Royal Reviews: Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer

Title: Mary, Bloody Mary
Author: Carolyn Meyer
ISBN: 0152019065
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 225
Genre: Historical Fiction-Children’s
Rating: 3 Crowns

Synopsis:

The story of Mary Tudors childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary’s right to the throne. Believe it or not, it’s a true. Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the drastic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter. Carolyn Meyer has written a compassionate historical novel about love and loss, jealousy and fear-and a girls struggle with forces far beyond her control.

My Thoughts:

I had been curious about Meyer’s Young Royals series since I received Cleopatra Confesses this summer through Galley Grab. This will be a mixed review, I would not recommend this for serious historical fictionistas. I don’t believe the material id “deep” enough to hold some adult’s interest. However, if you are looking for a light historical reading (like me) or if you’re looking for historical fiction for children I’d definitely recommend this book. The book does a great job at giving the reader the condensed version of Mary’s childhood, and of drawing a picture of what was happening around her and in England. A personal pet peeve, that I also experienced with Cleopatra Confesses, is that Meyer doesn’t seem to have her characters mature. Meaning her characters, as then year olds have a pretty mature voice and since her books are written in first person the change in their character as they grow up does not come across very well. I believe it’s a great children’s book, I would simply be hesitant to recommend it to an adult. That said, I will continue this Young Royals, can’t wait to get to Marie Antoinette’s book!