Thorns in a Realm of Roses

The Henry Queens

by Thomas Crockett

England, 1541. King Henry receives an anonymous letter suggesting that his fifth wife, the young Katherine Howard, whom he had called a rose without a thorn, may have led an unchaste life before they married. In the rose gardens of Hampton Court Palace, Henry feels the illusion of youth and virility slip away; he faces an uncertain future. Must he dispatch yet another wife? Old, overweight and increasingly infirm, could he find love and marry again to further secure the Tudor line? Written with literary invention, Thorns in a Realm of Roses spans the final years in Henry’s reign. Peeling back the layers of life at Court, it examines the hearts and minds of Henry, his often misbegotten queens, neglected daughter Mary and his many loyal, though wary, advisors as they all struggle to survive in a world embroiled in political and religious upheaval ruled by a petulant King. 

REVIEW

3 out of 5

I will say while I’m not a history or Tudor buff, I do love the Tudors. I was excited to read this because of that. I was a bit disappointed. The dialogue was a bit awkward, which made me struggle in some parts. There also seems to be some confusion historically speaking, and I’m not sure if that was me misunderstanding what the author was saying, or the author mixing things up (I mean, there are quite a few Henrys in a row). Otherwise the storyline was enjoyable, but I would’ve rated higher if it wasn’t for those stumbling blocks.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in New York, Thomas Crockett spent thirty years as a theater director and writing teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. On retirement Thomas turned his attention to his writing. He is an avid traveler, and enjoys a love of reading and researching Italian and English history, about which much of his writing is focused. He lives in San Mateo, CA, USA.