VIII by H.M. Castor - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

May 13, 2013 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

------ I received this book from Edelweiss and the publisher for my honest review------

The is another one of those books that once I started it I just could not put it down. I have always had a love of this time period and an interest in King Henry the VIII. But I must also admit that I have not really read too much about his early years, and what happened in history from his perspective as a child and as he grew up. How accurate this book is, that I can not really answer but from my own perspec...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Rose Goodwill rated it 3 of 5 stars

The beginning really captured me; it was mystical, medevil but at the same time relateable. In fact, I've got no problems whatsoever with the first half, or the first book if you will. But once I got into the second half/second book, I felt as though it would have functioned far better as a sequel, and if I had the option of borrowing them separately, I may have been entirely satisfied with the first and not bothered reading the extension. As it was, I found the second half to be less captivatin...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Ainul Shakirah Shafie rated it 5 of 5 stars

It took me only two sittings to finish this book; that was how un-put-downable it really is. So English history has always fascinated me - more so the event and incidents that occurred within the royal household. I say incidents because in most monarchic history, there is rarely a time where purposeful incidents do not happen as had been portrayed in the history of Henry VIII. I admit though, I was very much ignorant of his biography beyond the fact that he had six wives. What made this book mor...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Aprille rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wandered into Big W tonight, with 20 minutes to find a book.

After wading through the miles of wasted paper in their book section, I came up with this:

Dear Big W,

YA fiction does not automatically mean 'paranormal romance'.

Sincerely,
I want to read something GOOD.

Finally I found VIII (which, I've now figured out, is the number 8). I picked it up, read the blurb, flicked open a few pages and decided to buy it.

I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. I finished this in a few hours, accompanied...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Sharon Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

A descriptive and historical novel that not only kept me wanting to read it but it also taught me a lot more about one of our most famous monarchs. The author writes as if she is Henry VIII himself, giving you a great insight into how his life was shaped for him, by the neglect of his father and the love from his mother.

His early life was always full of conflict between love and hate, but more importantly his belief in the prophecy and demons that haunted him. Reading the novel you feel as if yo...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

The copy for VIII states that it will do "for Henry what Hilary Mantel did for Thomas Cromwell - VIII is Wolf Hall for the teen and crossover market." I don't dispute that VIII most certainly introduces the life of VIII, but I have definite misgivings about the novel.

Key amongst these is the pacing of the novel. Over half of VIII tackled the early life of Henry and his marriage to Catherine, after the death of his brother. The remaining half showed the rest of his reign and the other five wives....more The copy for VIII states that it will do "for Henry what Hilary Mantel did for Thomas Cromwell - VIII is Wolf Hall for the teen and crossover market." I don't dispute that VIII most certainly introduces the life of VIII, but I have definite misgivings about the novel.

Key amongst these is the pacing of the novel. Over half of VIII tackled the early life of Henry and his marriage to Catherine, after the death of his brother. The remaining half showed the rest of his reign and the other five wives. In a novel that only just tips 300 pages, that is far too much to try and squeeze into the final half of the book. It made for a very rushed narrative, where Castor was unable to really showcase the way in which Hal changed from charming young man to absolute tyrant. When this came after such a leisurely opening, it caused me to catch my breath. It also meant that whole swathes of Henry's reign were not even touched upon - the whole monasteries malarkey wasn't even mentioned, and I believe this could and should have been added to the narrative.

The other facet of VIII that I didn't enjoy much was the ghost story/horror element. You have here one of the most famous personalities of all time; one of the most horrific tyrants; one of the most boisterous and downright larger-than-life monarchs - VIII didn't need any embellishments of this sort. It could have stood on its own two feet simply telling the crazy story of this King who beheaded two of his wives and divorced two others; destroyed the monasteries and introduced himself as the Head of the Church. Who needs ghosts when you have all of that actual material?

Lastly on the negative front, I found the style of writing a little odd - first person, but in a present tense e.g. "It's a beautiful morning, and the sunlight makes a halo around my mother's figure as she walks." Because this is such an unusual narrative choice in the novels I read, I found it jarring and that feeling never entirely left me.

Despite this failings, I still found myself entertained enough to read through VIII. Skipping the 'boring' bits and focusing on the soap opera style relationships and tensions of Henry's life definitely made it an interesting read. Castor has a nice flair for narrative (aside from the POV choice) and, for younger readers, it provides a good stepping on point for historical fiction. It has enough historical accuracy to appeal, and presents a decent perspective of Henry and how he became the tyrant we all know.

VIII is a decent stab at historical fiction for younger readers - and, in fact, one of the main failings was not being longer, so that Castor could do justice to the life of Henry VIII. Having said that, through personal preference I'm not sure I could read a longer novel from first person present tense perspective! Castor effectively showcases the monster that Henry is believed to have been, from arrogant young boy through to a man who truly believes he is God's hand on earth. An effective, although rushed, novel. (less)

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Sep 10, 2011 Keith Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is by far the most enjoyable book I have read for a long time. The publishers say it is for the crossover market ie teens to adult, and it would certainly please either teen or adult. It is in essence the life of Henry Viii as seen through his eyes. That is twist enough, but the fact that he is haunted by his family history makes this a visceral and gripping story indeed. ‘Surprisingly scary’ Charlie Higson called it. He is certainly right.

The fact that Harriet is what I call a proper histo...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Rebecca- Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites

See Full Review at: http://rebecca-books.blogspot.com/201...

Review: Wow. Just, erm, wow.
The last couple of days I have been incredibly ill, like 'I am not moving from this bed' ill. So one of the only forms of entertainment was reading and boy, when you have a gripping novel like this, it is easy to spend 3 hours reading continuously.

Like I said above, I know a LOT about Henry VIII, like probably the rest of the country, and more recently, the period of history leading up to his reign. Before hi...more See Full Review at: http://rebecca-books.blogspot.com/201...

Review: Wow. Just, erm, wow.
The last couple of days I have been incredibly ill, like 'I am not moving from this bed' ill. So one of the only forms of entertainment was reading and boy, when you have a gripping novel like this, it is easy to spend 3 hours reading continuously.

Like I said above, I know a LOT about Henry VIII, like probably the rest of the country, and more recently, the period of history leading up to his reign. Before his reign, as it is referenced to, there was the War of the Roses, a civil war in England that was basically caused by 'over-mighty nobles' or plainer, some nobles who had a lot of power and influence getting annoyed at the king and trying to overthrow him. This was an unsettling time for England with the chop and change of about 3 different kings. It only ended when Henry VIII's father, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and went on to secure the dynasty and prevent another civil war in the future.

Having just learn all that in History for my exam last week, it was so refreshing to read it in this book, knowing exactly who and what their referring to. I think it just showed that this lady really did her researching and this book is throughout wonderfully detailed, but simple to understand the events of the time.

One thing I, of course, do not know about Henry VIII is his personality. We can guess from the palaces and paintings that he was extravagant, ruthless and, well, fat. But H.M.Castor has cleverly shown us her Henry, a man who HAS to be these things in order to achieve what he wants desperately: Empire and Sons. She hasn't tried to copy others or do the most accepted view of him. She hasn't tried to be clever and complicated about his character. She simply charts how he came to power and how this affected his behaviour. I liked this simplicity and I was never perplexed by his actions and the narrative she includes. With Henry being renamed Hal, she shows that this is could be anyone, that he is not the conventional Henry VIII but one of the potential characters he could have been - if that makes sense.

The writing is both descriptive and imaginative. There are times when she becomes a true writer and writes some beautiful things. At times, I could vividly imagine the narrative with the elaborate dresses and rooms, his behaviour and felt his desire for an Empire and Sons. At other times, Castor sums up the events or the thoughts at the time in a sentence rather than a paragraph as other writers do.
There is seriously nothing I can fault about this book. I found the battle scenes a tad boring but that is just me, and they do not drag on and on for chapters, like many other Historical Fiction books do.

Hal as a protagonist was interesting and was so engaging to see the change in him from being a boy to being a fully grown male king and of course the turn to ruthlessness. The contrast between the man we leave at the end of the book from the beginning is quite significant so there is a definite character change in this book. Although the story is centred around Hal, we also get a favour for his relationship and the personalities of his close family, including his wives. We see Anne Boleyn as this manipulative woman, Catherine of Aragon - a lady I started to really like and the struggle of Hal deciding whether to put his future son or his love first. The kindness and innocence of Jane Seymour, Hal's famous disgust to Anne of Cleves, the deceit and two faced Katherine Howard and the perfect, careful, caring wife of Katherine Parr - the wife I am so glad lived on after reading.

In short, this book is brilliant, jam-packed of historical detail, research and true events. Castor has shown Hal well, made him a unique character in the shoes of Henry VIII's. This book has a wonderful pace and tone where, as a reader, I felt a mixture of emotions for the characters - hatred, fear, happiness - everything. Although Hal is Henry, I felt like I was becoming him too when I read this. The ending is by far perfect for me and I anticipate anything else by this marvellous writer.
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in Tudors or history iin general - no, I would recommend this to anyone. An example of the detail involved? After finishing this book and going back to college, I was the only one to get full marks in test on Henry VIII, thanks to this book.
Verdict: Just read it, I bet you enjoy it.

I give it a 5 out of 5(less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't impressed to start with, but as soon as Hal grew up a bit I started to enjoy the story.

It is very well researched; I kept reading things and thinking 'they made that up', and googling it, only to find out it was true! So I'm very happy about that, I like learning things as I'm reading.

Maybe it's because it's such a well known story, but I wasn't totally gripped, and I think the later part of Henry's life was glossed over too quickly, I'd have liked to have spent more time with him as an...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Beth Flynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: templar, sunshy-read

Henry VIII is one of the best known English monarchs, perhaps eclipsed in popularity only by his second daughter, Elizabeth I. Whether this is due to their fantastic names (disclosure: "Hi, I'm Elizabeth and this is my son Henry...") or some fantastic Tudor-fuelled expectation of power is hard to tell (but I'm hoping the name thing will bring more happiness and less madness in the case of myself and my son!). In VIII, H.M. Castor pulls her readers into the mind of Henry and manages to keep them...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Paul Lunger rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Scheduled for release in August, H.M. Castor's "VIII" is a masterful novelization of the life of England's King Henry VIII. Castor picks up the story from a slightly different viewpoint in his early youth not long after his father King Henry VII takes the throne & takes the young adult reader on an odyssey across the years from there through his coronation to his death. We see a haunted & obsessed Henry at times & the struggles from youth into adulthood & the paranoia that plague...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Beth Kemp rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-historical

Fascinating, engaging and fresh presentation of a well-known figure.

In many ways, reading a fictionalisation of the life of Henry VIII was always going to be like watching a car crash in slow motion. We know (at least broadly) where it is all going, where he'll end up, and I'm confident that most of us would go into the novel with little expectation of being sympathetic to Henry (or Hal, as he is known in the book).

And yet, H. M. Castor makes us root for Hal, longing for him to make good choices...more Fascinating, engaging and fresh presentation of a well-known figure.

In many ways, reading a fictionalisation of the life of Henry VIII was always going to be like watching a car crash in slow motion. We know (at least broadly) where it is all going, where he'll end up, and I'm confident that most of us would go into the novel with little expectation of being sympathetic to Henry (or Hal, as he is known in the book).

And yet, H. M. Castor makes us root for Hal, longing for him to make good choices, to not head off down the destructive path that we know he's destined for. By starting in a dramatic moment in his childhood, she contextualises his beliefs and later actions, giving him purpose and reason for decisions which otherwise are incredibly hard to explain and rationalise.

The narrative is presented in the first person and the present tense, and it is masterfully done. I don't always like this PoV, but it works perfectly here to severely limit the novel's perspective and to locate us firmly in Hal's mind. The little touches, where you recognise names or events and realise what's coming next (speaking as someone with little formal History study), are very pleasing, and yet much of the novel's content and focus was new and fresh. This may be because of my ignorance of the specifics of Henry's life, but I feel that it's more to do with the narrowness of the perspective which fixes us firmly into Hal's experiences and his own interpretation of events.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this as an enjoyable read, and will definitely be mentioning it to the sixth formers I know who are taking History. I've had this hanging around on my Kindle for a while (shameful, I know, but my review pile is growing and I sometimes feel guilty reading books that I've bought when there are review books waiting and... but you don't need my blogger angst :)), and I was prompted to read it now by its position in the Carnegie longlist, which I can clearly see is well-deserved. I would not like to be a Carnegie judge - everything I've read off that list I've loved!(less)

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Mar 10, 2013 Bron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-the-kindle, time-past

I think I've been a bit mean rating this as three star, but something holds me back from adding one more. It's written entirely in the present tense and first person singular which makes for a very vivid experience; you are seeing the world through the eyes of Henry himself. At the same time, there are points in the story where I felt another viewpoint would have been helpful, you wonder "what really did happen there?". The book starts when Henry is a small boy and goes all the way through to hi...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Melody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alamw13

I got this book free at ALA Midwinter.

I have to say that I whipsawed back and forth and back again with this book. When I first picked it up I was giddy, elated, crazy to have it in my hand. I'm a bit of a Tudor fan, you see, and this sounded so wonderful I could hardly wait to get home and crack it open.

Then I started it and it was... first person? Present tense? Really? Ack. (I'm going to hate this book, I think.)

But there was Elizabeth of York. And that precious boy, talking in a voice that...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, signed, uk-author, favourites

If I had to think of how to sell this book I would describe it as being along the lines of the Tudor TV series but toned down to be more suitable for a YA audience. I enjoyed every page and thought it was a prime example of how YA historical fiction should be written.

I do get quite a bee in my bonnet whe it comes to YA historical fiction. I get sent a lot of it for review because I am a history teacher and I have found of late that some of the stuff out there is just too weighty and too boring t...more If I had to think of how to sell this book I would describe it as being along the lines of the Tudor TV series but toned down to be more suitable for a YA audience. I enjoyed every page and thought it was a prime example of how YA historical fiction should be written.

I do get quite a bee in my bonnet whe it comes to YA historical fiction. I get sent a lot of it for review because I am a history teacher and I have found of late that some of the stuff out there is just too weighty and too boring to engage youngsters especially things written about historical events pre 19th century. What I loved about VIII is that it the author seems to know the age range she is writing for (which always helps) and uses story telling in an engaging and effective manner to put across historical events in a way which would be entertaining for teens.

The first thing I liked about the book is that it gave the reader a real sense of historical period and what it would have been like for the main characters to live through the time period without overburdening the reader with lots and lots of tiny and somewhat irrelevant details which can get dull quickly.

If you ask any child to tell you something about Henry VIII they will say one of two things - he was very fat or he had lots of wives which really only scratches the surface. I loved how this book looks more broadly at Henry's life as a whole and considers in more detail his earlier life when he was this gorgeous all powerful ruler. I also liked the sections where it looked in detail at Henry's younger life before he became 1st in line to the throne and showed how he was treated by his family because of this. Yes this book does go through Henry's wives and yes he does become fat but that isn't the sole focus of this book which is what I liked and the reason why I made the comparison The Tudors TV series as it is the only other thing I can think of that has also given a more broad view of Henry's life rather than the more narrow interpretations which are usually given.

Another reason why I liked this book and thought it would be engaging for teens is that it really did capture the drama of the period with all the political intrigue that would have surrounded Henry as he threw his weight around trying to get his own way in areas such as his marriages and religion, when trying to wage wars with France and at home in the way he ruled his country in the ruthless manner he did.

Definitely a book I would highly recommend both as blogger and a history teacher. A brilliant example of how Historical Fiction can be used to engage people with historical events and personalities.(less)

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Oct 05, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, young-adult

I loved this book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I found out it was a book for young adults, but being a Tudor fan I decided to give it a go anyway and was glad I did. It is told from the point of view of Henry VIII (or Hal) as he goes through his life; from being the “spare” prince who spent his time with his mother to being one of the most notorious Kings who ever lived.

Being a young adult novel, there are some parts of his life that are missed out or skipped over. This is e...more I loved this book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I found out it was a book for young adults, but being a Tudor fan I decided to give it a go anyway and was glad I did. It is told from the point of view of Henry VIII (or Hal) as he goes through his life; from being the “spare” prince who spent his time with his mother to being one of the most notorious Kings who ever lived.

Being a young adult novel, there are some parts of his life that are missed out or skipped over. This is either to keep the story focused on the main events on his life, no need to mention the mistresses too much, or to stop the book from becoming overly long after all this is the life of a King we know a lot about. I did find the story a little jumpy at places as it skipped through the major events in Hal's life, but the absence of dates at the start of each chapter actually helped you fall into each event easier rather than trying to think back about what you know from History about what was going on at that time.

Other than being told by Hal, a first in the many Tudor books I have read, the other interesting feature of the book is the psychological/paranormal side. I liked how this is introduced when he is a young boy staying the infamous (even in his day) Tower of London and follows him throughout his life acting as a harbringer of doom. It also really drives home just how much loss he experienced at such a young age, again often novels are more concerned with Henry after umpteen years of marriage to Catherine of Aragon and it was nice to be reminded that he had many years before this when he was a beloved monarch. I also liked how the author included his fascination with predictions and superstition and used this as a basis for his determination to be a great King (even though I guessed they might be foretelling another great monarch).

This is a great novel, both for Tudor fans who want to try something different, but also for younger readers as it nicely blends genuine historical fact into this already exciting story. Definitely one to try!(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: yound-adult-non-romance

I felt very much like this was a book of two halves. The first half of Henry as a young boy was fascinating, but then with little warning he became the Henry VIII that we all learned about in school who was more than a little insane and had a habit of getting rid of his wives in various unpleasant ways. I would have liked there to be more a bridge showing why he became paranoid and insane rather than it just happening. I also found the strange boy (and man) to be a little out of place and not ve...more

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May 07, 2013 Jackie Molloy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mobile-library-reading-group

This is the time honoured story of Henry VIII. The difference is, told in a ‘Wolf Hall’ style of writing as we are inside Henry's head. It comes from the angle of Henry’s growing megalomania, stemming from a heartfelt belief he is chosen by God to be the moat glorious king of all time. Alongside which is the mad grief of being unable to get a son until of course Jane Seymour has Edward, by which time Henry is well in to his forties. The other interesting facet is that he is haunted by a ghost of...more This is the time honoured story of Henry VIII. The difference is, told in a ‘Wolf Hall’ style of writing as we are inside Henry's head. It comes from the angle of Henry’s growing megalomania, stemming from a heartfelt belief he is chosen by God to be the moat glorious king of all time. Alongside which is the mad grief of being unable to get a son until of course Jane Seymour has Edward, by which time Henry is well in to his forties. The other interesting facet is that he is haunted by a ghost of a boy who seems familiar but doesn't know him, only that he brings disaster with him. Eventually in a ‘Dorian Gray’ style, we realise it is Henry’s alter ego. Showing the ghastly ravages of Henry’s own madness and cruelty.
The character of Henry VIII is portrayed with more sympathy then usual because we understand the demons that haunt him. Also the reality of his cruelties is glossed over by jumping ahead in time in the narrative. The difference here is that it is a novel that is true. Knowing that it actually all happened dictates the course of events but H.M.Castor gives a new slant on the players. Of course, Henry is horrifying, Anne Boleyn tragic and Catherine of Aragon the suffering, cast of wife, still loyal and loving. Margaret Beaufort is cast as a harsh and stern disciplinarian which is probably true and Henry's mother about whom, we do not hear much in history is a loving mother whom you like.
The story is pretty good given that it is an old story. The growing paranoia is well depicted. The people that populate this tale are given a much more human and realistic treatment. Than usual books and films do (and mini TV SERIES!)It held my attention and I looked forward to picking it up again. The story unfolds at a good pace, leaving out some of the time honoured gory detail. This underlines the slightly unreal feeling that is has happened because it was somehow fated and Henry is not guilty of the be-headings because someone else did it.
As a child I was horrified at the thought of Anne Boleyn being beheaded so I am glad I do not relate to the predicaments. It was a very tumultuous time in our history and the fact so much detail has been kept as matter of record speaks for itself.It was a new twist but we all know how it ends.
(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, reviewed

I don't read much historical fiction, the last book of that genre I read I hated (and coincidentally that author gave this book a glowing review). However, this period of history was compulsory study for english school children of my generation, so I was already familar with the names, the dates and the places.

I still love English history, though I enjoy a good book a lot more. It felt sort of rushed to me at the end, but I kept reminding myself it was a young adult book, still worth a read if...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Isabella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome

VIII is a historical fictional novel based on the life of Henry VIII. The author is Harriet Castor who as a historian has tried to make the fictional story as historically accurate as possible. By writing the story in the first person and present tense she has let the reader connect to Hal (Henry) by seeing the world through his eyes and achieving a vivid sense of his world. Castor has always been obsessed with Tudor history, studying it for her whole life, which has inspired her to write this a...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Joanne Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to confess, as a reader, there are two things that put me off any book right away – writing in the first person, and the present tense. “VIII” is both of these things, so it’s a massive credit to H M Castor that my prejudices were won over by the end of the second page. Indeed, having finished the book, it’s impossible to imagine it written in any other way, so well does the narrative voice fit the story. And that voice, captured here in wholly convincing fashion, is that of one of the mo...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Hannah (Jaedia) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, received-for-review, young-adult, tudors

Destined for greatness, tormented by demons..

Hal goes through life tormented by apparitions that nobody but him sees. As a youth, his grandiosity is dazzling, during the height of his prowess as a warrior he is bold and inspiring, only to drop off later in life after a near-fatal accident renders him unable to be as active as he once was only for him to become a sad shell of his former self.. This is the life story of Henry VIII.

Well this book was amazing. From the very beginning we are greeted...more Destined for greatness, tormented by demons..

Hal goes through life tormented by apparitions that nobody but him sees. As a youth, his grandiosity is dazzling, during the height of his prowess as a warrior he is bold and inspiring, only to drop off later in life after a near-fatal accident renders him unable to be as active as he once was only for him to become a sad shell of his former self.. This is the life story of Henry VIII.

Well this book was amazing. From the very beginning we are greeted with the nightmareish visions Hal sees and these only worsen throughout his lifetime. He lives his life in fear and to take his mind off of it he keeps himself busy training in the tiltyards, hunting and gambling. The writing is atmospheric and clear and his voice is perfect. By the end I was left with goosebumps. Hal’s emotions are clearly evident in the language used. His fear, his excitement, his pride. And towards the end, as the reader, you become increasingly horrified by his dark nature. He is a very strong character. Castor also explores his relationships between his family, lovers, and friends which are all portrayed exceedingly well. VIII makes you understand why Henry was the way he was by showing you what he could very possibly have gone through in his life.

I personally thought VIII was lacking something, it needed more either as a two-part series or even just a few more pages or so because during the last half of the book many of the events in his life felt rushed over. It just dropped off a little. Sure, the older he got, the more relevant it became as his mental health seemed to deteriorate drastically and through a first person perspective it made perfect sense but certain things left me thinking, “Huh? Why was that never explored more fully?” However, the ending fully made up for any misgivings I may have had. I had of course thought about it myself but even so I didn’t think of it and found myself rambling about how unexpected it was. My poor boyfriend always gets the brunt of my bookish excitement.

VIII will be loved by fans of strongly character driven and psychological fiction. If you enjoy young adult historical fiction and the Tudor period, VIII is definitely a must read, though I thoroughly believe that this book will appeal even to those of you who aren’t big fans of historical fiction.(less)

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Oct 09, 2011 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, historical-fiction, young-adult

I’m a sucker for all things historical – books, films, TV series, and the Tudors is my absolute favourite period. I love reading about the Royal Family and the various Kings and the Queens that ruled over England and I find the political intrigue, revolutions and plotting that went on throughout the Tudor period absolutely fascinating. ‘VIII’ by H.M. Castor was therefore exactly the sort of book that appealed to my reading tastes. Described as Wolf Hall for the teen and crossover market, this ti...more I’m a sucker for all things historical – books, films, TV series, and the Tudors is my absolute favourite period. I love reading about the Royal Family and the various Kings and the Queens that ruled over England and I find the political intrigue, revolutions and plotting that went on throughout the Tudor period absolutely fascinating. ‘VIII’ by H.M. Castor was therefore exactly the sort of book that appealed to my reading tastes. Described as Wolf Hall for the teen and crossover market, this title has broad appeal and has been pitched perfectly for those who enjoy this particular genre.

The book takes an interesting approach to the retelling of Henry VIII’s reign, devoting more attention to the character of the young Hal before he becomes King. I thought this was a really clever way of exploring his motivations for wanting to become King, as well as his relationship with his mother, grandmother and brother Arthur. These early years and the people who figure in his life are seen to have a huge influence on his later reign. The first person narrative also works well as a device to provide insight into Hal's character, helping the reader to understand how he could transition from being a sweet boy into a ruthless King.

All too often historical novels can get bogged down in a little too much historical detail. Although this obviously serves to set the scene for the period and paints an interesting picture of the past, it can sometimes make for heavy reading. In my opinion 'VIII' struck exactly the right balance. All the facts are there and a huge amount of research has obviously been carried out to make sure that the facts are retold accurately but the story is very much character driven which ensures that the book is an entertaining and informative read.

The book shows another side to Henry VIII, beyond the King who was known to have six wives but the story does also follow Hal's descent into the well known figure he's usually depicted as. I enjoyed seeing Hal's relationship with his first wife Catherine and the way that this marriage eventually deteriorates because of his desperation to have an heir to the throne. Male offspring were obviously hugely important as they ensured the security of the throne from those that would seek to take it. This was an integral part of the book and is shown as central to many of the decisions that Hal ends up taking.

The only thing that I didn't enjoy quite so much in the book was the apparent ghost story. I found this to be slightly superfluous to the main plot and I didn't always feel that the paranormal side of things worked well with this genre. However, historical fiction lovers should definitely get their hands on this offering from an exciting talent and I'm looking forward to seeing what period H.M. Castor will turn her hand to next.
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Dec 14, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction

A brilliant, intense, compulsive read - one of the most gripping and emotionally powerful books I've read. Castor took on an ambitious challenge with this novel - to tell the story of Henry VIII's whole life, from early childhood through death, in his own voice, in a single volume, and all within the YA genre - and she absolutely succeeded. This book blew me away completely, leaving me envious as a writer and deeply, deeply enthralled as a reader.

Unfortunately, there isn't an American publisher...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Bella (Cheezyfeet Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-releases

I didn't know much about Henry VIII, apart from that he had six wives and he was fat. I didn't know the order of the wives, only that they were divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Now that I've read VIII though, I feel like I know a lot more.
I haven't read many historical novels, but I love them so much. It doesn't matter what time period, any time will do for me! VIII was probably one of the better ones I have read, because it was so informative and I learned so much about...more I didn't know much about Henry VIII, apart from that he had six wives and he was fat. I didn't know the order of the wives, only that they were divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Now that I've read VIII though, I feel like I know a lot more.
I haven't read many historical novels, but I love them so much. It doesn't matter what time period, any time will do for me! VIII was probably one of the better ones I have read, because it was so informative and I learned so much about Henry VIII while still making it feel like I was reading a story. Some historical novels I've read in the past have been so full of info that it feels like reading a text book, but not once in VIII did I feel like it was slipping into textbook territory.
The book is split up into parts, and in each part Hal is at a different stage in his life. In the first part, he is the six year old son of the king. He's a very believable six year old. He asks lots of questions about things he shouldn't, says things he shouldn't, and finds himself in places he shouldn't be. I was expecting him to be a child with impeccable manners, as I'd always thought that royal children would have been, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading about a six year old with a sense of adventure, instead of a boring little boy who does exactly what he's told.
In the next part however, Hal becomes a little big headed, and I think that it's then that his arrogant self starts to emerge. Castor effortlessly changes Hal from a silly six year old into a sensible ten year old, and then throughout the book he gets older and more arrogant. It was really interesting though, because as a person looking at him he seems full of himself, but if you look at him as he looks at himself, you see that he is just trying to be a person that people look up to and admire, and that the things he does are what he believes to be right, because he sees himself as ultimately a good person, and God's chosen one, and therefore every one else must be evil.
Even though I knew where the story was going with his six wives, it was still my favourite part of the book. I loved reading about all his different wives, and finding out why he married each one, and what he saw them as. It interested me far more than the jousting and fighting scenes, which got a little repetitive, but I'm pretty sure that's just me...
Overall, I really enjoyed VIII. I think it's great for all historical fiction fans, whether you're a young or old or in between. It's a great way to subtly learn about Henry VIII in a fun way. It's interesting, gripping, and one of the best historical fiction books I've read this year.

Originally posted at www.cheezyfeetbooks.blogspot.com(less)

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May 15, 2013 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The is another one of those books that once I started it I just could not put it down. I have always had a love of this time period and an interest in King Henry the VIII. But I must also admit that I have not really read too much about his early years, and what happened in history from his perspective as a child and as he grew up. How accurate this book is, that I can not really answer but from my own perspective I believe that things could have happened this way. Hal could have felt the way th...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Cath rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hisorical-fiction

Loved this view of the life of Henry VIII - couldn't put it down. It would suit young adult or adult readers. It gives an interesting insight into the family history and factors which may have influenced Henry, inlcuding a lifelong struggle with paranoia. Also gives an interesting view of the political side of his marriages and the reasons for the fates of his not so fortunate wives. An excellent read! I'm looking forward to other titles by this author.

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Jan 20, 2013 Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: advance-reader-books, historical-fiction, e-books

I was really hoping I would love this book. Unfortunately, it fell a bit short of my expectations. I liked the insight into Henry's mind as to why he left each wife. What bothered me was the pace of tje book. Castor spent quite a bit of time on Henry's childhood but once he becomes king you lose sense of how much time is passing. You don't get the feeling that it takes years for him to divorce Catherine then marry Anne. For me that was the weakest part of the book, the lost sense of time.

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Aug 03, 2011 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book,not only for the wonderfully woven story but also for all it taught me of a period of history that I love. The story was so accessible and the characters so well drawn. The visions Henry kept seeing gave the book a real sinister and spine-tingling tone which really captured the imagination. A real page turner that I really didn't want to put down-a fabulous read!

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Nov 09, 2012 Nicola W rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have no idea how I acquired this book but I almost certainly would never have bought it in a book shop. It reads ok although it tends to get somewhat repetitive. It's a basic and simple story and I've just noticed today that it's a YA/crossover book which would account perhaps for that. As the rating says "ok". Just that.

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