Mary went from being a much loved and adored child, with two doting parents, to being sidelined due to being born a female, the wrong sex, a Prince was needed to secure the future of the Kingdom. Mary became a pawn, she was used as a bargaining tool, offered in marriage to both France and Spain, only to be cast aside when the scandal of her legitimacy began to be questioned.
When her father married Anne Boleyn, she was reduced to the title of Lady Mary, and banned from all contact with her mother. Mary found solace in religion, but due to the Reformation, this was undesirable, the country became Protestant. Mary remained stubbornly loyal to her Catholic faith.
Throughout her formative years, Mary had five step mothers and a half brother and sister added to the family.
When Mary finally takes the throne, she stamps her authority, good and hard. Her Catholic beliefs become fanatical, and the well known phrase of Bloody Mary becomes attached to her. Meant to show strength , this back fires, her people become afraid of her.
An unhappy and miserable life by all account. She is remembered for her bitterness, piety and losing Calais, our last possession in France.
Even her portrait does little to flatter her, she looks severe, humourless and old before her time.
This book helps to redress the balance somewhat, it shows a different side to her , but it cannot rehabilitate her completely.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Headline Review, for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. A five star read. I will leave a copy to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

As usual Alison does not disappoint. I love all her books and this one was not any different. Obviously there are no spoilers as we all know what happened to Queen Mary. Very well written and it gives a great insight to what Mary might have felt at different stages of her life and why she reacted the way she did.

Mary I is a difficult queen to love. Is it time to rehabilitate her reputation?
Alison Weir builds a sympathetic picture of the young Mary. At times forbidden to see her mother and removed from the succession, Mary developed health problems that would affect her all her life. Weir speculated that she probably had crushes on Chapuys, the Imperial ambassador, and Simon Renard, an Imperial advisor.
At times Mary’s life was in danger but she was indecisive and didn’t take a lifeline thrown by the Imperial Emperor who had sent people to England to try to rescue her.
Fortunately she grasped the opportunity to fight for her crown and managed to summon enough support to overthrow Lady Jane Grey who had been put on the throne by plotters.
As queen Mary was finally married at the age of 37 to the handsome heir to the Emperor, Philip. She became pregnant but was still confined long after the pregnancy had gone full term. After this she rarely saw Philip who was spending time in Europe with his armies.
Mary had to work with many of the men who had plotted against her. She occasionally showed compassion for her subjects. But she was determined to restore England to the Catholicism that preceded her father Henry VIII, against advice from Philip and many others. Her reign saw the execution of between 300 – 600 heretics, earning her the name “Bloody Mary.”

Brilliant absolutely loved it. A huge fan of historical fiction particularly those set in the Tudor periods. To read history through the eyes of one of the Tudor Queens and to see it from their point of view had me gripped from the first page.

I think this book would be great if you know nothing about Mary I, which is not my case since I studied the Tudors in college. Aside from the personality Alison Weir gave her, there wasn't anything I hadn't seen in the few classes we'd spent on Henry VIII and Mary's reigns so this just felt quite redundant. For someone who know absolutely nothing about her, or on the contrary, loves this specific period of British history, this is the perfect book. 3.5 stars

Mary I is a difficult monarch to capture in fiction. As one of the less popular Tudor monarchs, her story is a little different to her mighty father’s (Henry VIII) and her half-sister’s (Elizabeth I). Nevertheless, Weir creates a detailed and insightful portrait of Mary’s life.

With Weir’s novels, you know you are getting meticulously researched and up to date history, woven into approachable fiction. Weir brings to life the story of a complex historical figure and transports the reader into Tudor England.

Mary is a vulnerable character who endured a lot of hardships during her life. When Katherine of Aragon (her mother)’s marriage to Henry was declared null and void, it meant she was labeled a bastard - a title she lived with for many years until she finally inherited the throne after the death of her half-brother Edward VI. She also endured ill health and a phantom pregnancy.

However, she wasn’t a popular figure, due to her religious persecutions against Protestants and her foreign policies which saw England and Spain unite against France…leading to a disastrous defeat at Calais. Weir’s Author’s Note at the end of the novel reveals how Weir herself sees Mary as a very polarising character, and how the author’s own childhood, growing up with a broken marriage, influenced how she portrayed the character of Mary. It is also interesting to see how Weir, whilst sympathetic, also does not seem to connect with Mary in general.

Whilst the history is there in this novel, and it’s utterly fascinating to learn about Mary, I do think the author’s own opinions influence this novel heavily. Therefore Mary is a very difficult character to connect with and admire which makes the pace of the novel a bit slow sometimes - but then, that is perhaps more to do with Mary being a difficult subject, rather than the skill of the author.

Overall, this is still a great read from an established and popular historical fiction writer, and perfect for anyone wanting to know more about Mary I. But I personally feel it’s not quite as strong as some of her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review!

There's something truly special about diving into a book where historical accuracy meets skillfully crafted dialogue. Being able to immerse myself in the vividly depicted world of the past while also learning something new is an experience I adore. It's safe to say that books like these rank among my favourites!

In 'Mary I: Queen of Sorrows,' Alison Weir provides a vivid and poignant glimpse into the life of a historical figure often overshadowed by her successors, the first queen regnant of England. Weir plunges readers into the turbulent political and social landscapes of Tudor England, delving into the complexities of power, loyalty, and personal struggle during Mary's reign.
The meticulous research evident in the narrative is astonishing. The first 40% of the book is dedicated to Mary’s younger years, which, although I didn’t ultimately warm to her, helped humanize her character. It allowed me to peek behind the curtain and discover what her life and relationships were like, particularly with her mother and father, both before and during the event of 'the great matter.' She showed incredible strength of character in her teenage years, advocating for herself.
From 40% to 60%, we witness King Edward's ascension to the throne and the challenges Mary faces during this uncertain time. This portion of the books momentum slowed down for me, perhaps more due to Mary's life at that time than anything to do with the author as to me, Mary I isn’t the most exciting monarch in some respects to write about. Another aspect worth noting is occasional repetition and brevity in the narrative. Certain sentences are repeated closely together, and some are very short, which may have benefited from more descriptive detail to enhance engagement but the information provided was still captivating!
Around 60% on, we witness Mary's ascent to the throne and her subsequent tumultuous reign. We observe her journey from moments of public adulation to periods of condemnation, ultimately leading to her enduring historical epithet, 'Bloody Mary.' Mary's character truly stands out in this phase of her life, exhibiting moments of resolute determination juxtaposed with instances of hypocrisy. It's particularly poignant witnessing her descent into misery and distrust towards those around her near the end.
Despite her unwavering conviction in her actions, it's disheartening to observe how she disregards valuable advice from multiple sources. Her steadfast belief in her righteousness blinds her to the reasons behind the loss of love and adoration from the very people who initially supported her ascension to the throne.

The author's notes are an added bonus of information, and the book questions posed at the end are a fantastic addition for extra contemplation, making it book club friendly or useful in academic settings. The strengths of this book for me were the historical accuracy and authenticity, the humanizing portrayal of Mary, the insightful exploration into various aspects and phases of Mary's life and the challenges she faced as well as the complex relationships portrayed, such as sibling affection to political rivalry. These dynamics add layers to Mary's story, particularly in her interactions with Elizabeth and her unexpected revelations about Philip.

I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to anyone who loves Tudor history or historical fiction. It is enriching to the historical fiction genre, providing readers with a fresh perspective on Mary's life and reign. I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of the author's works, both past and future

The sad story of a troubled Queen. Mary I was the daughter of Henry VII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. He was married to Katherine for many years but divorced her because she did not give him a son and heir. Mary was eleven when her parents separated, which must have been traumatic for her, as it was for the whole country. Alison Weir's book shows Mary as a vulnerable person trying to do what she thought was best for the country, often against advice. What she wanted was to reverse the schism between England and Rome and for England to become Catholic again. Protestants were vilified by her and her supporters. Many people were put to death on her express orders, often by being the horrendous method of being burnt at the stake. A Queen of Sorrows indeed. Alison Weir's books are always readable. This one certainly is, despite the grisly end of some of her subjects.

MARY I; QUEEN OF SORROWS looks at one of England's most hated queens, exploring what led to a reign known for its brutality.

As with HENRY VIII; THE HEART AND THE CROWN, I went into this with very firm opinions on Mary. However, this book didn't feel like it was written with a different opinion to mine (my view certainly didn't change and I was grateful not to feel that disconnect between what I felt and what the book was appearing to say.) It was interesting to read the author's note and realise how closely our opinions on Mary match.

She is a tragic, pitiful character as a child. It is not her fault that her parents' marriage breaks up and it rips her life apart, a very traumatic event that gets compounded by her father's actions. It's an awful event and I feel very sorry for her, as the book encourages, while admiring her courage to stay true to her faith.

However, as soon as she becomes queen, all my sympathy evaporates. She is a disaster and MARY I; QUEEN OF SORROWS step by step lays out her many failures as a queen. It is a tragedy, all this promise destroyed by political weakness and a stubborn desire to return to a time that is long gone.

I believe this book wraps up the series that explores Tudor monarchs who are usually seen through the eyes of others. I am looking forward to the last of her non-fiction series about England's Medieval Queens.

I'm a big fan of Alison Weir and devoured her Six Queens series. This book about Mary I has just as much detail and although it overlaps the queen's stories, it also gives much more information about how Mary lived and died. A must read for Tudor and Alison Weir fans.

Mary 1 is known to history as 'Bloody Mary' but Alison Weir takes a more rounded approach in her book Mary 1: Queen of Sorrows. She shows how Mary was affected by her parents divorce and describes Mary's sorrow at being unable to have children. Her marriage to Philip of Spain was not as happy as she had hoped. Mary lived in an age of religious turmoil and clung to her faith as a constant in her life. She was in constant danger from various factions who wished to overthrow her and place a protestant on the throne. Although the book is a novel, it is underpinned by extensive research and the author's in-depth knowledge of the Tudor period. The prose style makes the book easy to read and brought the period to life.
A great read for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own

It's so nice to see Mary I being given a historical fiction book dedicated to her life rather than just being a peripheral character. Weir dedicates over over half of the novel to Mary's early years and her cruel treatment under her father's second wife, and also pays close attention to the emotional turmoil of the end of her parents marriage. Whilst Weir's dislike for a much maligned monarch is apparent as the book goes on, it is definitely an interesting read and a refreshing approach to a monarch often forgotten, ignored, or misunderstood in fiction of this period,

A more detailed review will be shared nearer publication date on The History Belles instagram page.

Mary I might be one of the most controversial figures that Alison Weir has depicted in her fiction books. With her nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ her reputation leaves much to be desired, yet at the start of her reign she was a beloved monarch rescuing her subjects from an attempted power grab.

As Weir herself acknowledges in the historical note (it’s always worth noting how good her historical notes are), the challenge in this book was reconciling these different extremes of Mary’s character, and she landed it exactly right. It would have been easy for the book to become some sort of villain-backstory, or the tale of a tragically misunderstood anti-hero, but Weir approaches Mary’s story with the nuance needed for a real person’s life.

As with her previous book about Mary’s father, the infamous Henry VIII, Weir does an excellent job of providing the context and grounding for us to understand the person’s actions, without endorsing them. There was a sense, especially as tragedy played an ever-increasing role in Mary’s life, of delusion bordering on madness towards the end of the book. We became immersed in Mary’s world and shared in her tragedies. Even when she was far from sympathetic, I still felt like I understood her.

This book successfully takes on one of Britain’s most notorious monarchs, exploring her humanity and tragedy while still acknowledging that her reputation was not unfounded. It’s another excellent historical fiction from Alison Weir, who continues to deliver on every front.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

How the author continues to write such high quality historical fiction is quite remarkable. This book is so well researched and full of information about Mary’s life it would be easy for it turn into a non fiction book and be quite heavy to read but Alison Weir manages to keep the writing flowing, the story interesting and believable so that it’s very easy to forget that it is actually historically accurate. I really enjoyed reading about Bloody Mary as it is easy to forget her role in history given her better known father and sister. Needless to say I continue to be a big fan and highly recommend this for fans of books about the Tudor period.

I was really interested to read this book as Mary is probably the only Tudor monarch that I haven’t really read much about. Alison Weir’s novel did a brilliant job of showing Mary as she grew from an indulged, much-loved princess to a lonely woman who was suspicious of everyone around her. She showed clearly how Mary changed as she grew older and began feel that she could only trust a handful of people. This was most clearly shown by how Mary changed in her view of her sister Elizabeth. She began by loving her and caring for her but ended up almost seeing her as an enemy.
The only problem with the book was, as the author herself stated, Mary just isn’t that likeable or memorable. Her research is impeccable and I was fascinated by the details of Mary’s life but in the end, this was an interesting rather than gripping read.

As usual Alison Weir brings history to life. Her well researched novel give an insight into the possible motives behind Mary I actions during her time as queen. She almost makes you feel sorry for the Queen. She explains how complex her life was and how she was used as a pawn by more powerful men. IT would appear that the only place she felt she had some control was with religion, and in this aspect she was very strong willed. At this point she did not listen to the powerful men around her and she was then remembered as being 'Bloody Mary'.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advance copy of this book.

As ever Alison Weir has written another well researched novel that makes history so accessible to those who found it boring when taught in school. The story is so immersive your just absorb the historical fact with effort. Why don’t schools use these books to teach history?

I really enjoy Alison's books. She has a gift to portray this type of historical fiction in an engaging way. This one was very slow in general for me, though, but also Mary I is not a super interesting character in my opinion. Yes, she achieved a few things that are important but she is not remarkable as a person. For anyone starting out with this type of historical fiction, this is a good one. For me, it didn't bring anything new.

Thank you #netgalley for this arc in return for an honest opinion.

I am a big fan of Alison Weir's work. Her research and historical content is well written with believable and courteous fiction to flesh out the story.

In history lessons, you only hear about 'Bloody Mary's and how sent so many people to their death for heresy. This book shows quite how complex her life actually was. A woman who was used as a political pawn, suffering multiple bereavements of people close to her, constantly pushed from property to property, never knowing if she was safe or ever loved. The amount of trauma she endures could quite easily have contributed to her physical and mental health. The only things she felt in control of was her religion.

For me, there was a bit of a lull in the middle when Edward was on the throne, but I guess this is due to the lack of information available about this period, other than the constant push and pull between them about religion.

Such a enjoyable read and a great insight into the life of Mary. Usually included as just a side character it was refreshing to see Mary take centre stage, even if she's not the most likeable of people.
By the end of the novel you're amazed at how the woman Mary turned into, was the hard done by child in the beginning and I feel Weir really captured her slow descent into madness (imo) perfectly