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hmalagisi's review
5.0
A series of wars that engulfed England for over thirty years finally comes to its conclusion. The Plantagenet dynasty is no more and the once outlaw is now the first king of the brand new dynasty, the Tudors. Margaret Beaufort is reunited with her beloved son, Henry Tudor as he is crowned King Henry VII. As Henry faces the numerous challenges of being a father and a king, his mother is right by his side to guide and protect him and his family. In the epic conclusion to her Beaufort Chronicle series, Judith Arnopp explores the transition for Margaret Beaufort in the early years of the Tudor dynasty in, “The King’s Mother”.
Since I have read the previous books in this series, it was only natural that I read “The King’s Mother”. I have thoroughly enjoyed Judith Arnopp’s writing in the past and I wanted to know how she would conclude this ingenious series.
We reunite with Margaret Beaufort and her son Henry as they prepare for the event that she has been dreaming of, his coronation. To unite both the houses of York and Lancaster to ensure peace would prevail, Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York. Their young family grows with their sons and daughters: Arthur, Margaret, Henry, and Mary. There were other children, but they died very young. Margaret Beaufort watches her grandchildren grow and acts as an advisor to Henry as the Mother of the King.
For the most part, peace and harmony reign throughout the land. However, trouble was never too far off from the comforts of the Tudor court. Pretenders lurch around every corner and rebellions are on the edge of boiling over. Henry tries to navigate the intricate European marriage market to make the best possible matches for his children.
To see these events full of hope and sorrow from the eyes of Margaret Beaufort was a delight. This was all she ever wanted, to see her son happy and alive, but for her to realize that even after the war there would be danger around every corner. Margaret was not a monster mother-in-law to Elizabeth like she is portrayed in other historical fiction novels, yet she is not a saint. Arnopp’s Margaret Beaufort is simply a human mother and grandmother who is just trying to do her best for her family.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Arnopp’s Beaufort Chronicle and this is the perfect conclusion. I have always been a fan of Margaret Beaufort and her life story. This series made me love her story even more. It made Margaret feel like a regular human being instead of the monster that other novels portray her to have been. If you want an insider’s look into the early years of the Tudor dynasty through the eyes of its matriarch, I highly recommend you read The Beaufort Chronicle by Judith Arnopp, especially the third book, “The King’s Mother”.
Since I have read the previous books in this series, it was only natural that I read “The King’s Mother”. I have thoroughly enjoyed Judith Arnopp’s writing in the past and I wanted to know how she would conclude this ingenious series.
We reunite with Margaret Beaufort and her son Henry as they prepare for the event that she has been dreaming of, his coronation. To unite both the houses of York and Lancaster to ensure peace would prevail, Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York. Their young family grows with their sons and daughters: Arthur, Margaret, Henry, and Mary. There were other children, but they died very young. Margaret Beaufort watches her grandchildren grow and acts as an advisor to Henry as the Mother of the King.
For the most part, peace and harmony reign throughout the land. However, trouble was never too far off from the comforts of the Tudor court. Pretenders lurch around every corner and rebellions are on the edge of boiling over. Henry tries to navigate the intricate European marriage market to make the best possible matches for his children.
To see these events full of hope and sorrow from the eyes of Margaret Beaufort was a delight. This was all she ever wanted, to see her son happy and alive, but for her to realize that even after the war there would be danger around every corner. Margaret was not a monster mother-in-law to Elizabeth like she is portrayed in other historical fiction novels, yet she is not a saint. Arnopp’s Margaret Beaufort is simply a human mother and grandmother who is just trying to do her best for her family.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Arnopp’s Beaufort Chronicle and this is the perfect conclusion. I have always been a fan of Margaret Beaufort and her life story. This series made me love her story even more. It made Margaret feel like a regular human being instead of the monster that other novels portray her to have been. If you want an insider’s look into the early years of the Tudor dynasty through the eyes of its matriarch, I highly recommend you read The Beaufort Chronicle by Judith Arnopp, especially the third book, “The King’s Mother”.
splat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
halkid2's review against another edition
4.0
This third and final installment of the Beaufort Chronicle provides a strong finish to the interesting and well-researched story of Margaret Beaufort, mother to King Henry VII of England and likely the chief reason there was a Tudor dynasty at all.
This volume picks up the story of her life once son Henry becomes king. A powerful figure behind the throne, Margaret continues to be someone Henry relies on for strategy and political advice. Good thing too because the Tudors have their hands full in the early days of Henry’s reign. It was Margaret who negotiated Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth of York, thereby uniting the warring Lancaster and York factions of the Plantagenet dynasty, that had formed the basis for the War of the Roses. But despite this shrewd move, Henry continues to face challenges to his legitimacy as a monarch for years to come. And Margaret remains by his side throughout, supporting his claim with a resolute iron will and a deep understanding of the needs of the English people.
Arnopp’s portrait of Margaret is of a woman who has come into her own. She has finally become the most powerful woman in the land. And she performs her role well, demonstrating both considerable intelligence and piety. Her influence on the lives of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren is unmatched. She also provided money for a significant expansion at Cambridge University.
One criticism I have of the book is that it has a somewhat abrupt ending. There is so much detail about her role while her son’s health declined, but much less about the influence that continued once he died. Still, this entire series is strongly recommended for Tudor fans since it provides such a rich portrait of an important woman in British royal history.
This volume picks up the story of her life once son Henry becomes king. A powerful figure behind the throne, Margaret continues to be someone Henry relies on for strategy and political advice. Good thing too because the Tudors have their hands full in the early days of Henry’s reign. It was Margaret who negotiated Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth of York, thereby uniting the warring Lancaster and York factions of the Plantagenet dynasty, that had formed the basis for the War of the Roses. But despite this shrewd move, Henry continues to face challenges to his legitimacy as a monarch for years to come. And Margaret remains by his side throughout, supporting his claim with a resolute iron will and a deep understanding of the needs of the English people.
Arnopp’s portrait of Margaret is of a woman who has come into her own. She has finally become the most powerful woman in the land. And she performs her role well, demonstrating both considerable intelligence and piety. Her influence on the lives of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren is unmatched. She also provided money for a significant expansion at Cambridge University.
One criticism I have of the book is that it has a somewhat abrupt ending. There is so much detail about her role while her son’s health declined, but much less about the influence that continued once he died. Still, this entire series is strongly recommended for Tudor fans since it provides such a rich portrait of an important woman in British royal history.
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