What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales From the Tudor Court #2
Prisoner of the Queen
Kindhearted Katherine Grey knows well the peril of being born with royal blood. As Henry VIII’s grandniece and one of the heirs to the English throne, her noble birth has doomed her to live among the schemers and seducers of the king’s court—barring her from the peaceful life that she truly desires.
After her sister fails to keep the throne, and a new queen rises to power, Katherine finds herself surrounded by adversaries. Since Queen Elizabeth sees her as a threat, and court conspirators see her as an ally, Katherine is forced to play a game she knows she cannot win. And when she reunites with the man she truly loves, Katherine has even more at stake. With treachery at every turn and the life she dreams of within reach, Katherine must make an impossible Will she submit to the queen’s authority, or will she pursue love no matter the cost?
Revised This edition of Prisoner of the Queen includes editorial revisions.
After her sister fails to keep the throne, and a new queen rises to power, Katherine finds herself surrounded by adversaries. Since Queen Elizabeth sees her as a threat, and court conspirators see her as an ally, Katherine is forced to play a game she knows she cannot win. And when she reunites with the man she truly loves, Katherine has even more at stake. With treachery at every turn and the life she dreams of within reach, Katherine must make an impossible Will she submit to the queen’s authority, or will she pursue love no matter the cost?
Revised This edition of Prisoner of the Queen includes editorial revisions.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2014
144 people are currently reading
1343 people want to read
About the author
E. Knight
4 books80 followersPlease visit Eliza Knight's main Goodreads page here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world.
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
Look for THE MAYFAIR BOOKSHOP a dual-narrative story about Nancy Mitford—one of 1930s London’s hottest socialites, authors, and a member of the scandalous Mitford Sisters—and a modern American book curator desperate for change, connected through time by a little London bookshop available now. Coming in 2023, AMERICAN STAR: a Novel of Adele Astaire.
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter sign-up and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Twitter: @elizaknight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfi...
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction (less)
Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world.
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
Look for THE MAYFAIR BOOKSHOP a dual-narrative story about Nancy Mitford—one of 1930s London’s hottest socialites, authors, and a member of the scandalous Mitford Sisters—and a modern American book curator desperate for change, connected through time by a little London bookshop available now. Coming in 2023, AMERICAN STAR: a Novel of Adele Astaire.
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter sign-up and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Twitter: @elizaknight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfi...
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction (less)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 12, 2015
The inherently tragic and romantic story of Katherine Grey lends itself to novelization. Her elder sister, Lady Jane Grey, the "Nine Days Queen," was executed as a teenager for usurping the throne. Katherine was kept from her great love by Queen Elizabeth I, who was afraid that she could be overthrown by those who thought Katherine had a better claim to the throne than she did. Add into all of that secret weddings and childbirths and imprisonment in the Tower of London and the history is as dramatic as any fiction could be.
There is potential here, but this retelling doesn’t quite live up to it. While most of the major plot points are consistent with known history, there are some odd historical inaccuracies with basic information, such as a misstatement of which of Henry VIII’s wives outlived him.
At just fourteen, Katherine is remarkably prescient about what would happen if her sister took the throne. She asks, “Could Jane truly be queen? A plot to steal the throne? Princess Mary would surely retaliate. And Princess Elizabeth would gladly seek vengeance were she thrust aside once more, with Jane taking her place” (p. 24). A few years later, however, she is naive or deluded enough to think she can get away with . This is more believable given what we know about her actions, but it is inconsistent with her previous uncanny ability to see the pitfalls of the Lady Jane Grey scheme while all of the adults around her were clueless.
While overall the writing was competent, there was a tendency characteristic of too many historical novels to use certain words or phrases that signify a kind of nonspecific “olden days.” This book is riddled with ’Tis, ’Twas, ‘Twould, and the inevitable “for certes” while the rest of the language remains fairly contemporary.
This is a novel heavy on tragic romance and light on the political and religious context that makes Katherine’s unfortunate situation understandable (and Elizabeth less of a cartoon villain). The end result is more of a generic romance that lacks the nuance to explore this relatively minor historical figure whose interactions with the Queen revealed a great deal about Elizabeth’s decisions on a larger world stage.
Katherine Grey and her eldest son (Image from Wikipedia)
There is potential here, but this retelling doesn’t quite live up to it. While most of the major plot points are consistent with known history, there are some odd historical inaccuracies with basic information, such as a misstatement of which of Henry VIII’s wives outlived him.
At just fourteen, Katherine is remarkably prescient about what would happen if her sister took the throne. She asks, “Could Jane truly be queen? A plot to steal the throne? Princess Mary would surely retaliate. And Princess Elizabeth would gladly seek vengeance were she thrust aside once more, with Jane taking her place” (p. 24). A few years later, however, she is naive or deluded enough to think she can get away with . This is more believable given what we know about her actions, but it is inconsistent with her previous uncanny ability to see the pitfalls of the Lady Jane Grey scheme while all of the adults around her were clueless.
While overall the writing was competent, there was a tendency characteristic of too many historical novels to use certain words or phrases that signify a kind of nonspecific “olden days.” This book is riddled with ’Tis, ’Twas, ‘Twould, and the inevitable “for certes” while the rest of the language remains fairly contemporary.
This is a novel heavy on tragic romance and light on the political and religious context that makes Katherine’s unfortunate situation understandable (and Elizabeth less of a cartoon villain). The end result is more of a generic romance that lacks the nuance to explore this relatively minor historical figure whose interactions with the Queen revealed a great deal about Elizabeth’s decisions on a larger world stage.
Katherine Grey and her eldest son (Image from Wikipedia)
September 20, 2014
I love the Tudor period. It is hard to believe that anyone could write another book dealing with this royal dynasty that would still leave me feeling like I haven't read a half a million books on the subject, (ok, maybe not so many, but it feels that way sometimes) but E. Knight does.
So yes, the Tudor period is very overdone, in both historical fiction and romantic fiction, but, there's always something more, or someone more to learn about. In this case, Katherine Grey, who was the sister to Lady Jane Grey, the nine days queen.
I've read books that feature the Grey sisters but they focused mostly on Jane and Mary. This was the first one that I've read that put Katherine in the spotlight.
This is a tragic romance but one that really pulls you in. This is a woman of royal blood, whose life is really in the hands of the Queens, both Mary and Elizabeth, who see her as a threat. I felt terribly sorry for her. She seemed to want love rather than power, and she definitely didn't have the love of many people in her life. Her mother wasn't exactly the nicest woman, and the Queens that she served wouldn't trust or like or much, with good reason really, not that Katherine did anything to usurp the throne, but other members of her family did. That put her in constant suspicion.
E. Knight makes Katherine a very real person to her readers as well as Ned. There are things that happen in her life that will make you cry along with her. The loss of her pup, was one moment that really got to me. I always hate reading about the death of animals or when someone's pet wasn't allowed to make a journey with them to a new life.
I love the writing style and the obvious research that went into bringing this story to life. This book was a joy to read, even as the story breaks your heart.
So yes, the Tudor period is very overdone, in both historical fiction and romantic fiction, but, there's always something more, or someone more to learn about. In this case, Katherine Grey, who was the sister to Lady Jane Grey, the nine days queen.
I've read books that feature the Grey sisters but they focused mostly on Jane and Mary. This was the first one that I've read that put Katherine in the spotlight.
This is a tragic romance but one that really pulls you in. This is a woman of royal blood, whose life is really in the hands of the Queens, both Mary and Elizabeth, who see her as a threat. I felt terribly sorry for her. She seemed to want love rather than power, and she definitely didn't have the love of many people in her life. Her mother wasn't exactly the nicest woman, and the Queens that she served wouldn't trust or like or much, with good reason really, not that Katherine did anything to usurp the throne, but other members of her family did. That put her in constant suspicion.
E. Knight makes Katherine a very real person to her readers as well as Ned. There are things that happen in her life that will make you cry along with her. The loss of her pup, was one moment that really got to me. I always hate reading about the death of animals or when someone's pet wasn't allowed to make a journey with them to a new life.
I love the writing style and the obvious research that went into bringing this story to life. This book was a joy to read, even as the story breaks your heart.
April 24, 2018
I'm still not entirely sure about this book. I know I've only read about 50 pages, but it's just not vibing with me. And that in itself is bothering me. I've never had this issue with a book... Ever. But there is a first time for everything I guess. Hopeful I'll finish it this year...
I'm actually kind of depressed about this...
I'm actually kind of depressed about this...
August 16, 2021
Lady Katherine Grey, sister of the more famous Lady Jane Grey, makes for an excellent subject of a novel and this is by no means the first I've read featuring her (both Alison Weir and Elizabeth Fremantle have used her as a character in fiction). Perhaps because of this and because I read Leanda de Lisle's excellent biography of the Grey sisters a while back, I kept wanting more from this book. The author states in the concluding note that she doesn't think Katherine was frivolous or featherbrained, yet often the Katherine portrayed in the pages of this novel appears naïve and out of her depth navigating the Tudor court. This historical Katherine certainly did make mistakes, but I think she was a more complex woman than the one portrayed in this book.
September 30, 2014
I'm so glad that I decided to try out Eliza Knight's Tudor Series, written under E. Knight to differentiate from her romance novels she's been so successful at writing (though I've not read those yet). Speaking strictly on her Tudor Series novels, of which I've read both now, E. Knight is a superb writer with detailed prose, excellent dialogue, and emotional characters. Fully researched, these historical novels on the Tudor Era bring a fresh take to the shelves of what is fast becoming, if it hasn't already, a major sub-genre of historical fiction.
Speaking of book two, Prisoner of the Queen gives us the story of Katherine Grey, sister to the well-known Jane Grey (cousin to Elizabeth I and Mary I) who unfortunately ended up being caught in the scandal of monarch lineage and power hungry noble families like the Dudleys (which ultimately saw to her fate of being beheaded after 9 days as Queen). Jane had two sisters, and of the two, Katherine was next in line for the throne once her sister was killed, after Henry VIII's two daughters.
As Elizabeth I becomes extremely paranoid (and with due reason), the relationship between Katherine and Elizabeth is strained. In Prisoner of the Queen, Knight also writes of the passionate romance between Edward Seymour and Katherine, which they conducted under the radar of the now Queen Elizabeth. Becoming pregnant, however, led to Katherine and Edward being discovered and they were locked in the Tower by Queen Elizabeth. Katherine's lived her life in the Tower until her death.
It's a sad story, but Knight does such a superb job of telling it that you feel compelled to root for Katherine even if you know how it turns out historically. She does an overwhelming amount of research and it shows within the pages of her novel. She writes with an expert hand, bringing heart-wrenching emotion to the page.
Many people adore Elizabeth I, and I admit I like many parts of her legacy and personality, but it's important for us as readers and historians, to remember the other side of Elizabeth I as well. Knight shows the true side of the Queen with an authentic accuracy, even if we wish it weren't so. Impulsive and paranoid, Elizabeth I is many times the image of Henry VIII, and within this book, Knight was correct to portray the proper course of history.
Knight writes a novel that lights with passion, emotion, and description that breathes new life into old stories of England's monarchy. She writes with elegance and vivid descriptions that make you feel as if you've entered into the period yourself. Her imagery is easy to convert visually and her details stunning.
If you are getting tired of Tudor historical novels, don't stop yet until you read Knight's series. It will make you see a whole new side of all the characters and players you thought you'd had enough of! You'll be swept away snuggled by the fire with some tea and biscuits before you know it has captivated you, leaving you turning your head only when your partner says, "Have you been up all night?"
It's not always easy to write in first person, but with Knight's Tudor series, she succeeds in making you feel that emotional connection with the protagonist that is so important when reading from that point of view. If you think you've liked Brandy Purdy or Phillippa Gregory in the past, they can move way over for Knight's eloquent storytelling. In the same vein of Elizabeth Freemantle and Hillary Mantel, Knight's writing is top-notch and highly recommended as a new face of Tudor fiction.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Speaking of book two, Prisoner of the Queen gives us the story of Katherine Grey, sister to the well-known Jane Grey (cousin to Elizabeth I and Mary I) who unfortunately ended up being caught in the scandal of monarch lineage and power hungry noble families like the Dudleys (which ultimately saw to her fate of being beheaded after 9 days as Queen). Jane had two sisters, and of the two, Katherine was next in line for the throne once her sister was killed, after Henry VIII's two daughters.
As Elizabeth I becomes extremely paranoid (and with due reason), the relationship between Katherine and Elizabeth is strained. In Prisoner of the Queen, Knight also writes of the passionate romance between Edward Seymour and Katherine, which they conducted under the radar of the now Queen Elizabeth. Becoming pregnant, however, led to Katherine and Edward being discovered and they were locked in the Tower by Queen Elizabeth. Katherine's lived her life in the Tower until her death.
It's a sad story, but Knight does such a superb job of telling it that you feel compelled to root for Katherine even if you know how it turns out historically. She does an overwhelming amount of research and it shows within the pages of her novel. She writes with an expert hand, bringing heart-wrenching emotion to the page.
Many people adore Elizabeth I, and I admit I like many parts of her legacy and personality, but it's important for us as readers and historians, to remember the other side of Elizabeth I as well. Knight shows the true side of the Queen with an authentic accuracy, even if we wish it weren't so. Impulsive and paranoid, Elizabeth I is many times the image of Henry VIII, and within this book, Knight was correct to portray the proper course of history.
Knight writes a novel that lights with passion, emotion, and description that breathes new life into old stories of England's monarchy. She writes with elegance and vivid descriptions that make you feel as if you've entered into the period yourself. Her imagery is easy to convert visually and her details stunning.
If you are getting tired of Tudor historical novels, don't stop yet until you read Knight's series. It will make you see a whole new side of all the characters and players you thought you'd had enough of! You'll be swept away snuggled by the fire with some tea and biscuits before you know it has captivated you, leaving you turning your head only when your partner says, "Have you been up all night?"
It's not always easy to write in first person, but with Knight's Tudor series, she succeeds in making you feel that emotional connection with the protagonist that is so important when reading from that point of view. If you think you've liked Brandy Purdy or Phillippa Gregory in the past, they can move way over for Knight's eloquent storytelling. In the same vein of Elizabeth Freemantle and Hillary Mantel, Knight's writing is top-notch and highly recommended as a new face of Tudor fiction.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2014
One would think with all of the Tudor books out there that one would have read it all but no - Ms. Knight has found a heroine about whom I knew very little. Lady Katherine Grey was a sister to Lady Jane Grey - the young woman who was queen for 9 days between Edward VI and Mary I. Katherine had royal blood so her life was really lived at the Queen's behest. She couldn't marry without her permission, she really couldn't be free at all. So much for the "fun" of being royal.
Once I started reading about this young woman I was totally lost in her life. I felt so badly for her - unable to love who she chose. Much has been written about Elizabeth I's inability to let the women around her find happiness because she herself could not. That left these women with the option of never marrying or taking their chances and defying the Queen. Katherine went the defiance route and she paid for it with imprisonment in the Tower. She was still able to see her husband and she did have two sons while living there but the Queen made sure she would never see her husband again.
It's a very sad story about a woman who just wanted to live a normal life when she was not living in normal times. The book is very well written with a style that makes the time and characters come alive on the page. I found myself thinking of this poor girl for days after I finished the book. I could tell that Ms. Knight really cared for her subject and wanted to due her story justice. The research is evident in the delightful details sprinkled throughout the tale. I've got Ms. Knight's first book on my tablet and I am going to make time in my reading schedule for it as I so enjoyed this one and I know I'll be looking forward to more from her.
4.5
Once I started reading about this young woman I was totally lost in her life. I felt so badly for her - unable to love who she chose. Much has been written about Elizabeth I's inability to let the women around her find happiness because she herself could not. That left these women with the option of never marrying or taking their chances and defying the Queen. Katherine went the defiance route and she paid for it with imprisonment in the Tower. She was still able to see her husband and she did have two sons while living there but the Queen made sure she would never see her husband again.
It's a very sad story about a woman who just wanted to live a normal life when she was not living in normal times. The book is very well written with a style that makes the time and characters come alive on the page. I found myself thinking of this poor girl for days after I finished the book. I could tell that Ms. Knight really cared for her subject and wanted to due her story justice. The research is evident in the delightful details sprinkled throughout the tale. I've got Ms. Knight's first book on my tablet and I am going to make time in my reading schedule for it as I so enjoyed this one and I know I'll be looking forward to more from her.
4.5
September 17, 2014
Prisoner Of The Queen, marks authoress Eliza Knight's latest tarriance among the royal and not so royal blooms of the fabled Tudor Rose.
Chronicling the life and times of Lady Katherine Grey, "princess of the blood" and sister to the tragic "nine days Queen," Jane Grey; this is a story of life, love, and treachery, that has to be read to be believed.
As cousin to both Mary and Elizabeth Tudor, Katherine's story offers a much more intimate look at life among the royals. As such, the rivalries, jealousies, spites, and slights, create more of the cat and mouse game of sovereign versus subject, and relative versus relative, that readers of Historical Fiction crave.
Eliza Knight once again tells the story of the little known royal relation with a personal panache and flair for the dramatic that serves to elevate one given a mediocre place in the annals of history, to astronomical heights in the fictional arena.
Vibrant characters, mind-bending plot twists, and a fluid yet breakneck pace, are all trademarks of authoress Knight, that fans of her books have come to know as her signature hallmarks of excellence.
Lady Katherine presents as a strong, intelligent, and astute heroine from page one of her tale. A woman bound and determined to live and love as she chooses, even as forces both within and without the realm of court and crown fight to control her every move.
Chronicling the life and times of Lady Katherine Grey, "princess of the blood" and sister to the tragic "nine days Queen," Jane Grey; this is a story of life, love, and treachery, that has to be read to be believed.
As cousin to both Mary and Elizabeth Tudor, Katherine's story offers a much more intimate look at life among the royals. As such, the rivalries, jealousies, spites, and slights, create more of the cat and mouse game of sovereign versus subject, and relative versus relative, that readers of Historical Fiction crave.
Eliza Knight once again tells the story of the little known royal relation with a personal panache and flair for the dramatic that serves to elevate one given a mediocre place in the annals of history, to astronomical heights in the fictional arena.
Vibrant characters, mind-bending plot twists, and a fluid yet breakneck pace, are all trademarks of authoress Knight, that fans of her books have come to know as her signature hallmarks of excellence.
Lady Katherine presents as a strong, intelligent, and astute heroine from page one of her tale. A woman bound and determined to live and love as she chooses, even as forces both within and without the realm of court and crown fight to control her every move.
September 22, 2014
“Prisoner of the Queen” by E. Knight was a fantastic read. One of those books you curl up with, and find you can’t put it down until you finish. I liked how the novel was written in first person. It really gives the reader a great idea of what Katherine really might have been going through—you can picture her having these exact thoughts during this time. I felt like I really was able to get to know Katherine. She’s definitely a relatable character, and as a reader you just want to protect her and for things to turn out for the best. Katherine Grey is definitely brought back to life in this novel. I like that the focus was mainly on her life outside of prison.
E. Knight’s writing transports me to another time and place—I can picture everything and I become completely lost within the pages of this novel. The author has a great gift for storytelling that makes it hard to put any of her books down. This novel is another hit in a long list of great novels by E. Knight. She definitely has a way of pulling the reader into a novel, and letting them get lost in the smooth writing and great research.
I would recommend this novel to any lover of historical fiction. The research is great, and the writing style is fantastic. It definitely is a great read.
I give “Prisoner of the Queen” a FIVE out of FIVE stars.
E. Knight’s writing transports me to another time and place—I can picture everything and I become completely lost within the pages of this novel. The author has a great gift for storytelling that makes it hard to put any of her books down. This novel is another hit in a long list of great novels by E. Knight. She definitely has a way of pulling the reader into a novel, and letting them get lost in the smooth writing and great research.
I would recommend this novel to any lover of historical fiction. The research is great, and the writing style is fantastic. It definitely is a great read.
I give “Prisoner of the Queen” a FIVE out of FIVE stars.
September 21, 2014
This was a great retelling of the tragic life of Lady Katherine Grey, sister to the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey. Hers is a story of true love and heartbreaking separation. Mistrusted by her cousin Queen Elizabeth, her adult years are hard and riddled with imprisonment and pain. But through it all she retains the love of her one and only, Ned Seymour. Secretly wedded and bedded, Katherine gives birth to two boys and remains utterly in love with the husband who is kept away from her. Unfortunately, her legitimate royal pedigree always haunts her and keeps her from living the quiet, peaceful life she craves. Eliza Knight does a beautiful job with this story and her writing is flawless. I blew through this novel in just a few days and loved every bit of it. I won't lie - it's not a happy story, but if you're interested in one of English history's forgotten royal women, I encourage you to pick this one up. It's a beautiful tale of realistic love, betrayal, fear, and court intrigue, and I don't think you'll be disappointed!
July 17, 2014
"Prisoner of the Queen had me gripped from the prologue. Eliza Knight has artfully told the story of ill-fated Katherine Grey, sister to the Nine-Days Queen, Jane Grey.
As a lover of all things Tudor, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a fresh perspective on court life and several Queens through the eyes of Katherine Grey. Katherine, who had been inundated with Court Life since she was a child, is cousin to Queen Mary and Elizabeth. Katherine Grey is seen as a threat to the Crown, but all she wants in her life is to carry on a humble existence with the man she loves, Edward Seymour. The star-crossed lover's story is presented with historical accuracy, including some of the actual letters written by Jane and Katherine Grey as well as heartbreaking emotions. For any Tudor lovers, this is a new and exciting story from the Tudor court complete with intrigue, plotting and executions.
This book was received as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
As a lover of all things Tudor, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a fresh perspective on court life and several Queens through the eyes of Katherine Grey. Katherine, who had been inundated with Court Life since she was a child, is cousin to Queen Mary and Elizabeth. Katherine Grey is seen as a threat to the Crown, but all she wants in her life is to carry on a humble existence with the man she loves, Edward Seymour. The star-crossed lover's story is presented with historical accuracy, including some of the actual letters written by Jane and Katherine Grey as well as heartbreaking emotions. For any Tudor lovers, this is a new and exciting story from the Tudor court complete with intrigue, plotting and executions.
This book was received as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2015
Oh my goodness! Anyone that knows me knows this is exactly my kind of book. I have been an Anglophile for over 10 years and whenever I can find a book, fiction or nonfiction, on this area of the world I sink right into it.
Unfortunately this also means that I take my time in reading it as I want to absorb all the details. Prisoner of the Queen took me in from the first page. Eliza Knight has accurately told the story of Katherine Grey, the sister to Jane Grey who is known as the Nine-Days Queen. She did this without sounding like a lecture. Instead she was able to offer a new perspective on some of the queens and on life at court. Katherine is thought to be a threat to the Crown but instead she just wants to be with Edward Seymour.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the Tudor time period. I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately this also means that I take my time in reading it as I want to absorb all the details. Prisoner of the Queen took me in from the first page. Eliza Knight has accurately told the story of Katherine Grey, the sister to Jane Grey who is known as the Nine-Days Queen. She did this without sounding like a lecture. Instead she was able to offer a new perspective on some of the queens and on life at court. Katherine is thought to be a threat to the Crown but instead she just wants to be with Edward Seymour.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the Tudor time period. I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
November 13, 2020
A true love story
Well written from the point of view of Katherine Grey. I have read other books that tell her story but not just her story in her own voice. I have always admired Katherine for the difficult life she had. An enjoyable read that will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed this much more than the first book.
Well written from the point of view of Katherine Grey. I have read other books that tell her story but not just her story in her own voice. I have always admired Katherine for the difficult life she had. An enjoyable read that will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed this much more than the first book.
September 23, 2014
There are few things I like better than a well told Tudor historical! There are so many angles to take and interpretations to present that show the many players and many sides in this political viper’s nest. While Jane Grey, the 9 days queen, is a key player in many novels surrounding the Tudor court her younger sisters, Katherine and Mary Grey, are usually relegated to the sidelines. Ms. Knight’s Prisoner of the Queen places Katherine front and center, letting her tell her heavy story of great love and much loss.
I have to say that I could not help but love Katharine! Sweet, generous and often innocently naïve, Katherine wants nothing more than to devote herself to helping others less fortunate and to find a marriage match based in true love and safety, something she has rarely seen among those of her class. But being a princess of the blood means many others – including her own cruel and unloving parents – will use her as a pawn in the dangerous game of power that always looms heavy around the throne. Seeing her sister beheaded by their own cousin, Queen Mary, for doing nothing more than being the unwitting recipient of the crown placed on her head by men who wished to rule through her, Katherine learns quickly she wants nothing of it. But everyone is suspicious of her and she can’t be sure who she can trust as she carefully slides around those jealous of her beauty and kindness, no one more than her other cousin, Queen Elizabeth. But don’t let her kindness deceive you! Katherine’s spine is all steel under her elaborate finery and she will let no one – not even the Queen – keep her from having the true love she finds in Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford. She will live for her heart, regardless of the consequences. How can you not root for a woman like that?!
Elizabeth is portrayed as a nasty, vengeful young woman and, eventually, Queen. While she seeks the love of her subjects she is refused the passion and love of a man of her own, making her bitter and jealous of anyone else having it. She plays quite the loathsome villain with all her arrogant, vicious and hypocritical ways. I kept thinking a glimmer of heart would shimmer through all that cold and calculation but she proved to be too damaged and scarred to see beyond her selfishness and fear. The gilding on this glamorous court and its people is thoroughly stripped off and what is left is the defensiveness and cunning of a group of people always living on the line between greatness and destruction.
Even with this wonderful character development my favorite aspect of the novel would still be the elaborate descriptive style. The reader is so effectively saturated in period details and descriptions that they can almost hear the wind rustling the elaborately embroidered dresses and feel the abject fear flowing through Katherine’s royal blood. I felt completely transported into her world and wanted her to find the peace and happiness she so longed for – even as I knew her story couldn’t possibly end that way – as if she was a real friend of mine.
Prisoner of the Queen is top shelf historical fiction. Anyone as addicted to Tudor history as I am will love escaping into this heartbreaking yet touching look at a woman taking her own life into her hands and making her own choices despite what tragedies may come.
I have to say that I could not help but love Katharine! Sweet, generous and often innocently naïve, Katherine wants nothing more than to devote herself to helping others less fortunate and to find a marriage match based in true love and safety, something she has rarely seen among those of her class. But being a princess of the blood means many others – including her own cruel and unloving parents – will use her as a pawn in the dangerous game of power that always looms heavy around the throne. Seeing her sister beheaded by their own cousin, Queen Mary, for doing nothing more than being the unwitting recipient of the crown placed on her head by men who wished to rule through her, Katherine learns quickly she wants nothing of it. But everyone is suspicious of her and she can’t be sure who she can trust as she carefully slides around those jealous of her beauty and kindness, no one more than her other cousin, Queen Elizabeth. But don’t let her kindness deceive you! Katherine’s spine is all steel under her elaborate finery and she will let no one – not even the Queen – keep her from having the true love she finds in Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford. She will live for her heart, regardless of the consequences. How can you not root for a woman like that?!
Elizabeth is portrayed as a nasty, vengeful young woman and, eventually, Queen. While she seeks the love of her subjects she is refused the passion and love of a man of her own, making her bitter and jealous of anyone else having it. She plays quite the loathsome villain with all her arrogant, vicious and hypocritical ways. I kept thinking a glimmer of heart would shimmer through all that cold and calculation but she proved to be too damaged and scarred to see beyond her selfishness and fear. The gilding on this glamorous court and its people is thoroughly stripped off and what is left is the defensiveness and cunning of a group of people always living on the line between greatness and destruction.
Even with this wonderful character development my favorite aspect of the novel would still be the elaborate descriptive style. The reader is so effectively saturated in period details and descriptions that they can almost hear the wind rustling the elaborately embroidered dresses and feel the abject fear flowing through Katherine’s royal blood. I felt completely transported into her world and wanted her to find the peace and happiness she so longed for – even as I knew her story couldn’t possibly end that way – as if she was a real friend of mine.
Prisoner of the Queen is top shelf historical fiction. Anyone as addicted to Tudor history as I am will love escaping into this heartbreaking yet touching look at a woman taking her own life into her hands and making her own choices despite what tragedies may come.
September 28, 2014
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
Most people know the tale of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days Queen. I’ve read several books about her, fiction and nonfiction, but PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is the first book I’ve read that tells the story of her sister, Katherine. That’s what attracted me to the book in the first place, and I think E. Knight does a fantastic effort reimagining Katherine’s story.
Katherine’s story is not a happy one: for daring to marry the man she loved behind Queen Elizabeth’s back, she spent the rest of her life imprisoned. But even before her marriage to Edward Seymour, Katherine wasn’t in control of her life. Both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth felt threatened by her presence, for she also had a claim to the throne, although she wanted nothing to do with it.
Katherine is an easy character to root for. She doesn’t want to be a pawn, used for the gains of men. She just wants to be happy, to enjoy life, to have a husband and children. But that isn’t in her stars, because of her royal blood and the political complications of the time. I liked how the author mentioned how pamphlets written by rebellious men impacted Katherine’s life -- they were only thinking about their own gain, and never considered that Elizabeth would punish Katherine even more harshly. I didn’t quite agree with the author’s characterization of Elizabeth at first -- jealous and fearful of losing power -- but as the book went on, I believed it. For once, it was good to see Elizabeth from the view of someone wronged by the queen.
PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is a great book for fans of Tudor historical fiction. I really enjoyed Katherine’s story, and the ending made me tear up a bit. That doesn’t usually happen! I’m not always a fan of romance, but I got behind Katherine and Ned’s relationship, and wanted them to have a happy ending even though I knew they didn’t. The author included letters the two actually wrote to each other, and quotes from a poem written about their star crossed relationship kick off each chapter. PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is a different look into Tudor court life, from the eyes of one who doesn’t really want to be there.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the blog tour for this book.
See more of my reviews:
==
Most people know the tale of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days Queen. I’ve read several books about her, fiction and nonfiction, but PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is the first book I’ve read that tells the story of her sister, Katherine. That’s what attracted me to the book in the first place, and I think E. Knight does a fantastic effort reimagining Katherine’s story.
Katherine’s story is not a happy one: for daring to marry the man she loved behind Queen Elizabeth’s back, she spent the rest of her life imprisoned. But even before her marriage to Edward Seymour, Katherine wasn’t in control of her life. Both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth felt threatened by her presence, for she also had a claim to the throne, although she wanted nothing to do with it.
Katherine is an easy character to root for. She doesn’t want to be a pawn, used for the gains of men. She just wants to be happy, to enjoy life, to have a husband and children. But that isn’t in her stars, because of her royal blood and the political complications of the time. I liked how the author mentioned how pamphlets written by rebellious men impacted Katherine’s life -- they were only thinking about their own gain, and never considered that Elizabeth would punish Katherine even more harshly. I didn’t quite agree with the author’s characterization of Elizabeth at first -- jealous and fearful of losing power -- but as the book went on, I believed it. For once, it was good to see Elizabeth from the view of someone wronged by the queen.
PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is a great book for fans of Tudor historical fiction. I really enjoyed Katherine’s story, and the ending made me tear up a bit. That doesn’t usually happen! I’m not always a fan of romance, but I got behind Katherine and Ned’s relationship, and wanted them to have a happy ending even though I knew they didn’t. The author included letters the two actually wrote to each other, and quotes from a poem written about their star crossed relationship kick off each chapter. PRISONER OF THE QUEEN is a different look into Tudor court life, from the eyes of one who doesn’t really want to be there.
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the blog tour for this book.
See more of my reviews:
September 5, 2022
Having read Alison's Weir's Innocent Traitor (which I liked) about Lady Jane Grey, I was glad to be able to read about her sister Katherine. I usually rate historical novels five stars so that more will be written, more subjects covered. However I had to knock off a star because this book quite frankly didn't deserve it.
First and foremost the historical inaccuracies:
Example - Pg 53:
"Mayhap I should write to my step-grandmother Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. She had a way of swaying people to her cause, especially now that her two sons, the heirs to the throne, had passed away - and she was no longer considered a threat."
How were the Duchess of Suffolk's sons considered heirs to the throne? Her mother was Maria Salinas, a Spanish lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon and father Baron Willoughby. Her husband was Charles Brandon, whose father was Sir William Brandon, standard bearer to Henry Tudor and his mother was an heiress, Elizabeth Bruyn. Charles Brandon's claim to fame was that he was a close friend and confidante of Henry VIII and married his sister Mary Tudor. But neither puts him in the line to the throne. S0 there is no way that their sons could be heirs to the throne.
Also Katherine keeps mentioning that her sons are both from Royal houses. While Katherine definitely is, how is Edward Seymour from a royal house? His aunt Jane Seymour married Henry VIII. Again that does not make the House of Seymour royal, and whose children could be considered heirs to the throne.
Secondly, the sentence structure at times was quite bad (there were a few instances I had to reread a sentence multiple times, still didn't get it, gave up and had to go with context) or too contemporary and jarred with the rest of the tone of the book.
Example - Page 219:
"If only courtiers, male and female, would look beneath the surface. Sad that I doubted anyone ever would."
Page 220:
"Where was Ned? He would have so enjoyed this farce. And Mrs Helen would have been having a ball without a doubt."
Mrs Helen would have been having a ball with what?
Thirdly, while I didn't mind the romance, I had issue with the sheer number of times she was electrified whenever they had the slightest bit of physical contact especially whenever she placed her hand on his arm and the various destinations in her body that that charge travelled to.
Example: "I slipped my arm through Ned's, resting my hand upon the inside of his elbow, and felt the heat of his body seep through my fingertips, up my arm, and into my chest." is just one of many such instances scattered throughout the book.
First and foremost the historical inaccuracies:
Example - Pg 53:
"Mayhap I should write to my step-grandmother Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. She had a way of swaying people to her cause, especially now that her two sons, the heirs to the throne, had passed away - and she was no longer considered a threat."
How were the Duchess of Suffolk's sons considered heirs to the throne? Her mother was Maria Salinas, a Spanish lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon and father Baron Willoughby. Her husband was Charles Brandon, whose father was Sir William Brandon, standard bearer to Henry Tudor and his mother was an heiress, Elizabeth Bruyn. Charles Brandon's claim to fame was that he was a close friend and confidante of Henry VIII and married his sister Mary Tudor. But neither puts him in the line to the throne. S0 there is no way that their sons could be heirs to the throne.
Also Katherine keeps mentioning that her sons are both from Royal houses. While Katherine definitely is, how is Edward Seymour from a royal house? His aunt Jane Seymour married Henry VIII. Again that does not make the House of Seymour royal, and whose children could be considered heirs to the throne.
Secondly, the sentence structure at times was quite bad (there were a few instances I had to reread a sentence multiple times, still didn't get it, gave up and had to go with context) or too contemporary and jarred with the rest of the tone of the book.
Example - Page 219:
"If only courtiers, male and female, would look beneath the surface. Sad that I doubted anyone ever would."
Page 220:
"Where was Ned? He would have so enjoyed this farce. And Mrs Helen would have been having a ball without a doubt."
Mrs Helen would have been having a ball with what?
Thirdly, while I didn't mind the romance, I had issue with the sheer number of times she was electrified whenever they had the slightest bit of physical contact especially whenever she placed her hand on his arm and the various destinations in her body that that charge travelled to.
Example: "I slipped my arm through Ned's, resting my hand upon the inside of his elbow, and felt the heat of his body seep through my fingertips, up my arm, and into my chest." is just one of many such instances scattered throughout the book.
September 25, 2014
Lady Katherine Grey was the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, often known as the nine day queen. Through their grandmother Mary Tudor, they were in line to the English throne. Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, are executed with the charge of treason. This leaves Katherine next after Henry VIII's children Edward,Mary and Elizabeth. Elizabeth felt that Katherine was a threat to her succession to the throne so there was a bit of animosity between the two that carried forward through the rest of their lives.
Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford lost his titles because of his father, the Duke of Somerset. He was educated with Edward VI and was also knighted when Edward took the throne. After his father was executed, Edward lost his titles and most of his wealth.
Lady Katherine and Edward quickly became enamored of each other and ultimately married without permission of Queen Elizabeth. They were able to keep this secret until Katherine was pregnant with their first child. Queen Elizabeth had both Katherine and Edward locked in the tower for not getting permission to wed. She was in captivity until her death after having two children.
To me this was such a bittersweet story, a queen so in fear of losing the throne that she would imprison those who wished to marry and have family's because she did not believe in nor want to be married. Such a life to be locked up because of whom you love. This is not a new story by any means, based on factual events, but E.Knight's writing made me think I was reading a whole new part of history. As in My Lady Viper, the first in the series, the research was impeccable and the writing a joy to read. You just have to read these two books if you are as fanatical regarding anything Tudor as I am!
Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford lost his titles because of his father, the Duke of Somerset. He was educated with Edward VI and was also knighted when Edward took the throne. After his father was executed, Edward lost his titles and most of his wealth.
Lady Katherine and Edward quickly became enamored of each other and ultimately married without permission of Queen Elizabeth. They were able to keep this secret until Katherine was pregnant with their first child. Queen Elizabeth had both Katherine and Edward locked in the tower for not getting permission to wed. She was in captivity until her death after having two children.
To me this was such a bittersweet story, a queen so in fear of losing the throne that she would imprison those who wished to marry and have family's because she did not believe in nor want to be married. Such a life to be locked up because of whom you love. This is not a new story by any means, based on factual events, but E.Knight's writing made me think I was reading a whole new part of history. As in My Lady Viper, the first in the series, the research was impeccable and the writing a joy to read. You just have to read these two books if you are as fanatical regarding anything Tudor as I am!
October 3, 2014
I think what I enjoy most about the Tales from the Tudor Court series is the author's ability in taking the fringe players and showing us how essential they were to what was going on in the Tudor world. She accomplished this in My Lady Viper, with Anne Seymour, and she does it brilliantly once again with this book surrounding Katherine Grey's life.
Katherine was the younger sister to Lady Jane Grey, Queen Jane for those illustrious nine days. She was the middle daughter of Frances Grey, nee Brandon, who was the niece of Henry VIII and daughter to Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon. In this book, Katherine seemed to be a more grounded type of person, who really only wanted the simple things in life. Not the intrigue of court. Although naive at times, she is very kind to the less fortunate, which I thought commendable. But she also has an inner strength that really comes to her aid later on when she finds herself in a precarious situation.
It was difficult for me to read Queen Elizabeth I as being such a mean, spiteful...and paranoid...woman, as I have a spot in my heart for her. However, the author here makes us believe that she could have really been like that. Not by simply writing her character that way, but by portraying the reasons why might have behaved in this way. It doesn't really portray her in a favorable light, but we can accept that, given the times and what she had endured, she could have very well had reasons for her behavior. I say, "Well Done!"
In all, Prisoner of the Queen is an excellent historical novel. It is well-researched and the characters are well-written, interesting and engaging, as is the entire story. If you have not picked this series up as yet, I highly recommend that you do.
Katherine was the younger sister to Lady Jane Grey, Queen Jane for those illustrious nine days. She was the middle daughter of Frances Grey, nee Brandon, who was the niece of Henry VIII and daughter to Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon. In this book, Katherine seemed to be a more grounded type of person, who really only wanted the simple things in life. Not the intrigue of court. Although naive at times, she is very kind to the less fortunate, which I thought commendable. But she also has an inner strength that really comes to her aid later on when she finds herself in a precarious situation.
It was difficult for me to read Queen Elizabeth I as being such a mean, spiteful...and paranoid...woman, as I have a spot in my heart for her. However, the author here makes us believe that she could have really been like that. Not by simply writing her character that way, but by portraying the reasons why might have behaved in this way. It doesn't really portray her in a favorable light, but we can accept that, given the times and what she had endured, she could have very well had reasons for her behavior. I say, "Well Done!"
In all, Prisoner of the Queen is an excellent historical novel. It is well-researched and the characters are well-written, interesting and engaging, as is the entire story. If you have not picked this series up as yet, I highly recommend that you do.
September 29, 2014
In "Prisoner of the Queen," E. Knight is back with another tale from the Tudor Court. Think you've read everything about the Tudors? Ms. Knight shows that there is much more to love. I know that I have thought that maybe I was over reading about the Tudors before but when I read books like this one, my mind is changed very quickly. Filled with court intrigue and passion, this book will have you wanting to read more about her heroine, Katherine Grey, sister of Queen Jane Grey!
Queen Jane, also remembered as the nine day queen, is probably one of Henry VIII's queens that I know the least about and in that vein, I did not know much about Katherine Grey either before reading this book. She has an equally interesting story to her sister. Both sisters lived during an extremely volatile time during England's history where some of the luster had started coming off of the throne. It made for really good reading! Katherine is seen as a major threat to the throne and therefore her life is made miserable by the powers that be. While she has no designs on taking the throne for herself, there are other people in her family that are keen on ruling themselves, which makes Katherine suspect. I really felt for her! She wants to live her own life but is never really allowed to do that. You'll definitely feel her frustration throughout the book. Knight captures it perfectly!
The writing and the research that went into this book make it an especially good treat for historical fiction readers. Knight is both able to give us really vivid characters while not skimping on rich historical detail. Count me as one of those anxious for the next release in this series!
Queen Jane, also remembered as the nine day queen, is probably one of Henry VIII's queens that I know the least about and in that vein, I did not know much about Katherine Grey either before reading this book. She has an equally interesting story to her sister. Both sisters lived during an extremely volatile time during England's history where some of the luster had started coming off of the throne. It made for really good reading! Katherine is seen as a major threat to the throne and therefore her life is made miserable by the powers that be. While she has no designs on taking the throne for herself, there are other people in her family that are keen on ruling themselves, which makes Katherine suspect. I really felt for her! She wants to live her own life but is never really allowed to do that. You'll definitely feel her frustration throughout the book. Knight captures it perfectly!
The writing and the research that went into this book make it an especially good treat for historical fiction readers. Knight is both able to give us really vivid characters while not skimping on rich historical detail. Count me as one of those anxious for the next release in this series!
September 23, 2014
*Received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
posted at: http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com
First, I have to say that the gorgeous cover grabbed my attention from the beginning but the fantastic writing, engaging story line and search for love kept me hooked. The Tutors are just so delicious! They were very interesting and never had a dull moment. I heard E. Knight's "Behind the Plaid" and I was hooked by her story telling. So when "Prisoner of the Queen" became available I couldn't wait to see how she would tell the story of Lady Katherine Grey. I honestly knew nothing about her. I knew of her sister, famously dubbed the "9 day queen" but had no idea who her sister was. I loved that the author told the story from first person point of view because it made me feel like I was getting personal and intimate details from Lady Katherine. I really liked Knight's portrayal of Lady Katherine. She showed her evolution from a frighten young girl, married to a man she did not know all for the sake of duty. Watching Lady Katherine fight for her love for Edward Seymour was beautiful.
I'm a sucker for romance and love so this book hit all the right spots. I loved this beautiful story. I loved the writing and I was unable to put it down. I kept wondering what would happen next, how it would all work out , would it work out? Lastly, I personally really love Elizabeth and think that Knight portrayed her much more harshly than I would imagine her to be but Elizabeth's harshness really played well into the story and it also made sense. I could not recommend or like this book enough!
posted at: http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com
First, I have to say that the gorgeous cover grabbed my attention from the beginning but the fantastic writing, engaging story line and search for love kept me hooked. The Tutors are just so delicious! They were very interesting and never had a dull moment. I heard E. Knight's "Behind the Plaid" and I was hooked by her story telling. So when "Prisoner of the Queen" became available I couldn't wait to see how she would tell the story of Lady Katherine Grey. I honestly knew nothing about her. I knew of her sister, famously dubbed the "9 day queen" but had no idea who her sister was. I loved that the author told the story from first person point of view because it made me feel like I was getting personal and intimate details from Lady Katherine. I really liked Knight's portrayal of Lady Katherine. She showed her evolution from a frighten young girl, married to a man she did not know all for the sake of duty. Watching Lady Katherine fight for her love for Edward Seymour was beautiful.
I'm a sucker for romance and love so this book hit all the right spots. I loved this beautiful story. I loved the writing and I was unable to put it down. I kept wondering what would happen next, how it would all work out , would it work out? Lastly, I personally really love Elizabeth and think that Knight portrayed her much more harshly than I would imagine her to be but Elizabeth's harshness really played well into the story and it also made sense. I could not recommend or like this book enough!
July 23, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a great read and I finished it in two days. If you LOVE Philippa Gregory like I do then this will be the book for you! Ms. Knight is a great storyteller and draws you back to the past!
This follows Lady Katherine Grey, the middle sister of the Nine-Days Queen Jane Grey. Katherine sees her family rise to power only to fall down. She is left to pick up the pieces and to make peace with the new Queen Mary and then the Queen Elizabeth. Katherine has no ambition to take control of the crown and rule especially after seeing her older sister executed for trying to do that same thing. She just wants to fall in love, marry, and raise her kids in peace but because of her blood she can't just marry anyone or without the Queens permission. But Katherine is tired of being a pawn and takes matter into her own hands which have dire consequences.
Ms. Knight is superb at making you love Katherine and hate Queen Elizabeth. I have always rooted for Elizabeth in previous books but this sheds light onto her other side. Queen Elizabeth is the villain in this story but her reasons make so much sense that it can be frustrating. I felt like I was pulled back into the past and I had watery eyes at the end not knowing how Katherine's story actually played out. I've been trying to read more about the people who surrounded the two Queens during their reign and this book was perfect. It gave me more insight into the families and showing another side to Queen Elizabeth.
This was such a great read and I finished it in two days. If you LOVE Philippa Gregory like I do then this will be the book for you! Ms. Knight is a great storyteller and draws you back to the past!
This follows Lady Katherine Grey, the middle sister of the Nine-Days Queen Jane Grey. Katherine sees her family rise to power only to fall down. She is left to pick up the pieces and to make peace with the new Queen Mary and then the Queen Elizabeth. Katherine has no ambition to take control of the crown and rule especially after seeing her older sister executed for trying to do that same thing. She just wants to fall in love, marry, and raise her kids in peace but because of her blood she can't just marry anyone or without the Queens permission. But Katherine is tired of being a pawn and takes matter into her own hands which have dire consequences.
Ms. Knight is superb at making you love Katherine and hate Queen Elizabeth. I have always rooted for Elizabeth in previous books but this sheds light onto her other side. Queen Elizabeth is the villain in this story but her reasons make so much sense that it can be frustrating. I felt like I was pulled back into the past and I had watery eyes at the end not knowing how Katherine's story actually played out. I've been trying to read more about the people who surrounded the two Queens during their reign and this book was perfect. It gave me more insight into the families and showing another side to Queen Elizabeth.
October 2, 2014
Prisoner of the Queen is a refreshing look at the life of Katherine Grey. For the first time, she is portrayed as a strong, intelligent woman instead of as a foolish and naive girl. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Knight's unique portrayal of this fascinating historical figure.
Likes: In addition to Knight's portrayal of Katherine, I also thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters. There were plenty of familiar faces but there were some less familiar characters who played big roles in the story. Both the Duchess of Somerset and the Dowager Duchess of Suffolk were wonderful characters and I liked getting to know them and see their perspectives. I especially liked the Duchess of Somerset; she was so cold and distant but at the same time she really did care about her children and doing what was right for her family. I definitely want to read more about her in the future.
Dislikes: This was truly Katherine's story so I understand why some of her family didn't play huge roles in the story but I did kind of miss seeing Mary Grey as a character. That was probably the only thing I found lacking with the story.
I know the story of Katherine Grey and her demise but despite knowing how it would end, Ms. Knight's depiction of the events of Katherine's life kept me interested from beginning to end. The combination of her portrayal of Katherine with a well-written narrative made Prisoner of the Queen a very compelling read. 3 1/2 stars.
Likes: In addition to Knight's portrayal of Katherine, I also thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters. There were plenty of familiar faces but there were some less familiar characters who played big roles in the story. Both the Duchess of Somerset and the Dowager Duchess of Suffolk were wonderful characters and I liked getting to know them and see their perspectives. I especially liked the Duchess of Somerset; she was so cold and distant but at the same time she really did care about her children and doing what was right for her family. I definitely want to read more about her in the future.
Dislikes: This was truly Katherine's story so I understand why some of her family didn't play huge roles in the story but I did kind of miss seeing Mary Grey as a character. That was probably the only thing I found lacking with the story.
I know the story of Katherine Grey and her demise but despite knowing how it would end, Ms. Knight's depiction of the events of Katherine's life kept me interested from beginning to end. The combination of her portrayal of Katherine with a well-written narrative made Prisoner of the Queen a very compelling read. 3 1/2 stars.
November 13, 2014
"Prisoner of the Queen" takes on the true story of Lady Katherine Grey. Often overlooked due to her older sister Jane, "the Queen of Nine Days", Katherine saw first hand what unbridled ambition could result in. Raised as a "Princess of the Blood" (her grand uncle was Henry VIII), Katherine knew she would be a pawn in the political machinations of her era. Instead, she chose to take her own destiny in hand and marry for love, which unfortunately had disastrous consequences.
E. Knight has a great way of detailing the Tudor period. It is clear that she has put in a remarkable amount of research while writing this book. The customs and language of the period were spot on. I really enjoyed reading something from Katherine's perspective though I wish her characterization had been a bit more filled out. Since the novel was written in first person, the reader sees Katherine's version of things only. She was obviously a sweet girl, somewhat naive, but able to play the game in order to get what she wanted. Ned's adoration of her was a bit unfounded at first as their relationship begins as a physical attraction and slowly blossoms into something deeper.
Overall, this new take on Katherine is a much needed entry in the historical fiction world. Tudor enthusiasts will certainly rejoice!
E. Knight has a great way of detailing the Tudor period. It is clear that she has put in a remarkable amount of research while writing this book. The customs and language of the period were spot on. I really enjoyed reading something from Katherine's perspective though I wish her characterization had been a bit more filled out. Since the novel was written in first person, the reader sees Katherine's version of things only. She was obviously a sweet girl, somewhat naive, but able to play the game in order to get what she wanted. Ned's adoration of her was a bit unfounded at first as their relationship begins as a physical attraction and slowly blossoms into something deeper.
Overall, this new take on Katherine is a much needed entry in the historical fiction world. Tudor enthusiasts will certainly rejoice!
September 17, 2014
I vividly remember the first time I read about Lady Jane Grey and being stunned, thinking this has got to be fiction. Surely this didn't actually take place, how could parents deliberately treat their daughters like this. Resigned into acceptance remembering that this was Tudor England.
Eliza Knight has written a captivating story that brings to life a stormy period in history. Lady Katherine Grey, not just sister to the nine day queen but also an heir to the throne of England herself. The author was able to capture the feel of Tudor England, she portrayed this young woman with her hopes and dreams of a future, of love, marriage and motherhood, all things denied her sister. Though Katherine finds love she is at the mercy of both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth (who also views her as a threat to her crown).
An emotional story, full of jealous rivalry, scandal and heartache. These are women with the blood of Henry VIII running through their veins, how could it be anything but.
Eliza Knight has written a captivating story that brings to life a stormy period in history. Lady Katherine Grey, not just sister to the nine day queen but also an heir to the throne of England herself. The author was able to capture the feel of Tudor England, she portrayed this young woman with her hopes and dreams of a future, of love, marriage and motherhood, all things denied her sister. Though Katherine finds love she is at the mercy of both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth (who also views her as a threat to her crown).
An emotional story, full of jealous rivalry, scandal and heartache. These are women with the blood of Henry VIII running through their veins, how could it be anything but.
September 7, 2014
The circumstance of Katherine Grey’s existence is heartbreaking. Witnessing the demise of her sister, 9-day queen Jane, and the downfall of her family, Katherine struggles to find her place in court. Unfortunately her royal blood makes her both a value and a rival. Unable to marry her true love because of her lineage, Katherine is a tragic figure at the mercy of a vengeful monarch. Knight deftly conveys the joy and anguish of a doomed love story resulting from the misfortune of being born a Tudor. Katherine is portrayed with passion and the intrigues of the Tudor court are skillfully depicted.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.
January 4, 2024
I liked this book more than I liked Katherine Grey, its subject. But I have been reading histories and fiction set in the Tudor period of English history since I was a teenager - and so the period is very familiar to me. Yet there are certain persons that I know less about, and I like to take the opportunity to read about these lesser known figures when I have the opportunity. Thus, I know much more about Katherine's sister, Lady Jane Grey, who reigned for 9 days, than I do about Katherine. Often Katherine is little more than a footnote - usually saying that she spent most of her life imprisoned after marrying without the queen's permission, having two sons while imprisoned, and locked up so as not to become the figurehead of rebellions against Elizabeth I. So this book gave me a much closer look at Katherine. Although I enjoyed learning more about her life her extreme romanticism led me to concur with the usual historical dismissing of her as a lightweight. I am much more drawn to characters that are serious proponents of the this or that major issue of the time, such as religion. As readers of history, even of historical fiction such as so many of these popular Tudor novels, we are not required to always pick our historical favorites like we are choosing friends to ask to lunch. So I am content that this book at least gave me a grasp of what Katherine Grey was about and what role she played in the powerful women dynamics of the Tudor period.
April 21, 2022
While this book is interesting and a fairly good read, I found it a little repetitious at times.
Katherine Grey was Henry VIII’s grandniece and one of the heirs to the throne, but her noble birth was doomed by schemers and seducers of the king’s court. She really doesn’t want to be Queen after her sister, Jane, dies and fails to keep the throne. Queen Elizabeth sees her as a threat and Katherine is forced to play a game she knows she cannot win.
If you’re a fan of Tudor history, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this historical fiction of a woman who takes her own life into her own hands and makes her own choices despite what tragedies may come.
Katherine Grey was Henry VIII’s grandniece and one of the heirs to the throne, but her noble birth was doomed by schemers and seducers of the king’s court. She really doesn’t want to be Queen after her sister, Jane, dies and fails to keep the throne. Queen Elizabeth sees her as a threat and Katherine is forced to play a game she knows she cannot win.
If you’re a fan of Tudor history, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this historical fiction of a woman who takes her own life into her own hands and makes her own choices despite what tragedies may come.
December 15, 2017
Heartbreaking story
The story of Lady Katherine Grey was one of the saddest I have ever read. I will never view Elizabeth the 1st in the same way again. I knew there were things she thought she had to do to preserve her reign. Don't think this was good move on her part. All she did was immortalize Ned and Kat, making herself look petty and cruel. All in all, this was a very good book. I would recommend it highly.
The story of Lady Katherine Grey was one of the saddest I have ever read. I will never view Elizabeth the 1st in the same way again. I knew there were things she thought she had to do to preserve her reign. Don't think this was good move on her part. All she did was immortalize Ned and Kat, making herself look petty and cruel. All in all, this was a very good book. I would recommend it highly.
June 5, 2018
Yet another good book in this two book series Tales from the Tudor Court. This one, however, was not as good as the first book. The main character spends little time in Court and more time at one of the various other estates. This is still a good book, but also missing King Henry VIII since Queen Elizabeth is now on the throne. The book will make you realize the cruelty and unfairness that ruled back then, and make you glad you did not live in those times.
September 2, 2025
Just when I thought I read it all on this era, another author . Loved the insight into Catherine’s character and the political insecurities of Elizabeth . I did drift through the very sickly parts when Catherine is first with Ned but I guess the author was trying to illustrate the naivety but authenticity of Catherine’s feelings .
Well narrated as an audiobook .
Well narrated as an audiobook .
June 22, 2017
Wonderful writing!
Ms. Knight's "Tales from the Tudor Court 1 and 2 " are reader's dream. Wonderful writing indeed! I am looking forward to your next book. Thank you for writing them!
Ms. Knight's "Tales from the Tudor Court 1 and 2 " are reader's dream. Wonderful writing indeed! I am looking forward to your next book. Thank you for writing them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews