The Queen's Pleasure

Author: Brandy Purdy
Goodreads Rating: 3.50
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 469
Reviewed by: Nicole

I adore Brandy Purdy, I've read The Boleyn Wife by her and I purchased The Tudor Throne this past summer. When I had the chance to join the Blog Tour hosted by Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. This post is only the first of two, the second post will come on Thursday with an interview and a giveaway of this great book!

Synopses:

When young Robert Dudley, an earl’s son, meets squire’s daughter Amy Robsart, it is love at first sight. They marry despite parental misgivings, but their passion quickly fades, and the ambitious Dudley returns to court.


Swept up in the turmoil of Tudor politics, Dudley is imprisoned in the Tower. Also a prisoner is Dudley’s childhood playmate, the princess Elizabeth. In the shadow of the axe, their passion ignites. When Elizabethbecomes queen, rumors rage that Dudleymeans to free himself of Amy in order to wed her. And when Amy is found dead in unlikely circumstances, suspicion falls on Dudley—and the Queen…


Still hotly debated amongst scholars—was Amy’s death an accident, suicide, or murder?—the fascinating subject matter makes for an enthralling read for fans of historical fiction.

My review after the jump!
I really liked this book, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a history major and because I love the Tudors. (At least, I don't think I am). I really liked the premise that Purdy went for in this book, which is something that she does, she picks a topic that people ask questions about, but it hasn't widely been done before, like Lady Rochford-the woman who in essence killed Anne Boleyn or Amy Dudley, the wife of Robert Dudley who history mostly forgot.

I liked that Purdy made me feel something for the characters even if it wasn't a good thing. Robert Dudley was such a prick (excuse my language). The way that he treated Amy was absolutely deplorable! It was so sad to see the way their love started, young and so in love and then to watch the way that it moved toward his hatred of her, and her fighting to hold onto him. He so easily won her and then tired of her because she wasn't a perfect courtly woman.

Amy's character is so innocent, its heart breaking to see Robert pull away from her and make excuses for why she never came to court. There is only so far that sympathy can go, since after awhile her desperation does get very trying. I admired the way that her devotion and faith in Robert is unwavering until the year before her death. It was sad when she became suspicious of Robert because that was the point that you realized that there was no longer any hope for their love even though as a reader you're aware that he's moved on to Elizabeth.

Purdy did a great job with imagery in this book. It was easy to picture the ornate dresses that Amy or Elizabeth wore, and all I could do was wish that I could wear such pretty dresses. Although she was a little wordy at times, this book was easy to work through. I love reading Purdy's books and I can't wait to see what she plans on coming out with next.

To find out more about Brandy Purdy and her method of writing, check back on Thursday for a chance to win your very own copy of The Queen's Pleasure.

Of note: Brandy Purdy is published under the name Emily Purdy and The Queen's Pleasure is published under the name A Court Affair in England.