Once I realised this wasn't the Jane Seymour novel I was expecting (it stops before Jane and big Hal get amorous) I began to luxuriate in the period feel. While the way that the detail sometimes elbows the story to one side may not be to everyone's taste, it can also be fascinating as we learn of the politics, the tensions haunting every day posh family life and customs that other authors don’t have the space to explore. In a way the enthralling routine makes the scandal's explosion an even greater contrast.
If you don't fancy the sort of novel that seamlessly inserts a paragraph about the consistency of Tudor baked goods, it may not be for you. However, if you want to know how life went on and hear those EastEnders drums signal a well-executed jaw -dropper, then look no further – Suzannah delivers.
We'd like to thank Little, Brown for providing us with a copy for review. We also have a review of [The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn]].
Further Reading: If you'd like to hear more about the comings and goings at Wolf Hall, then [[:Category:Hilary Mantel|Hilary Mantel's]] aforementioned [[Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel| classic]].awaits. If you'd like more of Ms Dunn, we can readily recommend [[The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzannah Dunn| The Confession of Katherine Howard]].