"The truth is, none of us are innocent. We all have sins to confess.
So reveals Catherine de Medici in this brilliantly imagined novel about one of history’s most powerful and controversial women. To some she was the ruthless queen who led France into an era of savage violence. To others she was the passionate savior of the French monarchy. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner brings Catherine to life in her own voice, allowing us to enter into the intimate world of a woman whose determination to protect her family’s throne and realm plunged her into a lethal struggle for power.
The last legitimate descendant of the illustrious Medici line, Catherine suffers the expulsion of her family from her native Florence and narrowly escapes death at the hands of an enraged mob. While still a teenager, she is betrothed to Henri, son of François I of France, and sent from Italy to an unfamiliar realm where she is overshadowed and humiliated by her husband’s lifelong mistress. Ever resilient, Catherine strives to create a role for herself through her patronage of the famous clairvoyant Nostradamus and her own innate gift as a seer. But in her fortieth year, Catherine is widowed, left alone with six young children as regent of a kingdom torn apart by religious discord and the ambitions of a treacherous nobility".
The Tudor Throne
by Brandy Purdy signed review copy releasing 7.1.2011"In the wake of King Henry VIII's death, England’s throne is left in a precarious state-as is the peculiar relationship between his two daughters. Mary, the elder, once treasured, had been declared a bastard in favor of her flame-haired half-sister, Elizabeth, born of the doomed Anne Boleyn. Yet the bond between the sisters was palpable from the start. Now reinstated, Mary eventually assumes her place as queen. But as Mary’s religious zeal evolves into a reign of terror, young Elizabeth gains the people’s favor. Gripped by a tormenting paranoia, Mary is soon convinced that her beloved Elizabeth is in fact her worst enemy. And the virginal Elizabeth, whose true love is her country, must defy her tyrannical sister to make way for a new era...
A brilliant portrait of the rule of "Bloody Mary” and her intricate relationship with Elizabeth I, the adored "Virgin Queen,” here is a riveting tale of one family's sordid and extraordinary chapter in the pages of history".
They both look like fabulous new reads! Every time I read your blog my TBR list grows just a little bit!
ReplyDeleteBoth look so good. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I don't read nearly enough Historical works, when, in my teenage years, it was always a genre that I particularly enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteIt may be that I don't get so much time to read now and I am therefore inclined to select authors whose books are relatively easy to read in short chunks, whereas Historical books always seem to demand and deserve much more concentrated reading.
Both of your selections sound fantastic, particularly the 'Gortner'
Two worthy books. Love the Medici cover.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, hehe good I am glad the effect is a positive one though LOL.
ReplyDeleteMystica, Confessions was a really good read and what does not show in the picture is it is like gold leafed shiny sparkles on it, a very pretty book. I can not wait to read Purdy's novel.
fiction-books, I know what you mean and I tend to stay away from the larger HF novels for that exact reason. I just can not take on 500+ page novels anymore because they are way too demanding.
Librarypat, oh you would love de Medici in person then it is sparkly gold. I love UK covers for some reason I tend to always like them more than US ones.
To Fiction-Books: I know exactly what you mean. You might want to give my books (The Tudor Throne or The Boleyn Wife) a try, my stories tend to be more character driven, rather than bogging the reader down in a lot of facts and dates you have to remember.
ReplyDeleteBrandy how nice of you to pay a visit. I have to agree you are right I would defiantly agree with the fact that "The Boleyn Wife" was not bogged down with facts. I love your style Brandy it is very entertaining like it was meant to be. I am really looking forward to "The Tudor Throne".
ReplyDelete