The Queen’s Promise by Lyn Andrews
The Queen’s Promise by Lyn Andrews was the only Tudor comfort I allowed myself on a recent trip to New Zealand and it did not disappoint!
The novel tells the story of Anne Boleyn, beginning with her birth and ending just after her execution but it is much more than just another account of the main events of Anne’s queenship. The focus on her early life and relationship with Henry Percy, the future Earl of Northumberland, sets it apart from the bulk of novels I have read.
Just as intriguing as Anne’s story is the story of the life of Henry Percy, a character whose loyalty, courage, integrity and resilience – in the face of often humiliating adversity – endeared him to me from the very beginning and maintained my interest until the very end.
I became so immersed in Henry’s world that like his squire, the fictitious Will Chatton rescued from the harsh realities of life on the border, I was desperate to protect Henry and shield him from the incessant machinations of the Tudor court.
But life for Henry at home in Northumberland was just as risky, faced with the ever-present threat of a Scottish attack. Andrews brings to life the brutality and lawlessness of the Border in such detail that on several occasions I was reduced to tears.
The inclusion of the Chatton family adds momentum and interest to the story, giving the reader a glimpse into the life of the lower and merchant classes in England, elements rarely weaved into fictional accounts of the life of Anne Boleyn.
The combination of wonderfully complex characters, emotive and compelling storytelling and vivid descriptions, results in an absorbing and highly engaging story that will appeal to all lovers of historical fiction.
Andrews has clearly done her research and for the most part, stays true to the facts. I absolutely loved the inclusion of a scene depicting the birth of Anne Boleyn at Blickling Hall but in my heart I wished that the author had chosen 1501 as her birth year rather than 1507, as the documented events of Anne’s life sit more comfortably with me with an earlier birth date. Of course there are those adamant that Anne was born in 1507 but if that were the case, it would almost certainly have been at Hever Castle, where the family moved to in 1505 or early 1506.
This is just my personal preference and not a criticism, this is historical fiction after all.
Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland
The Queen’s Promise has left me thinking about Henry Percy and wanting to learn more about his life; for the most part spent battling illness, border warfare and other challenges, including a very unhappy marriage to the daughter of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury.
Inspiring interest in the real people and events of the time – the mark of great historical fiction!
In a word, unmissable!
(Purchase your copy here.)
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