Philippa Gregory

#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory weaves a spellbinding tale of a young woman with the ability to see the future in an era when destiny was anything but clear. Winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee with her father from their home in Spain. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee; she has the gift of “Sight,” the ability to foresee the future, priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, who brings her to court as a “holy fool” for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up with her own yearnings and desires. Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen’s Fool is a rich and emotionally resonant gem from a masterful storyteller.

A Novel

The Queen's Fool

Lacy W

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tw: incestish (step daughter and step father in an inappropriate relationship, slut shaming, parental death, graphic depictions of execution, sexism, loss of pregnancy, infidelity, war

I did it! I finally read my oldest book on my Goodreads account. This book has survived a few purges from when I added it in 2016. Yeah, you read that right. I added this book in 2016, back when I was a young and learning the ways of Goodreads, not knowing it would consume my life. I decided one day that I was going to try and read books on my tbr because it really needed to happen. And I feel so great about it! It was so refreshing to see my tbr go down by one book. I was so invigorated by my success that I requested a loan for the second book that has been on my Goodreads. Nothing can stop me now. 

On to the actual review. I enjoyed this book but man, it was about 200 pages too long. This was a monster book coming in at over 500 pages. It just seemed a little excessive to me. When I love a book, 500 pages in nothing but since I didn’t quite love this book, it just started to drag and drag. But there were things I enjoyed about the book even if the length was way too long. . 

I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the court through the eyes of a fool. This is the first time I’ve read a book through the eyes of the fool. It makes me want to read about the court through the eyes of Will Somers. They tend to see more than most. It was also interesting to see spying in the court. It's been a while since I have read a good book about spies. I’m looking at you, Red Sparrow.

As for the main character, Hannah, I liked being in her POV. It helped that it was in first person. It made it a little more personal. She had tremendous character growth; something I absolutely love. She grew from an almost spoiled girl with an attitude problem to a young woman, ready to take on responsibility. And you all know that I am a sucker for character growth. But she really did like to repeat herself over and over again. She couldn’t decide what she wanted to do and she really played a dangerous game, making people mad with her comments. You can’t just say what you want at court. That’s how you die.

Overall, I did enjoy the book despite my less than stellar review. I gave it 3 (three) stars simply because the length was too much. It could have been 200 pages less and it would have still been a good book and I would have rated it at least 4 (four) stars. Regardless, I am so glad I read it and I can’t wait to finish this series after starting it so many years ago.

Elisa Bieg

I love historical fiction. And you can count on Philippa Gregory to create characters whose lives are interwoven with well-know historical events, which is the best part of historical fiction: looking at events we usually only know from history books, from the viewpoint of someone who lived through them, whose life was affected by them. Even if they are fictional characters, it's a powerful tool to make history feel more real and less clinical, less distant. 
That said, there is something distinctly "chick-lit" about Gregory's books — romance is often a central focus, and there is often a "rambling", stream-of-consciousness quality that brings to mind that trite trope in jokes about women who talk too much and the men who end up tuning them out. Seriously, editing is a beautiful thing. 
Or maybe I am just frustrated because Hannah has to be one of the most annoying main characters I have ever come across; and because of the above-mentioned lack of editing we get to enjoy all her neurotic uncertainty — which expresses itself in unwavering certainty first in one thing, then another, and so on. Good grief woman, make up your mind.

In 1553, fourteen-year-old Hannah Green, a young Jewish girl, flees to London to escape the Spanish Inquisition and catches the attention of Robert Dudley, who plans to use her talents for observation and second sight, as Hannah must choose between the intrigues of the English court and her secret life in the Jewish community, in the sequel to The Other Boleyn Girl. Originally in paperback. 50,000 first printing.

Jaymie Lemke

Cassidy

Sarah Escorsa

What an enjoyable read! As usual, Gregory makes reading a 500 pages book a breeze. I love the way she manages to mix fact & fiction effortlessly and her character development is always excellent. She definitely is my favourite historical fiction author.

Amanda

I loved this tale of Hannah Green, aka Hannah the Fool, a fictional character in the court of Queen Mary. It kept me on my toes and really made Tudor England come to life.

Hannah is a fascinating character, one I enjoyed reading about. She and her father fled the Spanish Inquisition, though they were always afraid it would find them again. While I learned about Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth from this novel, I also learned a great deal about the greater European world at the time.

And while Queen Mary, at least from what I knew about her before reading, didn't seem like a lovable queen, I really enjoyed the author's characterization of her. A tender hearted queen who just wants love and what's best for her country...but at a terrible cost that she can't seem to grasp. Princess Elizabeth was scandalous and not at all the 'virgin' woman we associate her being. This book was just the right amount of steamy, suspenseful and historical.

I didn't like the minor infidelity plot that happened to Hannah; I suppose if this counts as a trope, it would be my least favorite. Hannah is more forgiving than me, but I came to understand her feelings and decisions.

This may be my favorite Philippa Gregory novel I've read so far. There were not the typical plot holes or questions not answered. I really felt I knew Hannah and didn't want her story to end. As always, I love the fantasy element of Gregory's books; this is no exception. This time period seems magical and fantastical anyway, so why not embrace it?

Janet Doré

This novel delves into the royal mess created by Henry VIII...specifically, about the rivalry between Mary (Henry's daughter by Catherine of Aragon) and Elizabeth (Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn). Through the eyes of Hannah, a teenage girl who becomes Queen Mary's Fool and a true friend to both women, you see how two very different women vie for England's throne to save their country. 

I really enjoyed this book, which I unprofessionally classify as "educational chick lit". It's a coming of age story of a young woman and is filled with romance, history, intrigue, and more. A great summer read...

A stunning novel set in the Tudor court, from the Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory.

The Queen's Fool A Novel

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