Reading this one right after Phillipa Gregory's The Constant Princess, I was initially struck with the differences in Weir's style. I personally feel like Gregory's flows a bit better and is generally more engrossing, but Weir's writing did grow on me as the story progressed.

As for the story itself, it was quite the interesting look at Elizabeth I's life. As the daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, she and Mary I forged a unique friendship early in life. Mary I was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII.

The interactions between her stepfather, Thomas Seymour, were bizarre to say the least. Especialy the dress cutting incident that Catherine Parr (Henry VIII's widow and wife of Seymour) partook in along with Seymour. Despite knowing the Elizabeth I ultimately becomes queen, there was quite a bit of suspense around the matter when Mary I was in power that Weir captured quite well (if a bit exhaustively).

Overall, a solid read at 3.5 stars. I still think I prefer Gregory's books though this one was quite good.