Kimberly Cates

Wasn't super in love with this one. Great premise and promise--I love historical fiction and I read so much about the Tudors that I was looking forward to something else. The perspective of a court fool was also intriguing, and didn't disappoint--it was delightful to see royalty from a distance.

Unfortunately, I just didn't connect to the story at all. I didn't understand why Jeffrey was in love with the queen at all. There didn't seem to be any reason, especially when she considered him a show more pet. He seemed cynical enough not to fall for her.

I also didn't have a very good visual sense of this story. I'm not as familiar with this time period as I am with Tudor England, and there weren't many details to help me find my way. Perhaps that's one way that history from a royal perspective helps: we get descriptions of fashions and decorations that the typical person just wouldn't have the ability to bother with.

I would definitely say that this is worth a read for those who like Tudor history and are looking to expand down the line of succession, as well as for those who like to read about history from less privileged perspectives. Jeffrey is an overall likeable character, and the parts where we watch him navigate his world--both in terms of his size and in terms of the contemporary superstition he faced--were the most interesting. I would have loved a book that focused even more on Jeffrey and the people of the menagerie. I would have loved to hear more about him learning how to be a court fool, making jokes that don't work until he figured out what does, practicing (and secretly critiquing) he masques he was called upon to participate in.

My biggest beef with the book, though, was the massive departure from history into pure fantasy at the end of the book. I'll grant a midnight ride the benefit of suspension of disbelief. That Jeffrey could thwart an assassination attempt but the whole thing could be swept under the rug of history because the king commands so is simply laughable. There's no way to stop a story like that from spreading, not in that kind of hostile environment and with so many courtiers around. I understand the need to get Jeffrey back in the queen's good graces, but did it have to be something so obviously contrived? The whole book is about how secrets can't be kept!

My reviews are devolving... show less

Ella March Chase's Three Maids for a Crown focuses on the lives of England's Grey sisters - Jane, Katherine and Mary - whose descent from Henry VII and Elizabeth of York put them in direct line for the English throne. When it is apparent young Edward VI is suffering from an illness from which he will not recover, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and John Dudley, the powerful Duke of Northumberland and Lord Protector of England, plot to have Suffolk's daughter show more Jane named heir to the throne in place of Edward's sisters Mary and Elizabeth. This plotting sets into motion a series of events that will have profound implications for each of the Grey sisters, the most significant of which is Edward VI's naming of Jane as his heir. Upon the young King's death, Jane becomes England's Queen, a title she holds for only nine-days and results in her execution for treason early in the reign of her successor, Mary Tudor. It also impacts the life of Katherine, who, upon Jane's death, is seen as a possible contender to first Mary's, and then Elizabeth's, throne. While I'm somewhat Tudored out at the moment, I gave this novel a try because the primary characters - the Grey sisters - are rarely featured prominently in Tudor fiction and, while I was already familiar with the story of Lady Jane Grey, I knew very little about her sisters and their lives after Jane's death.

Alternating between the voices of Jane, Katherine and Mary, March Chase successfully brings each of these women to life, vividly describing their hopes and dreams, and their struggles and hardships. Multiple narration is not an easy technique to get right, but March Chase skillfully moves between narrative voices without interrupting the flow of the story. The author also seamlessly weaves the important political/historical context of the times into this novel. As a result, the book is both entertaining and educational. Being unfamiliar with the fates of Katherine and Mary before reading this novel, I was especially surprised by the awful treatment of Katherine by Elizabeth I. While some historical liberties have been taken, these are addressed in the Author's Note, and do not detract in any way from the educational aspect of this novel.

I highly recommend this novel to historical fiction fans, especially those interested in the Tudor period.

Note: The novel comes from my own personal collection. show less

Book received for free through GoodReads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the book!

Ms. Chase really knows how to bring history to life. From the harsh world of the London slums to the vivid colors of Stuart courtly pageants, she drops her readers smack daub into a world of intrigue, emotion, and life. I really enjoyed the timeframe she chose to write about. I personally didn't know that much about it, so learning something while enjoying my fiction was an show more added bonus.

The character of Jeffery Hudson fascinated me. As he's described in one line, he's a man whose spirit and heart are bigger than his physical body. I found him so complex. His deep remorse for the course he's forced to travel, his developing loyalty to the menagerie and his Queen, and a heart so much larger than his physical size all came together into a individual that kept me spellbound. I got so wrapped up in his struggles and triumphs that I was upset that the journey was over! If the author ever decides to explore more of his life, I will definitely be in line for that book.

The other people in this book also shined with brilliance and individuality. From honorable giant Will to gentle dwarf Sara to the wily Duke of Buckingham, I felt each of these people in my soul. They all were as complex as Jeffrey, with their own motivations and insights. Not every author is able to balance the secondary characters with their heroes as well as Ella March Chase. It was a pleasant surprise.

This is definitely a fantastic piece of historical fiction. Not only are we transported to another time and place through spectacular period detail and storytelling, but the reader lives the times. The characters in the book all shown with brilliance, hero and secondary characters alike. No one was as they seemed which made for a pleasant reading experience. I definitely recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. show less

Let me start off by saying I loved Aidan. Anyone who has something bad to say about that man is simply incorrect. Most of the reviews I've seen for this novel say that Aidan is very cruel to Norah, but honestly, I didn't really think so. I think the way Norah reacts is what makes people think so. She hurts because of the way he reacts when she hurts him. Aidan's like an injured dog that lashes out when you try to pet it. There are many heroes who are said to be broken, but this one of the show more most broken men I've encountered in a historical romance. Until the end, he truly believes he's irreparable and irredeemable, when the love he pours on his daughter proves otherwise. There were many times when Norah finds something he says to be cold, but I didn't. If anything, I found her to be the cruel one. She is hyper-sensitive of her own feelings but tactless with his. At the ball, in the garden she's in another man's arms (whom she calls "the most wonderful man in the world"), with her own wrapped around his neck, giggling, and getting kissed without much protest, when she knows how Aidan's first wife cheated on him publicly. When she knows that said man is trying to steal her away from her husband. Do you possess a brain, woman? And then she wanders out into the wilderness because she's upset that he got jealous. So, no, I don't think she does. I'm not saying she's cruel on purpose, just dumb in that regard. So many times I found myself asking her, "Why are you upset?!" But, all in all, she does have a good heart, and I could see that she really cares for Aidan.

Now, I did like the mystery plot line, even though we know who the villain is from the outset, because we get to see at least some reconciliation with the Irishmen because of it. And because it's one of the strongest and most well-written points of the book. Toward the end, though, with all the clues, I wanted to shake some sense into them because they weren't getting it through their thick skulls.

I have a love/hate relationship with Cassandra. At times, she acts more like a 10-year-old than a 15-year-old, and other times she acts wiser than her years. She could be very obnoxious but also very loving. In fact, I disliked her for most of the book, but grew to like her in the last few chapters.
This is a long book, but a rewarding one if you can bear to sit through the pain the characters feel. show less