Review: A Very Unlikely 'What-If'...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 2, 2012
I wasn't crazy about this book, but that could be because I JUST finished readingHad the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn, which was an extremely in-depth and meticulously researched book about what would have happened if Anne Boleyn had not miscarried her son in 1536. That book's alternate history was very well thought out and definitely plausible.When you compare that book to this one, 'Catherine the Inquisitor' doesn't stand a chance. To be fair, this book is more of a long short story than a novel, but I felt that Henry was nowhere near the man he actually was (I doubt his entire personality would have changed all because Catherine bore him son). In this book Catherine absolutely rules the roost. Not in a million years could I picture Henry, in ANY alternate history, bowing down to all of Catherines demands...he's the KING! One example was allowing Prince Harry to attend executions at such an early age...he knew it was wrong and he was uncomfortable with it, but Catherine did what she wanted anyway. And being the King, he absolutely could have halted the execution of one particular noble (I won't mention who...don't want to spoil it) quietly if he wanted to. Instead he let his wife and son override his own wishes...not in a million years. Henry LOVED power.As for the ending, it was a disappointment. Henry's fate seems almost like the lazy way out, and EXTREMELY unlikely...all of it. Not only what happens to Henry himself, but also what happens to Prince Harry. While I obviously didn't love the book, I didn't hate it either. I think the idea of what the author is doing is wonderful. I assume there will be 6 of these books, and I'm interested in seeing what she does for each wife. I did purchase the next book,Anne the Saint (The Six Lives of Henry the VIII), and unless it's absolutely terrible, I plan to purchase the rest. While they're not the most well-written books out there, they certainly are imaginative...plus they're short, so it's no time at all to get through one. It's hard to say how I would have rated this book had I not finished the one I did before this. If you're interested in this time period and the Tudors, then I absolutely recommend reading this. If you really have a thing for alternate histories, then also pick up Ms. Nuckols book. It's a little more in-depth and MUCH more realistic.