I am a huge history buff especially when it comes to the Tudors. When I saw THE FAVORED QUEEN, a historical fiction based on Henry VIII's third bride Jane Seymour, I had to get my hands on it. Within it's cover I found an imaginative retelling of the shy queen's time at court. I was a bit shocked when I realized that the story started not as Jane begins her love affair with the infamous king, but when she was a young maid of honor in Queen Catherine's service. Through the story we look into the life of a young lady living at court and the dangers of being so close to the political giants of the country. The times were incredibly difficult for young Jane due to the power struggle King Henry was involved in. It is not easy to discard a beloved but infertile queen for a woman thought of as a whore throughout the kingdom.

The majority of this story focused on the time before Jane Seymour became queen. The reader is given alternate views of what the personalities of the main players were like during this turbulent time in British history. A mixture of historical events and fictitious encounters develop into an intriguing story that any lover of historical fiction will enjoy. The reader is given a window to view what life at court may of been like, including all the glamor and danger. There are fictional characters included in the story to add drama and to fill in holes that historical accounts have left us. They add spice and a new perspective on a story that has been told numerous time over the years. As a novel meant to be historical entertainment, THE FAVORED QUEEN breathes life and excitement into a story that is studied and scrutinized by many across the world.