Understand a few things: this is not history. It's not even very good historical fiction as there are errors in descriptions and names of characters in the book. They are minor, but annoying, as basic research would have caught the inaccuracies.

In this story, Harper explores Mary Boleyn (referred to throughout the book as "Golden Mary") and her relationships with the King of France, King Henry VIII, her husband Will Carey, and with William Stafford. There is a lot of wiggle room in the Mary Boleyn story, since there are just enough records to act as a skeleton, but not enough that we know for certain what all of the players in the drama thought or felt.

This could've been just an amusing romp if Harper's writing style didn't veer into the realm of romance novels. There are full breasts everywhere, and in one scene Mary twines her arms around Henry VIII's "bull neck". More annoyingly, William Stafford is nicknamed "Staff" (a Freudian slip if there ever was one, as Staff is the upright-mucho-virile-romance-novel-take-charge-all-knowing-male guy in the book). Also, "Staff" constantly refers to Mary as "lass" and is amused when she shows a temper.

Harper has her female characters arching their graceful necks several times (once, for no apparent reason, towards a window). Out of sheer curiosity, I tried to emulate the neck-arching. The doctor tells me that with a neck brace, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications, I should make a full recovery.

If you want a bon-bon to enjoy while sipping hot cocoa on a winter afternoon, this isn't a bad one. But the inaccuracies, slips, and writing style may have you laughing uproariously and at inappropriate moments.

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I could not finish this. I really feel like I have too many other books I might enjoy more than finishing it; and besides, I already know how the story goes. Historically, at least.

I will have to agree with the previous reviewer. This is far more of the "bodice-ripper" type book than interests me. I also found the constant references to full breasts (was no one small then?), creamy breasts, heaving breasts, brawny thighs, powerful loins, muscular backs stretching fabric taut and most of all, and codpeices just ridiculous and repetitive. Oh, the codpieces. I kid you not, she describes two different Kings as wearing 1) "his very large embroidered codpiece" and 2) "his flagrant, massive codpiece". Really? So not only is everyone built like the guys in "300" but they are incredibly well hung. Well, yay for Mary!

Anyway, not my type of read. Don't get me wrong, I like historical fiction, but this was kindof the wrong angle for me. Maybe if I hadn't read Phillipa Gregory first?

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Really unique and interesting fictional account of the life of Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister, who was, briefly, Henry VIII's mistress. If you are not familiar with Tudor history, you may not know that this is a SIGNIFICANTLY embroidered tale. That said, it does not take away from the enjoyment of the book, which is well-written and easily maintains interest. I was sorely disappointed when it was over. It is VERY focused on Mary and her life, to the exclusion of George & Anne, so don't expect them to play a large role.

I was much pleased with this piece of historical fiction and hope that Ms. Harper will write more in the non-mystery categories.

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Excellent read! I have never read anything from mary boleyn's point of view. Very well researched and written. Tells mary's story from childhood, to her time in France, up until her sisters Anne death. Highly recommended!!

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A very goos story, very different from "The Other Boleyn Girl". At times I thought it a bit repetitive in its descriptions and within the characterizations. It could also have been shorter, as it simply didn't hold the way TOBG does, although the plotline is riveting and the characters fascinating. There were parts that read more like a cliche'd bodice ripper than historical fiction, and those scenes varied little from each other.

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I have been reading a lot of books by Karen Harper recently and I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying each and every one. What a gifted author she is! "The Last Boleyn" was originally titled "Passion's Reign" and I am not at all sure that I would have chosen to read it with that title. I have that ingrained aversion to lusty title's that shelving Harlequin novels in a book store left me with !

"The Last Boleyn" is the tale of Mary Tudor - five years a mistress to Henry VIII before Anne; faithful wife and mother after Henry. Although I had perhaps heard this before I had not registered the fact that the family name had, in fact, been 'Bullen' prior to Anne's Franophile-ization of her family name to the more readily familiar 'Boleyn'. Mary Bullen inherited her mother's more delicate blonde coloring - heritage of her lofty Howard lineage. I have always been of the impression that 'father' Boleyn was a power hungry, ladder climbing syncophant in the court of Henry VIII....a man who would pander his female children to his best advantage. Nothing I have read over the years has really change that opinion - even taking the vagaries of that time period into account.

Mary was sent to the French court at an early age - as lady-in-waiting to Henry's sister Mary during her short lived marriage to the aging French King. Upon the King's death Mary remains at the French Court attendant upon Mary and beguiled by the new French King Francois I. Anne Boleyn joins Mary at the French court for a time until Mary returns to England as a teenager - and becomes an integral part of the Court of Henry VIII. The book chronicles Mary's marriage to the cold, calculating William Carey - a husband who accepts the King's advances towards Mary as a way to accrue fame and fortune for himself. During her marriage to William Carey Mary has son and, although she always claimed that he was William Carey's son - there has always been speculation that her son was, in fact, the progeny of Henry VIII .Mary is, ultimately, drawn to the jaded courtier William Stafford - a man whom she will ultimately marry in secret after the death of William Carey.

The odd thing about Mary Boleyn's story is that she was always derided by her family for not asking Henry for more - for not expecting more from him as his mistress. Anne was the rapacious sister . Oddly enough though it is Mary, and not Anne, who ultimately lives to a goodly age and retires from Courtlife with both her head and her happiness intact - thank largely, I am led to believe thanks to the love of Will Staford.

In contrast, this novel with that of Phillipa Gregory's book "The Other Boleyn Girl" - which is also narrated from Mary's point of view. I enjoyed both of these book tremendously, but I think that in some ways I prefer Karen Harper's work. I think that Ms. Harper follows the history very closely and she also managed to keep me turning the pages of this book late into the night. Best bet - read both books because I think that the story of Mary Boleyn is truly a very good one !

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Really good book if you like historical novels. It is a really quick read that will keep you intrigued.

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What a brilliant way to learn history The Boleyn family history is truly an extraordinary story. This is a fictional tale but so much of the story is based on true history --- you actually feel like you're living right along with Mary thru her awesome story the culture, corruption, the lies, the mystery - the way of life just radiates the whole story! It got me from the very first chapter and I was sorry to put it down on the last page! To have to live in a time like this had to almost unbearable if you were ever given the chance to think about it! Unimaginable!

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