First of all, this book is obviously fiction that merely uses historical outlines as a jumping-off point. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but do not go to Gregory's work looking to learn history. For instance, although there is disputed evidence for Gregory's birth years for the Boleyn siblings (1505-1507), it is more commonly accepted that Anne was born in 1501/02 and that Mary, Henry VIII's earlier lover, was the older of the sisters. Since Anne was unable to marry King Henry until 1533, the earlier and more solid date for her birth enlightens their love story (and political story) with a fascinating perspective--just not the perspective from which Gregory wants to tell her tale.

The extreme youth of the characters in Gregory's novel (which opens in the early 1520s, with Anne and Mary long since prominent ladies-in-waiting at court) is only one of the reasons to feel sorry for them: all of them. In fact, my most prominent feeling in reading this book was one of sympathy for the court's casualties, which very much included the King himself, and his humanity. The Howards use their kin the Boleyns, Henry uses his subjects, Anne uses Mary shamelessly--yet Henry VIII is also used, both subtly and openly, by the ambitious ones of his court, who see him not as their governor and sovereign lord (though they might like him to think that) but rather as Old Moneybags.

The melodramatic tale is engaging, and very sad. If it inspires you to learn more about the equally dramatic and tragic real stories, all the better.