This book walks a fine line between making Henry relatable and acknowledging the extreme narcissism that goes part and parcel with being a 16th century monarch. The story primarily focuses on Henry's romantic relationships (as one does). In general, I enjoyed this, and of course I always trust Weir's factual foundations, but I also have to admit that I much preferred the novels of Henry's wives. It's just very, very hard to be truly sympathetic to Henry's extreme selfishness.

Wow! This book is SO GOOD! It is intriguing, gripping, incredibly well-researched, historical, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "The King's Pleasure", I was whisked back in time to the Tudor Era, and did not want to put this book down.

Alison Weir is such a phenomenal author! Her writing style makes history jump to life right off of the page, and she seamlessly weaves history and historical fiction...and this book is simply impossible to put down!

Told from the perspective of King Henry VIII, this historical fiction novel covers a large period of his life, beginning before he becomes King. It was really interesting to see his thoughts on many historical moments, and the story progresses quickly as he grows older with time.

If you enjoy historical fiction and / or anything relating to the Tudor Era, I highly recommend this book! I so look forward to reading what Ms. Weir writes next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine (Ballantine Books) for the ARC of this novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second book in the author's Tudor Rose trilogy. It is also Alison Weir’s first fiction novel told from the view of a male. I was excited to read something written from Henry VIII’s point of view since most novels about him are about his wives and from their point of view. I’ve already read Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series, so I have her perspective in that aspect, but they are not necessary to read to read this book.

The book starts with the death of Elizabeth of York and how affected Henry was by it. I’m not sure if it was intended, but to me that loss was the overarching theme of the book. Even though his childhood was briefly shown in the book, it was enough to show how it shaped him, his marriages, his reign and ultimately his political policies. I feel it does an excellent job of putting together not only Weir’s nonfiction work about Henry VIII, but also other nonfiction work.

The main thing Henry VII is known for is his wives and I really liked how all his marriages were shown. I was frustrated that all the wives were shown as villains at some point, but I realized that was because this was from Henry’s point of view and that it evoked that reaction just gives testament to the view of women at the time and the excellent writing. It also showed that he was striving to find a wife that would give him an heir and every time that didn’t happen, he believed she didn’t live up to the saintly standard his mother left him with. When Katherine of Aragon failed in that, it bled into his subsequent marriages. While his later wives were not as in depth because of the length of their marriages, it did accurately portray how their marriages affected policy.

This book also showed how volatile the Tudor Court was and the scheming that went on behind the scenes. It is well documented that Henry was easily led, by wives and favorites, and this book showed how that was made possible. This aspect also showed how his paranoia about the Plantagenet’s really stemmed from his father’s lessons when he became the heir. I was glad Weir did not shy away from the bad things Henry did and showed them honestly. I think her depiction of Charles Brandon as his only true friend was also incredibly accurate, especially compared to the other men he had ennobled that worked him to their advantage.

I was a bit disappointed by how short the Author’s Note was in this, but as I read an ARC, it may be longer in the published version that I have not bought yet. I am used to a longer note that details all the fictional aspects used and, in the ARC, only one of these was covered and not the one I was hoping for. But that disappointment is my own preference and does not take away anything from the story. Anyone reading without the extensive background I have on Tudor history probably would not even recognize it is not something documented. This book was a solid 4.5 stars of 5 and another excellent book by Alison Weir.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine Publishing and Alison Weir for the electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are too many books about the Tudors out there to count, but in The King's Pleasure, Alison Weir does something few authors have tried: she tells Henry VIII's entire life story through his point of view. Weir is an historian and nonfiction writer above all else, so her fictional writing reads more like narrativized history than a traditional novel (the closest example I can think of is George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood). This was not a deterrent for me, however; I always walk away from Weir's fictional stories feeling like I learned something new, and this was no exception.

There are some drawbacks to this writing style. Because of the sheer amount of time this story spans, there were many passages merely summarizing what was happening in Henry's life, and the parade of wives that have made him so famous (and is what arguably draws most readers to this time period) doesn't really come into play until the second half of the book. But what made The King's Pleasure so remarkable to me was how empathetic it was to its main character. By telling the story from Henry's perspective, a much more sympathetic and reasonable man emerges than the mad king we're all used to. Henry's actions are as cruel and erratic as ever, but they're bolstered by a sincerity often missing from other portrayals. Through Henry's eyes, we get to understand why he acted the way he did, and even sympathize with the man who felt so defeated by the circumstances of his life.

This book was a great addition to the Six Tudor Queens series! It was such a wonderful change of pace to read about Henry from his point of view. I love the fact that it went from his childhood all the way through to his death. The only thing I wish would have been better is a more in depth look at his marriages from his point of view. It seemed to mainly focus on Katherine and Anne and just skim over the rest. Other than that it was a great read and well researched as all her books are.

Such a great book. I love all of Alison Weir's previous issuing regarding the wives of Henry VIII and this was no different. The story follows Henry VIII himself with a more contemporary view of his life and his outlook. The story, as well known as it is, was given new life by this retelling and I would highly recommend that anyone who enjoys Tudor historical fiction read this. It also gives an insight into the actual historical goings on with his wives as well - looking at them from a more contemporary viewpoint.
If you love historical fiction, you'll love this!

First line: He had cried for hours.

Summary: Henry Tudor was not expected to be king of England. However, after the death of his elder brother, Arthur, he is thrust into the limelight and is the hope for the Tudor dynasty. As he makes his way to kingship he is awed by the beauty of his brother’s widow, Katherine of Aragon. He is determined to make her his wife. His reign is bound to be a renaissance for the English people but the king who had grand plans for his reign is now remembered for his multiple wives, religious upheaval and countless executions. Alison Weir brings to life the story of the man who has intrigued historians and readers for centuries with a look into his motivations and hopes for his rule.

My Thoughts: So much has been written about the wives of Henry VIII but few novels have looked into Henry’s point of view of the events of his life. It was an interesting peak into what Weir believes his motivations were during his reign. A majority of the book spends time on his marriage with Katherine of Aragon and the pursuit of Anne Boleyn but then the rest of the book speeds through the other four wives.

I enjoyed this insight but I felt like much of it was easy to gather from seeing how he treated his wives. For fans of the Tudor period will enjoy it and it’s a good intro for newcomers but it was nothing overly exciting. I am more looking forward to the book on Mary I since I have read few books with her as the protagonist.

Another amazing historical fiction book from Alison Weir. Ms. Weir has covered all of King Henry's wives, this time she covers the life of King Henry himself. If you are a fan of Tudor history this is a must. It does feel a little long, but there is so much history to cover. I think this would have been good as a two part book. Nevertheless, this is a great novel.

Thank you to the above-mentioned and #netgalley for the #giftedecopy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Alison Weir once again proves she is one of the undisputed queens of historical fiction with her newly released novel told from the perspective of Henry VIII! She has long been one of my favorites, so I was ecstatic to be asked to review her new book by her publisher.
This new book was just as addicting as her others! Proof? Well, it is 23 hours of listening/reading, and I finished in two days' time! Her writing is so smooth, I forget I am living in the present, and I am thrust back into the 1500s! Since I read the ebook along with the audiobook, I have to give a shout-out to the awesome narrator, Rosalyn Landor. She has so many different characters to voice and does them all justice! If you like Tudor History, you will want to get a copy of this book!

I’m a huge fan of Tudor historical fiction. I’ve read so many books on this era of history but most have been focused on the females telling their story such as Weir’s previous series of the six wives of Henry VIII or the first book in this series which is about Henry’s mother.

This is the first time I’ve read a book from King Henry VIII’s point of view and I found it fascinating. And completely believable with few embellishments. I completely agree that Henry refused to see the truth and mostly lived in his own little made up world. He justified so much based on what everyone around him was telling him, and believed whatever was best for him. He seemed to be very gullible.

I have watched shows like The Tudors and Wolf Hall and the history all tells the basic same stories. And I can never get enough.

I enjoyed this version from Weir very much and prefer her fiction novels so much more than her non-fiction. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. I’m truly Tudor obsessed when it comes to Weir’s historical fiction.

*Thanks so much to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance eGalley.*

Alison Weir is the queen of history books featuring British royalty. This has also given her a very authentic voice for her historical fiction foray’s, and this book is no different. Factual events are woven throughout the story, so even if you know little to nothing about Henry VIII you’ll still get a bit of education with your entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Alison Wier paints a comprehensive, human portrait of Henry VIII in the second of the Tudor Rose series. Her historical novels are obviously painstakingly researched yet read like delicious gossip. We follow Henry from his petulant pre-teen years through his days of glory as a most beloved king. His pettiness and jealousies cause many casualties throughout his life, and at the end, he is a rather tragic figure. The writing makes the book hum along, with beautiful descriptions thoughout. I will continue to read and recommend historical fiction by Weir.

This book is a novelization of the life of Henry VIII, told from Henry's perspective. At 600 pages, it's thorough in recounting well-known events. The only thing that's surprising is how passive Henry is, how easily led by the people around him. There's little character growth—he starts out a selfish child and ends up a selfish child. I suppose that's one sort of commentary on his life, if not a very interesting one. His wives are also portrayed as stock characters. The novel is engaging and readable, but I can't help thinking there was a lost opportunity to delve more deeply into the complex psychology of a man who executed so many of the people closest to him—to show him as an unreliable narrator who doesn't recognize what a monster he's become.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Alison Weir does such a great job with painting a historical picture of King Henry viii. I have loved all of her historical fiction books and will continue to read them all!

Having actually enjoyed Alison Weir’s nonfiction book on Medieval English queens, I jumped on the chance to read this novel about Henry VIII — but in the end it left me cold. And I think I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of big issues that kept irking me.

First of all, I’m not sure if this book knows what it wants to be. A novel wanting to be a biography? A biography trying to get novelized? But a novel really needs something more than just a year-by-year life recap with a bit of inner commentary thrown in. You can’t skip detail in a nonfiction biography, but the beauty of a novel lies in the possibility to omit some detail and focus on character development and introspection and any sort of a plot that goes beyond the Cliffs notes version of a life.

But here with all the unnecessary details in 600 pages there still was no depth or plot besides superficial events recounting.

The second issue is the protagonist. This book gives us “Harry’s” perspective, but unfortunately the way he is presented here he’s just plainly not that interesting. Here he’s a bit of an easily confused yet stubborn bumbling buffoon who mostly just reacts to other people unsubtle pointing him in the direction they manipulatively want him to go, and he just sort of blunders through life in a thick fog of confusion. He doesn’t ever have his own opinion besides being told by others how to act and what to feel — and that gets tedious pretty quickly. We are told what happened, but there is no exploration of why. If “Harry” doesn’t quite understand why he does the things he does, how am I supposed to?

I think the goal was to show that the supposed bloodthirsty tyrant was actually not always to blame for his actions, but I was starting to wonder how he ever managed to walk, talk and breathe at the same time without falling over. Not to say that “Harry” wasn’t a dense easily fooled and whiny meathead, but being inside his head was really not that interesting and honestly, felt a bit like an unpleasant chore.

And interesting people and events were left at the periphery of the story, losing the potential to liven this up and bring any kind of life to the plodding narrative of Henry’s life. I would have loved more Wolsey or Norfolk or Cromwell and a bit less speculations of “Harry” being put off by vaginal odor or too-thin of a body, and fewer painfully earnest inner voice proclamations of his.

I wish Weir just had written a straightforward biography of Henry VIII which could have read close to a novel than a novel that reads like a substandard biography.

2 stars.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always, I love the immersive details and descriptions Weir gives to bring these historical figures to life in her novels. I definitely recommend checking this one out if you're a fan of her Tudor Queens Series.

I was so happy to see Allison we’re is going to give Henry the eighth her Royal historical treatment. From the age of 12 until his death she covers everything from his many wives to his children legitimate and one not so legitimate I love the voice that the author gave to king Henry known as Harry to his family and his historical counterparts I am a big fan of her books and cannot wait to read the next one kudos to the author for another great historical fiction achievement it is a book I highly recommend to any historical fiction fan and or just a thing of royalty the authors writing keeps you captivated and turning the pages I absolutely loved it a definite five star read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As a fan of Alison Weir’s writing, I know I can lean on her works to have a strong factual foundation. The King’s Pleasure is no different. A year by year fictional account of Henry VIII’s life, this novel is a treat for any Tudor lover. Details give the thoughts of the king throughout. We are privy to his reasons (based on Weir’s research) behind so many historical decisions. I was excited to get a version of him where the overarching subject is simply “Harry”, his feelings, his closest friends, where he travelled, decisions on finances, what made him obsessed and his loves. His wives are part of his story, but they are merely side characters reacting to his ever changing personality and worries. The author is careful show the rich world of which Henry was a part, such as other world leaders, movement of his troops, opulent clothes created and gifts given. How much goes into a king’s life? Weir portrays him as less of an ogre, and more reactionary based on his situation. We get a glimpse of how this king is a function of those around him, his upbringing, and his need for an heir. At the start of the book we are treated to snippets of Henry’s writings, his own words to ponder. Some institutions have not changed, and the English monarchy was and is in need to put forth the best image. I suggest this novel for those taking a first deep dive into Tudor history or as a parallel to Reformation history. I will be reading and referring back to it again and again. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Penguin Random House for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The King's Pleasure is a captivating novel by Alison Weir that delves into the intriguing life of Henry VIII. Weir masterfully blends historical facts with her own creative imagination to create a compelling narrative. The book is a delightful read that offers a unique perspective on the king's motivations and conversations. Weir's writing style is engaging and entertaining, making the story come alive for readers. Overall, "The King's Pleasure" is a must-read for anyone interested in Tudor history or simply looking for an enjoyable and well-written novel.

The King's Pleasure by Alison Weir is historical fiction that is so readable and yet rich with history. This story is teh story of King Henry the VIII, his life and his wives told from his perspective. Often in other books we see Henry from the outside in, but in this case Weir gives us context of how he may have come to be who he was and why he may have acted as he did. One of the big lessons is that absolute power absolutely corrupts.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. I'm a Weir fan and this one was very enjoyable.