The Book That Was Better Than The Other One
Plot:
Welcome in the court of Henry VIII, the most glorious prince in the Christendom, and Queen Katherine of Aragon, the prettiest and finest woman in Europe. They are happy, but Henry is eager to have an heir, a son to sit on his throne when he dies, and the Queen have only one surviving child - Princess Mary, a girl and therefore not fir to inherit the crown.
Growing unhappy with the lack of an heir, king Henry takes fancy in Mary Boleyn, an genuinely sweet and innocent girl but her family, the Boleyns, the Howards are ambitious and power-hungry family. Mary rises to become the absolute favourite of the king, and even has two children with him, a girl and a boy. But her happiness is short when the king turns his eyes to the other Boleyn girl, her sister - Anne.
Why It Was Better Than The Other:
Remember when I discussed The Virgin's Lover? Well, this book, The Other Boleyn Girl, is it's pre-pre-prequel. Philippa Gregory has written 6 books, I think, on the Tudor dynasty, and The Other Boleyn Girl is the second one, while the The Virgin's Lover is the fifth one. I liked the story better, it was more complex and gave the characters more depth. Also, I prefer books where the narrative is told by just one character, it feels a lot more personal and real.
On top of that, I have a long-standing obsession with Henry VIII and his 6 wives. Anne Boleyn is a favourite of mine in particulate, since she has always seemed as a very bright determined strong woman. Just the why I like them.
However, read with caution. It's a historical novel, and some things are changed so they fit the narrative better. It's not 100% accurate. But it is enjoyable.
You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...
