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Summary
By the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the Starz original series The White Queen, a riveting new Tudor tale featuring King Henry VIII's sixth wife Kateryn Parr, the first English queen to publish under her own name.Why would a woman marry a serial killer? Because she cannot refuse... Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives-King Henry VIII-commands her to marry him. Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent. But is this enough to keep her safe? A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. But she cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and Henry's dangerous gaze turns on her. The traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy-the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant... From an author who has described all of Henry's queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power, and education at the court of a medieval killer.
I gotta say, reading 'The Taming of the Queen' was a real eye-opener for me. I gained a whole lot of knowledge and ended up having mad respect for Catherine Parr. The way she outsmarted others and managed to stay alive was seriously impressive!
I became a fan of Gregory after reading "Lady of the Rivers" due to its unbiased approach and well-paced narrative. Naturally, I was excited to delve into her interpretation of the courageous and intelligent Catherine Parr, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed.
I appreciated how the book shed light on Catherine's scholarly pursuits and religious beliefs. The inner monologue against Henry towards the end was particularly captivating. However, I was not a fan of how Gregory portrayed Thomas Seymour, who seemed to be nothing more than a womanizer. His involvement with the child Elizabeth I was a sensitive topic that was barely touched upon. Additionally, Gregory's strong dislike for Elizabeth I was apparent in her descriptions, as she seemed to show more compassion towards Catherine Howard than towards Elizabeth. There also seemed to be a biased lens favoring Mary I throughout the book.
Phillipa Gregory's 'The Taming of the Queen' is definitely one of her finest works. As someone who has read all of her books, I found this particular one to be absolutely captivating. Catherine Parr is often overlooked as just Henry VIII's last wife, known for taking care of him in his final days. However, this assumption couldn't be more incorrect. Whenever I read a book by Phillipa Gregory, it always sparks my curiosity to delve deeper into the characters and their historical context. That's one aspect I really appreciate about her books. I also love the informative notes that Gregory includes at the end of the book. She truly is the ultimate historical fiction writer! Furthermore, Bianca Amato does an outstanding job as the narrator.
I've devoured almost all of Philippa Gregory's books. She's without a doubt one of my favorite storytellers, and Bianca Amato does an impeccable job as the narrator. In this particular tale, I delved into King Henry's perspective and the events that unfolded. While he was undeniably cruel and lacking compassion, Gregory weaves a narrative that explores the motivations behind his actions. Surprisingly, I found her story to be quite believable, even though it falls under the genre of historical fiction. She manages to humanize Henry, revealing a softer side and shedding light on aspects of his personality that I had never considered before. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the untold story of Katherine Parr as an author and scholar. I thoroughly enjoyed how the two narratives harmoniously intertwined, creating a captivating and engaging experience.
This book is absolutely fantastic and makes for a captivating listening experience. I highly urge everyone to give it a shot, along with all of the author's other works and tales!
If you're into books about the Tudors, especially Henry XII, chances are you won't come across much new information in "The Taming of the Queen". The only fresh details I stumbled upon were directly related to the book's title. However, it's worth noting that after finishing the book, we're informed that the scene I mentioned earlier is purely fictional. Now, let's talk about the performance. Feeling down? Well, if you're not already feeling low, listening to this audiobook will surely bring you down. Seriously, the narrator adopts a sad, depressed, and simply awful slow-paced style. All I can say is that I can't recommend this book based on both the story and the performance.
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