In Her Own Right: A Novel of Lady Mary Tudor
Author: Amanda Schiavo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 252
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis: Born into a world of privilege and power, Mary Tudor expected to live the life of every other European Princess during the Renaissance.
She knew it was her duty to marry well, and provide sons and heirs to her future husband, while remaining in the political shadows of a world dominated by ruthless men.
Her father's desperate need for a male heir and his willingness to send everybody who got in his way to their deaths, meant that Mary had very little hope of obtaining the English Crown.
But a series of traumatic events nobody could see coming would propel Mary on a life-long journey to claim what so many believe to be rightfully hers: The Throne of England.
My Review: Mary Tudor was known as the first Queen of England. She had a negative reputation and was often known as Bloody Mary. This historical novel followed Mary’s life as an infant to being a sovereign Queen. It showed how she went from being a spoiled and pampered princess to becoming neglected by her own father.
Mary was a very sympathetic character. She was once a cheerful and happy young child. When her father put her own mother aside, she was neglected. Mary fought for her rights as a true princess. She refused to be acknowledged as illegitimate. Mary was also very devoted to her religion and was willing to fight against her father and brother in order to stand true to her beliefs. Therefore, I really liked Mary Tudor, and I couldn’t wait for her to become queen in her own right!
Overall, this novel is about patience, ambition, and faith. I found all the characters to be realistic and well-developed. I particularly like the characters of Elizabeth and Edward. My favorite part of the book is as the tense relationship between Anne Boleyn and Mary Tudor! I thought that it portrayed their intense rivalry well! There were times that I thought that this novel was very rushed and would have liked for it to be longer! Nevertheless, it was a light and short read that can be read on a lazy Sunday afternoon! I loved how the story was rich in detail and the writing made Tudor England come alive! I recommend this for fans of Carolly Erickson, Alison Weir, and Tony Riches!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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