QUEEN BESS: A TUDOR COMES TO SAVE AMERICA by Maria Vetrano

I don't even know where to start. I didn't like this book AT ALL. It's unlikely that I'll ever read anything by this author again. Sure, that might be a bit of an overreaction, but it took me a very long time to slog through this novel which was waaayyyy too long. I find it hard not to finish a book, even if I hate said book, so that wasn't an option for me.

The writing isn't terrible but man, the majority of the characters were incredibly annoying and so darn superficial. The characters don't have layers or depth, and instead of it being a story of a Tudor queen becoming the next United States President and bringing change to America, it's more a technical account of how to bring someone back from the past (first half of the story) to educating them in modern day culture (second half of the story). That's it. That's all this is. And believe me when I say it got boring very quickly to be bogged down with SO MUCH detail and NOTHING even close happening to what the book description promises.

Now, I'm not American and have no interest in U.S. politics, but even to me it was clear as day which politician the "villian" in this book was based on. Did the author take the time to create an antagonist that's unique to this story and who at least has a few relatable or redeemable qualities? No. She did not. And let's not forget the stereotypical gay friend whose obnoxiousness got old really fast.

*face palm*

I was very excited to read this book. It seemed like such a unique idea for a story, and it had the potential to be so much more than it ended up being. I mean the possibilities with this particular unique idea for a book was absolutely endless, and the author could've added so much humor to the story (which is always a win for me when a writer can make me laugh). Instead, what I expected after reading the book description and what I got, was beyond disappointing. I was so relieved when I reached the end after WEEKS of struggling to pick this book back up again after putting it down so many times.

So, no. I don't recommend. Great idea, poorly executed. Don't waste your time.

What would you do if you had the chance to bring a historical figure to the current day? Would you do it? And if you did, how would that historical figure take to this new modern day chaos?

Queen Bess by Narua Vetrano asks that very question, when billionaire businesswoman Dakota hatches a plan to bring Queen Elizabeth I to the year 2026. While revered through history, could even the domineering Tudor queen survive such a transition? With hundreds of years of inventions and cultural and language shifts, Dakota finds herself breaking in the Queen to modern age at breakneck speed. All in the name of saving America.

My biggest disappointment with this book is the ending. I wanted more! I was unfulfilled by where the story stopped. The rest of it? I loved. Genius. Vetrano captures, in my opinion, how Elizabeth would find the new world, and I found the story funny and intriguing at the same timed. This is definitely worth picking up, and will make you also ponder what it would mean to bring someone from the past to our ever changing and crazy world.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Regalo Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love Elizabeth I, and this sounded like such a fun twist on a historical figure. Seeing the events of the last week, I wish we could bring her back like in this book!

Anyway, the book itself was a fun read!

This was an incredibly captivating concept for a book, and it was beautifully written. I’m a fan of Back To The Future, and this reminded me of it a lot. While it was a political book, it was written tastefully and shed light on real issues that are still happening in the world today.

I thought I would like this because I love all things Tudor, but I found I didn't love bringing the Tudors to the 21st Century. The plot was also quite choppy in places.

This was such an interesting read to see history collide and it was great see the 21st Century vision of Queen Bess. There were moments that didn't make sense for me but overall I enjoyed this version of Queen Bess.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, as I love anything Tudor, so the whole time travelling part appealed, but sadly I found this rather lacklustre. It is very very slow to get going, and even then is very jumpy in parts. I found the ending a bit bizarre, as it felt like it was something that should’ve happened part way through the book, especially given the books premise, yet that was the end then bam it was over. The premise was good but I feel the authors delivery ruined what could have been a good story

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about this book at first. Took me awhile to get into it
Some of it was OK and other places were a little too descriptive.
I love anything Tudor and that's why I chose this book. I've often wondered what Elizabeth would think of today's world. Would she like it? Or would she be displeased with some of it?
I've always loved the idea of time traveling but in this case to the future? It was another reason I chose this one. To see how it worked.
4 stars I will recommend it to others
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine

In the beginning the author point of view left me perplexed, I won’t spoiler the book, I can tell you that every page will take you in a little more, if you keep your mind open. I adored it..

This was a very entertaining read! I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth the First and even bigger fan of all things time travel! I never would have thought combining entertaining sci-fi and historical facts would bring about an ideal cup of ink and pages joy!!

I like how they called her Elizabeth Rex! Any woman from 400 years in the past that managed to wrangle a kingdom trying to wrangle today's crazy world has my vote LOL

Politics usually give me a headache but when it comes to this book it really intrigued me! Why people believe what they did and what made them want to go back into the past to grab a great leader for the future! Feminist worthy! Love it!!!

I did not enjoy this book at all. It was jumpy in the final few chapters of the book, and I felt like important information was missed. With the rest of the book though, I felt like it dragged too much. I also did not like how the action did not start until roughly half way through. I prefer books to have the action start to happen around the 20-30% mark, with the only exceptions being books that introduce the action early and do it well, much like Jennifer Sherman Roberts’ The Village Healer’s Book of Cures.

Queen Bess

When I saw the premise for this book I was excited, what could be more interesting and intriguing than one of the most influential and powerful women in all of history living in our current world? I have always loved the strong women that have shaped the world, naming my oldest daughter Catherine Elizabeth for Catherine the Great and Queen Elizabeth. This book seemed to hit all my interests and I couldn’t wait to see how this turned out.

The book begins with Dakota Wynfred, a brilliant scientist with multiple degrees and her discovery of time travel. During her trip, you find that she is a child of two people that are anti. Establishment and that one of her parents most treasured memories is when her mom wrapped herself naked in an American Flag and lit it on fire. Wait what?!?
The book kind of went into the fire for a majority of the book, completely sucking any joy out of it. While I thought that this was a book about running for president, hand picking a strong powerful proven woman from the past and seeing not only how they could fix problems in our society, but how they would adapt, it’s not what I ultimately thought it was. Instead it was a way to slam and denigrate republicans as it says in the book how they ruined the country and on and on with this. I powered through, hoping that Queen Bess could overcome the hate going at a certain type of person, it failed.
So if you want to read a book that stereotypes half of the United States, lumping them all into a certain bracket, regardless of their color sex Or orientation then this may be something you like.
This was my first book by this author and will be my only. The only reason I didn’t DNF was because I was hoping to see a redemption in some way. Did not happen.

In a world where an Orange Mango type character gets into the White House, who do you have to run against him that can hold her own? Well, Dakota Wynfred, the self-made billionaire, feels the only one who can do so is long dead. But that doesn’t stop her from using her secret time machine her company has developed, to go back in time and bring Queen Elizabeth I to the present day (well, 2027 to be specific).

And of course, it is never as easy as all that, because first she has to get QE I set up, and educated in the ways of the 21st century, and all that.

It is actually quite fun to watch as Queen Bess integrates into a society 400 years in her future.
Which makes me sad that the ending of the book feels rushed. It almost makes me think there will be a book two, which I hope there will be. I loved the depiction of Queen Bess in modern times. (They call her Elizabeth Rex, though in reality it should have been Regina, but never mind. She can be a king.)

The depiction of Robert Vlakas, the Orange Mango wanna-be is a little too close for comfort, so I would say it is spot-on, which makes me wish that Queen Bess would run for president.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 15th of October 2024.

An excellent novel, where Dakota brings Elizabeth I through time into the modern world. Quite funny as well, Elizabeth's reaction to modern times is particularly entertaining.and amusing. She is a Tudor queen, after all. Highly recommended.

Dakota owns a cybersecurity company, KODA, that the president (far to the ‘right’ caricature of a former president) wants to nationalize. Using all resources she has available, she determines to find a viable alternative candidate to take over the Oval Office. Enter the Sci-fi component as she brings Elizabeth I to the present. This has the framework of of an excellent story, but often slows down with acclimating QEI to the 21st century and stumping for the values the author holds dear.