In her latest historical outing, Gregory (
The White Queen) studies the final Tudor wife. Henry VIII has chosen his sixth and last bride, Kateryn Parr, and she is justifiably terrified at this prospect. There is no denying the king, even as her heart longs for her lover Thomas Seymour. Kateryn's family is of the reformed faith and wants her to promote their religious agenda to the king. Reluctant at first, she comes to embrace the Protestant faith in earnest. Subjected to Henry's dramatic mood swings, Kateryn quickly learns that she must tread carefully to stay safe and promote her cause. Things go smoothly for a period, but the capricious king decides that the old religion is best after all and Kateryn is now in danger of being arrested for heresy. As she fights for her life, she must compromise her newfound religious principles.
VERDICT Full of vivid details and fraught with the constant tension of a court run by a madman, this novel will appeal most to historical fiction readers and those who enjoyed Wolf Hall. The end of the story is well known, but Gregory beautifully builds the suspense.
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