Basic Plot
Mary Tudor, previously disinherited daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII finally ascends the throne of England only to find that ruling a kingdom and its people is not a simple matter of faith. Married to Phillip of Spain who does not love her and struggling to stamp out the religious strayings of her people, her desperation to rule and produce an heir results in unspeakable horrors. Raphael, the Spanish sundial-maker, a stranger in a hostile land bears witness to this historical tragedy.
What I liked about the book
At least now I know where the term 'Bloody Mary' came from. The book gives a detailed account of the events that occured during Mary Tudor's reign, and provides a good insight into the religious upheaval of the time. The author invokes such graphic images of horror as to how Mary punished the "heretics", people who claimed that the Bible can be read in English, priests who would not denounce their wife and children and basically any person who was a threat to Catholic England. It was an interesting read.
What I disliked about the book
At times the pace was a bit slow and since the story was told from Raphael's point of view, it was more focused on HIS past and HIS difficulties.
A quote I liked from the book
"If faith unravels, then there is no faith and we're all lost."
Rating: 3.5/5
