My Lady ViperAuthor: E Knight
Publication Date: May 2014
Publisher: Knight Media, LLC
Pages: 398
Source: This book was given to me for Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour
Formats: Ebook, Paperback
Synopsis: May, 1536. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.
When Anne Boleyn falls to the executioner's axe on a cold spring morning, yet another Anne vows she will survive in the snakepit court of Henry VIII. But at what cost?
Lady Anne Seymour knows her family hangs by a thread. If her sister-in-law Jane Seymour cannot give the King a son, she will be executed or set aside, and her family with her. Anne throws herself into the deadly and intoxicating intrigue of the Tudor court, determined at any price to see the new queen's marriage a success and the Seymour family elevated to supreme power. But Anne's machinations will earn her a reputation as a viper, and she must decide if her family's rise is worth the loss of her
own soul...
Book Two, Prisoner of the Queen, will be released later in 2014.
My Review: My Lady Viper is a biographical novel of Queen Jane Seymour's, the third wife of Henry VIII, sister-in-law, Anne Seymour. Anne Seymour was known to be disliked around court, and was described as a viper. This novel gives us an in-depth psyche of Anne’s actions as she rises to become the Duchess of Somerset, and also, for a brief time, the most powerful woman in the world. She is not mostly seen as a viper, but as a strong-willed woman, who helps her family.
The story is set during King Henry’s reign and shortly before his marriage to Jane Seymour. It begins with a touching description of the execution of Anne Boleyn that Anne Seymour witnesses. After the execution, Anne and her husband, Edward Seymour, who is the brother of the soon-to-be new queen, are happily celebrating their future prospects because they are linked to the king. They are determined to be a duke and a duchess. However, while Anne is happy with her hopes for the future, she also is filled with remorse for Anne Boleyn. She feels that she is responsible for Anne Boleyn’s death because at the right time, she pushed Jane Seymour into King Henry VIII’s path. She has a feeling that if Jane does not bear a son, then she and the Seymours will fall from grace. Anne is determined to make sure that Jane’s marriage is a success, but to do that she knows that she will be disliked around court.
Anne is a conflicted character. Sometimes, it is hard to like her. She does ruthless actions like plotting a person’s downfall for her and her family’s own selfish gain. However, immediately afterward, she feels guilt. Underneath her formidable exterior, Anne is an emotionally-damaged woman. She wants nothing but to gain the love of her husband, Edward, who has saved her from a traumatic experience. Because of this, she is very loyal to her husband and will do anything for him. She is very strong-willed and she makes her own decisions. Edward looks to her as a confidante and together they work as a team. It is clear that she is a woman of power.
Overall, this book is about family, love, friendship, triumph, and survival. This book is filled with drama, romance, suspense, and political court intrigue. It is a quest for one woman’s ambition and power. My Lady Viper reads like a soap-opera, so it is a fast-paced read. The setting and the characters are well-developed. The story is beautifully written, and I like how it portrays the Tudor court, which is reminiscent of a Shakespearean play. I recommend this to fans of the Tudor period, historical fiction lovers, Philippa Gregory, C.W. Gortner, and Laurien Gardner.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
"E. Knight breathes new life and new scandal into the Tudors. This is an engrossing historical fiction tale that readers will love!" ~ Meg Wessel, A Bookish Affair
"A brilliant illustration of a capricious monarch and the nest of serpents that surrounded him, My Lady Viper is an absolute must. Intricately detailed, cleverly constructed and utterly irresistible." ~ Erin,
Flashlight Commentary
"Author E. Knight proves that though there are a plethora of Tudor novels out there a writer can still create a fresh and unique view of one of history's most treacherous courts, that of England's King Henry VIII. Schemes and scandalous trysts abound in 'My Lady Viper', making for a very captivating read. Racy and deliciously sensual, once started I was hard pressed to put the book down. I eagerly await the next installment in E. Knight's stand-out Tales of the Tudor Courts series!" ~ Amy Bruno, Passages to the Past
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Audio: Coming June 16, 2014 -- Available for
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