I enjoy her historical biographies more than I did this novel, but all in all, it was still an interesting book.

I thought this book was absolutely wonderful. I am fast becoming a huge fan of Alison Weir and think she is possibly even more talented a writer than Philippa Gregory. This book takes us through the life of Elizabeth but being completely historically dense the plot was not ruined at all by my knowledge of what happened in reality save for the hugest details of the story. I thought it was well written and completely plausible and I greatly enjoyed reading it.

I think it ended rather abruptly, but other than that it was excellent.

Clearly well researched and certainly entertaining. A lot of readers have taken issue with the fact that Weir goes against her own beliefs that Elizabeth was truly the Virgin Queen and plays into the rumor that she was pregnant with Thomas Seymour's child. just remember, this was published as historical fiction for a reason. I don't think she is contradicting herself or being inconsistent with her beliefs.... but this is FICTION, and allows you to explore all of the wonderful possibilities that "what if?" can bring.

Alison Weir, a formidable name among Tudor historians, turned to fiction in this story of Elizabeth I, covering her life from childhood to her ascension to the throne after the death of her half-sister Mary. I am really enjoy Tudor history (although I quickly lose track of all the names and titles beyond the central figures of Henry VIII and his wives and children.

This novel is a very enjoyable and believable read. Weir knows her facts and the details of life in the period inside and out, yet she also breathes dramatic tension and life into the story. You know how it ends, but you hold your breath for her so many times, and always release it with relief that she escaped the Tower and the block yet again.

Weir creates an interesting argument with herself in the book when she depicts the relationship between Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth as reaching consummation, and even leaving Elizabeth expecting an illegimate child. The story has some basis in contemporary rumors, but Weir points out in her afterword that rumors can't be confused with fact, and there is no proof of the accusations that circulated for a while about the young Elizabeth (she was just 14!).

In some ways I find this argument less than persuasive -- Elizabeth was a fiercely intelligent woman, even at a very young age, and had loyal servants who would have done their best to prevent scandal as much as possible. Given what we know of what did happen (Seymour did propose to her; the "romps" did happen, suspect even with the Queen's apparent support, she was sent away from the Dower Queen's home), I actually suspect there may be truth to the rumors, but a truth that we can never prove. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating portrayal of a fascinating woman, and I look forward to the next installment!

(Really 3.5 stars)

I've been a bit back and forth on Weir's more fiction-based novels, though I've enjoyed her biographical looks at Tudor history. While I understand that in fiction you can take certain liberties, and especially given the length of time that has passed and the lack of any concrete evidence or support for some of the more scandalous rumors of history it's easy to embellish or give life to the details that make for a good story, no matter how true or untrue they may be. And, in the beginning, I thought Weir was doing a good job of showing what life may have been like for young Elizabeth, going from "Princess" to "Lady" almost overnight, and what her life may have been like in the years of her fathers' many queens. The influence of seeing all those marriages playing out and comparing them (and other scandals) to her mother's demise and how that may have shaped her thinking as an adult is interesting to see evolve; it's a look into the inner mind and trauma of a woman who wore her personality as a shield in a world where she had to be both a woman and her father's daughter.

The further along the book goes, the less I find myself invested, however, starting with the take on Elizabeth's relationship with Thomas Seymour. While I could reasonably see Elizabeth's childish "love" and devotion, Weir even admits in her author's note that she believes that Elizabeth was indeed the virgin she claimed to be, so suggesting that she and Seymour had a physical affair and that resulted in a pregnancy/miscarriage feels more like it was there for a reader's shock value than anything else. From that point on, it seemed like the time jumps happened so frequently that you stopped getting a clear view into Elizabeth's mind and motives, and it becomes just watching history play out the same as if you're reading any other description of it. I just wish the whole book had kept up the momentum of the first third of it.

A true mix of historical and fiction - this is a guilty pleasure book that makes the commute more bearable.

As Alison Weir says in her afterword to this book, 'Elizabeth's story has all the elements of high drama: suspense, tragedy, intrigue, and the dynamics that exist between strong and vivid characters.' And Weir delivers on all these fronts.

This is my first foray into Alison Weir's writing, and when I first started it, I was not all that impressed. Her writing is nothing spectacular, but once I got beyond the first few years of Elizabeth's life, I was surprised to find myself engrossed in the story. After that, it was a very quick read, and I was a little sad to find myself at the end. The story covers those events before Elizabeth becomes queen; her mothers execution, the scandal with Thomas Seymour, and her imprisonment in the tower. I believe I will definately look into more of Weir's books.