This was my 63rd book finished in 2023.

Okay, so I really liked this book. It's exactly the kind of book I hope existed. 

I loved the information at the end of each chapter, regarding their burials. It was very interesting and useful for someone wanting to make pilgrimages.

The medical details are fascinatingly gruesome. To the complainers - what were you expecting? Didn't you read the title of the book...?

It started off with good detail in each chapter, but they seemed to become shorter in the early modern era. The monarchs started having less background explained, or what they achieved in their lifetime. A shame, as It was an otherwise enjoyable compaction of history.

But it wasn't perfect. I had a couple issues:

The back cover calls it a history of "English and Scottish monarchs", but this is actually a history of "English and British" monarchs (and Mary Queen Of Scots). I understand that the two nations shared monarchs between James VI and I, and Anne, but the book is very Anglo-centric. I was expecting some chapters about medieval Scottish monarchs, but was disappointing. This problem probably lies with the publisher or editor when writing the blurb.

Also, why does it begin with Harold II? Is the author just conveniently forgetting about the other Anglo Saxon kings, in order to open with a more interesting chapter? Definitely, yes. A real shame again, I guess the House of Wessex isn't important enough to include.

I also wasn't keen on the fact that the book doesn't do much to dispel false death rumours, but in fact, rather embellishes them. We should be doing what we can to stop these false tales of history, not encourage them.

As is to be expected with these kind of history books, the author tries and fails to be funny. I just think there's no need.

A good reference book for me, very useful indeed.