Pared back and tightly written, this is a great read. All the characters feel authentic and fully-formed.

I’ve always been intrigued by Mary Queen of Scots so grabbed this as soon as I could!

I loved the format of the book, largely taking place inside the tower Mary and her three companions are locked away in, but with flash backs to give you a broader sense of the 16th Century.

It was well researched and gritty at times, but also passionate, atmospheric and imaginative.

I sometimes struggle with historical fiction, but this was such a fantastic book that it worked on several levels for me. A compelling and rich story, told with just the right amount of tension and drama, while still delivering the historical realism of the time.

Mary Queen of Scots is a complex and fully realised character in this story, and I loved meeting her.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It took me a little while to get into this novel, which skips across different time periods while telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots at a particular point in history. Carr doesn't hold back with her characters - Mary herself is portrayed as a charismatic but ultimately selfish and entitled woman, and her women are drawn just as realistically - jealous, empathetic, calculating and silly. Jane's voice grounds the narrative, but every woman is a part of the overall story, and the real focus is on female friendships, how they develop and the strength they give you to survive in the face of overwhelming odds. In the end I really loved it - Carr's writing is up there with Hilary Mantel and Mary is actually not that dissimilar from Thomas Cromwell.

This was an interesting read but just didn't quite do it for me and I struggled with the writing at times

An OK read but I did get a bit bored so it took me a long time to read it. Some interesting factors but I wish they had been explored more

The Tower by Flora Carr is a historical fiction that felt a bit too dry in terms of storytelling. it has that dismal historical vibe to it that sort of works but at the same time makes the reading experience a bit one note

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

A fictional retelling of the figure Mary Queen of Scots, this novel follows three women imprisoned in a Scottish castle in 1567: Queen Mary, and her two maids and allies, Frenchwoman Cuckoo and Scot Jane, as they plan their escape and bid for freedom.

I was highly anticipating this novel, and unfortunately it didn't quite deliver for me. The prose was understated and watchful, which at first I enjoyed - especially as the narrative honed in on each women's perspective. The set up was strong, and a tension and sense of foreboding was effectively created towards the beginning of the novel.

Ultimately, however, the novel didn't manage to hold my attention, and I finished feeling slightly disappointed. The plot didn't build in the way I'd hoped, and the characters also somewhat lost my interest - I didn't find myself to be rooting for them, or engaged by their voices.

In the end, this had its strengths, but it wasn't quite the gritty, powerful reading experience I was hoping for.

Another story about Mary Queen of Scotland. It was an interesting story illustrating Marys' imprisonment in Scotland after leaving France. Described her marriages and her companions and how her reputation was destroyed by her own people. Very sad story.

This is a glorious book to read on many levels and irksome on one. A story about Mary Queen of Scots will always draw me in, especially if it has a beautiful cover. The UK cover is top-notch. I was sold by that alone.

This novel details the time when Mary was held captive at Lochleven, a 'guest' of the Douglas clan. The Tower has all one could want from historical fiction - poetic writing style, floral descriptions of everything the eye beholds, angst, drama and tension. It was an engaging read that holds the reader fast to the small, confined life of Queen Mary and her two/three companions. All of which are characters we grow to know well as the book progresses. In this way I cannot fault it. I was a happy captive, myself.

What I have grown weary of is another feminist retelling that feels more like man-blaming writ large. It is dealt out heavy handedly, here, too much to be believed. All men, save a couple, are evil and the architects of Mary's misfortunes. Queen Mary is such a tragic figure, one who made countless terrible choices in her life. Mary's difficulties, and ultimate fate, can squarely be placed at her own feet as well as her cousin Elizabeth's. Such a pity, together they could have set the world alight.

Feminist versions of stories just don't ring true for me. Instead of female equality men are a negative force whilst all joy, positivity, progress and even love can only be gained from a female source. When Jane and Lady Seton lock eyes on each other it is easy to see the direction of travel for these two. Love between two women is also a feminist hallmark. It has become too predictable. Factual? Who can say? But it seems unfair for historical figures to have their lives tinkered with in a way to match modern sensibilities.

Beyond that, a good read. The flashbacks fill in key elements of the story that led to Mary's capture and the foreshadowing deftly and respectfully illustrate what lies ahead for Mary and her companions.

I was drawn to this one as quite enjoy an historical fiction.

It started out well but sadly for me the jumping around from different POV of the main trio and lots of different characters in and out the story meant I quickly lost track and sadly lost interest.

I had a read of some other reviews and there is lots of positive praise for this book so I think it was just this style was not for me.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love history and I love the Tudor period so I was drawn to this book.
Mary Queen of Scots is incinerated in a cold, damp Lochlevan castle situated on a island in a remote Scottish loch, the boat trip had been harrowing. Stripped of her ladies in waiting, her jewelled ladies, and especially her special friend, Mary Seaton, Mary is left with two chambermaids to tend to her needs, a Scot named Jane and a Frenchwoman named Cuckoo.
This is quite a drawn out story of life of a prisoner in a cold, damp, castle with no means of escape and no help from her cousin, Elizabeth of England.
The author has painted a really good picture of the gloom in the castle and the cold, wet but beautiful surroundings, the uninviting sea that surrounds the island, mocking any attempt at escape and giving the story a very claustrophobic feel.
I know that this is fiction based on fact but I was a bit uncomfortable at the hints of lesbianism etc, facts that couldn't possibly be known but other that that I think the author has given a good, atmospheric account of the captivity of Mary Queen of Scots, a story that I enjoyed reading.
Thank you Net Gallery for my ARC, my review is completely voluntary.

this is a literary fiction book about mary, queen of scots, and although there were some things i thought this did well, i really didn't enjoy that much.

it has a very particular writing style, which slides from perspective to perspective between paragraphs. i PERSONALLY hate this. within the context of this novel, it's clearly a way to create a tight, claustrophobic atmosphere and for that it's very effective. the main three women are tightly bound within the telling of the story and i think it clearly illustrates the theme of women as captive within history (both metaphorically and otherwise, as mary is LITERALLY being held in a castle). while it's obviously done well, it completely derailed any personal enjoyment i could have taken from it because i really don't like it! and i thought that it had the opposite effect it was meant to for me, with regards to drawing the reader closer to this women, investing them in their heads, their anxieties and worries. ultimately, i felt like i was being pushed away by the narrative choices.

there's a lot here that other reviews, i can see, have mentioned about the historical context. i want to be clear that i do not care one whit about everyone fucking all around them. it's not what took me out of the story! i just didn't really enjoy it. i think for some people this will work, but it's an affected type of prose i didn't like! i feel bad about it because this is an arc from a debut author that i requested! but for people VERY interested in litfic feminist retellings, this might land.

The Tower is an intimate novel about a period in royal history that I knew very little about before reading but found very interesting to learn here. The writing is raw and honest and the way it focusses on women and femininity throughout as a theme is beautiful, although the content (a reflection of that period in history) can, at times, be a difficult read. I was swept away from start to end!

A retelling of the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, as she is imprisoned. She must rely on the women around her to survive.

I struggled to get drawn into this one. I like historical fiction, but it is a genre I am definitely pickier about. I think the writing style just wasn't for me here. However, I can see big fans of historical fiction enjoying this one.

This didn't work for me. I was keen to learn more about Mary Queen of Scots and I did. But I also hoped (based on the nice UK cover) for more than straightforward historical fiction and didn't get that.

It is billed as a feminist retelling, but that message was laid on a bit too thick and didn't go beyond putting women centre stage, reminding of their extremely disadvantaged position, and adding some sex scenes (for which there is no historical evidence so I am not sure I agree with that).

Defeated in battle, Mary the Queen is taken first to Edinburgh and then to remote Lochleven castle, situated on an island. She is not allowed to have any of ladies in waiting, just two chambermaids, French-born Cuckoo and plain Scots Jane. The conditions are poor and Mary suffers firstly from a miscarriage and then from being deposed in favour of her son. Still a flame burns in Mary and her women, lately augmented by her childhood companion Mary Seton are determined to help.
The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, is often treated as a romantic fantasy. This is not the case here. Mary is woman who has made mistakes but is still determined to survive and regain her throne. The focus is more on her entourage, the humble serving women who are fiercely loyal, and it works really well. The descriptions are honest and the characters show real development.

Got to love a cracking historical fiction novel!

This is a great read, about Mary Queen of Scots, and the time she spends with two chambermaids locked away in a remote Scottish castle, surrounded by the loch waters which prevent her escape.

Pregnant and vulnerable, and with her ladies in waiting removed from her, Mary has to forge new relationships with her chambermaids Jane and Cuckoo - both interesting and independent characters in their own right. The tower room is the setting for many episodes throughout the long containment from Mary's bloody miscarriage, ad hoc parties, illicit sex, and a troop of political and societal characters who visit.

Of course, escape is always the objective, and this adds adventure to the story. It's a cracking read, and highly recommended.

It’s 1567 and three women are being rowed across a Scottish loch towards Lochleven Castle. Two of them are maids – one is a Frenchwoman, Marie de Courcelles, known as ‘Cuckoo’, and the other is Jane, a Scot. The third woman is Mary, Queen of Scots, who is being imprisoned in the castle following her surrender at the Battle of Carberry Hill.

Although Mary doesn’t know it when she enters the castle, she will remain there for almost a year. It seems that no help is forthcoming from Mary’s fellow queen, Elizabeth I of England, or from Margaret Erskine, the castle châtelaine, who places her daughter-in-law in Mary’s chamber as a spy. Eventually, Mary’s spirits are lifted by the arrival of her good friend, Mary Seton, who joins the three of them in captivity, but Jane and Cuckoo are not so thrilled by this addition to their number and Seton’s presence quickly changes the balance of power inside the tower. Together they begin to form a plan of escape, but which of them will be prepared to risk the most to save their queen?

I’ve read other books about Mary, Queen of Scots, both fiction and non-fiction, but this one is different because it focuses on just this one specific period in Mary’s life. The narrow scope of both the span of time covered and the physical setting – the confines of one tower in a remote castle on an island accessible only by boat – give the story a tense, claustrophobic feel. We do get some backstory in the form of flashbacks, otherwise the four women have to wait for news from the outside world to reach them in their confinement.

For the reasons I’ve mentioned, this is a slow paced novel, with not a lot of action, and it mainly concentrates on exploring the relationships between Mary and her three companions. The different personalities of Cuckoo, Jane and Mary Seton come across strongly and these different personalities affect the way each woman responds to being imprisoned. However, I didn’t really like any of the characters, which was a problem when so much of the book revolves around their internal thoughts and feelings. I also felt that the author was projecting modern views and attitudes onto these 16th century women, which was a bigger problem for me.

The story does become much more compelling towards the end, when Mary prepares to put her escape plan into motion, and despite my criticisms, I do think the book is still worth reading for the insights into this short but important episode in Mary’s life.