Charles: The Heart of a King

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I know there are novellas corresponding to these characters that give a fuller account of their stories ( The Desert Princess, The Shepherdess, Daughter of the Nile, and The Queen of Sheba), so maybe I need to read those to get better closure, but I found their stories dissatisfying in the context of The Heart of a King. But it seems more likely that Aske, churning out jingoistic doggerel while the national mood was still jubilant, was the one who took liberties with the wording used by the Queen, if he even knew what she had said on that day in August 1588. We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Even though I had already read the bulk of this story, I enjoyed every minute of it and it never felt stale or repetitive.

The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon - Goodreads The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon - Goodreads

Some of the author's interpretations of different Bible verses and accounts didn't sit well with me. I eagerly await new books about King David so was thrilled to see this one as his son, Solomon, seems to be just as interesting.

King Solomon did have his faults as we clearly see by the wives he took and the need for material wealth.

Will Self reviews Charles: The Heart of a King by Catherine Will Self reviews Charles: The Heart of a King by Catherine

Siti, the young Egyptian princess who gives Solomon Gezer, but refuses to give up her god, Bastet and demands a palace of her own.I loved getting to jump between Solomon's point of view and the four women because it gave me a better perspective of their lives. Solomon is a whiny crown prince and comes off as incredibly selfish throughout the book, although the selfishness does lessen toward the end. In Leigh’s account of the speech, Elizabeth tells her English troops that the Spanish enemy may believe her to be an ineffectual ruler because she is a woman, rather than being a ‘strong’ man who can lead his troops into battle. Because the heart of the king will be increasingly reflected in the hearts of the people who serve him. At the same time that she claims the power, she acknowledges her physical weakness and condescends to the level of soldiers and subjects to whom she lovingly refers in the speech.