Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle

This compilation of poems by Alexandra Elle is a wonderful read for anyone at all, simply due to its very appealing writing style. Here is my experience of reading this poetry book that came out very recently.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

After I read Murakami for the first time last year, I gained a renewed interest in magical realism. The hint of magic, the strong emphasis on an unseen power and more such  ideas had me enthralled. I went on to hoard some more books by Murakami, and I also went on to buy some books by Gabriel Garcia as he is considered a master in this genre.

After much contemplation, I picked up Chronicle of death foretold by him as it is the shortest and somehow I was already overwhelmed by his aura – hence, I decided to pick something short to start with.

The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

I had  no plans of reading this book anytime this year. Even the release of the movie did not have me reaching for the book. But when a dear book buddy announced a read-along, I jumped right into it!! Here is my experience of reading this psychological thriller novel by British author Paula Hawkins, and a short movie review of the same that released this year.

Cover

I got my copy before the movie was shaped, hence I have the black one with the blurred vision that is often experienced while looking out of a train. The title is splayed across the center, and it makes for a decent cover. It is informative about the plot and sits well with the title, but I cannot comment of the aesthetics, as I am neither drawn, nor repelled by it.

Characters

The girl on the train is about a woman, Rachel, who takes the train to London every day. On her way, she passes by homes along the track, one of which is occupied by a couple who she obsessively observes, and has named them Jason and Jesse. She also peers into her old home which is now home to her ex-husband, and his wife and daughter. Though looking into their lives refreshes the wound of infidelity inflicted by her husband every single time, she can't help but watch their perfect life.

She lives with a friend, and apart from this, there is a strange orange haired man who plays small but significant roles in the story.

Content

Agonized and lost  even after many months of her divorce, Rachel resorts to drinking to run away from the mess that her life is turning into. She loses her job, but hides the fact from her friend, pretending to take the train to work every day. Immersed in sorrow and unable to forgive her husband for cheating on her, Rachel lives a life that is just spiraling downwards.

While on the train she watches a couple, who seem like the epitome of a perfect life to her, until one day, she notices something that soon becomes a crucial evidence in a crime. Rachel is intrigued, and disturbed and believing that what she has seen will help solve the case, she reaches the police.

Other than this, she is constantly harassing her husband in a drunken stupor, and it doesn't help Rachel, that this crime has occurred a few houses away from where her ex-husband lives. She becomes obsessed with the crime, and is determined to help, but how can an absolute stranger, going on a train help? It also doesn't help that she has blank spaces in the place of events that she is sure occurred  again due to her drinking habits.

She has a wound to speak for it, but what really happened? With growing obsession and helplessness, she is further harrowed as crucial incidents that will help solve the case  are now a blur due to her being  drunk. She suddenly finds a purpose to her otherwise miserable life,  but how can she help when she herself in immersed in a sea of uncertainty?

Good Points

Full points to the Author for weaving this intriguing tale around the train. The plot, the cover and title are all impressively interwoven. The events revolve around the train, and the tracks and not it is interesting to see how such a different approach is a breath of fresh air.

Secondly, and more importantly, kudos to the writer for the fantastic character development. Each character is quite interesting, but Rachel takes the cake! She is so real and relatable, it's a little scary. It is a very real, and harsh albeit sad take on how we spiral to unimaginable lows due to the pain inflicted upon us, and how we latch on to the strangest leash of hope to feel alive again. 

Bad Points

The character development is amazing, if only a little more emphasis was laid on the other characters, at least the most significant ones, it would have been a lot better.

Apart from this ,the end was just average. It is simple to deduce who the culprit is, as it somehow feels rushed in the end, with not a lot of  background to it. When read as a crime thriller, it can be an average read.

Overall

I absolutely loved reading this book, mostly due to the characters, or rather, due to Rachel! Though the end was a bit of a disappointment, I still would recommend this book to all you guys who enjoy crazily woven stories!

Who do I recommend this to ??

If you love stories that are more about the characters, this fast-paced book would surely make an enjoyable read.

Quotable Quotes

Hollowness: that I understand. I'm starting to believe that there isn't anything you can do to fix it. That's what I've taken from the therapy sessions: the holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mold yourself through the gaps..

The holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mould yourself through the gaps.

I can’t do this, I can’t just be a wife. I don’t understand how anyone does it—there is literally nothing to do but wait. Wait for a man to come home and love you. Either that or look around for something to distract you.

And I’ve just got to let myself feel the pain, because if I don’t, if I keep numbing it, it’ll never really go away.

I have to find a way of making myself happy, I have to stop looking for happiness elsewhere. It’s true..

Movie Review

Rachel is played by the amazing Emily Blunt, and I think that was the only reason I watched this movie (Na, am kidding, I’d watch it anyway!, just with less enthusiasm). Having said that Emily did a fine job at being Rachel.

The setting is a lot different than I imagined, it was more serene and posh than it was in my head, and it was very very fast!! The events were almost a blur, and a lot of essential parts were omitted- not events, but the build to them!

Like they say, the book was better!

She by Dr.Shayan Haq & Santosh Avvannavar

Set in 1990, in the City of Calcutta "She" is a small insight into the life of Kusum, and the struggles she endures due to her blurred sexuality. 

Cover

Enveloped in a crimson jacket , which may be signifying womanhood and the sexuality of a woman which is frequently represented using this color in India, "She" has a plain cover page with the title , with a reversed S maybe signifying that she is unlike others, and is superimposed with the Howrah Bridge- which is often used as a symbolic representation of the city in which it is set.

With the aim of the story and the name of the author etc mentioned in bold white letters, the cover doesn’t appeal to me too much as it is neither thought provoking nor raising any curiosity in me , & on the contrary the white bold lettering are rather putting off. 

Character

The book revolves around three significant characters – Kusum - the protagonist, Raj – a professor she meets and Debu her love interest. Other characters in the book mainly comprise of the family members of these three, who play small yet significant parts in the story. 

Content

"She" is the story of Kusum, who recites her saga of love and betrayal and how the narrow mindedness of our society takes from her everything that she once belonged with and leaves her in the lurch to fend for herself.

It is a documentation of her life – trails and tribulations, and how she battles them all and slowly walks on, constantly inspired by Tagore’s “ekla cholo re” at different stages of her life. 

Raj, a Professor finds her stranded on a deserted road, and there begins their friendship. He is an audience to Kusum while she confides in this stranger her life, her journey of love and loss of not just the man she adored, but her family and her identity and how she trods on, paving a path for herself, even if it meant walking alone.

If they answer not to your call walk alone 

If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall, 

O thou unlucky one, 

open your mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,

O thou unlucky one,

trample the thorns under thy tread, 

and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they shut doors and do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm, 

O thou unlucky one,

with the thunder flame of pain ignite your own heart, 

and let it burn alone.

"She" is inspired from this very famous poem written by Tagore. 

Language

Simple & clean English is used, with a hint of Bengali here and there to add a more intimate feel to the content. Mostly seen from Kusum’s perspective, it is predominantly a first person narrative. 

Good points

The attempt by the authors to write on such a sensitive topic is worthy of appreciation. The loss and grievances of Kusum are relate-able not just for someone who is haunted by their sexuality but also any other person who is constantly brought down by the narrow minded society we belong to. 

The map of her journey of growth, from discovering herself to becoming Kusum, and making small but noteworthy attempts to better her life are inspirational.

Bad points

As much as I am pleasantly surprised by the topic covered in the book , I for one am saddened by the sheer length of the book. We are talking about a journey, the trails, struggles, and victories of this brave woman, all confided to a mere 50 pages?

Every genre demands a certain pace, some plots demand it to be fast paced and some others are meant to be savored and contemplated on, and for me she would fit in the latter category. 

This book covers a myriad of emotions, but merely touches upon each.The reader is not even allowed the time to taste a certain emotion before the plot already trudges along. A story like this, and the thought from which it is born deserved a little more analysis . 

Constantly mentioned as Kusum is neither a he nor a she, it seems like the rest of the society the authors themselves dread Kusum’s sexuality. Why is it called blurred sexuality? It is almost like the authors , who want to portray Kusum as a brave-heart are shying away from who she is. 

Overall

As earlier mentioned, "She" was probably conceived with a great intention. The aim of the story is to bring to us the struggles faced by her, but that intention seems to have gotten lost somewhere along the way.

A story on a topic like this, a topic that is barely written about should have shown a greater depth and insight on her life. After all, how often do we get to read about the lives and struggles of these innocents?

Who do I recommend this to

It is a rather short read, and hence the people who like reading a more concentrated version of life events and drama might find this interesting.

However, bibliophiles seeking the true joy of book reading- the journey of laughing and crying with the characters would not find it here.

The book was provided by the author for review. It has not influenced the review at all.

Quotable Quotes

After accepting the bitter truth of society, I set myself out to lead a life for myself entirely. I realized that the poisonous tentacles of society does not spare anyone, especially people like us. Once I realized that, I became strong from within.

I kept throwing different sized pebbles, the larger one created more impact by creating larger ripples. If the same pebble was thrown at an angle, slightly horizontal it would touch the superficial layer of water. Some pebbles made their way to the shore. This repetitive task gave me answers to all my questions.These questions were raised because I am like a pebble that fell deep into the society (water) that would know to sallow through making noise and creating disturbance ( ripples ) on ones choices. But I forgot in fostering trust with loved ones that destiny is in my own head like the same pebble that did get touched by water, passed through the hurdles of ripples without sinking easily to make a way to the shore.

It wasn’t just heartbreaking but it broke my identity! All that anguish that was deep hidden in me because rejections from family and friends started to pour out like a current in the sea that would seem destructive.

For us, life is very simple as we only acknowledge two categories- male and female – and we mock and rebuke someone stuck in between. We hardly understand the pain of remaining trapped in someone else’s body- a boy trapped in a woman’s body and/or vice versa.

We are mere puppets in the hands of our social conditioning.

King Of Hearts by Prassant Kevin

We, the readers, are required to raise our expectations. Unless we raise our expectations we are going to be fed all the written, unrefined words that are the result of a stunted imagination and dwarfed expression. These are more or less the words of the author Prassant Kevin. It makes us, the readers, proud of what we do. It places us on a pedestal where we are superior to many others, where we are honored with a responsibility to decide what we want to read. Not only decide, but also be outrageous and demand it. The author has set himself apart from others who never ask readers to challenge what they are biting into. Respect. 

But as far as his own book goes, the author has lost the game. The expression that I would use is “duck out”. 

That’s the biggest problem with the alcoholics, she thought, as they always assume that alcohol will find them a solution, which never happens. The solution of the problem comes afterwards, when they wake up with shitty breath and look at their wasted self in the mirror. Its when they find a real reason to get their shit back together and find a way to work it out. And when they do, they thank alcohol again as it helped them to get back to the track and to celebrate it, they all drink again.

Cover page

On the cover page, is a suit and the cityscape fading. The color blue overpowers everything. So, someone who has a stunted vision is going to see an ocean of blue with a few sparkling lights here and there. The typography and the color combination makes the cover as unappealing as it can get. It also does not relate to the text inside, misguiding anyone. 

Characters

Ayan Kapoor is a struggling writer, who appears to have a gift. He has got a chiseled body and a special talent. He can recite the alphabets in reverse order. Apart from these two characteristics, the author has failed miserably to give a personality to the lead character. The author goes on talking about the gem of the writer Ayan is, but there is no textual evidence supporting it. A chiseled body is not required of a writer, a good thought process is. Which again is lacking in Ayan. He thinks like any normal testosterone induced twenty-something in the city. 

Misha is the lady love here. She is blunt, aggressive, protective, brash and a true blue friend. Again she can be any girl you meet anywhere. Being the love interest of the author who rules over million hearts, Misha was not given enough character. 

Content

Misha and Ayan meet at her uncle’s bar. Ayan just found out that his girlfriend was sleeping with someone else. Misha while filling in for the bartender does not try one bit, to console him. She instead offers him a full bottle of alcohol, on one condition. And thus, they become friends. 

The content of the book is everything the author does not want to see in “Indian literature”. It is the usual boy meet girl, fall in love, break hearts, get back etc. I was reading on and on and praying that there was more to the story, but sadly there isn’t. 

All we have to do is to wait with hope and patience because our job is not to find love, our real job is when love comes to us, then to protect it from going away.

Language

The story keeps shifting its POV. It is not even third person narration, as it looks at certain parts. The author has got the grammar terribly wrong. The book is filled with colloquiums. The readers are going to find the SMS language repulsive! The narration is terrible. At one point I was just reading the words and thinking of what I would like to have for dinner! 

Good points

The book has a good message about the literature scenario in India. We, the readers, are slowly settling down. We are very comfortable with what we are being fed. Unlike an era where the sages used to put their life into writing a book which is going to enlighten the entire humanity, the writers today are feeding entertainment between the pages of the book. 

Bad points

Everything. The cover page is unappealing as a frog. The shallow characterization and the cliché story line make it difficult to finish the book. The book is more like a cinema script narrative than a piece of literature. 

Overall

Overall, the book is a shabby attempt. This is the second book by the author, which makes it twice unforgivable. 

Who do I recommend this to

As of now I do not recommend this to anyone. The book needs too many refinements.

* I recieved this book from the author on goodreads giveway. It has not influenced the review at all.

Love And Misadventure by Lang Leav

Lang Leav had made it to the top of the charts when her book of short poems won the goodreads award for the best book in the poetry section. There were mixed reviews seen on the book. Those who liked the book praised it to the heights and those who did not like it criticized the bad writing. A book is no book if it is not written well. Hence, even after receiving the book as a gift from a dear friend, whose choice in books I have come to trust, I did not start reading it immediately. It was after my book was borrowed and circulated around, I decided maybe I should be reading it myself! So, here I am, reviewing the first book of poems, perhaps, after graduating from school years ago.  

Cover page

The cover page is what I call a smart design. A book of poems is usually kept simple on the cover. This book follows the same rules, but it is far from boring. The author herself is an illustrator and there is a small illustration done by her on the cover. The illustration is an image of herself. It is, hmm, cute. The entire book is filled with a shade of brick red which helps to keep it minimalist. The font is eye-catching and shouts the title. 

It was a question I had worn on my lips for days - like a loose thread on my favourite sweater I couldn't resist pulling - despite knowing it could all unravel around me. 

"Do you love me?" I ask.

In your hesitation I found my answer.

Content

The book is a good mix of poems written by the author, probably at different stages in life, collected and divided into three parts. The book begins with a sweet dedication to someone very precious to the author, I guess. 

The first part of the book is called misadventures where the author talks about young love, the wait, the anxiety and not knowing what is to come. This portion of the book is filled with hope. These are sweet love poems about falling in love and wondering if it is right for you. It does not promise happiness but celebrates the spirit of adventure or misadventure as it says. 

The second part of the book talks about the sorrows and circus. It is where the feeling of running around in a maze begins. The infinite future brings confusion. Some hang in and some go on to look for more misadventures. 

The third part is where the promise of forever comes. If someone believes in true love and likes all the rosy bits in a story, this is the section to visit. 

Towards the end the index comes, which is the surprise element in the book. The author cleverly puts down all the poems in alphabetical below the respective sections. It feels like the author wants to keep reads looking for direction until towards the end. 

Do you remember the song that was playing the night we met? No, but I remember every song I have heard since you left.

Language

Lang Leav possess a craft which puts her on the map with other renowned poets! There are poems in the book that take your breath away. You would want to hang on to those words forever. The language is less than flowery. The readers of the generation can identify with her words, Unlike Frost and Shelly who demand an extensive background research before you read their poems. 

As a kid, I would count backwards from ten and imagine at one, there would be an explosion–perhaps caused by a rogue planet crashing into Earth or some other major catastrophe. When nothing happened, I'd feel relieved and at the same time, a little disappointed.

I think of you at ten; the first time I saw you. Your smile at nine and how it lit up something inside me I had thought long dead. Your lips at eight pressed against mine and at seven, your warm breath in my ear and your hands everywhere. You tell me you love me at six and at five we have our first real fight. At four we have our second and three, our third. At two you tell me you can't go on any longer and then at one, you ask me to stay.

And I am relieved, so relieved–and a little disappointed.

Good points

The cover page keeps its simplicity and sophistication without becoming too boring. The writings inside are even better. While reading through the poems you will find yourself being transported to different stages of your life. Every woman is going to identify with the poems inside. 

Bad points

The illustrations inside do not do justice to the writing. They seem too rigid compared to the thoughts of the author which are flowy to say the least.

Overall

This is the first book of poems that I have read in a long time and I am definitely not disappointed. This clearly lives up to the hype. 

Who do I recommend this to

For all the romantics who like simple pleasures in life, this book is made! 

Quotable quotes

I don't think all writers are sad, she said.

I think it's the other way around—

all sad people write.

What is she like?

I was told—

she is a

melancholy soul.

She is like

the sun to the night;

a momentary gold.

A star when dimmed

by dawning light;

the flicker of

a candle blown.

A lonely kite

lost in flight—

someone once

had flown.

She lends her pen,

to thoughts of him,

that flow from it,

in her solitary.

For she is his poet,

And he is her poetry.

Once there was a boy who couldn't speak but owned a music box that held every song in all the world. One day he met a girl who had never heard a single melody in her entire life and so he played her his favorite song. He watched while her face lit up with wonder as the music filled the sky and the poetry of lyrics moved her in a way she had never felt before.

He would play his songs for her day after day and she would sit by him quietly—never seeming to mind that he could only speak to her through song. She loved everything he played for her, but of them all—she loved the sad songs best. So he began to play them more and more until eventually, sad songs were all she would hear.

One day, he noticed it had been a very long time since her last smile. When he asked her why, she took both his hands in hers and kissed them warmly. She thanked him for his gift of music and poetry but above all else—for showing her sadness because she had known neither of these things before him. But it was now time for her to go away—to find someone who could show her what happiness was.

There was a man who I once knew,

for me there was no other.

The closer to loving me he grew,

the more he would grow further.

I tried to love him as his friend,

then to love him as his lover;

but he never loved me in the end—

his heart was for another. 

Eterlimus by Aziz Hamza

Roman empire has astonished me since I read Julius Ceaser. Therefore when I received this book for reviewing I instantly said yes. This is written by an author from Saudi which further aggravated my curiosity.

History immortalizes both the names of the greats and the tyrants without making a distinction between them.

Cover page

Eterlimus is a story of Rome hence the classical architecture is very much expected in the cover-page. But what really attracted me to the book is the color riot. The book cover is splashed with different shades of red (or crimson?) which subtly describes the anger during the time. There are also buildings on fire indicating an uproar or a rebellion. All-in-all I love the cover-page. I would definitely love to have the book in my collection.

Characters

As the Title suggests, the book is about Eterlimus. He is a pimp in the times of the evil King Tarquinius. Tarquinius has preceded the throne with treachery. Eterlimus is a peace loving master of a pleasure house. He is clever and knows how to avoid unfavorable circumstances using his wit. A perfect character to help overthrow the king.

Content

The Roman empire is in the hands of an evil king who has stepped on the throne by killings hundreds. Eterlimus's family was also murdered by King Tarquinius. Flavius saves the little boy Eterlimus and takes him under his own wings. Eterlimus learns better and does not seek revenge. UNTIL, one of the girls in his pleasure house is brutally assaulted in his pleasure house on Sextus's orders.

Eterlimus, drowned in the idea on revenge, forms a plan which will eventually lead to the destruction of the king. But what he does not know is that it will also lead to the rape of Lucretia. Eterlimus's plan throws more people in fire than he had expected to, leading to his own destruction.

The content is filled with suspense. It keeps you on the edge of the table waiting for the story to unfold. The book is very fast paced. It has got the essence of the Roman empire. It is a treat for people who love a face paced historical fiction.

Discourses, which are mostly wrapped in spurious religious and patriotic ideologies that ignite the enthusiasm of the ignorant masses.

Language

The narration is a bit confusing at times. It is more like a play than a story. It may very well remind you of Julius Ceaser. There is also a mix of tenses at a few places.

Good points

I just loved the cover-page. It is a work of art. It indefinitely puts the book on the map. I was happy with the content, more or less. Language gave a feel of the Roman empire, which is what I was going for.

Bad points

Eterlimus’ love story was not very convincing. I did not find it growing. It felt very shallow. I wish the author had a more planned approach for narration.

The virtuous are among the weakest and quickest to sin.

Overall

The book definitely has more positives than it has negatives. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

Who do I recommend this to

I recommend this to people who enjoy history and historical fiction.

Quotable Quotes

when you walk the path of revenge, know that someone will always follow your trail.

If the gods chose Sextus as King of Rome, the worst possible evil will befall it.

The Tudor Wife by Emily Purdy

Anne Boleyn is a historical character that has astonished me, and I am sure many others. After watching different series and documentaries, I was very much obsessed with the Tudor queens, Anne Boleyn especially. When I came across this book in a recent sale I instantly knew learning about the queens from a lady-in-waiting’s perspective is going to be something else! I started reading this book as soon as I bought it. This is definitely a piece of art that anyone interested in the English royalty must read!

‘Your wife I cannot be; your mistress I will not be.’ Those were her words, cold and to the point, like a dagger in the heart.

Cover page

I absolutely loved the cover-page. It has been well thought over and researched. The cover consists of a queen wearing the periodical attire. Very cleverly the artist has hidden the face of the queen and only the ensemble is visible, since the book is about all the queens and not just one. The book title reads—The Tudor Wife. The typography is well thought of. The cover-page in all does complete justice to the story inside. 

Characters

The book is a compilation of the life of all the Tudor queens married to Henry the eighth, except the last one. The person narrating the tales is Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law. All the characters in the queens are parallel to the history and not much change has been done in the name of historical fiction. You will come to love, hate and sympathize with all the queens, such is the writing of Emily Purdy.

There are many other characters that have been brought to live by Emily Purdy.

Content

Vengeance is mine; I shall repay.
–Romans 12:19

The book begins with this verse. This is for Jane Rochford, who dies with the blood of Anne Boleyn and many other in her hand. The book talks about all the queens but last of Henry VIII. Jane is the narrator of the story. Hence all the characters are depicted from her point of view. These are the tales of accession to the throne and the downfall. Each of the queens have been given their due. 

More than half of the book is dedicated to Anne Boleyn, fairly so since she is probably most remembered queen. One chapter is dedicated to Anne of Cleaves. And all that has been said about her is that she was repulsive to the king, so much that he divorced her and adopted her as a sister. Other queens have their fair part in the book, their stories told well.

But things were changing. Though Henry continued to profess his undying love and shower her with gifts, there hung about him brooding air of a man who has grown tired of waiting and is beginning to wonder whether it is really worthwhile…

Language

The narration is filled with guilt, even though Jane talks about vengeance. Jane Rochford definitely feels guilty of the various deaths that are partly on her heads. Therefore in the entire book she is always looking for sympathy and justifying herself. 

The narration is going to get you sympathize and understand each queen and Jane Rochford herself. Where in the entire world she is known as a symbol of jealousy and betrayal, the author will get you to maybe pity her somewhere. 

I absolutely loved the narration. I got to have some beautiful quotes too. So I am happy! 

Good points

The cover-page takes you to the world of royalty right at first glance. This is definitely one of the covers that will compel you to buy the book. 

The characterization is very gripping. Anne Boleyn has been further immortalized by the book. Other queens also get their respective spaces.

The narration is really gripping. You would find yourself wishing that you could read for a living. This one book is going to keep you awake till the midnight. 

Bad points

Where the author got all the characters right, she deviated a lot when she came to Catherine Howard. Catherine has been portrayed throughout as a nymphomaniac child. It sentence itself sounds wrong but yeah. There are also too many details of her encounter which seem to be unbelievable at certain stage.

There are certain passages in the book that feel repeated. The same lines have been said with different words. Which tend to tire you. I mean who liked to listen to the same thing over and over again! 

‘Calais,’ she continued, as if she had not heard. ‘Once a woman surrenders herself to a man, even though that is what he wants to do, he instantly loses all respect for her. Some men are just better at hiding the truth than others, and some do not even bother to try.’

Overall

Overall, I loved the book enough to read few other by the same author. I am now interested in knowing what happens to the Tudor offspring and how Elizabeth succeeds to the throne. Emily Purdy has definitely got me curious. 

Who do I recommend this to

I would recommend this book to everyone interested in the English royalty. Anne Boleyn fans, this is definitely something to watch out for. Someone who loves good narration, this is the book!

Quotable Quotes:

‘Perhaps you look for dead men’s shoes?’ Anne batted her lashes coyly. ‘If any misfortune befell His Majesty you would look to have me!’

Guard your heart, Elizabeth, guard it as if it were your greatest treasures; keep it under lock and key, and be wary of who you let near it, lest you be betrayed. Let no man be your master; be mistress of your own fate instead. Never surrender!’

‘Weep not for us, but for the absence of justice from England!’ Weston advised the crowd as they were led back to their cell in the Beauchamp Tower.

‘No, Jane, you have courage, for you have far greater need of it than I do! You have to go on living, while I have only to die. And someday, Jane, you too will die, and then you will have to answer to God for what you have done. He—in this case, she—who sows the whirlwind must expect to reap the storm. Good-bye Jane.’

A swift slash of silver steel ended Anne’s life. So died the only woman who had ever made a fool of Henry Tudor, challenged and denied him.

In death, poetry, and legend they had all found immortality. And I would be remembered alongside them, my name a byword for jealousy, treachery, betrayal, and lies. I found my immortality in infamy; I has unjustly become one of the villains in Anne Boleyn’s tale, my true innocence blotted out and obscured by bloodstains.

Thanks to Thomas Cromwell, I would always be remembered as “The Red Widow”, with my husband’s blood forever on my hands; whenever people heard my name they would instantly think of lies, jealousy of embittered wives, and treachery.
Yes I had a lot to thank Cromwell for—that is what I thought of as I stood beside the scaffold and watched him die.

‘There is no such thing as love, Jane; it’s just the dream we all aspire to, and the stuff of songs and stories that fuel our hopes and longings. Aye, there is passion, but passion is not love, Jane, though we like to delude ourselves into thinking it is. But it dies quick; it is a flame that flares high, blazes bright, and soon dies, and all we are left with are the cold ashes of memory.’

Even though tomorrow I must die, and Cranmer urges me to clear my conscience so that I mat die shriven of all my sins, of that I will never repent! Vengeance was mine and I did repay!