Mary Tudor: Queen of France by Amy McElroy is a captivating exploration of one of Tudor England’s most fascinating figures, a woman whose life story often gets buried under the towering legacy of her infamous brother, Henry VIII. But Mary Tudor wasn’t just "the king’s sister"—she was a princess who married a king, defied another, and somehow managed to carve out a life for herself despite the political landmines of the Tudor court. McElroy’s account of her life gives Mary the rich, nuanced treatment she deserves.

Mary Tudor, often called the "English Rose," was celebrated for her beauty, but McElroy digs much deeper than the surface. She presents Mary as a woman of fierce independence and bold decisions—especially for someone living in an era when royal women’s choices were usually dictated by political necessity. Her marriage to the elderly King Louis XII of France was strategic, of course, but Mary’s next move—marrying Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, for love and without her brother’s permission—was the stuff of Tudor legend. It could’ve cost her everything, yet somehow she not only survived Henry’s wrath but kept his affection.

One of McElroy’s strengths is her focus on Mary’s complex relationship with Henry. As his favorite sister, Mary had more leeway than most people who dared cross him, but that didn’t make her immune to the pressures of his volatile temper and political ambitions. McElroy shows how their bond shifted over time, shaped by Mary’s decisions, Henry’s ego, and the tumultuous events surrounding the Tudor dynasty.

The book also does an excellent job contextualizing Mary’s marriages—not just as romantic dramas but as reflections of larger political tensions. Her brief but significant reign as Queen of France and her subsequent life as Duchess of Suffolk paint a picture of a woman who was both a player in the grand political chessboard of Europe and someone determined to pursue her own happiness in a world that didn’t exactly encourage personal freedom for women.

McElroy’s writing is engaging and approachable without losing the depth of historical analysis. She strikes a nice balance between personal anecdotes (letters, portraits, and court gossip) and the broader political events of the time. The result is a portrait of Mary that feels intimate yet rooted in historical fact.

If there’s a critique, it’s that at times the narrative slows when recounting some of the more peripheral political events—necessary for context, but they can momentarily pull focus from Mary herself. However, McElroy always brings it back to the heart of the story: a woman navigating an extraordinary life in the shadow of one of history’s most domineering monarchs.

At 4.5 stars, this is a must-read for Tudor enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by royal women who dared to live on their own terms. Mary Tudor’s life is often overshadowed by the dramas of Henry’s wives, but McElroy ensures that readers will see her not just as an accessory to Henry’s legacy, but as a complex, courageous figure in her own right—equal parts princess, queen, rebel, and survivor.

240 pages

4 stars

This book covers the history of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York. She was a sister of Henry VIII and Margaret who went on to marry King James IV of Scotland.

Unfortunately, not much was recorded about Mary’s early life. It is supposed that she was raised with Henry and Margaret with the aid of their mother and various nurses, tutors and maids.

Even at age three, offers for Mary’s hand in marriage began to appear.

Following several offers, contracts and machinations, Mary was finally betrothed to King Louis XII of France. Louis was in desperate need of an heir and it is supposed (perhaps), that the elderly King overdid his exertions with his very young bride. The marriage with King Louis XII did not last long.

Following the death of King Louis XII, Mary wanted to marry Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Intense negotiations ensued between Mary, Charles, King Henry VIII and the French delegation. Payments would be made and Mary and Charles would return to England.

All evidence shows that Charles and Mary had a happy marriage until her death in 1533.

This is a very good book. It is full of facts and interesting tidbits. The book is easy to understand and is easily comprehensible for any readers. I enjoyed it very much having not read much about Mary.

I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

I so enjoyed reading about Mary Tudor - she has so often been a character in other Tudor history books I have read, both factual and fictional, but has always been on the periphery. With Amy McElroy’s wonderful book she is now taking centre stage and the result is an engrossing and enthralling study of this fascinating woman. From Princess to Queen to Duchess and her roles as daughter, sister, wife and mother Mary takes the spotlight in this excellent book. I would not hesitate to recommend Amy McElroy’s latest work.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3 ⭐️ I enjoyed reading this in depth look at the sister of King Henry VIII.

Most of what is known of Mary Tudor involves her romance and marriage to Charles Brandon, Henry’s best friend. This well researched biography gives a glimpse into Tudor life drawing on historical writings.
All the workings of the court, dowries ,clothes, jewels, marriages, births, deaths are all discussed.
Fascinating!

Thank you NetGalley and Pen and Sword History Publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book is alright…I love reading about the Tudors but this felt a little repetitive. It might be the format because the ebook wasn’t separated into chapters. Just kept going without a break in between. It’s a good book but it just wasn’t for me.