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Queen Elizabeth's Daughter
From the author of At the Mercy of the Queen comes the gripping tale of Mary Shelton, Elizabeth I’s young cousin and ward, set against the glittering backdrop of the Elizabethan court.
Mistress Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ward, enjoying every privilege the position affords. The queen loves Mary like a daughter, and, like any good mother, she wants her to make a powerful match. The most likely prospect: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. But while Oxford seems to be everything the queen admires: clever, polished and wealthy, Mary knows him to be lecherous, cruel, and full of treachery. No matter how hard the queen tries to push her into his arms, Mary refuses.
Instead, Mary falls in love with a man who is completely unsuitable. Sir John Skydemore is a minor knight with little money, a widower with five children. Worst of all, he’s a Catholic at a time when Catholic plots against Elizabeth are rampant. The queen forbids Mary to wed the man she loves. When the young woman, who is the queen’s own flesh and blood, defies her, the couple finds their very lives in danger as Elizabeth’s wrath knows no bounds.
Mistress Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ward, enjoying every privilege the position affords. The queen loves Mary like a daughter, and, like any good mother, she wants her to make a powerful match. The most likely prospect: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. But while Oxford seems to be everything the queen admires: clever, polished and wealthy, Mary knows him to be lecherous, cruel, and full of treachery. No matter how hard the queen tries to push her into his arms, Mary refuses.
Instead, Mary falls in love with a man who is completely unsuitable. Sir John Skydemore is a minor knight with little money, a widower with five children. Worst of all, he’s a Catholic at a time when Catholic plots against Elizabeth are rampant. The queen forbids Mary to wed the man she loves. When the young woman, who is the queen’s own flesh and blood, defies her, the couple finds their very lives in danger as Elizabeth’s wrath knows no bounds.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2014
15 people are currently reading
1674 people want to read
About the author
Anne Clinard Barnhill
8 books75 followersAnne Clinard Barnhill has been writing or dreaming of writing for most of her life. For the past twenty years, she has published articles, book and theater reviews, poetry, and short stories. Her first book, AT HOME IN THE LAND OF OZ, recalls what it was like growing up with an autistic sister. Her work has won various awards and grants. Barnhill holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Besides writing, Barnhill also enjoys teaching, conducting writing workshops, and facilitating seminars to enhance creativity. She loves spending time with her three grown sons and their families. For fun, she and her husband of thirty years, Frank, take long walks and play bridge. In rare moments, they dance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
April 4, 2014
I have touched on this recently...how I would think that someone like me would grow tired of the Tudors, as I have been reading books and watching shows and films about them faithfully for years...and how honestly I thought I was starting to feel a bit less enamored in recent days. However, this author has such a spot on voice when it comes to writing about the Tudors. Queen Elizabeth I is arguably my most favorite Tudor figure and the depiction of her in this book is exactly as I imagine she was in life. This book has gone a step further by giving us a glimpse of Elizabeth had she been a mother via her interaction with her cousin and ward, Mary Shelton. However, in her dealings with Mary, as with any sovereign who is also a parent, she can't quite get past her queenly duties and responsibilities to do what is right and expected.
It would seem that Elizabeth's ultimate aim for her 'ladies' would be to remain marriage-less, like herself. However, if they did decide to marry they must have her exclusive permission and often Elizabeth would arrange a powerful match for them. When she does so with Mary, trying to match her with Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, Mary balks, as she finds him to be a cruel lecher. Instead, she falls in love with a man of low circumstance (comparably) and Elizabeth refuses to allow the marriage. What happens next is the explosion of Elizabeth's wrath and the resulting plight of serious danger for the newly married couple. Again, we are reminded that times were perilous with the Tudors. Whether you lived in the time of Henry VIII, Queen Mary or Elizabeth herself, the political intrigue and dangers knew no bounds. The author brings this across beautifully in her well-researched prose.
This is not the first time I have recommended a book by Ms. Barnhill and I'm sure it certainly will not be the last. If you want to read historical fiction about the Tudors, her books are the ones you want.
It would seem that Elizabeth's ultimate aim for her 'ladies' would be to remain marriage-less, like herself. However, if they did decide to marry they must have her exclusive permission and often Elizabeth would arrange a powerful match for them. When she does so with Mary, trying to match her with Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, Mary balks, as she finds him to be a cruel lecher. Instead, she falls in love with a man of low circumstance (comparably) and Elizabeth refuses to allow the marriage. What happens next is the explosion of Elizabeth's wrath and the resulting plight of serious danger for the newly married couple. Again, we are reminded that times were perilous with the Tudors. Whether you lived in the time of Henry VIII, Queen Mary or Elizabeth herself, the political intrigue and dangers knew no bounds. The author brings this across beautifully in her well-researched prose.
This is not the first time I have recommended a book by Ms. Barnhill and I'm sure it certainly will not be the last. If you want to read historical fiction about the Tudors, her books are the ones you want.
June 8, 2019
Queen Elizabeth's Daughter was an enjoyable read showing the Tudor court from another point of view and offering a look into a young noblewoman just trying to have a life.
March 26, 2014
I have to be honest and found that I struggled to finish this one, provided by the publisher through netgalley.
What did I like?
- I love history, particularly Tudor history, about which more and more is being researched, written and published all the time, and I appreciate that it is a wonderful setting for a piece of historical fiction. All that intrigue, gossip, unstable politics, threats of chaos and invasion from both within and without the British Isles, and a Court lead by a mercurial, intelligent and fiercely independent woman. How fabulous is that?
- The choice of seeing the Tudor Court through the eyes of a woman, who although probably mainly forgotten now, was absolutely at the heart of Tudor politics, by virtue of her relationship to the Queen and physical proximity to the Queen's body, was excellent. There is just enough material there for the author to work with, but not so much that there is no room for creativity.
What did I not like so much?
- The writing didn't live up to what I had expected, and was the biggest let-down for me. There was rather a lot of "historical explaining", instead of just weaving it into the story to bring the era alive, and it all felt, well, very transactional "she said, they went, the queen screamed" etc. The dialogue was written in semi-Tudor-speak, which was rather a relief, although it was a bit stilted. It just felt rather hard work to read, which was a shame.
- The characterization was not engaging enough. This was the era of intrigue, mystery and back-stabbing. Queen Elizabeth herself was an empress totally convinced of her own divine right to rule derived from God himself as well as a consummate politician and actress (at a very young age), but in this story she comes across more as a harried, unhappy, stressed out, neurotic middle-aged housewife much of the time. Mary was dealt with rather more sympathetically, but she was a woman who had lived her entire life at Court, and yet comes across as a perpetual child.
Anyway, 2 stars. It was OK.
What did I like?
- I love history, particularly Tudor history, about which more and more is being researched, written and published all the time, and I appreciate that it is a wonderful setting for a piece of historical fiction. All that intrigue, gossip, unstable politics, threats of chaos and invasion from both within and without the British Isles, and a Court lead by a mercurial, intelligent and fiercely independent woman. How fabulous is that?
- The choice of seeing the Tudor Court through the eyes of a woman, who although probably mainly forgotten now, was absolutely at the heart of Tudor politics, by virtue of her relationship to the Queen and physical proximity to the Queen's body, was excellent. There is just enough material there for the author to work with, but not so much that there is no room for creativity.
What did I not like so much?
- The writing didn't live up to what I had expected, and was the biggest let-down for me. There was rather a lot of "historical explaining", instead of just weaving it into the story to bring the era alive, and it all felt, well, very transactional "she said, they went, the queen screamed" etc. The dialogue was written in semi-Tudor-speak, which was rather a relief, although it was a bit stilted. It just felt rather hard work to read, which was a shame.
- The characterization was not engaging enough. This was the era of intrigue, mystery and back-stabbing. Queen Elizabeth herself was an empress totally convinced of her own divine right to rule derived from God himself as well as a consummate politician and actress (at a very young age), but in this story she comes across more as a harried, unhappy, stressed out, neurotic middle-aged housewife much of the time. Mary was dealt with rather more sympathetically, but she was a woman who had lived her entire life at Court, and yet comes across as a perpetual child.
Anyway, 2 stars. It was OK.
March 27, 2014
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DAUGHTER is a captivating novel of forbidden love, religious conflict, and political intrigue in the lavish court of Elizabeth I. The story is about Mary Shelton, cousin to the queen on the Boleyn side of the family. Mary became Elizabeth's ward as a young child after the death of her parents. The queen thought of her as the child she'd never have, and Mary quickly became Elizabeth's favorite, which was both a blessing and a curse.
I enjoyed seeing the different faces of Elizabeth in this book. She was the powerful and respected ruler of her people, but the author also gave us her human side. She was a woman desperately in love with a man she could never wed. She could be vulnerable, selfish, jealous, and cruel. Elizabeth was also motherly toward Mary, wanting only the best for her, and that included the man she married. Mary's love for a minor knight named John Skydemore causes a rift between herself and the queen. He's a widower with five children, but what troubles the queen most of all is that he's Catholic. Elizabeth expressly forbids them to marry, so what will happen when they defy the queen? Mary was a strong character, and I admired her courage to speak her mind and stand up to Elizabeth.
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DAUGHTER was a quick and enjoyable read. It was fun to return to the danger and drama of the Tudor era, plus it was a fresh change of pace to see a maternal side to the great Queen Elizabeth I.
Source: I received a copy of this book from the book tour company/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed seeing the different faces of Elizabeth in this book. She was the powerful and respected ruler of her people, but the author also gave us her human side. She was a woman desperately in love with a man she could never wed. She could be vulnerable, selfish, jealous, and cruel. Elizabeth was also motherly toward Mary, wanting only the best for her, and that included the man she married. Mary's love for a minor knight named John Skydemore causes a rift between herself and the queen. He's a widower with five children, but what troubles the queen most of all is that he's Catholic. Elizabeth expressly forbids them to marry, so what will happen when they defy the queen? Mary was a strong character, and I admired her courage to speak her mind and stand up to Elizabeth.
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DAUGHTER was a quick and enjoyable read. It was fun to return to the danger and drama of the Tudor era, plus it was a fresh change of pace to see a maternal side to the great Queen Elizabeth I.
Source: I received a copy of this book from the book tour company/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2014
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
It's been nearly three months since I reviewed a Tudor era fiction. I'm not sure if that's a personal record, I'm not exactly a Tudor junkie, but it does seem as though I'm due. Today's title? Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill.
I'd looked forward to this title and was initially really excited about reading it. That enthusiasm, however, faded early on and by the time I finished the book, dissipated entirely. I didn't particularly like Barnhill's interpretation of Mary or Elizabeth, but it was the inconsistency in those characterizations that left me genuinely dissatisfied. The action seemed forced and I'm not entirely sure I understood everything Barnhill was getting at with the Mary Queen of Scots story line, but my biggest problem with the novel comes down to God.
God's Heart, God's Eyes, God's Knees, God's Ribs, God's Blessed Bones, God's Wounds, God's Holy Wounds, Christ's Wounds, and my personal favorite, God's Bowels all appear once within the text. God's Breath and God's Bones were referenced four times a piece. God's Death is cited seven times and God's Teeth fourteen. The expletive of choice, however, is clearly God's Blood which is blasphemously uttered on thirty-five separate occasions.
All told, seventy-three oaths are sworn with direct reference to the Lord which is rather surprising in a court where adherence to faith can be a matter of life and death. I can see it being used from time to time, but Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants all agree, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain so I can't help but wonder at the historical context of such speech. More importantly though, the phrase in any form is seriously annoying to read ad nauseam. It loses its power when thrown about with such regularity and serves as a deterrent to those readers who pay attention to language and prose.
Bottom line, the piece was memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. I hate to be such a downer, but the clumsy construction and horrendous dialogue make it very hard for me to look on Queen Elizabeth's Daughter with any degree of favor.
It's been nearly three months since I reviewed a Tudor era fiction. I'm not sure if that's a personal record, I'm not exactly a Tudor junkie, but it does seem as though I'm due. Today's title? Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill.
I'd looked forward to this title and was initially really excited about reading it. That enthusiasm, however, faded early on and by the time I finished the book, dissipated entirely. I didn't particularly like Barnhill's interpretation of Mary or Elizabeth, but it was the inconsistency in those characterizations that left me genuinely dissatisfied. The action seemed forced and I'm not entirely sure I understood everything Barnhill was getting at with the Mary Queen of Scots story line, but my biggest problem with the novel comes down to God.
God's Heart, God's Eyes, God's Knees, God's Ribs, God's Blessed Bones, God's Wounds, God's Holy Wounds, Christ's Wounds, and my personal favorite, God's Bowels all appear once within the text. God's Breath and God's Bones were referenced four times a piece. God's Death is cited seven times and God's Teeth fourteen. The expletive of choice, however, is clearly God's Blood which is blasphemously uttered on thirty-five separate occasions.
All told, seventy-three oaths are sworn with direct reference to the Lord which is rather surprising in a court where adherence to faith can be a matter of life and death. I can see it being used from time to time, but Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants all agree, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain so I can't help but wonder at the historical context of such speech. More importantly though, the phrase in any form is seriously annoying to read ad nauseam. It loses its power when thrown about with such regularity and serves as a deterrent to those readers who pay attention to language and prose.
Bottom line, the piece was memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. I hate to be such a downer, but the clumsy construction and horrendous dialogue make it very hard for me to look on Queen Elizabeth's Daughter with any degree of favor.
June 6, 2020
Mary Shelton wordt als wees ondergebracht aan het hof van haar nicht koningin Elizabeth. Op 16-jarige leeftijd is ze een schoonheid op de bals en trekt ze de aandacht van verschillende mannen waaronder de graaf van Oxford, die Mary maar niets vindt, en de weduwnaar John Skydemore, die van te lage komaf is. Eén ding is zeker: queen Elizabeth is niet van plan om haar oogappel 'Fawn' aan de eerste de beste weg te geven. En zij die trouwen zonder koninklijke toestemming durven al eens in The Tower te belanden.
Dit is zo'n boek waar ik letterlijk per ongeluk op botste in de bib. Fijn om op die manier deze auteur een kans te kunnen geven.
Het verhaal gaat over Mary Shelton die een soort geprivilegieerde hofdame van Elizabeth is. Ze is jong en ietwat naïef, maar al snel heb je een klik met haar. Het verhaal is niet zozeer spannend. Je weet wel waar het naartoe gaat gaan, maar toch is het boeiend genoeg. En ik kan wel leven met hoe het gelopen is voor Mary. Barnhill schrijft best fijn.
Elizabeth wordt hier neergezet als een moeilijke vrouw. En dat is exact het beeld dat ik bij haar heb. Jammer genoeg kiest de auteur ervoor om heel regelmatig korte fictieve brieffragmenten van Elizabeth aan Blanche Parry in het boek te verwerken. Die fragmenten proberen haar keuzes te sympathiseren, maar zowel naar stijl als inhoud is dit weinig overtuigend. Het blijkt alweer moeilijk om een geloofwaardige Elizabeth neer te zetten. Al zat die dus wel ergens in Mary haar verhaal.
Zonder die brieven had dit boek zeker meer mijn ding geweest. Voor nu was het een fijn weglezertje over The Tudors.
Dit is zo'n boek waar ik letterlijk per ongeluk op botste in de bib. Fijn om op die manier deze auteur een kans te kunnen geven.
Het verhaal gaat over Mary Shelton die een soort geprivilegieerde hofdame van Elizabeth is. Ze is jong en ietwat naïef, maar al snel heb je een klik met haar. Het verhaal is niet zozeer spannend. Je weet wel waar het naartoe gaat gaan, maar toch is het boeiend genoeg. En ik kan wel leven met hoe het gelopen is voor Mary. Barnhill schrijft best fijn.
Elizabeth wordt hier neergezet als een moeilijke vrouw. En dat is exact het beeld dat ik bij haar heb. Jammer genoeg kiest de auteur ervoor om heel regelmatig korte fictieve brieffragmenten van Elizabeth aan Blanche Parry in het boek te verwerken. Die fragmenten proberen haar keuzes te sympathiseren, maar zowel naar stijl als inhoud is dit weinig overtuigend. Het blijkt alweer moeilijk om een geloofwaardige Elizabeth neer te zetten. Al zat die dus wel ergens in Mary haar verhaal.
Zonder die brieven had dit boek zeker meer mijn ding geweest. Voor nu was het een fijn weglezertje over The Tudors.
April 6, 2014
"Queen Elizabeth's Daughter" is the story of Mary Shelton, a young woman who is a cousin of the infamous queen. She is also the ward of the Queen and she is treated more like a daughter than a mere ward. In this book, we get to see a very different side of Queen Elizabeth than we get to see in a lot of other books, which I found very cool. Queen Elizabeth is absolutely fascinating to me and I just cannot get enough of reading about her. I really enjoyed this story!
I always love learning something when I'm reading. Fiction or non-fiction, I love when a book can teach me something new or allow me to see something in a different light. I really got that from this book. I didn't know that Queen Elizabeth had a ward like Mary. I liked that we got to see Queen Elizabeth acting motherly, which is not something you really get to see. She has a heavy involvement in what Mary does with her life and how she conducts herself.
I found this to be a really fast read. I think part of the reason is that I really enjoyed the characters. Queen Elizabeth is just absolutely amazing and Mary is not too shabby herself. She is very loving towards the Queen but she also has a bit of a headstrong side, not unlike the Queen herself. I really liked her in this book.
The book has a strong flavor of forbidden love. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition between Queen Elizabeth, who was definitely well-versed in the ways of forbidden love, and Mary, who was just getting her first taste.
Overall, this was a great choice of book for me and was filled with really great characters!
I always love learning something when I'm reading. Fiction or non-fiction, I love when a book can teach me something new or allow me to see something in a different light. I really got that from this book. I didn't know that Queen Elizabeth had a ward like Mary. I liked that we got to see Queen Elizabeth acting motherly, which is not something you really get to see. She has a heavy involvement in what Mary does with her life and how she conducts herself.
I found this to be a really fast read. I think part of the reason is that I really enjoyed the characters. Queen Elizabeth is just absolutely amazing and Mary is not too shabby herself. She is very loving towards the Queen but she also has a bit of a headstrong side, not unlike the Queen herself. I really liked her in this book.
The book has a strong flavor of forbidden love. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition between Queen Elizabeth, who was definitely well-versed in the ways of forbidden love, and Mary, who was just getting her first taste.
Overall, this was a great choice of book for me and was filled with really great characters!
February 12, 2014
Could not put this one down. Fantastic. Love the Elizabethan era and everything surrounding this time in history. Wonderfully written and the storyline was exceptional. Will definitely be reading more from this author. Highly recommended.
June 7, 2020
A ho-hum historical fiction about queen Elizabeth I’s cousin and ward, Mary Shelton. Interesting to read about the workings of the queen’s ladies in waiting. Annoying to read about people referring to their or other people’s womanly and /or manly bits.
2020 reading challenge-a history or historical fiction
2020 reading challenge-a history or historical fiction
October 22, 2017
This historical fiction is mostly about Mary Shelton one of Queen Elizabeth I of England ladies and cousin. I like how it gave a behind the scenes look at being one of the queens ladies and a favorite. Told in a personal manner that made the time more humane than legend. I believe Anne Clinard Barnhill has a new fan.
March 26, 2014
I took a little road trip this weekend, and as I was the passenger I had the perk of getting a lot of reading done. A book I dove into on this trip, and a little late into the night at the hotel when I should have been resting, was Anne Clinard Barnhill's Queen Elizabeth's Daughter. It's a novel of Queen Elizabeth I, but actually it's mostly a novel of Mary Shelton, her lady-in-waiting, second cousin, and ward.
I immediately got lost in the easy ebb and flow of Anne's words across the page and her story of Mary. Juxtaposed with a story line told from the Queen's point of view, it gives us a look into the thoughts of the two women in relation to how Mary is treated and the goings on of the time period. Elizabeth took Mary on as her ward, as was the law, when her two parents died. However, Elizabeth doted on Mary, sometimes much to Mary's chagrin as she barely was able to have any life of her own, let alone date or marry who she wanted.
Anne's offers exquisite detail and always sets her scenes visually so that as you read it feels as if you were transported in time and are viewing the novel through the eyes of the protagonist, Mary. She had good and authentic character development as she takes on Mary's need to please and respect Elizabeth amid her own desires to rebel and live an independent life and as well writes Elizabeth's character in a way that shows her struggle between being kind and and loving, as a mother, and strong-willed with an iron fist. Elizabeth's paranoia and desire to keep only those loyal around her is much understood due to her upbringing, yet we see in this novel how that impacts others.
Though there are a lot of Tudor era novels on the market, I particularly enjoy those that utilize sub-family members, friends, court, and staff in order to tell us more about how the Tudor rule impacted all the people around them. In that regard, this book on Mary was unique to me and I enjoyed reading of what her life might have been like. Full of emotion and with easy to read dialogue and plot, this book was entertaining and a breeze to finish.
Anyone who likes Tudor era books with light prose that isn't heavy or dreary, this book is definitely for you. I bet it will be one of the best books of that sub-genre to publish this year. I know it will be one of my favorite Tudor-era historical novels for its excellent writing, flowing style, intricate and visual detail, and strong character development and emotional connections.
I immediately got lost in the easy ebb and flow of Anne's words across the page and her story of Mary. Juxtaposed with a story line told from the Queen's point of view, it gives us a look into the thoughts of the two women in relation to how Mary is treated and the goings on of the time period. Elizabeth took Mary on as her ward, as was the law, when her two parents died. However, Elizabeth doted on Mary, sometimes much to Mary's chagrin as she barely was able to have any life of her own, let alone date or marry who she wanted.
Anne's offers exquisite detail and always sets her scenes visually so that as you read it feels as if you were transported in time and are viewing the novel through the eyes of the protagonist, Mary. She had good and authentic character development as she takes on Mary's need to please and respect Elizabeth amid her own desires to rebel and live an independent life and as well writes Elizabeth's character in a way that shows her struggle between being kind and and loving, as a mother, and strong-willed with an iron fist. Elizabeth's paranoia and desire to keep only those loyal around her is much understood due to her upbringing, yet we see in this novel how that impacts others.
Though there are a lot of Tudor era novels on the market, I particularly enjoy those that utilize sub-family members, friends, court, and staff in order to tell us more about how the Tudor rule impacted all the people around them. In that regard, this book on Mary was unique to me and I enjoyed reading of what her life might have been like. Full of emotion and with easy to read dialogue and plot, this book was entertaining and a breeze to finish.
Anyone who likes Tudor era books with light prose that isn't heavy or dreary, this book is definitely for you. I bet it will be one of the best books of that sub-genre to publish this year. I know it will be one of my favorite Tudor-era historical novels for its excellent writing, flowing style, intricate and visual detail, and strong character development and emotional connections.
April 1, 2014
Mistress Mary Shelton was Queen Elizabeth’s cousin (Anne Boleyn line) and the new queen’s ward since the age of three, when Mary became an orphan - and Elizabeth had just turned twenty-five at the time. The queen loved Mary and truly treated her as her own daughter.
Brought up in the most royal entourage- with lessons in dance, music, languages, embroidering- Mary was Elizabeth’s pride and joy. Along with these privileges though came the attachment of a nonnegotiable marriage arrangement. As dear and obliging and forever the apple of Elizabeth’s eye, Mary would ultimately disappoint by plotting against the queen by making her own marital choice…
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S DAUGHTER is a refreshing new take on the Tudor’s. Barnhill takes us through Elizabeth’s life to yet another side that I was pleasantly unaware of. I particularly loved that Elizabeth actually had a caring ‘motherly’ side to her (something I honestly thought impossible).
Historical purist will revel in the incredible detail in this book. I’m talking fashion, beauty care regimens, setting and all the little details that help pull together with delicious accuracy the essence and real- to- life feel of the Elizabethan times. I can especially say that of all the details I enjoyed most were those of Elizabeth’s summer travels.
I commend Barnhill for writing this descriptive and captivating novel which shows a different side of Elizabeth- the nurturing one (oh but don’t be fooled- the book is also filled with all the historical intricacies, plots and politics that prevailed).
Another bonus: The fact that the author herself is a direct descendant of Mary Shelton certainly adds to stir interest in her writing and research process. Can you imagine the trail of tid-bits, info and tales she must have learned about her ancestors?
March 15, 2014
If you love the Tudor period, Queen Elizabeth's Daughter should be on your reading list. This book provides a very different view of Elizabeth's reign, through the eyes of her ward, Mary Shelton. (though part of the story is told from the Queen's viewpoint too)
Mary is a character you will love because she is very much a teenager as the book starts out. She's spoiled and a little rebellious and she wants to do her own thing, but you do watch her grow as a woman. But for me, the real star of this book is Elizabeth I.
Queen Bess was always my favorite of the Tudors. I loved Anne Clinard Barnhill's portrayal of her in this book. She is shown with her flaws. This woman was very paranoid, but after having Henry VIII for a dad, who wouldn't be?
I liked the maternal side we see here. It makes Elizabeth more human and easier to like, even though she's wasn't a woman that you could really warm up to.
Queen Bess is one that so many author's paint as a hard woman. Wouldn't she have to be to hold her thrown? This book gives her softer side, showing her as a woman who loves her Robin and her "Fawn," but also a ruler with a bit of her father's temperament.
Mary brought out the good in her. I really came to love her and Lord Skydemore and their relationship. I felt terrible that because of the Queen they were never together enough for them to have a family of their own. (John had 5 children from his first marriage)
If you love Tudor fiction, this is a great book and a must read.
Mary is a character you will love because she is very much a teenager as the book starts out. She's spoiled and a little rebellious and she wants to do her own thing, but you do watch her grow as a woman. But for me, the real star of this book is Elizabeth I.
Queen Bess was always my favorite of the Tudors. I loved Anne Clinard Barnhill's portrayal of her in this book. She is shown with her flaws. This woman was very paranoid, but after having Henry VIII for a dad, who wouldn't be?
I liked the maternal side we see here. It makes Elizabeth more human and easier to like, even though she's wasn't a woman that you could really warm up to.
Queen Bess is one that so many author's paint as a hard woman. Wouldn't she have to be to hold her thrown? This book gives her softer side, showing her as a woman who loves her Robin and her "Fawn," but also a ruler with a bit of her father's temperament.
Mary brought out the good in her. I really came to love her and Lord Skydemore and their relationship. I felt terrible that because of the Queen they were never together enough for them to have a family of their own. (John had 5 children from his first marriage)
If you love Tudor fiction, this is a great book and a must read.
May 21, 2022
I love historical fiction and the Tudor period is a favorite era, so even though the synopsis on the back cover promised little more than a love story (definitely NOT a favorite genre of mine), I thought I’d give it a go. I struggled through all 371 pages. Here are a few of the reasons: 1.) the synopsis on the back cover tells you the climax. I assumed that the secret wedding would happen fairly early and the story would involve the aftermath. No. It’s only in the last 50 pages that we get to that. 2.) hardly anything happens in the first 300 pages. Seriously - nothing happens. We are just treated to a young girl whose body seems to go all a flutter every time a male even looks at her, whether she like him or despises him. When she isn’t losing control of her senses over the sleazy likes of Lord Oxford, she alternates between her love/loyalty to the queen and her petulant/childish anger towards her. Often times these emotional bouts are inconsistently triggered and then conveniently gotten over by a time jump. 3) related to my previous comments, Mary’s character seems to be all over the place and none of the mood swings or change in outlooks are fleshed out enough to be believable.
All my gripes aside, I certainly felt like the author did a good job setting the Tudor scene. I also felt like Elizabeth’s character fit well with my understanding of the historical figure.
If you’re looking for a simple, easy read in the Tudor era, than this book is fine. If you’re someone who likes depth and moderately sophisticated plots, this book isn’t for you.
All my gripes aside, I certainly felt like the author did a good job setting the Tudor scene. I also felt like Elizabeth’s character fit well with my understanding of the historical figure.
If you’re looking for a simple, easy read in the Tudor era, than this book is fine. If you’re someone who likes depth and moderately sophisticated plots, this book isn’t for you.
April 18, 2014
Mary Shelton, cousin to Queen Elizabeth I, was brought up at court as the queen's ward when she was left an orphan at the age of three. So close is their relationship that the queen has come to think of Mary, nicknamed "fawn", as her surrogate daughter. But no one crosses Elizabeth I without facing dire consequences and Mary must face some of her own when she secretly weds Sir John Skydemore, a mere knight and a Catholic to boot. Will Mary and John survive their sovereign's wrath? "Queen Elizabeth's Daughter" is an enjoyable, fairly light hearted novel that gives the reader a good overview of the personal side of Elizabeth I's court during the 1560s and 70s. Major political events such as the Ridolfi Plot are talked about but do not form the main part of the plot - the author's main focus is on the queen's relationships with her ladies, Mary most of all, and her problematic, uneasy attitude towards men, marriage and family. All fans of Tudor based novels, and especially the Elizabethan court, will definitely enjoy this book.
March 12, 2014
I love everything about the Tudor's. Love reading about them and learning the history behind the stories.
Anne Clinard Barnhill has created an amazing story. Mary Shelton is a dynamic, likable character. We see her grow and evolve under the guide of Queen Elizabeth and the other members of Elizabeth's court. Mary is the ward and cousin of the Queen, growing up in a court full of intrigue and danger. She is surrounded by individuals who are almost paranoid with their beliefs and ideas. Elizabeth herself doesn't always strike me as a likable woman, but she IS the Queen, and very regal. (too bad she doesn't always practice what she preaches). It is apparent early on that Elizabeth does love Mary and wants only what SHE thinks is best for her.
This is a very well written story that will grip the reader from beginning to end. The author is able to create characters that are 'real' to the reader. You will laugh with Mary, and cry with her. You will feel anger towards Elizabeth as well as pity.
Anne Clinard Barnhill has created an amazing story. Mary Shelton is a dynamic, likable character. We see her grow and evolve under the guide of Queen Elizabeth and the other members of Elizabeth's court. Mary is the ward and cousin of the Queen, growing up in a court full of intrigue and danger. She is surrounded by individuals who are almost paranoid with their beliefs and ideas. Elizabeth herself doesn't always strike me as a likable woman, but she IS the Queen, and very regal. (too bad she doesn't always practice what she preaches). It is apparent early on that Elizabeth does love Mary and wants only what SHE thinks is best for her.
This is a very well written story that will grip the reader from beginning to end. The author is able to create characters that are 'real' to the reader. You will laugh with Mary, and cry with her. You will feel anger towards Elizabeth as well as pity.
May 13, 2015
I don’t read much historical fiction, but when I do I always end up enjoying it. This book, however, is the exception. Though I finished this lengthy novel, I can’t say I enjoyed it very much. The story moves at a good pace, and a lot happens to keep the plot moving, but somehow I just couldn’t immerse myself in it. Quite disappointing, because I was looking forward to reading a historical fiction novel that what take me back in time allowing me to relive a tiny part of history. I mostly attribute it to the writing style that didn’t capture my attention, and the dialogue which felt very unnatural. The characters felt flat and two-dimensional, and I felt they all needed to be fleshed out more for this book to really make an impact. I’m sad to say this, but I don’t think I’ll be reading more of this author’s books.
September 1, 2017
A sweet little story about a royal ward in Queen Elizabeth's court who defies the queen to follow her heart. I liked how the story gave a glimpse behind-the-scenes into Elizabeth's entourage-what they were expected to do, etc- but several things irritated me that lessened my enjoyment:
1. Why was the name of Mary's dog always italicized? That annoyed me to no end. I have never read a book where animal names were emphasized like that.
2. The amount of cursing by the female characters seemed disproportionately high and the curses were always a variation of God's anatomy-it got to be quite comical really with all the God's blood, God's teeth, etc being thrown into the conversation when someone was upset.
3. While sundews are native to England, Charles Darwin was the one to figure out they were carnivorous. Their unique characteristics were unknown in Tudor England.
1. Why was the name of Mary's dog always italicized? That annoyed me to no end. I have never read a book where animal names were emphasized like that.
2. The amount of cursing by the female characters seemed disproportionately high and the curses were always a variation of God's anatomy-it got to be quite comical really with all the God's blood, God's teeth, etc being thrown into the conversation when someone was upset.
3. While sundews are native to England, Charles Darwin was the one to figure out they were carnivorous. Their unique characteristics were unknown in Tudor England.
July 26, 2017
I gave this book 4 stars although it was really more like 3 1/2 stars. This is the story of Mary Shelton, a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth and how the Queen takes Mary in as an orphan and they both grow old together. The Queen loves Mary like the daughter she never had and feels betrayed when Mary falls in love with Catholic Sir John Skydemore.
The book is quite good but in the middle section of the book it begins to read a bit like a romance novel, when Mary and Sir John's relationship plays out. It does pick up again in the final 1/3rd of the book. I was surprised in reading the author's notes to find out that the author is descended from the Shelton family.
Would recommend the book with some reservations since it gets a bit romance novel like in the middle of the book.
The book is quite good but in the middle section of the book it begins to read a bit like a romance novel, when Mary and Sir John's relationship plays out. It does pick up again in the final 1/3rd of the book. I was surprised in reading the author's notes to find out that the author is descended from the Shelton family.
Would recommend the book with some reservations since it gets a bit romance novel like in the middle of the book.
July 25, 2017
It was average. For historical fiction, it stuck close to most of the facts. For an exciting page turner, it was not. The basis was the marriage of her ward (aka daughter) to a lowly Sir John and how she was pursued by Oxford. The potential was there for excitement towards the end with threats of her clothes being poisoned and the looking death of Mary, Queen of Scots. But those were not delved into beyond complaining about them. Go read Rosalind Miles' " I, Elizabeth" instead.
May 12, 2017
Lots of repetition of language and scenes. Gave some accurate information of the times, but even for a light read seemed trying for a bit of sensationalism rather than engaging us in a fictionalized complex story.
April 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this Tudor novel, set largely told in the person of Mary Shelton, Queen Elizabeth 1's ward, as well as from the Queen's perspective , so we have a good set of narration from each point of view. Full of intrigue and Royal news and story, it is well written
June 10, 2024
I miss the good old days when Tudor fiction was "in", so I've been trying to scrounge around and find any that I might have missed from that time. I think there is a reason I may have 'missed' this one previously...
January 11, 2018
A lot of interesting historical info on how life at the court must have been but there was not much of a plot. I still enjoyed it enough to finish it.
May 11, 2018
I enjoyed the book until the end. I feel like it was a very unsatisfying ending, but I am a person who loves a happily ever after.
March 2, 2017
Very good. I liked the part where Old Catspaw, the elderly laundry woman, caught Mary Shelton when she came back to court after having been banished by the queen for having married without the queen's consent to beg forgiveness and agreed to help her.
February 16, 2015
It has been such a long time since I have read a historical fiction based on Tudors Era that I couldn't wait when I saw the new release of Queen Elizabeth's Daughter to come out!
Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth's favorite ward, having been under the queens care ever since her mother died when she was only 3 years old - she lives the life of privilege that her position offers. Queen Elizabeth loves Mary as if she was her very own flesh and blood. Therefore like any good mother, she want's what's best for Mary, to make her a powerful match. The first person that comes to mind that has title and money is the Earl of Oxford who the queen seems to be quiet fond off. Too bad that Mary saw the darker side of the man and want's nothing to do with him.
Mary is perfectly content with being the queens maid and by her side until Sir John Skydemore shows up in her life. A knight who is a widower with five children and little money. Not to mention, Sir John is also Catholic and the Queen is currently in turmoil with Catholics plotting against her.
Interesting story. I really liked how history was weaved into the plot and became part of the story and how it affected the Queen and Mary alike. It was very interesting to read about the time era and it wasn't completely romanticized. Like the fact that the castle would eventually stink so bad that they would have to move through the seasons into a different place to live because it was a different kind of times.
What I really liked in this story is Mary. She had a very pure heart even if her love and devotion to the Queen had felt quiet overwhelming at times. As evident at the end of the book when she makes a sacrifice of some sort in order to please her Queen. I was pretty floored by her love for the queen.
What I had a hard time with in this book is some of the character. Earl of Oxford was a nasty man with ill-fitted intentions. I did not like his actions towards Mary and then him trying to drag her name through the mud when she went on rejecting him. In one scene I felt he got what he deserved.
The Queen left me scratching my head at times as well, her hot and cold temper left me cringing at times. The writing was something also to get use to, a lot of over-dramatic scenes and conversations. Including some of Mary's reactions towards Earl of Oxford, at times it sounded like she wouldn't have minded him asking the Queen for her hand - even if he was a terrible, terrible man. It read oddly at times but I had managed to by pass all of that because I did enjoy the story and the slow blooming romance between Sir John and Mary.
I also enjoyed Author's note in the end that explained which parts was fiction and facts from the research that she had done before writing the book.
I got a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth's favorite ward, having been under the queens care ever since her mother died when she was only 3 years old - she lives the life of privilege that her position offers. Queen Elizabeth loves Mary as if she was her very own flesh and blood. Therefore like any good mother, she want's what's best for Mary, to make her a powerful match. The first person that comes to mind that has title and money is the Earl of Oxford who the queen seems to be quiet fond off. Too bad that Mary saw the darker side of the man and want's nothing to do with him.
Mary is perfectly content with being the queens maid and by her side until Sir John Skydemore shows up in her life. A knight who is a widower with five children and little money. Not to mention, Sir John is also Catholic and the Queen is currently in turmoil with Catholics plotting against her.
Interesting story. I really liked how history was weaved into the plot and became part of the story and how it affected the Queen and Mary alike. It was very interesting to read about the time era and it wasn't completely romanticized. Like the fact that the castle would eventually stink so bad that they would have to move through the seasons into a different place to live because it was a different kind of times.
What I really liked in this story is Mary. She had a very pure heart even if her love and devotion to the Queen had felt quiet overwhelming at times. As evident at the end of the book when she makes a sacrifice of some sort in order to please her Queen. I was pretty floored by her love for the queen.
What I had a hard time with in this book is some of the character. Earl of Oxford was a nasty man with ill-fitted intentions. I did not like his actions towards Mary and then him trying to drag her name through the mud when she went on rejecting him. In one scene I felt he got what he deserved.
The Queen left me scratching my head at times as well, her hot and cold temper left me cringing at times. The writing was something also to get use to, a lot of over-dramatic scenes and conversations. Including some of Mary's reactions towards Earl of Oxford, at times it sounded like she wouldn't have minded him asking the Queen for her hand - even if he was a terrible, terrible man. It read oddly at times but I had managed to by pass all of that because I did enjoy the story and the slow blooming romance between Sir John and Mary.
I also enjoyed Author's note in the end that explained which parts was fiction and facts from the research that she had done before writing the book.
I got a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
October 3, 2014
Not the best book I have read about Queen Elizabeth I. After searching for this book for a while and then finally read it, I have to say that I was not as thrilled about this one as I have been with others. Sure, the events of plot were interesting as it was reaching for the climax of the book, I thought the ending could have been better. The book's lack of a better end did make me hate it for a while; however, some of the events that happened around the beginning to middle ways made it worth continuing. I never knew that the Queen herself would have been so cruel in such a way, but I guess all the compressed sexual frustation was enough to make any woman of her high standards jealous of other girls. I loved a lot of the rising events that made more secrets come out and the suspense of what would happen in the next chapter keep the book thriving. My favorite scene was when Lord Oxford broke wind in front of the Queen when he bowed to her because it made me laugh so hard that I could not recover.
The usage of putting Lord Oxford in the book really did keep me on my toes all throughout the book because I wanted some karma to bite him in the ass for being such a manwhore. All the time that he was giving Mary hell in the book and Sir John came to the rescue, I wanted him to die already because that's how much a reader could really hate him. After a while, I got my wish when Oxford got what he deserved by being refused of marriage from the Queen and placed into a miserable marriage for him to suffer. I agreed with Mary Shelton on not wanting to marry Oxford because of a selfish, womanizing pig he was; however, I would have chosen someone who was my own age or a few small years apart. Her marrying Sir John was proof that she would never really have the luxury that she grew, and that's is why I really hated when she married him because she just digged her own grave for trouble. Although her punishment could have been much worse, I did not expect the Queen to bring false evident against John just to get her "Fawn" back. It was utterly stupid what she did because she could have handled the situation better than she did in the middle and ending. It is very evident that love can indeed make a person do stupid things, but I really felt like that Queen had no room to judge because of how much of a hypocrite she was herself. Guess that just shows that power can corrupt a person brain once they grasp their control over everyone and think they can play god.
Overall, the book was a alright standing of history, but the plot of the ending could have been better than how it was. I do not want anyone who reads this review to be discouragment to not read it. I am merely stating how I thought the book was to me, and it is just mainly my own opinion.
The usage of putting Lord Oxford in the book really did keep me on my toes all throughout the book because I wanted some karma to bite him in the ass for being such a manwhore. All the time that he was giving Mary hell in the book and Sir John came to the rescue, I wanted him to die already because that's how much a reader could really hate him. After a while, I got my wish when Oxford got what he deserved by being refused of marriage from the Queen and placed into a miserable marriage for him to suffer. I agreed with Mary Shelton on not wanting to marry Oxford because of a selfish, womanizing pig he was; however, I would have chosen someone who was my own age or a few small years apart. Her marrying Sir John was proof that she would never really have the luxury that she grew, and that's is why I really hated when she married him because she just digged her own grave for trouble. Although her punishment could have been much worse, I did not expect the Queen to bring false evident against John just to get her "Fawn" back. It was utterly stupid what she did because she could have handled the situation better than she did in the middle and ending. It is very evident that love can indeed make a person do stupid things, but I really felt like that Queen had no room to judge because of how much of a hypocrite she was herself. Guess that just shows that power can corrupt a person brain once they grasp their control over everyone and think they can play god.
Overall, the book was a alright standing of history, but the plot of the ending could have been better than how it was. I do not want anyone who reads this review to be discouragment to not read it. I am merely stating how I thought the book was to me, and it is just mainly my own opinion.
March 12, 2014
I feel as though I’ve been going through withdrawal from one of my favorite genres which is historical fiction of course. It feels like ages since I got to sit down and enjoy a good piece of historical fiction but not any longer … Anne Clinard Barnhill’s newest novel Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter was a great read and the perfect book to curl up with and read this past weekend! Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter takes us back to all of the intricacies of the Tudor court along with the treachery and betrayals that make it all so exciting!
In Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter we are introduced to Mary Shelton who was Queen Elizabeth’s cousin and became her ward when the young Mary lost her parents. Mary lives a life of privilege being the queen’s favorite but everything good always comes at a cost and for Mary that cost is giving up any semblance of freedom to live her own life. To Elizabeth, Mary is the child she will never have. She has given her everything she could want and has made her into a lady in accordance with her station in life. This also means that the queen expects to have complete control over who Mary will marry and that means what marriage choice will offer Elizabeth the most power.
Elizabeth feels the best match for Mary is the Earl of Oxford but Mary despises him and his treacherous ways. Instead Mary falls in love with Sir John Skydemore who is far from a perfect match for Mary in the queen’s opinion as he is a widower without much money. Since Queen Elizabeth’s opinion is the only one that matters though Mary is forbidden to marry Sir John. Will Mary obey the queen? Or will she follow her heart and live a life full of love?
Every time I read a novel of court life I am always flabbergasted at how much control a king or queen had over people. The ladies that served Elizabeth quite literally had no life of their own. Even if they were allowed to marry they still had to spend all of their time with the queen and very little with their own families. They took care of her every need from dressing her to having to sleep along with her so she wasn’t alone. I can’t imagine ever living a life like that although in the 1500′s it was likely much better having that life than one of poverty. Yet look at all you would give up … life, love, and control over your own destiny.
For fans of the Tudor era and historical fiction Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter is a fabulous choice!
May 5, 2014
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, & The Unread:
The Tudors always strike me as being rather under-represented when I’m looking for lightweight historical romances to read, being generally overshadowed both by the Regency period (for historical romance) and by weightier volumes covering the era or the fictionalised love lives of the most powerful members of the various monarch’s courts. So I was very pleased when this book came up for review, although a little nervous after some of my less-than-stellar encounters with historical romances by new-to-me authors. Fortunately, this one doesn’t disappoint.
Mary Shelton was orphaned at an early age and brought up in the household of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, becoming as close as a daughter to the monarch and gaining a place among the ladies of the royal bedchamber. While the Queen plays off various political factions at home and abroad by seeming to favour one suitor over another as necessary to keep the peace, while never pledging herself permanently to any of them, she is determined to make an advantageous political match for Mary.
Mary, however, has a habit of falling for unsuitable men. After her first minor flirtation ends in the boy she fancies being sent away, she falls for an older man, John Skydemore. John is the son-in-law of an important, though Catholic, advisor to the queen, but his wife recently died, leaving him with five young children. John and Mary conspire to be together, but the court is rife with gossip and spies and nothing they do escapes the queen’s attention for long.
I love all the glimpses we get of real historical figures I’ve read about elsewhere, and the descriptions of what it was really like to be part of a court that was constantly on the move – partly because castles got rather smelly after a few months of being fully inhabited. At times Queen Elizabeth comes across as a little too shouty (reminiscent of the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland), but this is balanced by the chapters told from her point of view.
A lot of research went into this book, and I now need to find time to read others by the author. A refreshing change from a lot of historical romances I’ve picked up recently.
The Tudors always strike me as being rather under-represented when I’m looking for lightweight historical romances to read, being generally overshadowed both by the Regency period (for historical romance) and by weightier volumes covering the era or the fictionalised love lives of the most powerful members of the various monarch’s courts. So I was very pleased when this book came up for review, although a little nervous after some of my less-than-stellar encounters with historical romances by new-to-me authors. Fortunately, this one doesn’t disappoint.
Mary Shelton was orphaned at an early age and brought up in the household of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, becoming as close as a daughter to the monarch and gaining a place among the ladies of the royal bedchamber. While the Queen plays off various political factions at home and abroad by seeming to favour one suitor over another as necessary to keep the peace, while never pledging herself permanently to any of them, she is determined to make an advantageous political match for Mary.
Mary, however, has a habit of falling for unsuitable men. After her first minor flirtation ends in the boy she fancies being sent away, she falls for an older man, John Skydemore. John is the son-in-law of an important, though Catholic, advisor to the queen, but his wife recently died, leaving him with five young children. John and Mary conspire to be together, but the court is rife with gossip and spies and nothing they do escapes the queen’s attention for long.
I love all the glimpses we get of real historical figures I’ve read about elsewhere, and the descriptions of what it was really like to be part of a court that was constantly on the move – partly because castles got rather smelly after a few months of being fully inhabited. At times Queen Elizabeth comes across as a little too shouty (reminiscent of the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland), but this is balanced by the chapters told from her point of view.
A lot of research went into this book, and I now need to find time to read others by the author. A refreshing change from a lot of historical romances I’ve picked up recently.
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