Three Maids for a Crown: A Novel of the Grey Sisters

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Three Maids for a Crown: A Novel of the Grey Sisters

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 705 ratings · 104 reviews

In the second novel from Ella March Chase, we meet sixteen-year-old Jane Grey, a quiet and obedient young lady destined to become the shortest reigning English monarch. Her beautiful middle sister Katherine Grey charms all the right people--until loyalties shift. And finally Lady Mary Grey, a dwarf with a twisted spine whose goal is simply to protect people she loves--but...more

ebook, 419 pages

Published August 2nd 2011 by Broadway Books

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Sep 01, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, won, love-the-cover, 2011, really-liked, historical-fiction

First off, I am reqiered to infomr you that I won this in a Goodread's Giveaway. That will not affect my review.
This is actually a pretty good book. I'm a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth. I like adore her. So to have Ella March Chase write her as really a really mean person, that was very interesting for me. I think Ella March Chase had a great story line, and wrote it well. What really drives me crazy in historical fiction from this era is that back then they spoke a lot more eloquently than we do...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Carolynne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Tudor History

Shelves: england, historical-fiction, adult-fiction

Interesting historical fiction told from the alternating points of view of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days, and her younger sisters, Katherine and Mary. The author is particularly effective at distinguishing the voices of the young Lady Katherine and Lady Mary. The latter especially becomes vividly real. Neglected and handicapped, but sharp mentally, she is able to stay out of the political turmoil that sucks in her older sisters and eventually destroys them. However, the...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Melanie Coombes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This is a really good read, whether you are a fan of historical fiction or not. I had heard of the story of Lady Jane Grey, but I never knew she had two sisters, Kat and Mary. The three sisters were all threats to the throne due to their royal blood and the scheming plans of their parents to place them on the throne.
What I really liked was that it was told from the three perspectives of each sister. Sections were labeled with their name, location and their age at the time. It was pretty amazing...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Danielle Reily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Tudor history, as anyone who sees my reading list can attest to. I enjoy both nonfiction and historical fiction about the period. I really like it when I find stories from a different perspective. This book is from an often overlooked perspective of the Tudor dynasty. The Grey sisters are one of the sad chapters of history. They were tossed about by familial greed, political policy, and the turbulent monarchy of the times. The three Grey sisters were cursed with the Tudor blood more than...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Lyla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, historical-fiction

I've briefly heard mention about Jane Grey before coming across this book, which I admit, I only decided to read because I've heard the author's name mentioned in passing. I was happy that my curiosity won me over. The voice she gave each character was fascinating and easy to relate to. Jane, with her will to do what's expected of her and to stay true to her faith even at her death. Kat, with her notions of being in love...and Mary, who was neglected but still managed to hold on to the end despi...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Sheila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: britain-kings-queens-nobility, fiction, first-reads, historical-fiction, reviewed

To begin with, I'm required to let everyone know that I received this book for free in a giveaway from the publisher. That being said, it still would not affect my review.

This is the story of the three Grey sisters, Jane, Katherine, and Mary, princesses of the royal Tudor family. Their great-uncle was Henry VIIi, their cousins Queen Mary Tudor and Queen Elizabeth I, their mother Frances Grey daughter of Henry VIII's younger sister Mary, Queen of France. The story opens with a prologue set in 157...more To begin with, I'm required to let everyone know that I received this book for free in a giveaway from the publisher. That being said, it still would not affect my review.

This is the story of the three Grey sisters, Jane, Katherine, and Mary, princesses of the royal Tudor family. Their great-uncle was Henry VIIi, their cousins Queen Mary Tudor and Queen Elizabeth I, their mother Frances Grey daughter of Henry VIII's younger sister Mary, Queen of France. The story opens with a prologue set in 1574; then backtracks to open the story in 1553, with the narrative shifting from sister to sister for their differing viewpoints. At the beginning of the story the girls are aged: Jane 15, Katherine 12, and Mary 8. The story goes from there, telling of their parents' plotting and ambitions and how they used their daughters as political pawns to gain the throne of England. Lady Jane, as most people realize, was Queen of England for 9 days; many months later, she was beheaded by Queen Mary Tudor. The story weaves together historical events along with what the author believes would be the girls' perceptions. The life of these three girls was tragic, with Katherine and Mary and those they loved, suffering at the hands of Elizabeth I.

I read this book in just over three days, as I started it right before I went to bed the first night. It is a compelling story and very well written. It appears that the author has done her research well, and I enjoyed it. Toward the end, I really could not put it down for long, as I wanted to know how it would end for Katherine and Mary, as I really didn't know that much about Katherine and nothing about Mary when I started reading. I was saddened, but not disappointed. I can recommend this book without any reservations.

I have been interested in the Tudors decades before it was fashionable to do so, that being with the advent of The Tudors on HBO (a show that is gorgeous to watch but a bit of a disaster as far as facts are concerned). I remember watching the BBC's The Six Wives of Henry VIII on Masterpiece Theatre in the late 1970's. I was hooked. I've read a lot about various family members and still find it interesting to do so. I've been to Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, and London among other places and am disappointed when other authors don't fully utilize different locations the way the should be in telling the full story of the Tudors. That being said, I think the characterizations and locations in this book were believable.

One note about the characterizations of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth: it was interesting to see Queen Mary portrayed as being so kind and thoughtful and Queen Elizabeth as being SO awful. The author describes Elizabeth at vengeful and vain; I would add another "v": vile.

One thing I would add: I believe there is a typo at the top of page 279, line 1. It reads "William" Herbert and I think it should read "Henry" Herbert.

All in all an enjoyable read! (less)

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Aug 23, 2011 Kati Bowditch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a FirstReads win!

I absolutely fell into this book when it came, dove headfirst into the story of the three sisters Grey and didn't come up for air again until I was done. I love historical novels that come about history from a different perspective. Since not much was ever recorded of the Grey sisters thoughts and emotions surrounding the reign of Lady Jane and the years after except for pieces of letters preserved, I thought the author did a wonderful job of trying to "think" like a w...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, tudor-esque

I have such mixed feelings all this one. While there wasn't anything new in regards to Jane Grey, I did learn a whole lot more about her sisters, Katherine and Mary. In most books, they don't really get much attention, so it was nice to see them a bit more fleshed out.

What irked me a great deal was the portrayal of Elizabeth I as an evil, heartless tyrant. I know that she certainly wasn't always the warmest of souls, but in this, she's portrayed more like an evil stepmother than anything else, w...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Peggy Bird rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, particularly from that rich period of English history, the Tudor era. I didn't think there was much left to write about but this book showed me otherwise. The Grey sisters were pawns in the game of power their parents played and all of them lost. One of them, Lady Jane Grey, who was crowned queen for a week between Edward and Mary Tudor, lost her head. Kat, penned up in the Tower where she gave birth to not one but two sons, lost her freedom and her fami...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Stacie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, tudor-related, historical-fiction, 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I got this book from the Goodreads free book giveaways, and I was so excited to get this particular book because the Tudor era is a favorite subject of mine and the story of Lady Jane Grey is a story that I'm not entirely familar with since her life has never been fully delved into in literature.

The book overall was fantastic! I already knew alot about Henry VIII and Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Tudor, so it was nice to get the events inbetween their reigns filled in (though poor Edward is neglected...more I got this book from the Goodreads free book giveaways, and I was so excited to get this particular book because the Tudor era is a favorite subject of mine and the story of Lady Jane Grey is a story that I'm not entirely familar with since her life has never been fully delved into in literature.

The book overall was fantastic! I already knew alot about Henry VIII and Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Tudor, so it was nice to get the events inbetween their reigns filled in (though poor Edward is neglected in this book as he always is in any book about the Tudros and they always go straight into Mary's reign).

Ella March Chase does an amazing job of giving each of the three sisters (Jane, Kat, and Mary) individual personalities. Jane is very reserved, Kat is self centered, and Mary is always looking out for both her older sisters and feels herself the freak of the family because of her hunched back. All three girls change by the end of the book into the type of women they want to be, rather than others (especially men) telling them who they ought to be.

An element of the book that I was surprised by was the fact that Chase had Jane Grey's death occur pretty much right at the halfway point of the novel. I knew Jane was to die, but I figured like all books (like Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard), that Jane's death wouldn't occur until near the end. So I was basically like, "so what is going to happen now?" But once I was finished with the book, I really appreciated Chase's use of plotting Jane's death at the halfway point because her death figured heavily with the plots of Kat and Mary who still remained shaken and horrified by her death, and both who felt resentment to Mary Tudor and then Elizabeth who both felt threatned by the two remaining Grey sisters because of everything that had happened to Jane since she did become queen for a few days. Jane's death is paramount in shaping Kat and Mary into the women they become later.

So overall, if you're a fan of Tudor related fiction, I think you'd enjoy this, especially if you want to read something new that has nothing to do with Anne Boleyn or Katherine Howard or Elizabeth Tudor who have been vastly overused in the last several years. The story of the Grey sisters is a breath of fresh air.(less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Lolly's rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Though Chase has taken some liberties with historical record (which she acknowledges in an author's note at the rear of the book), unless you're familiar with this period of Tudor history, the changes go unnoticed in her deftly plotted and compelling narrative.

I have always been fascinated by Lady Jane Grey--young, innocent, a defenseless pawn used grievously by her parents and the Duke of Northumberland, yet, despite that, a surprisingly resolute and determined young woman--but have always over...more Though Chase has taken some liberties with historical record (which she acknowledges in an author's note at the rear of the book), unless you're familiar with this period of Tudor history, the changes go unnoticed in her deftly plotted and compelling narrative.

I have always been fascinated by Lady Jane Grey--young, innocent, a defenseless pawn used grievously by her parents and the Duke of Northumberland, yet, despite that, a surprisingly resolute and determined young woman--but have always overlooked her sisters. Despite knowing that they existed, beyond that, there was never much mention of them in the history books I read; I don't know if that's due to a lack of information or a lack of interest on the part of the authors, but as a result, they've remained ciphers. Three Maids for a Crown changes that: Chase has not only given Jane a voice, but brought to life her sisters, the lively and beautiful Katherine and the loyal, perspicacious little hunchbacked Mary. In this way, not only is Jane's, ultimately tragic, navigation through the treacherous waters of Tudor politics illuminated, her sisters' lives, fraught with just as much danger and intrigue, have been brought out of the shadows of history where they've languished for too long. Though a fictional portrayal, Chase's book is still a worthy introduction to these two ladies and perhaps her interpretation of their lives will serve to drum up more interest in them; for my part, I would truly love to know more about the real Katherine and Mary Grey.

Beginning in the declining years of sickly King Edward VI's rule, the book covers his (painful and possibly prematurely hastened) death, the sham of Jane's nine days rule as Queen of England, the reign of lonely Queen Mary ("the Bloody"), to the triumphant rise of Queen Elizabeth. Through it all, Chase skillfully illustrates the dangers of those uncertain times, where loyalties could change in an hour and one's firmest supporter could suddenly become the most implacable enemy; where every gesture, every glance, every letter and whispered conversation was dissected and examined for the smallest sign of deception or betrayal; where the simplest word took on a dozen different meanings on the whim of who spoke and who heard. Because we are seeing the personages/events of the time through the eyes of the sisters Grey, we get a viewpoint of history colored by their personal biases, whether or not those biases reflect the truth. Thus we see Elizabeth, an enemy and an obstacle in the Grey and Dudley families' quest for the throne, portrayed as a wretched bastard, simpering, vain, and sanctimonious; the usurping whore born of witchcraft and lechery. Queen Mary is a sad, desperate, more sympathetic queen, a woman who is seen as broken from all the misfortunes heaped upon her, delusional in her quest to find love, defeated and spiritless, lacking the Tudor fire in her blood. While I understand why the bias existed, after a while it become rather heavy-handed; because these viewpoints are skewed, we never get to see the other side of the picture. Was Elizabeth vain, capricious, and cruel? Yes. Did she treat Katherine and Mary Grey abominably? By all accounts, most definitely. However, Elizabeth's moods and actions, especially in the early years of her reign, were almost certainly influenced by the fear she felt on what was probably a daily basis, exacerbating her already mercurial nature; she not only had to deal with uprisings and opposition from forces outside her realm, she was beset by traitorous forces within both her realm and even her court, opponents who constantly harped upon her bastard status, her female sex, her unfitness to wear the crown. As far as Mary, was she treated ill by the men in her life, from her father, King Henry VIII, who repudiated her as his true heir, to her husband, Prince Philip, who ignored her and used her and England as simply a supply depot and a bank? Hell yes. Did she go against her conscious and her deeply-held beliefs, against the spirit of her dear mother, Queen Katherine, who fought to retain Mary's right to the crown, and publicly proclaim herself to be a bastard in order to win her father's approval and affection, an act which she regretted the remainder of her life and which was the final straw in the sapping of her spirit? Sadly, yes. Yet, tired though she may have been when she finally came to the throne, pathetically eager for her cold husband's love and a child to quicken her womb, she was also her father's daughter; she discovered the throne gave her the power to redress some of those wrongs visited on her and she redressed those wrongs with a vengeance, turning hers into a reign of terror. Both of these women were far from perfect; both had their good qualities and their bad, yet because of the method of storytelling, it's easy to get the wrong idea about them. That's the point of my rant, by the way, the hope that people will recognize that firstly, this is fiction, and secondly, it's fiction told from a very personal, very biased viewpoint and not take it as gospel truth. There are two sides (if not more) to every story. As humans, we turn a blind eye to the faults of those we love and find every fault, real and imagined, in those we hate; such is the case with the Grey sisters, as Chase has written them.

The only real quibble I have with the book is, it's very romanticized. Jane is portrayed as being much softer than she truly was. Don't get me wrong, in the novel she's still prim, highly religious, serious, and scholarly. But she's also more vulnerable and more emotional. For instance, when the time comes for Jane's execution, she clings to Richard Feckenham, Abbot of Westminster, whom Queen Mary sent to offer Jane a reprieve in exchange for her conversion to Catholicism; in the novel, Jane asks the abbot to stay with her as she walks to the scaffold, her fear suddenly overwhelming her so near to the end. In reality, Jane was...well, to be frank, she was a prig. She was dogmatic, rigidly unyielding towards that which did not conform to her standards, and fervent in her belief that Catholicism was the root of all evil in the world. In her last days, she calmly accepted her fate and was even rather anticipating her release. "I am ready and glad to end my woeful days," she said. And although she warmed to Feckenham, who treated her with more affection than she'd ever received from her own parents, she steadfastly refused to budge from her philosophical stance and her Protestant religion. It was Feckenham who, knowing he'd failed in his attempts to save her life, asked if he might accompany her to her execution. It's a little thing, but that difference highlights how Chase portrayed Jane and how Jane actually was. As for the other sisters, even though little is known about them, it's likely that Katherine was more flighty and vain, probably with quite a bit more of her mother's personality in her than portrayed, and Mary probably wasn't quite the inscrutable little oracle she's painted to be. Granted, her hunchbacked nature shunted her to the sidelines of life, allowing her to see and hear things from her marginal position that others might not, but that still doesn't mean she was some kind of Delphic prognosticator, imbued with magnificent foresight and wisdom. However, as I've stated again and again in this review, this is a fictional account, which means that certain liberties can and will be taken.

In the end, everything I've mentioned as being quibble-worthy is tiny in comparison to the fantastic story Chase has told; her ability to weave together a tension-filled narrative and multiple character voices is enchanting. She sweeps the reader away into a world where, if you're not constantly on your toes, you're in danger of losing your head.(less)

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Dec 17, 2011 Marie Z. Johansen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. There has not been all that much written about these three sisters whose blood was too rich to ignore at that pivotal moment in time. I think that Ms. Chase developed the characters very well and the plot surely kept my attention. I had not read much about Jane's other two sisters.

Of course, this is a historical novel with the attendant chronologies and participants being a mix of fact and fiction, however I found that the underpinnings of t...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Svea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, tudor, england

Three Maids for a Crown follows the lives of the Grey sisters, Jane, Katherine and Mary, as they are used as pawns throughout their life in the political battle for the crown of England. The story is narrated by each sister, with some chapters having multiple narrators. It is through their eyes we witness the forceful and greedy nature of the Duke of Northumberland and their parents, the uncertainty of England's future, and the dire consequences of their families actions. As the chapters progres...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Since I had read much about Henry VIII, I was interested in finding out more about Lady Jane Grey and her family. Prior to reading this novel, I had not been aware that Jane had two younger sisters. Since I enjoyed the history of the time period, it was easy for me to be drawn in by the narrative. It was also refreshing to have another point of view of Queen Elizabeth I--while she did much to create a stable kingdom, the darker aspects of her personality are often whitewashed and romanticized. W...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Tanya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I have loved Lady Jane Grey ever since I read her biography in upper elementary school, but I have never known what happened to her sisters after Jane's execution in 1554. I enjoyed learning about their fates in this book, which lived up to most of my expectations for good historical fiction... until the very end. The last chapter felt so contrived and overly sweet, and I was irritated to read in the afterward that the author chose to completely change the way things really ended because she wan...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Three Maids for a Crown tells the story of the tragic Lady Jane Grey and her two sisters. They lived in a time in history which has always fascinated me, and I really enjoyed this novel's fictionalized telling of their story. Ms. Chase made the characters come alive for me, especially Mary, the least famous of the siblings. It did take me a while to get used to having the narration switch amoung the three main characters. It fact, I would have preferred a different narration technique. All in al...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Mindy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love reading about the Tudor era; I find it so fascinating. That said, I would've hated living in that time period. Women were treated horribly then, especially if they had royal blood. This story of the Grey sisters proves how they were used and manipulated at the hands of power hungry men. (And I guess, even at the hands of the queens, too). I really enjoyed learning about all 3 sisters. I knew about Lady Jane, but didn't know about her two sisters. Very interesting read and much cleaner tha...more

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May 31, 2013 Amelia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: unfinished-business

If this is your first encounter with the history of Jane Grey then you may find this account engaging and informative though somewhat melodramatic. I was hoping for something a little more scholarly that would, as described on the back of the book, bring "the three Grey sisters... vividly to life." Instead of an in-depth examination of the background and motiviations of true to life historical figures this novel provided only caricatures and a simplistic description of events that brought nothin...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Beatrix rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, tudors, read-in-2012, inspiring, favorites

This book is just wonderful. It broke my heart so many times while reading it. Three Maids for a Crown is not just a historical novel, it has so many emotions in it, it touched me and made me feel so much for the Grey sisters.

It's so beautifully written too. I liked the style, it's very fitting. Very often in historical novels, authors are so occupied with events that they leave their characters undeveloped. But here E. M. Chase brought to life these historical figures. Even with three different...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Brooke (Readers In Wonderland) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, 2012, reviewed, historical

I've really been dragging my feet on how to reveiw this book. What to say, what to leave out, etc. I'm still not entirely sure, so this reveiw will most likely be a jumbled mess of thoughts everywhere.

First things first, I had no idea what the story line was when I bought it. It was 40% off at Target and I had plenty of money to spend, so I bought it. I probably should have some idea what it was about because when I went to pay, the cashier kept asking me questions about it. I don't think he re...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. I saw this on a goodreads email and wanted to read it, but since we've moved I've been disappointed at the selection in my local library, and about how difficult it is to request books (interlibrary loan or purchase requests). they have a horrible system. Every time I go in to submit a purchase request (you have to speak to somebody at "the reference desk") they look at me like, why do you want this book? why can't you just entertain yourself with what we have?

Okay, you're a public library...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Julia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who liked The Other Boleyn Girl or watch The Tudors

Shelves: first-reads

This book is the story of the Grey sisters, based on historical fact and told through the alternating perspectives of the three sisters. I've been into reading Tudor history since I was in elementary school, but I was only previously familiar with the story of Jane Grey so I was very pleased to receive this through a Goodreads Giveaway.

Three Maids for a Crown starts out shortly before Jane and Kat's respective marriages to Guilford Dudley and Henry Herbert. Both marriages are part of a plot devi...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Tudor fans

Shelves: favorites, tudor-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I approached this book a bit warily, considering I was quite underwhelmed by her previous book, The Virgin Queen's Daughter. I ended up being pleasantly surprised by Chase's rendition of the story of the Grey sisters.

I loved how each of the three sisters, from saintly Jane to vivacious Katherine to underestimated Mary, all grew throughout one of the most turbulent time periods of the Tudor era. The notorious Henry VIII may have been dead, but the chaos he unleashed upon England still held sway,...more I approached this book a bit warily, considering I was quite underwhelmed by her previous book, The Virgin Queen's Daughter. I ended up being pleasantly surprised by Chase's rendition of the story of the Grey sisters.

I loved how each of the three sisters, from saintly Jane to vivacious Katherine to underestimated Mary, all grew throughout one of the most turbulent time periods of the Tudor era. The notorious Henry VIII may have been dead, but the chaos he unleashed upon England still held sway, and it rained down on all three of these young women. Jane took up a crown that was thrust upon her by ambitious parents and in-laws, Kat lost both of the men she loved as well as one of her sons, and after a lifetime of avoiding happiness, Mary gained it only to have it snatched away after a tragically brief moment in time.

I loved how Jane's anti-Catholic stance softened a little bit in her final days when she found kindness in the priest that Queen Mary sent to convince her to convert. Jane may have refused his request, but still nonetheless began to see that Catholics aren't necessarily evil, superstitious wretches. This man, her theoretical enemy in terms of theology, stayed with her when all those who should have been at her side had long abandoned her.

Kat was probably my least favorite of the three sisters throughout most of the book. Consistently selfish, she tended to focus only on her own troubles, even being cruel to her younger sister and arguing with Queen Elizabeth to the point of blatant stupidity. It wasn't until after she had given birth to her sons that I felt that she had begun to grow and I actually came to like her as a character. I loved that she finally looked beyond her own needs and became a devoted mother, even when she was forced to give up her eldest son.

Mary, I think, was perhaps my favorite of all three of the Grey girls. She struggled with being the ugly duckling for so long, and took refuge in being 'the practical one', as it were, and struggled against the continuous blows she suffered throughout her life. She too though found someone to love and cherish and who loved her in return.

In the end, I loved Kat and Mary's standing up up to Elizabeth by holding onto the people they loved. I don't usually care for Elizabeth being portrayed by a raging bitch, but her treatment of the two Grey girls was hardly her best moment, as Chase points out in her author's note. In those early years of her reign, before she flowered into Gloriana and defeated the Spanish Armada, she was constantly in danger, and it showed in her personality.

Overall, an excellent story about the three ladies of Tudor blood that receive scant attention in comparison to their contemporaries such as Elizabeth I, Mary I, and Mary Queen of Scots. A much better effort on Chase's part, and I loved it.(less)

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Dec 03, 2011 Orsolya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, tudor-england, mistresses-royalty, own, queens, jane-grey

You may be familiar with the “Nine Days Queen”, Jane Grey; but how much do you know about the lives of her sisters, Katherine and Mary? Ella March Chase explores these doomed sisters in her historical fiction novel, Three Maids for a Crown.

Initially, I was slightly worried by Chase’s novel due to some historical fiction fluff and inaccuracies on the early pages. For instance, one of the characters in the novel is Bess of Hardwick; whom is placed as a lady-in-waiting to Frances Brandon. The story...more You may be familiar with the “Nine Days Queen”, Jane Grey; but how much do you know about the lives of her sisters, Katherine and Mary? Ella March Chase explores these doomed sisters in her historical fiction novel, Three Maids for a Crown.

Initially, I was slightly worried by Chase’s novel due to some historical fiction fluff and inaccuracies on the early pages. For instance, one of the characters in the novel is Bess of Hardwick; whom is placed as a lady-in-waiting to Frances Brandon. The storyline in Three Maids for a Crown begins in 1553 and the Grey sisters are already addressing her as “Bess of Hardwick” by title. However, Hardwick Hall wasn’t built until 1590-1597 so she was not deemed by this title yet. Plus, she DID marry her second husband (William Cavendish) in 1547 at the Grey Family home but never before had I heard her mentioned as a lady-in-waiting. Granted, I may be wrong. Despite this preliminary trepidation, the pace of the story is strong with an enticing ratio of intrigue and fact, although sometimes too predictable.

Three Maids for a Crown is voiced by each of the three Grey sisters with the strongest voice given to the youngest Mary (generally known as humpback or dwarf); while the voices of Jane and Katherine strengthened later-on. Mary successfully carries the novel with emotion, depth, and an unmistakable connection to the reader. Jane’s sections were somewhat flat, but I actually liked her on the back burner and allowing Mary and Katherine to have the spotlight.

Another positive factor is the chronological setting of the story, as it begins in the middle of the drama of the Grey sisters with the double wedding of Jane to Guildford Dudley and Katherine to Henry Herbert. Thus, instant suspense ensues which captures the reader to the topic regardless of whether you are an expert on the Grey sisters or new to the subject. Surprisingly (in a good way), the novel assembles more momentum and strength as the story progresses. It turned into quite the page-turner. While not a complex story, the reader still itches to know what will happen next.

Sadly, several cataclysmic events (the moment Jane found out she was queen, when Jane had to make the decision to dispatch troops against Mary Tudor, her preparations for her execution, etc); were somewhat glossed over and could have deemed more insight into her underlying emotions and purpose. Although it was implied that they were religious causes, this was hardly explored. In fact, the entire story felt slightly constrained like Chase was on a word count restriction.

An odd moment? One of the chapters began in summer 1558 as Katherine was 17 but the subsequent chapter began with Katherine being, “nearly 18 years old” in the “spring of 1558”. Hmm? Another factoid that avid Tudor readers will notice as an error: the novel mentions Chapuys as the Imperial Ambassador and his being fond of Katherine… in 1559. Yet, Chapuys retired from court in 1545 and died in 1556. These aren’t major issues or detrimental to the story but I don’t understand if Chase merely gave up fact-checking at this point to truly thought it was actuality. I found this to be bothersome.

A positive story point was the portrayal of Elizabeth I. Chase went beyond the typical pedestal ideal of Elizabeth generally perceived. Chase instead described Elizabeth as scheming, vain, and hypocritical. On a personal note, I also enjoyed that the controversy over Amy Robsart’s death was mentioned (wife of Robert Dudley); because this is a story I have always been fascinated by.

Three Maids for a Crown is fresh, vibrant, and moving throughout; although, the last chapter was too fluffy and “happily ever after” which didn’t fit with the story. Overall, it is a rather interesting and appealing (but simple) historical fiction novel. Also, make sure to read the afterword for some juicy tidbits.
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Sep 16, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Author Ella March Chase follows up her debut novel, The Virgin Queen's Daughter, with Three Maids for a Crown, another novel that takes readers back to Tudor-period England, this time focusing on the three Grey sisters who were the grand-nieces of Henry VIII. The three sisters -Jane, Mary and Katherine -were marked from birth as key pawns in the complex political world, all because they carried Tudor blood in their veins through their mother, Frances Grey, the daughter of Henry VIII's sister Mar...more Author Ella March Chase follows up her debut novel, The Virgin Queen's Daughter, with Three Maids for a Crown, another novel that takes readers back to Tudor-period England, this time focusing on the three Grey sisters who were the grand-nieces of Henry VIII. The three sisters -Jane, Mary and Katherine -were marked from birth as key pawns in the complex political world, all because they carried Tudor blood in their veins through their mother, Frances Grey, the daughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary. From the beginning the girls' parents and other nobles conspired to use them as part of their plots to take power. And as Edward VI's regain was coming to an end (Henry VIII's son), it became more apparent that the sisters' worth was about to sky rocket. Jane, being the eldest, was the natural frontrunner, and was elevated to the throne -and then just as quick pulled down. Branded a traitor instead of a royal, the conflict sends shock waves through the Grey family. Mary, always the charming and sweet one, worries about her marriage prospects and Katherine, a dwarf who was born with a twisted spine, finds herself spurned with a potential lover.

The tale of the Grey sisters is a fascinating one that paints a unique picture of women during the period, as well as how political plots helped elevate -and destroy families. However, I did not think that Chase did the story the kind of justice it deserves -let me back up for a moment. I've read a couple of historical fiction novels about Lady Jane Grey, and thus far the "best of" award goes to Alison Weir's Innocent Traitor. And, sadly, Chase's novel just doesn't stand up to this book -or others.

In fact, I would outright say that I was somewhat disappointed in Three Maids for a Crown. After loving Chase's first novel, I was set to enjoy every aspect of Three Maids, and was completely drawn in by the story of the Grey sisters -but it just did not deliver. Something about the writing just didn't seem as crisp as Virgin Queen's Daughter, and the story itself was just not as intriguing and the characters hazier and not as believable. It was especially difficult for me to discern between the different characters when it switched POV -they all sounded the same to me.

Three Maids wasn't a complete loss, but it wasn't a great read either and something of a disappointment after the first Chase novel.(less)

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Aug 21, 2011 Indiaskye rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, england-tudor-period, books-i-couldn-t-finish, books-read-in-2011

I can't believe I'm saying this but I have decided to quit this book after 200 pages. I loved, loved, LOVED Ella March Chase's first novel "The Virgin Queen's Daughter" and was really looking forward to her second book. I mean, I had "Three Maids for a Crown" pre-ordered months ago!!!

I found it hard to connect to the story or the characters right from the start. The story of Jane Grey and her sisters is an interesting one - and one that can make for a great book as proved by Alison Weir a few ye...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Brianna Mulligan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is very difficult to read a book when you know the ending is unhappy. Ella March Chase does her best to make you understand that the sisters were happy despite the inevitable ending... but it just wasn't enough. By the end of the novel, I hated everything about the time period and its destruction of three women. I applauded Chase for her portrayal of Elizabeth I as something other than the Virgin Angel most historians see her as (being one of them, I can appreciate this different perception.)

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Dec 19, 2012 Miss Melly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-faves, historical-fiction, tudor

There seems to be a schism in the reviews of this novel where its historical accuracy is concerned. I had no problems with what I saw as being historically coherant with the "known facts". The author herself said that this novel is "based on historical events, but in the end it is a work of fiction." So if you are overly concerned about the issue of the poison gloves, choose something non-fiction.

I had always wanted to read a novel that told the story of all three Grey sisters, and I had tried s...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chase shows the lives of the Tudor women in its full horrific glory. The once bright futures of King Henry's children give way to cruel ways that ruin lives. The Grey sisters try their best to make it through the moods of their royal cousins and in the end, ill fated as they were, each leave the earthly plane with something dear to her. Ella March Chase has woven a wonderful tale and allowed a sneak peak into the lives of these very famous royals.

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Aug 23, 2011 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have long been fascinated with Lady Jane Grey and was so excited to see this book coming out on my birthday! I even preordered it. :) As I started reading it, I was unsure if it would live up to my expectations. But the more I read the better it got. I enjoyed this story very much. Especially because we get to hear "the rest of the story" after Jane's execution. Learning about her sister's lives was so interesting! Heartbreaking at times though.
Definitely a recommended read to those who like...more

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About Ella March Chase

When Ella March Chase was in third grade, she informed her teacher she didn't need to learn multiplication tables because she was going to be a famous writer when she grew up. At twenty-five, she combined her passion for researching history and spinning stories. Her daughter Kate claims even the family dogs were discovered while researching King Charles II-- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
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“Edward was dead. The magnitude of the news reverberated through me, thickening the air. His suffering was over. Yet what had he left behind? An England torn between Catholic and Protestant.” — 2 people liked it

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