I wish Robin Maxwell would write a sequel to this book where Arthur finds and marries Constanza, has children, and possibly brings his family back to England to meet his mother and adopted siblings. I think Elizabeth would have loved and accepted Constanza, and I would love to read about them meeting.
And now, comments about the story! I was so happy when Elizabeth was reunited with her son. I was worried there wasn‘t going to be a reunion, so I was happy to read that. I think Elizabeth respected Arthur‘s decision to turn down the throne. She realized he could be a great king, and always kept the succession open in the hopes he would come back. I hope they remained in touch even after Arthur went to America.
If the Arthur Dudley imposter was the real Arthur Dudley, I believe he was killed by Philip II. Philip wanted the English throne for himself and would‘ve never let a potential claimant live in Spain. It‘s a shame that we will never truly know if Elizabeth and Robert had any children or potential miscarriages and if “Arthur” really was their child.
Alright now it‘s time for comments: Historically, I wish Robert and Elizabeth would‘ve had the chance to have the family they deserved. The problem is Elizabeth was traumatized and I think Robert just got tired of the chase. I think they would‘ve been happy with their children, and maybe Robert would‘ve cheated once or twice, but overall they could‘ve had a great life together.
pickAlthough not historically accurate, I love how this book makes me think about the “What ifs” of Elizabeth‘s life. For those who like a good story and are not so much into historical accuracy, this is the book for you.
I also believe Robert did not know how to love Elizabeth. She was fragile after the trauma and needed to be treated differently than a woman who didn‘t live through the same things. I don‘t know if Robert truly grasped this idea which is why he became frustrated at Elizabeth when she wouldn‘t commit.
I think Robert and Elizabeth should have remained friends and never should have been lovers. The fact is Elizabeth had been traumatized watching how her father treated his wives, how her father treated her, and the sexual abuse she endured by Thomas Seymour. I think this is why she could not commit to Robert. They would have been better off solely remaining just friends.
Although obviously not brother and sister, I don‘t know how I feel about the potential romance between Alice and Arthur. As long as Arthur believes he‘s John and Maud‘s son then I really hope nothing happens between them. If he finds out he‘s Elizabeth and Dudley‘s, I don‘t see a problem with it although I don‘t want them together just because they‘re not siblings.
The way Arthur describes life with the Southerns reminds me of Harry Potter living with the Dursleys. Maud‘s treatment of Arthur reminds me of Petunia‘s treatment of Harry.
The Queen's Bastard: A Novel | 
