea of a divorce.

After Charles' sudden death in 1685, Catherine stayed in England for awhile. She returned to Portugal in 1692, during the reign of William and Mary. Upon her return to Portugal, she was named Regent and ruled during her brother's illness. She died in 1705.

If you would like further reading on Catherine of Braganza try:
The Merry Monarch's Wife: The Story of Catherine of Braganza (A Queens of England Novel) by Jean Plaidy

or

Wife to Charles II by Hilda Lewis




Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court