Queen's Gambit (The Tudor Trilogy)

by E C Fremantle

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Excluding the Boleyn sisters I have read very few books on Henry's many wives particularly his sixth and last wife, Kathrine Parr.

Elizabeth Fremantle's novel is soaking in detail from the descriptions of the elaborate dresses and jewels to the filth of living conditions creating a vivid portrait of 1500s court.

I have always enjoyed books that are told from different perspectives which Queen's Gambit conquers seamlessly. I was interested in Kathrine Parr's point of view but let's face it, we all know her most pressing problems were her inability to produce an heir and circumvent being burned at the stake. I preferred reading the novel through the eyes of secondary characters, the Queen's maid-servant Dot and personal Physician Huicke. Both were devoted to the queen and had unique, original voices with a story just as interesting to tell. I would have been devastated if either had been sent to the guillotine.

The pacing of Queen's Gambit was thrilling, reading at top speed to see what would happen next. Wait a minute, didn't I just say that Kathrine Parr's story was predictable? Perhaps, but as I stated earlier I know very little of Henry's spouses. Thus everything was a bright as a new spring morning.

Queen's Gambit is an enthralling novel of epic proportions, being a fantastic novel of historical fiction.

I received a readers copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review