In January of 2020, I shared a review of a brilliant new book that re-imagines the Tudors, Wife After Wife. (You can find my review here!) And although I had my best reading year by far, Wife After Wife was absolutely one of my favourite books of the year. And luckily for all of us with more lock down time, we now have the sequel! This is a modern retelling of Mary I, Elizabeth I, the Tudor court and society, bringing Rose Corp into the twenty first century. So, without further adieu, my Sister to Sister review…
Sister to Sister, Olivia Hayfield
Following the scandalous revelations about his love life, disgraced media mogul Harry Rose is searching for redemption. His daughters – bright, winsome Eliza and dark, difficult Maria – have taken over his beloved company and are making some major changes.
Guided by Harry, Eliza navigates life as Rose Corp”s new queen. But Maria is standing in her way. And then there”s the distraction of Eliza”s childhood playmate, the twinkly-eyed Rob Studley, and the unresolved death of her mother . . .
After a stellar start, things take a turn for the worse and ultimately Eliza will have to make a choice: career, or love?
Loosely based on the turbulent reigns of Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth, this is a scandalous tale of love, power and betrayal…
Why You Should Read This…
Thank you to the author/publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wife After Wife was one of the most unique and fascinating takes on Henry VIII and his wives that I’ve ever encountered. It emerged at just the right time, when Six the Musical had added a UK tour, an Australian tour, and was about to premiere on Broadway, and interest in the wives had never been higher. Thankfully, Sister to Sister follows in the same form- it takes what can be a complex and sometimes confusing history and brings it in a society that we know. Hayfield’s modern update to Elizabeth I, Mary I, and Mary, Queen of Scots is a fun and entertaining read, and is more than perfect for lock down life (2.0? 3.0? Whichever lock down!). If you love your Tudor history, you will love the many, many Tudor references, including the beloved Shakespeare and Marlowe. (I would recommend that you read Wife After Wife first though, as many of the characters are either present or referenced.) All in all, non-stop Tudor intrigue!
After reading this Sister to Sister review, will you be grabbing it?
Cheers,
The Historian
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