Philippa Gregory is a master of crafting intriguing political intrigue out of real-world figures from Tudor English history. Does she take liberties? Experts say a resounding yes (and I am certainly not that-I believe them). Does that matter? Not in a work of fiction, friends! In fact, all the better for it!
Her skill is in creating worlds where historical figures feel like real, whole people. Even royalty! In this book you will find romance, treachery, cunning, connections, and an ultimate fate you probably won’t see coming (unless you know your obscure historical figures well).
Jane Howard/Boleyn was perhaps a background character to these histories overall, but she had a front row seat to King Henry VIII’s matrimonial drama, and had a position of influence on all the wives she served. The sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn, she started serving Henry’s wives in 1533 when he married her, and kept on serving them until nearly the bitter end, somehow dodging the disaster of the other Boleyn’s. She was a professional courtier, trained from a very young age to always have eyes open and secrets close, by the infamous Thomas Cromwell. Fascinating.
A Philippa Gregory novel is never boring, and this was no exception. I’ll read anything she puts out!
Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Details
Title:: Boleyn Traitor (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #11)
Author:: Philippa Gregory
Genre:: Historical Fiction
Publisher:: William Morrow
Length:: 496 pages
Audio Length:: 19h 29m
Audiobook Narrator:: Gemma Whelan
Published:: October 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
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