I’ve read a number of Alison Weir’s books (nonfiction and historical fiction,) and while I didn’t like this one as much as her previous ones in this series, it was still an enjoyable read.
Katheryn Howard is just 19 when she becomes Henry VIII’s fifth wife, fated to be beheaded by the age of 21. A decent portion of this book, though, is focused on her life before she became queen, when she was a younger child. There is a lot of time focused on the “indiscretions” she had with different (much older) men around her. And there are more following her marriage to the King.
Overall, while this book still follows in the same historical fiction steps as Weir’s previous books in the series, this one was definitely more bawdy than the earlier ones. While that might make sense to build the case against her later, it was a bit much (and repetitive) for a book outside of the bodice-ripper genre.
However, Weir did a good job making Katheryn a likeable character even with her flaws, especially as the ending is known before you even start the book. I definitely found myself frustrated with her choices — especially those made after her marriage — but it was interesting to read Weir’s interpretation of and explanation for the historical events that took place.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.