The Red Queen's Daughter

by Jacqueline Kolosov

Book Overview

Orphaned as a young girl because of the imprudent marriage of her mother, Queen Katherine Parr, Mary Seymour vows never to fall in love-and under no circumstances will she marry. Lady Strange, her mysterious guardian, offers the young woman an extraordinary alternative to marriage: Mary is to become a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth's court and ensure the success of the Virgin Queen's reign. Accompanied by her magical hound, Perseus,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1423107985
• ISBN13: 9781423107989
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A vivid and exciting blend of historical fiction and fantasy

The revered Katherine Parr, the widow of King Henry the Eighth who was known for her intelligence and spiritualism, created a stir of controversy when she secretly married the ambitious Thomas Seymour, a man known for his greed and womanizing ways --- which included the rumored wooing of the young Princess Elizabeth, the dowager queen's stepdaughter. Regardless, Katherine was passionately in love and gave birth to her only child, Mary Seymour. Unfortunately, the girl was orphaned when Katherine died from complications of childbirth and Thomas was executed on the charge of treason nearly two years later. She became the ward of her mother's best friend and lady-in-waiting, the Duchess of Suffolk, and seemed destined to lead the quiet life of a commoner. What happened afterwards has remained a mystery --- until now. When Mary is nine years old, the Duchess of Suffolk dies in a freak riding accident (she crashed into a tree since she apparently had eyes only for her lover, the handsome Master of the Horse). Mary vows never to fall in love or marry, for she is convinced that love is what caused the untimely deaths of her mother and guardian and that they might have led very different lives if they had not become "intoxicated by love." However, Mary's own life is uncertain because she has no one left to care for her. Lady Strange walks into her life, becoming her new guardian, and tells the young girl that she has a special destiny. Delighted and intrigued, Mary travels with her loyal wolfhound, Jack, to her guardian's estate of Moonsway. The woods and gardens are a welcome sanctuary for Mary and her dog. However, she understands that the rest of her life won't have a normal path. Lady Strange is a white magician and believes, according to an ancient prophecy, that Mary is destined to become a white magician and possibly ensure the success of the future reign of a "Virgin Queen." Lady Strange gives Mary a strong education that few girls and women are fortunate to have in England during the 16th century. Along with knowledge of various languages, history and literature, Mary is taught the properties of alchemy and how to "read" people's auras. This knowledge is especially important in determining trustworthiness in a fickle environment such as that of a royal court. Shortly after Mary's 16th birthday, she receives the news that she anxiously has been waiting for: Queen Elizabeth has requested her presence at court and invited her to become a lady-in-waiting. Despite having met Elizabeth only once before at the queen's coronation, Mary is surprised by the kinship between them and how much Elizabeth loved Mary's mother, the woman who had once cared for her as her own daughter. Mary wants to form a bond with her pseudo-sister but must keep her vocation a secret. With guidance from her wise guardian and mysterious canine companion, Persesus, she won't be alone in fulfilling her secret endeavor. However, Mary is confronted with an unpleasant surp

YA with Resonance

Read this cover-to-cover in one sitting. Highly recommended for women of all ages who appreciate lovingly written well-researched history with a touch of magic (i.e., almost everyone!). Also, for those who like a more than a well-crafted plot--the story brings up issues concerning why people are sometimes pulled toward darkness, the effect your parent's histories may have on you, and the importance of independence. Let's hope we will see more of Mary before too long . . . .

A Fun Read!

Not only did I enjoy this book, but my 13-year-old step-daughter did as well. It's an exciting historical romp! :-D

Magically enchanting...

I approached this book with some hesitation, but found that I could not put it down after the first chapter! This book would be a wonderful gift for any young girl (or woman). The heroine must learn to think on her feet, analyze situations and problems, and be politically correct at the same time. Other virtues in the book are personal responsibility, compassion and accountability. I really enjoyed reading about this time period as well. I had never previously heard of Kathrine Parr or her daughter, and this was a wonderful education. Kolosov has created a marvelously detailed universe with very well rounded and believable characters. The plot is nicely paced and continues to pick up steam as the book progresses. I highly recommend this book - its fun, intelligent, witty and most important - magical.

Very Good!

When i saw this book in my school library i knew it was for me. My high school is supplied with new unrevised and yet to be published versions of YA books every month. My librarian asks the students to read them and review them to decide if she should buy them when they are published. So i checked this book out because it looked good. I absolutely love historical fiction, especially Elizabethian and even during the Tudor time period. But there aren't many YA novels during those time periods and i was excited when I found out this book was about Mary Seymour, the daughter of Henry the eigth's last wife, Katherine Parr. Not only was Mary's character well shaped what she went through was believable, despite all of the magic involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I really hope she will write a sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves period novels and a good story.