Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Two women competing for a man's heart. Two queens fighting to the death for dominance. The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen o Two women competing for a man's heart. Get A Copy. Hardcover , pages. Published September 16th by Atria Books first published More Details Original Title. Derbyshire, England , United Kingdom. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Other Queen , please sign up.
I want to surprise my wife with a new Philippe Gregory book. What are her most recent two? Then I will discreetly browse her collection and check.
Thank you. Do you have to have read the other books in the series for this one to make sense, etc? I got it as a gift and just want to know if I should read the others first. Stacey Sharpe-Jones No. Each book has a standalone quality and is sufficiently detailed that you don't have to have read the other books to understand what is happening. See all 6 questions about The Other Queen…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3.
Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Sep 11, Diana rated it it was ok. This book took me quite some time to get through. I have read Philippa Gregory's other books, and though they are not always factually correct, and most often read like gossip mags, I have come to enjoy them and expect that of her books. This was so long and drawn out, and not at all enjoyable. It is written from the viewpoint of Mary Queen of Scots and her two jailers, but you are never engaged with any of the three main characters.
Gregory simply twists and repeats the same sentiments for each This book took me quite some time to get through. Gregory simply twists and repeats the same sentiments for each chapter. I had to force myself to finish it. No new revelations, or interesting facts are ever revealed. It was like walking through mud. View all 16 comments. Audio: 5 stars The narration for this novel is a full-fledged five stars. The story is told from three viewpoints Bess, Mary and George and each character gets its own distinctive and independent voice.
I give bonus points when audio books do this, as they can be hard to follow with only one narrator not to mention they can get quite monotonous , so to have three on this one made the experience enjoyable. Each narrator was concise, deliberate and animated and highly-skilled. Hands down, a great audio experience.
Story: 3. This well-informed novel tells the story of the one and only Mary Queen of Scots. Mary, Queen of Scots, is strikingly beautiful, and also holds the unique position of being heir to the thrones of Scotland, France and England.
This, obviously, does not sit well with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, who exiles Mary to northern England, to live with newlywed couple and loyal English subjects , Bess Hardwicke and George Shrewsbury. While living with the couple, Mary tries in vain to return to Scotland and regain her throne, using her charm to persuade the Earl of Shrewsbury to help her. But with the threat of a treason charge on his head, will George help the young queen, or deny his feelings and avoid a beheading?
Initially, I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in this novel. Mary was brave and confident, determined to overcome what others thought of her in pursuit of what she rightfully deserved. Bess was also very strong and independent, focused on providing for her family and keeping her fortune. George was a devoted husband and loyal subject to Queen Elizabeth- until Mary enters the picture.
By the end of the novel I was not as enamored with the characters. Mary had become entitled and whiny, George was a downright sap and nincompoop, and Bess although quite possibly the only likable character by the end was self-obsessed and shallow.
As usual, Gregory does stellar research, and her knowledge of the period is above par. I found, however, that parts of this novel dragged on too long. There were many royal figures in this novel, and their roles in the plotting were often just fillers. The three main players of this novel, George, Mary and Bess, drew me in and kept me engaged, but the other multitudinous royals and nobleman beyond Elizabeth herself of course did not interest me.
I went into this novel with the knowledge of how the fated Scots Queen would fare, but I still enjoyed reading her story.
Overall, the narration of this novel is a five-star delight, and the novel had me intrigued for the most part , although a shorter novel with fewer characters and more focus on the main plot would have made this a perfect read. View all 13 comments. Shelves: hist-fiction. The ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots. The Tudor blood ran in her veins yet she was ousted from Scotland and denied the English crown in the event of Elizabeth's death. Her right to the crown is often debated amongst historians.
Her guardian George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. A man torn between serving his own queen Elizabeth 1 and Mary who is thrust into his household. He was in an unenviable situation; to serve England or to honor what is right and just. His wife Bess Talbot Countess of Shrewsbury. A rare commodity in Elizabethan times; a businesswoman but also a woman who finds more than her estates in jeopardy. Strangely, I had little sympathy for Bess; I felt she was more concerned with losing her wealth and her houses than she was about her marriage.
The evening hour is fading within the dwindling sun, And in a lonely moment those embers will be gone And the last of all the young birds flown. Her days of precious freedom, forfeited long before, To live such fruitless years behind a guarded door," One of those weird moments: While reading this novel yesterday, a really old song came on the radio see above. Of course, Fotheringay is the castle where Mary Queen of Scots was finally imprisoned.
Hearing that song while reading of Mary felt really strange. Recommended for lovers of good books and historical fiction novels. View all 17 comments. Dec 15, Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it Shelves: fiction , 21th-century , historical , british , literature. She has left her son in Scotland in the hands of the Protestants and expects her cousin to restore her to her throne. Secretly, however, Mary recognizes herself as Queen of Scotland since she was born to it , France since she married to it , and England since Elizabeth's paternity and her mother's marriage to her father is questionable.
As Mary plots to overthrow Elizabeth, Elizabeth puts her in the custody of George Talbot and his wife, Bess of Hardwicke, in response to Mary's repeated attempts to claim the English throne.
Mary is indignant at the captivity, repeatedly stating her royal status, and is upset when she is given some of the reigning queen's gowns to wear, saying that they are "hand-me-downs. Most of the novel centers around the first few years of Mary's Stuart's imprisonment, during which time she makes several failed escape attempts and almost immediately begins to seduce the earl.
George slowly begins to feel his loyalty to Elizabeth fade, replaced by a strong attachment to the captive queen. This results in marital problems with Bess, who ultimately separates from him. I understand that it was the most popular and was made into a film. Can't an author write other books and in other writing styles?! Straighten up, some you other "readers". Moving on, The Other Queen, featuring Mary Stuart during her time of "protection" aka house arrest under Elizabeth I in the home of Bess of Hardwick; is indeed a great read.
Mary had quite a life from the moment she became Queen, merely days after her birth. With a mother like Mary of Guise, this was written in the stars. The story picks up after Mary's involvement or lack there of with the murder of Lord Darnley and the subsequent marriage with Bothwell.
Afterwards, Mary flees to England thinking Elizabeth can help claim her innocence and to return to Scotland stronger than ever, however, Elizabeth with the help of scheming yet intelligent Cecil is urged to place Mary under house arrest to protect her own crown and that of James Mary's son in Scotland.
Yes, The Other Queen did skip all that drama and focus on the house arrest but this brought into play the famous Bess of Hardwick and her views on the situation. This opens a new fork in the road to how one can perceive Mary and Elizabeth during this time. Despite being in Bess's household, Mary is still portrayed as a stong, daring, and conviving in a good way. Mary was an extrememely ambitious indiviual throughout her turmoil and Gregory suffciently presents that in a unique way.
View 2 comments. Gregory seems to have changed her style some since 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. This is certainly not a frothy bit of 16th century soap opera but quite a serious and well researched bit of historical fiction on life of Mary, Queen of Scots during the first few years of her imprisonment in England. It also places a great focus on one of my personal heroines of the period, Bess of Hardwick. She is one of the three narrators. Most of the action takes place at the Talbot's estates rather than at the court of Queen Elizabeth.
I feel Gregory has tried to up her game in terms of accuracy to history though may find, if reviews on amazon and here are any indication, that readers who enjoyed the gossipy fluff find this hard going.
Gregory suggested two recent biographies, one for Bess and one for MQoS, that had influenced her writing. On the strength of that I've reserved them both from the library. View 1 comment. Sep 18, Tara Chevrestt rated it did not like it Shelves: women-that-really-existed-fiction , historical-fiction , england. As a Gregory fan, I am very very disappointed. This book has the same style as The Boleyn Inheritance, in which it goes back and forth between narratives of three different people.
That, I did not mind. The narratives themselves are awful. You have Bess Hardwich who just goes on and on and on about her properties and her candlesticks stolen from monasteries and her account books. She never talks of much else and she speaks every 2nd chapter. You have her husband George that just rambles on about As a Gregory fan, I am very very disappointed. You have her husband George that just rambles on about his loyalty and honor.
And of course you have Queen Mary. Let me say, I am going to search for another portrayal of her because this queen resembles nothing of what I have heard of her.
In this book, Queen Mary just pontificates on her status. My body is sacred. You cannot touch me. Yada yada yada. One chapter she is writing him letters "My dear Bothwell, come save me," and the next chapter she is stating how he raped her and forced her to marry him and kidnapped her.
Then again, in the following chapter, she is declaring he is the only man manly enough to fight for her. Somebody, enlighten me, please. This installment tells us the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, and how she struggles to regain her throne and Kingdom. But her cousin Queen Elizabeth is like a huge barrier between her and her goal. Elizabeth and her advisor Cecil force Mary to live under the guard of Bess of Hardwick and her husband George.
What Bess did not expect was her husband falling in love with Mary. There is lots of drama and lots of conflicts. The book is narrated from three points of view. This is another book in which I completely dislike Elizabeth. I really need to read more about her to confirm the awful attributes that Philippa Gregory has given her. She is insecure, jealous, and wicked. She reminds me of her father. This was another entertaining book from the author.
Unfortunately, this is the last book of her royal historical fiction. It is worth it a lot. Not just for the entertainment factor but also for gaining historical knowledge. The majority of the books were excellent. If you are interested to read about royal historical personalities, I think this series will not disappoint you.
It has all the ingredients necessary to make it a worthwhile ride. Sep 20, Quianna rated it did not like it Shelves: historical-fiction. This is the latest book in the Tudor series and it is painful to get through.
I can pick up The Other Boleyn Girl and read through it in one sitting, but each book in the Tudor series grows more and more tired until we are left with the mess that is The Other Queen. Using three different perspectives worked fine in The Boleyn Inheritance, but in this book they change so often, sometimes lasting only a page and a half, it is hard to grow attached, or even understand the point of view of one singl This is the latest book in the Tudor series and it is painful to get through.
Using three different perspectives worked fine in The Boleyn Inheritance, but in this book they change so often, sometimes lasting only a page and a half, it is hard to grow attached, or even understand the point of view of one single character. Jan 10, Anna rated it did not like it Shelves: library-book , read-in , fiction.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First off: I cheated. As soon as I realized that this book was Tudor-Lite, I speed-read it just to be done with it. So "Mary as divinity" wasn't a surprise, turning the fascinating Bess of Hardwick into a Elizabethian version of Angela Channing just turned me off, and George Talbot made absolutely no impact on First off: I cheated.
So "Mary as divinity" wasn't a surprise, turning the fascinating Bess of Hardwick into a Elizabethian version of Angela Channing just turned me off, and George Talbot made absolutely no impact on me whatsoever.
Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.
The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question.
Book opens in Elizabeth I has been Queen of England for ten years. Mary Queen of Scots - Queen Elizabeth I - BookPage "Deftly weaving fact and fiction into a lyrical, literary tapestry Above all, the book is an examination of the nature of loyalty" Full Review.
The Guardian "Gregory's eye for detail and pacy storytelling bring to life a woman born to greatness but condemned to end her days on the scaffold" Full Review. The voices are strong throughout" Full Review. People Magazine "Mary's hell-bent assuredness combines deliciously with brisk chapters and rich historical detail.
Lovereading "Philippa Gregory is back with another fantastic historical novel More from this series. Signup to Philippa's latest news and get updates of her upcoming releases.
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