I greatly appreciated this human tale for the freshness with which Catherine Curzon tells the story of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and I am sure that anyone who reads it will be passionate about a woman who is at the basis of one of the most brilliant periods in British history, the Georgian Era.

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Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico

Curzon presents a well-researched and engaging biography which was written in a rather casual tone. I’m not usually a fan of a gossipy style, but Curzon knew exactly what she was doing!... If you’d like to settle down and find out more about a fascinating figure that’s often forgotten, I’d wholeheartedly recommend this.

NetGalley, Matt Barnett

Sophia, Electress of Hanover, is a little known historical figure or at least was to me when I started reading this book. I had no idea that such a person existed. Sophia could have been queen of England in her own right – and she would have been the oldest person to ascend the British throne.
Sophia was born as a daughter of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia so she was the granddaughter of James I of England. She married Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg who in 1692 became the first Elector of Hanover.
If Sophia hadn’t been outlived by Queen Anne, she would have become Queen of England. Her son George became the first Hanover King of England.
I enjoyed reading this well-researched book because it concentrates on a little known personage who had a long and eventful life. Highly recommended to history enthusiasts.

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GoodReads, Constant Reader

Catherine Curzon traces the life of the would-be Queen from her childhood days in exile to her married life. Sophia: Mother of King’s is well-researched and easy to read, even if you are not well-read on the subject. It’s a must-read if you’re interested in the Hanoverian dynasty – Sophia certainly would have made a formidable Queen.

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History of Royal Women

Sophia: Mother of Kings: The Finest Queen Britain Never Had was a well-written, well-researched and an overall fascinating read.

Sophia was the woman who ‘enabled’ the transition of the British crown from the royal family of the Stuarts to the Hanoverians. This non-fiction gave us a glimpse into the life of another fascinating woman in British history. Catherine did a fascinating job with this biography and I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I have read by her to date.

Once again this was an utterly fascinating read and I would definitely recommend it.

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Where There's Ink There's Paper

Recommended if they enjoy history, biographies or are followers of European royal families. I find it informative and interesting.

NetGalley, Rebeca Nuñez

The writing style of this work really impressed me – oftentimes books on this era can be incredibly dry, but Curzon made it exciting and interesting. Her chatty narrative pulled me in from the first page and just made me want to keep reading to find out what the heroine, Sophia, would get up to next. You can tell as you read that the author has heavily researched Sophia’s life and this is only made clearer by the fantastic referencing. Though it must be said that this book does not read as an academic piece – which in my opinion, makes it all the better. Whilst I love many academic works there are times when they are dry and boring – this book is the furthest thing from that. Rather it is well written and chatty, perfect for both those who know about the era and those who don’t. I certainly learned a lot from reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it – it has shone a light on a woman who for so long has been stuck in the background and this fantastic book has introduced her to a wider audience with it’s heavily researched yet witty narrative.

Highly recommended – 5/5

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The Borgia Bull

This is a very well written book about a lady in history that I knew nothing about - Sophia, the mother of King George I.

The author has a lovely style of writing which keeps you entertained throughout and her sense of humour shines through. This is certainly NOT a dry history book. Although there are many characters who share the same (or similar) first names I didn't get lost and was captured by the intrigue, murders and affairs that took place.

There are some illustrations but, whilst interesting to put faces to names, are not essential. This book would be a fascinating read either way, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in British and European history.

For the Love of Books

Catherine is so enthusiastic through out the book and it's so lovely to read... If you want a biography on Sophia, I highly recommend this one.

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Lil's Vintage World

A singularly informative and impressive work of researched based scholarship, "Sophia: Mother of Kings: The Finest Queen Britain Never Had" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library British History & Royal Biography collections.

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Midwest Book Review

The Houses of Stuart and of Hanover have played an important part in the development of the monarchy and with it the constitution of Great Britain. The Elector of Hanover is a phrase I am familiar with; not so much with Sophie, the Electress of Hanover who, it seems, was instrumental in the shaping of our monarchy to an extent after which all other alliances and intrigues pale into insignificance.

Books Monthly

Catherine Curzon tells Sophia's story with humour, sympathy and enormous energy - paying enthusiastic tribute to "the finest queen Britain never had".

Jane Austen's Regency World, January/February 2020 – reviewed by Joceline Bury

A well-researched, well-written and engaging biography of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, who, if she hadn’t been outlived by Queen Anne, would have become Queen of England. And it appears that she would have made a good Queen. This is an accessible and very readable biography with a good balance between serious history and lighter moments, and the author manages to make Sophia come alive on the page.

NetGalley, Mandy Jenkinson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As a history teacher obviously I love reading about history and was thrilled to get a copy of this to read. The first thing that strikes you is how well researched this book is, I found it fascinating and felt I learnt a lot about Sophia, a character who has always intrigued me.
The presentation was fun as well and I raced through this.
Absolutely brilliant book I’ll be recommending To everyone.

NetGalley, Rebecca B

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I have been a student of British history since 1966, majored in it in college, and read a great deal of history to this day. In all of that time I can honestly say that I never gave Sophia, the Electress of Hanover much of a thought. By the time she figures into British history as it is usually taught, she was elderly, ill, and useful only to the British as the closest Protestant heir to the throne. This sprightly biography rectifies all of that.

Sophia’s claim to the British throne was through her mother, Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of James I and his wife, Anne of Denmark. For those keeping score, Elizabeth was the sister of Charles I, and the aunt of Charles II and James II. Elizabeth married Frederick, the Elector Palatine, and the two of them were briefly the monarchs of Bohemia, leading to the sobriquets of the Winter King and Queen. Sophia was their twelfth child. (Better Elizabeth than me.)

After the Glorious Revolution, King William and Queen Mary had no children, and her poor sister, Queen Anne, went through numerous pregnancies only to lose her children to an early death or through miscarriage. The Protestant establishment of England did not want a Catholic monarch, which the waiting Stewarts were, so they reached back into the Protestant bloodline and came up with Sophia, who had married the Elector of Hanover, and had Protestant offspring.

In the event, Queen Anne outlived her great-aunt Sophia, and it was Sophia’s son George, the Elector of Hanover, who became the first of the Hanoverian monarchs. This biography makes clear how unfortunate this was; Sophia was educated, Interesting, intelligent, and would have made a good queen. Her son George was dour, uninteresting, and difficult.

This properly footnoted (I am an inveterate reader of footnotes) biography was a pleasure to read, and I can recommend it to any student of British history.

NetGalley, Barbara Bernstein

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I LOVE history and in particular being able to read about personages in history I've never heard of - this is one of those. So well researched, I learnt soooo much

Really interesting the way it was written - in Acts rather than chapters - original presentation - loved it

Some history / non fiction can be a bit dry and hard work to get through - This is NOT one of those books. The author brings the story and the era to life. I became so engrossed - it was one of those books you get completely lost in - wonderful

A fabulous read.

NetGalley, Maria Martignetti

I learnt a lot!

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Ghost Reader, YouTube

Sophia: Mother of Kings is a fascinating historical biography. It is well written and researched. A very interesting book.

NetGalley, Heather Bennett

If you are interested in a good biography of a noble woman from this period of European history, then this “tale of perhaps the finest queen that Great Britain never had” is right up your alley.

NetGalley, Justin Staley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I loved, loved, loved this one. I would say it was far from dry and boring. I might even dare to say it was a thrilling read. Might. I think for those that—like me—love history OR love the royal family OR both it will be a compelling read. Usually I complain when a book has lengthy chapters. I do. I need potential stopping places—lots of them. But the lack of chapters did not bother me. I sped through the first two acts. I was getting caught up in the story, talking about it with my mom, keeping her updated with all the twists and turns, tuning out distractions. I was INTO the book. It read like a real life soap opera. It used a lot of quotes from Sophia’s own diary or autobiography. So it felt personal. I will say that the book began to drag a bit towards the end. There comes a point when it’s less soap opera and more obituary column. But when it’s good, it’s GOOD.

NetGalley, Becky Laney

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was an excellent biography of a woman I knew very little about. I'm a lover of historical biographies and history in general, and this book did not disappoint. What a fascinating woman and an in depth look at a time period and locale I was woefully ignorant of. A real pleasure.

NetGalley, Catelyn May

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Like many others, I am fascinated by the lives of royalty and have read numerous books about European rulers throughout history. This, however, is the first time I have read anything about Sophia, Electress of Hanover, the daughter of the Winter Queen, Elizabeth of Bohemia, and granddaughter of King James I of England.

Catherine Curzon’s book was a fascinating look at the life of a very intelligent and capable member of the royal family who missed out on the chance to sit on the British throne by a matter of only a few weeks. It is a well-researched and enjoyable book and has sparked my interest in reading more about this intriguing historical figure.

If you are at all interested in history and the English monarchy, in particular, I believe you will find this book to be a great selection.

NetGalley, Kathy DiDomizio

This non fiction book is a fascinating and easy to read.
Well written and very interesting.
A must read for any fans of this era.

NetGalley, Tracey Shults

I hadn't read anything about Sophia prior to this and find her such a strong individual. She provided strength to her family through heartbreak and disaster, a truly inspirational lady.

It seems a shame she never got her chance to become Queen.

For those with an interest in history I'd recommend this.

NetGalley, Amy McElroy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book and learned so much more on the history of this woman and what this woman had to face to keep everything going! You will learn to love her and the people who surround this historical woman! Very good plot,believable in every sense! You will think about this book after you finish. Net Galley let me read this !! A lot of time went in to research of this time and story!!

NetGalley, Trick Wiley

I like to read once in a while a historical book but I am not a huge reader of non-historical-fiction. But this one is easy to read which makes it enjoyable. I don't know how good the research is but everything seemed logical as far as history can be logical. In history you can't always be certain but this is okay. I also like that this is about someone you don't know from regular history classes or documentaries. I am glad that I had the chance to read this book!

NetGalley, Saskia Kahl

This non-fiction is a fascinating and easily readable account of her life that I highly recommend to anyone interested in the period who would like to learn more about this woman who played an indirect role in bringing the Hanoverians onto the British throne.

NetGalley, Beata B. Reviewer

An interesting read about "the finest queen that Britain never had". As a lover of British history, particularly relating to the history of the Royal Family & those who were close to it, I had heard of Sophia of Hanover & knew that her descendants give us today's Royal Family, however I knew nothing of the woman, the politics or even the lineage that came with her. She seems like a formidable woman, who had Stuart blood & used it well!
Overall, I learnt a lot from the book yet it wasn't a difficult academic read.It is written in quite a chatty style, with phrases like "Frederick's father, helpfully named Frederick IV (get ready for a lot of not at all unique names like this)". There is some confusion around names but you can work out who is who eventually!

NetGalley, Lucy Faulds

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Sophia is mentioned briefly in Catherine Curzon’s Queen’s of Georgian Britain. Thus, it was nice that there was a full length biography of this unknown woman. This biography emphasized Sophia’s intelligence and capability of ruling.
She was the granddaughter of James I of England. Her mother was Elizabeth of Bohemia, the Winter Queen. She was courted by her cousin Charles II and could have been queen of England. However, she married Ernest Augustus. Because she was smarter than her husband, she ran his kingdom in his stead. Thus, this biography shows a woman who is worthy to be well-known for she is the ancestress of Britain’s mornarchs and could have been a queen consort herself.

NetGalley, Lauralee Jacks

Very well written. Heavily researched. I enjoyed reading this narrative of a little known historical figure who seems well respected by many of her friends and family.

NetGalley, Donna Pingry