Tag: historical fiction

Book Review: “Thus with a Kiss I Die” by Christina Dodd

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We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet. Two crazy kids in love, whose families hated each other they decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and die for each other. One of the greatest tragic love stories of all time. But what if it didn’t end in tragedy? What if Romeo and Juliet had their happy ending and had a large family? In this version of Verona, Romeo and Juliet have a large family, and their eldest daughter Rosaline is the most beautiful, headstrong girl in all of Verona. Unfortunately, Rosaline (Rosie) has got herself in quite a mess with an unwanted prince fiancé, a ghost who only she can see, and a murder investigation. Can Rosie solve the case and figure out her love life before things go horribly wrong? This is the premise of the second book of the Daughter of Montague series by Christina Dodd called “Thus with a Kiss I Die.”

I would like to thank Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. While I have not read the first book in this series, I thought the idea of Romeo and Juliet surviving and having a family was such a fun concept. Sometimes you just need a book that is based on a historical work of fiction as a way to escape reality, and that’s okay.

We begin where the first book in the series, “A Daughter of Fair Verona,” left off. Rosie is waiting in a garden for her one true love, Lysander, but her plans are foiled when the Prince of Verona, Escalus, kisses Rosie. Now, she is engaged to a prince. She should be thrilled, but Rosie is trying to think of every possible way to get out of this arrangement. Meanwhile, Rosie and her family are invited to dinner with the Prince and his family, which includes his Nonna Ursula and his young sister, Princess Isabella. Escalus (known as Cal in his family) is an orphan prince. His father was killed by an unknown assassin, and his mother died in a convent while giving birth to Princess Isabella.

While exploring the palace, Rosie hears a voice and discovers that it belongs to the ghost of Prince Escalus the Elder, Cal’s father. He wants Rosie to figure out who killed him, which kicks off the mystery portion of this book. On top of all of this, Juliet is about to give birth. Rosie has her hands full while she is trying to figure out her love life and solve a murder mystery before she is murdered or married to the prince.

This was a fun read that is more modern than historical, with the dialogue. Sure, it’s set in 16th-century Verona with Romeo and Juliet as side characters, but you could place Rosie and Cal in a modern setting and it would work just as well. Overall, I found this an absolute joy and a great escape. If you want a historical fiction novel with a unique twist, a murder mystery, and a love triangle, I suggest you read “Thus with a Kiss I Die” by Christina Dodd.

Book Review: “The Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey

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Have you ever read about a historical mystery that captivated you so much that you spent your available free time trying to solve the case? Who was the man in the iron mask? Were the casket letters real? Who built Stonehenge and why? And yet, one of the greatest mysteries in all of history revolves around two missing princes who were last seen in the Tower of London. Nearly five hundred years later, an inspector from Scotland Yard named Alan Grant decides to take on the case. Can the inspector solve the ultimate cold case? Josephine Tey tells the tale of the detective and the mystery of the Princes in the Tower in her most famous novel, “The Daughter of Time.”

I have heard of this novel since I started my blog, but I never read it until now. I decided that it was time after it was announced that there was going to be a play adaptation of this novel. All I knew about this book was that it had something to do with the Princes in the Tower and Richard III, but I did not know the extent.

Tey begins with a bored Inspector Alan Grant staring at the ceiling as he lies immobilized in a hospital recovering from a broken leg. He has a stack of books to read, given to him by the nurses nicknamed the Midget and the Amazon, but none of them have caught his interest. One day, his actress friend Marta Hallard comes for a visit and convinces Grant to investigate a historical mystery. She brings copies of historical portraits, and Grant’s attention immediately goes to the one of Richard III. This portrait will propel Grant to investigate the mystery of the Princes in the Tower and prove Richard III’s innocence.

While I do see why this book is so beloved by Ricardians, it took me a while to get used to the dialogue in this novel, as I don’t read books from the 1950s. It was interesting to see the logic of Grant’s arguments for Richard III to be proved innocent, as someone who has no connection to history, but as an inspector. Personally, my favorite character in this novel is Brent Carradine, an American history student who helps Grant with his investigation.

Overall, it was a decent novel that investigates the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower from the perspective of someone who is not a history nerd. It is a well-researched novel for the information that was available at the time, which will appeal to novices and experts alike. If you want a novel with a different approach to the Princes in the Tower, I recommend you read “The Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey.

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘Bess-Tudor Gentlewoman’ by Tony Riches

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I am pleased to welcome Tony Riches to my blog to share a blurb for his latest novel, “Bess-Tudor Gentlewoman.” I would like to thank Tony Riches and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

Blurb: 

Bess Throckmorton defies her notorious background and lack of education to become Queen Elizabeth’s Gentlewoman and trusted confidante. 

Forced to choose between loyalty and love, duty and desire, will she risk her queen’s anger by marrying adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh without permission? 

Entangled in a web of intrigue, from the glittering Palace of Whitehall to the cells of the Tower of London, Bess endures tragedy and injustice, becoming a resilient, determined woman who takes nothing for granted. 

Can she outwit her enemies, protect her family, and claim her destiny in a world where women are pawns and survival is a game of deadly consequences? 

This is the true story of the last of the Elizabethans, which ends the story of the Tudor dynasty – and introduces their successors, the Stuarts. 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/BESS  

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio: 

Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of Tudor historical fiction. He lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, and is a specialist in the lives of the early Tudors. 

As well as his Elizabethan series, Tony’s historical fiction novels include the best-selling Tudor trilogy and his Brandon trilogy (about Charles Brandon and his wives). 

For more information about Tony’s books, please visit his website, and his blog, The Writing Desk, and find him on social media. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.tonyriches.com/  

Blog: http://tonyriches.blogspot.co.uk/  

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/tonyriches  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyriches.author/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyriches.author/  

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Tony-Riches/author/B006UZWOXA  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5604088.Tony_Riches  

 

 

 

Book Review: “The Shakespeare Secret” by DJ Nix

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Everyone knows the story of William Shakespeare—the famed poet, actor, and playwright who revolutionized English literature forever. There have been a series of debates about whether or not Shakespeare truly wrote the plays or someone else did. Well, what if a group of women employed William Shakespeare as a sort of spokesperson for their plays? Can this group of women survive to write another day? This is the premise of DJ Nix’s novel. “The Shakespeare Secret.”

I would like to thank Alcove Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have not read a lot of novels about the writing of Shakespeare’s plays, but I have heard the many theories on who actually wrote them. When I saw that this novel would focus on a group of women as the so-called authors of the plays, it was such a fun idea that I decided to give it a go.

So, just who were these three women who were the authors of the plays? We begin with Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, who has just returned to the court of Queen Elizabeth I after a three-year absence. She is not one for court life, but she soon finds herself enjoying the company of others below her station. Take, for example, Emilia Bassano, a court musician and mistress to Lord Chamberlain, Baron Hunsdon. And then we have Jane Daggett, the new Mistress of the Wardrobe for the Queen’s Men, a company that was the starting point for a young Will Shakespeare. One fateful day, these three women met and decided to write a play, which would become known as The Taming of the Shrew. Since this was a group of women writing a play, they needed a man to act as their spokesperson to make sure that their play would be performed. Enter young Will Shakespeare, who wanted to make a name for himself.

It seems like such an innocent prospect, that is, until Robert Cecil and his spy Hardwood catch wind of what they think is a Catholic plot against Queen Elizabeth I. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Now, Mary, Emilia, and Jane must escape suspicion while navigating life, love, and playwriting, with Will along for the ride. This was a relatively predictable plot, and I felt a bit bored by the middle of this novel. While the characters are well written, it is hard for me to imagine this group of women together and using the formal Shakespearean dialogue. Other than the few historical characters and locations, it does not feel like Elizabethan England (especially with the mention of tea).

Overall, it’s an okay novel, but it could have been better. The premise had a lot of potential, but it kind of turned into a sappy ending, which is not a bad thing, but I wanted more. If you want a novel about the alternative history of the writing of the early Shakespearean plays, you might enjoy “The Shakespeare Secret” by DJ Nix.

Guest Post: “Snippet from ‘Lady of the Quay’ by Amanda Roberts”

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Eating alone at the vast table, which could seat a dozen people with ease, did nothing to improve my attitude or my mood, and I vowed that unless I was entertaining, I would take my meals in my closet from now on. Yes, I had to try to think of it as my closet now. I retired there after I had eaten, and although I relished the silence, I was not yet comfortable with the void that my father’s absence left in the space. With the shutters closed to deny the outside world, I settled by the fire and tried to cocoon myself in memories of him, but I could no longer trust my own mind. To keep secrets had not been in his nature, and yet that is what he had done. And these were not just any old secrets; they were big, black, ugly ones. How was I supposed to reconcile the man I thought I had known so well with the person I was now discovering? He had been the pivot of my existence for most of my life, my moral and spiritual guide, and a person respected by all who knew him, but who was he really? 

Blurb: 

Knowing she is innocent is easy … proving it is hard. 

1560, Berwick-upon-Tweed, northern England 

Following the unexpected death of her father, a series of startling discoveries about the business she inherits forces Isabella Gillhespy to re-evaluate everything she understands about her past and expects from her future. 

Facing financial ruin, let down by people on whom she thought she could rely, and suspected of crimes that threaten her freedom, Isabella struggles to prove her innocence. 

But the stakes are even higher than she realises. In a town where tension between England and her Scottish neighbours is never far from the surface, it isn’t long before developments attract the interest of the highest authority in the land, Sir William Cecil, and soon Isabella is fighting, not just for her freedom, but her life. She must use her wits and trust her own instincts to survive. 

Lady of the Quay introduces an enticing new heroine who refuses to be beaten, even as it becomes clear that her life will never be the same again. 

From the author of the award-winning ‘The Woman in the Painting’. 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/317rQa  

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio: 

Amanda Roberts has worked as an Editor in business-to-business magazines for over 30 years, specialising in out-of-home coffee, vending and foodservice/catering, including Editor of the global gastronomy title: ‘Revue internationale de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’. 

She currently freelances, editing UK-based healthcare titles – HEFMA Pulse, Hospital Food + Service and Hospital Caterer. She is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society and West Oxfordshire Writers. She also volunteers for Tea Books (part of Age UK) to run a book club/reading group for elderly people in the community. 

 

 

Author Links: 

 

Website: https://amandarobertsauthor.co.uk/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095191090333  

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lady-of-the-quay-isabella-gillhespy-series-book-1-by-amanda-roberts  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amanda-Roberts/author/B00N0RQBAI   

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231816264-lady-of-the-quay  

Guest Post: “Elizabeth I as a Femme Sole” by Janet Wertman

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Today, I am pleased to welcome Janet Wertman to my blog as part of the blog tour for her latest novel, Nothing Proved. I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Janet Wertman for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

In Nothing Proved, I had the opportunity to explore the origin stories of many of Elizabeth Tudor’s attitudes and beliefs. I was especially interested in showing the experiences that made her suspicious of marriage, and there were (of course!) many, some of which she observed and some of which she actually experienced. The specter of a mate for whom she had no attraction (or for whom attraction had passed), the imputation of guilt from a husband’s treason, the shame of infidelity and indifference, these were all giants. But there was another important factor: the inevitable loss of autonomy and personal agency.  

 

It might have been different had she never experienced control herself, but in 1549, she was given the rare opportunity to run her household as a femme sole, an unmarried woman answerable to no one but the monarch. She was able to experience a level of leadership that women could achieve only as widows pursuing their deceased husbands’ business. Unlike widows, Elizabeth had to face the added challenge of building her fief from scratch. And found she excelled. 

 

This gave Elizabeth a bit of a “test run” of her reign. She learned how to arrange business and finances, how to hire and manage the people around her. She learned about different trades, she spoke to a wide variety of people with a full range of stations and religious beliefs. She had the chance to be sole arbiter, and it is hard to give up such power. 

 

This obviously will come up in the second book in the series, What Love E’er Meant, which will focus on her marital choices. And while that will be a standalone story, I jumped at the chance to show in real time the experiences that would influence her later actions. 

Blurb: 

Danger lined her path, but destiny led her to glory…  

 Elizabeth Tudor learned resilience young. Declared illegitimate after the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn, she bore her precarious position with unshakable grace. But upon the death of her father, King Henry VIII, the vulnerable fourteen-year-old must learn to navigate a world of shifting loyalties, power plays, and betrayal.  

 After narrowly escaping entanglement in Thomas Seymour’s treason, Elizabeth rebuilds her reputation as the perfect Protestant princess – which puts her in mortal danger when her half-sister Mary becomes Queen and imposes Catholicism on a reluctant land. Elizabeth escapes execution, clawing her way from a Tower cell to exoneration. But even a semblance of favor comes with attempts to exclude her from the throne or steal her rights to it through a forced marriage.   

Elizabeth must outwit her enemies time and again to prove herself worthy of power. The making of one of history’s most iconic monarchs is a gripping tale of survival, fortune, and triumph. 

Buy Links: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bM8Vrk  

Additional Buy Links: 

Barnes & Noble: 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nothing-proved-janet-wertman/1146831389 

Kobo: 

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nothing-proved 

Apple: 

https://books.apple.com/us/book/nothing-proved/id6740549129 

Author Bio: 

By day, Janet Wertman is a freelance grantwriter for impactful nonprofits. By night, she writes critically acclaimed, character-driven historical fiction – indulging a passion for the Tudor era she had harbored since she was eight years old and her parents let her stay up late to watch The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R.  

Her Seymour Saga trilogy (Jane the Quene, The Path to Somerset, The Boy King) took her deep into one of the era’s central families – and now her follow-up Regina series explores Elizabeth’s journey from bastard to icon. 

Janet also runs a blog (www.janetwertman.com) where she posts interesting takes on the Tudors and what it’s like to write about them. 

Author Links: 

Website:

https://janetwertman.com 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/janetwertmanauthor/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-ambrosi-wertman-b5531aa/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/janetwertman/

Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/janetwertman.bsky.social

 

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/janetwertman

 

Book Bub:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janet-wertman

 

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Janet-Wertman/author/B01CUSMWFA

 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2028387.Janet_Ambrosi_Wertman

 

 

 

 

Book Review: “The Pagan Lord”(Book 7 of the Saxon Stories Series) by Bernard Cornwell

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The island we know as England is on the cusp of the 10th century. King Alfred is dead, and his son Edward now rules. The kingdom of Wessex is still standing strong, and it looks like the Danes are behaving themselves and keeping the peace, for now. Unfortunately, things are not going smoothly for Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He gets into a bit of mischief and becomes a target of Cnut Longsword, the Viking leader, all while trying to fight for his right to rule his beloved Bebbanburg. Can Lord Uhtred survive his latest adventure, or will his Saxon allies save him in the nick of time? This is the premise of Uhtred’s latest adventure, “The Pagan Lord,” Book 7 in the Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell.

We reunite with our ruffian hero Uhtred of Bebbanburg on a dark, stormy night, when he is riding through a town with his second son Osbert and Aethelstan, the illegitimate son of Alfred. They are then accosted by a gaggle of priests, which includes his eldest son, Uhtred, soon to become a Christian priest, and Abbot Wihtred. This one encounter will alter how the Saxons will view Uhtred because not only does he disinherit his eldest son, but kills Abbot Wihtred, which makes him an outlaw in the eyes of the Saxons. Osbert is renamed Uhtred Uhtredson, and the group moves on like nothing happened, but the damage is already done.

A tired Uhtred comes home to burning buildings, dead comrades, a blind father Cuthbert, and Uhtred’s woman Sigunn kidnapped. Uhtred begins to wonder which one of his numerous enemies kidnapped Sigunn. Turns out this is revenge from Cnut Longsword, who believes that Uhtred kidnapped his children and his wife. Obviously, Uhtred knows nothing about it, but decides to work with Cnut to clear his name, at least for the time being. Uhtred’s journey to save Cnut’s family will see him in his beloved Bebbanburg and reunited with his lovers Sigunn and Lady Aetheflaed. While Uhtred is considered an outlaw to the Saxons, he still chooses to side with them at the battle of Tettenhall, where he clashes with Cnut Longsword one final time in a fight to the death.

I have been loving this series so far because of how dynamic the characters are, especially Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He gets into so many scraps, but he keeps his home, his family, and his allies in mind whenever he fights. I am always excited to read a new Saxon Stories novel, but I am also a bit sad because I know it’s one book closer to finishing this fantastic series. If you are like me and have finished the first six books in the Saxon Stories, I highly recommend that you read book seven in the series, “The Pagan Lord” by Bernard Cornwell.

Book Review: “A Daughter’s Place” by Martha Batiz

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Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, lived quite an interesting life. He was a poet, soldier, war hero, prisoner, husband, brother, uncle, father, and author. His writing might portray a man of honor and dignity, but his home life was messy. You see, Miguel was married, but his daughter was not the daughter of his wife, Catalina de Salazar. His daughter, Isabel, was illegitimate, and when her mother died, Miguel decided the best possible solution was to invite Isabel to live with his sisters and his niece. What’s the worst that could happen? Martha Batiz explores the women’s lives connected to Miguel de Cervantes in her debut novel, “A Daughter’s Place.”

I would like to thank the House of Anansi Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I had never read Don Quixote, and I knew nothing about Miguel de Cervantes or his family, so I was excited to learn more. Stories like this add depth to the understanding of the late 16th and early 17th centuries in Spain and Europe as a whole.

This novel is broken into five sections and contains three different narrators: Isabel, the illegitimate daughter of Miguel de Cervantes, Constanza de Ovando, Miguel’s niece, and Catalina de Salazar, Miguel’s wife. Our story begins with Isabel, who just turned fifteen. All of her life, she believed that she was the daughter of a tavern owner, that is, until she met Magdalena de Cervantes, who claims to be her aunt, as Isabel’s true father is none other than the famous war hero turned author Miguel de Cervantes. After the death of Isabel’s mother, Miguel has decided to have Magdalena as Isabel’s legal guardian and raise her to be part of his family, although not with the de Cervantes name. Constanza de Ovando has been dumped after a long engagement and is nearing the age of spinsterhood. She is jealous of Isabel and wonders if she will ever marry and have her own life. Finally, we have Catalina de Salazar, who lives far away from the family and did not know that her husband, Miguel, had an illegitimate child.

We see this family slowly adjust to having a new family member and the repercussions of Isabel being part of the de Cervantes family. While the family is getting used to one another, King Philip III of Spain threw a monkey wrench into their plans as he moved the royal court from Madrid to Valladolid and back to Madrid. Since Miguel is writing his magnum opus, Don Quixote, and is looking for sponsors, the family has to move alongside the court, which causes its special kinds of headaches and heartbreaks. There are so many twists and turns, especially the last twist, that kept me guessing until the end of how this novel was going to end.

Batiz has created such a believable world of 16th and 17th century Spain with a colorful cast of characters in the de Cervantes family. I got very attached to this family, and to see what would happen to them as life kept causing chaos. As a debut historical fiction novel, this is such an enjoyable, beautifully written, and extremely well-researched novel, and I hope that Batiz continues to write historical fiction. If you want an excellent novel about one of the most celebrated authors in Spanish history and his family, I highly recommend you read “A Daughter’s Place” by Martha Batiz.

Book Review: “Florenzer” by Phil Melanson

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Florence, Italy, in the 16th century, was a city of opportunity and full of art and architecture. It was also a city on the precipice of great change. The great banking family, the Medicis, holds the reins of government in Florence, and Lorenzo de’ Medici is the family’s current head. However, two bastards will radically change his life and the Medici family. One was a bastard son of a notary who became one of the most famous artists ever. The other was a bastard son who became a priest and the enemy of the Medici family. Their stories of power and ambition intersect in the city of Florence in Phil Melanson’s debut novel, “Florenzer”.

I would like to thank Liveright Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. The description of this novel attracted me to it, rather than the cover, as the cover was released after I requested to read this novel. I have slowly been diving into the world of Renaissance Italy, but I have yet to encounter Leonardo da Vinci or Lorenzo de’ Medici in my adventures, so when I saw a novel that featured both and a new historical person to me, Francesco Salviati, I jumped at the chance to read it.

We begin with the funeral of Cosimo de’ Medici, the grandfather of Lorenzo de’ Medici, in 1464. It is the point where all three characters are introduced, and in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, it is the point before his apprenticeship where we begin to see the tumultuous relationship between Leonardo and his father, Piero, the notary. We then jump forward to 1471, when Leonardo is working as an apprentice painter for Andrea del Verrocchio. Around this time, Leonardo meets Lorenzo de’ Medici, a young man who is trying to achieve greatness, but issues arise, such as the death of the Pope and his brother Giuliano not wanting to be part of the family business. Lorenzo desires military glory, but it doesn’t go well. Finally, we have Francesco Salviati, a man who was destined to be a banker, but because he was a bastard son with darker skin, he decided to devote his life to the church, working alongside the new Pope Sixtus IV, also known as Francesco della Rovere.

As the three men grew up, they had obstacles to deal with. Leonardo fell in love with another man, known as Iac in this novel, and his love might cost him everything. While Lorenzo is trying to make sure his family is the most prominent in all of Italy, Francesco Salviati is using his influence at the Vatican to turn the tables on Lorenzo, which culminated in the Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478. The Pazzi Conspiracy was something that I had never heard of before this novel, so it was interesting to see it play out and the aftermath. While I did enjoy reading about Leonardo and Lorenzo, I didn’t feel a connection to Salviati, so when his story concluded, I didn’t feel any sort of way. I think the formatting of the book, almost like a screenplay, was a unique idea, but I don’t think it added anything to the context of the novel.

Overall, I think this was a decent novel. It was a slow start, and it was a bit of a challenge to get used to three different perspectives, but the stories of ambitions, love, and power truly shone. As a debut for someone who does not usually focus on historical fiction, I think Melanson does an admirable job of portraying 15th-century Florence in such a believable way. I think if you want a novel that’s set in 15th-century Italy, you will enjoy “Florenzer” by Phil Melanson.

Book Review: “The Cardinal” by Alison Weir

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During the reign of King Henry VIII, the king would elevate well-qualified men to positions of power and prestige. We all know the story of Thomas Cromwell, but it is his mentor, Sir Thomas Wolsey, whose story shows how one can rise from humble beginnings, but whose fate is ultimately tied to the mood of the monarch. The son of a butcher turned scholar who became a priest, a lover, a father, and the closest advisor to the king. His life, his loves, his successes, and his struggles are told in Alison Weir’s latest novel, “The Cardinal.”

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I am a fan of Weir’s novel, so when I saw her writing a new one about Sir Thomas Wolsey, I knew I wanted to read it. Wolsey is someone who tends to be a side character, so to have a novel dedicated to his life was an exciting idea.

Weir begins her story with Thomas (known in this novel as Tom) at the age of 11, going to school. His father, Robert Wolsey, is a butcher from Ipswich who wants his son to climb the social ladder in the church. Tom will eventually rise to the level of becoming King Henry VII’s chaplain and will begin working with King Henry VIII. Life for Tom is thrilling with the twists and turns of court life, but the one thing that is missing in his life is someone to share it with. Since he is a member of the church, he cannot marry or have his own family, but things change for Tom when he meets Joan Larke. Their love for each other is genuine, even though it is taboo in the eyes of the church and King Henry VIII, which comes across as quite hypocritical.

It was under King Henry VIII that Tom’s star rose to remarkable heights. He became a Cardinal, was the King’s right-hand man and best friend, and was able to create the architectural marvel of Hampton Court Palace. But his rise in prominence came with a cost. Tom must help the king navigate not only international affairs, such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, but also more personal matters, such as the divorce of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, which would become known as The Great Matter. Tom would have many enemies at court, including Anne Boleyn, the future wife of King Henry VIII, who would ultimately lead to Tom’s fall from grace.

This is such an engrossing novel about one of the most complex figures of the Tudor dynasty. Thomas Wolsey’s story shows the struggle of fighting for those you love over the ambitions and prestige of the glittering court life. If you want an excellent novel about one of Henry VIII’s closest advisors and his life, I would highly recommend you read “The Cardinal” by Alison Weir.