This is a wonderful final instalment to the Six Tudor Queens series. I didn't know a great deal about Katherine Parr but found her to be an interesting and complex woman. She had already lived quite a full life before meeting Henry VIII then her world was turned upside down as she became Queen despite loving another man. A fascinating take on Katharine's life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alison Weir’s combination of skilled writing and exceptional historical knowledge makes for the best historical novels. She manages to make history come alive as you live and breathe the time period. Although you know the characters are based on real people, the storyline is based on fact and you know the outcome you get so immersed in the writing that I still found myself rooting for Katharine! This book is so comprehensive but there is never a dull moment as I am sure there never was in Tudor England. Katharine Parr was the one wife of Henry VIII that I knew the least about and was probably least interested in but having read this book I actually think I was wrong, she is one of the most fascinating and inspiring of them all. She was an incredibly strong and powerful woman who managed to thrive in a man’s World. What Alison Weir manages to do in her writing is give historical women a voice of which I think they would all be immensely proud.

I've really enjoyed this series of books by Alison Weir. This was an interesting read as I didn't really know much about Katherine Parrs early life at all. She was a very astute woman when it came to most things but I found her very naive in, her relationship with Thomas Seymour .
I'm not sure if this book was longer than some of the others in the series , it just seemed to drag a little at times. It always picked up the pace again though to keep me reading.
This was a very well researched and informative read with insightful glimpses into the familial and marital relationships that formed Katherines life.
Alison weir is a favourite author of mine , I enjoy reading historically correct fiction. I thoroughly recommend this book.

I have been reading Alison Weir books since I was a teenager so imagine how much I fangirled when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her final book in the Tudor Queens series!
To Netgalley and Headline, thank you, thank you, thank you!

It is my opinion that Katharine Parr is often the most overlooked of Henry VIII's wives: indeed most novels focus only on her life after becoming Queen. That is why this novel from Alison Weir was simply brilliant.

Weir introduces us to Katharine Parr as a girl, constantly surrounded by family and, after losing her father at a young age, being brought up by her uncle, aunt and her mother who was an attendant to Queen Katharine of Aragon.

The reader instantly falls in love with Katharine, an intelligent, caring child who is acutely aware of her eventual duty to her family but desperately wishes to remain in her carefree days with her siblings.
As we know, Tudor girls married young and Weir explores each of Katharine's four marriages in great detail: combining historical fact and storytelling in the way that only she can.

It struck me that, in three of Katharine's four marriages, she was used as a pawn, marrying for rank, power and connections as was the norm at the time.
However, in every one of these marriages Katharine was able to find love; even when marrying an old overweight Henry, already famous for disposing of numerous wives.
The writing during each of these marriages is rarely emotional: Katharine is a very rational and practical character, only showing real passion for religion. She is even super calm when she believes she is being investigated as a heretic!
It isn't until Katharine's fourth and final marriage that she marries for herself and for love. The passionate relationship between Katharine and Tom Seymour seeps into the writing at this point: introducing jealousy and anger where there has previously been merely a stoic resolve.

The fact that this novel spans the lifespan of Henry's marriages is fitting and really allows Weir to paint a picture of Tudor society throughout the religious reforms and upheavals associated with its monarch.

No one who has read Alison Weir's books before will be surprised that this is yet another success. Together with Philippa Gregory, Weir is a Queen of historical fiction and this novel is only the latest jewel in her crown.

I never yet been disappointed by an Alison Weir book and I am still not. Loved this book which for a change, goes back into Katherine Parr's childhood. All other books I have read, going back to Jean Plaidy have always written about her in the context of Henry's wife. I have always wondered whether there was any really proof for the shenanigans going on between a young Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour. They are always a feature, just re-watching the BBC's 'Elizabeth R'! Was Katherine really so naive after so many marriages, maybe it is the old 'love is blind' thing. Although I own most of this set of six, this is actually the first one I have read. I have a fairly good background knowledge of the Tudors so reading these books in any order is not an issue. Thanks to Netgalley for an early read and I shall definitely be purchasing a hard copy when it appears in paperback. Just want to complete the set!

In writing about Katharine Parr I felt the author was able to put her best historian foot forward again- there is less of the Mills & Boon about it than some previous books in the series. I'm a longtime fan of Weir's nonfiction work and so appreciated that this is an updated narrative on the Queen's life with some new perspectives on important events. Even though on the whole I was lukewarm on a fictionalised series and the inevitable comparisons in retreading the work of someone like Phillippa Gregory, The Sixth Wife was admittedly a strong finish that I mostly enjoyed.

I’m a massive fan of anything relating to the Tudor dynasty, and author Alison Weir, employing great knowledge and a splash of imagination, brings not only the workings of the Tudor Court wonderfully to life, but also its characters.

Katharine Parr, had lost two husbands, and though she cared deeply for both of them, she had never actually been IN love - until she met Thomas Seymour. However, in Tudor times, duty came before love, and when Henry VIII, King of England set his cap at her, she thought it would be very unwise to refuse, and besides, she thought her influence would bring about changes close to her heart, and so it was that Katharine Parr became Henry’s sixth, and final wife. By the time they married, Henry was but a shadow of his former self - ageing, and in ill health.

Katharine Parr was probably the least appealing of Henry VIII’s wives for me personally, but that’s because I knew little about her, however, the author brings the many facets of her personality to life, from her time as a child born into minor nobility, to her life as queen, and she highlights the machinations of the Tudor Court, and the growing tension between the Catholics and the Protestants - a very dangerous time indeed to be queen.

So, from knowing very little about Katharine Parr, I discovered that (on the whole), I really liked this strong, independent and sensible lady. A great addition for fans of historical fiction, and the Tudor dynasty in particular.

You know you're in the hands of someone who knows her stuff with Alison Weir. She brings the world vividly to life but always ensures it's accessible to her readers. I've been enjoying this series and this is a wonderful ending to it. It's testament to the author's skill that she can keep our interest in characters that we feel we already know a lot about. I was thoroughly engrossed, mainly because the focus was very much on personal reactions and experiences.

Learning about Katharine through her upbringing and each of her marriages really brought her to life. The world she lives in was very well drawn and I also felt the importance of religion and its place at the time was well handled - we understood the depth of faith and its impact without every being overwhelmed with historical references.

I highly recommend this for anyone who is following the series and for all readers of historical fiction.

THank you to #NetGalley and #Headline for this advance copy!

I have read all of this wonderful series and have enjoyed every book immensely. I was concerned how the ending of not one but two characters dying would be portrayed but I should have had no fears. The death of Henry and Catharine was sensitively written and I truly felt everything that Catherine felt in being kept apart from Henry at the end of his life. This was a brilliant book and a worthy ending of a well written historical series based on the biggest major turning point in English history. I do hope the author will continue with the stories of Edward, Mary and the Great Tudor Queen Elizabeth.

“Katherine Parr: The Sixth Wife (Six Tudor Queens #6) by Alison Weir is the much anticipated final instalment in her Six Tudor Queens series, so I was hugely excited to be approved for an advanced copy of this book.

As a fan of all historical fiction, Alison Weir is up there amongst my most notable and favourite authors when it comes to writing about the past, particularly Tudor times. All of her books are excellent and this one is no exception. I have read all of the previous five books in the Tudor Queens series, but these books (including this one), don’t need to be read in order and are as equally enjoyable as stand alone novels.

When reading about periods in history, I love feeling as though I’m there, living it, experiencing it and that can often be a hard thing for an author to achieve, however, Alison Weir’s writing is so engaging and fluid, that it is very easy for the reader to become immersed in the world she’s writing about.

As the final wife of King Henry VIII, Katherine Parr is famous alone, however there was so much more to this woman that is little documented and known, particularly following on from the death of King Henry, but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of this book. A fascinating read that makes me wish King Henry had survived and had more wives! Sadly this is the last of the Tudor Queens series so I eagerly await what Alison Weir will continue with next.

Highly recommended to all fans of historical fiction and those who just enjoy a book well researched and written. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

A widow twice over, Katharine Parr finds herself in love with one man but marrying another: Henry VIII. For Katharine, this is the will of God but does come with danger. Katharine is of the Protestant persuasion. With two wives set aside and another two executed, will she survive? We know she does, but Weir shows us how

Katharine Parr: The Sixth Wife is the final instalment in her Six Queens series. One of the pleasures of this series has been seeing the Queen's lives before their marriage. With Katharine, this is particularly fascinating as she was widowed twice before becoming Queen and remarried after Henry's death. There is a large cast, and Katharine's interactions with her family, friends and stepdaughters are all a highlight.

The parts detailing Katharine's first two marriages were fascinating. Her first marriage's unhappiness is a good contrast to her second, where we witness her growing interest in religion and the reformation and independence. Her experience during the Pilgrimage of Grace is well-used and must have been harrowing.

Katharine became Queen at a volatile time. Her mercurial husband, whom she does come to love, is surrounded by vying factions that almost unseat her. Desperate for a child, she takes active steps to build a family, and we see a lot of Mary and Elizabeth.

Weir helps explain the complex myriad of religious beliefs and the Henrician Court and Europe. The scenes are detailed and believable and really do “bring history to life.” Katharine emerges as a robust and well-developed character, and as the end of the series, it is thus quite sad but satisfying.

I thoroughly enjoyed this final instalment and would recommend it highly. I am grateful to both NetGalley and Headline for the eARC.

Two husbands dead, a boy and a sick man. And now Katharine is free to make her own choice. The ageing King's eye falls upon her. She cannot refuse him or betray that she wanted another. She becomes the sixth wife - a queen and a friend. Henry loves and trusts her. But Katharine is hiding another secret in her heart, a deeply held faith that could see her burn.

Here we have it then, the final book in Weir's exquisite 'Six Tudor Queens' series. We all knew it was coming but that does not mean it is any easier to bid the series farewell. It is one of my favourite series and takes pride of place on my shelves, not least because they are such beautiful books!

This is the story of Katharine Parr, the wife who survived. I was eagerly anticipating getting stuck into this and I did eventually but it took me a little longer than I expected. I cannot specify why but there is something about this that did not quite gel and the flow of the book did not seem natural. That is my only negative in this otherwise wonderful read and I did get used to the style.

Weir really does capture the Tudor period splendidly. The atmosphere and people are brought vividly to life and I just loved immersing myself in the Tudor world. With historical fiction it is always great to read the dialogue and see how authors interpret they might have spoken, with this instalment in particular, it felt like an insight into the hearts and minds of the people Weir writes about.

We all know the story of Katharine Parr but Weir adds a touch of fiction to her life story and brings it to life. I loved reading about Katharine and those around her. We all know the ending and yet I still felt nervous about what would happen next and what the outcome would be, a sign of a great historical novel in my eyes.

'Katharine Parr' brings us the last in this stunning historical fiction series. Whilst this was not my favourite of the series, it is still a really enjoyable read and one that is exceptionally crafted. I would expect nothing less from Weir.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.