Welcome to Henry Fitzroy – formerly the Duke of Richmond and Somerset, bastard son of Henry VIII and Elizabwth Blout, and, if I may, the most intriguing character in the Naturae Series so far.

Which book/world do you live in?

You’ll first encounter me in Anarchic Destiny – Book 2 of the Naturae Series and all the following books.

Tell us about yourself:

‘Dying’ when I was 17 was a trauma, but I was told if I became a vampire, I would still be able to fulfil my destiny to be King. Annoyingly, after I said yes to being made vampire, my half brother Edward was born, so I had to wait, hidden and captive for another 17 years, until he too died in 1553. But, when I found out about his plans for succession, I realised I’d been forgotten. I was no-one. I have to find my place in this new world. Find a way to fulfil my destiny to rule.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

I didn’t realise how liberating it would be to give up my soul, and so I would say my greatest strength is that I have no compunction about doing what is necessary to achieve my given purpose. I’m also super-fast, super strong, and, depending on the day or how I feel, super compassionate. Perhaps that is my weakness, but I still feel for the humans, even though most of my kind view them as fodder.

Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).

The institutions in my world are the structures which enable people like me to rule – the Church, although I have wavering affiliation to it, and the monarchy. I’m ambiguous as to which of these institutions should remain once I get into power. On a personal front, I have few friends. Those I can count are Thomas Fairfax, a daemon, and, I suppose, my half sister, Elizabeth. She knows who and what I am, and means a great deal to me, possibly because I cannot influence her as I can mere mortals. She has the potential, though, to be great. I have always sensed this about her and I hope that in the future our two realms can grow closer in proximity. Naturae is where I will set my sights though, the home of the fae.

What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?

I have thought a great deal about this, and my opinion of what it means to be a hero is undeniably influenced by my father, King Henry VIII. He had his flaws, to be sure, but he was driven to greatness by passion. A desire to grow his influence. To be the best.

However, I am of the mind that life should be preserved where possible, even in the pursuit of greatness. I regret losing my mortal life and mourn the loss of my soul. I am not about revenge, or killing for the sake of it, but rather, people should be allowed to choose how they live, not die because of what someone else thinks. I think that makes me quite heroic. I will always stand up for liberty. That is my passion.

What do you think of your ‘creator’?

She tries hard to make me into a sympathetic character, although I know at times I may make some choices which ordinary people could view as morally questionable. Had I known my mother, Bessie, more, perhaps she would have endowed me with a more balanced view, but, I was born to rule no matter the cost.

Give us your favourite piece of advice:

Life is short, for humans. Make the most of it. Live how you want to and with honesty, and you will have no regrets when it is over. If, like me, you are destined to live a long life, then there is even more reason to be true to yourself, because hiding who you are will cause you untold miseries which you have your whole life to regret.

Other Naturae series character interviews: Queen Lana

Family should be loyal. At least, that’s what Fae Queen Aioffe and Joshua thought, until a rival claimant to the throne returns. A witch’s prophecy goes unheeded, causing shifting allegiances, disruptive visitors and threats to Naturae.

In England, Edward VI has died, and a fight for his throne will follow. Henry Fitzroy, a forgotten heir and Edward’s bastard vampire brother, awakens to the destiny he was promised in tatters. Denied his crown and place in the human world, Henry sets his sights on claiming what was due to him, even if that means hurting everyone who was loyal to him before.

The price of an heir to bring Aioffe, Joshua and the Queendom back together is a sacrifice – their marriage or their loyalty to Naturae.

As darker forces force a decision, chaos will reign…

★★★★★ Book 2 of the Naturae Series is a thrilling historical fantasy novel, weaving together Tudor times with magical realism. Discover an epic alternative history where love, loyalty and faith are all that stand in the way of anarchy. Escape into a Tudor game of thrones and be captivated by this unputdownable story of powerful, magical characters locked in a battle to rule! ★★★★★