A review by ravensandlace
The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper

2.5

Title: The Last Boleyn
Author: Karen Harper
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: paperback book
Series: NA
Star Rating: 2.5 stars

tw: animal abuse, death, arranged marriage, imprisonment, fat shaming, sexism, insults, infidelity, animal death, mention of miscarriage and lost children, slut shaming, illness, assault, beheading, extreme grief

This is one of those cases where I thought the book was good but for some reason, I just really struggled with it. It took me so long to get through it; it was over a month. I don't know why either. This is the perfect book for me. 

This is a day in the life of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn. It spans over many years so there is a ton of detail. I can tell the author spent a lot of time researching. I wonder if Mary kept diaries because I felt we got to know Mary on a deeply personal level. Even the dialogue was well done. Honestly, it was some of the best I have seen from a historical fiction novel. 

I think maybe my problem was that I am such an Anne Boleyn stan and the way she was portrayed in this book kind of upset me. I think that Anne got the short end of the stick in history. I truly think she was completely misunderstood as a person. I’m glad we are finally getting the truth though. That she was just a victim in King Henry VIII’s game of life. But in this book, she seemed like such a brat through the eyes of her sister. But I think that might just be me being biased about my Queen. Take what I say about this particular part with a grain of salt. 

I just can’t put my finger on why I didn’t love this book the way I wanted to. But, with that being said, I think a lot of people would love this book. Especially those that are heavily interested in the Tudors. I think a lot of people would like it, especially since it’s not about the Tudors but someone close to them. Don’t let my low rating deter you. This is very much a me, not you situation.