Daughter of the Gods - Stephanie Thornton

Daughter of the Gods

Title: Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt

Author: Stephanie Thornton

Publication Date: 5/6/2014

Pages: 442

Genre: Biography / Chick Lit / Historical / Royals / Fiction

How I Found It: I've read Thornton's other books.

Date Completed: 4/8/18

Summary: Hatshepsut likely served as one of ancient Egypt's only female pharaohs. Somewhere along the line, one of her successors attempted to erase her legacy from history. Thornton pieces together what little we know and adds a hefty dash of her own imagination to create this historical fiction look at the powerful woman's life. 

What I Thought: I feel as though my general disdain for historical fiction - particularly about royals - has been well established on this blog. It's why I steer so far clear of Phillipa Gregory's fictional Tudor empire. I know too much of the real history to be able to enjoy a fantasized version of events. Thornton, however, has consistently proved herself the exception to my rule.

Very little is known about the life of Hatshepsut (the number of times I've spelled that name wrong while writing this post gives me a whole lot of respect for Thornton's editor). Like with her other novels, Thornton had to draw extensively from her own imagination to craft the world her characters inhabit. It's a lot of educated guessing. Usually, that's what drives me crazy about historical fiction. Thornton, however, has been wise in selecting relatively unknown women. We know so little about them that all we really have is imagination and educated guesses. So, these stories feel indulgent and far less of a violation of historical truth than many other works in the genre. 

Prince Charles - Sally Bedell Smith

Prince Charles

Title: Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life

Author: Sally Bedell Smith

Publication Date: 4/4/2017

Pages: 624

Genre: Biography / Historical / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I've read Smith's biography of Queen Elizabeth II.

Date Completed: 2/10/18

Summary: A thorough, thoughtful biography of the man who has waited longer than anyone else for the British throne.

What I Thought: I've been doing a lot of royal reading lately. Books about royals are not uncommon for me, but I'm in the midst of quite a streak, specifically concerning Prince Charles and the late Princess of Wales. In December, I read the companion book to the second season of The Crown, which doesn't include Diana, but is about Prince Charles's parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. His portrayal gets some significant screen time as well. Then I picked up a book that HRH himself wrote regarding his views on conversation and all sorts of other things, Harmony. Plus, my wonderful secret sister got me the latest version of Andrew Morton's seminal biography of Diana. With all the back and forth between the famously feuding pair, it felt like the right time to finally read Sally Bedell Smith's biography of HRH. 

The Secret History - Stephanie Thornton

The Secret History

Title: The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora

Author: Stephanie Thornton

Publication Date: 7/2/2013

Pages: 448

Genre: Biography / Historical / Royals / Fiction

How I Found It: I've had this on my list for a while.

Date Completed: 1/3/17

Summary: Born into poverty, Theodora ended her life as Empress of the Roman Empire. Thornton imagines what that life may have been like, based on the little historical information we have about the woman. Thornton's Theodora is feisty, determined, and indefatigable. 

What I Thought: I honestly knew very little about the Empress Theodora. I knew there was once an Empress Theodora married to Emperor Justinian. That's about it. A bit shameful, but true.

Picking up Thornton's historical fiction account of the woman's life, then, has been long overdue for me. I read The Tiger Queens, another book by Thornton which focused on the women in Genghis Khan's life, a while back and really loved how Thornton crafted such rich stories from such little historical information. She's done the same here. Despite being a powerful empress, there is relatively little trustworthy historical information available about Theodora. Thornton discusses this in her end notes. Normally, I don't love historical fiction because the inaccuracy of it grates on me. Somehow Thornton's work doesn't do that. What little we do know about this woman is nearly as speculative as Thornton's embellishments and changes.

Diana - Andrew Morton

Diana

Title: Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words

Author: Andrew Morton

Publication Date: 6/27/2017 

Pages: 448

Genre: Biography / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: My OTSP Secret Sister sent it in her September package for me!

Date Completed: 12/30/17

Summary: First published in 1992, this biography of the late Princess of Wales was explosive. It was the first real exposé on the Wales' marriage - and it was fueled by Diana herself! Now, twenty years after her death and 25 since the original edition, Morton has added two and a half decades of the story and included edited transcripts of the interviews Diana gave for the book.

What I Thought: When I pulled this out of a package from my OTSP Secret Sister (it's a book blogger gift exchanges that extends throughout the year), I was thrilled. Clearly, my secret sister was paying attention to my avid interest (read: obsession) with the British royals. In the letters we've been writing back and forth this fall, we've quite enjoyed gushing together about all the recent exciting news for the family.

It normally takes me forever to read the books actually on my shelves, but I prioritized this one over break. I wanted something just like this - a delicate balance of light and substantive. It was perfect for reading during the holidays. 

Harmony - The Prince of Wales

Harmony

Title: Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World

Author: Charles, Prince of Wales

Publication Date: 11/2/2010

Pages: 336

Genre: Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I can't remember exactly, but it obviously stemmed from my interest in the royal family.

Date Completed: 12/22/17

Summary: Charles, Prince of Wales opines on his famously pet topic: environmentalism and caring for the Earth properly. 

What I Thought: When I learned the Prince of Wales had written a book, I honestly did not know what to expect. Prince Charles has long been known as an environmentalist, although it was his father, Prince Philip, that really started the interest within the family. His Royal Highness has gotten himself in trouble a few times over the years because of his outspoken nature on the subject, even as it relates to political decisions, which the royal family are supposed to steer clear of. Knowing all of that, I knew the book would likely be fairly preachy. Anyone familiar with HRH's personal history knows the man can have that tendency.

The Crown - Robert Lacey

The Crown

Title: The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 1: Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and the Making of a Young Queen
Author: Robert Lacey
Publication Date: 10/17/2017
Pages: 322
Genre: Biography / Historical / Royals / Nonfiction
How I Found It: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
Date Completed: 12/15/17

Summary: Going episode by episode, this book covers the history, writing decisions, and production behind each episode of Netflix's hit drama, The Crown.

What I Thought: When Netflix announced they would be creating a drama based on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, I was so excited. As you well know, I am a huge fan of the British royal family. If you've watched the show, you know the production values are huge, the costumes are gorgeous, and the acting is absolutely top notch. It's received well deserved recognition.

I really enjoyed the first season of the show. The Fug Girls raised some very legitimate concerns in their recaps of the show, mainly that for a show about one of the most powerful women in the world, there's an awfully large focus on the men in the story. It's something I'm hoping they rectify in future seasons, although the promotions I've seen for the second season (which just came out!) do not have me optimistic on that front.

Marie Antoinette - Antonia Fraser

Marie Antoinette

Title: Marie Antoinette: The Journey

Author: Antonia Fraser

Publication Date: 2001

Pages: 512

Genre: Biography / Historical / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: Some list of royal biographies

Date Completed: 3/17/17

Summary: An exhaustive, and at times surprising, biography of France's most infamous and intriguing queen.

What I Thought: If you know me in real life or on the Internet, you know that I love the royals. Royalty throughout the ages fascinates me. Both fictional and historical ruling houses intrigue me and I spend a lot of my reading time exploring their worlds. 

Anyone interested in royalty does not get far without exposure to and developing an opinion of Marie Antoinette. One of my early experiences with her story was from The Royal Diaries series. They were historical fiction written from the perspective of famous princesses. Marie Antoinette's captured her early life in Austria and her journey to France to become la dauphine. It stopped upon her and Louis's ascension to the French throne. It was a good introduction to her story, and one which certainly sympathized with her greatly. I still have that book on a shelf downstairs. Maybe I should pull it out again...

Game of Crowns - Christopher Andersen

Game of Crowns

Title: Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne

Author: Christopher Andersen

Publication Date: 4/19/16

Pages: 352

Genre: Biography / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I saw it on the shelf at Barnes & Noble and knew I had to read it.

Date Completed: 2/6/17

Summary: A look into the lives of the three women who lead the British royal family.

What I Thought: Oh hey, guys. Just me here with yet another book about the British royals. I can't stop. It's an addiction. 

Inevitably, they aren't all great. This one, in particular, fell a little too far toward gossip-y for me. Overall, though, it was still an interesting book and a unique approach I had not seen before. I've read a lot about Queen Elizabeth II and, of course, the Duchess of Cambridge. However, I really did not know that much about Camilla and her history.

Catherine the Great - Robert K. Massie

Catherine the Great

Title: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

Author: Robert K. Massie

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 625

Genre: Biography / Historical / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: Some list of royal biographies

Date Completed: 1/18/17

Summary: Catherine the Great is one of the most well-known Russian rulers. The role of Empress, however, was far from her birthright. She reigned for 34 years, creating a strong legacy for herself in a time when absolute monarchy was falling out of fashion.

What I Thought: Before reading this book, I knew very little about Catherine the Great. My AP European History teacher in high school was particularly interested in Russian culture and history (lately, I find myself wondering his thoughts on current foreign affairs), so I got a fairly robust look at Russian history. Then promptly forgot most of it. For whatever reason, I have not ever been as engaged by Russian history as that of its European neighbors.

But, I'm trying to change that - especially in light of everything happening on the world stage right now. I think understanding a country's history is a good start to understanding their modern pursuits. So, I'm reading books like Russka and like Between Shades of Grey and like this.

Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall

Title: Wolf Hall

Author: Hilary Mantel

Publication Date: 2009

Pages: 653

Genre:Historical / Political / Royals / Fiction

How I Found It: It's been around and popular for a while.

Date Completed: 11/15/16

Summary: Thomas Cromwell played a huge role in shaping English history as we know it. He was an advisor to Henry VIII at the time when he was seeking a way out of his first marriage. Mantel's book examines the famous historical events from Cromwell's perspective.

What I Thought: Y'all, I know people love this book. People love it. People also love the TV show based on it. 

So....is it awful to say I found it terribly dull?

That Times quote on the cover seriously made me laugh. This book was far from gripping - at least for me.

The Tiger Queens - Stephanie Thornton

The Tiger Queens

Title: The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan

Author: Stephanie Thornton

Publication Date: 11/4/14

Pages: 486

Genre: Historical / Royals / Fiction

How I Found It: I won it in a giveaway!

Date Completed: 7/25/16

Summary: Genghis Khan is a familiar name in history. But what about the women in his life? The Tiger Queens follows the stories of four different women who lived in the shadow of the Mongol conqueror.

What I Thought: I won this book in a giveaway about a million years ago. A signed copy showed up at my house with a truly lovely note from the author herself. Thus, the fact it has taken me this long to finish and review makes me feel more than a little guilty.

I'm not really sure what happened. Last summer, I flew through the first section. The story of Khan's first wife was very interesting to me. I know very little about that period or place in history so even the small details about housing or daily tasks fascinated me. It looked like I would have the book done before summer's end. Then, I hit the second section and suddenly there was a new voice, a new protagonist, a new host of characters to learn. And I got stalled. Summer ended and the book made its way back onto the physical TBR in my office as school started and things got busier. I would pick it up every now and then and make it a few pages or a chapter. Never far, though.

Fast forward to this summer. As I pulled books to take to the beach, I knew it was time to tackle this one once and for all. Into the bag it went and, after a couple of days poolside, I had finished. I am glad I didn't let this one fall completely by the wayside. It's not a masterpiece, but I did enjoy it. I think my midsection delay really came from the switch of character perspective. I found the first narrator to be the most compelling and the switch to number two really through me off. 

Take Tuesday: The Royal We

The Royal We

Some books are just so good, you have to read them again. And some books deserve a second chance. And some books I think about and change my opinion or have more to say. Take Tuesday is a chance to do just that. 

Title: The Royal We

Author: Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

Publication Date: 4/7/15

Pages: 454

Genre: Chick Lit / Romance / Royals / Fiction

Previous Readings: May 2015

Date Completed This Time: 7/9/16

Quick sidebar before we start - I know Take Tuesday, by its very name, belongs on a Tuesday. However, today is my birthday and I wanted to celebrate by talking about this book. It's been one of my favorites since I first read it last year and I could not think of anything I'd rather talk about with you on my special day! 

Summary: American exchange student Rebecca "Bex" Porter ends up in the same dorm hall as HRH Prince Nicholas at Oxford. Fairy tale moments, paparazzi stalking, and royal drama ensue.

What I Thought Before: I have been ruminating over and raving about this book for over a year now. The fact that I even picked it up again only a year later should say a lot. When I first reviewed the book, I commented on how pleasantly surprised I was at the writing quality and how charming the story and characters are. Cocks and Morgan balanced just the right about of fiction and fact.

What I Think Now: I still think all those things. A year later, I am still calling this one the absolutely perfect beach read. I loved it just as much the second time around. When the Cambridge clan feels like an extension of your family that you simply have not met yet, it's no surprise to love a book so inspired by their real lives.

The Heir Apparent - Jane Ridley

The Heir Apparent

Title: The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince

Author: Jane Ridley

Publication Date: 10/14/10

Pages: 752

Genre: Biography / Historical / Political / Royals / Nonfiction

How I Found It: I can't remember precisely, but is it really surprising that I did?

Date Completed: 6/25/16

Summary: Son and heir to Queen Victoria, Bertie bucked the morals and expectations of the Victorian Era. He's been painted in history as "the Playboy Prince." Yet, there is much more to his story than his extramarital dalliances. 

What I Thought: While I probably know slightly more than the average person about Queen Victoria (strictly because of my royalty obsession), before reading this book I could not have told you the name of her heir. My knowledge was a near blank between Victoria and King George VI (subject of The King's Speech and father to Queen Elizabeth II). In a way, I'd like to think of myself as working backward in British royal history. I know so much about the current crew, but I want to continue learning about their ancestry. After all, Queen Alexandra (Alix to family) was the Duchess Catherine of her day.

Before making it far into the book at all, I was struck by the similarities between Bertie, future Edward VII, and our modern Prince Charles. Particularly in young life, there were many parallels between the two. Both have extremely popular, long-reigning mothers who kept the throne from them decades longer than expected. Both had sex scandals rock their public image. This quote about Bertie's rise to the throne after Victoria's death screamed 'Charles' to me: "The accession of an overweight fifty-nine-year-old philanderer hardly thrilled the imagination." If that doesn't fall in line with the tabloid dream of Elizabeth handing the throne straight to William, I don't know what does. When Charles does take the throne, it will be very interesting to see if and how the parallels between himself and Bertie continue. He can hardly be ignorant of them. After all, he's spent his entire life being groomed for the role of monarch; he undoubtedly knows his family's history. 

The Royal Nanny - Karen Harper

The Royal Nanny

Title: The Royal Nanny

Author: Karen Harper

Publication Date: 6/21/16

Pages: 384

Genre: Historical / Royals / Fiction

How I Found It: TLC Book Tours

Date Completed: 6/26/16

Summary: A royal nanny, particularly in days of old, carried tremendous power to shape the lives of charges, who would one day, in turn, shape the world. This is the fictional account of one such real woman. 

What I Thought: Normally I don't read historical fiction like this. Especially not about people or subjects I am already interested in. So often, I get annoyed at the liberties taken by the author or I just want to read about what really happened rather than someone's speculation on the events. Every once in a while, though, I take a risk. Sometimes they pay off; sometimes they don't. 

Thank goodness this one did.

The Royal Nanny follows the life of Charlotte Bill, "Lala" to her charges. Nanny to the great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria, she cared for the six Wales children. The two oldest boys would both reign as King in time. David, the oldest, became King Edward VIII. He famously abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. His younger brother, Bertie, would become King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II and eventually portrayed by Colin Firth in The King's Speech. So, while Harper's characters are living a life of luxury with electricity and the introduction of indoor plumbing, this history is really fairly recent.

At Home with the Queen - Brian Hoey

At Home with the Queen

Title: At Home with the Queen

Author: Brian Hoey

Publication Date: 2002

Pages: 281

Genre: Royals / Nonfiction

Date Completed: 2/27/16

Summary: It takes a myriad of staff to create the royal lifestyle. Hoey dives into this world with its rules, expectations, details, and dramas.

What I Thought: For someone as interested in royal life as you know I am, this book was really interesting. Rather than focusing on the royals themselves, Hoey explores the daily lives and activities of their staff. It takes hundreds to manage and expedite the details of court life. It's easy to think of that in relation to the times of the Tudors, but we rarely realize or recognize all that goes on behind the scenes today, nor the people it takes to accomplish such a feat. 

With the addition of some introductory material, Hoey focuses each chapter on a different department of staff members or area concerning them all. He looks into the inner workings of the Royal Mews (a.k.a. where the horses, carriages, and cars are cared for); he looks into royal wages and why, despite coming in below industry standard, they prove enough to foster loyalty among staff and masses of resumes from those hoping to become staff; he expounds upon all the details and personnel required to put on a state dinner. The level of detail is astounding. Hoey has clearly done extensive research. 

The Sisters of Versailles - Sally Christie

The Sisters of Versailles

I'm giving away a copy of this book! Make sure you read to the end of the post to find out how it could be yours!

Title: The Sisters of Versailles

Author: Sally Christie

Publication Date: 9/1/15

Pages: 432

Genre: Royals / Romance / Historical / Fiction

How I Found It: TLC Book Tours

Date Completed: 9/4/15

Summary: The court of Louis XV has gone down in history not only as a height of absolute monarchy, but also a height of decadence and excess. Those qualities are certainly on display in this fictional account of five sisters and their experiences with both court politics and the king himself.

What I Thought: This is an era of history that has always interested me. The centuries of monarchical rule in Europe simply enchant me. There is no end to the scandal, the intrigue, the food, the clothes, the ego...it's all as plentiful as the strict social regulations which dictated every aspect of life at court. These stories pull me in.

Typically, I find the history itself plenty over-the-top and rarely read fictionalized accounts of royal life. When I do read royal fiction, I tend to like it altered enough so that the unsuspecting reader does not assume every detail as fact. Case in point: this delightful interpretation of the Cambridge romance. So often, historical fiction relies too heavily on the fiction to dramatize and scandalized. A good biography nearly always accomplishes the same effect for me, while maintaining a level of academic integrity.

Yet, I do like to veer off my own well-beaten path every now and again. So, when TLC offered me the chance to review this novel set at the height of Versailles's decadent court life, I thought I would explore the perspective on historical I so rarely enter.

My takeaway?

Kate - Claudia Joseph

Kate

Title: Kate: The Making of a Princess

Author: Claudia Joseph

Publication Date: 2/15/11

Pages: 272

Genre: Royals / Biography / Nonfiction

How I Found It: Duh. The Kate obsession continues.

Date Completed: 7/16/15

Summary: Written before the epic wedding, Joseph's work focuses on Kate's path to becoming a princess. She spends the first half of the book exploring Kate's ancestry with brief comparisons to what the royal family looked like and was experiencing at the same. Then, Joseph delves into Kate's life and her royal romance.

What I Thought: My obsession with royals, particularly of the English variety, particularly of the Kate Middleton variety, is no secret. It's well documented here on the blog. And if you all knew me in real life, well, you would see my Duchess of Cambridge calendar in my office and the fact that I own several dresses in common with HRH.

In spite of my love for the woman, I have been extremely hesitant to read any biographies about her. Let's be realistic: she hasn't actually done a whole lot worth having a biography written about her - at least not yet. In general, I am not a fan of biographies of young people who still, presumably, have so much of their life still ahead of them. It makes me feel like the author is jumping the gun just to cash in on the person's popularity. Case in point: this book.

The Romanov Sisters - Helen Rappaport

The Romanov Sisters

Title: The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra

Author: Helen Rappaport

Publication Date: 1/1/14

Pages: 381

Genre: Royals / Political / Historical / Nonfiction

How I Found It: Sophisticated Dorkiness

Date Completed: 5/4/15

Summary: Packed with interesting information, this nonfiction tome delves into the short lives of Russia's last princesses.

What I Thought: My royal obsession continues.

Back in elementary school, I remember being entranced by the story of Anatasia and her doomed family. I checked out the same book from our local library over and over as if I expected it to reveal further secrets about the Romanovs with each successive perusal. I imagine this all stemmed from the foray 20th Century Fox took into animated features. The film Anastasia contains virtually no historically accurate content but does offer some great music.

*stops singing* Ahem. Yes, so the real history....

The Royal We - Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

The Royal We

Title: The Royal We

Author: Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

Publication Date: 4/7/15

Pages: 464

Genre: Royals / Romance / Chick Lit / Fiction

How I Found It: The real question is, how could I not have?

Date Completed: 5/3/15

Summary: American exchange student Rebecca "Bex" Porter ends up in the same dorm hall as HRH Prince Nicholas at Oxford. Fairy tale moments, paparazzi stalking, and royal drama ensue.

What I Thought: Let's be honest. This book is Will & Kate fan fiction. I mean, look at that cover. There is no getting around it and authors Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (curators of fashion and celeb gossip blog Go Fug Yourself) freely admit their story was inspired by the British royals. That being said, there is enough fact included to continually remind you of the real couple and enough fiction to keep readers interested and invested in Bex and Nick in their own right.

I cannot cite the book as anything particularly original or groundbreaking, but it is fun. I raced through it, soaking up every word, loving the comparisons to the real life Cambridge family and the escapades of the fictional royals as well. I loved feeling like I was getting a peek behind the scenes, even while knowing the look is an entirely fictional one. Even with that in mind, reading Bex's perspective on entering royal life made me wonder how much our dear Duchess of Cambridge may have had in common with her thoughts or experiences. If nothing else, it is a great reminder that Will and Kate are real people with real feelings and real problems, not just fairy tale figurines for our enjoyment.

Shadows of a Princess - Patrick D. Jephson

Shadows of a Princess:
An Intimate Account By
Her Private Secretary

Title: Shadows of a Princess: An Intimate Account By Her Private Secretary

Author: Patrick D. Jephson

Publication Date: 10/9/00

Pages: 464

Genre: Royals / Memoir / Historical

How I Found It: As a consequence of my continued obsession with the British royal family

Date Completed: January 19, 2015

Summary: Patrick Jephson worked directly for Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales for just over seven years. Serving first as her equerry and then private secretary, he shepherded the icon through the finals years of her marriage. His inside perspective on the princess offers a glimpse at her personality, her priorities, and her life behind the glamour the world saw and loved.

What I Thought: My obsession with the royals is no secret. If you know me at all, you know this area of interest might be a little out of control for me. I may or may not have used a Shutterfly coupon code to make my own Duchess of Cambridge themed calendar for 2015. Don't judge me. You wish you could look at Kate Middleton's face and fashion every day this year, too.

On that note, my interest really began long ago with one of the most iconic royals of our age: Princess Diana. Interestingly, it may all have begun for me because I have an aunt who loved Diana as much as I love Kate now. I would sit on the floor of her house and page through books and magazines with the princess's face on the covers. I did my first ever research paper in middle school on Diana's childhood. I remember distinctly the night she died and the subsequent outpouring of emotion from around the globe; I was ten.