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Fatal Throne
Fatal Throne, a book about Henry VIII and his six wives, coordinated by Candace Fleming. Fleming and six other authors will each contribute a story from different points of view: M.T. Anderson, Jennifer Donnelly, Stephanie Hemphill, Deborah Hopkinson, Linda Sue Park, and Lisa Ann Sandell.
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First published May 1, 2018
About the author
Candace Fleming
67 books553 followersI have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,095 reviews
April 1, 2018
This advance reader copy was provided by publisher Random House via NetGalley.
First and foremost, this is a Young Adult genre novel, so I am rating it as such.
This is a fictionalized narrative told in the first person by each of King Henry VIII's six wives. Immediately following each wife's account is Henry VIII's point of view. Out of the many Tudor tomes I've read, I don't ever recall a book structured in this way. Not only did I find this compelling, but it was a clever touch to have Henry's font in a different style to go along with his alternative take on things.
It wasn't immediately evident to me that this was a YA novel, but after digesting it awhile I realized that it was lacking the depth of a more intensive biography. Also, this is historical fiction, so poetic license was employed much like a Phillipa Gregory novel. Another unique device was using seven different authors to "speak" for each wife and Henry. The writing quality didn't quite rise to the brilliance of a Phillipa Gregory or Alison Weir (who has recently embarked on the "Six Tudor Queens" series of first person narratives) novel, but was a pleasantly written overview for young adults or casual readers of Tudor history.
First and foremost, this is a Young Adult genre novel, so I am rating it as such.
This is a fictionalized narrative told in the first person by each of King Henry VIII's six wives. Immediately following each wife's account is Henry VIII's point of view. Out of the many Tudor tomes I've read, I don't ever recall a book structured in this way. Not only did I find this compelling, but it was a clever touch to have Henry's font in a different style to go along with his alternative take on things.
It wasn't immediately evident to me that this was a YA novel, but after digesting it awhile I realized that it was lacking the depth of a more intensive biography. Also, this is historical fiction, so poetic license was employed much like a Phillipa Gregory novel. Another unique device was using seven different authors to "speak" for each wife and Henry. The writing quality didn't quite rise to the brilliance of a Phillipa Gregory or Alison Weir (who has recently embarked on the "Six Tudor Queens" series of first person narratives) novel, but was a pleasantly written overview for young adults or casual readers of Tudor history.
April 18, 2018
I am impressed. The title of this work makes it sound trashier and gushier than it is. Even though it’s no "Wolf Hall," the writing in "Fatal Throne" is strong and sophisticated, albeit not uniformly so. This book is assembled of 8 perspectives (Henry Viii, his wives and then Elizabeth I telling their personal stories) all written by different YA authors, most writers of the highest acclaim. The real standouts are Jennifer Donnelly’s Anna of Cleves and Linda Sue Park’s Catherine Howard.
Hardly any of this was factually new to me. After all, I am no Tudor novice. I’d spent a pretty obscene amount of time consuming Tudor media. Still the authors managed to bring something fresh to their narratives. This would be an excellent tool of recruiting a new generation of Tudor junkies.
Hardly any of this was factually new to me. After all, I am no Tudor novice. I’d spent a pretty obscene amount of time consuming Tudor media. Still the authors managed to bring something fresh to their narratives. This would be an excellent tool of recruiting a new generation of Tudor junkies.
September 22, 2022
Fatal Throne gives voice, vitality, and vividity to Henry VIII and his six wives. Each perspective is penned by a different author, giving a further unique voice and spirit to each character, as a recounting of their days as Britain's rulers is provided. Intersecting each female is a short interlude, told from Henry's often petulant perspective.
I found this a very compelling narrative style, and I appreciated the individual focus to each of Henry's wives. This provided as much information about their personalities and their personal attributes as it did about their tragic endings.
I found this a very compelling narrative style, and I appreciated the individual focus to each of Henry's wives. This provided as much information about their personalities and their personal attributes as it did about their tragic endings.
May 25, 2018
A YA historical fiction book, Fatal Throne was a highly interesting read. I’ve always had a interest in King Henry VIII- especially books, movies and shows that depict his somewhat scandalous life. Best known for his six marriages, Fatal Throne is broken into sections-each wife telling her own story, followed by King Henry’s own interpretation. Recommended to readers that enjoy YA historical fiction.
July 15, 2018
This is one of my favorite Tudor books ever. It made me interested beyond Anne Boleyn! Each author writes a different "character" - and they are all so, so rewarding and wonderful.
Fleming's Katharine of Aragon is pious and understandable. M. T. Anderson's Henry VIII is wonderfully insane yet lovable. His Elizabeth, though brief, is beautiful and strong. Hemphill's Anne Boleyn is a classic mean girl - certainly not my favorite telling of Anne, but wonderful nonetheless. Sandell's Jane Seymour is sweet and relatable. Donnelly's Anna of Cleves has a wonderful narrative. Though she doesn't prescribe to my Anne of Cleves theories, she proves herself yet again as one of my favorite authors. Park's Catherine Howard genuinely interested me in the woman. I would love to learn more about her. The same goes for Hopkinson's Kateryn Parr!
All in all, this book is a fabulous YA retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII. It's factual while still remaining fictional, and falls into borderline New Adult with some of the steamier - or, to be frank, more disgusting as Henry grows older - scenes.
Fleming's Katharine of Aragon is pious and understandable. M. T. Anderson's Henry VIII is wonderfully insane yet lovable. His Elizabeth, though brief, is beautiful and strong. Hemphill's Anne Boleyn is a classic mean girl - certainly not my favorite telling of Anne, but wonderful nonetheless. Sandell's Jane Seymour is sweet and relatable. Donnelly's Anna of Cleves has a wonderful narrative. Though she doesn't prescribe to my Anne of Cleves theories, she proves herself yet again as one of my favorite authors. Park's Catherine Howard genuinely interested me in the woman. I would love to learn more about her. The same goes for Hopkinson's Kateryn Parr!
All in all, this book is a fabulous YA retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII. It's factual while still remaining fictional, and falls into borderline New Adult with some of the steamier - or, to be frank, more disgusting as Henry grows older - scenes.
October 28, 2019
I'm not sure why I'm such a sucker for Tudor era history and fiction. I've read more pages on Henry VIII and his wives than any other historical figures. I think it's a mix of things....shock at so much power in the hands of one man and how misguided that sort of power can make even the strongest person....the sheer political grasping and manipulating of upper class men and women in that time...and the role of English women in the 1500s. Six women destined to be queen.....six women finding out that being the queen was the highest rank in the country, but not the safest or most secure spot. Was the reward worth the cost? I think not. Divorced, Beheaded, Died. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.
So much drama. So much manipulation. So much sorrow. And death. And betrayal. And lies. The whole situation so F'd up that people still talk about it more than 450 years later.
When I saw the blurb for this book, I had to read it! Seven YA authors coming together to write a book from the POV of each wife and Henry VIII. The emotions, the behind-the-scenes manipulation, the realizations, the reasons why.....
Although some changes were made (for instance a couple names are spelled differently in the book to avoid confusing people with similar names. It's fiction, not a non-fiction narrative of events, so I didn't mind the switch.) and the events are toned down a bit, this was a very interesting and enjoyable take on events. I liked the fact that this was written by several different authors. The changing styles between each chapter was fitting. All of Henry's wives were very different people, so the style changes really brought that concept home. My favorite chapter was the one about Anne of Cleves. In my opinion, she fared better than any of Henry's other wives -- divorced, but very wealthy.
This book definitely illustrates the fact that women were often used in bargaining for political power, riches and place at court. These women had little or no choice....if Henry showed interest in them at all, their families wanted to capitalize on it. Women had no power outside of manipulation....even when married to the King. In his quest to have an heir to carry on the Tudor line, Henry positioned himself so that he could do as he wished with his wives.....divorce, execution.....all for that heir. Sad. And he bankrupted the country. Worst. King. Ever. Worst. Husband. Ever.
I enjoyed this book! The stories are well-written, emotional and engaging. Each chapter is followed by commentary from Henry VIII's point of view. At the very back of the book is a timeline for the Henry's life and reign.
I wouldn't recommend this book for children under 14. There are some very adult situations and a little bit of sex. Nothing graphic. Just Henry trying to get his heir. Ugh. There is also a little bit of description of why this proved impossible or incredibly gross......nothing graphic, but it's impossible to tell the story without discussing impotence, morbid obesity, festering leg sores, etc.
This is the first book I've read by any of these YA authors. I'm definitely looking into their other books. Very enjoyable reading experience, despite the heaviness of the subject.
So much drama. So much manipulation. So much sorrow. And death. And betrayal. And lies. The whole situation so F'd up that people still talk about it more than 450 years later.
When I saw the blurb for this book, I had to read it! Seven YA authors coming together to write a book from the POV of each wife and Henry VIII. The emotions, the behind-the-scenes manipulation, the realizations, the reasons why.....
Although some changes were made (for instance a couple names are spelled differently in the book to avoid confusing people with similar names. It's fiction, not a non-fiction narrative of events, so I didn't mind the switch.) and the events are toned down a bit, this was a very interesting and enjoyable take on events. I liked the fact that this was written by several different authors. The changing styles between each chapter was fitting. All of Henry's wives were very different people, so the style changes really brought that concept home. My favorite chapter was the one about Anne of Cleves. In my opinion, she fared better than any of Henry's other wives -- divorced, but very wealthy.
This book definitely illustrates the fact that women were often used in bargaining for political power, riches and place at court. These women had little or no choice....if Henry showed interest in them at all, their families wanted to capitalize on it. Women had no power outside of manipulation....even when married to the King. In his quest to have an heir to carry on the Tudor line, Henry positioned himself so that he could do as he wished with his wives.....divorce, execution.....all for that heir. Sad. And he bankrupted the country. Worst. King. Ever. Worst. Husband. Ever.
I enjoyed this book! The stories are well-written, emotional and engaging. Each chapter is followed by commentary from Henry VIII's point of view. At the very back of the book is a timeline for the Henry's life and reign.
I wouldn't recommend this book for children under 14. There are some very adult situations and a little bit of sex. Nothing graphic. Just Henry trying to get his heir. Ugh. There is also a little bit of description of why this proved impossible or incredibly gross......nothing graphic, but it's impossible to tell the story without discussing impotence, morbid obesity, festering leg sores, etc.
This is the first book I've read by any of these YA authors. I'm definitely looking into their other books. Very enjoyable reading experience, despite the heaviness of the subject.
June 15, 2018
What a fun premise - each chapter is from the perspective of one of Henry VIII's wives, and each is by a different YA author. I learned a lot about the lesser-known wives! I wasn't as much of a fan of Henry's perspective and question whether it was needed, but overall I really enjoyed this one!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!! I've entered so many and this was the first I've ever won!!!!!!!!!!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!! I've entered so many and this was the first I've ever won!!!!!!!!!!
July 20, 2018
Almost 3.5 or 4, but the editors made sloppy mistakes & critical omissions. Ex: p. 359: 1846-1847 [A.D.], instead of 1546-1547; p. 373: we’re told that Kateryn Parr died of puerperal fever, which most YA readers (and older ones, I’d venture) would not know about or understand, especially since we’re not told that she married Seymour after Henry’s death, got pregnant, and died shortly after having a daughter; p. 380: Henry VIII ruled England a few months shy of 38 years, not “almost thirty-six,” as erroneously stated; just to name a few of the errors I found.
January 7, 2023
this was so good as an audiobook!
November 19, 2019
I admit, this book is a clever idea: six authors recount the lives of King Henry V111 wives, written from the wives point of view; plus another author to voice King Henry’s side of each story.
I’m a sucker for historical fiction, but the style of writing put me off. Each story smacks of pocket-book romance, not my favourite genre.
If you enjoy historical fiction, and also get a thrill from pocket-book romance, this book will undoubtedly find its way to your favourite list. For me, the book left a ‘yuk’ taste in my mouth. For a more sober, and perhaps more accurate account, I think I’ll give Alison Weir’s 'The Six Wives of Henry V111' a try ;-)
I’m a sucker for historical fiction, but the style of writing put me off. Each story smacks of pocket-book romance, not my favourite genre.
If you enjoy historical fiction, and also get a thrill from pocket-book romance, this book will undoubtedly find its way to your favourite list. For me, the book left a ‘yuk’ taste in my mouth. For a more sober, and perhaps more accurate account, I think I’ll give Alison Weir’s 'The Six Wives of Henry V111' a try ;-)
April 26, 2018
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Wow, I had no idea how much I would freaking love reading about Henry VIII's wives, their struggles, and his deplorable behavior. I cheered for the women, whose lives were often hell, and I jeered Henry at every turn (seriously, most of my Kindle notes are along the lines of "why is he the actual worst?" and "who let this asshole rule a country, should have shot him instead"). And it is a sadly accurate portrayal of the awfulness that all women have been dealing with since literally forever.
First, it was freaking genius to have a different author for every queen (and Henry!), because the voices felt so very unique. Each queen was, quite literally, her own woman even in the book, and it really showed. The voices all were really well done too, each seeming quite appropriate for each queen's personality. And Henry, too- even though I loathed him at every turn, his chapters were still compelling to read.
Basically, I never wanted this book to end. Which I haven't felt about a book in a long time. It's also incredibly well researched, as I found myself down a very lengthly Henry-related Wikipedia rabbit hole after finishing the book. The authors had me so completely enamored with each queen that I found myself wanting to know about everything.
It was certainly not easy to read, as you can imagine. The time period was hell, obviously, and people died on the regular, even if Henry didn't have them killed. Reading of the deaths of the queens' children was probably the hardest part. These women were, by and large, so young, and dealt with so much trauma. But their strength was incredible, and worth every page.
Bottom Line: If you have any interest in this topic or historical fiction at all, read this book. It is one of my all-time favorites, both entertaining and informative.
Wow, I had no idea how much I would freaking love reading about Henry VIII's wives, their struggles, and his deplorable behavior. I cheered for the women, whose lives were often hell, and I jeered Henry at every turn (seriously, most of my Kindle notes are along the lines of "why is he the actual worst?" and "who let this asshole rule a country, should have shot him instead"). And it is a sadly accurate portrayal of the awfulness that all women have been dealing with since literally forever.
First, it was freaking genius to have a different author for every queen (and Henry!), because the voices felt so very unique. Each queen was, quite literally, her own woman even in the book, and it really showed. The voices all were really well done too, each seeming quite appropriate for each queen's personality. And Henry, too- even though I loathed him at every turn, his chapters were still compelling to read.
Basically, I never wanted this book to end. Which I haven't felt about a book in a long time. It's also incredibly well researched, as I found myself down a very lengthly Henry-related Wikipedia rabbit hole after finishing the book. The authors had me so completely enamored with each queen that I found myself wanting to know about everything.
It was certainly not easy to read, as you can imagine. The time period was hell, obviously, and people died on the regular, even if Henry didn't have them killed. Reading of the deaths of the queens' children was probably the hardest part. These women were, by and large, so young, and dealt with so much trauma. But their strength was incredible, and worth every page.
Bottom Line: If you have any interest in this topic or historical fiction at all, read this book. It is one of my all-time favorites, both entertaining and informative.
March 15, 2022
Read for MLIS elective
I am super thankful this has a glossary and timeline since I kept getting confused. Why are the English so boring and predictable with names BE MORE ORIGINAL!!!!!!
Also this made me more hyped to see SIX ❤️
Content warning: period typical misogyny and sexism, murder (beheadings), religious themes, miscarriages/stillborn deaths
I am super thankful this has a glossary and timeline since I kept getting confused. Why are the English so boring and predictable with names BE MORE ORIGINAL!!!!!!
Also this made me more hyped to see SIX ❤️
Content warning: period typical misogyny and sexism, murder (beheadings), religious themes, miscarriages/stillborn deaths
March 19, 2020
I loved this book very much. It was everything I had hoped for in a history related book. History has always interested me so I was interested in finding more about King Henry the 8th and his wives. In school they give us a brief description of what happens to his wives but it doesn't go into full detail with what I want. This book does it for you. You get completely all the details about his wives. I think it was extreme that he had six wives. That's so so so many. They were either divorced or put to death. Those poor women. All King Henry wanted was a son. The only one who gave him one was Jane Seymour and for that he loved her the most. Unfortunately though she ends up dying after child birth. If you are interested in learning more about what he did to all those women this would be a great book to read. Or also if you just want something that is possibly a change from what you normally would read. I think this book would also be sort of great for some people learning about it in class. It's loaded with lots of information but it's not boring information it's kind of fun. Is that the word for it? Anyways although it was interesting it was just a tiny bit slow in some parts for me but other than that it was great.
January 6, 2018
Fatal Throne is perfect for those just beginning to read about Henry VIII and his six wives. Each queen details and summarizes important periods in their life and individual downfalls. The accounts are simplistic and easy to read. After telling their stories, Henry has to get the last word and plays the victim in some form each time.
For those who are already well read on the Tudors, this book offers nothing new. What I did like, however, is that unlike some of the run-of-the-mill Tudor books—we get to see the importance of religion (whether Catholic or Protestant) was to women like Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Kateryn Parr. It’s often overlooked for the more seedier happenings of the time. These women were more well-rounded, complicated individuals and not mere stereotypes to be boxed in.
The best perspective, I think, in this book was Anna (or Anne) of Cleves. She is often one of the more ignored ones aside from the whole ‘ugly’ business. Her story stood out to me above the others. I’m nitpicky about Katharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, but they were passable for what this collection is supposed to be.
For those who are already well read on the Tudors, this book offers nothing new. What I did like, however, is that unlike some of the run-of-the-mill Tudor books—we get to see the importance of religion (whether Catholic or Protestant) was to women like Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Kateryn Parr. It’s often overlooked for the more seedier happenings of the time. These women were more well-rounded, complicated individuals and not mere stereotypes to be boxed in.
The best perspective, I think, in this book was Anna (or Anne) of Cleves. She is often one of the more ignored ones aside from the whole ‘ugly’ business. Her story stood out to me above the others. I’m nitpicky about Katharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, but they were passable for what this collection is supposed to be.
January 11, 2020
I totally didn't expect this to be so entertaining! Loved it. I barely knew this history, but told through the eyes of Henry's wives, you really start to appreciate being a commoner in the 21st century. Yikes. Each wife’s story was handled by the best possible author, the Jennifer Donnelly chapter being my favorite (in print only--her chapter's audiobook narrator was the only one I not only didn't like but couldn't stand). I highly recommend to mature teens and adults, as it's pretty sexually explicit (I just wouldn't have it as a mandatory, whole-class read).
"We were married before God, and what God joined together no man could pull asunder. But I forgot who God was. In England, God was Henry."
"Oh, how I prefer the honest violence of men, who will bash in another man's skull and be done, to the thousand shallow cuts of women's malice."
"We were married before God, and what God joined together no man could pull asunder. But I forgot who God was. In England, God was Henry."
"Oh, how I prefer the honest violence of men, who will bash in another man's skull and be done, to the thousand shallow cuts of women's malice."
Want to read
September 22, 2024
I have received a copy of this book through a giveaway hosted by the publisher. This has not affected my rating or review in any way.
I'm not sure if this can be counted as a novella bindup (it's more like a collection of short stories) but I'm going to be using my novella bindup review format.
Katharine of Aragon: TBD
Henry VIII: TBD
Anne Boelyn: TBD
Jane Seymour: TBD
Anna of Cleves: TBD
Catherine Howard: TBD
Kateryn Parr: TBD
Overall: TBD
I'm not sure if this can be counted as a novella bindup (it's more like a collection of short stories) but I'm going to be using my novella bindup review format.
Katharine of Aragon: TBD
Henry VIII: TBD
Anne Boelyn: TBD
Jane Seymour: TBD
Anna of Cleves: TBD
Catherine Howard: TBD
Kateryn Parr: TBD
Overall: TBD
September 9, 2020
”My fellow writers and I have spent days, weeks, and months with their ghosts.
The ghosts, in turn, forever hold pieces of our hearts.”
No can escape Henry VIII. I would wager that Henry VIII is probably the most famous king in English history. And he’s not even famous for his ability to rule.
No. He’s famous for his wives.
There were six of them all, and by marrying them, they immortalized themselves in history. And yet for some reason, despite them essentially shaping the legacy of the Tudor dynasty, they are relegated to just tragic figures who met tragic ends. Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived (but only for a year.)
Until now.
In this book, the authors do their best (and mostly succeed) in shaping and fleshing out these six magnetic women. They’re more than just the untouchable queens; they’re humans with emotions, all trying to find their place in an era where woman only had one place: by their husband’s sides. They were baby making factories and nothing more. They were pawns in a game of politics whose only players were white, rich, Christian males. And yet these women persevered and managed to help shape the entire history of England while carving out a space of their own, several hundred years after their deaths.
Katharine of Aragon
”How can Henry hate me so?”
Poor Katharine. She’s been so wronged by so many people. She was wronged in her life, when her husband of 18 years whom she adored betrayed her so cruelly. And she’s been wronged in death, where she’s been delegated to nothing more than the bitter, ugly, haggard, jealous first wife.
She was so much more than that.
She was intelligent, resourceful, faithful, devoted. She led a freaking military campaign while she was pregnant with Henry’s child and not only led it, but won. She ruled England for a short period of time while her husband was away. She stuck to her guns and her faith, no matter what anybody told her to do.
Despite what many laymen proclaim, I think Henry truly did love Katharine in the beginning. I think he also loved her for some time after that. Despite their marriage being marked by the repeated tragedies of all the children they lost, it can’t be denied through their letters and other correspondence that Henry loved Katharine. So the stereotype that he never loved her or quickly lost interest in her is, I think, false. What was her undoing was not her ability to bear a male child, but her husband’s obsession with having one.
Candace Fleming did a good job shaping the tragedies that befall Katharine and really showing her steadfastness and adoration of Henry, as well as how her faith strongly guided her decisions. She lived up to her motto and so much more. I wish more people would have appreciated that in her in life.
”Do not say that I did not love her. I did; I do. I was not ‘unkind’ to her, as I hear some whisper. I always sought to celebrate her, protect her.”
Anne Boleyn
”Every story must have a villain, whether what is said to cast that villain is true of a torrent of lies. Truth is boring, after all, compared to rumour and lechery. And yet, were I quiet, without wit, and lacking all strength, could I have been cast as a bitch or a whore, a villain or a witch? I rather think not.”
Ah, Anne. Probably the most famous (and infamous) of Henry’s wives. And who can blame history for dubbing her that? I mean, this is the woman who caused Henry to create his own fucking church, just so he could be with Anne. In the time period in which they lived in, that was unheard of. The Church was Roman Catholic and they were law.
Anne represented the promise of the one thing Henry so desired, which was a son. She dangled that prospect to him like a chocolate bonbon… and in the end it proved to all be for naught. No male heir was begotten, and her fall was as swift as her rise.
Anne’s chapter was mainly told through flashbacks, with almost little to no time spent on the actual relationship between Henry and Anne. Maybe this was done deliberately by the authors because so many authors have spent so much time on Anne Boleyn, but I found her chapter to be a bit underwhelming. For those who like Anne Boleyn, this book doesn’t paint her in the most flattering light, which doesn’t help those who say that she wasn’t as bad as she was made out to be by her enemies and naysayers. I left this chapter wanting more.
”Idiocy- idiocy! To think that slut could be my queen- I was so deceived- so fond- so foolish!”
Jane Seymour
”I am the one who gave the King a boy, the heir for whom he has so longed all these years. I did this. I did. I, Plain Jane. I filled this household with love again, with hope and a future. I did. I, Plain Jane.”
Poor little Jane Seymour. I feel bad for her on so many levels. She gave the king the one thing he wanted so desperately, but she paid for it with her life. I think that if she had lived, Henry’s wives would have stopped there. Sure, there would probably be mistresses in between, but she would have been his last wife. I’m sure of it.
Unfortunately for Jane, she’s only remembered by history as the wife who gave Henry a son and died. She’s not given much more personality than that. The author here tries to rectify that. She shows how a rather plain and unassuming girl became wife to the most powerful man in English history and succeeded where the other two before her failed. She’s meek and unassuming, and yet wielded her own kind of power over the king. She brought out a happier, more gentle side to him. I only wonder what she would have done if she lived longer.
”’Bound to Obey and Serve.’ So she did obey and serve- but there was no law binding Jane to do so. The only monarch dictating her meekness and service was her own gentle and compassionate heart.”
Anna of Cleves
”’The King was afraid. I know it, for I’m the one who made him so. I made a mistake, a grave one.’ I made my face a mirror when it should’ve been a mask, and what the King saw there terrified him. He hated me for it, and never, ever forgave me.’”
The ugly duckling. And you thought Jane Seymour had it bad. Poor Anne of Cleves is only remembered because she was so unattractive in Henry’s eyes that he promptly asked for a divorce and executed the person who suggested this arranged marriage to begin with. She’s overlooked so much, and we don’t really know what she was really like. She’s merely cast as a blip in Henry’s life and nothing more, a mistake that wasn’t rectified.
And yet in this book, she was my favorite.
Jennifer Donnelly worked a miracle; she managed to make Henry VIII’s most unpopular and forgotten wife memorable. This Anne of Cleves is more than just the ugly duckling. She’s shrewd, clever, no nonsense, and so done with the patriarchal standards that society has cast upon her. She knows how to play her cards and play them she did. Here, she’s absolutely fucking fearless. There were so many quotes in this chapter that struck a chord with me.
Instead of Anna being so ugly that Henry hated her, he despised her for a different reason. By this stage, Henry has lost the handsomeness and rigor of his youth. He’s fat, bloated, and suffering from horrible leg ulcers that could probably have classified as deadly weapons, they reeked so much. But he was king. Nobody was going to tell him that he was getting old and ugly. In Anna’s face and in her actions, she was the first person who indirectly told him that.
And that scared him more than anything. For the first time, he had to face his own mortality and look death and old age straight in the face. For someone like Henry, that’s suicide. This woman was too honest for him. She needed to be removed.
Anna came out on top in the end. She won a huge divorce settlement and was allowed to stay in England in relative comfort and peace. She won the hand that she played, and with a smile on her face till the end.
”Sometimes I wonder about her smile, which did not appear in Holbein’s complacent portrait.
It is the smile of a victor.”
Catherine Howard
”It took just six months for His Majesty to make me his Queen.
It has taken him only six days for him to unmake me.”
Poor, poor Catherine. I just don’t think she knew quite what she was getting into when it came to life as Queen. She was way too young and inexperienced for the kind of role she was cast into, and that was her downfall. She was a pawn in her family’s game, but they picked the wrong player.
This book portrays Catherine as lively, vivacious, attractive… and sex crazy. Having not read a lot about Catherine Howard, I don’t know how true or accurate that is. However, I think that author chose to believe the rumors about Catherine more than the historical facts. I do think she nailed Catherine’s naïve nature and total lack of awareness of how the royal court actually worked. She made Henry happy for a really short period of time, but it quickly faded for them both. Out of all the wives, she’s the most tragic.
”Once I was a shining prince; now I am stranded in a body bloated like an island kingdom, hot with distempers and assaulted by its own corruption.
I am alone, all alone in this world, and surrounded by the unsteady sea.’”
Kateryn Parr
”For a long time, I thought I was brighter, cleverer, more beloved than these other wives. But I was wrong. In the end, I made the same errors. I forgot that in this kingdom no woman- not even a Queen- can be ambitious; she can never let down her guard.
She can never show her own power, be her true self.
And yet, and yet…”
At this point, I’m wagering that Henry had a type, and that type was Katherine’s.
Not to toot my own horn or anything.
Kateryn did what none of the wives did before him; she outlived her husband. Here, she also knows how to play her cards. She must hide her true personality in order to live and not meet the fate of her sister wives before her. I have to admit that this book made me admire her cleverness and willingness to play the game. This ability to play the game, however, was only made after she reached too high in her beliefs and almost lost her life to it. Unlike Catherine Howard, however, Kateryn knew the rules of court and how to manipulate the king’s thoughts to save herself. She didn’t love him, but she did know how to make him happy.
Sometimes that’s all you need to do to play the game.
*****************************
With this book, Henry’s wives got justice. They stepped out of Henry’s larger than life shadow and reclaimed their narrative and shattered the stereotypes given to them by history. We see Henry’s transformation from a lively and laddish ruler to a, angry, obese, depressed shell of his former self. The authors dis a magnificent job capturing the essence and personality of each queen.
Whether you’re a Tudor die-hard or just beginning to study Henry VIII and all his wives, this book will give you insight to these magnificent, complicated, magnetic, and ultimately tragic figures who would go on and shape the rest of English history.
Hear them roar.
”Everything I have done, I did for England. This is what the doubters and intriguers don’t understand: The wives- all of them- they were necessary.”
The ghosts, in turn, forever hold pieces of our hearts.”
No can escape Henry VIII. I would wager that Henry VIII is probably the most famous king in English history. And he’s not even famous for his ability to rule.
No. He’s famous for his wives.
There were six of them all, and by marrying them, they immortalized themselves in history. And yet for some reason, despite them essentially shaping the legacy of the Tudor dynasty, they are relegated to just tragic figures who met tragic ends. Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived (but only for a year.)
Until now.
In this book, the authors do their best (and mostly succeed) in shaping and fleshing out these six magnetic women. They’re more than just the untouchable queens; they’re humans with emotions, all trying to find their place in an era where woman only had one place: by their husband’s sides. They were baby making factories and nothing more. They were pawns in a game of politics whose only players were white, rich, Christian males. And yet these women persevered and managed to help shape the entire history of England while carving out a space of their own, several hundred years after their deaths.
Katharine of Aragon
”How can Henry hate me so?”
Poor Katharine. She’s been so wronged by so many people. She was wronged in her life, when her husband of 18 years whom she adored betrayed her so cruelly. And she’s been wronged in death, where she’s been delegated to nothing more than the bitter, ugly, haggard, jealous first wife.
She was so much more than that.
She was intelligent, resourceful, faithful, devoted. She led a freaking military campaign while she was pregnant with Henry’s child and not only led it, but won. She ruled England for a short period of time while her husband was away. She stuck to her guns and her faith, no matter what anybody told her to do.
Despite what many laymen proclaim, I think Henry truly did love Katharine in the beginning. I think he also loved her for some time after that. Despite their marriage being marked by the repeated tragedies of all the children they lost, it can’t be denied through their letters and other correspondence that Henry loved Katharine. So the stereotype that he never loved her or quickly lost interest in her is, I think, false. What was her undoing was not her ability to bear a male child, but her husband’s obsession with having one.
Candace Fleming did a good job shaping the tragedies that befall Katharine and really showing her steadfastness and adoration of Henry, as well as how her faith strongly guided her decisions. She lived up to her motto and so much more. I wish more people would have appreciated that in her in life.
”Do not say that I did not love her. I did; I do. I was not ‘unkind’ to her, as I hear some whisper. I always sought to celebrate her, protect her.”
Anne Boleyn
”Every story must have a villain, whether what is said to cast that villain is true of a torrent of lies. Truth is boring, after all, compared to rumour and lechery. And yet, were I quiet, without wit, and lacking all strength, could I have been cast as a bitch or a whore, a villain or a witch? I rather think not.”
Ah, Anne. Probably the most famous (and infamous) of Henry’s wives. And who can blame history for dubbing her that? I mean, this is the woman who caused Henry to create his own fucking church, just so he could be with Anne. In the time period in which they lived in, that was unheard of. The Church was Roman Catholic and they were law.
Anne represented the promise of the one thing Henry so desired, which was a son. She dangled that prospect to him like a chocolate bonbon… and in the end it proved to all be for naught. No male heir was begotten, and her fall was as swift as her rise.
Anne’s chapter was mainly told through flashbacks, with almost little to no time spent on the actual relationship between Henry and Anne. Maybe this was done deliberately by the authors because so many authors have spent so much time on Anne Boleyn, but I found her chapter to be a bit underwhelming. For those who like Anne Boleyn, this book doesn’t paint her in the most flattering light, which doesn’t help those who say that she wasn’t as bad as she was made out to be by her enemies and naysayers. I left this chapter wanting more.
”Idiocy- idiocy! To think that slut could be my queen- I was so deceived- so fond- so foolish!”
Jane Seymour
”I am the one who gave the King a boy, the heir for whom he has so longed all these years. I did this. I did. I, Plain Jane. I filled this household with love again, with hope and a future. I did. I, Plain Jane.”
Poor little Jane Seymour. I feel bad for her on so many levels. She gave the king the one thing he wanted so desperately, but she paid for it with her life. I think that if she had lived, Henry’s wives would have stopped there. Sure, there would probably be mistresses in between, but she would have been his last wife. I’m sure of it.
Unfortunately for Jane, she’s only remembered by history as the wife who gave Henry a son and died. She’s not given much more personality than that. The author here tries to rectify that. She shows how a rather plain and unassuming girl became wife to the most powerful man in English history and succeeded where the other two before her failed. She’s meek and unassuming, and yet wielded her own kind of power over the king. She brought out a happier, more gentle side to him. I only wonder what she would have done if she lived longer.
”’Bound to Obey and Serve.’ So she did obey and serve- but there was no law binding Jane to do so. The only monarch dictating her meekness and service was her own gentle and compassionate heart.”
Anna of Cleves
”’The King was afraid. I know it, for I’m the one who made him so. I made a mistake, a grave one.’ I made my face a mirror when it should’ve been a mask, and what the King saw there terrified him. He hated me for it, and never, ever forgave me.’”
The ugly duckling. And you thought Jane Seymour had it bad. Poor Anne of Cleves is only remembered because she was so unattractive in Henry’s eyes that he promptly asked for a divorce and executed the person who suggested this arranged marriage to begin with. She’s overlooked so much, and we don’t really know what she was really like. She’s merely cast as a blip in Henry’s life and nothing more, a mistake that wasn’t rectified.
And yet in this book, she was my favorite.
Jennifer Donnelly worked a miracle; she managed to make Henry VIII’s most unpopular and forgotten wife memorable. This Anne of Cleves is more than just the ugly duckling. She’s shrewd, clever, no nonsense, and so done with the patriarchal standards that society has cast upon her. She knows how to play her cards and play them she did. Here, she’s absolutely fucking fearless. There were so many quotes in this chapter that struck a chord with me.
Instead of Anna being so ugly that Henry hated her, he despised her for a different reason. By this stage, Henry has lost the handsomeness and rigor of his youth. He’s fat, bloated, and suffering from horrible leg ulcers that could probably have classified as deadly weapons, they reeked so much. But he was king. Nobody was going to tell him that he was getting old and ugly. In Anna’s face and in her actions, she was the first person who indirectly told him that.
And that scared him more than anything. For the first time, he had to face his own mortality and look death and old age straight in the face. For someone like Henry, that’s suicide. This woman was too honest for him. She needed to be removed.
Anna came out on top in the end. She won a huge divorce settlement and was allowed to stay in England in relative comfort and peace. She won the hand that she played, and with a smile on her face till the end.
”Sometimes I wonder about her smile, which did not appear in Holbein’s complacent portrait.
It is the smile of a victor.”
Catherine Howard
”It took just six months for His Majesty to make me his Queen.
It has taken him only six days for him to unmake me.”
Poor, poor Catherine. I just don’t think she knew quite what she was getting into when it came to life as Queen. She was way too young and inexperienced for the kind of role she was cast into, and that was her downfall. She was a pawn in her family’s game, but they picked the wrong player.
This book portrays Catherine as lively, vivacious, attractive… and sex crazy. Having not read a lot about Catherine Howard, I don’t know how true or accurate that is. However, I think that author chose to believe the rumors about Catherine more than the historical facts. I do think she nailed Catherine’s naïve nature and total lack of awareness of how the royal court actually worked. She made Henry happy for a really short period of time, but it quickly faded for them both. Out of all the wives, she’s the most tragic.
”Once I was a shining prince; now I am stranded in a body bloated like an island kingdom, hot with distempers and assaulted by its own corruption.
I am alone, all alone in this world, and surrounded by the unsteady sea.’”
Kateryn Parr
”For a long time, I thought I was brighter, cleverer, more beloved than these other wives. But I was wrong. In the end, I made the same errors. I forgot that in this kingdom no woman- not even a Queen- can be ambitious; she can never let down her guard.
She can never show her own power, be her true self.
And yet, and yet…”
At this point, I’m wagering that Henry had a type, and that type was Katherine’s.
Not to toot my own horn or anything.
Kateryn did what none of the wives did before him; she outlived her husband. Here, she also knows how to play her cards. She must hide her true personality in order to live and not meet the fate of her sister wives before her. I have to admit that this book made me admire her cleverness and willingness to play the game. This ability to play the game, however, was only made after she reached too high in her beliefs and almost lost her life to it. Unlike Catherine Howard, however, Kateryn knew the rules of court and how to manipulate the king’s thoughts to save herself. She didn’t love him, but she did know how to make him happy.
Sometimes that’s all you need to do to play the game.
*****************************
With this book, Henry’s wives got justice. They stepped out of Henry’s larger than life shadow and reclaimed their narrative and shattered the stereotypes given to them by history. We see Henry’s transformation from a lively and laddish ruler to a, angry, obese, depressed shell of his former self. The authors dis a magnificent job capturing the essence and personality of each queen.
Whether you’re a Tudor die-hard or just beginning to study Henry VIII and all his wives, this book will give you insight to these magnificent, complicated, magnetic, and ultimately tragic figures who would go on and shape the rest of English history.
Hear them roar.
”Everything I have done, I did for England. This is what the doubters and intriguers don’t understand: The wives- all of them- they were necessary.”
June 5, 2018
Review Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek
****Thank you to Random House Children’s for sending me this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review****
This review is going to be a lot shorter than usual since this is an anthology and it’s a retelling of historical figures and events. There isn’t really a whole lot to discuss!
This was an okay book, not terribly bad but not terribly good either.I did enjoy reading it, just not as much as I originally thought I would. I don’t think I’m a big enough “Tudor fan” for this book, however, if you are very interested in Tudor history (especially Henry VIII and his wives) then you might enjoy this one!
There isn’t much to say about the plot since the plot is ….well history! We follow the 6 different POVs of Henry VIII’s wives: Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Kateryn Parr. Then we also see some POVs from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I as well. Each POV is also written by a different YA author:
M. T. Anderson – Henry VIII
Candace Fleming – Katharine of Aragon
Stephanie Hemphill – Anne Boleyn
Lisa Ann Sandell – Jane Seymour
Jennifer Donnelly – Anna of Cleves
Linda Sue Park – Catherine Howard
Deborah Hopkinson – Kateryn Parr
There wasn’t too terribly much revealed in each POV that I didn’t already know, but the writing was fantastic and I enjoyed reading through each perspective. My personal favorites were Fleming’s, Hemphill’s, and Park’s stories a.k.a. the tales of Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Howard. I also liked the added POV of Henry VIII after each of the wives’s POVs, I just thought it was an interesting touch to see how he played the victim in each marriage even though he obviously was not.
Overall this was an enjoyable enough book and one that I definitely recommend checking out if you’re a fan of Tudor history. If you aren’t terribly keen on Tudor history I’d pass on this one though.
****Thank you to Random House Children’s for sending me this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review****
This review is going to be a lot shorter than usual since this is an anthology and it’s a retelling of historical figures and events. There isn’t really a whole lot to discuss!
This was an okay book, not terribly bad but not terribly good either.I did enjoy reading it, just not as much as I originally thought I would. I don’t think I’m a big enough “Tudor fan” for this book, however, if you are very interested in Tudor history (especially Henry VIII and his wives) then you might enjoy this one!
There isn’t much to say about the plot since the plot is ….well history! We follow the 6 different POVs of Henry VIII’s wives: Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Kateryn Parr. Then we also see some POVs from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I as well. Each POV is also written by a different YA author:
M. T. Anderson – Henry VIII
Candace Fleming – Katharine of Aragon
Stephanie Hemphill – Anne Boleyn
Lisa Ann Sandell – Jane Seymour
Jennifer Donnelly – Anna of Cleves
Linda Sue Park – Catherine Howard
Deborah Hopkinson – Kateryn Parr
There wasn’t too terribly much revealed in each POV that I didn’t already know, but the writing was fantastic and I enjoyed reading through each perspective. My personal favorites were Fleming’s, Hemphill’s, and Park’s stories a.k.a. the tales of Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Howard. I also liked the added POV of Henry VIII after each of the wives’s POVs, I just thought it was an interesting touch to see how he played the victim in each marriage even though he obviously was not.
Overall this was an enjoyable enough book and one that I definitely recommend checking out if you’re a fan of Tudor history. If you aren’t terribly keen on Tudor history I’d pass on this one though.
February 20, 2018
Every time I get a chance to read about the infamous king or, even better, his (in)famous wives, I jump at the chance. I like how the authors wrote not only from Henry's perspective but from the viewpoint of each wife as well. Of course, there is no certain way to know EXACTLY what was going through each one's mind, but I surely enjoyed the ride. This book is one that I found myself glued to and did not want to put down. It flowed very well and I discovered that I was quickly turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. With each flip of the page, I channeled myself into the magnificent court that I was reading about. I could even imagine what it was like to be in that horrid Tower, looking down at the block where, as the expression goes, heads would roll. If you are looking for a dramatic glimpse into the lives of these women, then this is the book for you.
June 20, 2020
As a fan of Wolf Hall, Fatal Throne never quite hit the mark for me. I really appreciated the concept of this collection of short stories from the pov of each of Henry VIII's wives with little reactions from Henry himself about the goings on. I guess, I was expecting to come away from this feeling more than just blah and mostly bored by this retread. If you're looking for primer that will introduce you to these real life historical figures though, this would be a decent place to start.
September 28, 2022
I just saw a play at the Warwick Theater (The Last Wife), about Catherine Parr and King Henry VIII. The play was just excellent, and it made me want to read a book that had been on my shelf for a couple of years that gave voice to each of Henry’s wives. In this novel, each queen is written by a different author, and then Henry also gives some commentary about each wife as they leave the marriage. Very, very interesting.
May 26, 2018
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Katharine of Aragon: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ This chapter provided a succinct, broad overview of Katharine’s life but her story seemed rushed. In my opinion, Fleming’s chapter would have been the most challenging to write. Katharine lived the longest of the six queens. I’m not sure that any writer would be able to do her story justice and cram sufficient detail to describe 50 years of life into 56 pages. While Fleming’s account of Katharine was brief, she thoroughly researched Katharine’s life. Young adult readers who don’t know much about the Tudors could learn a thing or two from reading about Katharine in Fatal Throne.
Anne Boleyn: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Anne’s chapter was a brief snapshot of her life, focusing specifically on Anne’s time in the Tower of London just before her execution. As with Katharine’s story, I thought that the limited number of pages provided to the author did not allow for character development and detailed description. My main problem, however, was with Hemphill’s portrayal of Anne. I guess I’m just prejudiced to Jean Plaidy’s depiction of Anne in Murder Most Royal. I read Plaidy’s book in high school and it made such an impression on me that some details vividly stand out in my mind today. Plaidy did such a wonderful job of creating a multi-layered character who readers could empathize with despite her flaws. Hemphill’s Anne was catty and spiteful, which I realize is one interpretation, but in my mind Anne will always be the woman featured in Murder Most Royal.
Jane Seymour: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jane Seymour’s chapter was also a brief snapshot of her life, focusing mainly on her courtship with Henry. Sandell’s perspective of Jane seeing herself as plain and feeling grateful towards Henry for noticing her was interesting although I can’t claim to have enjoyed reading about their romance. I felt sympathy for Jane but was able to relate more to Anna’s character. It’s hard to root for a relationship between a desperate young woman and an obese , middle-aged man with putrid breath and a festering, malodorous leg wound. I also didn’t like Sandell’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn. Sandall’s Anne was even nastier than Hemphill’s.
Anna of Cleves: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This was by far my favorite chapter in the entire book. Previously, I just didn’t think Anna of Cleves was that interesting. I thought of her as the “ugly queen” who stayed in the background without playing a major part in the Tudor drama. After reading Anna’s chapter, I see her character in a completely new light. I thought Donnelly’s insight into the characters was fascinating. Her account presents an interesting question—Did Henry declare Anna to be repulsive because she was hideous or because she failed to stroke his ego like his female courtiers? I loved the message that a woman’s worth does not come from a man. I found myself highlighting so many quotes from this chapter. Here’s one: Life deals the cards but it’s up to us how we play them. My one regret was that Anna’s story was so short. I kind of wish that the whole book was about Anna and her household. It would have been interesting to read about what happened to Alice after Anna died.
Catherine Howard: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Park did a great job of capturing Catherine Howard’s personality—fun, vivacious, energetic, and naive. Once again, I thought that there was just too much detail to cram in to 50-some pages. Her life prior to joining Henry’s court was skimmed over in just a few short pages, which I believe is an important part of explaining why Catherine became the person that she did. Plaidy’s book Murder Most Royal provided a much more detailed account of Catherine’s life.
Kathryn Parr: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kathryn Parr has always been one of my favorite queens. She was kind, beautiful, and intelligent. She was also a proponent of female education, an advocate of the Reformed faith, and the first English queen to publish a book under her own name. I probably sound like a broken record by now, but Hopkinson’s chapter was just too short to do Kathryn’s story justice. Her narrative ends right before Henry’s death so readers do not learn anything of her life after Henry. For a more detailed account, read The Sixth Wife by Jean Plaidy. This is another book that has stuck with me even though I read it in high school.
Henry: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Henry’s chapters were short and interspersed throughout the book. For readers unfamiliar with the Tudors, Henry’s chapters will provide an insight into his way of thinking. I’ve read quite a bit about the Tudors already so for me these chapters were well-written but didn’t add any new information or insights.
Katharine of Aragon: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ This chapter provided a succinct, broad overview of Katharine’s life but her story seemed rushed. In my opinion, Fleming’s chapter would have been the most challenging to write. Katharine lived the longest of the six queens. I’m not sure that any writer would be able to do her story justice and cram sufficient detail to describe 50 years of life into 56 pages. While Fleming’s account of Katharine was brief, she thoroughly researched Katharine’s life. Young adult readers who don’t know much about the Tudors could learn a thing or two from reading about Katharine in Fatal Throne.
Anne Boleyn: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Anne’s chapter was a brief snapshot of her life, focusing specifically on Anne’s time in the Tower of London just before her execution. As with Katharine’s story, I thought that the limited number of pages provided to the author did not allow for character development and detailed description. My main problem, however, was with Hemphill’s portrayal of Anne. I guess I’m just prejudiced to Jean Plaidy’s depiction of Anne in Murder Most Royal. I read Plaidy’s book in high school and it made such an impression on me that some details vividly stand out in my mind today. Plaidy did such a wonderful job of creating a multi-layered character who readers could empathize with despite her flaws. Hemphill’s Anne was catty and spiteful, which I realize is one interpretation, but in my mind Anne will always be the woman featured in Murder Most Royal.
Jane Seymour: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jane Seymour’s chapter was also a brief snapshot of her life, focusing mainly on her courtship with Henry. Sandell’s perspective of Jane seeing herself as plain and feeling grateful towards Henry for noticing her was interesting although I can’t claim to have enjoyed reading about their romance. I felt sympathy for Jane but was able to relate more to Anna’s character. It’s hard to root for a relationship between a desperate young woman and an obese , middle-aged man with putrid breath and a festering, malodorous leg wound. I also didn’t like Sandell’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn. Sandall’s Anne was even nastier than Hemphill’s.
Anna of Cleves: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This was by far my favorite chapter in the entire book. Previously, I just didn’t think Anna of Cleves was that interesting. I thought of her as the “ugly queen” who stayed in the background without playing a major part in the Tudor drama. After reading Anna’s chapter, I see her character in a completely new light. I thought Donnelly’s insight into the characters was fascinating. Her account presents an interesting question—Did Henry declare Anna to be repulsive because she was hideous or because she failed to stroke his ego like his female courtiers? I loved the message that a woman’s worth does not come from a man. I found myself highlighting so many quotes from this chapter. Here’s one: Life deals the cards but it’s up to us how we play them. My one regret was that Anna’s story was so short. I kind of wish that the whole book was about Anna and her household. It would have been interesting to read about what happened to Alice after Anna died.
Catherine Howard: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Park did a great job of capturing Catherine Howard’s personality—fun, vivacious, energetic, and naive. Once again, I thought that there was just too much detail to cram in to 50-some pages. Her life prior to joining Henry’s court was skimmed over in just a few short pages, which I believe is an important part of explaining why Catherine became the person that she did. Plaidy’s book Murder Most Royal provided a much more detailed account of Catherine’s life.
Kathryn Parr: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kathryn Parr has always been one of my favorite queens. She was kind, beautiful, and intelligent. She was also a proponent of female education, an advocate of the Reformed faith, and the first English queen to publish a book under her own name. I probably sound like a broken record by now, but Hopkinson’s chapter was just too short to do Kathryn’s story justice. Her narrative ends right before Henry’s death so readers do not learn anything of her life after Henry. For a more detailed account, read The Sixth Wife by Jean Plaidy. This is another book that has stuck with me even though I read it in high school.
Henry: ⭐️⭐️⭐️Henry’s chapters were short and interspersed throughout the book. For readers unfamiliar with the Tudors, Henry’s chapters will provide an insight into his way of thinking. I’ve read quite a bit about the Tudors already so for me these chapters were well-written but didn’t add any new information or insights.
August 29, 2018
An enlightening collection of firsthand accounts from each of Henry VIII's six wives. I knew the most about Katharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. In between each of the wives' stories we get a blurb from Henry's POV. Especially enjoyed the Kateryn Parr (Wife #6) chapter. She learned from history and outlived her king. This is not an exhaustive resource, but more of an overview and shows the reader the big picture.
September 11, 2018
It's always a nice feeling when you hit September and read one of your favorite books of the year! Fatal Throne was fantastic and I couldn't tear myself away. Henry VIII and his 6 wives all have their own distinct voice and story, written by different authors. Anne of Cleves is my favorite, who is yours?
September 13, 2018
A spontaneous purchase at the train station bookstore, I was immersed in the lives of Tudor England and Henry and his wives. A YA version of Wolf Hall but with all the wives.
May 18, 2021
All I can say is: Henry the 8th has an internal monologue about strong his sperm is 🤢
August 13, 2018
The first thing you might realise about this book is that there are many authors. This is one of the core aspects of the book that attracted me. This book is a story of Henry VIII and his six wives. Each wife narrates the story of her life in her own chapter and each chapter is written by a different author. Interspersed between each queen’s tale is Henry VIII’s narration. While the book is generally categorised as YA historical fiction, I enjoyed it immensely as a non-YA reader.
I personally do not discern much difference in the writing style and tone of each different author so if I didn’t know better I would have thought that they were all written by the same person. The book gives me an impression that all the authors collaborated closely and knew well what the others were writing and how they were writing it. As a result, the book is a cohesive whole of the parts within.
As I am relatively new to historical fiction, albeit being interested in the Tudors for a while now, I found this condensed retelling of the lives of Henry and his wives very accessible and compelling. Each wife’s story is told at a crucial point in their lives but the flashbacks make it easy for the uninitiated reader to understand pivotal events prior to the time of the narration. For instance, Anne Boleyn’s narrative is set just days before her execution, but the reader also learns about Henry’s courtship with her through her recollections. I do not have a favourite chapter or narrator; it is really hard to choose as all the women compel you to sympathise with her and understand her predicament. Even Henry VIII himself is given a voice to explain his actions, so it is hard (for me at least) to see him as a lusty and ruthless sovereign. Each character is convincing and stays true to historical representations of them.
This book may not have anything new to offer seasoned enthusiasts of the Tudors as each chapter is a REALLY quick sweep of each woman’s life (50 pages or so). It does not dwell much on the politics of those years when each woman was Queen (Katharine of Aragon’s chapter was extremely touch-and-go as it spans the whole of her life). What this book does offer, however, is a quick snapshot of the reign of Henry VIII and his Queens. If you are interested in the Tudors, have heard and read a little about some of his wives, have visited The Tower of London (or Madame Tussaud’s) and are intrigued, then this is the book for you. If you do not have the time or the certainty that you want to read a full-length novel about each Queen yet want to know more about them in a single book told in compelling voices, then this book is for you. If you like historical women but none of the boring bits, this book is for you. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Times Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I personally do not discern much difference in the writing style and tone of each different author so if I didn’t know better I would have thought that they were all written by the same person. The book gives me an impression that all the authors collaborated closely and knew well what the others were writing and how they were writing it. As a result, the book is a cohesive whole of the parts within.
As I am relatively new to historical fiction, albeit being interested in the Tudors for a while now, I found this condensed retelling of the lives of Henry and his wives very accessible and compelling. Each wife’s story is told at a crucial point in their lives but the flashbacks make it easy for the uninitiated reader to understand pivotal events prior to the time of the narration. For instance, Anne Boleyn’s narrative is set just days before her execution, but the reader also learns about Henry’s courtship with her through her recollections. I do not have a favourite chapter or narrator; it is really hard to choose as all the women compel you to sympathise with her and understand her predicament. Even Henry VIII himself is given a voice to explain his actions, so it is hard (for me at least) to see him as a lusty and ruthless sovereign. Each character is convincing and stays true to historical representations of them.
This book may not have anything new to offer seasoned enthusiasts of the Tudors as each chapter is a REALLY quick sweep of each woman’s life (50 pages or so). It does not dwell much on the politics of those years when each woman was Queen (Katharine of Aragon’s chapter was extremely touch-and-go as it spans the whole of her life). What this book does offer, however, is a quick snapshot of the reign of Henry VIII and his Queens. If you are interested in the Tudors, have heard and read a little about some of his wives, have visited The Tower of London (or Madame Tussaud’s) and are intrigued, then this is the book for you. If you do not have the time or the certainty that you want to read a full-length novel about each Queen yet want to know more about them in a single book told in compelling voices, then this book is for you. If you like historical women but none of the boring bits, this book is for you. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Times Reads in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2019
I absolutely adored this novel. Each chapter is tackled by a different YA author giving voice to one of Henry VIII's ill-fated wives. Interspersed between were Henry's chapters, giving his side of the story.
I've read so many books on the Tudors, I know their stories pretty well. There wasn't necessarily anything new in this book. However, I found myself completely riveted. I found that the Queen's perspectives side-by-side with Henry's shows just how hard life would have been for an intelligent and strong-willed woman living in that time. When your job is to just be pretty and birth baby boys, anything you do outside of that puts you at risk.
I found the Anne Boleyn, Anna of Cleves, and Katherine Howard chapters to be particularly good. If you are looking for great historical fiction, especially if you aren't familiar with the Tudors, this is a great place to start.
I've read so many books on the Tudors, I know their stories pretty well. There wasn't necessarily anything new in this book. However, I found myself completely riveted. I found that the Queen's perspectives side-by-side with Henry's shows just how hard life would have been for an intelligent and strong-willed woman living in that time. When your job is to just be pretty and birth baby boys, anything you do outside of that puts you at risk.
I found the Anne Boleyn, Anna of Cleves, and Katherine Howard chapters to be particularly good. If you are looking for great historical fiction, especially if you aren't familiar with the Tudors, this is a great place to start.
February 28, 2018
Fantastic collection of stories written from the perspective of each of King Henry VIII's six wives, along with rebuttal from Henry (written by M.T. Anderson) to each of them. Also includes a timeline and cast of characters. Perfect reading level and amount of content for teen readers.
Pop Sugar’s 2018 Reading Challenge - A novel based on a real person
Pop Sugar’s 2018 Reading Challenge - A novel based on a real person
January 13, 2020
I picked this up due to my love of M.T. Anderson + the musical Six, and I was not disappointed! This is an engaging introduction to these women and this time period. It's more sexually explicit than I was expecting-def recommended for older teens+.
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