Book: The Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
Rating: 4 Stars
Release date: October 2, 2007 from Hyperion
Summary: Mary Seymour is the daughter of the great Katherine Parr–the last Queen of Henry VIII. Orphaned at a young age because of her mother’s bad marriage to Thomas Seymour, Mary determines early on that love is a sentiment that causes foolishness at best, and death at worst. She is sent to be raised by Lady Strange, a mysterious noblewoman who informs her of her destiny: Mary is to be a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth’s court and ensure her safe reign. After spending her early years honing her education and learning the arts of the white magician, Mary is indeed invited to join Elizabeth’s court as a Lady in Waiting. There is she is met with warm welcome from the Queen, but soon realizes that the court is also rife with ambitious men and women who are jockeying for power. The most dangerous of these is Edmund Seymour, Mary’s cousin. The moment she meets the dark, mysterious courtesan, Mary is drawn to him despite herself. Edmund is a black magician–the mirror image of Mary’s own powers. When Edmund becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Queen, Mary has to risk everything she believes to fulfill her calling. But playing this dangerous game could cost her more than she ever imagined.
Mary Seymour is the main character but there were a lot of other characters that were important to the story. Her guardian, Lady Strange, was a really big part of the first half of the book but I didn’t really feel like I got to know her history, just what she was teaching Mary. Then in the second half, the queen and Mary’s cousin, Edmund, were big parts. I really liked Edmund, even though he was supposed to be evil. And the queen seemed nice enough to Mary but once again we only got a small glimpse of her history. I just wish all the characters had been better-developed.
Also, I didn’t really get what the plot was. There seemed to be too many things going on underneath the main plot and I didn’t get how they all connected. I think things should have been elaborated a little more. And then there was the ending. It was good but it kind of left me questioning what actually happened.
Overall, I was a little disappointed by The Red Queen’s Daughter. I wish it had been a little more detailed but it was still an okay book. If you like historical fiction, you should check it out!
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Kait Rose
The Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
Book: The Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
Rating: 4 Stars
Release date: October 2, 2007 from Hyperion
Summary: Mary Seymour is the daughter of the great Katherine Parr–the last Queen of Henry VIII. Orphaned at a young age because of her mother’s bad marriage to Thomas Seymour, Mary determines early on that love is a sentiment that causes foolishness at best, and death at worst. She is sent to be raised by Lady Strange, a mysterious noblewoman who informs her of her destiny: Mary is to be a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth’s court and ensure her safe reign. After spending her early years honing her education and learning the arts of the white magician, Mary is indeed invited to join Elizabeth’s court as a Lady in Waiting. There is she is met with warm welcome from the Queen, but soon realizes that the court is also rife with ambitious men and women who are jockeying for power. The most dangerous of these is Edmund Seymour, Mary’s cousin. The moment she meets the dark, mysterious courtesan, Mary is drawn to him despite herself. Edmund is a black magician–the mirror image of Mary’s own powers. When Edmund becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Queen, Mary has to risk everything she believes to fulfill her calling. But playing this dangerous game could cost her more than she ever imagined.
Mary Seymour is the main character but there were a lot of other characters that were important to the story. Her guardian, Lady Strange, was a really big part of the first half of the book but I didn’t really feel like I got to know her history, just what she was teaching Mary. Then in the second half, the queen and Mary’s cousin, Edmund, were big parts. I really liked Edmund, even though he was supposed to be evil. And the queen seemed nice enough to Mary but once again we only got a small glimpse of her history. I just wish all the characters had been better-developed.
Also, I didn’t really get what the plot was. There seemed to be too many things going on underneath the main plot and I didn’t get how they all connected. I think things should have been elaborated a little more. And then there was the ending. It was good but it kind of left me questioning what actually happened.
Overall, I was a little disappointed by The Red Queen’s Daughter. I wish it had been a little more detailed but it was still an okay book. If you like historical fiction, you should check it out!
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I can’ wait to read this one. It seems pretty interesting. Thnks for the review!
Mandy fom Edge of Seventeen
I think it’s so funny when you love a character that’s supposed to be evil.
Thanks for this review – I might have to read others before deciding on this one.
Glad you liked this! I love historical fiction! I read this a few years ago, I’m definitely going to reread it to refresh my memory(:
I get a little squeamish with historical fictions, but this doesn’t sound too bad. Great review, I’ll have to check it out! 🙂
How interestting =) I googled Mary Seymour + Katherine Parr and found this review. I am a HF Book Blogger myself, and I am reading a non-fiction title: Elizabeth’s Women by Tracy Borman currently.
There is a mystery as to what happened to Mary, who was the daughter of the last wife of late Henry VIII. Mary Seymour became an orphan & therefore under the care of Lady Strange. Most historians seem to agree that she must have died just after age 2 since she disappeared off of record books.
This fictional account of what could have happened to Mary would definitely had been better received if the author did indeed go into the history behind Mary and her immediate ancestors, because that is where her initial intrigue lies. Once her mother Katherine died, her father was soon beheaded, but didn’t Elizabeth I feel any sympathy for Mary Seymour? Elizabeth as a teen was very close Katherine and worried for Katherine during her pregnancy with Mary. I would have loved to read this book if it went into the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Mary. I appreciate reading your thoughts on this fun topic!