The King's Curse

"If you, too, have been worried that the great Philippa Gregory was going to run out of angles to tell the story of Henry VIII and the fortunes and reversals of the Tudors — I think you can rest easy. The latest in her thankfully never-ending saga is The King’s Curse, the very sad tale of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury. Frankly, all these books have a similar feel. Henry VIII ascends the throne, hope rises, many girl babies are born, paranoia sets in, heads roll. But no worries; there’s always the knowledge that Elizabeth I will eventually take power in front of a huge screen that says FEMINIST. Added bonuses: This one has a glimpse of young Henry’s early pathological anxiety, and a charismatic main character — Margaret Pole is tenacious and intelligent. Plus, there are a date with an executioner, a moral victory, and more ancillary characters who may get their own books in the future. If there is a king’s curse — I’ve got it bad — I just can’t quit you, Henry T."