Book Description
As Henry VIII's only child, the future seemed golden for Princess Mary. She was the daughter of Henry's first queen, Katharine of Aragon, and was heir presumptive to the throne of England. Red-haired like her father, she was also intelligent and deeply religious like her staunchly Catholic mother. But her father's ill-fated love for Anne Boleyn would shatter Mary's life forever. The father who had once adored her was now intent on having a male heir at all costs. He divorced her mother and, at the age of twelve, Mary was banished from her father’s presence, stripped of her royal title, and replaced by his other children--first Elizabeth, then Edward. Worst of all, she never saw her beloved mother again; Katharine was exiled too, and died soon after. Lonely and miserable, Mary turned for comfort to the religion that had sustained her mother.
In a stroke of fate, however, Henry's much-longed-for son died in his teens, leaving Mary the legitimate heir to the throne. It was, she felt, a sign from God--proof that England should return to the Catholic Church. Swayed by fanatical advisors and her own religious fervor, Mary made horrific examples of those who failed to embrace the Church, earning her the immortal nickname "Bloody Mary." She was married only once, to her Spanish cousin Philip II--a loveless and childless marriage that brought her to the edge of madness.
With
In the Shadow of the Crown, Jean Plaidy brings to life the dark story of a queen whose road to the throne was paved with sorrow.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
The surprising heartbreak of Bloody Mary.......2007-07-14
Princess Mary is born the beloved daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. But, when her mother can no longer bear children, Mary's life is thrust into turmoil as she is declared illegimate. As she grows to adulthood, she only wishes to bring Catholicism back to England and to marry and be a mother.
This is a heartbreaking story of a woman who has been vilified by history. This makes Mary human, something for which Jean Plaidy has a great talent.
Shadow of the Crown.......2005-08-26
A page in history that fills in many blanks. The thoughts and motives of a defective but well meaning royal personage who truly is not sure who she is. A product of her time.
Queen Mary I in Jean Plaidy's novel.......2005-02-15
Jean Plaidy gives us a personal look into the life of one of England's most notorious monarchs. Queen Mary Tudor also known as Bloody Mary. If you are looking for an easy read about British royalty then this book might interest you. The book is told through Mary while she is looking back at her life as she is near death. In the coming pages she will tell of a life that was full of hardships and plagued fear and uncertainty.
In order for the reader to understand her point of view and the very root of all of her trials to come in her life, she begins with her birth. Mary's arrival into this world, while joyous, was tainted with disappointment since King Henry IIIV desperately desired a male heir to the throne. As she grew, Mary realized that her life would be plagued by this disappointment that she was unable to amend. However she found favor with her father early on and describes her early child hood as being full of wonderful memories and joy. Yet as her mother's inability to have more children became apparent so did the disappointment and frustration of her father. She soon became aware of the determination and cold-hearted nature of her father as her divorced her mother, Katherine of Aragon, in order to marry Anne Boleyn and produce a son. From then on her life took a drastic turn as her father banished her from court, declared her an illegitimate child, and even went as far as taking away her title as princess upon the birth of Elizabeth. Now Mary lived as the bastard child of the king and in a constant state of uncertainty and distress. She was unable to live with her mother for fear of revolt and was seen as a threat to the king and his plans. As a consequence of divorcing his wife, King Henry IIIV also broke away from the Catholic Church of Rome and established the Church of England of which he himself was the head. As a devout Catholic, Mary found this irreprehensible and after her mother's death, made it her life's sole purpose to end this new religion and bring her beloved country back to Rome and the Catholic Church. However this seemed almost impossible as Henry IIIV and his third wife Jane Seymour gave birth to a son, Edward. His birth signified a drastic hindrance as it moved her further down in the line of succession and favor. Her fervor and devotion towards her beloved Catholic faith grew, as did her determination. Throughout this time Plaidy introduces the reader to many important people in Mary's life such as the Countess and the Spanish ambassador that are a source of comfort and support during the trials of her life. This gives a personal aspect to the story and allows the reader to see Mary as a fully relational being whom values family and loyalty as essentials in her life. However she finds that her positions as a potential successor to the throne puts all those close to her under the scrutiny of her father and his council. Through this Mary learns the harsh realities in the world of politics and how little an individual life means to the monarch when it threatens his power.
The death of her father brought a glimmer of hope that was brought to fruition through the death of Edward. Finally her dream of becoming Queen of England was realized and she could begin her work of restoring Catholicism to England. Unfortunately it des not bring the happiness that she so desperately desires. However under the influences of her council and blinded by her religious fervor, Mary began a reign of intolerance towards the Protestant faith. This intolerance led to the horrific deaths of many in her country thus giving her the name Bloody Mary. This loss of public support combined with a loveless and most importantly childless marriage brings Mary to the depths to despair.
Plaidy paints Queen Mary Tudor as a victim of cruel circumstances and as a person who should be pitied by writing the book through Mary's eyes. The book also recounts the life of Henry IIIV as he goes through numerous wives and desperately attempts to produce a legitimate male heir to the throne. Plaidy creates a book that is entertaining and interesting to read for those who are interested in a recreational story of the British monarch. However I found that while her sympathetic take on the life of Queen Mary held my attention the book was a bit too simple in its presentation and style of writing. If you are looking for a riveting novel holding tightly to the actual history then this would not be a book for you, but if you desires of purely for entertainment then you will enjoy The Tudor Queens: In the Shadow of the Crown by Jean Plaidy.
Mary Tudor.......2004-01-03
When you think of Bloody Mary, one would think of a horrible monster. No one knows how truly horrible her life had really been.
Mary was brought up as the heir to the thrown of England. She enjoyed her lessons, loved her mother, and idolized her father, King Henry VIII. She had a perfect life. Being a Princess, she was naturally betrothed. Being a crown Princess and only legitimate offspring made her the only child to be used in political alliances. Mary liked the idea of marrying the Emperor, Charles, but that match was broken up. Mary had quite a friendship with Reginald Pole. He treated her tenderly.
But getting a husband was going to be hard because the King was seeking to get an annullment from Queen Catherine. Mary's legitmacy was in doubt. Mary's perfect life wasn't so perfect anymore. She was forbidden to see her mother and her father married Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn's child takes Mary's place as the heir.
This book tells about Mary's view of Henry's numerous wives, Edward's reign, Jane Grey and Philip of Spain. It shows that Mary wasn't really a bloodthirsty demon, but a pious, neglected woman who yearned for affection.
This book is wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who liked history fiction. Anyone who liked this book should read Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer.
BLOODY MARY..........2002-09-16
Jean Plaidy, known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt, continues her "Queens of England" series of books with this, her sixth volume. It is a well written and engrossing work of historical fiction written as a first person narrative by Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII of England and Queen Katherine. Mary would eventually become Queen of England in her own right and leave a legacy whereby her subjects would remember her as "Bloody Mary".
As the only child of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, the future seemed rosy for the Princess Mary. She lived a fairytale life until her father, obsessed with begetting a male heir, fell for the charms of Anne Boleyn. From that moment on, life would never be the same for Mary. Her world was torn asunder, as her father became someone whom she did not recognize. His cruelties to her and her mother, Katherine, would leave an indelible mark on her life. Divorcing her mother to marry the notorious Anne Boleyn and splitting from the Catholic Church of Rome, Henry would set England on a course that would change history. It would also serve to reinforce Mary's Catholicism, the faith of her pious, long suffering mother.
Upon the death of her father, Mary would, along with her half sister Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn, become a pawn in the political intrigues of the day in which religion would become a focal issue. When Mary became Queen after the premature death of her sickly half brother, Edward VI, son of her father, Henry, and his hapless third wife, Jane Seymour, she tried to make England return to the Catholic Church of Rome. Under the guidance of some of her advisors, she would make horrific examples of those who would fail to embrace what she viewed as the true faith, a policy that would not endear her to her subjects. This, unfortunately, would be her legacy and would, ultimately, shape the future religious identity of England.
This is an absorbing story of one woman's struggle to survive the vicissitudes of life, the feckless love of her father, the King, the political intrigues of her day, the threat of imprisonment and death, and a loveless and childless marriage to Phillip of Spain. It is the story of a woman whose road to the throne was paved with many obstacles, and her ultimate acquisition of the crown would confer little happiness upon her. It is a spellbinding account of a life lived entirely in the shadow of the crown.
Book Description
An adventure set in the Midnight campaign setting for the d20 System, a world where evil rules and darkness has fallen across the land, where heroes are condemned and the elder races are hunted to the brink of extinction. In this scenario, the heroes must face off against the creatures of shadow, striving to bring light to a world dominated by the forces of evil.
Customer Reviews:
SUPERB CAMPAIGN FOR GROUND-BREAKING WORLD.......2006-11-04
CROWN OF SHADOW is a campaign for low-level characters that is set in the world of MIDNIGHT. MIDNIGHT is a dark world where the forces of evil have won and the heroes are the hunted. Both the use of magic and reading are capital crimes, as is the possession of weapons or armor. Even food is scarce. Orcs are the elite fighting forces of this world and the only clerics left pray to a dark god enthroned in his dark tower. Humanity is being ground into the dust, halflings are universally enslaved, the dwarves are losing a war of attrition and even the elves are being driven back. In short, it is a world in need of heroes.
The world of MIDNIGHT differs from standard high fantasy sufficiently that players would benefit from a campaign that would take them across the entire world, to see how each group under the Shadow is resisting and what price they pay for doing so. They should meet all of the surprises that MIDNIGHT has in store and get a sense for the corruption of their world, the better to motivate their struggle against it. CROWN OF SHADOW is that campaign, a story arc that takes the PCs through the lands of the dying dwarves, crushed humans, subversive river gnomes, and the vanguard of the elves. The PCs will experience almost all of the twists of MIDNIGHT and see all the major locations; in that sense, it serves almost as a gazetteer for the players. I'll admit that the "crown of shadow" is quite the macguffin, but the campaign is about the journey not the destination.
CROWN OF SHADOW is designed for 1st level characters and can run them as high as 5th level. This campaign is designed for the 1st edition of MIDNIGHT and uses 3.0 rules, but I didn't find any problems using this with MIDNIGHT 2nd edition or 3.5 rules. There are 7 chapters of action, plus an epilogue which follows the conclusion fo the story. The booklet itself is very readable - I particularly appreciated the synopsis at the beginning of each chapter to keep track of what should be happening. Each chapter also has subsections to keep all the information organized.
I thought CROWN OF SHADOW was a well presented campaign. In fact, it should be indispensable as a resource for any MIDNIGHT campaign even if the material isn't directly used. The challenges seem well designed, with some good combats, some puzzles, and social interaction. I would highly recommend it.
Download Description
For more than a millennium now Erna's humans have maintained an uneasy stalemate with the fae-a force of nature which responds to the human psyche, indiscriminately bringing to life a person's more treasured dreams or hideous nightmares-with adepts and sorcerers working for their own profit while the demonic creatures who feed upon such efforts rapidly gain in power and ambition. Now one of these demons, a Iezu called Calesta, has declared war on all of mankind. Master of Illusion, devourer of pain, Calesta plans to remake the human species until mankind exists only to sate his unquenchable thirst for suffering, and omens of his triumph are already apparent. Even the Church of the One God seems to be in danger, the souls of its faithful corrupted by a demon whose very essence is sadism. Only Damien Vryce, warrior-priest of the One God, and his unlikely ally, the undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrent stand between Calesta and his triumph. Nothing short of the demon's absolute destruction will save mankind from his unholy influence. But no one on Erna is certain just what the Iezu really are, and no man has ever succeeded in killing one. Faced with an enemy who may prove invulnerable-pitted against not only Calesta, but the leaders of the Church and the Hunter's last descendant-Damien and Tarrent must risk everything in a war that will take them from the depths of Hell to the birthplace of demons and beyond in a battle which could cost them not only their lives, but the very soul of all mankind.
Customer Reviews:
Good Trilogy.......2007-01-12
Amazing ending to an overall amazing trilogy. If you like fantasy books but think most are just too childish and lack a dark feeling, then this is perfect for you
Crown of Feces.......2005-07-25
This entire trilogy was a waste of my time, alot like a quicksand pit you've stepped in but can't get out of. The only reason I saw this trilogy through was A) To see what everyone was talking about when they said, " The greatest suprise ending ever!", which of course was sadly lacking and B) The see what happens to Gerald Tarrant at the end. These two catagories are mixed together at the end but so anticlimatic that I laughed at C.S Friedmans inability to write properly and come up with half-way interesting ending. It seemed she was just pushing to get the book done. This trilogy has hardly any fight scenes and when there are, they are spotty at best. The entire 1700+ pages are an amalgamation of Tarrant and Damien traveling, that is it, never quite actually getting anywhere, just travelling. When they ended up going back to where they started out, I wanted to puke in disgust because it just started all over again halfway through book 2. Friedman has a very bad habit of not tieing up loose ends, she seemed to kill off or forget certain characters that she no longer wanted to write for or about. The end though is the killer, after some 1600 pages, the antagonist is killed off in a half page and here is how it goes, after travelling thousands of miles the protagonist climbs what seems to be a tiny hill and banishes the bad guy to hell; that simple, that short........that aggravating. In short, save your money!, I will never read another Friedman novel until she starts taking writing classes. What a waste of my time!.
What will become a timeless classic.......2005-07-23
I don't think I can use words to really describe these books. The fine attention to detail, the intricate twists of the plot, the very end when you go "Oh!" as the pieces all click together, those are just scratching the surface. Book 3 was most assuredly my favorite of the three, but as soon as I had finished the series, I found myself understanding things in the first two that I hadn't caught the first time around and therefore enoyed them when I re-read them, as I understood each chapter's signifigance. This series is one of my all-time favorite books; I enjoyed them more than Lord of the Rings, and I admit Tolkien is a master. But Friedman has taken the theme of 'fantasy' and raised the bar to a level that is tough, if not impossible to reach. To anyone who's ever read or considered reading a fantasy book, skip the hobbits and go for Friedman.
The best book of the three.......2005-02-17
There is really nothing I could say that would do this book justice. C.S. Friedman is a fabulous author, and the way she manages to tie everything up in this book is just superb. If you've read the earlier books, this is a must-have; if you haven't read them, then you should.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the ending. I can't really go into detail about why without spoiling the plot, which is something I definitely don't want to do, but I'll just say some parts of it seemed kind of contrived to me. Also, she intentionally leaves a few threads dangling; I know some people prefer endings like this, where things are open to interpretation, but I prefer endings where everything is neatly wrapped up and spelled out for me.
However, don't get me wrong--my complaints about the ending are nowhere near enough to ruin my love of the book, or of the series in general. It's more a nitpick then anything--this series is so good I have to resort to nitpicking to find anything wrong with it. =)
One of the best series I've ever read!.......2004-11-13
The coldfire trilogy is one of the best series I have ever read. And I have read thousands of sci fi and fantasy books over more than a quarter century. Five stars all the way! Be sure to check out the rest of her books too. Without exception they have all been unlike anything else I've read. It's refreshing to read truly original works!
Book Description
Unlikely allies Damien and Tarrant are faced with an enemy who may prove invulnerable-a demon who has declared war on mankind. Called Calesta, he is a master of illusion and devourer of pain, and he plans to remake the human species until it exists only to sate his unquenchable thirst for suffering. The war against Calesta will take Damien and Tarrant from the depths of Hell to the birthplace of demons and beyond-in a battle that could cost them not only their lives, but the very soul of mankind.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing Trilogy.. Classic status in my library.......2006-10-04
This is such an unusual trilogy that deviates from the norm. A vampire tale steeped in magic. A vampire is paired with a Church knight on a quest. Each with their own agenda and reasons. The book has its dark and scary moments you long for, yet has the "Good will prevail" sentiment.
It been a little while since I read the trilogy. I pull it off the shelf every couple of years. This is certainly one of my favorites. Magic, Battles, and a good overall story.
Book Description
4 Books on 10 Cassettes: • The Shadow Rising • The Fires of Heaven • Lord of Chaos • A Crown of Swords
Robert Jordan: The Wheel of Time Series compiles four books by this New York Times bestselling author into one magnificent box set. Follow the adventures and trials of Rand as he learns about his destiny to become the Dragon Reborn, the prophesized leader who will save the world, but at a heavy cost that drives him to reject his given fate. Dark forces surround the characters with an inevitable confrontation between good and evil that captivates every audience. Sparkled with continuous action, adventure, and fantasy, this box set is a sure winner for epic fantasy fans guaranteed!
Over 15 Hours of listening time!
The Shadow Rising The Dark One is inflicting evil on to the hero, Rand, who must enter the Aiel Waste and the forbidden city of RhuideanÛwhere he may perish. Perrin must confront the Whitecloaks who are sworn to assassinate him while Elayne and Nynaeve must battle the Black Ajah. Listen to find out what develops.
The Fires of Heaven Rand is at the forbidden city of Rhuidean where he must keep his current mission a secret. Simultaneously, the Forsaken Rahvin is plotting a victory over Rand. Morgase becomes captivated with the handsome Lord Gaebril, and in the White Tower, Amyrlin, Flaida do Avriny a ÎRoihan, is concocting new plans. There is no doubt why The Fires of Heaven became a New York Times bestseller!
Lord of Chaos Rand struggles as he attempts to unite the nations for the Last Battle while The White Tower, under the Amyrlin Elaida, decides that he must be controlled. In addition, a search for the fabled terÌangreal is conducted by Nynaeve alÌMeara and Elayne to restore the incongruous weather conditions. Book six of this series is sure to satisfy.
A Crown of Swords Listen as Rand faces the dead Forsaken Sammael in Shadae Logoth! The struggle with the worldÌs brutal and endless heat wave rages on, and Engeu calls together all women who are able to channel including Sea Folk Windfinders and Wise Ones. DonÌt miss this seventh book of non-stop epic adventure!
Customer Reviews:
shadow rising.......2002-02-27
this is one of the best series of books Ive read in a long time. the events happen at a pace that makes it hard to put down. I'm a commercial fisherman,Iread alot on my down time they are enchanting enough to take me away to a different world even 125 miles out in the ocean. I highly reccomend this series to all sci-fi readers. My one and only regret is that Mr.jordan cannot produce them fast enough.then again if he did they would not be as engrosing. My eyes and mind await the tenth installment of the series "the wheel of time"
Best of RJ Review.......2001-01-18
Having already read these four books and enjoyed them all, the tapes were also very good. The books were fantastic but, i could not read while i drove or did certain other tasks that required my eyes and hands now that is taken care of. I can now do just about anything and enjoy these great books. So, i do recommend reading the books but, if your a person on the go then this collection on tape is a fantastic substitute.
Average customer rating:
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Shadow World: Master Atlas (Boxed Set/#6000)
Iron Crown Enterprises
Manufacturer: Berkley Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Role Playing & Fantasy
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainment
| Boxed Sets
| Formats
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Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Boxed Sets
| Formats
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ASIN: 1558060251 |
Product Description
About Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the remarkable British "Boy preacher," who came from a country pastorate to a church in London and is estimated to have preached to more than 10 million people. 3561 of his sermons have been preserved and bound, and they constitute the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity, according to the author, an evangelist and widely-read writer of the column, "Beside the Golden Gate," in The Baptist.
Average customer rating:
- The Ultimate May-December Relationship!
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The Queen and Lord "M" (Shadows of the Crown Ser.)
Jean Plaidy
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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Literature & Fiction
| Large Print
| Formats
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ASIN: 0854566007 |
Customer Reviews:
The Ultimate May-December Relationship!.......2000-12-14
I have long been enamoured of the story of Queen Victoria, but this is one thing I had not known about until I began really reading about her! Plaidy writes a wonderfully flowing novel about the charming young Victoria - newly ascended to the throne of England - and her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. As if she doesn't have enough to deal with, the young Queen finds herself falling in love with her advisor, and the feelings are likely reciprocal. Once again, Plaidy does a marvellous job of bringing one of the lesser-investigated (or perhaps more covered-up!) stories of a past monarch. The book is a fast, engaging read, and not at all dry or filled with too many tedious, unneccessary facts about the story (as too many historical novels are!). For anyone wishing to know a little bit more about Queen Victoria or the history of England's monarchs -- this is a book (and author) I highly recommend.
Average customer rating:
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Stand by the Colours (The Shadow on the Crown)
Nicholas Carter
Manufacturer: Pan Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Family Saga
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0330350404 |
Book Description
William Sparrow and Hugo Telling are again caught up in the impossible confusion of the English Civil War, and all the while the Scots, the hardiest fighters of all, are making their way through the North of England.
Book Description
The safest, easiest, and most natural looking way to erase facial wrinkles, eliminate furrowed brows, and lift sagging necks is with Botox. Gone are the days of time-consuming, expensive, and painful plastic surgery. The miracle drug will take years off your appearance in a lunch hour. No long recuperation needed, with Botox you look great immediately. Age gracefully with the benefits of Botox, and get educated with this book.
Books:
- Into The Labyrinth (The Death Gate Cycle, Vol 6)
- Invisible No More:: The Secret Lives of Women Over 50
- Judas Unchained
- Keeper of the Keys
- Magical Wishes (Disney Princess)
- Management Courage: Having the Heart of a Lion
- Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race
- New Threads in the Pattern: The Great Hunt, Part 2 (The Wheel of Time, Book 2)
- New X-Men Vol. 3: New Worlds
- Nightworld
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