That was a very interesting and enlightening read, I must admit. Up until now my knowledge about Mary I was not really that deep, rather superficial… I found this truly engrossing.

While all a lot of people know about Mary I is her infamously being “bloody”, there is so much more of the story to tell. Well researched as always, this rich and engaging book by A. Weir, kept me hooked until the very end. As the author herself admitted, it‘s fairly closely based on facts, as much as it is possible, of course. This is my favourite part of historical fiction books in general but in particular for those author‘s work, who try to make it as close as possible.

I love that there is a note from the author at the back of the book explaining what Mary's story meant to her, and how she could relate (or not) to it. A personal touch. And while Mary was far from a favourable ruler, it's definitely an interesting account of her life and thoughts.

Honestly, if you‘re a historical fiction buff – just go ahead and read it. A. Weir books for me are becoming a default read – I‘m yet to read a bad one! (I probably won‘t).

This is the first of Alison Weir’s work but I have her other books and I am obsessed I love how she wrote it and I will highly recommend to anyone who loves history!

Just as I began this book, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it's part of a series, with this installment focusing on the intriguing Mary I. While Mary may not always be the most endearing historical figure, she certainly ranks among the most interesting personalities. Despite being a work of fiction, the author's historical acumen shines through brilliantly. Alison Weir masterfully breathes life into Mary, aligning my own imagined idea of how Mary was as a person. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to enthusiasts of both factual Tudor history and historical fiction, as it skillfully blends the realms of fact and imagination. It's an immensely enjoyable read.

A heartfelt thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I absolutely love this author and will read anything by them
What a stunning cover too

Totally engrossing

I really could not put this down and actually made sure that I didn't have to as I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down.

I do highly recommend this read and in fact anything Alison Weir puts her name to - she is fabulous - never disappoints

Mary I is a polarising character and it feels like no easy task to write a book about her in the first person. Mary's reign is blighted by her mass religious persecution and involving England in the Spanish war against France which resulted in the devastating loss of Calais.

More personally, Weir explores the impact the king's 'Great Matter' would have had on Mary as a young princess, especially how the interrelation of faith was so intertwined. She also deftly details how confused and complicated her relationship with her father, half-sister and various step-mothers must have been. Throughout the book you can see how Weir weaves this impact in her childhood through Mary's decision making as queen.

I love Weir's historical novels as she always underpins them with huge amounts of information from contemporary sources. Of course we can never know exactly what happened, but it's fascinating to know that so much of what is written is based on the information we do have from the time.

Sympathy for Mary becomes more difficult as the book goes on, but Weir makes it possible to better understand what drove her, even if some of her decisions were brutal and unjust, even to her councillors at the time. It's not as easy to read a book with a protagonist so frustrating and flawed - but this is based on real people and real events, and there are no heroes in this story.

Mary I came to the throne riding on a tsunami of good will from her subjects, who had witnessed the harsh treatment she had received over the years, from her father for championing her popular mother Katherine of Aragon and from her brother for refusing to renounce her religion.

Alison Weir shows how the uncertainty around her status and legitimacy turned Mary from a carefree young girl, interested in fashion, music and dancing, kind to everyone she encounters into a harassed woman, always looking over her shoulder to where the next threat to her sovereignty will come: Lady Jane Grey, her sister Elizabeth, hostile foreign powers…

We pity Mary, most poignantly when both her pregnancies, real or imagined, fail, bringing shame in not fulfilling her primary function as a woman and queen to breed the next heir. And yet we are also shown the religious terror she inflicts, in often horrific detail (I thought I knew the worst already – unfortunately not!).

So, hats off to the author. Once again, Alison Weir gives us a rounded picture of a complex character and turns a controversial historical into a living, breathing woman, with all her emotions, virtues and faults. She also brings to life the Tudor court, and Mary’s relationships with players such as astute, affable Eustace Chapuys, Imperial ambassador to England from 1529 until 154, recreating a whole world in the process. I can’t wait to see who she sets her sights on next!

I will happily post this review more widely once the book is published.

Another enjoyable book by Alison Weir Having read and watched things about King Henry the 8th and the tudors to excess it was nice to hear the story from a different perspective.
If you love the tudors and are a fan if Ms Weir you will love this book

Alison Weir doesn't disappoint. Having read many of her Tudor novels, this story of "Bloody Mary" showed her in a new light. Historically accurate whilst still being an entertaining read. The depiction of Mary's character and her undoubted fortitude and bravery in tumultuous political and religious unrest gives an interesting perspective on her life. A must for Tudor fans!

Mary 1: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir

Third in the series and we are into Mary , daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry v111 . Living a guilded life until her father tires of Catherine and the failure of providing him with his son and heir.I

Once Anne Boleyn is in the scene and Catherine is not agreeing to a divorce Henry sends the child away from her mother as a punishment to Catherine .
We follow Mary's life where she is either in or out of favour down to who Henry is married to , and then later due to her religion during her brothers short reign.
The book follows historical fact with her marriage to Prince Phillip of Spain , her pregnancies and miscarriages and her reign as England's first queen in her own right.
As always the author writes with great knowledge and brings the story to life.

Another great read for the queen of historical reads. Such deep characterisation as always and it's obviously been very well researched,

This is an incredibly detailed account of the life of Mary, and her many torments through a tumultuous period in Tudor history. The book is rich in detail, but pacy. The character of Mary is delineated with sympathy for her plight.
Mary gradually becomes a much more dislikeable person as the book progresses, fanatical and convinced of her rightfulness, and she does at times merit the epithet Bloody Mary. A great book about a neglected figure.

Another brilliant book from Alison Weir.

This was the book I was eagerly awaiting of this series as Mary I is the most intangible of the Tudors to me. I appreciate this is a work of fiction (based in historical fact), so we can’t guarantee that this is an accurate portrayal but nevertheless I was still intrigued to learn more about her character. This didn’t disappoint.

We start off from when Mary was quite young, up until her death. We learn about her marriage, her accession to the throne, her relationships with her family and more. All of the characters are solid, believable and well-rounded. You want to read about their stories. However, Mary isn’t likeable. I was prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt based on my knowledge as I don’t know much more about her than the burnings & her false pregnancies. However she comes across as petulant, childlike and a bit ignorant. It doesn’t matter that she’s not likeable and to be honest it helps make me think this is quite an accurate portrayal of her.

In other areas, the prose is easy to read and engaging and the plot is good too - nothing seems skipped over and the right amount of time is devoted to each event. I would definitely recommend reading this if you like Tudor fiction.

I enjoyed reading this and it reminded me of some of the "school' history I had forgotten but also so much more. It is well written and Mary is portrayed in both her early and formative years, in her relationships with her father (Henry VIII) and half sister Elizabeth (I). Her later years give us an insight into why she was known as "Bloody Mary" when she had many protestants hung, drawn and quartered and burned.
I haven't read any of Alison Weir's books but I definitely will now.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the pre copy of this book.

I read lots of historical fiction, it’s my go to Genre. Therefore the story of “Bloody Mary” isn’t new to me. It’s was a good read but I didn’t learn anything new from reading this. Would definitely recommend this to those that are new to historical fic. Alison Weir is one of my favourites.

Another great book from Alison Weir, this time based on the life of Mary I (bloody Mary) from childhood to her death.

A very interesting read, even if I did just want to shake sense into Mary around her decisions.

I really enjoy reading Alison’s notes at the end as to why she’s written the story of Mary as she has.

Overall a great read and very enjoyable.

Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.

My favourite auto buy history author! She never lets me down. I’ve yet to find any other author that captures history quite so well. I always feel like I’ve slipped in time and I’m privy to some secret historical events. Both fiction and non fiction she always knocks it out of the park and I never get through such big books so quickly!

Mary l is such an interesting figure in history and one that is steeped in controversy, sorrow and strife: a very interesting focus for a book and written in such an entertaining and enjoyable to way to read. It’s a great way to experience and learn about history.

I honestly don’t know how she makes them so compelling but her books are always brilliant. The sheer amount of research and understanding into history shines through these books and is impossible not to appreciate.

We follow Mary through her childhood, her relationship with her parents, marriages, illnesses and her reign. I find I learn so much and get to know a part of history so well through the storytelling. I read this on the train and it sure made my train journey fly by. 1000/10 enjoyed.

I loved the first two books in the trilogy but was most excited for the third as I was curious as to how Alison would portray the infamous ‘Bloody Mary’. I found Queen of Sorrows to be a sympathetic portrayal of an often misunderstood monarch. Alison has done a great job of being objective despite her own negative views of Mary as described in her authors note. I found myself feeling sorry for Mary on numerous occasions. As always meticulously researched and informative.

Thank you Netgalley, Headline and Alison Weir for this ARC.

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows is the third entry in Weir's follow-up series to the Six Tudor Queens. The Queen of Sorrows is the infamous "Bloody Mary," a polarising figure with very different opinions held amongst historians, which Weir acknowledges in her fascinating author's note.

Alison Weir begins the story in Mary's childhood and ends with her death. We see Mary go from the much-loved daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII to an outcast for much of her life and finally embittered queen.

Weir allows the reader to truly see and understand the devastating consequences of the King's Great Matter on Mary and how it casts a long shadow over her entire life. The novel's first part sometimes drags because it is well-trodden ground covered in several other books but from Mary’s perspective. I preferred the second half and found Mary's marriage interesting and tragic rather than "pathetic." Weir truly brings Mary to life and creates a nuanced character with whom you sympathize, if only up to a point. I wouldn’t describe her as pathetic (as Weir does) but scarred.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I am grateful to both Headline and NetGalley for the eARC.

This was pretty good. I don't typically read historical fiction but Weir has a real way with words. I'm curious about her other books now.