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Quick Review: "My Lady Viper" by E. Knight


From Goodreads:  May, 1536. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen.

When Anne Boleyn falls to the executioner's axe on a cold spring morning, yet another Anne vows she will survive in the snakepit court of Henry VIII. But at what cost?

Lady Anne Seymour knows her family hangs by a thread. If her sister-in-law Jane Seymour cannot give the King a son, she will be executed or set aside, and her family with her. Anne throws herself into the deadly and intoxicating intrigue of the Tudor court, determined at any price to see the new queen's marriage a success and the Seymour family elevated to supreme power. But Anne's machinations will earn her a reputation as a viper, and she must decide if her family's rise is worth the loss of her own soul...

My Thoughts: This was such a refreshing read!  While I do love the Tudors, I am getting a little bored reading about them.  This book had the Tudors but it also had a new and unique protagonist which made for a very captivating read.

Lady Anne Seymour is such an interesting historical figure.  I have read plenty of books where she is painted as the villain but I loved how Ms. Knight made her into such a complex character and while Anne is still pretty conniving, she is also a character I can sympathize with.  She's not just a courtier hell bent on getting power, she is a damaged woman with secret past who would do anything to support and help her husband and his family.  While I didn't always agree with her actions, I completely understood her reasons for her actions (at least in most cases).  

 The story itself is kind of told as the behind the scenes tale of Henry VIII's reign (post Anne Boleyn).  I really enjoyed getting a different perspective and the story really kept my interest.  The author provided a very detailed 'author's note' at the end of the book which I greatly appreciated.  I do wish the story had been more all-inclusive in regards to Anne's life.  I know that a lot happened in her life after the end of this book and I would love to about that as well.  Beyond that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  A great read if you are interested in a new look at Tudor England.  4 stars.
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