A compendium of female royalty from ancient times all the way up until the ill-fated Diana Spencer. I liked how it was royalty from several continents and not just focusing on Europe, as many similar books do. Each entry seemed to be well-researched and had side notes that explained types of death or something referenced in the main text.
The design of the book was also what initially drew me but I was disappointed to find that many of the images inside were slightly pixelated (and obviously easily fixed with a modicum of skill in Photoshop) and included fan-art type drawings rather than classical paintings and etchings, I assume due to copyright prices. The pages were also that really annoying un-cut edges that makes it difficult to turn pages and impossible to flip through. The author also made a lot of obscure or random cultural references to things that weren't related ("she was the Angela Jolie in a sea of Reese Witherspoons" isn't something I care to read in a somewhat educational text) and a few I didn't even understand.
Overall, an interesting and fun read, but not as entertaining as I had hoped. ( )

I love a good quick, compilation of historical facts and “Doomed Queens” was a fun (albeit morbid) little book about royal women and their untimely demises. There are lots of unique, original illustrations throughout the pages and the softcover edition even includes paper doll cutouts in the flap – although what kind of monster would take scissors to the cover of a book? ( )

This fun little book detailing the lives - and more importantly deaths - of fifty queens. While the book does talk about Anne Boleyn and Maria Antoinette, you could also see some names almost swept away by history like Cleopatra's sister. Written with a wry sense of humor with multiple choice tests to quiz what the reader remembers and the odd anecdote here and there, this book can enchant the history buff.

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Doomed Queens by Kris Waldherr is a 2008 Three Rivers Press publication.

We are all familiar with the fates of Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette – but as it turns out there have been many other ‘doomed queens’ throughout history.

Kris Waldheer takes readers all the way back to Biblical times, and brings us to recent times, chronicling the events that led to the premature deaths of female rulers and queens, and future queens, throughout the ages.

I knew nearly half of the people listed here, and absolutely nothing about the other half. Reading history always reminds me that people were just as brutal, unconscionable, violent, manipulative, scheming, and power hungry as people today.

That said, the author approaches these darker subjects with wit and humor. After each time frame, readers take a little pop quiz to help one remember what they had learned, which was fun.

Obviously, some research went into this little ‘list’ style book, and all the information, even the more familiar stories attached to Cleopatra- for example- were refreshed and made interesting anew.

The book isn’t very long and is easy to read and digest- but it is also informative, interesting and thought-provoking. It is telling that through the years, history has never forgotten these women. There are a few lessons to be learned from the lives of these ‘doomed queens.’

3.5 stars ( )

Quick, fun glimpses into the brief lives and eventual deaths of queens both known and unknown. I thank the author for providing a bibliography of the works she used in the writing of this book. It sparked an interest to find out more about these women and the circles they navigated. The writing style was clear and held a slightly bitter tone about the personalities and social standards that eventually led to their ends.

Overall this was a nice look at how heavy the head that wears the crown can be-and how easy it is to lose it. ( )