This is the kind of self-published book that you always hope you're going to find when browsing through a subject that interests you-- except that you almost NEVER find it. Let's face it: the average self-published book is just not very good, and a lot of them are downright bad. Judith Arnopp's books form the exception that proves the rule. (And from everything I can tell, they do seem to be self-published.)
The most interesting historical characters are those who had an important role in the events of their time, and yet, for whatever reason, have not been done to death in fiction. (We all need a long, long rest from Anne Boleyn, for instance.) Margaret Beaufort is a great example. She was the force behind the Tudor dynasty, but when you think about it, there are very few fictional treatments of her. And those that do exist have some real issues. Philippa Gregory's portrait of her, for instance, makes her into such a horrible witch that you seriously have to wonder how evil even managed to exist before Margaret came along. Yet we don't know from the historical facts if there's anything accurate about this interpretation. This author comes at the question from a very different angle, taking the facts we know and putting some interesting spins on them. Edmund Tudor is seen as a flawed but sympathetic character, which may well be accurate. By the standards of his time and place, he did nothing wrong by consummating a marriage with a twelve or thirteen year old girl, and it doesn't make much sense to see him as a monster because of behavior that would be criminal about five hundred years later. It's also refreshing to see Margaret's relationship with her second husband seen in a softer light. We reach the end of the book eager to read more, to see how Margaret's character developed after her early hardships, and... and that's the end.
Which is really my only complaint about this book-- it's SHORT!! Well, that and the fact that Margaret's entire history is outlined at the end of the book in detail. I think we needed a spoiler warning before that one, and I skipped over it fast. Just because we know the basic facts doesn't mean that we need to see every detail before finding out how the author handles it in the series.
All in all, this was a treat to read, I'm glad I found it while searching for new Tudor titles, and I hope that the next installment does come out at Christmas.
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More like The Beaufort Bride: Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudor dynasty (The Beaufort Chronicles Book 1)
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Top reviews from other countries
Aapjebaapje
Margaret Beaufort's early life
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2024
Christine Boos
Margaret Beaufort brought to life
Reviewed in Germany on May 7, 2020Amelia
Same story, different fiction, good read!
Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2018
