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Mistress to the Crown
The day Lord Hastings came into her husband’s shop, Elizabeth saw an opportunity to separate herself from her dull, impotent husband, William Shore. The handsome stranger might be her only chance to annul her marriage.
She did not, however, foresee her introduction to the King of England, nor her future at his side…and pleasure in his bed. From this unlikely alliance, Elizabeth is granted her freedom and flourishes under the Yorkist King’s admiration. But her new position comes at a terrible price — her family shun her, the people of London label her a harlot and the White Queen’s family are powerful enemies.
So long as King Edward and Hastings stay close, Elizabeth is safe. But her beloved Ned falls ill and Richard III's supporters gather. Can Elizabeth's beauty keep her out of trouble? Or will it lead her to the hangman's noose?
She did not, however, foresee her introduction to the King of England, nor her future at his side…and pleasure in his bed. From this unlikely alliance, Elizabeth is granted her freedom and flourishes under the Yorkist King’s admiration. But her new position comes at a terrible price — her family shun her, the people of London label her a harlot and the White Queen’s family are powerful enemies.
So long as King Edward and Hastings stay close, Elizabeth is safe. But her beloved Ned falls ill and Richard III's supporters gather. Can Elizabeth's beauty keep her out of trouble? Or will it lead her to the hangman's noose?
405 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
886 people want to read
About the author
Isolde Martyn
26 books54 followersIsolde has always had a great love of history, and writing historical fiction is a wonderful way to share her enthusiasm.
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written seven historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel .
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
She feels community history is very important and she is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
Her new book COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan.
This is a very different venture from Isolde's historical novels but it's a project that has been chugging along in the background for quite a while. Isolde researched almost every town in Australia for EVENTS AND PLACES. She also edited the READER'S DIGEST MOTORING GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA.
THE MAIDEN AND THE UNICORN, isolde's debut novel, won a Rita for 'Best First Novel' in the US and the inaugural 'Romantic Book of the Year Award' in Australia. Since then, she has written seven historicals and has just finished an Elizabethan novel .
Isolde has a History Honours degree from the University of Exeter, UK, with a specialization in Yorkist England, a lifelong interest, and she has worked as a university history tutor, research assistant and archivist. She was a senior book editor with a major international publishing house before taking up writing fiction full-time.
She feels community history is very important and she is a former chair of the Richard III Society in Sydney and a co-founder and currently Chair of the Plantagenet History Society of Australia (that's the era 1100--1500)
Her new book COUNTRY TOWN, a history picturebook for children, has been a long term project. It tells the story of an imaginary country town in Australia and how it changes decade by decade, and has been lovingly brought to life by illustrator Louise Hogan.
This is a very different venture from Isolde's historical novels but it's a project that has been chugging along in the background for quite a while. Isolde researched almost every town in Australia for EVENTS AND PLACES. She also edited the READER'S DIGEST MOTORING GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 17, 2018
Was Lord Hastings the answer to Elizabeth Shore's loveless marriage? Having married at twelve years of age, Elizabeth had suffered years of abuse from a husband who was impotent and a dullard. His reluctant approval for her to work in his shop saw her welcome Lord Hastings and assist with his purchases. A plan gradually sparked in her mind...
Elizabeth's friendship with Lord Hastings led her to King Edward - was her future assured as Ned's concubine? Her love for her king was absolute; the reaction of her parents and brothers she should have expected. But it was the loathing she saw in the eyes of the people she'd once called her friends that hurt the most.
The years passed and with Ned ill and a harried Hastings doing all he could to return his king to good health, the horizons of trouble began to rumble. Elizabeth felt a fear she had never known - what would be the outcome for her - outcast and labelled a whore?
Mistress to the Crown by Aussie author Isolde Martyn is another exceptional dip into the times in the King's Court of London and begins in 1463 when Elizabeth Shore was fourteen years of age. Born Elizabeth Lambard, she was known through history as Jane Shore; Mistress Shore. The majority of characters are historical - the information at the beginning of the novel is excellent. Elizabeth was a strong woman - not to be in those times would more than likely lead to death. Beheadings and the hangman's noose were almost a daily occurrence! I thoroughly enjoy this author's work and highly recommend Mistress to the Crown to historical fiction fans.
Elizabeth's friendship with Lord Hastings led her to King Edward - was her future assured as Ned's concubine? Her love for her king was absolute; the reaction of her parents and brothers she should have expected. But it was the loathing she saw in the eyes of the people she'd once called her friends that hurt the most.
The years passed and with Ned ill and a harried Hastings doing all he could to return his king to good health, the horizons of trouble began to rumble. Elizabeth felt a fear she had never known - what would be the outcome for her - outcast and labelled a whore?
Mistress to the Crown by Aussie author Isolde Martyn is another exceptional dip into the times in the King's Court of London and begins in 1463 when Elizabeth Shore was fourteen years of age. Born Elizabeth Lambard, she was known through history as Jane Shore; Mistress Shore. The majority of characters are historical - the information at the beginning of the novel is excellent. Elizabeth was a strong woman - not to be in those times would more than likely lead to death. Beheadings and the hangman's noose were almost a daily occurrence! I thoroughly enjoy this author's work and highly recommend Mistress to the Crown to historical fiction fans.
June 10, 2016
This feels really awkward.
I probably haven't mentioned more than two or three (thousand) times that I'm going to a Georgette Heyer Conference in August & this author is one of the guest speakers. So I thought I'd better read some of her work.
Unfortunately I didn't like it.
Out of the author's control I know,but I didn't like the cover art. I'm getting sick of covers where all or part of the woman's head is cut off. It makes me feel like I'm looking at my late father-in-law's family photos.
At first I didn't mind the very 21st century first person narrative. Thats better than wavering between modern speech & tossing a few "verilys" & "forsooths" around. But Elizabeth's attitudes also seemed very 21st century feminist. I'm not an expert on 15th century history but a lot didn't ring true. & one of the few things known about Mistress Shore was she was supposed to be very good natured. This Mistress Shore was rather sour & constantly protesting about her non existent virtue. & I'm curious to know - would just about everyone who wasn't trying to grope Mistress Shore be spitting at the King's mistress? (I really would like to know this)
Even at the hairdressers, waiting for my colour to set, couldn't make me push on with this book.
DNF at around 50%.
I probably haven't mentioned more than two or three (thousand) times that I'm going to a Georgette Heyer Conference in August & this author is one of the guest speakers. So I thought I'd better read some of her work.
Unfortunately I didn't like it.
Out of the author's control I know,but I didn't like the cover art. I'm getting sick of covers where all or part of the woman's head is cut off. It makes me feel like I'm looking at my late father-in-law's family photos.
At first I didn't mind the very 21st century first person narrative. Thats better than wavering between modern speech & tossing a few "verilys" & "forsooths" around. But Elizabeth's attitudes also seemed very 21st century feminist. I'm not an expert on 15th century history but a lot didn't ring true. & one of the few things known about Mistress Shore was she was supposed to be very good natured. This Mistress Shore was rather sour & constantly protesting about her non existent virtue. & I'm curious to know - would just about everyone who wasn't trying to grope Mistress Shore be spitting at the King's mistress? (I really would like to know this)
Even at the hairdressers, waiting for my colour to set, couldn't make me push on with this book.
DNF at around 50%.
January 28, 2014
Elizabeth Lombard, Mistress Shore, Lizbeth, Jane... whatever you want to call this woman, she was still a silly nitwit who spreads her legs for certain men, but not others... shallow, turned on in an instant and while not a complete strumpet, she certainly acted like one at times.
I didn't enjoy the slut shaming that occurred periodically throughout the book, it was unneeded and completely unwanted. I didn't enjoy the fairly frequent remarks that Elizabeth was always sleeping around, it was hinted at, it was whispered in hushed tones, it was overtly stated and it was even put in a proclamation.
I think the story relied too heavily on the scandal of being the King's Mistress and the hushed suggestions that women were too liberal with their vajayjays and not smart enough to keep their legs together.
The thing that probably annoyed me most was that Lizbeth kept telling everyone (especially those that she slept with) that she wasn't that kind of girl, yet still went ahead and slept with them.
I did like the relationship between Lizbeth and Lord Hastings, I felt that it was a very realistic relationship and, despite her being his mistress, I felt that they had a real rapport and I enjoyed the barbs they threw at each other and the mutual respect they each had. I enjoyed too the adult (and non-sexual) discussions Lizbeth had with both Lord Hastings and Ned. They were the highlights.
I think the feel of the history in the story was well done. I got a sense of the 1400s, the way in which people lived and died. That was rather rich - the class system, the intricate path in which a mistress was to ensure she walked upon and the way in which she was to conduct herself all seemed well constructed and fully embellished.
If you're looking for a nice historical romance, this is not for you. If you want to read about beheadings, hangings, burnings, stoning and all other means of killing or hurting someone, then pick this one up. You might really enjoy it.
**Note: I received this as an ARC from the publisher**
I didn't enjoy the slut shaming that occurred periodically throughout the book, it was unneeded and completely unwanted. I didn't enjoy the fairly frequent remarks that Elizabeth was always sleeping around, it was hinted at, it was whispered in hushed tones, it was overtly stated and it was even put in a proclamation.
I think the story relied too heavily on the scandal of being the King's Mistress and the hushed suggestions that women were too liberal with their vajayjays and not smart enough to keep their legs together.
The thing that probably annoyed me most was that Lizbeth kept telling everyone (especially those that she slept with) that she wasn't that kind of girl, yet still went ahead and slept with them.
I did like the relationship between Lizbeth and Lord Hastings, I felt that it was a very realistic relationship and, despite her being his mistress, I felt that they had a real rapport and I enjoyed the barbs they threw at each other and the mutual respect they each had. I enjoyed too the adult (and non-sexual) discussions Lizbeth had with both Lord Hastings and Ned. They were the highlights.
I think the feel of the history in the story was well done. I got a sense of the 1400s, the way in which people lived and died. That was rather rich - the class system, the intricate path in which a mistress was to ensure she walked upon and the way in which she was to conduct herself all seemed well constructed and fully embellished.
If you're looking for a nice historical romance, this is not for you. If you want to read about beheadings, hangings, burnings, stoning and all other means of killing or hurting someone, then pick this one up. You might really enjoy it.
**Note: I received this as an ARC from the publisher**
February 24, 2018
I wasn't really looking forward to this as I don't really enjoy reading about English Royal History in the 1400s but this was better than I thought it would be. The part where Elizabeth was the Mistress of the King was more interesting than the part after the King's death.
January 20, 2014
Clunky dialogue and breast obsession does not maketh a good novel.
February 5, 2013
It's wonderful to see a new book from Isolde Martyn, and Mistress to the Crown more than lives up to the reputation of Martyn's award-winning The Lady and the Unicorn and Knight and the Rose. The author's knowledge and love of medieval history is evident as she deftly weaves fact and fiction together to flesh out the character of Edward IV's mistress, the hitherto much maligned 'Jane Shore'. Jane's plight (a young girl trapped in a loveless marriage to an older, impotent man) is sympathetically portrayed as is her motivation to change the odds stacked against her by becoming the mistress of a nobleman. She doesn't just 'sleep' her way to success, however; feisty and independent, she forges her own destiny while at the same time keeping her door (and her heart) open to the poor, the needy and the misjudged who petition her for help - with a fitting reward for her kindness just when she most needs it. Historical details flesh out the scenes without intruding on these 'affairs of the heart' that make Jane such an appealing and memorable character. Readers will enjoy this witty and page-turning glimpse into a past that is now so very much in the public eye with the unearthing of the remains of Edward IV's brother, Richard III, from beneath the council carpark in Leicester.(
May 1, 2018
A truly enjoyable read about the life of Elizabeth Shore. I bought this book a couple of years ago and have read it a few times afterwards. The writing has a nice and easy flow to it, which will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. The characters of Elizabeth and Lord Hastings are both strong and wonderful and I would like to give a thumbs up to the characterisations of Edward IV, who has been brought to life on the pages as his charismatic, witty and kingly self. I would highly recommend giving this book a try as you can tell the author has put a lot of time into this piece by giving us a book that is accurate to the best of her ability and also for its vivid descriptions, fleshed out characters and witty banter between said characters. 4 stars
March 25, 2013
LOVED it! I have been fascinated with "Jane Shore" ever since reading THE GOLDSMITH'S WIFE by Nora Lofts--and that was quite a while ago. :) I adore the first-person narrative voice when it's well done--it is!--and the rich historical detail e.g., Shore was neither married to a goldsmith nor baptized "Jane" and strong characterization made this book a winner for me.
My one "complaint"--I read it too quickly. Much too quickly. Fortunately Isolde Martyn has a body of historical fiction I can now devour as well.
My one "complaint"--I read it too quickly. Much too quickly. Fortunately Isolde Martyn has a body of historical fiction I can now devour as well.
April 19, 2018
Very well done historical romance with a big emphasis on the historical elements. Mistress to King Edward the IV of England, "Jane" Shore was a real person. The history is fascinating to me, the fictional interludes are quite good, too. I was very caught up in the story, enough so that I am now reading another of Isolde Martyn's books centering on the period directly following the early death of King Edward IV, the period of his brother Richard III and the king's sons, the princes in the Tower. LOVE the true history of England and it's kings and queens, especially when mixed with fiction that makes the information much more memorable for me and not as dry as straight historical non-fiction.
January 6, 2023
Not for anyone not keenly interested in 1400s English history. Too many medieval words and clothing described to be accessible to anyone outside of a history nerd niche. The book had to cover a considerable chunk of time to really get all the drama of Jane Shore in but most of it falls flat outside of the very beginning and very end. Too little happens in terms of plot and too much political intrigue is left unexplained. Sex scenes were superfluous and I never really got a full grasp on the main character. Better left unread unless you are determined to read all fictional books set between the War of the Roses and Richard III.
January 21, 2013
I love English history...so much it almost hurts...Review to come shortly :)...And here it finally is...
"How easily Life can flick us.
Like an idle boy's fingernail against a tiny fly.
We are so fragile, our destinies changed so easily
by a quarrel, a smile, a death--or marriage."
--Isolde Martyn
Alright. I think I have a problem and it is this. I love historical fiction, we all know this, if you didn't before now you do. Specifically, historical fiction that discusses English history and even moreso than that the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties. Oh. My. Gosh. I cannot get enough!! Herein lies the problem: It is the same friggin' story every.single.time. History is history. You can't change it. I know the ending before I even crack open the first page. I am well aware who dies, how, and when. But do you think I ever pass up the opportunity to read about the same tale but maybe from a slightly different perspective? The answer?...Hell. Frickin'. No. I love this genre. So much it almost hurts my chest how much I enjoy this era. It's getting a little ridiculous as well as scary.
This version of our story is about Elizabeth Shore, most infamous mistress to Edward IV *swoon*. Oh yeah. Here's another thing. When I read about historical fiction, I do in fact drool over real-life men that existed approximately 600 years ago. Sorry not sorry. So I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen and wife of Edward IV, so when I have read other novels mentioning Shore I loathed her. She was the mistress, the whore, the concubine of a historical figure I love and his wife is one of my favs as well. I did not like this woman. Adultery, obvi not okay in my book.
However, the writing and perspective of this novel is excellent. I found myself sympathizing with her character and really liking her in fact. I know! Nobody is more surprised than me, let me tell you. Elizabeth Shore is perceived as a good person who made poor choices and loved the wrong man...but she did love him. She is written in such a way that makes the reader understand her perspective and respect her for it. Her life was not easy and she did the best she could. What I also loved about her characterization was her fiery attitude. This woman had an attitude to boot and you heard her opinion whether you wanted to or not. Loved this.
My other favorite parts of this novel were the rare appearance of Elizabeth Woodville. There were a few scenes where Shore and Woodville interacted and the tension could have been cut with a knife. Oh man was it uncomfortable. Hilarious. Awkward. Overall, brilliant additions to the story. Had to address that wife that we all knew he had in some way, and the way Martyn does this is quite clever. The dialogue was to die for.
I am a little biased because I do love this genre but I felt that while I was reading it I was just zooming through it. I didn't want to put it down. I knew the basics of Shore's story but I HAD to know how she got into the situations she did and what did happen to her after Edward's death? I loved it all. The whole novel had a great pace to it. Lingered enough to keep you wanting more but fast enough to keep you turning the pages. I would definitely recommend this book to any historical fiction lovers as well as people like me who are obsessed with the Plantagenet family.
"How easily Life can flick us.
Like an idle boy's fingernail against a tiny fly.
We are so fragile, our destinies changed so easily
by a quarrel, a smile, a death--or marriage."
--Isolde Martyn
Alright. I think I have a problem and it is this. I love historical fiction, we all know this, if you didn't before now you do. Specifically, historical fiction that discusses English history and even moreso than that the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties. Oh. My. Gosh. I cannot get enough!! Herein lies the problem: It is the same friggin' story every.single.time. History is history. You can't change it. I know the ending before I even crack open the first page. I am well aware who dies, how, and when. But do you think I ever pass up the opportunity to read about the same tale but maybe from a slightly different perspective? The answer?...Hell. Frickin'. No. I love this genre. So much it almost hurts my chest how much I enjoy this era. It's getting a little ridiculous as well as scary.
This version of our story is about Elizabeth Shore, most infamous mistress to Edward IV *swoon*. Oh yeah. Here's another thing. When I read about historical fiction, I do in fact drool over real-life men that existed approximately 600 years ago. Sorry not sorry. So I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen and wife of Edward IV, so when I have read other novels mentioning Shore I loathed her. She was the mistress, the whore, the concubine of a historical figure I love and his wife is one of my favs as well. I did not like this woman. Adultery, obvi not okay in my book.
However, the writing and perspective of this novel is excellent. I found myself sympathizing with her character and really liking her in fact. I know! Nobody is more surprised than me, let me tell you. Elizabeth Shore is perceived as a good person who made poor choices and loved the wrong man...but she did love him. She is written in such a way that makes the reader understand her perspective and respect her for it. Her life was not easy and she did the best she could. What I also loved about her characterization was her fiery attitude. This woman had an attitude to boot and you heard her opinion whether you wanted to or not. Loved this.
My other favorite parts of this novel were the rare appearance of Elizabeth Woodville. There were a few scenes where Shore and Woodville interacted and the tension could have been cut with a knife. Oh man was it uncomfortable. Hilarious. Awkward. Overall, brilliant additions to the story. Had to address that wife that we all knew he had in some way, and the way Martyn does this is quite clever. The dialogue was to die for.
I am a little biased because I do love this genre but I felt that while I was reading it I was just zooming through it. I didn't want to put it down. I knew the basics of Shore's story but I HAD to know how she got into the situations she did and what did happen to her after Edward's death? I loved it all. The whole novel had a great pace to it. Lingered enough to keep you wanting more but fast enough to keep you turning the pages. I would definitely recommend this book to any historical fiction lovers as well as people like me who are obsessed with the Plantagenet family.
January 8, 2013
Very touching historical novel that has me itching to research these people more. Martyn proves that there are other interesting characters in our past other than the popular and overly advertised ones. The pace is really fast, and it's hard to get an understanding of Elizabeth "Jane" Shores relationships. BUT I highly recommend it anyway.
May 19, 2013
The historian in me absolutely LOVED this book! Jane Shore's story gives the reader an insight into the intrigue of the medieval court.
I won't 'spoil' things by telling the story ... suffice to say the tension built slowly and steadily until I couldn't pt it down!
If you enjoy medieval historicals, this is a definite keeper
I won't 'spoil' things by telling the story ... suffice to say the tension built slowly and steadily until I couldn't pt it down!
If you enjoy medieval historicals, this is a definite keeper
April 7, 2015
I actually really enjoyed the first half of this book, when Elizabeth Shore was mistress to King Edward IV. But once the king died and her problems really began, I felt like the book just dragged on. By the end, I was skimming just to get to the important bits of dialogue.
September 30, 2021
I gave up on this one. Normally, I tend to stick with historical fiction until the bitter end, regardless of how awful it ends up being. But while Mistress to the Crown was neither as boring or anger-inducing as another historical fiction novels I’ve read, it just… wasn’t good and as much as I love the figure of Elizabeth Lambert, better known as Jane Shore, this love just wasn’t enough to sustain me. The cardinal faults of the books of this were these:
(1) Sexual Violence
Generally speaking, I don’t have an issue with the depiction of rape, sexual violence or harassment in fiction – so long as it’s handled well. And Mistress to the Crown doesn’t come close to “well”. There’s scene after scene in which a man wants to have sex with Elizabeth and not really caring if she consents or not, which she generally doesn’t. There doesn’t seem to be any actual rape, at least in the pieces I read – Elizabeth always sasses and badasses her way out of a rape and goes on, completely untroubled by her experiences. Actually, that’s not true – we find out that, when she was 12, she woke up to her father exposing her genitals to her future husband and it’s more or less implicit that she’s the victim of marital rape when she was around 14. And Edward IV kinda just talks at her until she agrees to have sex with him. However, the only impact this has on her personality is that she hates and disdains her husband, which she seems to have done all her life.
It’s not uncommon for historical fiction to do this but I am absolutely tired of rape being used as a window dressing in a novel. Look at how tragic and beautiful the heroine is! All men want to rape her! Pass. The constant cycle of threatening rape and sexual abuse on Elizabeth is, from a narrative perspective, overdone and boring. Yet another rape threat? Yawn. I may as well be watching laundry going round in the washing machine. And the old excuse of “it’s just historically accurate” doesn’t actually make it historically accurate or a sensitive handling of rape.
And the thing is, I think you could absolutely make a very good albeit very grim novel about Elizabeth Lambert (or any other slut-shamed woman from history) by exploring themes around beauty and consent, desirability and rape: what it means to be so sexualised, what kind of relationships a person begins to have with their own body and consent when they are so sexualised and subjected to sexual violence. But Isolde Martyn’s book doesn’t come close. Rape is a window dressing and another round of laundry here.
(2) Slut shaming
So the few people who aren’t trying to grope/rape with Elizabeth are the ones calling her a slut and a whore. There’s a fair amount of victim blaming involved – Shore, Elizabeth’s husband, absolutely blames her for the men sniffing around her. And when he finds out that she’s become Edward IV’s mistress, he drags her parents over to make her tell them what she’s done and they all stand around calling her a whore for a page and a bit. Rather than the penance walk (which I skipped ahead to read) being a scene where Elizabeth enjoys the protection of the Londoners (which is the only historical account we have of her penance walk), it’s another scene where she’s threatened with rape and called a slut. Blergh.
(3) Prose
Isolde Martyn’s prose is not great and there’s a bit of “forsooth, verily did I…” about the dialogue but if there’s one think I hate in dialogue is dialect as dialogue and boy does Martyn go full hog on that. If you don’t know what I mean, it’s when an author decides to phonetically render an accent in their dialogue and it’s just awful. I don’t care if the author thinks you’re making the dialogue feel alive and genuine. It doesn’t. It looks like shit. Stop making readers squint and guess and what your characters are saying. Stop making readers feel like you’re mocking the lower class and the non-English characters. It’s nails on chalkboard. I loathe it.
(1) Sexual Violence
Generally speaking, I don’t have an issue with the depiction of rape, sexual violence or harassment in fiction – so long as it’s handled well. And Mistress to the Crown doesn’t come close to “well”. There’s scene after scene in which a man wants to have sex with Elizabeth and not really caring if she consents or not, which she generally doesn’t. There doesn’t seem to be any actual rape, at least in the pieces I read – Elizabeth always sasses and badasses her way out of a rape and goes on, completely untroubled by her experiences. Actually, that’s not true – we find out that, when she was 12, she woke up to her father exposing her genitals to her future husband and it’s more or less implicit that she’s the victim of marital rape when she was around 14. And Edward IV kinda just talks at her until she agrees to have sex with him. However, the only impact this has on her personality is that she hates and disdains her husband, which she seems to have done all her life.
It’s not uncommon for historical fiction to do this but I am absolutely tired of rape being used as a window dressing in a novel. Look at how tragic and beautiful the heroine is! All men want to rape her! Pass. The constant cycle of threatening rape and sexual abuse on Elizabeth is, from a narrative perspective, overdone and boring. Yet another rape threat? Yawn. I may as well be watching laundry going round in the washing machine. And the old excuse of “it’s just historically accurate” doesn’t actually make it historically accurate or a sensitive handling of rape.
And the thing is, I think you could absolutely make a very good albeit very grim novel about Elizabeth Lambert (or any other slut-shamed woman from history) by exploring themes around beauty and consent, desirability and rape: what it means to be so sexualised, what kind of relationships a person begins to have with their own body and consent when they are so sexualised and subjected to sexual violence. But Isolde Martyn’s book doesn’t come close. Rape is a window dressing and another round of laundry here.
(2) Slut shaming
So the few people who aren’t trying to grope/rape with Elizabeth are the ones calling her a slut and a whore. There’s a fair amount of victim blaming involved – Shore, Elizabeth’s husband, absolutely blames her for the men sniffing around her. And when he finds out that she’s become Edward IV’s mistress, he drags her parents over to make her tell them what she’s done and they all stand around calling her a whore for a page and a bit. Rather than the penance walk (which I skipped ahead to read) being a scene where Elizabeth enjoys the protection of the Londoners (which is the only historical account we have of her penance walk), it’s another scene where she’s threatened with rape and called a slut. Blergh.
(3) Prose
Isolde Martyn’s prose is not great and there’s a bit of “forsooth, verily did I…” about the dialogue but if there’s one think I hate in dialogue is dialect as dialogue and boy does Martyn go full hog on that. If you don’t know what I mean, it’s when an author decides to phonetically render an accent in their dialogue and it’s just awful. I don’t care if the author thinks you’re making the dialogue feel alive and genuine. It doesn’t. It looks like shit. Stop making readers squint and guess and what your characters are saying. Stop making readers feel like you’re mocking the lower class and the non-English characters. It’s nails on chalkboard. I loathe it.
February 1, 2013
A historical fiction novel, Mistress to the Crown tells the story of Elizabeth Shore married to a mercer who becomes the famous mistress of the King of England. I was really looking forward to reading this story, written by Australian author Isolde Martyn. However, I'm a reader who really values a connection to the characters in a story and unfortunately I never really warmed to Elizabeth Shore.
In the opening chapter, I did empathise with Elizabeth's desperation to have her marriage annulled. At just fourteen she has already been married to Shore for two years and as she is on the cusp of puberty her wifely duties in the bedroom will soon be sought by Shore. However, the story then jumps to twelve years in the future where they continue to be married- though Shore is impotent- and Elizabeth has just launched her first business venture in silk woven products. She still wants a divorce. But this time I didn't really feel the desperation behind this desire. She hints that she is curious about a sexual relationship born from desire rather than duty but she also has strong views about the independence of a woman and hopes to no longer be dependent on a man.
So when Lord Hastings strolls into her life, she catches a glimpse of what life could be like. She experiences desire and lust for the first time. He also provides a connection to the legal resources required to divorce her husband but doesn't seem to want anything in return. But Elizabeth basically offers herself to him and requests he 'teach' her the ways of the bedroom. They have a brief sexual fling and before long, her fiery personality and beauty has captured the interest of Hastings close friend, King Edward (a.k.a "Ned"). Though I could understand the temptation of succumbing to the sexual relationship with Hastings I couldn't comprehend why she would agree to become the King's mistress when she so strongly sought independence from men (and didn't really value status and wealth). I feel she did have a choice and she decided to take that path- even though she later claims she didn't.
The first person viewpoint didn't do her any favours when she announced to her husband she was to be mistress to the king and expected him to respond with grace. I certainly don't condone her marriage to him at such an early age, but I did experience her as condescending and brutal at this point in the story.
Elizabeth detaches herself from a twelve year marriage to a man she never loved to a long-term affair with the King whom I also never believed she loved. Of course she says she did, but I never really felt it. I don't know why she liked him, he seemed quite arrogant and childlike at times.
At just past the midway point, I felt the story lacked direction. I wasn't quite sure where it was going. I thought it would become a love story about Elizabeth and the King.
But then he dies.
My response was...huh? Where is the final third of the story to go from here? I didn't even really care that the King had died, because I just couldn't connect with Elizabeth emotionally. I think in part this is because she told the reader what was happening rather than showed how she felt. The only relationship I did believe was the friendship between Elizabeth and Hastings. I believed that these two loved each other as their connection was better developed. Once the King died I thought perhaps she would discover her true feelings for Hastings.
But then he died too.
This is when I felt Elizabeth was really challenged, she was robbed, lost her home and became dependent on her family as though she was a child. Villains in the mist were determined to take her down. She was shunned by her community and at times her family and yet she persevered. She attempted to rebuild her life, gain an ounce of independence. Her life had come full circle. To me, Elizabeth became a real person then and I did warm to her, just a little. Accused of treason, Elizabeth faces gaol and even death and the reality of her demise hits her squarely. Whilst imprisoned, she forms a relationship with a solicitor connected to the royal family who cares for her deeply. In the last fifty pages of the book, this friendship develops into a romance and once again I felt the plot was losing focus. And when it becomes clear that the only way she can truly be freed from the allegations placed against her is to marry this man she agrees. Usually I'm all for a happily-ever-after in the romance department but in this story it just made me angry. The motivation at the beginning of the book for Elizabeth to be independent and create a life for herself based on her own choices, seemed to get lost along the way. I didn't see Elizabeth actually act upon her strong values right up until the very end. Inevitably, the story ends with Elizabeth being dependent on another man!
I know this story is based on the historical retelling of Elizabeth Shore, mistress to the King of England and perhaps the decisions the character made do reflect on what the historical figure made in life. But as a fictional read, Elizabeth was a frustrating character and at times so too was the plot. Mistress to the Crown is a story full of contradictions and it didn't really work for me. Personally, I do struggle with first person viewpoints and I think this story would have been far more engaging if it were in third person. The premise was enticing and certainly promising but the execution didn't really meet my expectations.
For readers of historical fiction who don't mind first person viewpoints and are indifferent to a singular or multiple romance sub-plot then this might work for you. At the very least, the story of Elizabeth Shore who rises from an arranged marriage to the mistress of the King is certainly impressive. Historically speaking I did find this aspect of the story quite fascinating. There are plenty of four or five star reviews popping up for this story though so I encourage you to check these out before making up your mind on this one.
In the opening chapter, I did empathise with Elizabeth's desperation to have her marriage annulled. At just fourteen she has already been married to Shore for two years and as she is on the cusp of puberty her wifely duties in the bedroom will soon be sought by Shore. However, the story then jumps to twelve years in the future where they continue to be married- though Shore is impotent- and Elizabeth has just launched her first business venture in silk woven products. She still wants a divorce. But this time I didn't really feel the desperation behind this desire. She hints that she is curious about a sexual relationship born from desire rather than duty but she also has strong views about the independence of a woman and hopes to no longer be dependent on a man.
So when Lord Hastings strolls into her life, she catches a glimpse of what life could be like. She experiences desire and lust for the first time. He also provides a connection to the legal resources required to divorce her husband but doesn't seem to want anything in return. But Elizabeth basically offers herself to him and requests he 'teach' her the ways of the bedroom. They have a brief sexual fling and before long, her fiery personality and beauty has captured the interest of Hastings close friend, King Edward (a.k.a "Ned"). Though I could understand the temptation of succumbing to the sexual relationship with Hastings I couldn't comprehend why she would agree to become the King's mistress when she so strongly sought independence from men (and didn't really value status and wealth). I feel she did have a choice and she decided to take that path- even though she later claims she didn't.
The first person viewpoint didn't do her any favours when she announced to her husband she was to be mistress to the king and expected him to respond with grace. I certainly don't condone her marriage to him at such an early age, but I did experience her as condescending and brutal at this point in the story.
Elizabeth detaches herself from a twelve year marriage to a man she never loved to a long-term affair with the King whom I also never believed she loved. Of course she says she did, but I never really felt it. I don't know why she liked him, he seemed quite arrogant and childlike at times.
At just past the midway point, I felt the story lacked direction. I wasn't quite sure where it was going. I thought it would become a love story about Elizabeth and the King.
But then he dies.
My response was...huh? Where is the final third of the story to go from here? I didn't even really care that the King had died, because I just couldn't connect with Elizabeth emotionally. I think in part this is because she told the reader what was happening rather than showed how she felt. The only relationship I did believe was the friendship between Elizabeth and Hastings. I believed that these two loved each other as their connection was better developed. Once the King died I thought perhaps she would discover her true feelings for Hastings.
But then he died too.
This is when I felt Elizabeth was really challenged, she was robbed, lost her home and became dependent on her family as though she was a child. Villains in the mist were determined to take her down. She was shunned by her community and at times her family and yet she persevered. She attempted to rebuild her life, gain an ounce of independence. Her life had come full circle. To me, Elizabeth became a real person then and I did warm to her, just a little. Accused of treason, Elizabeth faces gaol and even death and the reality of her demise hits her squarely. Whilst imprisoned, she forms a relationship with a solicitor connected to the royal family who cares for her deeply. In the last fifty pages of the book, this friendship develops into a romance and once again I felt the plot was losing focus. And when it becomes clear that the only way she can truly be freed from the allegations placed against her is to marry this man she agrees. Usually I'm all for a happily-ever-after in the romance department but in this story it just made me angry. The motivation at the beginning of the book for Elizabeth to be independent and create a life for herself based on her own choices, seemed to get lost along the way. I didn't see Elizabeth actually act upon her strong values right up until the very end. Inevitably, the story ends with Elizabeth being dependent on another man!
I know this story is based on the historical retelling of Elizabeth Shore, mistress to the King of England and perhaps the decisions the character made do reflect on what the historical figure made in life. But as a fictional read, Elizabeth was a frustrating character and at times so too was the plot. Mistress to the Crown is a story full of contradictions and it didn't really work for me. Personally, I do struggle with first person viewpoints and I think this story would have been far more engaging if it were in third person. The premise was enticing and certainly promising but the execution didn't really meet my expectations.
For readers of historical fiction who don't mind first person viewpoints and are indifferent to a singular or multiple romance sub-plot then this might work for you. At the very least, the story of Elizabeth Shore who rises from an arranged marriage to the mistress of the King is certainly impressive. Historically speaking I did find this aspect of the story quite fascinating. There are plenty of four or five star reviews popping up for this story though so I encourage you to check these out before making up your mind on this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2013
For 12 years, Elizabeth has been looking for a way to escape her unhappy marriage. Long ago she tried to partition for an annulment or divorce but learned that she would not have the means to acquire either. When Lord William Hastings comes into her husband’s store, Elizabeth sees opportunity of two different types. Not only does her attraction to him give her the opportunity to explore what she has long been denied, but he also has the means and power that could see her free of her impotent husband.
One thing Elizabeth did not predict was that her association with Lord Hastings would lead to the King of England himself desiring her in his bed. Although reluctant at first, to leave Hastings and give herself to the King, it is Hastings who manages to show her what placing herself in such an alliance could bring her. She would have her freedom and she would have the ear of the King. She could do what she has long wanted to do and help people that need it. Elizabeth makes the decision to go to the King and he calls her Jane, presumably to distinguish her from his wife Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen. When she confesses her indiscretion to her husband prematurely, she is forced to leave his household and finds that her friends shun her and members of her family can no longer even look at her. She has also earned the enmity of the Queen and several of her relations, including the Queen’s eldest son by her first marriage who has made it all too clear that he thinks Elizabeth needs taking down a peg or two and that he is just the man to do it.
But despite that, she has her protectors. She long enjoys the King’s favour and company and her position allows her to help those who have been denied justice. As long as “Ned”, the King and Lord Hastings remain close to her and look out for her, she will be safe from all who would see her cast out, or wish her harm. But as the King begins to fall ill, Elizabeth’s position becomes tenuous. There are nefarious plans at foot for who will take the Crown and no one is safe from those who wish to seize it. As different factions war for power, Elizabeth’s loyalty could see her being burned at the stake.
Mistress To The Crown tells an exciting story focusing around King Edward IV’s reign and one of his many mistresses. Elizabeth was married off very young to an older man and the marriage proved to be less than satisfactory. Not long after they wed, her husband became impotent and Elizabeth was desperate for a way to be free. It was an arranged marriage, one that her father had sought to make for her to protect her when he thought he might lose everything and it was never going to make Elizabeth happy. Beautiful and clever, she found avenues to escape her marriage closed to her, until the arrival of one Lord William Hastings, and the attraction between them that changed her life and set her on a new and entirely different course.
I’ve read a few novels set in this particular time frame before – King Edward IV is of course the father of the Princes in the Tower and after his death, his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was ruled invalid due to prior matrimony and his heirs declared bastards. His brother Richard seized the throne and locked the two princes in the Tower of London where they were never seen or heard from again. This is a rather popular time period for historical fiction, and that which follows it, the time of the Tudors and it is slightly strange to read novels set around the same events, but from the viewpoints of different people. Most of what I’ve read before is from the viewpoint of Elizabeth Woodville (and also Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor) so this book gives a more human appearance to King Edward, known as “Ned” to those closest to him. Despite the fact that Ned is indulgent with Elizabeth, seeking her counsel and discourse and admiring her, he often reverts to “Kingly” behaviour if he feels that she’s out of line. Despite knowing this, Elizabeth does often approach him even when she knows what she has to request may anger him. Theirs seems to be a relationship that worked well and enjoyed longevity. And although Ned did his best to provide for her, the fracas that came after his death meant that Elizabeth faced not only having her home taken from her, but also imprisonment, trial, shaming and possibly being burned at the stake or hanged.
Although I enjoyed reading Elizabeth’s story, I didn’t particularly find her a very warm or sympathetic character. I didn’t relate to her, nor did I really see that she struggled with her choices. She knew that by going to the King, whether she wanted to or not, it would grant her some influence and she could use that to be free of her husband. Even though, to be quite honest, by going to the King she wouldn’t have really had to have anything to do with her husband anyway. As with stories of mistresses (and often, with Queens as well) I fail to see what they see in these men sometimes. Is it a rule that all Kings behave like a manchild, with a need to be petted, cosseted, micromanaged and indulged? I suppose so, given that they are groomed from birth to get what they want but it’s often hard to imagine a man invading another country when he needs his mistress to soothe his ruffled feathers! I didn’t particularly like Ned all that much, he seemed to be portrayed without much depth. I think I preferred the character of Lord Hastings and I particularly liked the lawyer in the late part of the book who seeks to ascertain whether or not Elizabeth is guilty of treason a second time (after being acquitted the first time). I think I’d have liked more time spent on those interactions, but given this story is mostly the one of Elizabeth’s relationship with the King, I understand why it wasn’t.
Mistress To The Crown is a well written story, rich with historical detail and ripe with scandal and passion. It’s reignited my interest in this period now and I’m going to see if I can find a few books that might pick up around the time that this one finished.
One thing Elizabeth did not predict was that her association with Lord Hastings would lead to the King of England himself desiring her in his bed. Although reluctant at first, to leave Hastings and give herself to the King, it is Hastings who manages to show her what placing herself in such an alliance could bring her. She would have her freedom and she would have the ear of the King. She could do what she has long wanted to do and help people that need it. Elizabeth makes the decision to go to the King and he calls her Jane, presumably to distinguish her from his wife Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen. When she confesses her indiscretion to her husband prematurely, she is forced to leave his household and finds that her friends shun her and members of her family can no longer even look at her. She has also earned the enmity of the Queen and several of her relations, including the Queen’s eldest son by her first marriage who has made it all too clear that he thinks Elizabeth needs taking down a peg or two and that he is just the man to do it.
But despite that, she has her protectors. She long enjoys the King’s favour and company and her position allows her to help those who have been denied justice. As long as “Ned”, the King and Lord Hastings remain close to her and look out for her, she will be safe from all who would see her cast out, or wish her harm. But as the King begins to fall ill, Elizabeth’s position becomes tenuous. There are nefarious plans at foot for who will take the Crown and no one is safe from those who wish to seize it. As different factions war for power, Elizabeth’s loyalty could see her being burned at the stake.
Mistress To The Crown tells an exciting story focusing around King Edward IV’s reign and one of his many mistresses. Elizabeth was married off very young to an older man and the marriage proved to be less than satisfactory. Not long after they wed, her husband became impotent and Elizabeth was desperate for a way to be free. It was an arranged marriage, one that her father had sought to make for her to protect her when he thought he might lose everything and it was never going to make Elizabeth happy. Beautiful and clever, she found avenues to escape her marriage closed to her, until the arrival of one Lord William Hastings, and the attraction between them that changed her life and set her on a new and entirely different course.
I’ve read a few novels set in this particular time frame before – King Edward IV is of course the father of the Princes in the Tower and after his death, his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was ruled invalid due to prior matrimony and his heirs declared bastards. His brother Richard seized the throne and locked the two princes in the Tower of London where they were never seen or heard from again. This is a rather popular time period for historical fiction, and that which follows it, the time of the Tudors and it is slightly strange to read novels set around the same events, but from the viewpoints of different people. Most of what I’ve read before is from the viewpoint of Elizabeth Woodville (and also Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor) so this book gives a more human appearance to King Edward, known as “Ned” to those closest to him. Despite the fact that Ned is indulgent with Elizabeth, seeking her counsel and discourse and admiring her, he often reverts to “Kingly” behaviour if he feels that she’s out of line. Despite knowing this, Elizabeth does often approach him even when she knows what she has to request may anger him. Theirs seems to be a relationship that worked well and enjoyed longevity. And although Ned did his best to provide for her, the fracas that came after his death meant that Elizabeth faced not only having her home taken from her, but also imprisonment, trial, shaming and possibly being burned at the stake or hanged.
Although I enjoyed reading Elizabeth’s story, I didn’t particularly find her a very warm or sympathetic character. I didn’t relate to her, nor did I really see that she struggled with her choices. She knew that by going to the King, whether she wanted to or not, it would grant her some influence and she could use that to be free of her husband. Even though, to be quite honest, by going to the King she wouldn’t have really had to have anything to do with her husband anyway. As with stories of mistresses (and often, with Queens as well) I fail to see what they see in these men sometimes. Is it a rule that all Kings behave like a manchild, with a need to be petted, cosseted, micromanaged and indulged? I suppose so, given that they are groomed from birth to get what they want but it’s often hard to imagine a man invading another country when he needs his mistress to soothe his ruffled feathers! I didn’t particularly like Ned all that much, he seemed to be portrayed without much depth. I think I preferred the character of Lord Hastings and I particularly liked the lawyer in the late part of the book who seeks to ascertain whether or not Elizabeth is guilty of treason a second time (after being acquitted the first time). I think I’d have liked more time spent on those interactions, but given this story is mostly the one of Elizabeth’s relationship with the King, I understand why it wasn’t.
Mistress To The Crown is a well written story, rich with historical detail and ripe with scandal and passion. It’s reignited my interest in this period now and I’m going to see if I can find a few books that might pick up around the time that this one finished.
November 25, 2016
When I first started reading this book, I was hoping to be enriched in romance and drama.
And both did I get.
Mistress to the Crown was beautifully written and incredibly similar to the history of the real Elizabeth Lambard.
However I do have to admit that it did take a while for me to be grasped into the book (half the book to be precise), but after the details and characters are explained, does the book shock you with sweetness, plot twists, heart ache and happiness. I also realised that half way through the book, it was about Elizabeth Lambard's life read as a dairy of her past.
My favourite and worst line of the book is the last sentence at the end. Happiness took over knowing the main character after so much hardship was able to be happy again, but worse because the book summed up my sadness of remembering what has happened in the book and also the sorrow of the book have ended.
I recommend this book highly for lovers of history, romance, drama and medieval times and also for those who are looking for a new interesting book to get there hands on!
4/5 stars
And both did I get.
Mistress to the Crown was beautifully written and incredibly similar to the history of the real Elizabeth Lambard.
However I do have to admit that it did take a while for me to be grasped into the book (half the book to be precise), but after the details and characters are explained, does the book shock you with sweetness, plot twists, heart ache and happiness. I also realised that half way through the book, it was about Elizabeth Lambard's life read as a dairy of her past.
My favourite and worst line of the book is the last sentence at the end. Happiness took over knowing the main character after so much hardship was able to be happy again, but worse because the book summed up my sadness of remembering what has happened in the book and also the sorrow of the book have ended.
I recommend this book highly for lovers of history, romance, drama and medieval times and also for those who are looking for a new interesting book to get there hands on!
4/5 stars
May 20, 2017
I enjoyed this. I loved the voice of our feisty heroin and the period details which captured the time and place very well. I think the author did a wonderful job of creating a page turning story with very little known information regarding Elizabeth Lambard, who would become King Edward IV mistress after a fling with Lord Hastings, the Lord Chamberlain and King’s close friend.
I think that perhaps I have read too many stories set in this period and just after where the heroin ends up dead or is walking to the scaffold to have appreciated the ending in this. I did keep waiting for that moment for the story to reach some higher ground or climax, for the darkest moments to become truly dark, or for me to feel true empathy for Elizabeth, but I never felt it achieved that for whatever reason.
I think that perhaps I have read too many stories set in this period and just after where the heroin ends up dead or is walking to the scaffold to have appreciated the ending in this. I did keep waiting for that moment for the story to reach some higher ground or climax, for the darkest moments to become truly dark, or for me to feel true empathy for Elizabeth, but I never felt it achieved that for whatever reason.
February 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this fictional retelling of "Jane" Shore's life. I first encountered Mistress Shore when I read The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy way back in middle school. It was in our school's library, for whatever reason, and it's one of the books that first got me interested in historical fiction. This book took a different point of view about Shore's life, and it is told in the first person, and I really enjoyed the way everything was written. I feel like the author was maybe a bit too sympathetic to Richard III and harsh on the Woodvilles, but that's my own bias. It's a really good book overall.
October 28, 2018
Simply could not get into this book.
May 19, 2020
Great book! An easy read
January 17, 2021
Fast paced, interesting
December 27, 2024
I was riveted from page 1 and couldn't put this book down. Thoroughly enjoyed the tale and the history lesson woven through it all was educational. Definitely recommend b
August 21, 2025
Meryl bookclub 2026 ✅
January 27, 2013
Mistress to the crown takes us once again into an England that is on the cusp of the Tudor reign placing us into the stories of the Last Plantagenet King’s. Elizabeth Shore is a good and dutiful Wife who has a husband who can not preform the duties he is meant to. While she is wistful for a child and very unhappy in her marriage she remains faithful, all until Lord Hastings Chamberlain to the King arrives in her shop one day and sets her world on it’s head.
First she becomes a lover to Lord Hastings, learning that the art of being in bed is indeed a pleasure. However after they are barged in upon by a man dressed in messengers clothing but with the air of something else Elizabeth’s life changes further. It is later when the messenger summons her under the name of Lord Hastings that she finds out he is indeed King Edward.
Isolde Martyn has done a fantastic job in bringing these characters to life. It is never easy to be a King’s Mistress and they are often painted as little more than grasping harlots. In truth they are often little more than what they are painted as. However Elizabeth Shore is brought to life as a very human character. While I did not like her in the first chapter when she was young and seeking an annulment I think she was a normal girl of her age. When we come upon her later and she is indeed an independent woman who is dealing with a situation no one would like I warmed to her.
We see growth within Elizabeth with each turn of the page, and to say that King Edward was a charmer is putting it lightly. However he was a King and we see his human side as well, from his fits of temper to his moments of deep sadness in which he seeks comfort. Over all this makes for a very real and human book that engages you to the characters. I would recommend this book to any historical fiction readers especially those who like the War of the Roses time period. The history is well presented and the facts that have been filled in because we do not know them seem to stay true to what we do know.
First she becomes a lover to Lord Hastings, learning that the art of being in bed is indeed a pleasure. However after they are barged in upon by a man dressed in messengers clothing but with the air of something else Elizabeth’s life changes further. It is later when the messenger summons her under the name of Lord Hastings that she finds out he is indeed King Edward.
Isolde Martyn has done a fantastic job in bringing these characters to life. It is never easy to be a King’s Mistress and they are often painted as little more than grasping harlots. In truth they are often little more than what they are painted as. However Elizabeth Shore is brought to life as a very human character. While I did not like her in the first chapter when she was young and seeking an annulment I think she was a normal girl of her age. When we come upon her later and she is indeed an independent woman who is dealing with a situation no one would like I warmed to her.
We see growth within Elizabeth with each turn of the page, and to say that King Edward was a charmer is putting it lightly. However he was a King and we see his human side as well, from his fits of temper to his moments of deep sadness in which he seeks comfort. Over all this makes for a very real and human book that engages you to the characters. I would recommend this book to any historical fiction readers especially those who like the War of the Roses time period. The history is well presented and the facts that have been filled in because we do not know them seem to stay true to what we do know.
February 21, 2013
Trapped in a loveless marriage, Elizabeth Shore comes to the attention of the King of England, Edward IV. From the grand palace of Windsor, to the Tower of London and the halls of Westminster. This sweeping novel has all the hallmarks of a classic medieval saga. Love, betrayal, treachery and murder entwine into one. We breeze through medieval England from the pestilence to the sweeping English country-side of Chester. We have a family divided, a women scorned and censured by society, for her betrayal of a respected man of trade to become the kings most favoured and beloved mistress.
A novel set in the first person, (personally, I have found few writers, if any who manage, to pull this style off well!). We see the world almost constantly through Elizabeth’s eyes and for the first quarter or so are forced to endure Elizabeth’s obvious and constant angst, of being trapped in a loveless, frustrating marriage. When we finally move to the kings premature death, (I’m not spoiling any plot line here, Edward IV’s early demise, is a well - known fact to us history nuts!) things finally start to improve in pace and tone. Murder intrigue and Buckingham’s stupendous fall from grace! (Karma, it does happen!)
In all honesty when I received this ARC from Thereadingroom.com,(sorry, too lazy to write a separate reviewed for good reads! so have cut and pasted!) I was expecting something with more substance attached to it. In defence of Isolde the author, there is nothing particularly horrible about the novel, but I had incredibly long stretches at the start where I felt I was just a reader learning about Elizabeth Shore, rather than that feeling you have with a particularly fantastic novel, where you actually feel you, yourself are the character, traipsing through the book, with the character on the page, going together hand in hand to do battle with each demon as it arises. If you like romance, have even a slight interest in medieval history, I do believe that you will enjoy this historical romance immensely!
A novel set in the first person, (personally, I have found few writers, if any who manage, to pull this style off well!). We see the world almost constantly through Elizabeth’s eyes and for the first quarter or so are forced to endure Elizabeth’s obvious and constant angst, of being trapped in a loveless, frustrating marriage. When we finally move to the kings premature death, (I’m not spoiling any plot line here, Edward IV’s early demise, is a well - known fact to us history nuts!) things finally start to improve in pace and tone. Murder intrigue and Buckingham’s stupendous fall from grace! (Karma, it does happen!)
In all honesty when I received this ARC from Thereadingroom.com,(sorry, too lazy to write a separate reviewed for good reads! so have cut and pasted!) I was expecting something with more substance attached to it. In defence of Isolde the author, there is nothing particularly horrible about the novel, but I had incredibly long stretches at the start where I felt I was just a reader learning about Elizabeth Shore, rather than that feeling you have with a particularly fantastic novel, where you actually feel you, yourself are the character, traipsing through the book, with the character on the page, going together hand in hand to do battle with each demon as it arises. If you like romance, have even a slight interest in medieval history, I do believe that you will enjoy this historical romance immensely!
June 20, 2013
Mistress to the Crown - Isolde Martyn
This novel tells the story of Elizabeth Lambard, who became better known as the Mistress to King Edward IV. The story is predominately told in first person by Elizabeth, who is later known as " Jane Shore". The book is told in three parts, beginning with Maiden set in 1463, Witch, finishing with Herself.
As a lover of anything Tudor, and Historical Novels, it was refreshing to read something from an earlier period than that of Phillipa Gregory's Tudor series novels covering the reign of Henry VIII. This book provided me with a greater understanding on the Battle of the Roses, and how quickly favours could turn. The first part of the book provided more Romance than I had anticipated. Romance is not really a reading topic I favour. By staying with the novel (not one to push a book aside), I found the balance of history and romance reached a happy medium for me.
"Maiden" Tells the story of Elizabeth' s chance meeting with Lord Hastings and introduction to King Edward IV (Ned). This provides the protagonist with the chance to bring an end to her marriage to impotent husband William Shore. This section of the book provides us with the final years of Ned's reign and subsequent death.
"Witch" - Shows us how quickly the tides can turn, and the battle for the throne. As the name suggests, Elizabeth is accused of being a Witch, and sees some of her closest friends die. Again romance blossoms.
"Herself" - Guides us to Elizabeth's return to a more normal existance, and yes love.
I enjoyed the historical content of this novel, and try to support Australian authors wherever possible (yes I still buy the physical books to love and lend), but this book had more romance than I would tradionally look for. Of course this is my opinon only.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, historical romance or those wanting to gain a better understanding of England during the reign of King Edward IV (which I did, and enjoyed).
This novel tells the story of Elizabeth Lambard, who became better known as the Mistress to King Edward IV. The story is predominately told in first person by Elizabeth, who is later known as " Jane Shore". The book is told in three parts, beginning with Maiden set in 1463, Witch, finishing with Herself.
As a lover of anything Tudor, and Historical Novels, it was refreshing to read something from an earlier period than that of Phillipa Gregory's Tudor series novels covering the reign of Henry VIII. This book provided me with a greater understanding on the Battle of the Roses, and how quickly favours could turn. The first part of the book provided more Romance than I had anticipated. Romance is not really a reading topic I favour. By staying with the novel (not one to push a book aside), I found the balance of history and romance reached a happy medium for me.
"Maiden" Tells the story of Elizabeth' s chance meeting with Lord Hastings and introduction to King Edward IV (Ned). This provides the protagonist with the chance to bring an end to her marriage to impotent husband William Shore. This section of the book provides us with the final years of Ned's reign and subsequent death.
"Witch" - Shows us how quickly the tides can turn, and the battle for the throne. As the name suggests, Elizabeth is accused of being a Witch, and sees some of her closest friends die. Again romance blossoms.
"Herself" - Guides us to Elizabeth's return to a more normal existance, and yes love.
I enjoyed the historical content of this novel, and try to support Australian authors wherever possible (yes I still buy the physical books to love and lend), but this book had more romance than I would tradionally look for. Of course this is my opinon only.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, historical romance or those wanting to gain a better understanding of England during the reign of King Edward IV (which I did, and enjoyed).
January 15, 2013
If you haven’t noticed by now, I really like historical fiction, especially about the Tudor Era. This novel centers around the time of King Edward and Elizabeth Woodville. However, the main character is actually Elizabeth Shore.
Elizabeth is stuck in a marriage to William Shore and takes no pleasure in it. Essentially, the two cannot be intimate together. Elizabeth is young and yearns for more. Lord Hastings comes to the Shore shop one day and Elizabeth sees a way out. She begins an alliance with Hastings and seeks his help to end her marriage. Hastings introduces Elizabeth to the things in a marriage that she had never experienced and she relishes in them.
At one meeting, Elizabeth unknowingly meets the King. Once Edward sees Elizabeth he is smitten. He asks her to be his mistress and she declines, citing her relationship with Hastings. For Edward, this is not the end.
Eventually Elizabeth and Edward begin a relationship. Edward delights in Elizabeth and showers her with gifts while helping her gain her freedom from William Shore. Though Elizabeth has good reasons for ending her marriage, neither her family nor her former husband are willing to see anything but her betrayal.
Martyn’s writing style is very engaging. Elizabeth has moments of strength that are heartening and I wish there were more of them throughout the novel. Her strength is an asset to the novel, like when she blatantly tells William Shore that she has had relations with the king. She really doesn’t realize what people will think of her when she becomes mistress to the king and she isn’t ready for the hostility from Elizabeth Woodvile, though she does understand it.
I found myself rooting for Elizabeth in her quest to be free from her husband and in her life after Edward. She is such an inspiring character.
Elizabeth is stuck in a marriage to William Shore and takes no pleasure in it. Essentially, the two cannot be intimate together. Elizabeth is young and yearns for more. Lord Hastings comes to the Shore shop one day and Elizabeth sees a way out. She begins an alliance with Hastings and seeks his help to end her marriage. Hastings introduces Elizabeth to the things in a marriage that she had never experienced and she relishes in them.
At one meeting, Elizabeth unknowingly meets the King. Once Edward sees Elizabeth he is smitten. He asks her to be his mistress and she declines, citing her relationship with Hastings. For Edward, this is not the end.
Eventually Elizabeth and Edward begin a relationship. Edward delights in Elizabeth and showers her with gifts while helping her gain her freedom from William Shore. Though Elizabeth has good reasons for ending her marriage, neither her family nor her former husband are willing to see anything but her betrayal.
Martyn’s writing style is very engaging. Elizabeth has moments of strength that are heartening and I wish there were more of them throughout the novel. Her strength is an asset to the novel, like when she blatantly tells William Shore that she has had relations with the king. She really doesn’t realize what people will think of her when she becomes mistress to the king and she isn’t ready for the hostility from Elizabeth Woodvile, though she does understand it.
I found myself rooting for Elizabeth in her quest to be free from her husband and in her life after Edward. She is such an inspiring character.
May 29, 2013
In MISTRESS TO THE CROWN, Elizabeth Shore is all that a royal mistress should be, and way more! Getting a taste of what the upper class is like from working in her father’s elegant shop for ladies’ wear, Elizabeth wants nothing to do with her dull-witted, impotent and much older husband, William Shore. She wants her marriage annulled at any cost.
Enter King Edward IV’s great confidant, William Hastings, to fix all that. Her new life begins as Hastings’ tutored love apprentice, after which she becomes King Edward’s mistress. Because of this, there are evidently a few racy scenes; luckily, the book does not stay that course for long. In this cleverly written novel, the focus changes, with the history of the Wars of the Roses taking precedence – and ultimately this is what gives the book its true intensity.
Isolde Martyn falters at nothing in this amazing, vividly scripted retelling of history. The facts are meticulously researched, and the characters almost reincarnated from the past. Jane, as the King prefers to call her, is more than just a mistress. She becomes a voice for many people by petitioning their needs to the king. She is detested, prosecuted and demeaned by some, while loved, defended and trusted by most.
I enjoyed MISTRESS TO THE CROWN, immensely; particularly because the author is able to convey the history perfectly while keeping me satiated with the plausibility of it all. From intense moments of love to scenes of prison cells, false accusations, and beheadings, this is an extremely captivating read!
This review was originally published in the May Edition of HNR and can also be found here: http://historicalnovelsociety.org/rev...
Enter King Edward IV’s great confidant, William Hastings, to fix all that. Her new life begins as Hastings’ tutored love apprentice, after which she becomes King Edward’s mistress. Because of this, there are evidently a few racy scenes; luckily, the book does not stay that course for long. In this cleverly written novel, the focus changes, with the history of the Wars of the Roses taking precedence – and ultimately this is what gives the book its true intensity.
Isolde Martyn falters at nothing in this amazing, vividly scripted retelling of history. The facts are meticulously researched, and the characters almost reincarnated from the past. Jane, as the King prefers to call her, is more than just a mistress. She becomes a voice for many people by petitioning their needs to the king. She is detested, prosecuted and demeaned by some, while loved, defended and trusted by most.
I enjoyed MISTRESS TO THE CROWN, immensely; particularly because the author is able to convey the history perfectly while keeping me satiated with the plausibility of it all. From intense moments of love to scenes of prison cells, false accusations, and beheadings, this is an extremely captivating read!
This review was originally published in the May Edition of HNR and can also be found here: http://historicalnovelsociety.org/rev...
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