Description (from cover):
'In this engrossing novel of historical suspense, New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir tells the dramatic intertwined stories of two women--Katherine Grey and Kate Plantagenet--separated by time but linked by twin destinies...involving the mysterious tragic fate of the young Princes in the Tower.
When her older sister, Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day's Queen, is executed in 1554 for unlawfully accepting the English crown, Lady Katherine Grey's world falls apart. Barely recovered from this tragic loss she risks all for love, only to incur the wrath of her formidable cousin Queen Elizabeth I, who sees Katherine as a rival for her insecure throne.
Interlaced with Katherine's story is that of her distant kinswoman Kate Plantagenet, the bastard daughter of Richard III, the last Plantagenet king. In 1483, Kate travels to London for Richard's coronation, and her world changes forever.
Kate loves her father, but before long she hears the terrible rumors about him that threaten all she holds dear. Like Katherine Grey, she falls in love with a man who is forbidden to her. Then Kate embarks on what will become a perilous quest, covertly seeking the truth about what befell her cousins the Princes in the Tower, who may have been victims of Richard III's lust for power. But time is not on Kate's side, or on Katherine's.
Katherine finds herself prisoner in the Tower of London, the sinister fortress that overshadowed the lives of so many royal figures, including the boy princes. Will Elizabeth demand the full penalty for treason? And what secrets will Katherine find hidden within the Tower walls?
Alison Weir's new novel is a page-turning story set within a framework of fascinating historical authenticity. In this rich and layered tapestry, Katherine and Kate discover that possessing royal blood can prove to be a dangerous inheritance.'
My thoughts:
For some reason, I have a bad habit of reading other reader's reviews before starting a book. I don't do this just rarely, but for every single book that I read. So of course I did it for this one. The reviews on this book were off-putting. They said it wasn't an engaging story and that it definitely wasn't Weir's best work. Why do I do this? It's so weird. I was expecting to not like this story based on reading the reviews, but guess what, I loved this one! So moral of the story here is not to judge a book based on other people's reviews, as what works for them may not work for you and vice versa. Note to self: remember this statement when reading reviews before reading the book.
To be honest, I am so glad this book doesn't feature the Tudors. They make a small appearance, but mainly the story is focused on Katherine Grey, Kate Plantagenet, Richard III and the Princes in the Tower. And thank God! I am about sick of the Tudors (sorry, but true). It's refreshing to read about some lesser known historical figures. I knew that Katherine was the sister of the doomed Lady Jane Grey and that's all I knew about her. As for Kate Plantagenet, I didn't even know she existed or had such an interesting tale. Thank you, Alison Weir, for introducing me to these two fabulous historical women.
These two women draw you into their stories and don't let go. I found myself really caring for these two characters and hoping that all turns out well for them. The thing that I like the best about Katherine and Kate is that they both do some things for love and yet still hold true to who they are despite facing treason charges and losing everything they hold dear. I love how Alison Weir invites the reader into a world where literally everything was on edge with Richard III fighting for his crown and kingdom and the mystery surrounding the missing Princes of the Tower. You really get the sense and feel of the time in this book and the author is one who is known for sticking closely to historical fact. I really like that. I know sometimes authors have to take liberty with the details of history, but Weir does it so rarely and its refreshing almost to know that most of what is happening in the story is what happened in real life.
I encourage lovers of historical fiction to read this book as it is rich in detail and the characters have their own interesting stories to tell. Explore the stories of two lesser known historical figures and embrace the wonderful tale Alison Weir spins for her readers. I don't think you will be disappointed. Great read!
Overall Rating: 4/5
Title: A Dangerous Inheritance
Author: Alison Weir
Series: N/A
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Pages: 544
Genre: Historical Fiction
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for my review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.