Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

Since it appears that Tudormania is not in danger of running out of steam any time soon, it is at least good to see that authors are taking notice of some of the lesser known personalities and breathing life into names that are largely historical footnotes. In nearly every version of Henry VIII’s life (especially those focused on his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), the name of Elizabeth (Bess) Blount usually finds its way into the story. Her place in Tudor history is owed to the fact that for 17 years she was the only person to give Henry what he wanted most – a son who lived to adulthood.

As just another of Henry’s mistresses, Bess sleeps with the king, gets pregnant, gives birth to a son, is married off, and then is never heard from again. But who was she? Where did she come from? What kind of person might she have been? Diane Haeger tries to answer some of those questions in The Queen’s Rival.

A young girl from the country, Bess goes to court at the age of 14 to take her mother’s place in the household of Catherine of Aragon after her father is injured and her mother returns home to care for him. Sweet natured and rather naïve, she has a highly romanticized idea of what court life – and the relationship between the king and his queen – is all about. She quickly develops friendships with Elizabeth Bryan (another maid of honor) and Gilbert Tailbois (a ward of Thomas Wolsey). But with no experience to guide her and despite warnings from Elizabeth and Gil, she falls into the biggest trap at court – becoming infatuated with the handsome and vibrant young king.

Bess is pretty enough to be noticed by the king but he sees that there is more to her than most of the other girls at court. Even Catherine notices that Bess may pose a bigger threat to her marriage than the usual girls who throw themselves at her husband.   Over the next few years a casual friendship develops between Henry and Bess and she holds onto her romantic notions of the king who loves his queen and she can’t imagine that Henry would ever become involved with another woman – especially after he tells her that he doesn’t take mistresses. But Bess soon discovers differently and in an unexpected moment of vulnerability on Henry’s part, they begin a relationship that has the potential to change everything.

Overall I enjoyed The Queen’s Rival and watching the relationship between Henry and Bess develop over time. Bess struggles with her feelings for Henry and the guilt she feels for betraying the Queen. At times I thought she was a little too nice though and found it a little hard to believe that after a few years at court she was still naïve enough to believe that Henry didn’t take mistresses and didn’t catch on to the fact that her friend Elizabeth was one of them. Henry’s differentiation between a “lover” and a “mistress” was interesting but one I doubt many husbands today would get away with - I know mine wouldn’t!! But I liked seeing a slightly different side of Henry as he comes to truly love Bess; yet even after she gives him the son he longs for, she knows it can never be anything more and she makes a conscience decision to move forward and to make a happy life for herself.

The years following the Duke of Richmond being set up in his own household until his death are covered fairly quickly and even though it felt a little rushed, since Bess was not at court and the book was about her, I supposed there really wasn’t a whole lot to say. I also found interesting Henry’s deliberations over the succession and how his son – and Bess – might fit into it. But by this time his passion was being fueled by Anne Boleyn and the sweet girl from the country just couldn’t compete. But it’s fun to consider how things might have been different.


In case the FTC asks: The publisher sent me a copy to review.