Guest Post: “The Rivalry Behind Renaissance Rivals by Karen Essex”

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I am pleased to welcome Karen Essex to my blog today to share a guest post to promote her novel, “Renaissance Rivals.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Karen Essex for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Some historical figures refuse to remain inside the books we write about them. For me, Isabella d’Este was one of those figures. 

I first encountered Isabella while researching Leonardo’s Swans, my novel about her and her younger sister, Beatrice d’Este. The novel is the prequel to Renaissance Rivals. Both women were princesses born into the ruling family of Ferrara and married into powerful courts in northern Italy. Beatrice became Duchess of Milan, while Isabella became Marchesa of Mantua and, eventually, one of the most celebrated women of the Renaissance, known in her own time as “First Lady of the World.” 

She fascinated me from the beginning. Isabella was intelligent, ambitious, politically astute, artistically discerning, and acutely conscious of her place in the world. She collected antiquities and commissioned works from the greatest artists of her age: Leonardo, Titian, Raphael, and others. She cultivated writers, musicians, diplomats, and rulers. Her clothing was imitated across Europe. In fact, she was so popular that Venetian dollmakers created Isabella dolls that circulated around the European courts so that women could see what she’d been wearing.  

We could think of her as the first Barbie, but her letters reveal a woman who understood that image, taste, ceremony, and access could function as instruments of power. 

Like most aristocratic women of her time, Isabella had been married for political reasons. Her authority depended upon her husband, her children, her birth family, and the alliances she could maintain among Italy’s frequently warring states. She had to negotiate with men who possessed formal power while finding ways to exercise power of her own, which she did. She could flatter, maneuver, charm, command, plead, and threaten, sometimes within the same conversation or letter. 

When I finished Leonardo’s Swans, I could not let her go. I continued traveling to Italy, returning to Mantua and following Isabella’s path through Milan, Venice, Ferrara, and Rome. I kept reading her correspondence and remained in touch with the Italian art historians and Renaissance scholars I had met while researching the novel, especially after Leonardo’s Swans became a bestseller in Italy. 

Then another woman began to appear in her letters. Lucrezia Borgia. Of course, I already knew the name. Almost everyone does. 

For centuries, Lucrezia had been depicted as one of history’s great villains: the depraved daughter of a corrupt pope, the sister and supposed accomplice of the dreaded Cesare Borgia, a seductress, an adulteress, an incestuous monster, and a poisoner who allegedly dispatched her enemies with a mysterious substance concealed inside a ring. 

The accusations were irresistible. They were also suspiciously familiar. 

While researching my first novel, Kleopatra, I had learned how thoroughly history can malign powerful women. Women who threaten political, sexual, or cultural expectations are often transformed into monsters. Their intelligence becomes cunning. Their sensuality becomes depravity. Their ambition becomes proof of moral corruption. Their influence over men becomes evidence of manipulation. 

A successful man gains authority. A successful woman must have bewitched, seduced, or poisoned someone. Knowing this, I could not simply accept the traditional portrait of Lucrezia Borgia. I needed to know who she really was. 

The historical Lucrezia was born into one of the most notorious families in Renaissance Europe. Her father, Rodrigo Borgia, became Pope Alexander VI. Her brother Cesare was a cardinal, military commander, and political strategist whose ruthlessness helped inspire Machiavelli’s The Prince. (Yes, Machiavelli is a character in the novel!) 

Lucrezia grew up at the center of papal wealth, political ambition, scandal, and danger. Her marriages were arranged and dissolved according to her family’s needs. Her first marriage was annulled when the alliance ceased to be useful. Her second husband was murdered, almost certainly as a result of Borgia political calculations. Lucrezia herself had little control over either event, yet later chroniclers often treated her as though she had orchestrated them. 

She was used as a political instrument, but her third marriage changed everything. In 1502, Lucrezia married Alfonso d’Este, heir to the duchy of Ferrara and Isabella d’Este’s brother. The marriage brought the infamous Borgia daughter into one of Italy’s oldest and proudest ruling families. 

It also brought her directly into Isabella’s world. From the beginning, the relationship between the two women was complicated. Isabella was the revered daughter of the Este dynasty. Lucrezia was the outsider marrying into it. Isabella possessed lineage, refinement, and an established reputation as a cultural leader. Lucrezia arrived carrying the weight of Borgia scandal and the dazzling wealth of the papal court. 

Isabella had every reason to look down upon her new sister-in-law, but she also had reason to fear her. Lucrezia was younger, beautiful, politically valuable, and capable of winning affection. She brought jewels, clothing, servants, money, and papal influence to Ferrara. Once installed there, she became a patron of artists and poets, a capable administrator, a charitable duchess, and a woman trusted to govern Ferrara during her husband’s absences. She managed property, handled petitions, corresponded with political figures, and gained the loyalty of many who had initially opposed her marriage. 

The supposed monster proved alarmingly competent, every bit as competent as Isabella herself.   

The rivalry between Isabella and Lucrezia was therefore about far more than personal dislike. They competed for precedence within the hugely powerful Este family. They competed for influence over Alfonso and other powerful men. They competed in fashion, ceremony, patronage, reputation, and access. Each woman understood that status had to be performed publicly and defended constantly. 

A jewel was never merely a jewel. A gown could announce wealth, rank, fertility, or allegiance. The order in which two women entered a room could become a political statement. An invitation withheld, a gift delayed, or a style copied might communicate rivalry as clearly as any formal declaration. 

Their conflict also arose from their similarities. Both women had been shaped by dynastic ambition. Both had endured marriages arranged for political advantage. Both understood the vulnerability of women whose security depended upon producing heirs. Both learned to communicate through letters and intermediaries. Both used art, fashion, family, and personal relationships to exercise and extend their authority. 

Lucrezia also possessed something Isabella could not easily forgive: the ability to fascinate the men around her. 

One of the most sensitive elements in their rivalry involved Isabella’s husband, Francesco Gonzaga. The surviving correspondence between Francesco and Lucrezia reveals an intimacy and emotional charge that is hard to deny. For Isabella, this was not simply a romantic betrayal. It threatened her dignity, her marriage, and her public authority. 

I did not want to write a story with one virtuous heroine and one wicked rival. History had already committed that injustice, particularly against Lucrezia. I wanted to place two intelligent, ambitious women opposite each other and allow each to see the other as a threat. Isabella believes she has earned her position through discipline, lineage, learning, and relentless effort. Lucrezia arrives bearing beauty, notoriety, papal wealth, and an instinct for survival. 

Their struggle unfolds amid war, papal intrigue, dynastic marriage, artistic brilliance, and the spectacular courts of Renaissance Italy. Their weapons include letters, jewels, clothing, gossip, pregnancy, patronage, political alliances, and the dangerous affections of men. 

Yet beneath the rivalry lies another story: two women attempting to create power in a world determined to use them for its own purposes. 

The historical record taught me to question the neat division between admired woman and notorious woman, between princess and poisoner, between cultural icon and scandalous intruder. 

Isabella d’Este led me back into the Renaissance. Lucrezia Borgia made me question everything I thought I knew about it. 

Blurb:  

Renaissance Rivals, the long-awaited sequel to the global bestseller Leonardo’s Swans, tells the story of the brutal rivalry between two of history’s most fascinating power women: Isabella d’Este, Marchesa of Mantua, celebrated in her own lifetime as “The First Lady of the World,” and Lucrezia Borgia, Duchess of Ferrara, daughter of the infamous Pope Alexander VI and one of the most maligned women in history. 

Before Maggie O’Farrell’s doomed duchess in The Marriage Portrait, there were the women who built the courts, forged alliances, and commanded works of artistic genius. In both Renaissance Rivals and Leonardo’s Swans, Essex invites readers to step back one generation into the glittering courts of Renaissance Italy, where beauty, intellect, marriage, and ambition could determine the fate of nations. 

Buy Links: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mdpO2E  

For paperback orders: https://shop.karenessex.com   

This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio:  

Karen Essex is the national and international bestselling author of RUN, DARLING, KLEOPATRA, PHARAOH, LEONARDO’S SWANS, STEALING ATHENA, DRACULA IN LOVE, AND BETTIE PAGE: LIFE OF A PINUP LEGEND. All feature iconic women—powerful women that seduced the world and ruled it. 

Essex is also an active screenwriter and speaker, and an award-winning journalist. She divides her time between Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Europe. Her novels are published in twenty-nine languages. 

Leonardo’s Swans, the prequel to Renaissance Rivals, was a runaway bestseller in Italy and won the prestigious Premio Roma for Foreign Fiction. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.karenessex.com  

Twitter / X: https://x.com/KarenEssex  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenEssexAuthor/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenessex/  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karenessex/  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-essex 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karenessexwrites 

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/44OrSh5 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22528.Karen_Essex 

Follow Karen’s Substack newsletter, History. Sex. Power: https://substack.com/@karenessex  

Guest Post: “Catalina of Aragon’s Story Before England” by Wendy J. Dunn

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I am pleased to welcome Wendy J. Dunn back to my blog to share a guest post about Catalina of Aragon, also known as Katherine of Aragon, and her story before England for the Spanish release of her novel, “The Duty of Daughters.” I would like to thank Wendy J. Dunn and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

She was born in winter, as another year closed on her mother’s Holy War—the crusade that drove the Moors from Spain. The last and fifth child of two reigning monarchs, Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, Catalina of Aragon deeply loved and revered her mother, one of the strongest queens in history. 

In England, later events proved Catalina very much her mother’s daughter. Yet the history-changing measures enforced by Isabel—measures her children witnessed through long seasons of war and conquest, and a land often rent by constant change—were lessons she never forgot. In some ways, she proved herself a wiser and nobler woman than Isabel. 

Her parents signed and sealed her future before her third birthday, agreeing to wed her to another infant: Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, the first-born son of a new English royal family and heir to England’s throne. 

That wasn’t unusual. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, early betrothals were common for princesses. They were pawns for their families, brokered and discarded whenever needed.  

Especially so in Catalina’s case—her parents were gaining a reputation for marrying rather than warring to increase their power base. Their descendants continued this policy, so much so it was said: Bella gerant alii, tu, felix Austria, nube (‘Let others make war, you, fortunate Austria, marry’). 

In modern society, we take for granted the fact that our children are more than likely to reach adulthood. Advances in medical knowledge give us confidence our children will outlive us. We face childbirth knowing the great likelihood of a fortunate outcome. Women no longer ready themselves for the possibility of death when they give birth. Far too many times, childbirth meant death for mother or child in the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries—sometimes both. For people of this time, death was almost a daily companion. Times were hard and living a daily proposition. 

Despite their greater familiarity with death in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, losing loved ones still struck people to the quick. 

When Catalina’s eldest sister, Isabel, lost her husband, Alfonso, Prince of Portugal, in a riding accident, she cut off her hair, locked herself away in a dark room, and refused to eat or sleep. Her parents brought their daughter home, but young Isabel never stopped grieving. 

Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon gave their eldest child five years of widowhood—then made another marriage for her, this time to Alfonso’s kinsman, now Portugal’s king. 

Isabel only went through the motions. She married the king, did her duty by giving him a son, and let go of life. It broke her parents’ hearts when this same baby died in his grandmother’s arms less than two years later. 

When Catalina came to marry Arthur Tudor, she already bore this cross of grief. But her belief in God, and the world to come, kept her moving forward. 

At fifteen, thirteen years after the first negotiations, Catalina journeyed overland from Granada to the seaports of A Coruña. Ships waited there to take her to England, where she would marry Arthur, now also fifteen. 

The dangerous journey across Castile took Catalina months. Her mother, ill and broken by grief, could not bear to accompany her youngest child for any part of it. With her other daughters, she had made a habit of travelling far with them, handing them over to their new lives with joy. But within months, that joy turned to grief. 

By the time her youngest child left her side, death had sliced the number of her living children from five to three. Her only son, Juan, died at nineteen. Loved and doted on, his death cast a dark shadow over all his parents’ hopes for a unified Castile and Aragon.  

Shortly after Juan’s death, Isabel’s eldest child, a daughter also named Isabel, died after giving birth to a son. 

Queen Isabel kept Catalina, her youngest child, by her side as long as she could, giving excuses to the English for all the delays. But the day came when the Queen could delay no more. Catalina left her mother’s arms for the last time in Granada. They both knew they would never see one another again in life. 

Coming to England from Castile meant braving a treacherous sea crossing. Storms forced Catalina’s ships back the first time; the second attempt was worse. After many times blowing Catalina’s ship away from England’s shores, the hurricanes finally managed to bring her safely into an English harbour. One of the first things Katherine (the name we know her best by) did was go to a church and give thanks for surviving. She feared then for her future. Future events proved her right. 

Already, grief had interwoven its dark threads thickly in Katherine of Aragon’s life; in England, this weave continued its criss-cross to the very end. 

Book Title and Author Name: 

The Duty of Daughters  

El Deber de Las Hijas (Spanish version) 

by Wendy J. Dunn 

Blurb: 

Castile, 1490. 

Doña Beatriz Galindo is an uneasy witness to the Holy War of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon. A holy war pushing the Moors out of territories ruled by them for centuries. 

Beatriz does not want a life like other women. She desires power over her own destiny. Even if this means walking a far harder road. 

A passionate and respected scholar, Beatriz serves her friend Queen Isabel of Castile as her advisor. She also tutors the queen’s youngest child, Catalina of Aragon. 

Dedicated to Queen Isabel and her children, Beatriz guides the young Catalina of Aragon to walk her own hard life road. 

But can she prepare Catalina to be England’s queen?
 

Buy Links: 

Universal Buy Link – The Duty of Daughters: https://mybook.to/FPS 

Universal Buy Link – El Deber de las Hijas: books2read.com/u/mVoKBA  

Author Bio: 

Award-winning Australian author of Tudor historical fiction, specialising in Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon novels.  

Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning Australian author, playwright and poet fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel narrating the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their own holdings. It seems likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. 

Her second novel, The Light in the Labyrinth, set during final days of Anne Boleyn’s life, revisits the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of her niece Catherine Carey. The Duty of Daughters and All Manner of Things tell the story of Katherine of Aragon. Shades of Yellow tells the story of a woman writing a novel about Amy Robsart.  

All Dunn’s award-winning works weave together the lyricism of poetry with the pulse of history, creating stories of love, loss, and the endurance of the human spirit. 

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.wendyjdunn.com/   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorwendyjdunn/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyjdunnauthor/  

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@wendyjdunnauthor  

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wendyjdunn.bsky.social  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/wendy-j-dunn  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyjdunn  

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/wendyjdunn  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/197156.Wendy_J_Dunn  

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-wendy-dunn-6358181a/ 

Newsletter: https://wendyjdunn.substack.com/  

Book Review: “Henry Tudor Must Die” by Jillian Laine

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We all know the stories of the wives of Henry VIII and how they met their end due to that annoyingly catchy rhyme: divorce, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But what if things were different? What if Anne Boleyn survived her beheading and joined forces with the other wives to get revenge on their dear ex-husband, Henry VIII? What if Anne Boleyn was a witch and joined a secret sisterhood with Catherine of Aragon to take Henry down? Old rivalries are broken as revenge unites these two women in Jillian Laine’s debut novel, “Henry Tudor Must Die.”

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. What initially caught my attention with this book was the cover, which reminded me a bit of the Burn Book from Mean Girls. And then I read the description of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon seeking revenge, and I knew I wanted to read it. 

We begin with the day before Anne’s execution. As she waits for the executioner, she receives an unexpected guest, Catherine of Aragon, now known as Lina, who allegedly died a few months ago. She offers Anne, her once mortal enemy, a chance at revenge against Henry, but only if she survives her execution. For a witch like Anne, escape is possible, and once she does escape her dark fate, she joins Lina and the Helleborne Sisterhood, a secret society of witches and women who want a better life, that was founded by Marguerite d’Angouleme. 

We get to see Lina and Anne’s friendship blossom through their separate adventures as they are part of the Helleborne Sisterhood in Spain and France. But fate had a different path for these two women, as a prophecy pulled them back to England not only to protect their daughters but also to protect the queens who had followed their path to be married to Henry VIII. This novel was gripping to the very end, which was a shocking yet satisfying ending, with a hint at a sequel novel. 

I think those of us who study the Tudors, especially the wives of Henry VIII, have wondered what it would be like if they survived and the wives were friends. This novel allows that idea to run wild with the fun aspect of magic, fictitious relationships, and murders. This is easily one of my favorite historical fantasy novels, and I cannot wait to see what Laine will write next. If you are a Tudor nerd who wants a casual read where the wives get revenge, I highly recommend you read “Henry Tudor Must Die” by Jillian Laine.

Book Review: “Tudor Children” by Nicholas Orme

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When we study history, we tend to focus on the lives of the famous figures, primarily starting at adolescence until their deaths. We tend to forget that before a person became an adolescent, they had to go from birth to the height of puberty. This area of life tends to be left behind because the farther back you go, the less documentation there is about this stage of life. We have a bit more documentation during the 16th century, which was the time of the Tudors in England, so what can we learn about childhood during this period of the past? Nicholas Orme explores childhood in 16th-century England in his latest book, “Tudor Children.”

I am always looking for a new aspect of the past, so the idea of a book dedicated to the topic of childhood was intriguing to me. Obviously, with the time travel/guides to the past, this topic is touched upon, but to have an entire nonfiction book is rare, so I knew I wanted to read it and see what new insights Orme could bring to the past.

To examine a topic like childhood, Orme breaks his book into seven chapters, plus the reflections. The chapters focus on birth and infancy, childhood at home, play, religion, school, speech, songs and stories, and growing up. Orme provides a great amount of detail about a child’s life from the moment they are born to the time when they could get a job. While we think that we can only understand the past from documents about the nobility and royalty, Orme proves his readers wrong by including information about children from all walks of life and how the constantly changing religious environment affected raising children. He also includes a plethora of images depicting stages of childhood to give his readers a bit more depth to this book, which was quite lovely.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning a lot about Tudor childhood. It gave me a better appreciation for the past, 16th-century England, and raising children. It was well researched and easy to follow, which is impressive for an academic book. While the ways of the past may seem foreign to us, there is also a familiarity in teaching children the ways of the world. If you are interested in learning about what it was like to be a child or raise a child in
16th-century England, I highly recommend you read “Tudor Children” by Nicholas Orme.

Book Review: “The House of Boleyn” by Tracy Borman

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The story of the Boleyns has been an area of fascination for Tudor and history nerds for centuries. There are hundreds of novels and nonfiction books specifically about this family and their rise and fall from grace in the court of King Henry VIII. Most of these books focus on the Boleyns inside the court, but there was another place where the Boleyns shined: their home of Hever Castle. The Boleyns did not live by themselves at Hever; there were also the servants who served them throughout the entire saga. Tracy Borman explores the Boleyns and the lives of their servants over the course of three decades in her latest novel, “The House of Boleyn.”

I would like to thank Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been such a fan of Tracy Borman’s nonfiction books for years, and I know she has written historical fiction novels, but I have yet to read any of them. When I heard that she was writing a novel based on the lives of the Boleyns, I knew I wanted to read it, especially after reading her nonfiction books about the Boleyns. I wanted to see how she would interpret the lives of the Boleyns in a novel.

This novel is very much what happens if Downton Abbey met the Tudors in the best possible way, with elements of the upstairs, the Boleyns, and the downstairs, the servants. Even certain characters remind me of Downton characters, whether intentional or not, which I loved. We start in the year 1512 and see Anne’s relationship with her older sister Mary, the black sheep of the family, and her grandmother, Lady Margaret, before their lives change forever. We get to see a softer side of Thomas Boleyn, one who actually cares about his children, and Elizabeth Boleyn, who has a favorite child, which was George. Downstairs, we have loyal Esther, who served Anne, the scoundrel Cranwell, and Aphra, who served Lady Margaret even though she had her own secret. It is the characters in this book who shine, but it is the way Borman portrays Jane Boleyn that is truly special, as she is seen as more sympathetic than as a villainous figure.  

While a lot of the events are known, Borman adds some twists and turns in this novel that I was not expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised by their inclusion. Out of all the novels that I have read about the Boleyns, this is one of my favorites. The Boleyns came alive for me while reading this novel. I cannot wait to see what Borman will write about next. If you love reading about the Boleyns, you simply must read “The House of Boleyn” by Tracy Borman.

Book Review: “The Unicorn Hunters” by Katherine Arden

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Mythological creatures have been part of cultures all around the world, and none as much as unicorns. While many European countries honor the unicorn, there is a series of tapestries in France that show a virgin hunting a unicorn. Now what if you took that mythological tale of the unicorn and combined it with the story of a real historical woman, like Anne, Duchess of Brittany? Anne of Brittany is trying to avoid a marriage to the French king, which would mean her beloved Brittany would become French property, so se devices a scheme. She will have a wedding in a magical forest and disguise it as a unicorn hunt. But what happens in the magical forest does not stay in the forest. The consequences of Anne’s actions will come back to haunt her. Katherine Arden combines historical figures and fantastical elements in her novel, “The Unicorn Hunters.”

I would like to thank Del Rey and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been slowly getting into the subgenre of historical fantasy, so I wanted to continue my journey with a new cast of characters besides the Tudors and 16th-century Italy. I know a little bit about Anne of Brittany, so I was looking forward to seeing how she would translate in a historical fantasy novel.

Anne of Brittany is nervous that if she marries into the French royal family, her beloved Brittany, which she is protecting for her younger sister Isabeau, would fall into the clutches of the French. So, the young duchess comes up with a plan to marry Maximilien of Austria via a proxy wedding in the mystical forest of Broceliande. To distract the French, Anne decides to disguise the wedding as a unicorn hunt so she can give King Charles of France the unicorn horn. The hunt does not go as planned, as Anne receives a piece of the unicorn’s mane and a new suitor for her hand, one with mystical powers and who will not take no for an answer. Anne and Isabeau, along with Louis, Duke of Orleans, must navigate not only the political front of the Holy Roman Empire and France after Brittany, but a threat from the shadows that could destroy everything and everyone Anne loves.

Although I appreciate Arden’s attempt at telling Anne of Brittany’s story with a magical twist, it took me a while to get into this story. I also felt that the historical elements tended to become lost in the fantasy elements, which is a bit of a bummer because I enjoy reading about Anne of Brittany. Overall, I think this was a decent historical fantasy novel. If you want a historical fantasy novel that features Anne of Brittany and elements of her life, you might enjoy “The Unicorn Hunters” by Katherine Arden.

Book Review: “Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII’s Discarded Bride” by Elizabeth Norton

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When we think about the wives of Henry VIII, we often think about the ones who made an impact. Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard, and Kathryn Parr all left their own distinguished marks on the Tudor court. But there was one more bride of Henry VIII who didn’t make the greatest first impression, yet she is the one who outlived Henry VIII and the other brides. She was a foreign princess whose marriage did not work out, but was able to create a life for herself in England. Her name was Anne of Cleves, and her story is told in the biography, “Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII’s Discarded Bride” by Elizabeth Norton.

I have enjoyed learning about Anne of Cleves ever since I read Heather R. Darsie’s debut book about her, “Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King’s Beloved Sister,”  a few years ago. When I heard that Elizabeth Norton had written a biography about Anne of Cleves, I was excited to see what new information she would provide.

Anne of Cleves was the daughter of John III, Duke of Cleves, and Maria of Juliers. Before she was destined to be the wife of King Henry VIII, she was briefly engaged to Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, to align Lorraine with Cleves for the Schmalkaldic League, but the marriage alliance did not pan out. Meanwhile in England, Henry VIII was mourning the death of Jane Seymour, who gave him his long-sought-after male heir in the future Edward VI. His councillors believed that he needed to marry again, so the search began for a new bride. Unfortunately, every other eligible bride pick chose to reject him completely, so they had no other choice but to select a bride from Cleves, which was Anne. Norton goes into great detail about Anne’s trip to England, her first meeting with Henry VIII, their brief marriage, and the annulment, which happened in quick succession. Finally, we get to see what happened to Anne of Cleves during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I, until she died in 1557.

I enjoyed this bite-sized biography of  Anne of Cleves. It was very informative, and Norton’s writing style is easy to follow. If you want to read a very good biography about Henry VIII’s fourth wife, I recommend you read “Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII’s Discarded Bride” by Elizabeth Norton. 

Book Review: “Heresy” by S. J. Parris

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Tudor England was a chaotic dynasty, especially when it came to issues pertaining to religion. If you were a citizen, you had to either sacrifice your faith to stay alive or sacrifice yourself for your faith. This animosity between Catholics and Protestants came to the forefront during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the most prominent battleground was the universities. To protect the queen, Sir Francis Walsingham has decided to send Giordano Bruno to Oxford University to uncover a Catholic conspiracy, but as soon as he arrives, the murders begin. Can Bruno uncover the conspiracy and find the murderer before they murder him? And can Bruno find his own treasure at the university? This is the premise of the first novel in the Giordano Bruno series by S.J. Parris, “Heresy.”

I am always looking for a new take on the Tudors. I have heard about S. J. Parris’s novels online, but I have yet to read any of her books. The description of this novel was intriguing, and Bruno sounded like a Shardlake-esque character, which I love.

So let’s talk about Bruno. Giordano Bruno was a free thinker and a monk at the monastery of San Domenico. Bruno is not afraid to read controversial texts, even if it means that the Inquisition is fast on his heels. We jump a few years ahead when Bruno is living in England and is friends with Sir Philip Sidney. Sir Francis Walsingham has heard about Bruno and asked him to visit Oxford to uncover a Catholic conspiracy, which works out well since Bruno was planning on debating the Copernican theory of the universe with one of Oxford’s greatest minds. But Bruno also has another goal in going to Oxford, which is to find a controversial book that is rumored to be at Oxford, for his own enjoyment.

Unfortunately, things at Oxford are not as calm as they seem. A sinister plot begins to unfold as it is discovered that a man is mauled to death by a dog. It seems to be a tragic accident, but Bruno soon discovers that this was only the beginning of a series of murders. While the murders may not seem connected, Bruno finds out that there is a Catholic thread connecting them all. Rector Underhill may want to hide these murders from the public to protect the school, but he struggles to protect his own family, especially his headstrong daughter Sophia.

Bruno reminds me a lot of Shardlake in the best possible way. The man is intelligent and is willing to find out the truth no matter what it takes. This novel felt so similar in style but unique in the writing style, the characters, and the macabre crimes. It is so compelling that I cannot wait to read more of this series. If you want a mystery series set during the reign of Elizabeth I with a religious twist, I highly suggest you read book one of the Giordano Bruno series, “Heresy” by S. J. Parris.

Guest Post: “Inspiration for the Novel ‘The Spirit of the Times’ by Justin Newland”

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I would like to welcome Justin Newland to my blog today to share his inspiration for his novel “The Spirit of the Times.” I would like to thank Justin Newland and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

The word Zeitgeist means the spirit of the times, and this was one of the inspirations for my novel of the same name. The German word alludes to the governing principles of the age or epoch. 

It’s not just wars or battles that are influenced or determined by the Zeitgeist, it’s everything. The spirit of the times form up as the ideas, beliefs and aims that typify or characterise a particular period in history. Another way to view the spirit of the times is as a set of governing permissions.  

Historians perceive that periods of history are sufficiently different to warrant giving them identifying names: such as the Dark Ages, the Age of Discovery, the Reformation, the Great Enlightenment, or the Information Age.   

These are best represented by the saviours, the prophets, the leaders, the kings and queens, the explorers, the scientists, the artists, the composers, and all those great men and women who drew close to and were inspired by the spirit of their times.   

I’ve always been fascinated by the Middle Ages, and how this period above all others sowed the seeds of the modern world. The Mongol leader Genghis Khan in particular seemed to personify the spirit of those times. Because, through his actions, his inflexible will and belief in the sky god Tengri, he set about unifying a bunch of disparate nomadic tribes and forged them into the era’s most effective killing machine. 

Why did they conquer such a huge area that stretched from China in the East to Hungary in the West? In truth, Genghis was driven by an inexorable belief, given to him by the god Tengri. In 1220, he led his army across the wide steppes and reached the city of Bukhara, which was known as God’s Fascination. He mounted the pulpit of the great Namazgokh Mosque (shown in the image), and spoke to the conquered city. A nomad, accustomed to living in a yurt and beneath the clear blue sky, this was an unusual if not a radical act on his behalf. 

This is an extract of what he is reputed to have said: 

“O People, know that you have committed great sins. If you ask me what proof I have for these words, I say it is because I am the punishment of God.” 

Basically, he’s saying, he’s conquering them because of the Law of Karma. Because of the bad things they had done (they had killed his envoys), he was compelled to take revenge to balance the scales of justice. 

Genghis was a scout for the coming spirit of the times, in that he and his Golden Horde destroyed obsolete cultures, preparing the way for a new set of influences that govern our times. Like a strong autumn wind breaks off the weak, rotten boughs from the trees, his mission was to remove decaying, redundant cultures including the Khwarazmian Empire, Western Xia Tangut Empire, the northern and southern Chinese Dynasties, the Delhi Sultanate in India, the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, the Kievan Rus’ and then into eastern Europe. 

One way in which this phenomena can be seen is in the founding of the Moghul Empire in India in 1526 by Babur, a direct descendant of  Genghis Khan on his mother’s side and the Turkic conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) on his father’s side. Moghul means Mongol. Remember that Shah Jahan was the fifth Moghul Emperor, and is fondly remembered to this day for constructing perhaps the most sublime monument to a love by a grieving husband – the Taj Mahal. Without Genghis Khan, the Taj Mahal would never have been built. 

Just as a bird or a fish knows exactly when to migrate, and how to get to their destination, so men like Genghis Khan’s higher instinct responded to and translated his Zeitgeist. That meant that he was current with the influences washing over the world at that time. 

He lived by the rules of his times, not of the previous era. He searched and found the spirit of his times, because that was the only valid currency of the day, so to speak. 

The two messages he left for us were: Be in your times. And in them, be in the full of your full.  

These are some of the inspirations that prompted me to explore The Spirit of the Times.  

Justin Newland 

9th July 2026  

Blurb: 

From a land of milk, 

And a Road of Silk, 

To a ring of roses, 

And a dance of posies, 

Comes the tale of the spirit of the times!  

In fourteenth-century Central Asia, Karia is a young woman living under the yoke of Mongol occupation. But she’s different. She’s a fighter with supernatural powers. She could use them to keep the Black Plague at bay and solve the mystery of the purple skies at dawn – if only she could overcome her self-doubt.  

Travelling in caravans on the Silk Road, she faces dangers seen and unseen – from sandstorms and slave traders to the desert djinn and folk who believe she’s a witch. She fears losing Abi, her little cousin, who’s fascinated by roses and the dance of the Whirling Dervishes of Bukhara. 

When Karia falls in love with an English sailor fleeing the Knights Hospitaller, they sail to England with Abi to unravel the meaning of the purple skies, a dance, a posy tree, and a ring of roses. 

The Spirit of the Times is part history, part fiction and part speculation: on the origin of disease; the power of innocence; the unfortunate aspects of custom and dogma; and humanity’s ability to respond to the governing influence or spirit of the times. 

Buy Links: 

Universal Paperback Buy Link: https://mybook.to/thespiritofthetimes  

Author’s Website: The Spirit of the Times – PREORDER, RELEASE JULY 2026 £9.99 – Justin Newland – Author of secret history thrillers  

Publisher website: https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/historical/the-spirit-of-the-times  

Waterstones: The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland | Waterstones  

TG Jones: The Spirit of the Times: Justin Newland: 9781806344154: TGJones  

Coles Books: The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland 9781806344154 Coles Books  

Shakespeare & Company: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/the-spirit-of-the-times  

iMusic: https://imusic.co/books/9781806344154/justin-newland-2026-the-spirit-of-the-times-paperback-book   

Author Bio: 

Justin Newland’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres, from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. 

Undeterred by the award of a doctorate in mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies. Next came The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.  

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) features the Great Enlightenment and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution. The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith. 

At this point in his writing career, after four self-published books, Justin was offered a part-funded contract with the Book Guild. 

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book ‘The Island of Angels’ series. It tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era. The second in the series, The Midnight of Eights (Book Guild, 2024), charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada.  

His latest novel, The Spirit of the Times (Matador, 2026), is to be published in July. It tells the story of a young Kyrgyz woman’s journey westwards along the Silk Road. With purple skies at dawn, and a supporting cast of Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, a perplexing rhyme, a ring of roses, it explores the greatest mystery of all – the spirit of the times.  

Justin’s enduring passion is to explore the origins of our current time. This prompted a broad research into what we’ve inherited from history – encompassing Egypt, China, Prussia and Tudor England. He also writes entertaining talks which he gives to the WI, U3A, Probus, Rotary and local historical associations. Please visit his website for a current list of the talks.  

Alongside the talks, Justin promotes his work with regular book signings at TG Jones (ex. WH Smith) high street stores, selling over 3,500 books since 2019. He has sponsored over 40 UK and US blog tours, given frequent radio interviews and penned many guest posts.  

His current book signing motto is: Enjoy, Imagine, Discover. 

As a member of the Society of Authors, he has Public and Products Liability Insurance. 

Born in Essex, England, three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his lady in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.justinnewland.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinnewland/ 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/justinnewland 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jnewland  

Book Review: “The Ghost of Rataskaevu Street” by Indrek Hargla

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

In 15th-century Livonia, peace was restored after the chaos caused by the notorious pirates, the Victual Brothers, was brought to an end. The town of Tallinn has begun to rebuild, but things do not stay quiet forever. The deaths of a prostitute, a Flemish painter, and a Tower watchman may not seem connected until the detail that they all allegedly saw a ghost on Rataskaevu street before they died. Now, it is up to Apothecary Melchior Wakenstede to figure out if something supernatural was the killer or if it was a human with a grudge. Can Melchior solve the case, or will the spirit from the past get away with murder? This is the premise of book two of the Apothecary Melchior Mystery series, called “The Ghost of Rataskaevu Street” by Indrek Hargla. 

I would like to thank Pushkin Vertigo and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. Earlier this year, I read the first novel of Hargla’s Melchior series, called “The Secret of Saint Olaf’s Church,” which I did enjoy, so when I saw the second novel was available, I wanted to see if I would continue to enjoy the series. 

We join Melchior and the town of Tallinn a few years after the incident in the first book. Like the previous book, Hargla pulls the story from the archives and gives it more of a twist. The story begins with the death of a soldier named Tobias Grote, who was a Tower watchman. Before he died, he is said to have seen a ghost on the infamous Rataskaevu street. However, as Melchior soon discovers, Grote was not the only one to die that day, nor is he the only one who saw a ghost on Ratatskaevu Street. Soon, we see the deaths of a merchant, a prostitute, and a beggar. These deaths do not seem connected, but when the stories of two families come to life, the strings that tie these murders together get tighter.

I enjoyed how Hargla continued to develop his existing characters and the world of Tallinn in this second mystery. He stuck with the murders, which contained many layers and twists that I was not expecting. For a novel that was originally written in Estonian, it is well translated and compelling in English.  If you enjoyed the first book in the Apothecary Melchior mystery series, I think you would enjoy book two, “The Ghost of Rataskaevu Street” by Indrek Hargla.