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Queen of Martyrs: The Story of Mary I (Plantagenet Embers Book 3) Kindle Edition
When these words rang out over England, Mary Tudor thought her troubles were over. She could put her painful past - the loss of her mother and mistreatment at the hands of her father - behind her. With her accession to the throne, Mary set out to restore Catholicism in England and find the love of a husband that she had long desired. But the tragedies in Mary's life were far from over.
How did a gentle, pious woman become known as Bloody Mary?
The Plantagenet Embers Series:
Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York
Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole
Queen of Martyrs: The Story of Mary I
The Last Lancastrian: A Story of Margaret Beaufort (novella)
Once a Queen: A Story of Elizabeth Woodville (novella)
Prince of York: A Story of Reginald Pole (novella)
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 12, 2017
- File size1.6 MB
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This option includes 3 books.
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From the Publisher

The Plantagenet Embers Series
From the Wars of the Roses to the Reformation . . . an emotive journey into the early Tudor era.
Told through the intimate experiences of historical figures Elizabeth of York, Margaret Pole, and Queen Mary I, the Plantagenet Embers trilogy transports the reader to 15th and 16th century England. This series of emotive tales includes three novels available in Kindle, paperback, hardcover or audiobook formats.
Companion Reads! Three novellas featuring Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth Woodville, and Reginald Pole are also available in Kindle, paperback, or hardcover formats.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Samantha Wilcoxson has a unique writing style which makes her stand out from other Tudor storytellers. She gets into the mind of her main character and writes Mary's story as if she's seeing it through the queen's own eyes." ~ Author Sharon Bennett Connolly
"Every scholar and enthusiast knows the crimes of Henry VIII and what unfolded in his wake. Samantha uses this to full advantage and weighs every ounce of this on Mary's soul." ~ Knight of Angels
"Most of all, I feel compassion for Mary and her lonely road through life. A woman who wanted only to love and be loved was given little opportunity to do either." ~ Discovering Diamonds
Product details
- Best Sellers Rank: #210,813 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #152 in Renaissance Historical Fiction (Books)
- #216 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #511 in Historical European Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Samantha Wilcoxson is an author of emotive biographical fiction and nonfiction featuring history's unsung heroes. She loves sharing trips to historic places with her family and spending time by the lake with a glass of wine. Her most recent work is a biography of James Alexander Hamilton published by Pen & Sword History. Samantha is currently writing a Wars of the Roses trilogy for Sapere Books.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative and well-written, with a crisp writing style that makes it easy to read. Moreover, they appreciate the historical accuracy, with one customer noting how it takes readers back to historical times. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its storyline about Queen Mary Tudor, with one review highlighting how it portrays her as a complex woman. Customers also find the book entertaining.
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Customers find the book readable and informative, with one customer noting it includes well-researched vignettes.
"...With that said, Samantha has written an amazing novel. She just got carried away with feeling sorry for her protagonist...." Read more
"...And, with a great eye for detail and including well-researched vignettes, the story - and the queen - come alive in captivating, three dimensional..." Read more
"...I found this book to be engaging and a very informative read." Read more
"...book has been write, lots of emotion and great description with great insight. Would recommend this authors books, have read a couple now." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it crisp and easy to read, with one customer noting its great eye for detail.
"...And, with a great eye for detail and including well-researched vignettes, the story - and the queen - come alive in captivating, three dimensional..." Read more
"I cannot get enough of the historical fictions and this author writes really well. If you love Phillipa Gregory, you will love Samantha Wilcoxson...." Read more
"Mary, the daughter of Catherine and Henry VIII, is portrayed here with a gentle touch...." Read more
"...Enjoy the way the book has been write, lots of emotion and great description with great insight...." Read more
Customers enjoy the storyline of this book about Queen Mary Tudor, with one customer particularly appreciating how it presents her as a complex woman.
"...Love the stories of the royals in 15th and 16th century England...." Read more
"We don't know much about Queen Mary. We are given a peek into her life as a Queen. I found this book to be engaging and a very informative read." Read more
"...In this book she presents Mary I as a complex woman, a true believer in her religious faith, striving to do what she believes is best for her..." Read more
"Excellent book about Mary I ; have never seen much about her reign and it was very informative and enjoyable." Read more
Customers find the book entertaining.
"...Her style of writing is very crisp, easy to read, full of entertainment. Love the stories of the royals in 15th and 16th century England...." Read more
"...We are given a peek into her life as a Queen. I found this book to be engaging and a very informative read." Read more
"...have never seen much about her reign and it was very informative and enjoyable." Read more
Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, with one customer noting how it takes readers back to historical times.
"...story - and the queen - come alive in captivating, three dimensional historical fiction...." Read more
"Thoroughly enjoyed the third historical novel about the Plantagenets and Tudors from Samantha Wilcoxson...." Read more
"Amanda's books have a way of taking you back to historical times and leave you with wanting more, for her to continue telling you more about these..." Read more
Reviews with images

Reviewed by Discovering Diamonds
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2020While you can't help but feel sorry for Mary I, her actions as queen cannot be condoned.
With that said, Samantha has written an amazing novel. She just got carried away with feeling sorry for her protagonist. She even believes Mary was justified in burning a baby.
This book is a bit hard to read at times as it does show things from Mary's perspective. The author is Protestant so I am impressed at her ability to understand this mindset.
Many today believe Mary's actions were justified given how Anne Boleyn treated her. As a supporter of Anne, while I don't condone her treatment of Mary, it is unfair and unfortunate that it is now being held up as the clincher for her entire moral character. It's also somewhat troubling. How is a woman who ordered a pregnant woman burnt worthy of anything other than disdain?!
I recommend the book. I just can't really get my head around the modern pro Mary Tudor trend at all when Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne, and even Victoria accomplished so much more. Even if Mary was England's first queen regnant if you exclude Matilda, first isn't always best.
Mary's childhood does not make up for the burnings and her utter failure as a monarch, wife, sister and queen. Elizabeth had a similar childhood but rose above it. You can rise above your past. Mary I of England just chose not to.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017Samantha Wilcoxson's latest novel, Queen of Martyrs, takes on the Elizabethan propaganda machine - and wins. By telling the familiar tale of Mary's life with empathy and perspective, Ms Wilcoxson brings new insights into Mary's character and motivation. And, with a great eye for detail and including well-researched vignettes, the story - and the queen - come alive in captivating, three dimensional historical fiction. Reflecting Mary's character are the many influences of her life, from Katherine Parr and Edward VI, to her husband Philip and her faithful serving maids. Ms. Wilcoxson effortlessly moves into their points of view, and gives us a well-rounded and memorable tribute to Henry VIII's oldest and often vilified daughter.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2019I cannot get enough of the historical fictions and this author writes really well. If you love Phillipa Gregory, you will love Samantha Wilcoxson. Her style of writing is very crisp, easy to read, full of entertainment. Love the stories of the royals in 15th and 16th century England. She bring to life the every day life of those who played a part in the castles, the country sides, the way of life and death during this time. A must read for anyone who loves history and royals.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017Not my favorite book by this author. I just found it to be somewhat "typical" of books about Mary I(and I have read many). Pace was a bit slow for me. Would not recommend this particular title but still a fan of Samantha Wilcoxon.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024Mary, the daughter of Catherine and Henry VIII, is portrayed here with a gentle touch. Because she was separated so soon from her mother, her childhood was not a childhood, and her illness, migraines no doubt, made her life more difficult. Mary truly believed she was doing God's work, and this theme runs throughout. A granddaughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, it's interesting that history doesn't connect Mary's action to that of the Spanish Inquisition. If only she didn't marry Phillip, how might her life had changed?
- Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018We don't know much about Queen Mary. We are given a peek into her life as a Queen. I found this book to be engaging and a very informative read.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2017Thoroughly enjoyed the third historical novel about the Plantagenets and Tudors from Samantha Wilcoxson. In this book she presents Mary I as a complex woman, a true believer in her religious faith, striving to do what she believes is best for her country and her subjects. As with the other two books in the Plantagenet Embers, Wilcoxson brings to life the women in the extended Plantagenet/Tudor families. I pre-ordered the book - couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017Loved this book, a different view of Mary, not so much bloody Mary but more a unloved Mary.
I see Mary in a different light and have more sympathy for her now.
Enjoy the way the book has been write, lots of emotion and great description with great insight.
Would recommend this authors books, have read a couple now.
Top reviews from other countries
- MaxwellReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Good author
Excellent read. Well written and researched
- Barbara JesserReviewed in Australia on January 21, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars A book of relegations
A really different slant on the life of Mary Tudor. More humane, an insight into a Queen who appears to have had some bad press during her lifetime. An eye opener re her history of executions. Thank you for this insight into her life. An enjoyable read.
- KarenReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Mary
A lovely sympathetic novel of a much misunderstood queen. The author has researched her subject well and we get a more rounded view of a women who had a pretty sad life and just wanted to do the right thing.
The novel runs from the time of Henry 8th marriage to his sixth wife Catherine Parr, until the end of Marys life. Highly recommended.
- CLCAULFIELDReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars The sixteenth century was a time of turmoil and Mary had a pretty poor life in general and her actions and reactions ...
Although Mary was referred to as "bloodyMary" I am not sure she deserved the prefix. The sixteenth century was a time of turmoil and Mary had a pretty poor life in general and her actions and reactions showed her to be quite a conscientious lady who would not be swayed away from her faith. This book was well researched and read very well.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2024
3.0 out of 5 stars A fresh point of view
I have never read about Mary. As Elizabeth I always takes centre stage. Reading this made me fee.l quite sorry for Mary. Her life seems so unfulfilled . Although devoted to God and her belief. All history has given her is a reputation for burning heretics.