As a huge fan of Alison Weir, I was ecstatic when I was accepted to receive a digital ARC of Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen. I had been accepted by the publisher for her previous book about Anne of Kleve, which I loved. This book was definitely not a let down. While Anne of Kleve was my favorite of King Henry VIII’s wives, I was still interested in Katheryn Howard. I have read other books by different authors about her, but they are few and far between, let along showing any depth or detail to her story. Alison Weir brings Katheryn Howard's life to brilliant life, bringing out rich details to where you almost feel as if you can touch the surroundings, without overdoing description and making the scenery too heavy. Katheryn is a shallow girl with the ability to eventually grow out of it if encouraged. Unfortunately, in Henry's court, being frivolous and fun with youth is a very dangerous line to walk. King Henry is suspicious and easily led to believe the worse about people with as little as one whisper from someone he trusts. He is already known as a queen killer before Katheryn Howard comes along, and her past is her doom. Alison Weir takes us readers along for the wild ride of Katheryn's short life. Before her timely death there is scandal, seduction, youthful follies, broken hearts and promises, and secrets that unfortunately will not be kept quiet. This has been one of my favorite reads so far this year. Great job Alison Weir!

"Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen" is a novel by pop historian Alison Weir. In it, we have the life story of the infamous Rose Without a Thorn.

The good: I've read Weir's novels before. Her book on Catherine of Aragon was just 2 stars from me, mostly because the mechanics of novel writing just weren't there. In comparison, while I won't say she's taken leaps forward as a novelist, she has put forward a book with considerably more flow in its writing style and a decent attempt at characterization in her use of Katheryn in particular. Here she has to give us the growth of a young girl into her late teens and to do so in a way that shows the reader both what the character sees/wants to know and the larger truth known by those around her. In this case, the kindest interpretation of Katheryn, who seemed to be socially out of her depth her entire life, is that she was either naive or a fool; Weir has the unenviable job of trying to coax the reader into identifying with a character who is actively shooting herself in the foot. And overall, she does a good job--by the end, while you are screaming at Katheryn for her stupidity and recklessness, you do understand how a teenage girl, swept up in love and lust, could make such terrible missteps.

What's iffier: Weir still has a ways to go as a writer of fiction. Her writing style here has a cadence that is mostly a simple noun + verb + object, for example: "Katheryn sat down. Katheryn began to sew. Katheryn lifted her spoon."--and so forth. While Katheryn's thoughts do not lead themselves to complexity, I don't see evidence this style choice was chosen as a means to convey the immaturity of her thoughts. Instead, I just read it as a style that comes off as a bit flat, repetitive, and simplistic.

In addition, Weir's feelings about Jane Parker Boleyn, aka Lady Rochford, are so over the top as to cause more than one eye roll. Yes, Jane's role in the death of George Boleyn and Queen Anne was suspect. Yes, in the scenario most kind to her, she gave evidence that helped bring about their deaths. But Henry VIII was never into logic when it came to his love life. We know he had Anne killed based on no real evidence. The fact that Jane Boleyn, under interrogation, began to give up answers that helped shape the false case against Anne and George Boleyn (Jane's husband) does not mean Jane killed them, nor does it mean she provided the lynch-pin of the case. Based on his history with Catherine of Aragon alone, does anyone believe Henry VIII would have allowed anything to stop his marriage to a woman he wanted? Making Jane out to be a slithering Iago figure here, therefore, just comes off as unnecessary.

And an Iago figure Jane is here in this book. The plot goes out of its way to paint Jane as the prime factor for Katheryn's downfall--not Katheryn's history of terrible choices, but Jane as the enabler, coach, confidante, and the major reason for Katheryn's most awful moments of stupidity. Why? The book hints that Jane was either a compulsive pot-stirrer or somehow living (and lusting) vicariously through Katheryn and her love affairs. The reason seems to matter less than the impact of Jane's behavior: But for Jane egging her on, even trying to set up Katheryn by outright lies, we are given cause to believe, Katheryn had a chance at a punishment that wouldn't have been execution, because adultery against the king would not have been on the table. Her only "real" crimes were to have slept with two men and pre-contracted to one before, but those events happened significantly prior to her marriage to Henry and did not involve adultery/treason.

I do not know if Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, truly manipulated the hare-brained Katheryn into acts of adultery against the king, or what would have been in her heart as she (we know) stood by when Katheryn met with her lover. This woman saw her husband and sister-in-law killed for the same crime the young queen was actively committing right in front of her, so one assumes her psychology had, at best, to be "interesting" at this moment. That said, in its sympathy to the foolish queen, the book's efforts to make Jane the main villain at the end undermine the tragedy of Katheryn Howard. Katheryn, a foolish young woman who was often the pawn of those around her, really only committed the "crime" of not wanting to be the teenage bride of an old, out-of-shape, bad-tempered autocrat. The cold reality is that the fault here was not Jane's or Katheryn's, but Henry's: A young woman was cruelly murdered because an older man couldn't bear the thought she loved someone else.

This book was reviewed based on an ARC from Netgalley.

First time reading one of Alison Weir books. I really enjoy the Tudor era and reading about each queen in-depth. This book was able to give an in-depth look into Katherine Howard’s life. As each queen is used as a pawn she is no exception. Even though this is fiction with historical truths to it Alison’s writing makes you feel like it’s all real. Her way of writing allows you to feel like your involved in the story. Her knowledge of the historical aspect of this story is proper. I have read many books on the Tudor era and I’m finding so many similar facts as I have read in other books. Well written and enjoyable to read.

Katheryn Howard is probably the least recognized of Henry VIII’s six wives. She was the one after Anne of Cleves, the one he was married to the shortest amount of time, and the second to loose her head. The Tudors have been a fascination of mine and I love reading these fictional accounts of Henry’s wives. Katheryn was a Howard, a cousin to Anne Boleyn, and although from a high ranking family, her father was poor, she was uneducated, and frankly, was a daft, stupid little flirt who was used terribly by those around her because of her beauty.

The first part of the book was good, explaining how she grew up and got to the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk's residence-her step Grandmother’s. This woman. Ms. Weir does not paint a pretty picture of her either. It seems as if she’s basically running a brothel and has no clue what’s going on. Large sleeping quarters where the male servants come at night and have “parties” with the ladies. This is what Katheryn was exposed to at a very early age, and encouraged to participate in by the very women who were supposed to be looking out for her.

Let’s just say, Katheryn breaks some hearts before going to court.

Then, once she gets to court as a member of Anne of Cleves household, her Uncle does the same to her that was done to Anne Boleyn-put her in front of Henry and tell her to flirt. She is used as a pawn to get their family back in favor With the King. Soon Anne is out, Katheryn is in, and everything is great. This beautiful 19 year old girl is with a fat, old, temperamental King who showers her with beautiful clothes and jewels. Nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. Because Katheryn’s broken hearted loves from her past come calling.

This would be the part where I would say the story is a bit ridiculous because these young men, with no money or lands to their name, try to convince the Queen to come back to them. (This is in simple terms, obviously). The Queen to a King who is known to chop of the heads of his wife and her lovers. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near anyone with the power to chop my head off. But alas readers, this is based on truth and this is exactly what happens! These two men, both work and live and the palace! And these two men and the Queen end up getting their heads chopped off. All for teenaged sex. Yep. True story!

I do feel sorry for Katheryn. She wasn’t educated like other females of her rank were, she could barely read or write. Her father was a terrible gambler who lost more than his fortune, her mother died in childbirth, her older sister married off, her step mother didn’t want her, and she was sent off to live with her richest relative, but never really given any boundaries or real familial love. She was used terribly by her Howard family to elevate their standing with the crown, and even when she was on “trial”, if she would have just admitted to the first part of her crime, she could not have been guilty of the second, but no one explained it to her. She had no council, she had no friends, nothing. Everyone she thought she could trust was only using her. I feel like she led a very sad life.

So three stars....the majority of the book was quite boring for me. Just her fantasizing and meeting with her beau’s and then feeling guilty, and what will the King do, and I’m a horrible person, oh but I love him, and we go around again, and again, and again.... The end, with the “trial”, and actually the notes at the end were very interesting.

It wasn’t Ms. Weir’s fault, it was Katheryn’s. She led a very short, mundane life. Don’t let this review cloud your judgement on Ms. Weir’s books. They are great reads!

Thank you to the publisher’s, NetGalley and Ms. Weir for an ARC to read.

What a fantastic book it drew me in from page one I couldn’t put it down. I had to see how it was going to play out amazing characters and an intriguing storyline. I can’t wait to read more book by this author.. I always enjoy books by this author she always gives you on an incredible story with characters that intriguing you. And a storyline that draws you in and keeps you there.

Alison Weir’s book about Katheryn Howard is an insightful look into the life of Henry VIII’s fifth wife. The novel starts when Katheryn is just a child and explores her experiences and changing mindset as she matures and becomes a young woman. Through flirtations, lovers, and drama, Katheryn becomes Queen of England, and subsequently dies after her affair with Tom Culpeper comes to light. The story of Katheryn Howard is not told as often as the stories of Henry VIII’s other wives, but this novel redeems the young woman who is often boiled down to an adulterer in historical accounts. Instead, Alison Weir shows Katheryn Howard as a young woman who just wants to find and hold on to love, a young woman who regrets her actions, and, finally, a young woman who stands brave in the face of death.

Most fans of Tudor history are familiar with Katheryn. She was the fifth wife of Henry VIII and the 2nd one to die by beheading. The first was the infamous Anne Boleyn. She was actually a cousin to Katheryn and part of the power hungry Howard family. Katheryn grew up very poor. Her father was always in debt and his children were scattered around to family relations after the death of their mother. Katheryn ended up in the home of the Matriarch, Dowager Duchess. What we learn is there was no supervision or real guidance. The many girls or women that lived there carried on their own love lives with the ones in charge either ignoring it or just being so set apart that they didn’t see what was going on. Katheryn takes part in the night time frivolities until she attracts the eye of King Henry. She is then trussed up and presented as a virginal beauty by the Howard family. Through the family machinations, she ends up as wife number five. Her past comes back to haunt her and she pays the ultimate price in the end.

I have read many summations and versions of the Tudor Queens. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed this series by Alison Weir and will be sad to see it come to an end after the next book. What Weir does so well is show you these stories through the eyes of the women who lived them. You end up feeling nothing but sympathy for these Queens. Katheryn, in particular, really never had a chance. She was basically ignored by all the adults and chaperones and thrown into an environment that encouraged “loose” behavior. She was manipulated by her family and her former friends and lovers every step of the way. And let’s be honest… The Howards had already caused one of their family to lose her head due to their quest for power, so did they really deserve a second chance? It’s just pure irony. I have given every one of these installments in the Tudor Queen series a five star and this is no exception.

Thanks to Ballantine and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner from Alison Weir! Great writing, well researched, richly detailed. Just wonderful! Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I knew little about Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Katheryn Howard, until I was regaled by a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London with the story of her shocking demise. History never seems very sympathetic to the young queen whose short life is the subject of Alison Weir’s new book, Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen, which follows her from the age of 7 to the moment of her death in early 1542. Ms. Weir’s novel is meticulously researched, and presents both Katheryn and the king sympathetically. Told exclusively from the Queen’s point of view, Henry’s reasoning surrounding her arrest and conviction for treason for having had relationships with men before and after her marriage is unknown to both Katheryn and the reader. Weir does take time in her notes to explain how Henry lost control of the situation, which ended up being handled badly by his advisors.

If you take history at face value, it’s hard to understand how a young wife would behave so blatantly and recklessly as to incur her husband’s well-known lethal wrath. However, with Weir’s experienced treatment it’s easy to appreciate how a teenage Katheryn fell victim to the pitfalls that lead to her execution and those of the accused men as well as one of her ladies in waiting. A fascinating little-known piece of history, I highly recommend this to fans of British history.

I didn't like this one as much as Alison Weir's previous ones, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Katheryn Howard is just 19 when she becomes Henry VIII's fifth wife, faited to be beheaded by the age of 21. A decent portion of this book, though, is focused on her life before she became queen, when she was a younger child. There is a lot of time focused on the "indiscretions" she had with different (much older) men around her. And there are more following her marriage to the King.

Overall, while this book still follows in the same historical fiction steps as Weir's previous books in the series, this one was definitely more bawdy than the earlier ones. While that might make sense to build the case against her later, it was a bit much (and repetitive) for a book outside of the bodace-ripper genre.

However, Weir did a good job making Katheryn a likeable character even with her flaws, especially as the ending is known before you even start the book. I definitely found myself frustrated with her choices -- especially those made after her marriage -- but it was interesting to read Weir's interpretation of and explanation for the historical events that took place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. It has not influenced my opinion.

Alison Weir is the Queen of Historical Fiction! I adore Alison Weir's writing. I've followed her books for years. Anytime someone mentions they enjoy Phillipa Gregory, I strongly urge them to pick up Alison Weir. She takes very little creative freedom when writing. While these books are "fiction", most of what you read actually happened. She details where she took liberty in the Author's Note and most of it is due to unknown details or dialogue. If you love the Tudor dynasty, you have to read this series.

Katheryn Howard has always been a mystery to me. I devour books about Tudors and not much as been published about her as compared to the other wives of Henry VIII. This novel uses the historical record as much as possible and then fills in the blanks with details we know about others around her. Katheryn's family used her in hopes that the king would compensate them with riches and power. What they didn't realize is that the mistakes and unwise decisions made by Katheryn were in plain view of many other people... some of those may have blackmailed her when she married Henry VIII. Gossip was highly prized in the time before the internet and it didn't take long for Henry to find out who he really married.

This book is filled with historical detail and does an amazing job of entertaining the reader while giving us much to think about. Katheryn was no innocent when she married Henry VIII but she didn't deserve to suffer as much as she did.

Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen, by Alison Weir, is a stunning example of historical fiction. Katheryn is one of the wives of King Henry VIII, a person of interest on its face, but she is one of the two that lived to tell the story. For all Tudor fans, this is an amazing read. For me, more than her story, which was fascinating, it was a snapshot of how nobility lived in the 1500s, an era in which children were seldom raised by their own families; marriages were arranged, not chosen; and the king could have whatever he wished. Families and individual were all vying for power, willing to make whatever sacrifices were necessary. Henry Tudor's reign was an amazing time; his wives were amazing women. This was an intriguing story of one of them, retold beautifully. I recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction, for Tudorphiles, or anyone looking for a good read.

I received a free ARC of Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen, from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #katherynhowardascandalousqueen

I am really enjoying this series. This is the fifth novel and documents the life of Henry VIII’s fifth wife. I did not find Katheryn to be a particularly relatable character, but she’s undoubtedly a tragic one. I’ve deducted one star because I felt that some of the more romantic/sexual scenes of Katheryn and her lovers fell flat. Alison Weir is an incredible historian and writer, but perhaps writing about sex is not one of her strengths. Overall it was a strong addition to this series and I’m looking forward to book six.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

I am a huge Alison Weir fan so getting access to this was wonderful. Katheryn Howard's story is not as popular as Catherine or Anne, and this was an enchanting peak into the lives of the Tudor Court.

Would recommend to anyone looking for a historical fiction novel!

This was the first book of this series that I enjoyed! Catherine actually felt alive,and I really enjoyed her. She didn't deserve the fate she received.
The part that gave me a dislike was how Tom Culpeper acted. He was very childish,and sniveling,and I just didn't like that at all.
It was an enjoyable book though!!

Allison Weir‘s latest novel ”Katheryn Howard The. Scandalous Queen” was a delightful read. The story of Henry the eighth‘s fifth wife is a little known blip in the history of his reign. As to be expected from Ms. Weir’s past books her research was impeccable and her portrayal of the characters quite realistic. Although Katheryn’s reign and involvement was quite brief the author managed to bring to life the every day realities of the English court at that time.

This book will satisfy the historians thirst for facts as well as the Romantics need for adventure. A book that on many levels answers questions and offers hours of pleasurable reading. It appeals to young and old alike.

Absolutely stunning! I knew a little about Katheryn Howard from documentaries I have watched, but after reading this book, I had no idea everything she went through. It was all about manipulation and she was just a pawn in the game to gain the King's favor. I felt so sorry for her when she was a child and how she was constantly being pushed off on relatives. Excellent book.

I’ve read very little on Henry’s third, fourth, fifth and sixth wives. It was a perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge on these ladies, reading Weir’s latest book, Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen.
Scandalous, she was. Katheryn, relative of the Duke of Norfolk, was the pawn of her wealthy family. Hoping to give their family more power in court (in a nutshell), they put Katheryn, a pretty young woman, conveniently under the king’s nose. He is quickly smitten and marries her soon after divorcing his fourth wife. (No spoilers here, this happened 500 years ago.) The bloom of a new marriage fades, and somehow, Katheryn is caught – she may have been her family’s pawn, but she was no angel.
Katheryn was carrying on with an affair, and had two previous romantic relationships, much to the king’s fury. It’s a fascinating lens, seeing this drama of the 1500s unfold in the 21st century. Affairs are frowned upon, but to be punished for having previous relationships? Nonsense. Katheryn was also formed from a line in a history book into a well-rounded character, with depth of emotion and naiveté. She isn’t simply a pretty face who likes fancy dresses and jewels, but a woman with feelings that ranged from desire, to worry, to guilt, to fear. She seemed to try to do the “right” things, but was caught up in the tide of intrigue and fun that others around her engaged in. It also didn’t help that there were handsome faces about.
The consequences of her actions come quickly and with ferocity, and I couldn’t help thinking of her last interaction with the queen. It was so loving and completely ignorant of the inquiries and imprisonments that would soon follow. One day, the king loves you, the next, they’re sending you to the Tower. Crazy. And how horrifying – to be punished for things you did when you were young and thought you were in love. She didn’t know she was going to be the queen!
The book is heavy with romance and romantic moments, and although there are some racy moments, Weir writes it with a classy hand, and avoids being too graphic. I appreciated how she was able to write about a story so filled with sex without making it too “in your face.” Weir also writes with a great style, but I sometimes wondered if the dialogue and word choices were of the time period. For example, is “tricked out” something they said in the 1540s? Apparently, yes, it is. The phrase was developed in the 1500s. So, kudos, Alison Weir, you genius! I will have to go back to read her books about the previous wives.

This is the fifth book of Allison Weir's "Six Tudor Queens" series. I have not read the previous four but after finishing "Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen," I'm going to.

I love stories of Tudor England and although we're all aware of how Katheryn's story ends, how she got there is less well-known. Weir's thorough research fills in the blanks, starting with her lonely childhood. Told from Katheryn's point of view, the story shows how the beautiful, naive and not particularly bright girl was used by those she trusted to help them advance their positions in the world while she desperately sought the love and security she never received from her family. But her fate isn't all the fault of others - Katheryn makes some terrible choices along the way (I found myself wanting to shake her often!) but you can't help but wonder if her upbringing had been different how her life might have been as well.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.