I was really hoping that I would enjoy this book far more than the last one in the series, but I was really disappointed. I understand that the author was trying to make Jane Seymour more complex than she is usually portrayed, and while, she succeeded in some respects, her characterization ended up being wholly unsympathetic by the end. I just didn't understand how she could be so forgiving, not only of her father for his indiscretions, but of the king. She went from nearly despising him to being head over heels in the span of a chapter or two. She utterly lost me when she wears white for purity at her wedding while being pregnant...after ripping Anne Boleyn apart for doing the exact same thing at her coronation. Even worse is the continued character assassination of the entire Boleyn family. Weir is an accomplished historian, she knows that there is no evidence for much of what she accuses them of in fiction, so I'm not sure why she continues that storyline.

It's been a long time since I've read a historical fiction and I forgot how much I love them. I've seen Alison Weir mentioned quite a bit when it comes to historical fiction so when I saw this one available on NetGalley I decided I had to request it. Thankfully I was approved and I was immediately sucked into the book. For being over 500 pages long it certainly didn't feel like it as I flew through it. Alison Weir has a way of writing that draws the reader into the book and I felt as if I was an observer in King Henry VIII's court watching everything occurring in front of me.

Jane Seymour isn't one of the Henry's wives that I've ever heard much about so I didn't go in with any great expectations. The author notes that not much is actually known about Jane Seymour's inner thoughts but I thoroughly enjoyed her take on what life might have been like for Jane.

I'm curious how the first two books in this series takes place since we see a lot about Anne Boleyn in this one but I enjoyed it so much I want to go back and read them. Definitely a great introduction to Alison Weir's works!

I always thought of Jane Seymour as the one of the two lucky queens of Henry VIII; she gave him his long awaited heir, died days later before she could displease or disappoint him. This would not happen again until Henry died before he could dispose of his sixth queen.

I’ve been fascinated by the Tudor dynasty at the age of 14 after studying Henry VIII and the lengths he went through to have a legitimate son. Over time I went my sense of history became more complete as I studied the War of the Roses, learned more about Margaret Beaufort whose son became Henry VII after defeating the last Plantagenet king and who determined that to bring the white and red together that he should marry Edwards’ daughter Elizabeth. While the beginning of the dynasty had its intrigues and problems none would equal those caused by their second son, Henry.

The novel is well-written, very readable; the characters and event well drawn. I liked the book very much even if I am somewhat disappointed that it is very much fiction, with a little history thrown into the mix. Henry was a tyrant who I believe was not mentally stable, he liked playing roles and games and he hated to be crossed by anyone; the way he treated his daughters, especially Mary is beyond deplorable. This book did nothing to change my opinion that Jane was lucky to die shortly after the birth of the long awaited son, I doubt that if she had lived the author would have been able to spin this tale of Henry at long last finding a woman he could love.

Like many I did not know much about Jane other than she was the eldest daughter of the Seymour’s, a family who was very ambitious, especially her brothers Ned and Thomas. I always though of her a pawn who was played by her family to advance their fortunes and like most women of her era she had little choice in the matter. I knew that he had been a maid to Katherine and thought of her as the true Queen, Henry’s true wife and that their daughter, Mary was the legitimate heir. Most historians have portrayed her as virtuous and utterly under her family’s control; while Ms. Weir has portrayed her as a shrewd woman with more intelligence than was attributed to women in the 16th centaury. She has also portrayed her as very religious, a devout believer of the old faith, but her novel leaves this very much in doubt. Most historians say Jane was meek and submissive ( her motto says a lot) and I’ve often thought this was one of the main reasons that Henry married her; after years of Anne’s shrewishness, intrigues and tempers and Katherine’s and Mary’s stubbornness and defiance he was tired of it and wanted a little quite in his domestic life. As a king, he felt even more than most of his contemporaries that he was the absolute head of his wife, the country and his subjects; he was tired of the turmoil that had been a major part of his life. Katherine had ignored his affairs, Anne did not and she made him and everyone around her miserable with her temper tantrums. In Jane he believed that he had a another queen who would ignore his roaming, be grateful for what attention he did give her, never reproach him or try to give him unwanted advice on how to handle matters but would be there for him whenever and in whatever capacity he wanted. There were a few times that she did voice opinions prior to his and these usually did not end well. These are two quotes that I believe I have read in other works that Henry said to Jane who he supposedly loved when she dared to express an opinion that was different than his. “And you, Madame, would do well not to meddle in matters that do no concern you.” “You forget yourself, Madame”, he snarled. “This has nothing to do with you, I might remind you that the last Queen died in consequence of meddling too much in state affairs. Go attend to other things! He pointed to the great doors. Oh sure, after these outbursts he was somewhat apologetic because he saw how upset she was and second only to his desire for a son was that this third marriage look to be one of bliss, one approved of by God as lawful and true since he had convinced himself that others were not.

No matter how she justified it a devout woman would not let a married man, no matter if he was a king make her his mistress. It didn’t matter that she never believed that he was truly married to Anne that the real queen was Katherine; it still went all religious doctrine to allow it to happen no matter what her family wanted? She and others had condemned Anne when she started with Henry and no matter how she justified it she was doing the same thing that Anne had done. Jane may have been innocent and Henry was the king at seducing women but I wonder of she loved him or was this just a way for her to ease her conscious over her adultery with him? Or was it because she felt so unloved and unwanted by men that she justified as love and convinced herself that he loved her as much as she loved him? Personally, I don’t think Henry was capable of loving anyone but himself. It didn’t matter that she didn’t believe that Anne was his wife in the eyes of God, sex before marriage is adultery and of things had turned out differently; her family could have done the same thing to her that that they did to poor Catherine. Despite the authors claims that she was working to have Mary brought back to court and restored to her position, I find it hard to believe that her family, especially Ned would not work against her e efforts. Considering how he treated the two sons who may have been his, (and were innocent no matter the circumstances) I cannot see him having any sympathy for a royal child, especially a woman, which might rival any claims that Jane’s children would have.

4.25/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving an ARC of this ebook via NetGalley.

I discovered Alison Weir's work as a university student, but was thrilled when she made the transition from academic history professor to historical fiction author. In Jane Seymour, Weir applies her deft touch to painting a vivid portrait of the doomed queen as she likely actually was. Her strict adherence to historical record where available, but nuanced insight and perceptive reasoning produce a compelling, lifelike visage for the reader to contemplate. While Jane is often treated as a grasping, ambitious social climber or as a meek, mousy milksop by many writers, Weir describes her in a more complicated, multi-faceted light. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, but especially to those with an interest in the Tudor years.