Tudor: a family story

                   

Tudor

By: Leanda De Lisle I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review of the book.

  Disclaimer: I am not being in any way compensated for this review outside of getting to read the book before it's released on October 8, 2013. 

Beginning not with Henry VII taking the throne but with the death of Catherine of Valois and the history of her marriage to the squire Owen Tudor, Leanda De Lisle takes the accepted story of the Tudor dynasty and gives the reader a more complex and detailed history.

 She goes on to discuss Margaret Beaufort and her role in the Tudor ascendancy, as well as the more well-known elements of the Tudor history, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

 She then proceeds to write a fascinating and factual book that reads like a novel. While Ms. De Lisle provides the dates and details of the history of the Tudors, she also gives life to the events and people that keep the story interesting.

 I've read many books on the Tudor family, and this is definitely one of, if not the best. It is well researched and referenced while remaining accessible to someone new to reading historical nonfiction

The Boleyn King

written by Laura Andersen the premise is simple and intriguing; what if Anne Boleyn gave Henry VIII a son instead of having a second miscarriage

As the story begins it is 1536 and Anne Boleyn gives birth to a healthy son saving herself from disgrace and death.

The story then jumps ahead seventeen years and is told through the eyes of  Minuette, Dom, Elizabeth Tudor, and of course Will (Henry IX). 

Minuette and Dom are friends of Will and Elizabeth after having been brought into the royal household as orphans.

They are a close group which becomes important as the regency ends and Will takes the throne amidst old rumors that threaten his position as King.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a interesting and fun what if history novel with a very good mystery  that keeps you guessing.

It was a book I had a hard time putting down and reading the last page left me wanting to know what comes next.

While obviously some historical facts have been changed others are cleverly worked into the plot in different ways which is interesting,

If you enjoy Tudor historical fiction this is a must read in my opinion.

I give this book 5 stars.The Boleyn King