Publisher: Yuletide Press
Page Length: 302 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Has ever a story began with such a heart-rendering scene? On the eve of Lizzie Staffords wedding to her true love, Ralph Neville, the Howards turn up and ruin everything. Lizzie must forsake the man she loves and marry the cruel and ruthless Thomas Howard.
Imagine Pandora’s Box, but instead of the evil escaping, imagine it is the Howards instead. This novel is about a family that will stop at nothing, that will quite literally trample on anyone who gets in their way, in their quest for power, fame and immortality.
Having not read the first book of this series, I was grateful for the quick catch up note at the beginning of the novel. However, I was slightly aghast when I read the extensive cast list, which was also at the beginning of this novel. I would like to think I have some understanding of Henry VIII’s reign, so I felt quietly confident about the scenes set in England, but I know next to nothing about what was happening in France during this era. Likewise, there are also scenes set in Scotland. My fear was, thankfully, firmly put to rest as I found myself immersed in a story that was packed to bursting with whisperings of a Holy War, ambition, greed, and power.
The majority of this novel is centred around Thomas Howard (the senior one, not the one who married Lizzie). He is a very ambitious man, and despite his advancing years, he is determined to stay within King Henry’s circle, and more importantly, have the King’s ear. He wants Henry to come to him for advice. Unfortunately, Henry has turned to Thomas Wolsey, and this does not go down well with Thomas, and he begins to view Wolsey as an enemy that must be vanquished. This blinkered, almost blinding determination to have his way in everything, regardless of the consequences, made Thomas, for me, an exceedingly unlikeable character. And although there were moments when I was moved to pity due to two of his children’s tragic deaths, I could not find it in my heart to like him.
A character that I did adore was the young Valentine de Fleury. She is a little girl who is absolutely besotted with fifteen-year-old Tristan d’Ardres. I really enjoyed the scenes with Valentine in them. She is such a spirited like girl who was more than a match for the older Tristan. The scene where she made him play kings and queens was quite hilarious!
Tristan was a character that I enjoyed reading about. His youthfulness exuberant, his devil may care attitude towards danger and his desperate longing for Ysabeau de Sapincourt, a married woman, meant that I highly doubt he will ever enter the Church as he is predestined to do! I thought Tristan’s depiction was perfect in its delivery.
There are several scenes with the Scottish King, James IV, and his Tudor wife, Margaret. It was interesting to read about the dilemma James faced by his brother-in-law’s reckless pursuit of a war with France. James really was torn between England and France when it came to deciding which country he was going to support.
Although most of this story is centred around the Tudor court, Henry VIII only makes a cameo appearance. But the scenes he is in portrays him as a reckless, juvenile character in possession of far too much power and money.
I think fans of historical fiction set in the Tudor era will enjoy this novel. I know that I certainly did!
Thank you so much for hosting today's blog tour stop!
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