Review ~ The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

TITLE: The Other Queen
AUTHOR: Philippa Gregory
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: historical fiction
PAGES: 438 (in ebook format)
SERIES: Not that I’m aware of

REASON FOR READING: This was a free Sony book when I rec’d my e-reader and I have always enjoyed her works

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Two women competing for a man's heart. Two queens fighting to the death for dominance. The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots. This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the
headsman.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Um yeah this one just didn’t hold a candle to her previous works. The book was too long, it repeated too much and just didn’t do anything for me. Its about Mary Queen of Scots and I believe it was meant to make the readers feel for Mary and her unfair treatment. However, all it did for me was make me roll my eyes and think that Mary deserved everything she got.

Things I enjoyed:
There wasn’t much. I did enjoy see Queen Elizabeth from different perspectives and I realize that she probably wasn’t as liked as many believe. I do believe that she was a fantastic leader and I honestly think she was an excellent queen but after reading this I can see how others might not view it the same.
I also enjoyed watching the conflict between the two Queens and seeing how Mary thought that Elizabeth moved to slow while the whole time Elizabeth knew if she waited long enough Mary would tangle herself into some foiled plot after another.

Things I didn’t care for:
Pretty much most of it. I didn’t care to be told over and over how the Earl’s wife was one of the only women in the land who owned property, how she brought herself up from being poor to an Earl’s wife, then repeat that every time we got her perspective. I didn’t care for Queen Mary’s thoughts she was repeating everything as well, she also came across as a spoiled little brat who threw spats b/c she could. She didn’t care about anyone but herself which means to me she must have been a horrible leader. And honestly I just didn’t care for any of the characters in this book. Not a single one of them struck a cord with me.

Would I recommend this book? No

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Nope the author wasn't new to me. Unless the book is free I will probably pass on it.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? If I could delete it I would

Anything else? I think a lot of her works are fantastic and would highly recommend them but not this one.