UK reviews for ‘Sisters of Treason’ by Elizabeth Fremantle have started appearing. ‘Sisters of Treason’ (the sequel to ‘Queen’s Gambit’) was published on 22 May by Michael Joseph (Penguin).
(c) Penguin
‘Yes, I know – it’s yet another Tudor job, when the shelves are already groaning. But this is an endlessly fascinating era, and Fremantle manages to combine pacey storytelling with superb background. The prologue describes, in harrowing detail the execution of poor little Lady Jane Grey, aged only 17. A few years later, the Grey family are desperately trying to get back into royal favour. Queen Mary is on the throne and Protestants are being burnt at the stake. Jane’s younger sisters, 14-year-old Katherine and ten-year-old Mary, struggle to survive at court. Mary is tiny with a deformed spine, and the childless queen likes to cradle her like a baby. Katherine’s independence is carrying her towards tragedy. It’s terrifically entertaining, and there are biographies of all the real-life characters at the end, which actually made me want to read more about Tudors.’ (c) Saturday Review
Kate Saunders
p.16, Saturday Review
The Times
24 May 2014
