What do you think?
Rate this book
The Race for Elizabeth I's Throne: Rival Tudor Cousins
The contested succession of Elizabeth I ended with James VI of Scotland ascending, concluding the Tudor dynasty.
As the childless Elizabeth I lay on her deathbed, discussions over who would succeed her as ruler of England raged on amongst her advisors.
The succession to Elizabeth’s throne was hotly debated throughout her reign (1558-1603) and despite having no direct heir, the queen refused to name her successor over safety concerns, being convinced a plot would be raised to oust her in favour of the heir.
There were many contenders to the crown, but Elizabeth’s main rival was Mary, Queen of Scots but her Catholic faith and ill-advised marriage to fellow claimant Lord Darnley, against Elizabeth’s wishes, damaged her claim. Her claim was ended when the English queen had her Scottish counterpart executed in 1587.
Other claims came from the Grey sisters Katherine and Mary, and later Margaret Clifford and Arbella Stuart. But the crown finally came to King James VI of Scotland, son of Mary and Darnley, in what was a smooth transition. His accession marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the start of the Stuart era in England.
As the childless Elizabeth I lay on her deathbed, discussions over who would succeed her as ruler of England raged on amongst her advisors.
The succession to Elizabeth’s throne was hotly debated throughout her reign (1558-1603) and despite having no direct heir, the queen refused to name her successor over safety concerns, being convinced a plot would be raised to oust her in favour of the heir.
There were many contenders to the crown, but Elizabeth’s main rival was Mary, Queen of Scots but her Catholic faith and ill-advised marriage to fellow claimant Lord Darnley, against Elizabeth’s wishes, damaged her claim. Her claim was ended when the English queen had her Scottish counterpart executed in 1587.
Other claims came from the Grey sisters Katherine and Mary, and later Margaret Clifford and Arbella Stuart. But the crown finally came to King James VI of Scotland, son of Mary and Darnley, in what was a smooth transition. His accession marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the start of the Stuart era in England.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 27, 2025
Elizabeth I died in 1603, and with her passing ended the Tudor age. The crown passed to James VI of Scotland - who became James I of England and so began the house of Stuart. This is a look at all of the major players who were contenders to take the English crown - as the title suggests, there were numerous cousins from various branches of the Tudor family tree who could have staked a claim, James was just one of them.
There is a lot of good stuff here; the book is well researched and the narrative nicely told in a conversational tone - which can be a welcome change from the slightly condescending tone from other non-fiction writers. The book shines a light on characters who are otherwise easily forgotten from this era; for instance we take a look at the whole Gray family, rather than just the famous 'Queen for nine days' Lady Jane. It's also interesting to note how many potential claimants were female - even if ultimately these women would have been placeholders for their husbands or sons.
Unfortunately there are major frustrations as well. The pace of the book is so rapid it's hard to keep up; the author has a habit of posing rhetorical questions at odd points; and there is a lot of jumping around in the timeline - which adds to the difficulty of keeping track of what was happening to who and when. Many times the author tells the same story or sequence of events repeatedly and the text loops back on itself - I think the idea of this is to tie all characters and events together from all perspectives but the effect is the opposite. This could also do with another editorial pass, as there are several jarring grammatical errors -including an entire paragraph being pretty much repeated. Fundamentally, this ends up reading more like a dissertation than a serious work of non-fiction.
I'm interested to know who the intended audience for this book is - I think someone coming into it cold, with no previous knowledge of the Tudors and Stuarts would struggle hugely with the pace and the amount of information thrown at the reader. However for a scholar, this book doesn't really add anything to the conversation. As someone who has spent a lot of time researching Elizabeth I, I really wanted to love and invest in this book - it just wasn't possible. The only reason the rating isn't 2 stars is because of my personal love of the overall subject matter.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review -
There is a lot of good stuff here; the book is well researched and the narrative nicely told in a conversational tone - which can be a welcome change from the slightly condescending tone from other non-fiction writers. The book shines a light on characters who are otherwise easily forgotten from this era; for instance we take a look at the whole Gray family, rather than just the famous 'Queen for nine days' Lady Jane. It's also interesting to note how many potential claimants were female - even if ultimately these women would have been placeholders for their husbands or sons.
Unfortunately there are major frustrations as well. The pace of the book is so rapid it's hard to keep up; the author has a habit of posing rhetorical questions at odd points; and there is a lot of jumping around in the timeline - which adds to the difficulty of keeping track of what was happening to who and when. Many times the author tells the same story or sequence of events repeatedly and the text loops back on itself - I think the idea of this is to tie all characters and events together from all perspectives but the effect is the opposite. This could also do with another editorial pass, as there are several jarring grammatical errors -including an entire paragraph being pretty much repeated. Fundamentally, this ends up reading more like a dissertation than a serious work of non-fiction.
I'm interested to know who the intended audience for this book is - I think someone coming into it cold, with no previous knowledge of the Tudors and Stuarts would struggle hugely with the pace and the amount of information thrown at the reader. However for a scholar, this book doesn't really add anything to the conversation. As someone who has spent a lot of time researching Elizabeth I, I really wanted to love and invest in this book - it just wasn't possible. The only reason the rating isn't 2 stars is because of my personal love of the overall subject matter.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review -
December 24, 2025
A wonderful read
February 9, 2026
I rated this book 3.5 out of 5.
This book had some real strengths, which I enjoyed and learned a lot from, in addition to some weaknesses that did cause this book to be a bit of a struggle.
First, I loved how Adams covered the entire field of Elizabeth I's potential heirs. Often, the bigger names in the field get all of the attention. My favorite section of the book was actually the heirs from Mary Tudor's daughters, Frances and Eleanor. Obviously, I was aware of the Grey sister's but Adams provided a great level of detail about their lives and personalities, while the Clifford claimants were entirely new to me.
Second, the way that Adams brought to life the actual personalities of the people she was discussing made them all the more fascinating. By using sources and, on occasion, letters, you got a sense of who they really were. I felt that this was particularly true for Katherine Grey.
That being said, what I really struggled with was the structure of this book. There were several places where it felt very repetitive. Particularly in the Stuart section, where Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI were discussed. I also wished that there had been a chronological structure to the book. On the one hand, I see the value in giving each person their own chance to shine, but it became very confusing when other people were mentioned in sections that were not their own. Such as when Katherine Grey's treatment was brought up in the Charles Stuart section. A chronological frame also would have helped determine who was the frontrunner for the throne at any given time.
I found this to be a great starting point to understand the claimants to Elizabeth I's throne, and I do intend to expand upon Adam's work with more focused biographies of the individuals she mentions throughout this book. If you are interested in understanding the family dynamics at play in Elizabeth I's decision of whom her heir would be, this is a great place to start.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying
This book had some real strengths, which I enjoyed and learned a lot from, in addition to some weaknesses that did cause this book to be a bit of a struggle.
First, I loved how Adams covered the entire field of Elizabeth I's potential heirs. Often, the bigger names in the field get all of the attention. My favorite section of the book was actually the heirs from Mary Tudor's daughters, Frances and Eleanor. Obviously, I was aware of the Grey sister's but Adams provided a great level of detail about their lives and personalities, while the Clifford claimants were entirely new to me.
Second, the way that Adams brought to life the actual personalities of the people she was discussing made them all the more fascinating. By using sources and, on occasion, letters, you got a sense of who they really were. I felt that this was particularly true for Katherine Grey.
That being said, what I really struggled with was the structure of this book. There were several places where it felt very repetitive. Particularly in the Stuart section, where Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI were discussed. I also wished that there had been a chronological structure to the book. On the one hand, I see the value in giving each person their own chance to shine, but it became very confusing when other people were mentioned in sections that were not their own. Such as when Katherine Grey's treatment was brought up in the Charles Stuart section. A chronological frame also would have helped determine who was the frontrunner for the throne at any given time.
I found this to be a great starting point to understand the claimants to Elizabeth I's throne, and I do intend to expand upon Adam's work with more focused biographies of the individuals she mentions throughout this book. If you are interested in understanding the family dynamics at play in Elizabeth I's decision of whom her heir would be, this is a great place to start.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying
November 1, 2025
Elizabeth I's 1603 death triggered a crisis because, as the last Tudor, she left no heir. Her decisions to not marry/have children and to not name a successor were profoundly prudent:
No Marriage: Maintained English sovereignty (avoiding foreign control or noble civil war) and avoided death in childbirth/a regency crisis.
No Heir: Prevented a rival "Rising Sun" from challenging her authority and removed any incentive for her assassination.
📜 Henry VIII’s Will
Henry VIII's Will/Statute Law, excluded the Stuart line (descended from his elder sister, Margaret Tudor) in favour of the Suffolk line (descended from his younger sister, Mary Tudor).
⚔️ The Contending Claims and Basis:
The Stuart Line (Hereditary Right):
James VI of Scotland (Great-grandson of Margaret Tudor). Basis: Closest relative by blood. Fatal Flaw: Legally an alien and excluded by Henry VIII's Will.
Lady Arbella Stuart (James's cousin, daughter of Charles Stuart, Earl of Lennox). Basis: English-born (not an "alien"). Fatal Flaw: A single, inexperienced woman lacking political power.
The Suffolk Line (Statute Law):
Lord Beauchamp (Grey family heir). Basis: Legal successor by Act of Parliament. Fatal Flaw: Legitimacy was disputed by Elizabeth I (invalid marriage).
Lady Anne Stanley (Clifford Branch). Basis: Last undisputed legal heir under the Statute Law. Fatal Flaw: Politically weak; ignored by the Council.
The Spanish/Catholic Claim:
Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia (Daughter of Philip II). Basis: Distant blood claim via Lancastrian descent. Fatal Flaw: A devout Catholic and child of England’s enemy; succession was impossible.
The Triumph of the Stuarts
The peaceful transfer of power was due to a political coup d'état orchestrated by the Queen’s chief minister, Sir Robert Cecil:
Practicality Over Law: Cecil and the Privy Council understood that only James VI had the military power, the established royal standing, and the necessary Protestant faith to guarantee immediate stability. The Stuarts offered a reigning monarch with children, securing the succession for a new dynasty.
Cecil and James maintained a secret correspondence for years.
No Marriage: Maintained English sovereignty (avoiding foreign control or noble civil war) and avoided death in childbirth/a regency crisis.
No Heir: Prevented a rival "Rising Sun" from challenging her authority and removed any incentive for her assassination.
📜 Henry VIII’s Will
Henry VIII's Will/Statute Law, excluded the Stuart line (descended from his elder sister, Margaret Tudor) in favour of the Suffolk line (descended from his younger sister, Mary Tudor).
⚔️ The Contending Claims and Basis:
The Stuart Line (Hereditary Right):
James VI of Scotland (Great-grandson of Margaret Tudor). Basis: Closest relative by blood. Fatal Flaw: Legally an alien and excluded by Henry VIII's Will.
Lady Arbella Stuart (James's cousin, daughter of Charles Stuart, Earl of Lennox). Basis: English-born (not an "alien"). Fatal Flaw: A single, inexperienced woman lacking political power.
The Suffolk Line (Statute Law):
Lord Beauchamp (Grey family heir). Basis: Legal successor by Act of Parliament. Fatal Flaw: Legitimacy was disputed by Elizabeth I (invalid marriage).
Lady Anne Stanley (Clifford Branch). Basis: Last undisputed legal heir under the Statute Law. Fatal Flaw: Politically weak; ignored by the Council.
The Spanish/Catholic Claim:
Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia (Daughter of Philip II). Basis: Distant blood claim via Lancastrian descent. Fatal Flaw: A devout Catholic and child of England’s enemy; succession was impossible.
The Triumph of the Stuarts
The peaceful transfer of power was due to a political coup d'état orchestrated by the Queen’s chief minister, Sir Robert Cecil:
Practicality Over Law: Cecil and the Privy Council understood that only James VI had the military power, the established royal standing, and the necessary Protestant faith to guarantee immediate stability. The Stuarts offered a reigning monarch with children, securing the succession for a new dynasty.
Cecil and James maintained a secret correspondence for years.
September 8, 2025
Having read the other reviews, I understand that this is not anything new to those who are aware of the subject matter. It probably is more for people coming to the subject with little to no knowledge.
With that said, I really enjoyed the book regardless of no new information. It was a delightful refresh of all the characters and their claims. I have read several of the authors books and enjoyed every one. Her passion for the subject is evident, it’s well researched and I look forward to the little questions she randomly puts out there. It gives the reader a time to reflect and think about what we have read and how we feel about the material presented. Do I think James was the right choice? Was Elizabeth’s upbringing her reasoning for staying single? All questions that cannot be answered by any of us but all opinions are valid. A little reminder that a lot of history can be interpreted in many ways.
I look forward to the next book.
With that said, I really enjoyed the book regardless of no new information. It was a delightful refresh of all the characters and their claims. I have read several of the authors books and enjoyed every one. Her passion for the subject is evident, it’s well researched and I look forward to the little questions she randomly puts out there. It gives the reader a time to reflect and think about what we have read and how we feel about the material presented. Do I think James was the right choice? Was Elizabeth’s upbringing her reasoning for staying single? All questions that cannot be answered by any of us but all opinions are valid. A little reminder that a lot of history can be interpreted in many ways.
I look forward to the next book.
September 4, 2025
Truth be told, I struggled reading this book. I found it to be very repetitive. The author gave us a complete history run down of each person who had, or may have had, a claim to the throne. In doing so, most people’s stories were told more than once.
I appreciated the narrative form of story telling but wished it could have somehow, been more organized. I learned a lot in reading this book. I’ve always enjoyed learning the history of various royal families, but perhaps this book is meant more for someone with more prior knowledge than myself.
Thank you Pen&Sword for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I appreciated the narrative form of story telling but wished it could have somehow, been more organized. I learned a lot in reading this book. I’ve always enjoyed learning the history of various royal families, but perhaps this book is meant more for someone with more prior knowledge than myself.
Thank you Pen&Sword for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 25, 2026
This book was a delve into the various people who were considered to be a contestants in the quest to replace Elizabeth I which she died.
I didn't know there was so many and found this book very interesting .
Yes I knew the obvious ones but the rest I was not aware of so this book was great.
Yes sometimes bits were repeated because the stories overlapped but the author has done a lot of research and has laid it out very cleverly.
Perhaps for somebody who already had knowledge it would not suit but I found it very interesting
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword publishing for my arc copy
I didn't know there was so many and found this book very interesting .
Yes I knew the obvious ones but the rest I was not aware of so this book was great.
Yes sometimes bits were repeated because the stories overlapped but the author has done a lot of research and has laid it out very cleverly.
Perhaps for somebody who already had knowledge it would not suit but I found it very interesting
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword publishing for my arc copy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
As someone who has been obsessed with English history since I was a teenager, I found “The Race for Elizabeth I’s Throne” by Beverley Adams a quick but thorough run down of all the major players and possible heirs for Elizabeth’s throne. I think this would be a great jumping off point for someone new to English History and the Tudor time period specifically.
As someone who has been obsessed with English history since I was a teenager, I found “The Race for Elizabeth I’s Throne” by Beverley Adams a quick but thorough run down of all the major players and possible heirs for Elizabeth’s throne. I think this would be a great jumping off point for someone new to English History and the Tudor time period specifically.
November 5, 2025
With Elizabeth I childless and refusing to name an heir, a fierce debate raged over the English throne, with contenders like Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Grey sisters vying for power. This engaging and informative book looks in-depth at the rivalries that developed, introducing the various claimants and showing how James I ultimately gained the throne.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Want to Read
September 23, 2025this book is one of my most anticipated book releases in 2025 and I can't wait to read more about elizabeth ! her family history is very interesting and I can't wait to learn more about them!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews