Excellent story

My favourite Philippa Gregory book is The Other Boleyn Girl, and I was utterly thrilled to read another of her books - The King's Curse - which so excellently brings the frightening Tudor period to life.

It did annoy me that Bianca Amato pronounced Berkshire in the American way but apart from that she is an excellent reader. She was Margaret!

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3 people found this helpful

Gregory back on form!

Ms Gregory has her mojo back after several weak Plantagenet novels this one is back to the style I had come to expect from this author after reading earlier Tudor books.
The reader has a few very irritating mispronunciation since the same few words occur often & I did find myself correcting her each time.
Overall highly enjoyable listen.

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2 people found this helpful

Fantastically brutal history we must not forget

The story is fictional as far as the narrative is concerned but the historical facts should never be forgotten. This is a terribly sad story made all the worse for being true. The footnote at the end is very touching. A difficult listen but absolutely enchanting. Even though the worst it is impossible to stop listening.

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1 person found this helpful

Loved it!

I’m not sure how historically accurate the authors books are but that hasn’t detracted from my enjoyment of her books. This novel is told via Margaret Poles prospective during Henry VIII reign. I liked Margaret and I fully enjoyed her journey till her ultimate demise. The Tudor Court is well described as is its characters, plots, jealousies, treasons and endings. I’ve now listened to quite a few in this series and I’ve enjoyed most of them.

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Really interesting

I was dubious having read other reviews. I love the author and have read many of her books but never listened before. I did expect it to be slightly ruin by narration because of the previous reviews but was really pleasantly surprised. I thought it was good and thoroughly enjoyed the story.

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5 people found this helpful

A solidly good book and performance.

Would you consider the audio edition of The King's Curse to be better than the print version?

Actually (to my surprise as a book lover) yes, due to the ending...which I didn't know before and won't spoil. Essentially, the narration allowed the listener to keep completely in the moment with the character, unaware of the impending end to the book..

What other book might you compare The King's Curse to, and why?

It's like any of the other books in this series... It's just a little longer although the character we follow reached a fair old age (at the time) so the length of her story merely reflects that.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

That's really difficult... Probably the end as it has such an impact but maybe when Margaret leaves Reginald with the monks at Sheene...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes... Thankfully (sort of) ive been ill so was able to listen in big chunks...although I'm not sure anyone could do the whole thing in one sitting..purely timewise.

Any additional comments?

Thoroughly enjoyed the narration...

Although from the start I found the accent a little strange, you soon get used to it and Bianca Amato is so passionate and truthful with her reading, by about half way through, she has completely embodied the character, her thoughts and feelings... so much so, that it quickly becomes tricky to separate the book, the history, Margaret and her voice...

Thank you PhilIppa Gregory and Bianca Amato - fantastic work.

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1 person found this helpful

Very good.

It is a great insight into the history of Aristotle women in the 1500's and how they were treated by egotistical men.
Great read, well done.

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TOTALLY CAPTIVATING

Philippa Gregory at her best! Couldn't put it down. It was as if I was living shoulder by shoulder with a brave and feisty Margaret Pole. The narrator was excellent bringing the book to life!
Would definitely recommend it!

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Feminists against tyranny

Gripping story of the last Plantagenet royals trying to survive in the tyrannical world of Henry VIII. Told through the powerful voice of Margaret Pole. Love the historical details balanced with fictional voices that convey likely fury of betrayed royal women.

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A Fly In the Ointment

Would you listen to The King's Curse again? Why?

I enjoyed the rich and warm tone of Bianca Amato's voice - but there were some jarring pronunciation errors which really interrupted the flow for me. It wouldn't have taken much to check the pronunciation of place names like "Beaulieu", which is pronounced "Bewley", or Cambridgeshire, where the first syllable is "came" and not "camm". It was distracting, too, to keep hearing "courtiers" pronounced as if it rhymed with "more tears" rather than the British pronunciation which rhymes more with "haughtier". Such a shame, as otherwise the reading was excellent.

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12 people found this helpful