[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars A well-researched in-depth analysis of the various facets related to Anne Boleyn’s life. This narrative addresses the royal biases around Anne and the way media has rewritten pivotal facts. This is a deep dive into the truest accounts to this date that we know of related to Anne. A narrative that demystifies centuries of rumors and a King’s attempt to write Anne out of history. Genuinely interesting read for those interested in the Tudors. Each essay focuses on a central aspect related to Annes life or the way Anne’s life has been portrayed through various medias. Considerations are made for missing information, cultural context, and the current artifacts that remain from Anne’s reign as Queen. This is a great example of a non-fiction narrative that pulls the passion from their fingertips in riveting essays.
NetGalley, Mariah F.

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars I could not put this down. There is so much interesting information and the author presents it in a way which is extremely engaging and entertaining. The sub-text of societal expectations of women at the time adds depth to the analysis of some of the practicalities and even logistics of becoming a mother. I particularly enjoyed the detailed exploration of early ideas about the “humours” and the mobility of the womb - very interesting to see how strongly these ideas informed medical care at the time.
NetGalley, Louise Gray

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars The author here had found something new to say about the Tudors, which you would not think possible given the saturation of the market with books on the subject. Her subjects are Edward Seymour, Catherine Filliol and Anne Stanhope., hitherto overlooked characters who played key roles in Tudor England. They are fascinating characters and this account is illuminating, she reveals scandals I knew nothing about and painstakingly pieces together the lives of the two women involved, from very little evidence. It is not light reading or historical fluff, this is a very scholarly account, with detailed source analysis and tight research. Her referencing is sound and she uses numerous primary sources, referring to those over secondary material. Given this I would hazard a guess that the author is well schooled and a formally educated historian, which is refreshing to find. This is an excellent and very proper historical biography.
NetGalley, Beth Miller

Very well laid out and fascinating book! As a Tudor fanatic, I learned quite a lot of new information and found the illustrations to be lovely
NetGalley, Margot Daniels

The Final Year of Anne Boleyn is a well-researched and insightful view of the last days of Queen Anne Boleyn's life famously cut short when she failed to produce a male heir for King Henry VIII. While Henry does feature in this book, its focus is Anne - what she did, who she trusted and what she cared about. Sadly, many of Anne's letters no longer survive so there are some events we can only view through secondary sources. Nevertheless, Natalie Grueninger brings Anne to life and invokes the sights, sounds and perils of Tudor life in an accessible writing style. The final section of the book takes us through the events of the swift and brutal downfall of Queen Anne. I found the speed with which Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell dispatched of Anne terrifying. It is testament to Grueninger's writing that she was able to give this well-documented period of history an edge-of-your-seat feel. I will forever find the death of Anne Boleyn a stain on English history. That this bright, kind, witty.. Read more
NetGalley, Rachel Matthews