The King's Rose by Alisa LibbyReleased on March 19, 2009
Summary from Goodreads:
Life in the court of King Henry VIII is a complex game. When fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard catches the king’s eye, she quickly transforms from pawn to queen. But even luxury beyond imagination loses its luster as young Catherine finds her life—and her heart—threatened by the needs of an aging king and a family hungry for power. Will their agendas deliver Catherine to the same fate as her infamous cousin, Anne Boleyn—sacrificed at the altar of family ambition?
My review:
The King's Rose is a novel based on the lesser known queen of King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard. What he had done to his six wives are infamous, however, I haven't actually read about Catherine until The King's Rose. I got to see how she felt, the trials and lies that she had to go through and the betrayal that ultimately led to her execution.
I have to admit, I didn't know anything about Catherine until now so throughout the entire book, I was hoping that the ending would be a happy one. Sigh.
The plot is enticing, lots of emotions that fly between the pages. The King's Rose is kind of like a history lesson with some fictional aspects that made it bearable but Alisa still managed to make the story unfold in a realistic manner.
Catherine is a victim of her relative's desire for power and she is used by them in hopes of attaining positions of power. She is forced to lie and create an image of herself that seduce Henry VIII. However, the real Catherine is already in love with someone else and is not so innocent as her image claims her to be. I had lots of mixed feelings for her - pity and sympathy are the main ones. She had to be sacrificed for her family's sake and she's the one who had to suffer. She had to give up everything she had desired for a life filled with jewels, riches but false love.
Overall, The King's Rose is a compelling and realistic novel that portrays the greed of a family, power, betrayal and love. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy historical fiction.
I have to admit, I didn't know anything about Catherine until now so throughout the entire book, I was hoping that the ending would be a happy one. Sigh.
The plot is enticing, lots of emotions that fly between the pages. The King's Rose is kind of like a history lesson with some fictional aspects that made it bearable but Alisa still managed to make the story unfold in a realistic manner.
Catherine is a victim of her relative's desire for power and she is used by them in hopes of attaining positions of power. She is forced to lie and create an image of herself that seduce Henry VIII. However, the real Catherine is already in love with someone else and is not so innocent as her image claims her to be. I had lots of mixed feelings for her - pity and sympathy are the main ones. She had to be sacrificed for her family's sake and she's the one who had to suffer. She had to give up everything she had desired for a life filled with jewels, riches but false love.
Overall, The King's Rose is a compelling and realistic novel that portrays the greed of a family, power, betrayal and love. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy historical fiction.
My rating:
Plot: 6/10
Theme: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
Recommendation: 7/10
Total: 36/50 = 72%
Theme: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
Recommendation: 7/10
Total: 36/50 = 72%
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2 comments:
I want this so bad! But no stores around me have it!
Great review. :]
Great review! I just got this book so I'll hopefully read it soon. :)
- Alex
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