Renaissance - The Fall and Rise of a King - Marla Skidmore

Title - Renaissance - The Fall and Rise of a King
Author - Marla Skidmore (Twitter)
ISBN - 9781912183296
Genre - Historical Fiction 
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Softcopy 
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US - Amazon CA -  Barnes & Noble - Book Depository 

The Plain of Redemore, 22nd August 1485

Richard III - betrayed and defeated!
His gaze sweeps over the bloody carnage surrounding him. A cry goes up: "We have found the king!" He sees Henry Tudor standing triumphant over a mauled and battered corpse and hears him whisper, "It is done. England is mine."

How can this be, when he is not dead?

With the help of his celestial mentor Father Gilbert, a Franciscan monk, Richard will learn that malign Tudor propaganda has not reigned supreme and that history did not entirely paint him as the child-killer king.

Will he grasp the chance of renaissance and exit the spiritual purgatory that has held him hostage for more than half a millennium?

"After Tewkesbury I murdered Henry VI and his son Edward Lancaster. I executed my brother Clarence - drowning him in a butt of Malmsey. I usurped England's throne to which i had no right. I killed my nephews. I poisoned my wife in order to incestuously marry my niece. My place in history is amongst the most reviled and evil villain's that ever existed. How can someone whose reputation is so mired in infamy find peace in heaven?"

Quote from Chapter 6 page 42

So first off let me start by saying that i am not a huge fan of Richard III and my opinion of him isn't the greatest since Henry VII is my personal favourite King in England's history but this book made me like Richard, with the way this book is written Skidmore tells the tale of a new version with Richard looking back on the few years he was King. 

Richard in this book kind of reminds me of the Richard from horrible histories (If you don't know what i am talking about click here) he has compassion, and he is not the monster that is mostly portrayed in books and TV, don't get me wrong i still am a firm believer that the best person won on the day but now i can understand Richard a bit more than i did before. 

The development of Richard's character was really good, he starts of this downtrodden, sad, and then he grows as he learns of his fate, i enjoyed this book immensely i love Marla Skidmore's writing she has a way with words that make you need to read more and more and not put the book down i was gripped from the very first page and it had me all the way to the end. 

This book is a true and wonderful Historical Fiction, it isn't filled with fairy tales, it isn't filled with boring facts and written like a biography, it is written in a way that is very hard to do, and my only complaint was that it is only 171 pages long, i wished it had been longer maybe to 250 pages but other than that i loved this book, and i cannot wait to read more of Skidmore's writing. I am so glad i went to the Bosworth Anniversary Weekend and found this Author and her book because it has become one of my favourites from this particular era and i can't wait for the next book which i believe is about Sir Francis Lovell, but for now if Historical fiction is something that you enjoy then you will enjoy this book completely and i highly recommend it. 

Until Next Time 

Happy Reading 

Jade 

🌹🌹🌹🌹

(there was no white roses)

BBC History Weekend Book Haul

Hello, so i went to the BBC History weekend in Winchester on the 7th - 8th October, and it was wonderful, and i obviously brought too many books that my shoulder's were aching for the past few days, so lets get straight onto to Haul, 

Arthur & The Kings of Britain - Miles Russell

The Templar's - Dan Jones

King John - Marc Morris

She Wolves - Helen Castor 

The Private Lives of The Saints - Janina Ramirez 

Henry VI - James Ross 

(Penguin Monarch's Edition) 

House's of Power - Simon Thurley 

Elizabeth's Women - Tracy Borman 

Richard III - Chris Skidmore 

To Catch A King - Charles Spencer

Henry VIII - John Guy 

(Penguin Monarch's Edition) 

(This wasn't a talk i just really want to collect all of this beautiful series.) 

OK so that is all the books i brought and had signed, if you ever get the chance to go to this event i highly recommend it, for it is an experience. 

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

Elizabeth of York - Alison Weir

Title - Elizabeth of York: The first Tudor Queen
Author - Alison Weir
ISBN - 9780099546474
Genre - Non Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Paperback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Waterstones - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Many are familiar with the story of the much-married King Henry VIII of England and the celebrated reign of his daughter, Elizabeth I. But it is often forgotten that the life of the first Tudor queen, Elizabeth of York, Henry’s mother and Elizabeth’s grandmother, spanned one of England’s most dramatic and perilous periods. Now New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir presents the first modern biography of this extraordinary woman, whose very existence united the realm and ensured the survival of the Plantagenet bloodline.
Her birth was greeted with as much pomp and ceremony as that of a male heir. The first child of King Edward IV, Elizabeth enjoyed all the glittering trappings of royalty. But after the death of her father; the disappearance and probable murder of her brothers—the Princes in the Tower; and the usurpation of the throne by her calculating uncle Richard III, Elizabeth found her world turned upside-down: She and her siblings were declared bastards.
As Richard’s wife, Anne Neville, was dying, there were murmurs that the king sought to marry his niece Elizabeth, knowing that most people believed her to be England’s rightful queen. Weir addresses Elizabeth’s possible role in this and her covert support for Henry Tudor, the exiled pretender who defeated Richard at the Battle of Bosworth and was crowned Henry VII, first sovereign of the House of Tudor. Elizabeth’s subsequent marriage to Henry united the houses of York and Lancaster and signaled the end of the Wars of the Roses. For centuries historians have asserted that, as queen, she was kept under Henry’s firm grasp, but Weir shows that Elizabeth proved to be a model consort—pious and generous—who enjoyed the confidence of her husband, exerted a tangible and beneficial influence, and was revered by her son, the future King Henry VIII.
Drawing from a rich trove of historical records, Weir gives a long overdue and much-deserved look at this unforgettable princess whose line descends to today’s British monarch—a woman who overcame tragedy and danger to become one of England’s most beloved consorts. 

I dont like reading Historical non fiction because of how long they take me to read, i have ead this book on and off for about 4 months and it wasn't because it was a bad book it was because for some strange reason it takes me so long to read historical non fiction. I have loved the Tudor period from a very young age we are taught from a very young age about Henry VIII and his six wives, Elizabeth I Queen Glorianna and the Spanish Armada, Mary I and the hundreds of Protestants she burned. But we (will I) was never taught about Henry VII and his wife and it wasn't until 2013 that i learned about them, and fell in love with them and wanted to know more and more until they became by favourite royals in British History. So when i found this book i was extremely excited and it didn't disappoint. 

Weir has a way of writing from her fiction to her non fiction it just flows and tells a story and the way she captured Elizabeth and her time it was very well researched and well thought out. Elizabeth is so under appreciated it is good to see her getting the recognition she deserves and Weir definitely give her that. 
I will say at times it felt like Weir was taking speculation as fact and that bugged me and is the main reason this wasn't 5 flags. 

There was so much drama in both generations before and after and that is why some people forget about her because she did her duty and kept quite raised her children, loved and supported her husband and was the perfect image of how a medieval Queen should be. But she wasn't boring she knew how to survive and in a time where her own husband was threatened by her birth status and her family creeping up and trying to take the crown, she knew that to survive she had to be loyal and quiet and keep out of politics. 

Overall, this book is a must read for people who love non fiction, History and The Tudors because it explains so much about Henry VIII's upbringing and could explain his six wives. 

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

The Virgin Queen's Daughter - Ella March Chase

Title - The Virgin Queen's Daughter
Author - Ella March Chase
ISBN - 9781785034275
Genre - Adult > Historical Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Paperback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Waterstones - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

It is a place where reputations can stand or fall on the merest hint of scandal. Lingering rumours even surround the Virgin Queen herself, despite the fate of those foolish enough to besmirch her reputation.
Recently arrived in court, Nell de Lacey is surprised to discover that many think she bears more than a passing resemblance to the younger queen. That, coupled with an old mystery about a missing portion of the Queen's past some years prior, is enough to set tongues wagging. And wherever the truth lies, even the rumour is sufficient to place Nell on a dangerous path that could all so easily end with her head on a block... 

I never expected to like this book as much as i did, it had me hooked from page one. It was intriguing and very well written, the characters and the story came to life. I loved this because it was a tale of lies, suspicion, love, family, and friendship. 

Nell was an amazing character with everything thing she deals with, and everything thrown at her with her attitude and her love of learning in a time when Gentle women were meant to bear children and run the household. She has to survive in a situation that could very well be the death of her.
The other characters were also really good from Gabriel and Mary to Queen Elizabeth And Dudley just made the book what it was. They were all brilliantly written, every single character in this book made it a fun reading experience.

The story was one that has been dabbled in but never really delved into, its a tiny bit of information that may not even be about Elizabeth I, but there is such a question mark to the time she spent 'ill' in bed after being sent away from Katherine Parr. It was very well written and probably one of my favourite books set in the Elizabethan period and the fact that the two main characters are fictional makes it even better because you don't have the truth or the proof of what really happened and you can let your imagination run wild.

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

The Private Lives of The Tudors - Tracy Borman

Title - The Private Lives of The Tudors
Author - Tracy Borman
ISBN - 9781444782899
Genre - Adult > Historical > Non Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Hardback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

'I do not live in a corner. A thousand eyes see all I do.' Elizabeth I
The Tudor monarchs were constantly surrounded by an army of attendants, courtiers and ministers. Even in their most private moments, they were accompanied by a servant specifically appointed for the task. A groom of the stool would stand patiently by as Henry VIII performed his daily purges, and when Elizabeth I retired for the evening, one of her female servants would sleep at the end of her bed. 
These attendants knew the truth behind the glamorous exterior. They saw the tears shed by Henry VII upon the death of his son Arthur. They knew the tragic secret behind 'Bloody' Mary's phantom pregnancies. And they saw the 'crooked carcass' beneath Elizabeth I's carefully applied makeup, gowns and accessories. 
It is the accounts of these eyewitnesses, as well as a rich array of other contemporary sources that historian Tracy Borman has examined more closely than ever before. With new insights and discoveries, and in the same way that she brilliantly illuminated the real Thomas Cromwell - The Private Life of the Tudors will reveal previously unexamined details about the characters we think we know so well.

I have said many times before i don't read many Non Fiction, but recently i have been really getting into them, i am a member of Historic Royal Palaces and there are members events and The Author is a curator of HRP and she did an event about this book and i didn't read it until the end of June, but i am so glad that i did because i learnt so much, and it was a really well researched book.

The Tudors are the most well known Royal Family in British History, but then again when we talk about the Tudors we only ever really talk about Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Which i find unfortunate because the story of Henry VII is one that should be more well known, because he and his wife united the Waring houses of York and Lancaster. They brought relative  peace after 30 years of civil war, Borman spends the most time talking about Henry VIII, because he did a lot in his reign. If you love The Tudor Period, or if you are curious about it or if you just wish to know more i highly recommend this book. 

I enjoyed this book, and reading some facts i knew and some that i didn't even though this book was more expensive and i wouldn't normally pay that price i did and its a choice i don't regret because it is my favourite Non fiction i have read.

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

The Hollow Crown - Dan Jones

Title - The Hollow Crown / The Wars of The Roses & The Rise of The Tudors
Author - Dan Jones
ISBN - 9780571288023
Genre - Historical > Non Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Paperback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Waterstones - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

 Dan Jones tells the history of one of the most turbulent times in English history the civil was known then as the Cousins War and more commonly known now as The War of The Roses. Jones tells the tale from Henry VI to the Rise of the Tudor dynasty 

Honestly this is the first Historical Fiction i have finished and I'm glad that i read this book, even though it was a Non Fiction it didn't feel that way it was thrilling and exhilarating to read and it was packed full of information. 

When it came to the information it gave, 99% of it was perfect and completely historically correct but i did find one fault and that was mix up of two of the Woodville Brothers John & Edward. this wasn't something that bothered me because i knew the truth when i read it but if someone doesn't know the truth then it is giving them false information. 

But like i said it was a thrilling read and it read like fiction and not non fiction but it was so good that you do realise that it is non fiction because of the amount of information you are getting, it felt like a film in my head as i was reading it.

I gave this 5 stars because of how informative it was and just the way it is written, this is one of the best non fiction books i have ever read and it has made me want to read Jones' other book one i have mentioned before as a book i would probably never finish because of how big it is, but now i really want to read it.

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

Elizabeth & The Prince of Spain - Margaret Irwin - Spoiler Free Review

Title - Elizabeth & The Prince of Spain
Author - Margaret Irwin
Series - The Elizabeth Trilogy / Good Queen Bess Trilogy #3 
ISBN - 9780749012625
Genre - Adult > Historical Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Paperback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Waterstones - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

 The final book in the Elizabeth Trilogy is an epic conclusion to the early life of Queen Elizabeth I, but Philip Prince of Spain doesn't not wish to make it easy for her to he has been warned about his Wife's half sister she is a heretic, a rebel and a potential enemy but there is something abut her, something that makes him want her near him even if she is a heretic she is an alluring Heretic.
Elizabeth is accused of Treason and the only person who can keep her from the Tower is her sisters husband but that will endure the wrath of Bloody Mary, can Elizabeth survive to take the throne and rule as a Queen in her own right as well as making sure Philip doesn't over step out of bounds.

So before i start i will say this is the best in the series by a mile, it didn't have the whiny characters like in the previous two books, and the characters seem to be acting their age and that was my biggest problem in the other books and that was solved and that is one of the main reasons this ended up with 4 stars and not 5. 

I did still have a couple minor problem but i just ignored them, and that is the fact we didn't see Elizabeth for the first 100pgs its all about Philip and i not sure how i feel about that he was a good character and i enjoyed reading his POV, but i love reading from Bess' more. Mary's character was as pathetic as usual and that makes me sad because i wish that for once we would get a strong woman like her Mother and Grandmothers. Bess on the other hand has really grown since the first book and that was amazing to see i hated her in the first book and now you cant start to see the Queen she becomes inside of her waiting to burst out. 

I liked the story there really wasn't much of one it was more Elizabeth trying to survive and Philip trying to get her to have sex with him. But what storyline there was it did flow pretty well and is one of the best series i have read in the Tudor Genre so for that I commend it since stories about Elizabeth I normally only keep my attention for the first book. but this entire series was enjoyable and some of the best historical fiction and it feels timeless when your are reading it you would never guess that it was first published in 1953 so i really hope you give this series a try it is one of the best i have read. 

Until Next Time

Happy Reading

The Queen's Choice - Anne O'Brien - Spoiler Free Review

Title - The Queen's Choice
Author - Anne O'Brien
ISBN - 9781848454071
Genre - Adult > Historical Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Hardback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Waterstones - Book Depository - Amazon UK

Joanna must choose, her family and country or King Henry IV and England choosing one means she must leave her children behind and choosing the other means she will forever be unhappy. After making her choice Joanna must stumble through the life she has made for herself and the consequences of her actions and the people around hers actions as well the English will never accept a French bride let alone a Breton so will she make the right choice for her and everyone around hers sanity or will she throw it all in, in the name of love and lust.

I am not entirely sure how i feel about this book, at times i am really happy about how this story is portrayed then other times not so much, and at times it was confusing and not very clear. I definitely over looked that because i always fall in love with O'Brien writing and it draws you in, and keeps you hooked for the entire book.

The characters were good my only tiny mark down were there was just so many it got confusing at time, and also many of them had the same names it is nothing to do with the author since that is the way it was back then but just going in know you are going to have to pay attention to who's who. I like Joanna as a main character she was a very strong female lead for this time era and the male characters were all very different her first husband to Henry IV were complete opposites, and it seemed like all the men were contradictions of each other. 

The story was good and Anne O'Brien tells amazing stories and has such amazing world building it makes you feel like you are right there back in the 15th century but i would have liked a little bit more, but really only on emotions and not much else. It was very sad and emotional, i could never do what she had to do and O'Brien wrote this perfectly. What i love about O'Brien's writing is that even though this is an adult Historical Fiction she doesn't go for the Romance & Sex angle. There is romance but sex is not a huge part of it like it is in so many other AHF's novels. I have so far loved every book i have read by her and i cant wait to read more about the woman history forgot.

My only couple of marks down is the ending was very anti-climactic, it was amazing up until the last about 50 pages and then it sort of tailed off, not the best ending because it leaves you feeling unsatisfied and that isn't very fun when you have been reading this book for a while and the ending isn't memorable, and to go with that there were periods of this book that nothing really happened then it felt like at other times too much was happening it was very hard to find a balanced section where just the right amount of stuff was going on to be able to follow it. 

I really did enjoy this book it was good, sad, and happy all rolled into one. I cant wait to read more from this author. 

Until Next Time

Happy Reading