Goodreads says, "Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens.
For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.
Philippa Gregory masterfully shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost. Perfect for fans of thrilling historical drama and readers captivated by the intrigue of the Tudor period, Boleyn Traitor is a must-read."
Jane Boleyn, often cast into the shadows, as the famous Anne Boleyn takes up all the oxygen in the room. Jane is Anne's sister-in-law and lady-in-waiting; she is married to Anne's brother, George. But Jane isn't some meek mouse. She has an extensive educational background, thanks to her father, and sees it all at court. After the events surrounding Anne's execution, readers then see the slow downfall of Henry VIII's court through her eyes. There's so much: the danger, the court intrigue, the game playing, the Spanish spies, and more. Jane must make sure she is safe, especially after the execution of her husband and Anne. Cromwell seeks her out as one of his spies, so this adds to the court intrigue as well. Not much is known about Jane historically, and what is known often paints her as a traitor to Anne and George, but what if there is more than that? Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Traitor is a captivating historical tale focusing on Jane Boleyn and her story of ambition and survival in the dangerous Tudor era.
If you are a long-time reader of the blog, you know how much I love Gregory's ability to transport readers to Tudor England. All of her novels that focus on this time period are excellent, well-researched, and immersive. That is the case with The Boleyn Traitor; however, I did feel that Jane wasn't as compelling as some of Gregory's other protagonists. Nonetheless, her story is important, and I liked Gregory's take on it.
If you love the Tudor Era and learning more about Henry VIII and his many wives and perhaps what went down from a slightly outside perspective, The Boleyn Traitor is the book for you. It was interesting revisiting this court through Jane's eyes and watching as Henry slowly goes through all of his many wives and finds fault with all, if not most of them. The addition of Cromwell using Jane as a spy is also well done and added to the suspense, despite knowing how things play out in history.
While this wasn’t my favorite of the Tudor novels, I still appreciated being immersed once again in Gregory's world. As always, I eagerly anticipate her future works of historical fiction, which I deem to be among the most compelling and immersive in the genre today.
Are you a fan of Philippa Gregory? Have you read The Boleyn Traitor? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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