Title: The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Type: Young Adult
Genre: Historical
Tea: Lapsang Souchong, fiery and wild, definitely not prim and proper, but intriguing.
Rating: 5 out 5 stars.
"Mary
Stuart was just five years old when she was sent to France to be raised
alongside her future husband. But when the frail young king dies,
eighteen-year-old Mary is stripped of her title as Queen of France and
set adrift in the harsh world, alone. Determined to reign over what is
rightfully hers, Mary returns to Scotland. Hoping that a husband will
help her secure the coveted English throne, she marries again, but the
love and security she longs for elude her. Instead, the fiery young
queen finds herself embroiled in a murder scandal that could cost her
the crown. And her attempts to bargain with her formidable 'sister
queen', Elizabeth I of England, could cost her her very life." (Goodreads.com)
Mary Queen of Scots has quickly become one of my favorite queens. She is written about more than I imagined and it intrigues me to see the different takes authors have on her life. Carolyn Meyer does a great job of telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots in a way that will keep younger readers interested while still teaching them something.
Mary's life was quite difficult and she experienced more hardships than most people will face in a lifetime. Carolyn Meyer does a great job of showing Mary's feelings and strength throughout the novel. Her descriptions and knowledge of the settings are fantastic as well. Having read a lot about Marie Antoinette (another favorite queen of mine) I know the French court fairly well, but did not know much about Scotland and it's royalty. They are definitely two very different animals. Carolyn does a great job of navigating two very different worlds without confusing the reader.
I think the most difficult part of this book for me, and really any book dealing with royalty, is when Mary was a child. A lot of what she said sounded far too grown up. Yes, I understand she's a Queen at six days old, but that doesn't mean she doesn't talk like a small child. I find this in a lot of historical fiction. I'm guessing this is done so the reader gets used to the character's voice, also an adult is writing it and the character, for a larger part of the story, will be an adult.
If you've always wondered about Mary, but don't want to read a giant tome, I would suggest this one. While it is fiction, you get a lot of background on her and can give you an idea of what you'll get more of in other books (be it fiction or non-fiction). I think Mary is a queen that deserves to be known and remembered. I hope you'll feel the same.
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