Elizabeth Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne

Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne. Margaret Irwin. 2010. Sourcebooks. 352 pages.

The fields were deep and ruddy with uncut corn, the orchards heavy with ripening fruit.

Elizabeth, Captive Princess is the sequel to Young Bess. It covers Elizabeth's life from the death of her brother, King Edward VI, Jane Grey's nine day reign, and the uncertain years of Mary's reign. The novel concludes with Elizabeth meeting her future brother-in-law, King Phillip II of Spain.

The focus is on politics and survival. How difficult it is for men and women to keep their heads, keep their lives, when rumors could prove deadly, when conspiracy theories abound.

The book focuses on the games people were forced to play with one another. How careful one had to be. How saying too much--or too little--could lead to imprisonment or even death. How did Elizabeth feel about her older sister Mary? Did she want the crown for herself? Did she support any of her supporters that would have preferred her to Mary? How much did she know and when did she know it? Was it more about keeping England out of Spain's hands?

It's a fictional novel that may appeal to history lovers. It held my interest--which is all that I ask.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews