I always feel that Mary I gets a lot of bad press. She’s remembered for her bloodthirsty streak (aka Bloody Mary), for being a strict Catholic and for marrying a foreigner - and a Spaniard at that! Oh, and she was a woman at a time when women weren’t believed to be capable of ruling a country in their own right.

Alison Weir is writing a work of historical fiction, but she has done her research. Of course, a lot of Mary’s story could be open to interpretation, and we’ll never know her exact inner thoughts, but she wrote letters and people wrote things down about her at the time. And personally, I really like Weirs interpretation. She makes Mary a human being, with thoughts, loves, hates and responsibilities. The period in history is described so well, that the reader can understand why Mary had such an extreme reaction to those who wouldn’t convert to Catholicism. And, well, Elizabeth I killed a lot more people than Mary ever did, so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I found the chapters on Mary’s childhood really interesting and very sad. What a traumatic childhood she had.

So, if you enjoy historical fiction and want to find out more about Mary I, then this may well be the book for you too. A totally absorbing read!

This is the third novel in Alison Weir’s Tudor Rose trilogy, following Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose and Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown. You definitely don’t need to have read the previous two books before starting this one, although if you’re not very familiar with Tudor history it would probably be helpful to read them in order.

The novel begins in 1525, introducing us to nine-year-old Mary who has recently become betrothed to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. As the daughter of Henry VIII and his Spanish wife, Katherine of Aragon, a marriage between Mary and Charles would cement England’s alliance with Spain. Mary’s future looks bright, but things don’t go as planned and it’s not long before her whole life is thrown into turmoil. First, Charles decides he doesn’t want to wait for Mary to grow up and takes another bride, one who is richer and old enough to give him children. Then, Mary’s father becomes obsessed with the idea of marrying Anne Boleyn and casts Mary’s mother aside.

It would be difficult not to sympathise with the young Mary as she is put under pressure to betray her mother and denounce her Catholic faith, gains and loses one stepmother after another and, with the arrival of a younger half-sister and half-brother, becomes uncertain of her place in the succession. However, I did find these early sections of the book quite repetitive as having read all of Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series, as well as her novel on Henry VIII, I felt that there wasn’t much here that was new to me. The second half of the book interested me more as it moved on to Mary’s own reign as Queen, her marriage to Philip of Spain and her ‘phantom pregnancies’, and, of course, the persecution of Protestants that famously gained her the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’.

On finishing the book and reading the author’s note at the end, I was interested to find that Alison Weir herself felt that she and Mary shared some childhood experiences, such as the separation of their parents and dislike of the new woman in their father’s life; this probably explains why the chapters dealing with Mary’s early years are written with such sympathy and understanding. Later in the novel, however, Mary becomes a much more difficult character to like as she ignores advice and public opinion, makes some poor decisions, and those who don’t share her Catholic faith burn at the stake. Weir states that she found it hard to make the adult Mary sympathetic when the historical evidence tells us otherwise.

As I wouldn’t want anyone to accidentally buy the same book twice, be aware that the US title of this book is The Passionate Tudor: A Novel of Queen Mary I. Alison Weir’s next novel, coming in 2025, stays in the Tudor period and is about the rise and fall of Cardinal Wolsey. I’ve never read a book written from Wolsey’s perspective before, so that should be interesting.

My Dad was a ‘historian’. My childhood was punctuated with visits to old burial sites and museums. I received several history books! The tudors were the first to grab my attention. I thought Elizabeth I was incredible and I poured over books about Mary Queen of Scots, but I dismissed Mary 1 as ‘bloody Mary’. Reading this book has added so much to my understanding and this book has been a fascinating introduction to her history.

Mary 1 was the daughter of Katherine Aragon and Henry VIII. Devoutly catholic, she watches with horror as Henry casts off her Mother and ties to Rome, and marries one woman after another in pursuit of an heir. Her legitimacy is constantly under threat as is her right to the throne and of course there is always the threat of being taken to the tower. As Queen her chief wish is to restore Catholicism; her methds violent. She is largely unpopular because of this and her marriage to the Spanish King, Philip. After two suspected pregnancies Mary died at the age of 42.

I decided to switch to listening to this on audiobook. I was absolutely mesmerised. So engrossed, I felt a sense of loss when I reached the end. I have a strange relationship with historical fiction: I am never sure exactly where the fiction lies and sometimes I feel the urge to rush off and search out the history - as though the excellent Alison Weir hadn’t already done so! I though that this depiction fleshes out a ‘drier’ history and engages the reader with the personalities and motiviations. Weir paints Mary as a woman who has endured an extraodinariily troubled life plagued by politics and her own ill health. I felt the sadness of this life. She had so little opportunity for joy. We cannot be without sympathy for Mary, but I can’t say I liked her!

I found the story around Mary’s marriage to Philip particularly engrossing. You almost forget that this is history as you see Mary worrying about her looks and her age and what her suitor will think. She is brought a painting of Philip so she can check him out! And there is real chemistry in their meetings and their love making… And in spite of the fact that i knew the ending I was still willing these two to have a happy marriage, to have children and to stop killing protestants!

More than anything this book has made me fall in love with history again. With many thanks to Netgalley and to Headline for my copy of this wonderful book.

A nicely told story exploring a part of the world of Henry VIII that often seems overlooked by what he did. I really enjoy stories that are grounded in real history but made real through dialogue and this is a really good example of this. Still seems strange that Mary is often an overlooked figure in history yet she went through much on the basis of doing the right thing. A good read.

I thought Mary I: Queen of Sorrows was another beautifully written historical-fiction from Alison Weir, about a much-maligned and complicated woman in history, who was fascinating to read more about, if extremely difficult at times too.

This is a fascinating read and one which any lover of this period of history will savour. It is meticulously researched but what is most impressive is the author’s ability to breathe life into the historical facts and present you with some believable characters. Mary stands out from the page, as a living, breathing person and it is so interesting to see how she copes with events as she sees some terrifying things happen to people she knows.

Danger is never far away in the Tudor court and you are aware that as Mary observes terrible events happening to her Mother, Katherine. of Aragon, she is absorbing lessons about marriage and relationships which will affect her forever. She learns quite early never to show fear or weakness. Despite the length and depth of the story, this is an accessible read which broadens your understanding of the times. Mary is hard to like at tines, but her anguish as she longs to be a mother reveals a vulnerability which her actions as Queen do not. Her relationships with her siblings are complex. In many ways they are rivals but Mary’s strong Catholic belief seems to be her overriding motivation and vision for England.


In short: captivating history

This is the third instalment of Alison Weirs Tudor Rose series, and I think I'm beginning to understand the writers intention. I found the first about Elizabeth of York a bit dry. The second about Henry VIII was better, but it seemed a bit...well, almost justifying his behaviour. But with this one, I think the point is telling the story as it was them telling it. So when Mary begins signing death warrants, she has a moment of pause. But after 100 or so of them, it's just something she has to do to protect the Catholic faith. Also that she loves Elizabeth because she's an adorable poppet despite her hatred for her mother and half-hearted suspicion of who fathered Elizabeth. It's an anathema to her to hate an innocent child. So, for me, it's almost them telling the tale, saying yes, I know what you're thinking but wait! I can explain! So it now makes more sense to me the lack of dialogue. If you're telling your story, you don't really do he said/she said do you?
But what of the story then? Alison Weir's tried to be sympathetic to a frankly terrible queen, as she was with Henry VIII and, for the most part, succeeds. Until she becomes queen. And I can't blame Ms Weir. It was a complete s***show.
It's still a bit dry, but framing it as I have in my mind, at least I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic writers insight into a notoriously infamous woman

This book is a real eye-opener to the times of the Tudor dynasty through Mary's eyes which makes it all the more interesting. I have read many books on the Tudors but never from this view and what a wonderful book it is.

Alison Weir has captured a very different side to Mary which makes it so refreshing and whilst it also has to include the terrible events of her reign it is a compelling read

This is a tough review, as generally I've enjoyed most of Alison's historical fiction, however the story of Mary fell flat for me. It felt an awful lot like a non-fiction, with some dialogue thrown in, and it could have been a good deal shorter as we spent a lot of time hashing over well-trodden ground. It definitely reveals more of Mary's life than I'm familiar with, but I don't think it necessarily redeemed her or explained her actions. A decent read, but not my favourite.

A riveting story, piecing together the life of the first Tudor queen. A rich tapestry of people and events through Mary's eyes. I was transported back to those dark days in this page turner. I couldn't put it down.

An intriguing tale of Mary from Alison’s wise great historical perspective found myself reading and thinking of the wives of Henry series

This book was definitely a thought provoking read.
It brings together and to life the cast of characters we all think we know. Mary is realistically portrayed - warts and all. It takes you right from the heartbreak of her own parents marriage, to the heartbreak of her own as an adult.
For a woman usually remembered solely for her religious failings, this also highlights her inability to effectively govern an already divided nation. You can also see where her sister Elizabeth learns from those mistakes.
The title suggests a rehabilitation of Mary's image, however it does give the impression of a much more sympathetic portrayal than the one actually contained within the book itself. That being said it is far more balanced than other works examining Mary or the Tudor Dynasty as a whole.

I look forward to what's next.

Book 3 in the Tudor Rose trilogy
Takes you through Mary’s idyllic childhood, she is the only child of Henry VIII & Katherine of Aragon - then everything falls apart as her parent’s marriage disintegrates
She is exiled from the court as her mother is no longer there.
She seeks solace in her faithful
When the King seeks her back at court it comes with a condition, can she become the Queen she was born to be
Loved seeing this historical period through Mary’s eyes.
Thanks @alisonweirbooks, @headlinepg & @netgalley for the fascinating read

‘Mary I: Queen of Sorrows’ is the sort of book where you look forward to your morning commute, as it gives you a chance to read more!

Alison Weir has taken the well-known events of the reigns of the Tudors and shown them as Mary’s story from beloved Princess to illegitimate daughter, the dangers of being Catholic heir to the throne during her brother’s reign, her courage in fighting for the throne and the difficulties she faced as Queen.

In doing so, Weir has portrayed a very human Mary and crafted a compelling tale, while not shying away from the horrors of her reign.

Mary I Queen of Sorrows follows the life of Mary I and how she navigated the wives and children of Henry VIII.

I really struggled with this novel. I don't think it helped that I finished another tudor novel before it as there is always the tendency to contract and compare. For me, there was little nuance. I don't think we ever knew Mary ; there was a one dimensional quality to her and the other characters that became quite tedious. At time Henry VIII reminded me a bit of Boris Johnson: affable, slightly dim-witted whilst being casually cruel. I think he was a good deal more toxic than he is perceived here, as is Mary. It is definitely that lack of exploration into people and their motivations that bugged me.

Mary I Queen of Sorrows - Alison Weir
A DESTINY REWRITTEN.
A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.
Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father's court. But the King wants a son and heir.
With her parents' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary's perfect world begins to fall apart.
Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.
The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?

My thoughts
I have read & adored Alison Weir’s Six Tudor Queen series, so already knew I would love this book & I didn’t really know as much about Mary as I do her father’s wives, I mainly knew her as Bloody Mary.
Here, though, we start with Mary’s childhood, an adored princess of 9 years & much loved by her mother, Queen Katherine & father, King Henry VIII. She is raised to be a queen, to be married to a worthy man, she is deeply pious & fiercely proud of her Spanish legacy.
Soon, however, she starts to see less of her father & discovers rumours that he is in love with one of her mother’s lady in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Worse still, Henry is looking to excommunicate from the Pope & the catholic religion to set up his own religion, so as to put his wife aside in favour of Anne.
Mary is devastated & more so when Henry does in fact marry Anne, banishes Katherine & Anne gives birth to a baby girl, a new princess. Suddenly Mary is no longer a princess & is humiliated by being sent to serve in her new sister’s household. Determined to hate the child as much as she does her mother, Mary is surprised to find that she actually cares for Elizabeth.
These are the years that I sympathised with Mary the most, separated from her mother, demoted in the royal line, her father insisting that she pledge her allegiance to him & the new religion.
Obviously we know what happens next & Mary sees the same treatment happen to little Elizabeth, motherless & no longer a princess as little brother Edward entered the world.
All through Edward’s reign Mary refuses to practice the Protestant ways, staying in her catholic beliefs.
After the young king’s death Mary makes her way to London to claim her throne & here I list my sympathy for her.
She restores the catholic faith & decides that heretics must be punished, to be burned, hundreds of people lose their lives in what Mary thinks is justifiable to bring the people back to their catholic roots & here she earns her nickname Bloody Mary.
I did feel for her when she suffers from phantom pregnancys, she reveals her vulnerability & her feelings about being, essentially abandoned by her husband.
She is definitely not an endearing character & the book portrays her without trying to influence the reader to like her.
I always think what a terrible time this must have been, religions changing, queens beheaded, heretics burned, the Bible must be in English, the Bible must not be in English! It must have been terrifying!
This book will join my many historical fictions which I cherish.

Before she was, some would argue unfairly, given the nickname "Bloody Mary", Mary I was the eldest daughter of a C16th English King whose pursuit of a male heir changed the country forever. Her life went from that of privilege & promise to fear & uncertainty at a young age. A fact that undoubtedly shaped her into the woman & Queen she became.

Alison Weir's latest historical novel, "Mary I: Queen of Sorrows", tells the Tudor princess' story from the mid-1520s to late-1550s in great detail & offers the author/historian's thoughts on how exactly one once so beloved is now infamous. A quick read of the author's note will highlight Weir's potential bias (e.g. her own divorced parents, questions of sympathy & redemption v. seeing Mary as pathetic & unlikeable), yet there's room in the narrative for the reader to reach their own conclusions.

Those already familiar with this period of history are unlikely to learn anything new from this fictional interpretation of events. Nothing particularly stood out to me as groundbreaking or about to spark a new controversy, which makes sense as Weir used her past research as the basis for this novel. However, if you are perhaps studying it for the first time or filling in gaps in your knowledge, this could be a great introduction or means to absorb all the information. Split into 3 parts to represent the different stages in Mary's life and the line of succession, it covers everything from the King's Great Matter, each of Henry VIII's six wives, & Edward VI's reign to the social, economic, political, & religious issues that defined the century. Very few stones go unturned & there are plenty of references to various documents, as well as the truth behind rumours & theories.

On a more personal level, we do get a glimpse at the emotional side of everything from Mary's perspective. Her views on the the queens who followed her dear mother, the fates they met, & what this meant for the relationships she had with her siblings & their ever-changing status. Grief & jealousy being key themes here. Time is also spent exploring her unwavering dedication to the Catholic faith, seemingly desperate need to be loved by her subjects & a potential husband, & the illnesses that plagued her right up until her death (e.g. menstrual complaints, phantom pregnancies, headaches & other symptoms). Even if you don't sympathise with her, you'll at least come to understand why she has such a reputation.

Though it wasn't quite what I'd hoped for, there were sections I really enjoyed & I know that it'll have more value for many.

Thank you to @headlinebooks & @netgalley for accepting my request to read this eARC.

A detailed and knowledgeable account of Mary Tudor starting when she was a young beloved princess with a certain future, to the breakdown of her parent's marriage and banishment from court, to the short-lived period of her being the first Queen Regent of England. This is a well-known story for many interested in Tudor history, I am personally less of a Mary fan partly due to her piety which often makes her seem like a less ‘sexy’ Tudor to read about, but her story is fascinating and heart-breaking at times.

This is a long and very detailed novel, pacing through every part of Mary’s life, so I would suggest not ideal for those who aren’t already fairly interested in the topic. Weir writes with a great depth of understanding around this historical period, bringing life and emotion into the often-overlooked story of Mary I.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel.

Now anyone who knows me knows I love Alison Weirs' books, fiction and nonfiction alike i will happily devour her books. And I've loved the other books in this trilogy, as always Alison Weir delivers when it comes to historical fact with her ideas of what thoughts might have been going around their heads at the time. I'm really pleased that she chose Mary for this book rather than Elizabeth or Edward ( though a book from either point of view of course would be brilliant) because Mary often has a bad reputation, especially with her moniker of "Bloody" Mary when in reality I think both of her siblings cause more deaths during their reigns than she did. So I really wanted to get that whole period from "the king's great matter" to her eventual death from her perspective because we mostly get it from the Mary was bad/evil point of view and I really don't believe she was, not wholly.
As always Alison Weir's writing style is beautiful, it is so easy to read and flows beautifully across the page, I can so easily get drawn into the time period and fully see the scene she creates in my mind's eye like I'm looking back in time.
The book makes you look at Mary I from a different angle, yes she was a religious zealot and firmly believed that she was doing God's work burning heretics but she was also a child who suffered a lot of trauma in her formative years and who had a lasting effect on her and choices from that point onwards.
If you love the Tudor period then I definitely recommend picking this book(and trilogy) up and on a side note, the covers for this series are stunning.

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir is an outstanding crossover of fiction and fact.

Weir has that rare skill of bringing history to life by adding colour and personality to the famous figures of past times and if you are a fan of the Tudors, this is an outstanding read

HIghly recommended!