This book is about the notorious Henry VIII, but it is a history told by those who lost rather than those who lasted. It was written by Matthew Tobin Anderson, who has won both the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All tells about the life of Henry VIII and his six wives, each known for the fate that the king condemned them to in a time when women had few choices. Two wives were killed by beheading, two were required to divorce him at a time when the Roman Catholic Church forbid divorce, and one died young, King Henry VIII wanted to have a son, but his wives did not conceive boys, so they were condemned to pay the penalties that he determined.

I feel like the book had lots of good things about it . His wife’s all had things to them that made each different. I think the character I hated the most was King Henry himself. He was so selfish and conceited. His drive for a male heir was so over the top that he didn’t care who had to die for it. The tragedy his wives had to endure just made me dislike him more.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is into history, but if you don’t like the sad life of women in the kingdom, then this book isn’t for you. I personally would give this book a 5/10 because it made me very mad and annoyed to read about a man who got whatever he wanted and six women who, one way or another, paid with their lives.