Helpful Score: 17
A sequel to The Other Boleyn Girl. You don't need to read them in order, but if you don't know anything about the reign of Henry the 8th, I would read TOBG first. I don't think that this book would be the same without a good understanding of what was going on at the time and the crazy stuff that Henry did. I also think it helps to have a sense of what Henry was like as a younger man to appreciate how messed up this period in English history was and how things progressed with Henry's growing power.
This book is from the point of view of three women, Anne of Cleves(Henry's fourth wife), Jane Boleyn (The wife of George, Anne Boleyn's brother) and Katherine Howard (Henry's fifth wife). I normally don't like it when the point of view changes from more than two characters, but it was done very well and I didn't mind at all. It did not feel segmented because when it changed POV character, the new character picked the story up from where the last character left off.
This is good historical fiction and a worth reading if you enjoy the genre and a must read for those of you who are interested in the period.
As a woman I find it utterly frightening to imagine living in Henry's court. To live in a time where you are owned by the men in your family and traded to another man, like a horse. To have little or no choice about anything in your life and your worth is judged on your ability to give birth to a boy child. To live in fear of being drug to a scaffold, kicking and screaming, to be beheaded on the whim of a madman, with no trial, or proof of a crime. It's chilling. I find it a whole lot scarier than anything Stephen King's written in the last twenty years.
This book is from the point of view of three women, Anne of Cleves(Henry's fourth wife), Jane Boleyn (The wife of George, Anne Boleyn's brother) and Katherine Howard (Henry's fifth wife). I normally don't like it when the point of view changes from more than two characters, but it was done very well and I didn't mind at all. It did not feel segmented because when it changed POV character, the new character picked the story up from where the last character left off.
This is good historical fiction and a worth reading if you enjoy the genre and a must read for those of you who are interested in the period.
As a woman I find it utterly frightening to imagine living in Henry's court. To live in a time where you are owned by the men in your family and traded to another man, like a horse. To have little or no choice about anything in your life and your worth is judged on your ability to give birth to a boy child. To live in fear of being drug to a scaffold, kicking and screaming, to be beheaded on the whim of a madman, with no trial, or proof of a crime. It's chilling. I find it a whole lot scarier than anything Stephen King's written in the last twenty years.
I enjoyed this book, although at times I found Howard's voice rather annoying. But I had to remind myself, she was portrayed as a flighty teenager in this book and at that age, I was probably annoying as well.
Another great tale by Gregory. I haven't been disappointed with any of her Tudor books (yet). Recommended to lovers of historical fiction/romance with an interest in the Tudors.
Another great tale by Gregory. I haven't been disappointed with any of her Tudor books (yet). Recommended to lovers of historical fiction/romance with an interest in the Tudors.
Helpful Score: 8
Phillipa Gregory continues to write historical fiction from interesting angles. This tale is told from the perspective of 3 women in the court of Henry VIII; Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane (Rochford) Boleyn, who was the sister-in-law to ill-fated Anne, and the wife of George, Anne's brother, whom she betrayed out of jealousy, sealing their fate on the scaffold. The story tells the tale of events in the same time sequence, but from the three different perspectives, A Queen, a lady in waiting, a lady in waiting who became a queen. Anne of Cleves comes off the best -- you had to pity anyone married to Henry, Catherine merely pathetic and Jane conniving and obnoxious. Told all together, the story is a complete and satisfying novel, well written and with powerful character development.
Helpful Score: 6
Philippa Gregory has drawn convincing portraits of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives: Anne of Cleves, sensible, warm-hearted and wise; and Katherine Howard, foolish, impulsive and self-centered. Her grasp of Jane Boleyn's character is not as strong, and the novel drags in the middle, but overall it was a good read and better than "The Other Boleyn Girl."
Helpful Score: 4
Philippa Gregory's follow-up to The Other Boleyn Girl does not disappoint. This book is 515 delicious pages - it had me reading every chance I got and long into the night. When it ended, I longed for more.
Helpful Score: 3
A chilling account of Henry VIII's descent into madness, and the horror shared by those in his court. Also a poignant effort to retrieve the history of three women in his grasp. A true page-turner. Don't let the book's heft put you off -- I read it in a weekend.
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book - but I feel it was not as good as the first. Two of the narrators of this book were hardly lovable, so maybe that had something to do with my preference. I really enjoyed Mary Boleyn as the narrator of the first.
Helpful Score: 2
great addition to Gregory's Tudor series. I particularly enjoyed how she wove the thoughts of the 3 women together.
Helpful Score: 2
I thought that this book was good. Not as good as "The Other Boleyn Girl", but worth reading nevertheless. I liked the style of this book - it's written as diaries kept by three women: Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn.
Helpful Score: 2
Great read! Well told tale set in the court of Henry VIII. Events and experiences as seen through the eyes of 3 important people there-Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, Jane Rochford.
Helpful Score: 2
great book great historical details from one of the best historical fiction writers ever. Highly recommended!
Helpful Score: 2
Overlapping narratives of Great Harry's Queens 4 and 5 (Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard), with another plot on the fate of the possibly-mad widow of George Boleyn, Jane Rochford. You know, the one who helped to get Anne and George Boleyn executed by her ghastly accusation of....?
Another eminently readable page-turner from Philippa Gregory. I would rate it slightly below her other Tudor novels, simply because with the 2 queens and Jane Rochford, the plot didn't seem to have as much depth or focus.
Another eminently readable page-turner from Philippa Gregory. I would rate it slightly below her other Tudor novels, simply because with the 2 queens and Jane Rochford, the plot didn't seem to have as much depth or focus.
Helpful Score: 1
I thought this book was amazing. After reading many books on this time in history, I found it interesting to read Jane Boleyn's point of view. I haven't read much of her except that she was not highly though of by her husband or Anne Boleyn. Althoug the book is long, I read it in 3 days. Excellent writer! I would recommend all her books
Helpful Score: 1
This is my 2nd fave, my fave is TOBG. I loved the way this one delves into the 3 viewpoints of Anne of Cleves, Jane Boleyn and Kathryn Howard, taking place after the death of Anne Boleyn. It a fast read to the end as the story just races along... I couldn't put it down, and was at the edge of my seat, even though I knew what was to happen. Beautifully written in a flowing, generous style, no detail is spared yet it did not drag at all.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this- showing 3 views of the same events we're brought closer to the central characters of this chapter in the Tudor history. Anne of Cleves achieved the impossible by surviving her marriage to Henry and the author captures what a difficult accomplishment that had to have been for her.
Jane Boleyn (Anne's sister in law, Jane gave evidence against both Anne & her brother George) is presented as a deeper character than I would have expected anguished by what she's done and in denial but knowing she would do it again if it will advance her situation.
Katherine Howard is presented as an airhead obsessed with herself and all the pretties she can collect. On the one hand, she was just a teenage girl by today's standards and with our perspective she could be excused with the thought that she would have outgrown it however, in her own time she was considered a woman grown and her shallowness would not have been forgiven by the standards of the time.
All 3 are woven together in the story of Henry's transition from Anne to Katherine and to Katherine's end.
Jane Boleyn (Anne's sister in law, Jane gave evidence against both Anne & her brother George) is presented as a deeper character than I would have expected anguished by what she's done and in denial but knowing she would do it again if it will advance her situation.
Katherine Howard is presented as an airhead obsessed with herself and all the pretties she can collect. On the one hand, she was just a teenage girl by today's standards and with our perspective she could be excused with the thought that she would have outgrown it however, in her own time she was considered a woman grown and her shallowness would not have been forgiven by the standards of the time.
All 3 are woven together in the story of Henry's transition from Anne to Katherine and to Katherine's end.
Helpful Score: 1
The best of Gregory's books. Each of the ladies receiving the Boleyn inheritance have a different and very interesting story. I couldn't decide which one was more interesting. Well written and vibrant!
Helpful Score: 1
Fabulous! The best of Gregory's books about the Tudor era. You just cannot put it down once you begin!
Helpful Score: 1
I have totally become addicted to anything dealing with English history. This book deals with Henry the 8th's life post-Anne Boleyn.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a page turner. I cannot believe I finished 514 pages in under a week. It made want to research more about the wives of Henry VIII. It was a great follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl which I've lent to so many people now. Phillipa Gregory is a wonderful writer. It's amazing how she can project into the minds of this historical figures and imagine what they must have been thinking. A great read!
Helpful Score: 1
Nice follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl. I'm enjoying this time period so much and Philippa Gregory has a nice way of capturing the time.
Helpful Score: 1
The year is 1539 and King Henry VIII is ready to marry again. What?!? ! His first wife was disgraced and exiled so he could marry his second wife who was beheaded so he could marry his third wife who died in child birth. What could possibly go wrong for Anne of Cleves if she marries Henry? Well, you know the rest of the story.
The story is told first person from three different points of views: Jane Boleyn (Lady Rochford), Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard.
Each chapter, the point of view changes based on the character as we see the unfolding saga of Henry VIIIs marriage to Anne of Cleves and his subsequent marriage. Jane Bolyen is a cynical regular of Henrys court that has witnessed the death of her husband and sister in law when Henry wanted to end that marriage. Anne of Cleves, an innocent young German princess is pledged to Henry to forge a political alliance between Germany and England. She knows little English and little of the customs of her new country. Katherine Howard is a young, vain girl who dreams of going to court so she can have beautiful gowns and dance with young men from good families and have a good time.
The short chapters with constantly changing point of views became very distracting and I was spending too much time figuring out who was speaking in each chapter. I didnt like the way the book was written in this way. The author was able to create suspense and interest in telling a story where we already know the ending, but I didnt enjoy this book as near as much as The Other Boleyn Girl.
The story is told first person from three different points of views: Jane Boleyn (Lady Rochford), Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard.
Each chapter, the point of view changes based on the character as we see the unfolding saga of Henry VIIIs marriage to Anne of Cleves and his subsequent marriage. Jane Bolyen is a cynical regular of Henrys court that has witnessed the death of her husband and sister in law when Henry wanted to end that marriage. Anne of Cleves, an innocent young German princess is pledged to Henry to forge a political alliance between Germany and England. She knows little English and little of the customs of her new country. Katherine Howard is a young, vain girl who dreams of going to court so she can have beautiful gowns and dance with young men from good families and have a good time.
The short chapters with constantly changing point of views became very distracting and I was spending too much time figuring out who was speaking in each chapter. I didnt like the way the book was written in this way. The author was able to create suspense and interest in telling a story where we already know the ending, but I didnt enjoy this book as near as much as The Other Boleyn Girl.
Helpful Score: 1
great, great book. Couldn't put it down. You already know what the end is before you start, esp. history buffs, but you still think something else might happen!
Marci and Duane S. (flame60) reviewed The Boleyn Inheritance (Boleyn, Bk 2) on + 200 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced and involves you from the beginning with the tales of the 3 women. Even though it goes back and forth from each of the women in each chapter, that seems to whet the appetite to see what the others will say next. I have truly become a Gregory fan!
Having really enjoyed "The Other Boleyn Girl," I was a bit skeptical on the sequel. I was pleasantly surprised. The story is told from the pov of three different characters, each with wildly different characteristics. Gregory managed to really get at the essence (as she sees it) of these three women and tells another great story.
Really enjoyed this book. She is a great writer.
I enjoyed the story about the 4th and 5th wifes (from their point of view) of Henry VIII. The third women in the story was Jane Boleyn, the widow of George Boleyn. Her take gave a different perspective to the events and rounded out the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, especially Britian history.
This is not redeeming literature by any stretch of the imagination. . .but it is an interesting summer read. I've enjoyed other Gregory works (Constant Princess and The Other Boleyn Girl) a bit better--those plots and voices seem tighter/truer throughout.
I loved this book. This was the first book I have read by P. Gregory but won't be the last. It was well written, easy to follow, and hard to put down. I love when I find a book that has historical facts woven into a story/romance that is enjoyable to read and doesn't feel like a history book.
Although I enjoyed this book, it doesn't come close to "The Other Boleyn Girl", in my opinion. Still, it's an interesting read that held my interest all the way through. Gregory has a knack for crafting her characters in a way in which you feel that you really understand and know them. The story itself lacked depth and much of that was due to trying to tell essentially three different stories all in one book. If I had to grade it I'd give it a B.
Another Philippa Gregory home run. You can really relate to the characters in this one. From the empty headedness to sheer terror of Katherine; the relief of escaping from and determination to steer clear of Henry by Anne; and the desperation of Jane, this is a great read.
One of my new favorite writers! I just finished The Constant Princess and loved that book as well. The insight into the women of Henry VIII and how life was in the kingdom is wonderful!
There will never be a book as good as "The Other Boleyn Girl" but this book definitely comes close. If you loved the first story of Anne Boleyn, you'll love the story of life after her brutal demise. I didn't want it to end!
Another wonderful book by Phiiippa Gregory. Loved it!
Great continuence of The Other Bolyn Girl
FANTASTIC
I liked thi book...
Great book. Could not put it down.
