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Tudor Legacy #3
The Virgin's War
It’s 1585, and the balance of European power is tilting dangerously toward war. It will take all of Elizabeth Tudor’s skill and wiles to defend England from the looming threat of the Spanish Armada.
Complicating matters is Elizabeth’s beloved daughter—the result of the Queen’s tempestuous marriage with her worst enemy: King Philip of Spain.
As Elizabeth commits her riches, her honor, and her people to the coming war, the Queen will risk everything—even her own life—to preserve England’s freedom.
Complicating matters is Elizabeth’s beloved daughter—the result of the Queen’s tempestuous marriage with her worst enemy: King Philip of Spain.
As Elizabeth commits her riches, her honor, and her people to the coming war, the Queen will risk everything—even her own life—to preserve England’s freedom.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2016
45 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Laura Andersen
116 books603 followersLaura Andersen has one husband, four children, and a college degree in English that she puts to non-profitable use by reading everything she can lay her hands on. Books, shoes, and travel are her fiscal downfalls, which she justifies because all three ‘take you places.’ She loves the ocean (but not sand), forests (but not camping), good food (but not cooking), and shopping (there is no downside.) She lives in Massachusetts with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 1, 2016
I didn't realize going into this book that it was the third one but I'm still giving it 4 stars even though I had a little bit of trouble following what was going on. I did recognize a few names and things from reading a lot of other Tudor books. I LOVE anything Tudor and I'm going to have to go and dig out some of those said books from my stacks and read more. And probably binge watch my Tudor box set with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry the VIII!
Anyway, this book is about several people including Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Anne Isabella Tudor who was the Princess of Wales.
There is also Pippa and Matthew, Stephen and Maisie, Kit and other people. I can't list them all.
I really loved Pippa's character. She was a seer of sorts and this caused trouble when a certain bastard started calling her a witch. Said bastard would be a priest named Navarro! Damn I really wish I could have read these from the start.
Anyway, Queen Elizabeth and her daughter as well as other advisors are preparing for war with Spain. Princess Anabel (Anne Isabella) sacrifices herself to be a wife so they can get help from another Kingdom. But lets just say that all works out in the end.
And then the evil bastard, Navarro gets Pippa and just does a horrible thing to her and tries to kill her.
--->EXCERPT<---
Stephen has seen men whipped before. It was sometimes necessary in a military company. But the thought of his little sister--lovely, mischievous, generous Pippa--beneath the lash of a whip made him want to put his hands around Navarro's through and choke the life out of him.
Let us just say that sweet little Navarro got what he deserved. Princess Anabel isn't afraid to roll heads. <--- Pun intended.
So the battle commences and Queen Elizabeth is recovering at Leeds from an assassin attack. But all works out in the end. It's sad and good and I just loved it. Like I said though, I need to go back and read the other two from this trilogy and there is one other one ahead of it. I have never read this author's work about the Tudor dynasty but she did a good job.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Anyway, this book is about several people including Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Anne Isabella Tudor who was the Princess of Wales.
There is also Pippa and Matthew, Stephen and Maisie, Kit and other people. I can't list them all.
I really loved Pippa's character. She was a seer of sorts and this caused trouble when a certain bastard started calling her a witch. Said bastard would be a priest named Navarro! Damn I really wish I could have read these from the start.
Anyway, Queen Elizabeth and her daughter as well as other advisors are preparing for war with Spain. Princess Anabel (Anne Isabella) sacrifices herself to be a wife so they can get help from another Kingdom. But lets just say that all works out in the end.
And then the evil bastard, Navarro gets Pippa and just does a horrible thing to her and tries to kill her.
--->EXCERPT<---
Stephen has seen men whipped before. It was sometimes necessary in a military company. But the thought of his little sister--lovely, mischievous, generous Pippa--beneath the lash of a whip made him want to put his hands around Navarro's through and choke the life out of him.
Let us just say that sweet little Navarro got what he deserved. Princess Anabel isn't afraid to roll heads. <--- Pun intended.
So the battle commences and Queen Elizabeth is recovering at Leeds from an assassin attack. But all works out in the end. It's sad and good and I just loved it. Like I said though, I need to go back and read the other two from this trilogy and there is one other one ahead of it. I have never read this author's work about the Tudor dynasty but she did a good job.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
October 26, 2016
Oops - I forgot to post this when it ran.
The Virgin’s War is the final book in Laura Andersen’s Tudor Legacy series and the sixth book to take place in the alternate Tudor timeline that she set up back in The Boleyn King, book one of her compelling Boleyn Trilogy . In that series, Anne Boleyn had given Henry VIII a son who lived to succeed him; and the current one picks up some twenty years later, with Elizabeth I having followed her brother to the throne. Mind you, this is no Virgin Queen; here, Elizabeth married – and later divorced - Philip of Spain and had a daughter by him, Anne Isabella (Anabel), Princess of Wales.
With the current vogue for books in series which also work as standalones, it can be tricky to review a book in which it is necessary to have read the others in the set without giving away too much – so there are bound to be spoilers for The Virgin’s Daughter and The Virgin’s Spy in this review.
It’s over two decades since Henry VIII’s reformation, and the political situation in England is still dominated by the religious divide between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. Much of the action in The Virgin’s Spy takes place in Ireland, where English forces are fighting Catholic rebels who have the support of Mary, Queen of Scots. In this universe, Mary escaped from captivity in England and has subsequently married Philip of Spain, thus uniting two of the most important Catholic monarchs in Europe. Philip has had his eye on the conquest of England for some time, but in spite of the continual urging of his wife, he is prepared to wait for the right moment to invade. When news reaches him that Princess Anne and her mother have become estranged and almost openly opposed to each other, he realises that the time to strike is almost at hand. With Anne building her power-base in the north and making concerted efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people there, it seems as though there will be a royal rebellion soon, and Philip plans to take advantage of the split between mother and daughter to invade England. He knows the English will never accept him as king, but now there is Anne, young, lovely and widely beloved, who is obviously sympathetic to the Catholic cause and who, he believes will bring her country back to the true faith.
But Elizabeth and Anabel are two fiercely intelligent, politically astute women and they are playing a long game. At the suggestion of Pippa Courtenay, Anabel’s closest friend and adviser, Anabel makes the move north to Middleham Castle (Richard III’s former home and stronghold) and begins to court the approval of the region’s Catholics by recruiting two of the most high profile of them to her Council. Anabel and her mother deliberately maintain the fiction of an estrangement and take care to have little contact with each other; and over the next couple of years, they carefully orchestrate their preparations for England’s defence.
Laura Andersen has impressed me once again with her meticulous research and her talent for interweaving the threads of her alternative history so cleverly in and out of the existing tapestry of historical fact. Yet for all her skill in mapping out these momentous events, she doesn’t lose sight of the personal stories that are so closely woven through the larger political canvas. Minuette and Dominic Courtenay, Elizabeth’s oldest friends, have roles to play, as do their four children, Lucette, Stephen and the twins Kit and Pippa. Lucette’s story was told in The Virgin’s Daughter and Stephen’s in The Virgin’s Spy, but they have prominent parts here, especially Stephen, who was stripped of his titles and banished from England as a result of his actions in the previous book. Pippa is a mystic and has the gift of second sight; it’s she who sets Anabel’s plan in motion by suggesting she move north, and she who is instrumental in rallying support among the towns and villages of the region. Pippa and Kit share one of those unusual mental bonds so often found between twins, but the strain of keeping some of the things she knows from her brother is starting to weigh very heavy on Pippa and her strength is failing. Meanwhile Kit and Anabel are struggling with the depth of their feelings for each other; a princess cannot marry where she chooses and they have always known this - but with a Spanish invasion imminent, Anabel must do whatever she can to help to secure the throne.
This is a deliciously complex story that builds gradually and reaches a breathless climax that is full of both triumph and sorrow. Ms Andersen has created a set of wonderful characters for whom I came to care and whose joys and heartbreak (seriously – I cried more than once) I experienced right along with them. She does a terrific job with the characterisation of Elizabeth in particular, exploring the burden of sovereignty, her necessary isolation and how she continues to face decisions head on, no matter how difficult they may be. I enjoyed the insights into her relationship with her two closest advisors – Burleigh and Walsingham – and her long-term and sometimes uneasy friendship with Minuette Courtenay. And if, like me, you fell a little bit in love with Dominic in the first trilogy, you’ll be pleased to see him at Elizabeth’s side once more as he responds to her call to arms and takes his place as one of the nation’s most trusted and respected military leaders.
Unlike the earlier Boleyn Trilogy , however, this one ends firmly in its alternate timeline, which feels perfectly right given the struggles and personal tragedies this set of characters has endured in order to get there. Perhaps it’s a teeny bit too perfect, but by the time I reached the epilogue I really didn’t care. I was so strongly caught up in the story and the experiences of the characters had impacted upon me so viscerally that I felt they absolutely deserved the ending they got. The Virgin’s War is a splendid end to another superbly written and researched trilogy by this author, and I am eagerly awaiting whatever she comes up with next.
The Virgin’s War is the final book in Laura Andersen’s Tudor Legacy series and the sixth book to take place in the alternate Tudor timeline that she set up back in The Boleyn King, book one of her compelling Boleyn Trilogy . In that series, Anne Boleyn had given Henry VIII a son who lived to succeed him; and the current one picks up some twenty years later, with Elizabeth I having followed her brother to the throne. Mind you, this is no Virgin Queen; here, Elizabeth married – and later divorced - Philip of Spain and had a daughter by him, Anne Isabella (Anabel), Princess of Wales.
With the current vogue for books in series which also work as standalones, it can be tricky to review a book in which it is necessary to have read the others in the set without giving away too much – so there are bound to be spoilers for The Virgin’s Daughter and The Virgin’s Spy in this review.
It’s over two decades since Henry VIII’s reformation, and the political situation in England is still dominated by the religious divide between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. Much of the action in The Virgin’s Spy takes place in Ireland, where English forces are fighting Catholic rebels who have the support of Mary, Queen of Scots. In this universe, Mary escaped from captivity in England and has subsequently married Philip of Spain, thus uniting two of the most important Catholic monarchs in Europe. Philip has had his eye on the conquest of England for some time, but in spite of the continual urging of his wife, he is prepared to wait for the right moment to invade. When news reaches him that Princess Anne and her mother have become estranged and almost openly opposed to each other, he realises that the time to strike is almost at hand. With Anne building her power-base in the north and making concerted efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people there, it seems as though there will be a royal rebellion soon, and Philip plans to take advantage of the split between mother and daughter to invade England. He knows the English will never accept him as king, but now there is Anne, young, lovely and widely beloved, who is obviously sympathetic to the Catholic cause and who, he believes will bring her country back to the true faith.
But Elizabeth and Anabel are two fiercely intelligent, politically astute women and they are playing a long game. At the suggestion of Pippa Courtenay, Anabel’s closest friend and adviser, Anabel makes the move north to Middleham Castle (Richard III’s former home and stronghold) and begins to court the approval of the region’s Catholics by recruiting two of the most high profile of them to her Council. Anabel and her mother deliberately maintain the fiction of an estrangement and take care to have little contact with each other; and over the next couple of years, they carefully orchestrate their preparations for England’s defence.
Laura Andersen has impressed me once again with her meticulous research and her talent for interweaving the threads of her alternative history so cleverly in and out of the existing tapestry of historical fact. Yet for all her skill in mapping out these momentous events, she doesn’t lose sight of the personal stories that are so closely woven through the larger political canvas. Minuette and Dominic Courtenay, Elizabeth’s oldest friends, have roles to play, as do their four children, Lucette, Stephen and the twins Kit and Pippa. Lucette’s story was told in The Virgin’s Daughter and Stephen’s in The Virgin’s Spy, but they have prominent parts here, especially Stephen, who was stripped of his titles and banished from England as a result of his actions in the previous book. Pippa is a mystic and has the gift of second sight; it’s she who sets Anabel’s plan in motion by suggesting she move north, and she who is instrumental in rallying support among the towns and villages of the region. Pippa and Kit share one of those unusual mental bonds so often found between twins, but the strain of keeping some of the things she knows from her brother is starting to weigh very heavy on Pippa and her strength is failing. Meanwhile Kit and Anabel are struggling with the depth of their feelings for each other; a princess cannot marry where she chooses and they have always known this - but with a Spanish invasion imminent, Anabel must do whatever she can to help to secure the throne.
This is a deliciously complex story that builds gradually and reaches a breathless climax that is full of both triumph and sorrow. Ms Andersen has created a set of wonderful characters for whom I came to care and whose joys and heartbreak (seriously – I cried more than once) I experienced right along with them. She does a terrific job with the characterisation of Elizabeth in particular, exploring the burden of sovereignty, her necessary isolation and how she continues to face decisions head on, no matter how difficult they may be. I enjoyed the insights into her relationship with her two closest advisors – Burleigh and Walsingham – and her long-term and sometimes uneasy friendship with Minuette Courtenay. And if, like me, you fell a little bit in love with Dominic in the first trilogy, you’ll be pleased to see him at Elizabeth’s side once more as he responds to her call to arms and takes his place as one of the nation’s most trusted and respected military leaders.
Unlike the earlier Boleyn Trilogy , however, this one ends firmly in its alternate timeline, which feels perfectly right given the struggles and personal tragedies this set of characters has endured in order to get there. Perhaps it’s a teeny bit too perfect, but by the time I reached the epilogue I really didn’t care. I was so strongly caught up in the story and the experiences of the characters had impacted upon me so viscerally that I felt they absolutely deserved the ending they got. The Virgin’s War is a splendid end to another superbly written and researched trilogy by this author, and I am eagerly awaiting whatever she comes up with next.
June 13, 2016
I loved this installment in the Tudor Legacy series! Such a perfect conclusion. Most of the loose ends are tied up and I was in suspense through much of it wondering what would happen next. Princess Anabel is front and center, and court intrigues abound. Weddings, funerals, and wars comprise a lot of the page time and we get plenty of all the members of our favorite family. Again, like it's predecessors, it is a solid mix of real and imaginary events. I love how I'm kept guessing this way!
Highly recommended, especially for followers of the series!
The worst thing about this book is the thought that it will be awhile before another Laura Andersen book is released! Her historical fantasy series rank in my favorites for sure! I can't wait to see what she'll write about next!
And last but definitely not least, a special thanks to Ballantine Publishers for granting my "wish" on NetGalley and providing me with an ARC!! That really made my day!!
Highly recommended, especially for followers of the series!
The worst thing about this book is the thought that it will be awhile before another Laura Andersen book is released! Her historical fantasy series rank in my favorites for sure! I can't wait to see what she'll write about next!
And last but definitely not least, a special thanks to Ballantine Publishers for granting my "wish" on NetGalley and providing me with an ARC!! That really made my day!!
January 12, 2023
To be fair, I really need to stop reading series out of order, because I'd likely enjoy them more. I've read parts of Laura Andersen's Boleyn and Tudor series, so I know the general concept of her alterative history world (which is very intriguing). This novel, the last in the series, does make for an interesting read centered around a reimagining of the Spanish Armada's attempted invasion of England. A fun concept and enjoyable reading, but I think I should have read all of the author's books in sequence to fully enjoy this one.
May 16, 2017
So emotional. I cannot believe it's all over now. I am soo sad to leave all these characters behind, I loved them all. Laura Andersen has a beautiful way of wrapping up a series and bringing everything full circle.
March 28, 2017
Oh I have loved every inch of these series of six, that began with the Boleyn King, and ended with the Virgin's War. Andersen, Goodreads, and the Literary World has named this last the Tudor Legacy, #3, but it has always rightly been the Boleyn King, #6. What an absolutely beautiful series, that just came to its stunning conclusion. I fell in love with these characters and this story from page one of book one, and it carried me to my tears this morning, as finally each of the characters through the generations find their own destinies and endings.
The Boleyn King began with an alternative historical fantasy idea - what if Anne Boleyn's son had lived, and if somehow Elizabeth still eventually got to be queen? Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd like it - messing with history in that way. But there were four children born under a shower of stars, and I was hooked. I watched them entertwine in ways that matched their characters and destines. Later, I watched Elizabeth and Minuette's children find their own. Minuette has to be one of my favorite all time characters, a feisty beautiful loving woman of the Tudor court, who never existed - and her love story is unparalled, except perhaps by those of her children. Brava to Laura Anderson, for bringing us an unexpected world, and a beautiful ride of six books, that I will truly cherish and never forget. As I've said, if I find you in Waban Starbucks, or maybe even the "Pickle" which I hear is great, let me treat you to coffee or lunch!
The Boleyn King began with an alternative historical fantasy idea - what if Anne Boleyn's son had lived, and if somehow Elizabeth still eventually got to be queen? Honestly, I wasn't sure I'd like it - messing with history in that way. But there were four children born under a shower of stars, and I was hooked. I watched them entertwine in ways that matched their characters and destines. Later, I watched Elizabeth and Minuette's children find their own. Minuette has to be one of my favorite all time characters, a feisty beautiful loving woman of the Tudor court, who never existed - and her love story is unparalled, except perhaps by those of her children. Brava to Laura Anderson, for bringing us an unexpected world, and a beautiful ride of six books, that I will truly cherish and never forget. As I've said, if I find you in Waban Starbucks, or maybe even the "Pickle" which I hear is great, let me treat you to coffee or lunch!
March 1, 2017
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com. I have really enjoyed all of the books in this and the proceeding series. It's fun to wonder what would have happened had Anne Boleyn given Henry VIII the son he wanted. This continues after with Elizabeth and what may have changed in her life because of this. The characters are well rounded and the story is fairly believable. You can tell the author knows a bit about the time and the people. I am sad to see this come to an no but I look forward to see what she writes next.
August 24, 2016
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
When I first read The Boleyn King, I was hooked. The idea of an alternate historical reality where Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII have their long desired male child appealed to me more than I can verbalize. By the end of The Boleyn Reckoning, I was less than enchanted with this alternate (and I use the term loosely considering the ending) historical reality.
Enter The Virgin's Daughter. I had to pick this book up. After predicting with a 90% accuracy the fates of the main characters from the previous trilogy, I needed to see if I could perform as well a second time. I scored about a 75% this time around.
Much of The Virgin's War centers around England's impending war with Spain. If you know how it actually ended, then you know how it ended in alternate reality. Sure some of the people were different. However, Elizabeth's rousing speech was the same and the Spanish armada was still hammered into submission. The biggest difference? After the dust has settled, James VI of Scotland does not find himself on the English throne. I will have to admit I was excited to be wrong about this prediction. I thought 1603 would roll around and James would find himself James I of England after something tragic happened to Anabel. I expected Andersen to take the same route (real history) as she did with the previous trilogy despite her obvious admiration for Elizabeth I.
Despite being disappointed with the overall story and trilogy's ending, I do have to give enormous amounts of credit to the author. She is talented. There is no denying it. While reading these books, I constantly find myself crying over characters who demise I correctly predicted at the start of the novel. However, would I like to read a series of books focusing on the reign of Anabel? Not likely.
When I first read The Boleyn King, I was hooked. The idea of an alternate historical reality where Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII have their long desired male child appealed to me more than I can verbalize. By the end of The Boleyn Reckoning, I was less than enchanted with this alternate (and I use the term loosely considering the ending) historical reality.
Enter The Virgin's Daughter. I had to pick this book up. After predicting with a 90% accuracy the fates of the main characters from the previous trilogy, I needed to see if I could perform as well a second time. I scored about a 75% this time around.
Much of The Virgin's War centers around England's impending war with Spain. If you know how it actually ended, then you know how it ended in alternate reality. Sure some of the people were different. However, Elizabeth's rousing speech was the same and the Spanish armada was still hammered into submission. The biggest difference? After the dust has settled, James VI of Scotland does not find himself on the English throne. I will have to admit I was excited to be wrong about this prediction. I thought 1603 would roll around and James would find himself James I of England after something tragic happened to Anabel. I expected Andersen to take the same route (real history) as she did with the previous trilogy despite her obvious admiration for Elizabeth I.
Despite being disappointed with the overall story and trilogy's ending, I do have to give enormous amounts of credit to the author. She is talented. There is no denying it. While reading these books, I constantly find myself crying over characters who demise I correctly predicted at the start of the novel. However, would I like to read a series of books focusing on the reign of Anabel? Not likely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2016
Let me start by pointing out that this is not historical fiction. It's alternative history, a "what if" scenario: What if Elizabeth I had married, and had a daughter? (I'm probably not the only one who picked it up after reading just the first part of the description.)
Now that's cleared up, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I haven't (yet) read any of the other books. The characters were believable (okay, there's a slight fantasy stretch for Pippa), actions realistic, details not noticeably inaccurate, and the politics/religious issue was fascinating!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now that's cleared up, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I haven't (yet) read any of the other books. The characters were believable (okay, there's a slight fantasy stretch for Pippa), actions realistic, details not noticeably inaccurate, and the politics/religious issue was fascinating!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2023
This book always hits me emotionally hard, and I think it’s because I know it’s the end of a series that I love. Not only am I saying goodbye to characters that I have followed for the duration of this trilogy, but to their parents, and the characters that came before them in the first trilogy. It’s always hard for me to finish a series or a show when I’m emotionally attached, and this is no different. It’s well-written, poignant, and the series comes to a satisfying end.
August 5, 2022
AAH! The ending was everything I didn't know I wanted! This was the best way to end the series in my opinion. So many fantastic plot twists that resolved beautifully. Gorgeous language, great story line, and a thrilling conclusion. Highly recommend!
August 1, 2016
Very good. I liked the letters that were exchanged between characters.
August 25, 2016
This was quite an enjoyable quick read. I'm hoping that there will be more books in this series. Specifically dealing with the succession of the English throne. Don't want to give away spoilers.
January 10, 2018
Pretty great ending to the second trilogy and caps it off well.
August 9, 2018
Note: Review for whole trilogy
I enjoyed this trilogy FAR better than the first. The author keeps her fantastic skills in alternate historical, suspenseful storytelling. She also corrected the issues I had with the first trilogy in the areas of characters and melodrama. While there was a whiff of that last in this trilogy, it in no way stood out.
I loved exploring the “what-ifs” explored here. The different dynamics of Elizabeth I actually marrying and producing a child with Phillip of Spain, Mary Queen of Scots having a different path in life, and far different power dynamics when it came to the Spanish Armada all made for a powerful read. I loved how in-depth the author got with the very human side to her story as well. The horrors of English occupation of Ireland and the human cost of war all kept me emotionally engaged.
I loved her characters this time round. While I was initially disappointed that we had such a time jump skipping over Elizabeth’s actual marriage with Phillip (was especially looking forward to exploring that relationship), I still found myself loving everybody. All characters are three-dimensionally portrayed, with virtues and foibles in everybody.
What little bit I did get of Elizabeth’s and Phillips relationship, I enjoyed immensely. These two great minds and monarchs would have been true matches for each other, if religion hadn’t played a divisive roll. Besides being a political advantageous matched, there also seemed to be mutual respect and attraction between them. I’ve even read that this was historically the case as well. Maybe it’s just me, but I almost think they could have been another Ferdinand and Isabella.
Characterization was where the first trilogy came into problems. The main couple there read as too perfect. At least here, our main characters, the children of Dominic, Minette, and Elizabeth have their downfalls. From too much stubborn pride to initial immaturity to overconfidence, each character is very well rounded. We see real growth in both maturity levels and personalities as war looms on the horizon and loss is felt. I saw this greatest in Kit’s case. I loved watching his growth as he gets an unexpected boost in life prospects, and he grows to fit into that new roll.
The melodrama was toned down A LOT. Will’s personality and story arc, combined with Minette’s and Dominic’s perfection, was the main culprit for the first trilogy. Will being absent and the diminished roles of the other two this time round helped matters. While there were occasional whiffs, thinking Pippa’s continual mysteriousness, this trilogy was refreshingly safe from that pitfall.
I went into this trilogy wanting more Elizabeth. Though I didn’t get what I originally wanted, I still got a great story, well-rounded characters, and a well-done exploration of an alternate historical path. You’d probably have to read trilogy one to get all the nuances of this one. But I fell that’s worth it to get into this great follow-up series. I loved all three books this time!
I enjoyed this trilogy FAR better than the first. The author keeps her fantastic skills in alternate historical, suspenseful storytelling. She also corrected the issues I had with the first trilogy in the areas of characters and melodrama. While there was a whiff of that last in this trilogy, it in no way stood out.
I loved exploring the “what-ifs” explored here. The different dynamics of Elizabeth I actually marrying and producing a child with Phillip of Spain, Mary Queen of Scots having a different path in life, and far different power dynamics when it came to the Spanish Armada all made for a powerful read. I loved how in-depth the author got with the very human side to her story as well. The horrors of English occupation of Ireland and the human cost of war all kept me emotionally engaged.
I loved her characters this time round. While I was initially disappointed that we had such a time jump skipping over Elizabeth’s actual marriage with Phillip (was especially looking forward to exploring that relationship), I still found myself loving everybody. All characters are three-dimensionally portrayed, with virtues and foibles in everybody.
What little bit I did get of Elizabeth’s and Phillips relationship, I enjoyed immensely. These two great minds and monarchs would have been true matches for each other, if religion hadn’t played a divisive roll. Besides being a political advantageous matched, there also seemed to be mutual respect and attraction between them. I’ve even read that this was historically the case as well. Maybe it’s just me, but I almost think they could have been another Ferdinand and Isabella.
Characterization was where the first trilogy came into problems. The main couple there read as too perfect. At least here, our main characters, the children of Dominic, Minette, and Elizabeth have their downfalls. From too much stubborn pride to initial immaturity to overconfidence, each character is very well rounded. We see real growth in both maturity levels and personalities as war looms on the horizon and loss is felt. I saw this greatest in Kit’s case. I loved watching his growth as he gets an unexpected boost in life prospects, and he grows to fit into that new roll.
The melodrama was toned down A LOT. Will’s personality and story arc, combined with Minette’s and Dominic’s perfection, was the main culprit for the first trilogy. Will being absent and the diminished roles of the other two this time round helped matters. While there were occasional whiffs, thinking Pippa’s continual mysteriousness, this trilogy was refreshingly safe from that pitfall.
I went into this trilogy wanting more Elizabeth. Though I didn’t get what I originally wanted, I still got a great story, well-rounded characters, and a well-done exploration of an alternate historical path. You’d probably have to read trilogy one to get all the nuances of this one. But I fell that’s worth it to get into this great follow-up series. I loved all three books this time!
January 1, 2020
I cannot get enough of this author! The Boleyn Trilogy 3-Book Bundle: The Boleyn King, The Boleyn Deceit, The Boleyn Reckoning surpassed my expectations and the Tudor Legacy trilogy blew everything away! The Virgin's Daughter changed characters from the previous trilogy and that kind of threw me. But once I got used to the characters, with Minuette, Dominic, and Elizabeth as secondary, I was fully invested. Anabel (Anne Isabella, daughter of Queen Elizabeth and King Phillip of Spain), Lucette, Stephen, Kit & Pippa (Minuette's children) are perfect to continue this alternate reality.
This book was the perfect end to the trilogy. While the main characters changed from the 1st through 3rd books of the series, it was absolutely necessary in order to wrap everything up in the final book. We needed to know how Lucette and Julian got together and how much Stephen had gone though in Ireland. Not to mention Maisie! Kit and Pippa were somewhat secondary characters in The Virgin's Spy but their upgrade to main characters was essential to this book.
Minuette, Dom & Elizabeth watching their children play the same courtly games they did, while having minimal interference led to completely unexpected results. Even the planned games are not anything that I would have expected after knowing the characters. Each of the 5 "children" are now adults that are determined to forge their own way. This book shows them all in their own element.
This book has a completely different feel than the close of the previous trilogy and I'm not sure how I feel about that. With the previous I was seriously mad through most of the book. This book had me staying up late because I had to know what happened. It broke my heart into a thousand pieces no matter how far I saw it coming from. Knowing these characters & the back stories of their parents made me love them all the more.
I love this version of reality more than most fiction I read. While I love the characters so much I don't want them to experience any extra drama, I sincerely hope that the author decides to write a new trilogy based on the next generation.
This book was the perfect end to the trilogy. While the main characters changed from the 1st through 3rd books of the series, it was absolutely necessary in order to wrap everything up in the final book. We needed to know how Lucette and Julian got together and how much Stephen had gone though in Ireland. Not to mention Maisie! Kit and Pippa were somewhat secondary characters in The Virgin's Spy but their upgrade to main characters was essential to this book.
Minuette, Dom & Elizabeth watching their children play the same courtly games they did, while having minimal interference led to completely unexpected results. Even the planned games are not anything that I would have expected after knowing the characters. Each of the 5 "children" are now adults that are determined to forge their own way. This book shows them all in their own element.
This book has a completely different feel than the close of the previous trilogy and I'm not sure how I feel about that. With the previous I was seriously mad through most of the book. This book had me staying up late because I had to know what happened. It broke my heart into a thousand pieces no matter how far I saw it coming from. Knowing these characters & the back stories of their parents made me love them all the more.
I love this version of reality more than most fiction I read. While I love the characters so much I don't want them to experience any extra drama, I sincerely hope that the author decides to write a new trilogy based on the next generation.
April 12, 2020
“She was a princess walking a dangerous path between competing powers that would tear her to pieces the instant she slipped.”
This is the last in the Tudor Legacy series, what a thrilling and wonderful end it is. I will miss this series and the characters in it. The Courtenay family have such strong bonds with each other and as a reader you feel part of their family too.
The book begins two years after the events of The Virgin’s Spy. Stephen and Kit are training in France with their father’s oldest friend Renaud LeClerc. Lucette is at home with her husband but has suffered miscarriages. Her family are worried for her because of the emotional toll it has taken. Pippa is at Princess Anabel’s side in the North of England. Pippa saw in a vision that it was important for Anabel to win the Catholics in the North to their side. Minuette and Dominic are at their home in Wynfield Motte, they have not spoken to Queen Elizabeth since she banished Stephen.
War is coming, much like in history the Spanish are building an armada and plan to invade England. But in this story Philip thinks he has an extra weapon in his daughter Anabel. He believes that Anabel and Elizabeth have fallen out. He sends a vile fanatic to try and mold the Princess and get her to change her allegiances.
One of the things I have loved about this series is how Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anabel are portrayed. They are fiercely strong, independent and intelligent. They cannot be manipulated and rule brilliantly on their own.
I really enjoyed reading how everyone prepared for the war. The Courtenay’s were key to the plan, their ties to our royals are strong and they are dependable friends. It was great to see all the younger characters evolve over the story. They are strong and clever and brave. I am so proud of them. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but well worth it! I cried a lot at the end which is not unlike me, I hate goodbyes.
“You’ve been playing games with royalty. Royalty does not require evidence.”
This is the last in the Tudor Legacy series, what a thrilling and wonderful end it is. I will miss this series and the characters in it. The Courtenay family have such strong bonds with each other and as a reader you feel part of their family too.
The book begins two years after the events of The Virgin’s Spy. Stephen and Kit are training in France with their father’s oldest friend Renaud LeClerc. Lucette is at home with her husband but has suffered miscarriages. Her family are worried for her because of the emotional toll it has taken. Pippa is at Princess Anabel’s side in the North of England. Pippa saw in a vision that it was important for Anabel to win the Catholics in the North to their side. Minuette and Dominic are at their home in Wynfield Motte, they have not spoken to Queen Elizabeth since she banished Stephen.
War is coming, much like in history the Spanish are building an armada and plan to invade England. But in this story Philip thinks he has an extra weapon in his daughter Anabel. He believes that Anabel and Elizabeth have fallen out. He sends a vile fanatic to try and mold the Princess and get her to change her allegiances.
One of the things I have loved about this series is how Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anabel are portrayed. They are fiercely strong, independent and intelligent. They cannot be manipulated and rule brilliantly on their own.
I really enjoyed reading how everyone prepared for the war. The Courtenay’s were key to the plan, their ties to our royals are strong and they are dependable friends. It was great to see all the younger characters evolve over the story. They are strong and clever and brave. I am so proud of them. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but well worth it! I cried a lot at the end which is not unlike me, I hate goodbyes.
“You’ve been playing games with royalty. Royalty does not require evidence.”
June 5, 2024
This was a fun read, and the author "stuck the landing." The premise of this trilogy, and the preceding trilogy is: What if Anne Boleyn had carried the pregnancy she miscarried in January 1536 to full term, giving birth to a healthy boy? AND Henry VIII still died in 1547, with Elizabeth's brother succeeding him, BUT Elizabeth still became Queen at age 25, died at age 69, after having successfully defended England from Spain.
Elizabeth was not quite three when her mother was executed, and was undoubtedly traumatized by the revolving door of four queens who followed her - one who was also executed. How would history have been different if she'd had a (relatively) normal upbringing as a Princess?
In this alternate history, the main difference is that Elizabeth married and bore a daughter, Anabel (Anne Isabella) to succeed her. The main "beats" remain similar to actual history, including the Queen's inspiring speech to her troops at Tillbury. So if you're familiar with Elizabeth's reign, these trilogies, and this book, should also feel familiar. There's an intimately interwoven family, the Courtenays, in the mix.
There's a fair amount of head-hopping in all these books, which normally I detest, but in this case, I was so caught up in the stories it didn't bother me. YMMV. This final book tied all the loose ends up in a neat bow.
Elizabeth was not quite three when her mother was executed, and was undoubtedly traumatized by the revolving door of four queens who followed her - one who was also executed. How would history have been different if she'd had a (relatively) normal upbringing as a Princess?
In this alternate history, the main difference is that Elizabeth married and bore a daughter, Anabel (Anne Isabella) to succeed her. The main "beats" remain similar to actual history, including the Queen's inspiring speech to her troops at Tillbury. So if you're familiar with Elizabeth's reign, these trilogies, and this book, should also feel familiar. There's an intimately interwoven family, the Courtenays, in the mix.
There's a fair amount of head-hopping in all these books, which normally I detest, but in this case, I was so caught up in the stories it didn't bother me. YMMV. This final book tied all the loose ends up in a neat bow.
April 14, 2020
In The Virgin’s War, the long-simmering tensions between England and Spain boil over into the naval invasion we remember as the Spanish Armada, changed in Andersen’s history by the presence of Princess Anne in the English north country, where she courts the Catholic nobles for support. Has she broken with her mother over religion and her possible allegiance to her Spanish father, or is something else going on?
All the characters we have come to know are back, Tudor and Courtenay alike, Princess Anne and Pippa Courtenay taking center stage. Amid the political maneuvering, romances are kindled and resolved, battles are fought, hearts are broken and sometimes mended. Loose ends are tied off, some more neatly than others.
The action moves all over England and even into Scotland, where we meet King James, who has become a surprisingly canny king at the age of twenty. Throughout we see Queen Elizabeth fighting to preserve a country threatening to split over religious lines and to unite her people in the face of foreign interference.
All the characters we have come to know are back, Tudor and Courtenay alike, Princess Anne and Pippa Courtenay taking center stage. Amid the political maneuvering, romances are kindled and resolved, battles are fought, hearts are broken and sometimes mended. Loose ends are tied off, some more neatly than others.
The action moves all over England and even into Scotland, where we meet King James, who has become a surprisingly canny king at the age of twenty. Throughout we see Queen Elizabeth fighting to preserve a country threatening to split over religious lines and to unite her people in the face of foreign interference.
February 17, 2019
This one was a true 4, without being rounded up, partly because I cried while reading it (of course, I was also stuck on a 13 hour flight and had just drank 1.5 glasses of wine on an empty stomach, so... you be the judge of that). I get why the 2nd one had to be the way it was, to set this one up, and I think the political bits were handled very well. I loved not knowing how it was going to end, because I thought Andersen was going to set it up like she had the first trilogy, with a "different middle" but the same end of Elizabeth ruling. And she didn't pull punches, no matter how much I desperately wanted her to (I would have hated if she had) - the twins were my favorites in this new generation, though I did sometimes wish they met new people outside these childhood sweethearts thing. But it was a very solid end to a pretty solid follow-up trilogy, and I don't think many people can manage to do that while staying true to what they are writing.
April 23, 2018
I'm a huge Laura Andersen fan, starting with her Boleyn trilogy and here to the conclusion of the the Tudor Legacy trilogy. Her characters are relatable, the action fast-paced, and she really puts you into the world of the Tudors. So fun. (And dark, and dramatic, because--Tudors).
April 20, 2020
In this final installment of the Tudor Legacy series, the rift between mother and daughter grows, as Annabel is courted by powerful Catholics, as well as her father's country of Spain, while Elizabeth tries to avert war. The Courtney family faces problems of their own with Stephen still in exile, Kit pining for Annabel, Lucette dealing with a deep depression, and Pippa terrified of what she sees in the future.
This series has been a guilty pleasure to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed this last book. The journey down the "what if" path in history has been enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind continuing to explore history with Andersen. Yes, the stories can be a bit improbable to say the least (this one definitely seems to go off the rails from time to time), but you cannot argue that they are not fun. The romances especially have been wonderful to watch play out.
I recommend this series to those who don't mind alternative historical fiction and to those who enjoy romance and royalty fiction. You do have to read The Boleyn Trilogy first though, or you will be absolutely lost in this world that bears very little resemblance to real history.
This series has been a guilty pleasure to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed this last book. The journey down the "what if" path in history has been enjoyable, and I wouldn't mind continuing to explore history with Andersen. Yes, the stories can be a bit improbable to say the least (this one definitely seems to go off the rails from time to time), but you cannot argue that they are not fun. The romances especially have been wonderful to watch play out.
I recommend this series to those who don't mind alternative historical fiction and to those who enjoy romance and royalty fiction. You do have to read The Boleyn Trilogy first though, or you will be absolutely lost in this world that bears very little resemblance to real history.
January 28, 2021
I had difficulty completing this one. I think it is mostly because I didn't have the same excitement that I had with the other books. I felt like the story dragged on a bit longer than necessary but it still provided a satisfying ending.
October 21, 2023
The second series by this author is written as well and concludes more completely then the original. I enjoyed the character development and was sadden by the major loss but it was handled well. Will read other books by this author more quickly then I got to these.
September 15, 2024
Potentially my favourite of the three books, joint favourite of the six. Great conclusion to the story line which nicely pulls the set together, either as a whole with the Boleyn trilogy or the Tudor legacy set alone. A realistically written story of what ifs….
November 30, 2016
wow i hope she comes out with more books i didnt see that end well as it did wow thats all i can say
June 13, 2017
Spectacular ending to the Tudor legacy series as well as the Boleyn King series!! Definitely going to miss the life's of Anabel, Elizabeth and the Courtney's!!
July 13, 2017
I loved all of these book series!!! Her writing is so wonderfully done and i love each original character that has been created for this series! i cannot wait to read whatever she writes next
January 12, 2018
Beautiful read
My heart and eyes had tears of both sadness and joy as I read this last book in the trilogy!
My heart and eyes had tears of both sadness and joy as I read this last book in the trilogy!
January 23, 2020
I liked this trilogy a lot...not as much as her first Tudor trilogy but I love when they expand on characters you love and their ‘after story’
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