Close

Login

Lost Password     Register

Close

Register

Lost Password     Login

Close

Lost Password

Login     Register

Book Review

Publisher's Note:

Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. However, obliged to return to court, she attracts the attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII, who dispatches his love rival, Seymour, to the Continent. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal so, haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and become his sixth queen. Katherine has to employ all her instincts to navigate the treachery of the court, drawing a tight circle of women around her, including her stepdaughter, Meg, traumatized by events from their past that are shrouded in secrecy, and their loyal servant Dot, who knows and sees more than she understands. With the Catholic faction on the rise once more, reformers being burned for heresy, and those close to the king vying for position, Katherine’s survival seems unlikely. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.…

This review may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using these links, then Compass Book Ratings may earn a small commission.

Queen’s Gambit

by Elizabeth Fremantle

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 21+

Overall Book Review:

King Henry the 8th is a fascinating book subject and much has been written about his reign. Queen’s Gambit, by Elizabeth Fremantle, details Henry’s marriage to his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. I was instantly engrossed with this well-paced and heavily researched tale. Told from three characters’ perspectives – Parr, her maid Dot and her physician friend Huicke – readers will learn much about this pivotal period in history. Fremantle proves to be a capable author in her debut novel and I especially appreciated her realistic portrayal of Katherine as a kind and strong champion of religion with a few character flaws. I highly recommend Queen’s Gambit for anyone who loves Tudor history.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Simon and Schuster


Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  8 religious exclamations, 11 mild obscenities, 9 derogatory names, 3 anatomical terms

Violence/Gore:  Multiple reports of violence involving racking, burning at the stake and beheading; a character’s arm is twisted violently.

Sex/Nudity:  Several instances of kissing; a non-sexual depiction of nudity; numerous sexual references; a few incidents of touching and caressing; numerous implied or reported accounts of sexual activity, including reference to the rape of a teenage girl; a scene of sexual activity between adults without details; two detailed descriptions of sexual activity.

Mature Subject Matter:

Homosexuality; assisted suicide; adultery and infidelity; pillage and rape 

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters frequently drink.

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
3
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
8
10

Share This Post

About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

Share Compass Book Ratings