A great voice in historical fiction, Alison Weir didnt disappoint. A well-crafted and well-researched story that brings the Jane Seymour to life in a very easy to read novel. I enjoyed it immensely.

There are so many books on the Tudor era that it's hard to choose which ones to read. If you love Henry VIII, you need to read this one. Jane Seymour may not have been as bold as Anne Boleyn, but her story still facinates. The court life comes alive in this book. It's easy to become engrossed and forget everything around you while following Jane through her ups and downs. Now I'm going to search to see what else Ms Weir has written!

Fantastic book! I haven't read the other two in the series, but I'm looking forward to reading them after this one about Jane Seymour. There is so little written from her point of view because we know so little about her. Weir takes what history tells us and weaves it into a story with authentic characters, riveting plot, and detail to keep you engrossed till the end!

It would seem impossible to make Jane Seymour’s life interesting enough to fill an entire novel, yet Weir manages exactly that. She takes the good, loved, devout and almost dull Jane and turns her life into a story you want to read, while holding true to all of the historical facts. I was doubtful that I would find this book as good as I did, but pleasantly surprised! I even learned a few things along the way. Weir has never disappointed me and that’s really saying something as I find Henry and his wives less than appealing in the first place. I do love history but have always until now had an aversion to the Tudor storyline. It’s always been less than intriguing historical drama but I have to admit I’m in love with this series and can not wait for the next installment!

First line: “A health to the bride!”

Summary: Jane Seymour is the daughter of knight. With aspirations of becoming a nun, she did not consider that life at court was in her future. However, when her plans to join a nunnery change she joins the household of Queen Katherine, the wife of Henry VIII. Jane is devoted to the queen so when a maid of honor, Anne Boleyn, starts to attract the king, Jane must decide where her loyalties lie. When Anne becomes queen, Jane is forced to serve her. As Anne’s power wanes the king’s eye begins to stray. Jane becomes the focus of his attention and his future queen.

Highlights: Weir’s portrayal of Jane Seymour is the best one I have read. Jane is a very boring queen. She has very little time to establish herself in history but what we know of her is that she was meek and obedient. At least this is what we assume but in The Haunted Queen we get a little bit of fire injected in to her character. She has opinions, thoughts and questions. Even though she is afraid to voice them, we as the reader get a look into her mind and see more than the quiet mouse she is remembered as.

Lowlights: I felt that more of the book was centered around Anne Boleyn (who is my favorite of Henry’s wives). We see the events unfold through Jane’s eyes but not much about Jane herself. Which leaves a small portion at the end of story to center around her time as queen.

FYI: Weir does a great job so far on each of the queens. Check out Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession to read the first two books in the series.

Jane Seymour has written a well-researched, well-developed story of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's 3rd and beloved wife. I've not read the others in the Six Tudor Queen series, but thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel. There were so many names and titles, that at times I felt I was reading Wikipedia, but the story moved along well. It could have been a bit shorter for the removal of some of that, as well as Jane's repetitive thoughts on Katherine of Aragon and Princess Mary, but I still give this a very hearty 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

Jane Seymour has been famous for giving Henry VIII a male heir. However, there is little else that we know about her. In The Haunted Queen, Alison Weir paints a fascinating story of the overshadowed queen. Jane Seymour has always wanted to be a nun. When she becomes of age, she tries to pursue a religious life only to discover that it was not for her. Through Francis Bryan, her distant cousin, she manages to become a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon. She learns that Henry VIII is trying to replace Catherine as queen in favor of his mistress Anne Boleyn. Henry shocks all of England by breaking with the Church of Rome and forming his own Church. He eventually divorces Catherine and marries Anne Boleyn.

In the meantime, Jane Seymour strives to remain loyal to Catherine amidst the political shift. She stays with Catherine in exile until her father orders her to serve Anne Boleyn. Jane Seymour unwillingly goes and hates every moment of serving her. One day, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. When Anne’s enemies notices Henry paying attention to Jane, they begin to form a political alliance with the Seymour family and conspire to bring Anne down. Jane finally finds herself at the center of a political faction. She eagerly awaits to replace Anne Boleyn as queen. She wants to restore the Catholic Church and restore Catherine’s daughter Mary’s rights to the throne. However, when she learns that her political faction is actually trying to kill Anne Boleyn, Jane feels guilty that the only way she can marry Henry is for Anne to die.

Alison Weir does an excellent job in making Jane Seymour a complex character. Jane Seymour is often a mere footnote when reading about Henry VIII’s wives. Novelists tend to write about the more documented of Henry VIII’s wives such as Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, or Catherine Parr. Yet in The Haunted Queen, Jane really comes alive, and her story is just as fascinating. Jane Seymour is very loyal, devout, and good. Even though she hates Anne Boleyn for replacing Catherine of Aragon, she does not want her to die. She is merciful and persuades Henry to give her a lesser sentence. She also strives to develop a good relationship with both Mary and Elizabeth. Thus, while she certainly has her flaws, such as preparing for her wedding and eagerly waiting for Anne’s execution, she still at heart strives to be good. She regrets being involved in Anne’s death and never gets over the guilt. It is why she feels haunted by Anne Boleyn’s death.

Overall, The Haunted Queen gives us an intimate glimpse into Jane Seymour’s thoughts and motivations behind her actions. I thought that most of the characters were very realistic. Anne Boleyn is given a sympathetic eye. While she is mostly temperamental in the novel, she is also very vulnerable and desperate to give Henry the longed for son. Alison Weir portrays Anne as a faithful wife to Henry. She also showed that Anne’s fall was a result of a political coup. The only thing that I disliked about The Haunted Queen was that Jane Seymour does not do much for forty percent of the novel. It mostly describes the events that led to Henry VIII’s divorce with Catherine of Aragon. Still, after reading The Haunted Queen, it makes me wonder what Jane Seymour would have been like had she not died so soon after childbirth. While her marriage to Henry VIII was short-lived, it seemed like it was a happy and peaceful one. Catherine of Aragon’s allies seemed pleased with the marriage, and the Spanish emperor, Charles, was ready to make peace with England. Jane Seymour seemed like a dutiful wife and step-mother to children. Due to Alison Weir’s portrayal of Jane Seymour, it seemed that she would have made a great queen. Thus, The Haunted Queen is a great tribute to one of Henry VIII’s most elusive queens, and I cannot wait to read Alison Weir’s next novel about Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves!

This is an amazing installment in the series. The story of Jane Seymour is not as dramatic as the story of Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. But, a more reserved and quiet Wife. This installment actually tells more of her watching the lives of the former wives as a lady in waiting. Which gives us a different insight. Rich, historical read.

I love Alison Weir! She is such an awesome writer. A person feels like she is there with Jane Seymour throughout the story of her life.

The Haunted Queen tells tne story of Jane Seymour and her life. This novel, like all of Allision Weir's books is rich in detail and intrigue. I could not put it down and recommend it to anyone interested in the Tudor Queens of Henry VIII.

I have been interested in King Henry VIII for a very long time. As an interested reader, I have read a multitude of books covering this time. Alison Weir has taken one of the more mundane wives of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, and uncovered an interesting young woman. Whether she was or wasn't plagued by the ghost of Anne Boleyn is one thread of a well-woven tapestry of life. I enjoyed the pace of the book and the description of surroundings. Alison Weir always tells a good story, and this book is a great addition to her other books on Henry’s wives. What impresses me the most is the insight and understanding she has. I certainly plan to learn more about Jane Seymour as a result of this book. Well done!

Weir's Six Queens series has been nothing short of amazing. I loved the way that Jane was portrayed. I liked that she wasn't JUST the simple, beautiful quiet country girl. Weir is a great author who has a talent for humanizing the past. Love her work.

As a fan of Alison Weir, I just had to get my hands on this book. I've always had an interest in Tudor's dynasty, and I feel that most of the books are being focused on Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. And somehow everyone skips one of the greatest wife's of Henry VIII - Jane Seymour.

Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII, and she is mostly known for the fact that she has given the king his long wanted son. However, her life as a Queen was short lived.

As a young girl, Jane wanted to dedicate her life to the church. After one year probation period as a nun, oldest Seymour girl decided to come back home. To her luck, a family friend found a place for her in court, and shortly after young Jane became a maid of honor to Queen Catherine, and after (not by her choice) to Queen Anne. Jane and Anne disliked each other from the beginning, and their rivalry continued to escalate once Jane became Henry's mistress.

Days after Anne's execution, Jane was wedded to Henry. Something else has changed at that time... Jane became haunted by Anne Boleyn.

The book is a historical fiction, not all parts of the book are true. Nevertheless, Alison Weir stays very close to the actual facts. That's the reason I like her books. She does write fiction, however, her facts are always double and triple checked. I admire the way she is able to turn a piece of history into a fascinating story. This book is easy to read and has many interesting facts about Henry VIII's most loved wife. Bravo Ms. Weir, you've created another masterpiece!

Fascinating book. Full review on GoodReads to come.

I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book (and the others in the series) give the best of both worlds to the history lover. You have the entertainment of a well written fiction story backed up by the historical research that Alison Weir is known for. Jane Seymour is often just viewed as the boringly obedient wife who gave Henry VIII the son he always wanted before conveniently dying before he could tire of her. Alison Weir helps the reader to see Jane as the multifaceted “real” woman that she was.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the digital copy of this book for review.

Henry's world, definitely not a comfortable place to be, if one lived during his reign, but it sure makes for addictive reading. Although I am familiar about much to do with Henry and his many wives, Jane Seymour is the one of which I know the least. I always thought of her as rather homely, meek and mild, a sharp contrast to Anne Boleyn, the wife whom she succeeded. Reading this, I think there is much more to this lady than was thought.

Alison Weir has studied, written books about Henry and his reign, and in this one I believe she does a masterful job in chronicling this little known queen. It begins when Jane is young, living with her family at Wulff Hall, and continues until her death. Her interpretation of Jane's life, is explained in her authors note. Her research as always extensive. It is very well written, and at over five hundred pages, it moved quickly. I enjoyed every minute of this novel, found it very immersive, all the details allowing me to envision things as seen through Jane's eyes.

A fantastic historical for any whom, like myself, enjoy or are curious about this time period.

ARC from Netgalley.

Jane Seymour, the Haunted Queen is the third book in Alison Weir’s historical fiction series about the six wives of Henry VIII. Poor Jane, so quiet and dull that in history she is remembered for giving Henry is only legitimate male heir. If she’s remembered at all. Weir digs deep beyond the footnotes of history for Henry’s wives which is why I love these novels. Whatever one-liner you’ve ever heard about any of his queens, she ignores and brings to life the women they were with all their flaws and strengths.  Jane is no exception and Weir, despite little first-hand information (Jane was not of the aristocracy so did not leave behind much writing of her own), still manages to give a sense of a woman who held fast to her beliefs—even against an aging tyrant.

While Alison Weir is probably best known for her non-fiction books, her historical fiction works are also wonderful looks into the past. This book is no exception.

Of all Henry VIII’s wives, I’ve always found Jane Seymour to be the most boring. Poor little “whey-faced” plain Jane. She did her duty and promptly died. No fuss, no muss; no trouble from this queen. But this book changed my feelings about Jane and gave me a new understanding of not only her life, but also that of her family. It was a wonderful glimpse into a fascinating time and breathed new life into people I thought I knew. I highly recommend this well written, well researched and highly readable book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very thorough account of Jane Seymour’s life as King Henry’s third wife. Alison Weir has a knack of transporting the reader back in history, so it seems as if you are right there in the thick of it as the drama unfolds. As a huge fan of Tudor history I always look forward to Ms. Weir’s novels and as usual this one doesn’t disappoint. Readers will see her life from the time she was a child up until she died after childbirth. As a child her greatest ambition was to become nun but that didn’t help promote her family and in the end she chose to leave for court instead of staying at home where life suddenly became very complicated. As all of Henry’s wives, Jane is drawn into the political drama and intrigue of court as she catches the eye and heart of the king.

The third book in Alison Weir's series about the wives of Henry VIII focuses on Jane Seymour, mother of Henry's only legitimate son. Jane may have been considered Henry's favorite wife because she did what no other wife had done - gave him the son he wanted. Unfortunately she died shortly after giving birth.

Jane is pictured as devout and loyal - especially to Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. To say she is not a fan of Anne Boleyn is accurate. She sees Catherine as Henry's true wife and only reluctantly serves Anne as a maid. Her gentle nature attracts Henry's attention when he starts to become disillusioned with Anne. Jane rationalizes Henry's attention towards her by thinking that since Anne is not his true wife, it is ok. She also feels that she can bring him back to the Church. Jane's family also push her towards the king in the hopes of obtaining honors and titles as a result.

Weir's series has been interesting so far as it looks more in depth at each queen and focuses on their individual personalty and motivations. This has been a different perspective than other books I have read which make them interesting even though the history and results are well-known. It is also interesting to compare how each Catherine, Anne, and Jane viewed same events from different points of view and beliefs. I look forward to the next one.