jamiedee24's reviews
253 reviews

Okay, this book was just a fun read. I didn't expect anything too seriously, but I did enjoy it. He had some good insights into life in Vegas, and while I don't agree with all of his commentary, it was a worthwhile, easy read. Viva Las Vegas!

One of my favorites from Ms. Gregory. I love how she delved into the life of Mary Boleyn, who was a prominent figure in the court, but often overlooked in the drama surrounding her siblings. She seemed stuck in the crossfire of a family who would seek fame and prestige at any length, and it was interesting to see her life imagined as someone who fled the glamour of the court, and ultimately spared herself from the fate of her doomed family.

This is probably my favorite book from Ms. Gregory. I love how she took the stories of three very different women and intertwined them into this historical dialogue. I was always intrigued by the story of the doomed Katherine Howard; such a young foolish girl caught in the middle of royal drama.

I was also drawn to the story of Jane Boleyn- a woman who arguably sent her husband to the headsman, but still craved the glitz and glamour of court life. Ultimately, she paid the same price as those she helped lead astray- it leads one to wonder if there was indeed a Boleyn curse, or if Henry's hatred of the family was enough to condemn her years later.

Finally, I was elated to see some re-imagining of Anne of Cleves. I feel like she is a historical character who is all too often passed over in history, and she deserves to have her story told. I feel as if she escaped a great fate, as we have seen all too often with the wives of Henry VIII. She was a pawn in political plays, and lost much of her freedoms in the process. I feel, given what we know of her, she would have been a kind and gentle queen.