Once again, Jean Plaidy creates a captivating portrait of a powerful and complex woman with simple and stirring language. While I don't always agree or like what Mary does or decides, I understand her. Plaidy does a good job of delving into her mind and drawing forth a woman with her own distinct fears and desires. That is all I ask when I read a book.

The most captivating thing about this novel is reading how Mary grows out of worshipping her father. It truly is a coming of age novel. One wonders, if Mary had been raised in modern times, if she would have grown more into herself, as she seemed to be doing by the end of the novel. As it were, her life is pretty sad. Imagine spending your whole life at the mercy of some ambitious men who can't read a room to save their lives. They don't respect you, and you're never good enough. In many ways, Mary was a victim of her circumstances, and Plaidy did a marvelous job capturing that.

This book is easy to read and is a great introduction to the English Restoration. I learned so much and enjoyed it too. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers! ( )

Re-hashing of Ms Plaidy's earlier Stuart saga, 5 Jan 2011
By
sally tarbox (aylesbury bucks uk) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Queen's Devotion: The Story of Queen Mary II (Queens of England Novel) (Paperback)
I read this book first, and quite enjoyed it, although agree with other reviewer that Mary's devotion to the unloving William is unexplained. However on later reading Plaidy's Stuart saga (starting with 'the haunted sisters') feel that this is just a re-hash of the earlier work, so much so that I would sometimes stop and think 'I've already read this'. I would in retrospect have just purchased the Stuart trilogy instead ( )