Customer Reviews

The Queen's Lady

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I'm a big fan of Judith Merkle Riley and Susan Wiggs, and I took notice when I saw their blurbs on the cover of "The Queen's Lady." However, I have been told since that a lot of times writers are paid up front for blurbs, without having read the book in question. I certainly hope that's the case for Ms. Riley and Ms. Wiggs, because the "Lady" really is a tramp, and not worth your hard-earned dollars. If you must read it, check it out at the library, but don't say I didn't warn you.

There's no shortage of plot- in fact, there's too much of it. The novel lurches from incident to incident, and comes across like a creepy hybrid of "A Man for All Seasons" and Paul Verhoeven's "Flesh and Blood." Honor Larke, the "heroine"- and I use the term loosely- is set upon by disaster after disaster within the first few chapters, including being orphaned, kidnapped, raped, and having her inheritance stolen from her. She manages to become Sir Thomas More's ward, and although she thinks More is the best daddy she ever had, he has the hots for her. She kind of has the hots for him too, but before we are subjected to a scene of them in bed together, she finds out he was the guy responsible for burning her best friend at the stake (which is described in disgusting detail). I guess that's kind of understandable why that would sour things.

Anyway, Honor decides that she must become the Savior of the Lutherans, and runs around rescuing Lutherans from being arrested (sort of like a Scarlet Pimpernel in a farthingale, I suppose). However, at the same time she's Catherine of Aragon's #1 lady-in-waiting, hence the title. Yet Honor decides that she must bring Protestantism into England, that Queen Cathy is cool and all, but she must sacrifice her friend to the greater good of routing the Evil Catholic Church from Old Blighty's shores; and part of that entails buddying up with Thomas Cromwell and doing her best to forward Anne Boleyn's ambitions. I found it amusing, in a way, that this scheming, backstabbing character had the name of "Honor," but no one in the book comments on the irony of that. I also found it amusing that she's able to do all of this, without her guardian More having a clue as to what she's up to. Does this guy live in a cave, or what? If he's so crazy about her as we're led to believe, wouldn't he be keeping tabs on what she's doing?

Most of the book is concerned with Honor rushing hither and thither, rescuing Protestants while she talks about how much she hates More. There's a romantic interest, some guy named Richard Thornleigh, who's saddled with a crazy wife who dies conveniently. Honor is such an awesome gal that she proposes to Richard two days after his wife kicks it, even though he protests that his wife died only two days before. But she exclaims that she's dead, they're alive, that they must live for today, etc. Of course, we are supposed to believe that Honor is assertive and filled with joie de vivre or something, and not a callous, manipulative bitch. I am sure the author means well, but the characterization is really very poorly done.

It just gets worse as the book goes along. Honor gets into Big Trouble and has to flee the country to Germany, where she ends up in Munster, among a commune of lunatic Anabaptists. The book actually gets quite interesting here, because this a time and place you never see in historical fiction. But after a great deal of excitement, Honor realizes that religion sucks, there is no soul, and GOD IS A LIE! It is all absolutely as subtle as a brick hurled through a stained glass window, and I threw the book against the wall at that moment. I hate books with an agenda, and the author of "Lady" shoves hers down your throat.

The ending of the book comes pretty quickly after that, with our hero and "heroine" galloping off into the sunset (but not before a final confrontation with Sir Thomas More, who gropes her, wallows in his own misery, and hallucinates the "imaginary" heavens, to show us what a pathetic, screwed-up martyr he is). I have never felt that strongly about More, but I am offended Ms. Kyle feels it necessary to trash the man and his beliefs, just to make those of her heroine (and presumably, her own) look better.

She does try to assert in the end that More's immortality lies not in his obviously wrong Catholic faith, but in his brilliant book "Utopia." If it is true that one's immortality depends upon on the quality of the books one leaves behind, then I'm afraid that Ms. Kyle is clearly doomed, as "The Queen's Lady" is trash. Avoid at your own peril. There are many other books by Judith Merkle Riley and Susan Wiggs to read instead.

I admire Sir Thomas More so when I saw that this book was somewhat circulated around him I got all excited, but I read a few chapters and I litterally felt my eyes were burning. One Honor wishes she was Thomas More's wife rather than Alice Middleton and fantasizes about him sexually. Yeah like Sir Thomas More would commit adultery. Then a few chapters later she hates his guts, like she was bipolar and once again should one side of More rather than both sides.

I stopped at this part where Thomas More and Henry VIII where on this rickity Bridge while the sweating sickness killing thousands around them... doesn't make since why would Henry the king risk himself getting sick. To make Matters worse she makes Thomas almost fall through the bridge and Henry is the hero and saves him. Knowing how ridiculous the plot was I thought the author was going to make Henry and Thomas do the nasty on the bridge next. I stopped there and couldn't go on.

Anyway what I am saying is if you are admirer and a fan of Sir Thomas More...don't read this book.

I do not read many historical novels but when I do I want one which manages to re-create the milieu, with an intriguing central character and a plot which twists and turns. I also got to like the author's style.

"The Queen's Lady" has all four ingredients. Kyle's main character in the book, Honor Larke, lives in turbulent times, amidst very good people and some very bad ones, and she tries to tip-toe her way through some very sharp places! Like many of us, Honor is torn between different passions and tries to keep sane while making headway through the conflicts around her. This keeps the book alive. As does Kyle's writing style, often elegant, sometimes real fast.

A great read - a great escape ! Go for it.

Those folks who enjoy the English romantic historical novel (and that includes most of us) will thrive on The Queen's Lady.

Barbara Kyle transports us effortlessly into 16th century London and lets us share in all the intrigue and romance that goes with being connected to the court of King Henry VIII.

But The Queen's Lady is not just about Honor Lark and her romances. The author is devastatingly merciless when she deals with the religious influences of the time, showing the manipulation of church in the interests of the state.

It makes you glad we've separated the two -- and reminds us that we need to keep it that way!

When Sir Thomas More's ward, Honor Larke, chooses to become a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon rather than marry, she gets caught up in King Henry's "Great Matter" in ways she would have never dreamed possible. While King Henry tramples the laws of God and man in his desperation to divorce Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn, Honor uses her position and contacts at the religiously divided court to secretly save "heretics" from being burned at the stake. But what will she do when the accusing finger is inevitably pointed at her?

It is a great prize when a Tudor fiction junkie can find an exceptional book that looks beyond the famous figures of the times to the people who were simply trying to live their lives in the shadow of a selfish king's destructive behavior. The Queen's Lady digs into the heart of the religious turmoil taking place during Henry's reign and shows the reader a frightening world of greed, fanaticism, and intolerance and heroic deeds in defense of justice and reason. This is the kind of Tudor fiction that keeps us coming back to the well!

In 1527 London, women have few choices they can make. To Honor Larke she can select between a marriage that sounds like incarceration or serving Her Majesty, Queen Catherine of Aragon. She chooses the latter as the court will be exciting while marriage will be boring; in either case she knows she must obey.

After informing her guardian, Sir Thomas More, Honor joins the court of Henry VIII. However, she quickly is appalled at how poorly the monarch and his supplicants scorn the queen while kissing the king's butt. Honor becomes outraged when the King humiliates his wife by demanding Rome grant him a divorce while he plays around with Anne Boleyn. Loyal to her Queen and her friend, Honor carries letters to her Majesty's Queen's allies that if caught will behead her for seditious acts. All is well until that foppish cavalier whom she desires, Richard Thornleigh, catches her.

Intrigue, betrayal and avarice are the fuels of King Henry's court as THE QUEEN'S LADY quickly learns. Honor lives up to her name as she feels a strong loyalty to the tossed aside Queen and acts on her fidelity at the risk to her life. Thornleigh is actually a more interesting character than the title protagonist as the audience is not sure whether he is an early sixteenth century Pimpernel, a genuine fop, a traitor or a "secret agent". Fans of historical fiction with a romantic subplot enhancing the era will enjoy Barbara Kyle's deep look at King Henry's first marriage that had ramifications across Europe.

Harriet Klausner

As a Pastor I was most interested in this story as it related to the early persecution of Protestants by King Henry VIII. While this is a historical novel weaving actual historic figures with fictitious figures it is the fictitious characters that we follow most closely.

King Henry VIII has started the process to try and obtain a divorce from Queen Catherine, this so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. As such Catherine has been set aside from the court and been given just a few servants to attend to her. One of those servants is Honor Larke. Mistress Larke has grown up as a ward to Sir Thomas More. Sir More has been kind to Honor and given her a good education and treated her well. Honor is also entitled to a great estate, but she only gets that estate fully under her control if and when she marries.

Sir More sends Honor to Catherine's court to attend to the Queen. It is here that Honor is to discover the deception going on as well as the religious persecution that is happening to Protestants. At first she is unmoved by the death of the heretics. But then a childhood friend, Ralph, is burned at the stake as a heretic.

This single event is to change Honor's life as she is devastated by the gruesome death of Ralph. She takes on the role of trying to help the Protestants stay a step ahead of the King's men who are hunting down the heretics.

Long story short, Honor discovers ways to help the heretics escape England for Europe where they can live some what in peace. To do this she makes a deal with Richard Thornleigh who owns three sailing vessels as part of his wool trading business. Richard allows Honor to smuggle the heretics on board his ships and he transports them to Europe. This is a dangerous business. If caught they both could be burned at the stake.

To make matters more difficult, Queen Catherine is one who wants the heretics burned. So, Honor is walking a tight rope of deception while serving in the Queen's court. To make matters even more complicated, Anne Boleyn is sensitive to the Protestants and if made Queen would most likely push to remove the persecution. But Honor doesn't like Anne because of her being the King's mistress.

All of this intrigue is further complicated with Honor falling in love with Richard Thornleigh. But he is a married man.

I disagree with one of the previous reviews of this book where the reviewer stated this book was trashy. I found that it was not anywhere near that realm. As a matter of fact, Honor and Richard put their self desire on hold because of his marriage. They do not have an affair, they do not do more than two kisses before realizing that they shouldn't indulge. It isn't until Richard's wife dies that they can fully allow their emotions to take first place.

I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the next in the series. If you like historical novels regarding England and the King's court you will enjoy this novel.

Thank you Barbara or a delightful read.

This book did get a little busy, Honor is always dashing off on another ill advized rescue mission which does get a little bit unrealistic. However it was a great book to read, keeps you interested and does not disapoint. I thought it mingled well with actual historic events. It is worth the time to read this book.

Not only is this not a very good book, it is a reprint of "A Dangerous Liason" published in the 1990s. If you really want to read this, try looking for it under its first title in a used bookstore. I bought this book and when I read the first page I knew I had read it before. Didn't like it the first time and, after trying to read it a second time, liked it even less!

I read this book at the behest of my wife. Normally, it's not something I'd read. This has to be one of the best books I've ever read. Beautifully written. Wonderfully crafted. But more importantly, it has something to say about the religious intolerance that's inflaming our world today. A romance and an adventure story with something to say -- how novel -- how refreshing.

And lastly, if I wasn't happily married, and Honor Larke wasn't a fictional character and in a relationship, I'd propose to her.