Book Review: Patience, Princes Catherine

Author: Carolyn Meyer
Title:  Patience, Princess Catherine
Publisher: Gulliver Books
Publish Date: Jan 2009
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur's betrothed--the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon's fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine's parents arrange a marriage with Arthur's brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess's resolve remains unshaken: She will one day be England's queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Review: This is the second book by Meyer that I read this year. The first was The Bad Queen. I wasn't as fond of that one as I am of Patience, Princess Catherine. I think Catherine of Aragon is one of the Tudor wives that gets pushed aside because Anne Boleyn is so much more interesting. This book is part of her Young Royals series, geared toward young adults.

Meyer really brought Catherine to life, and you really liked her and felt sorry for her, because she was a pawn in so many ways between the Spanish and the English.

This book also paints an interesting picture of the Henry, who we see first as the Duke Of York and then as the Prince of Wales when his brother Arthur dies suddenly. Henry is much more likable than I've found him when he became King Henry VIII.  Meyer shows the sibling rivalry well and they come across as any other brothers, even though they are royals.

I like Meyer's writing style. As much as I love authors like Jean Plaidy and Phillipa Gregory, sometimes the story can become really dry. With Meyer that's not the case. She humanizes these historical figures, making them down to earth.

If you are interested in historical fiction and like a more young adult approach to writing, Meyer's books are definitely for you.

Rating: 5 flowers