This was the first book I have read by Phillipa Gregory and find that I am likely to read another. I was intrigued by the first sentence: "Every woman should marry for her own advantage since her husband will represent her, as visible as her front door, for the rest of his life." I found the topic of the life of women in another time period other than the present to be interesting, and indeed the book contained many revelations about the value and status of women in Elizabethan England. Although I did enjoy the book, towards the end I found it to be a bit repetitive- how every time one of Mary's plots was foiled, another one would just pop up, and Bess reiterating that she regrets marrying Talbot and how she mourns for her lost land and possessions. The ending just seemed to be missing something too...The same goes for George, he seemed single minded always focusing on his 'honor' and falling for Mary's tricks, espcially when he stated that she was too beautiful that she 'had' to be free. In the end he did seem like a food. Finally, I feel like I could have used more detail about what happened afterwards but perhaps that is in another book. Overall, it was alright, but good enough to make me want to try another of Gregory's books. I did learn a lot while reading this book because I have never read anything about Elizabethan England, and I don't remember learning anything at all about it during school. I found the controversies between the Catholics and Protestants to be interesting-how so much was decided about the monarchs, ruling class, laws, and wars based on the support of one side or the other, as well as the fact that the queens and everyone in their line were 'chosen by God' to rule and be untouchable. I was surprised at how manipulative the women could be-especially Mary, who knew how to look, act, and charm to get her way, use everyone around her to try and gain her ends. But on the other hand, it seems as if the women had no choice because they weren't allowed to be educated, and could only make something of themselves if they married rich. I was also surprised at the sheer amount of lying and betraying that occurred and how there were spies everywhere in England. There were countless lies between Bess and George, Mary and Bess, Mary and George. It seems to have been a very difficult time to live in, always having to be paranoid about how you discuss the queen or any of her confidantes. ( )

I guess you could call me a loyal Gregory reader. I've read the majority of her Tudor series and have read the first book in Plantagenet trilogy. Usually I can find more than a few faults with her novels, but the story is usually enough to overlook large historical inaccuracies and underdeveloped characters. Unfortunately every character in this novel is grating. Mary is pompous, vain, and irritating as she repeats the same choirs of "you must free me, you can't kill me, aren't i pretty". Bess is the stereotypic nagging wife, who can not go a section without worrying about her land, and talking about the money that is being lost, and all the while George is gripping with his love for Mary, while serving Elizabeth and making stupid choices the entire time. Between the three of them there is not one redeemable quality, and that is really the tragedy of this story, not the massive number of executions, the religious persecutions or the historical inaccuracy's. Not one of Gregory's best works.

Story:
**1/2
Structure:
*** ( )

This was the first Philippa Gregory book I've read and I had to adjust to her writing style. She told the story through the three perspectives of this book. I found the sentiments redundant especially 1) Mary: I'm a queen like no other, I am sacred, I cannot be touched by mere commoners, even without a kingdom I'll always be queen; 2) George: I love the other queen, but my loyalty is to Elizabeth; 3) Bess: I came from nothing and now I have everything, and I would do anything to keep all my wealth for myself, my children, and my grandchildren.

This author was highly recommended by a friend due to her expertise in royal fiction, I was also made aware that she wrote "The Other Boleyn Girl", which was turned into a movie. I was looking for something new to read and this was just up my alley. I have very little knowledge about Mary, Queen of Scots because I wasn't paying attention to my history class. After I read this, it inspired me to do my own reading so I can separate fact from fiction. This author has an imagination and effectively wrote in the first person point of view that made me feel triumph, excitement, and anxiety. I've read from the other reviews that this wasn't one of her best works but at least I got a grasp of her writing. It's very descriptive, assertive, and convincing.

Her version of Mary's life was very romantic and tragic at the same time, and this book was remarkably filled with detail and extensive research. ( )

Historical fiction about the captivity of Mary Queen of Scots, held by the Earl of Shrewsberry and his wife, who later became known as Bess of Hardwick. Told in the voice of the three main characters in alternating chapters, the result is unsatisfying. The characters of the Earl and Bess are one-dimensional and don't develop at all in the course of the book. Mary is more interesting, but in the end, I don't think I have a better idea of the 'real' Mary Queen of Scots than I had at the start. Read November 2009. ( )

An interesting look at Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and her struggles against her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England. The two women and their advisors constantly plot against one another as Mary seeks to regain her throne and be recognized as Elizabeth's true heir and Elizabeth tries to keep her plotting, Papist cousin from doing any more damage to her already uneasy reign. Caught in the middle of this duel is Lord Shrewsberry and his wife, Bess. The Shrewsberry's host Queen Mary in their home, along with her court of 60 attendants and discover that it nearly bankrupts them to keep the queen in the manner to which she is accustomed. And then Lord Shrewsberry falls in love with Queen Mary and turns a blind eye to his plotting ways and all hell breaks loose. ( )