Maybe it's me, but historical fiction gets tricky when it's about someone well-known and well-documented. Given that historical fiction is my go-to, comfort genre in reading and that history is the place where I get sucked into the most rabbit holes and want to read all the things... this complicates my Reading Life in rather creative ways. As relates to VALHALLA by Alan Robert Clark, the British royal family is something I've read a lot about and still want to read more. And so I requested the chance to read this story of Princess Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary.

Queen Mary was someone I knew from reading history as the grandmother to Queen Elizabeth II, mother to the Duke of Windsor, fiancee of the prince who might have (but was not) Jack the Ripper, and a bit of a kleptomaniac. Simple facts and a public image that was carefully crafted, but not much more. And yet she has fascinated me since I first found her as a steadfast queen whose husband led England during World War I and buried her son, the next king, after World War II.

And I've wanted to know more.

I could have read a biography, I'm sure, but that's always a bit intimidating.

So VALHALLA fit the thing I wanted.

Three things matter most in historical fiction:

1) Sticking to historical fact and detail, not changing history to fit the story.
2) Making the conversations and interactions feel... possible in the part of history they are set in.
3) ~if about a real, well-known person~ Staying true to what is known and how the people are known to have behaved and carried on.

VALHALLA ticks each of those boxes.

As someone prone to falling down rabbit holes of research for fun, the events described in the novel follow with known history and no one has some sort of technology that they shouldn't.

Though there are not too many first-person written accounts of the lives of royalty in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, there is much contemporary fiction and the interactions between Mary (or May, as she was known to family and friends) and her family and staff feel very real and possible.

Queen Mary is known for putting duty first and above all else, and that carries through in the novel.

What Alan Robert Clark adds to the story is that May is and was a young girl and a young woman, with all the thoughts and feelings and desires that young women have. Born into a family that prized titles and prestige, her path was laid out early on and the way Clark describes how she might have struggled to adjust and adapt and even to abandon that which her heart desired is stunning.

And, perhaps most important of all, VALHALLA made me want to learn more... and I will.

(Thank you to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for the chance read this advance copy of VALHALLA. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own, and not influenced by anyone associated with the book.)

Princess May Of Teck moves with her parents to Florence after they have fallen from grace within the English royal family. The serious May likes Florence and the company of painter Henry Thaddeus Jones. After their return to England, Queen Victoria wants May to marry Eddie, her grandson and second in line to the throne. Against all odds, Eddie and May become fond of each other. But when Eddie suddenly dies of the flu, May's future becomes unsecure.

I must admit I didn't know anything of Queen Mary's life before I read this novel. My knowledge of the British royal family stops at Queen Victoria, apart from the current's queen of course :). So Valhalla gave me a nice insight in the young May Of Teck and the formidable woman she would later become.

This is a story about love and duty. And the longing for freedom of a young woman not able to make her own choices. It's about the sad loss of a prince and how it can torn a whole family apart.

I feel I now have a better understanding of Mary Of Teck's young life, although some of the elements in the novel are fictional or only based on rumors (her love interests for example). Mary is often seen as an ice-queen alongside her husband George V. In this book you get to know the young couple and how they try to keep up appearances. I had hoped to learn more about Georgie's character and the king he would be.

At first the writing style didn't really grip me. I just couldn't always follow who said what. Halfway the book, I felt a connection with May and I just wanted to know how her story would end. At that point, I was used to the writing and I enjoyed the book a lot.

The title 'Valhalla' is only explained in the last chapter. I believe it would have worked out better if it had been mentioned earlier in the book. Now it felt a bit artificial.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher to provide me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

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This review will be published at https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/ and Goodreads on October 21st.

I've never read a historical fiction book about Mary of Teck before and I greatly enjoyed Valhalla. From her first engagement to her eventual marriage to Prince George, this work follows a very interesting life and story.

Valhalla: A story of love and duty by Alan Robert Clarke

My impression of Queen Mary has always been that of an imposing but austere, cold and rather forbidding figure, fixed in my mind as an elderly and severe woman. So, it was a real pleasure to have that view challenged and to see her complex character delightfully teased out in this interpretation by Alan Robert Clark.

Valhalla tells the tale of Mary of Teck, a minor royal whose looked down upon family feel redeemed and excited beyond measure when May is chosen to marry Prince Eddy, the heir to the throne. Although May has her reservations, she has been brought up to put duty above all else and agrees to the match. But when Eddy dies suddenly, May is expected to marry his younger brother, the cold, domineering and rather foolish, George, and her commitment to duty above love and personal fulfillment is tested to the limit.

This fascinating book does not deal with the severe older Queen Mary of popular memory, instead it recreates the early life of the girl who went on to become the formidable Queen Mary, consort of King George V, mother of the notorious Edward Vlll who married Wallis Simpson, and grandmother of our present Queen.
It shows us a young woman who wants to know the world, who dreams of a more intellectual, passionate and interesting life and who hopes to find love, but who eventually gives all this up to undertake her royal responsibilities and fulfil her family duty.

Reading this book brings Queen Mary to life in a way that challenges the traditional interpretation of this impressive Queen. It shows the private sadness and regrets behind the public face of royal duty. It is a sad story, beautifully told, and crying out to be made into a movie.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

May of Teck is a lesser British royal. Because her father lacks the proper lineage, May is destined to be disregarded as marriage material, until one person notes her qualities; her “Aunt Queen“ Victoria chooses her for Eddy, her grandson and heir to the throne. May feels, though not a love match, it shows promise. When Eddy is fatally stricken, she once again is tossed aside. The Queen values her potential as a helpmate so May becomes betrothed to Georgie, the next in line to the throne. Her life and husband lack passion. There are, however, two men who arouse her buried emotions; unfortunately both are married. She doesn’t experience deep affection for her children, the maternal instinct expected of her. What she does understand is her duty, the duty she has always answered to. Through this duty Alan Robert Clark shows the reader how she saved her family’s status, enhanced her husband’s image and became a principal influence in the mindset of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

Immersive interpretation of the early life and marriage of May of Teck, who would become Queen Mary, mother of the the notorious Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, and grandmother of current monarch Elizabeth II. Born into minor royalty, her family was looked down upon; her mother, Mary Adelaide, though the granddaughter of King George III, was known as "Fat Mary," while her father, Francis, Duke of Teck, was known for his peculiar behavior.

May was briefly engaged to Prince Albert Victor, heir to the throne, but he died during a flu pandemic shortly after their engagement. At the urging of both families, she later married the unimaginative Georgie, younger brother of her first fiance, who would become King George V. Although May yearned for a more intellectual and creative life, she eventually subsumed her desires in favor of her royal responsibilities.

A fascinating glimpse into late 19th and mid-twentieth century royal life, and the tangled, confusing web of European royalty. #ValhallaNovel #NetGalley

A really interesting book describing the life of Mary of Teck who became Queen Mary. I had not known anything about her mother Even the fact 5hat she was known as Fat Mary.. it was an eye opener to see the work that the Duchess did as the first real charity worker and supporting the Needlework Guild. I love historical books that weave a story around the facts as it brings history alive. As Queen Mary she did a wonderful job despite her sad upbringing. From her early years she was indoctrinated in the fact that her role in life was to please everybody else and hide her own emotions. It has always been said that her and George were devoted to each other but after reading this and hearing what Edward said on her death I have to wonder if she went through life just doing her duty and not being able to experience true love.
A sad but beautiful story and I loved the references to Aunt Queen.

A distressing story which has kept me captivated from the beginning till the end. A life where the sense of duty is stronger than the feelings of love can destroy a lot innerly. Well written, you do feel along the characters' depression, their angst when they try and suppress their emotions in order to project a perfect image to the world. Do we expect so much from Royal people? At such a cost? I don't.
Enthralling and informative. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction based on real people.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book for free.

I have to say, I have been fascinated by the topic of Queen Mary and her marriage for a long time. I did learn quite a bit but overall it was an enjoyable read.

What a great novel! Facts mixed with fiction, beautiful story of May of Teck and her life full of duty as a member of English Royal family.

We sometimes forget that crowned heads are humans too, with feelings and their own minds. And Queen Mary was a magnificent woman of the twentieth century, in the world of dominance of patriarchy.

Love it!

This is an interesting and intriguing book about a member of the royal family who I knew very little about.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

May of Teck was the only daughter of a noble family fallen from grace, has been selected to marry the handsome Prince Eddy, hier to the British throne. Submitting to the wishes of Queen Victoria and under pressure from her family, young May agrees. Prince Eddy dies of influenza and to her horror, May discovers she is to be married to his brother, George, instead.

This is the story of Mary of Teck who was later known as Queen Mary. May had been surrounded by strong women throughout her life. I like books on Royal history and this book did not disappoint. This is an addictive and informative read. Queen Mary was the grandmother to Queen Elizabeth II.I didn't know a lot about May of Teck before i read this book but I have a good understanding of her now.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #FairlightBooks and the author #AlanRobertClark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have no interest in the current members of the British Royal Family but I like history so I’m pretty familiar with the historical figures. I think this book will appeal to people who are interested in both current and past royals.

May of Teck, herself a great-granddaughter of George III, is as a much more interesting person than what she is typically described as. This book almost reads like a biography of her but she’s fleshed out into a real person. She’s a strong women, surrounded by intelligent women and I feel this aspect of her life was well fleshed out. The book starts when May is younger through marriage to the future George V.

If you’re interested in learning more about less known historical figures, this is a great book to read!

#BookReview #Valhalla #NetGalley

Thank you so much to NetGalley and fairlight book for providing me with ARC.

This novel is so good, i always love Historical Fiction and never felt board, i love England Culture so much since i was kid and studied it but i never read about queen Mary before.

When i was six years old, i loved and adored queen Diana so much, she is the queen of my heart and the main reason that i loved England culture. I searched and read a lot about England.

England Culture is very rich of events that has changed the strict laws within this royal family over the ages, this novel is about queen Mary , she is the grandmother of queen Elizabeth 2 , queen of England now, this novel opened my eyes to Mary as human not Queen, i read about her a lot when i read this book and i will try to continue after.

This is the first novel to me by Alan Robert , i really enjoyed it, the author did a great job by writing this novel, it's so easy to fall on it.

Queen Mary was once known as a May of Teck. Born into a life of duty which was known from a very young age. This novel tries to show May the person rather than the Queen she will become. On reading we see just how difficult her life must have been putting Duty first Always. Good read and a lot of artistic licence to make an enjoyable book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Fairlight Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. Valhalla is the story of May of Teck (later Queen Mary), Queen Elizabeth II's paternal grandmother. The story is told primarily from May's perspective in her youth, from her teenage years in Florence through her turbulent marriage to King George V. It is a coming of age story about which I knew next to nothing!

Alan Robert Clark does a masterful job of storytelling. It is so easy to identify with May, a strong woman who is surrounded by strong women throughout her life. She must find her place in a world not yet ready for powerful women, and it is not an easy adjustment for her. The pacing of the story is excellent, and while it is technically historical fiction, it feels like we are given access to the secret life of The Firm.

I flew through this book and did not want it to end! I found myself reading up about May even after I had put the book down each evening. If you love reading about the British royal family and are interested in reading about someone who is not as well known, this is the story for you.

A fun, reasonably entertaining 'what if' novel looking at Queen Mary of Teck. At times I found it too speculative in outlook and modern for the time frame.

I have been a royalist all of my life. When I was young , Princess Diana was all over the media and she sparked my interest in the whole family. So I was eager to learn more...albeit Historical Fiction and I am not sure how much embellishment has taken place.
Queen Mary had seemed aloof and always stood very straight and tall in pictures I had seen. And there were stories of how she never came to the rescue of her own children, when their harsh father demanded too much from them. This having major effects on our own queens father, who struggled with a stutter.
I loved learning of May of Teks early years. She loved life but her mother was an absolute snob, even though she couldn't afford to be.
May was fun, sociable and progressive ahead of her time. And strong enough to lose not only her fiance, but also her true love .....who was married to another. She lived her life of sacrifice married to a man unable to express feelings and ultimately she became Queen Mary.
In telling her story, Alan Robert Clark has transformed my impression of May from staid to stunning. Thank you NetGalley, Fairlight Books and the author for the chase to read and review this enlightening book.

Queen Mary has a reputation of a dutiful but dull woman. This novel breaths new life into Mary, I enjoyed every page. The amount of detail is extraordinary! I loved Mary from the first page to the last, now I will be looking forward to more books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is more and more royal fiction being published now, but this is quite different- it has a significant amount of weight behind it. May of Teck and Georgie (George V and Mary) are often passed over for their grandparents/parents and children, because their reign was stable rather than exciting. However, I could not put this book. Queen Mary always seems quite impervious, looking back, but the May that we meet and get to know is a very real and complex woman. Consorts are rarely given as much attention as their ruling spouse, but I am thrilled that Mary is front and centre.

Clark does fill in May's private thoughts, and the interactions between May and George, but it fits well with what we know. It is an imagined but realistic telling of the beginning of their relationship, and it feels quite different from the public image we saw in later in years. However, that public image wasn't the most exciting- this certainly gives us a more human and relatable story!

Also, he includes a wonderful biography. It has the standard Queen Mary biography from Hennessy Pope and Vickers' book on that biography, but many more. This is a perfect book for anyone interested in The Crown, and the British royal family in general!