My rating: 3.5*
Genre I reckon: Historical Fact/Fiction
Now, I only review books I'd recommend to a friend on here. Yet this only scores a 3.5*. Yes, but I still recommend it to those of you who enjoy historical fiction. Let me explain...
This book looks at the very start of the Tudor dynasty - fascinating! It drew me in like a fish on a hook.
I'm so bored of all Tudor history looking at Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. How the royal house started is intriguing yet neglected. Enter Henry VII.
The Lady of the Ravens is clearly very well researched, and I praise that. Lady Vaux was indeed a real person in the queen's household. And she did marry Lord Guildford.
But herein lies my issue - it then reads more like a historical account rather than a novel.
I got a very good sense of events, clothing and place, but never really felt like I was there. And I didn't feel acquainted with the characters as much I'd like to be. There was a lack of dialogue and emotion.
Now, for me, that's an issue, but it may not be for others; I appreciate that.
The enmity with Henry Wyatt was well set up, but it never really seemed to go anywhere. There were a couple of things, but it never really reached a satisfying conclusion. But perhaps that was truly the way it was?
I enjoyed the 'imposter' parts very much. We will never truly know what happened to those poor Princes in The Tower, but it's always interesting to ponder over.
The start was brilliant, and Joan's interactions with the weavers was wonderful - a glimpse into how court gossip was spread. I could see and smell old London (pooey!) in that part of the story, which was fab.
And the link to the stability with the kingdom was reflected well in the comings and goings of the ravens. Although, sadly, it's thought that Charles II (much later) was the first king to proclaim the beautiful birds protected.
On the whole, this was an enjoyable look into courtly life as the Tudors struggled to get a foothold.
Always in love and light,
TL
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