The Apple and the Tree

by Clemmie Bennett

‘I could hardly put it down.’ Reader review

‘Impressive debut novel.’ Reader review

‘I was immediately drawn into this book and had a difficult time setting it down.’ Reader review

‘If you’re a history lover who’s interested in the Tudors, then you’ll enjoy this.’ Reader review

‘The great background research and details were very well done and I hope Clemmie Bennett has ideas for another book.’ Reader review

‘Darkly entertaining.’ Reader review

***

London, 2020. Grief-stricken Ella inherits a ring from her late grandmother, only for it to accidentally send her to the court of a young King Henry VIII.

In a world where voicing the wrong opinion about church or state comes with a price, her priority is to survive until the opportunity to travel back to her own time emerges.

It is now 1510, and Ella is the only one to know of the tumultuous years of Henry VIII's reign and the bloodshed of the English Reformation. She finds herself torn between her primal need of security and the alluring opportunity to influence the fate of an entire kingdom.

"She had to bite her tongue and let history follow its course."

... would you?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel

332 pages, Hardcover

Published April 22, 2023

About the author

Clemmie Bennett is a writer, author of the historical fantasy "The Apple and the Tree." A professional London-based French nanny, Clemmie has been working on her debut novel for over three years, but writing a book has been on her bucket list for as long as she can remember. When she is not writing or reading, she can be found wandering about ancient royal palaces or abbey ruins, most likely despairing that time travel is not a reality - like it is for her main character.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good idea for a story - kept me reading but the grammar is terrible. I don't believe this book has been edited.

[Penelope ✈️ theflyawaygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her grandmother Lolly passes away, Ella feels lost without the woman who raised her. As an inebriated Lolly left her a ring, which she had always worn on a chain around her neck. After an upsetting phone call with her absent father where he demanded the ring so he can sell it, Ella heads to somewhere where she has good memories of being with her grandmother, Eltham Palace. Putting the ring on, she discovers herself in the same place… but a different time. Somehow, she has been transported to the past.

Ella has been transported back in time to the reign of Henry VIII, while he is still married to his first wife. She has to navigate life in the 1500s and try to figure out how she can get back home again.

This book had a great premise, and the historical details were so interesting! The novel probes whether Henry VIII was always a tyrant, and whether he would have turned out to be a different man entirely had certain events in his life not occurred.

This feels like a love child of Philippa Gregory and Diana Gabaldon and I’m here for it!

I really enjoyed this book, although the end broke me!

[I received an ARC thanks to BookSirens and the publisher in return for an honest review. All opinions my own!]

[lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm honestly kind of speechless to be totally honest

the fact that this is clemmie bennett's debut novel was really obvious to me for the first few chapters, where i basically thought i was going to hate this book because of how weirdly it was written, but the writing gets progressively better as the book goes on. i think the issue with that is that clemmie bennett is a historian, i see her history tiktoks all the time, and that it can sometimes can hinder how well she writes modern day, where the beginning of this book is set. her writing style really flourishes as she gets more into her element.

i cracked open this book on a flight on my way to mexico, got about 75 pages in (because i live pretty close to mexico) and read about 50 more pages over the course of my two day vacation before finishing the rest of it on the two hour flight into LAX and during my family's strut through the giant airport to reach our connecting flight. if i hadn't been on vacation, i can guarantee that i would have read it all in one day. but we all know that books read waiting in line for customs tend to be some of my favorite books.

this is one of if not my favorite book i've read so far this year. it is such a fun time but also pretty historically accurate. out of all the books i've read about the tudors the vast majority have been about katherine of aragon, so i consider myself a bit of an expert. nearly everything written in this book i would have been able to cross reference with something else i've read except for obviously the fake characters.

another thing i loved was how this book focused on showing that henry viii wasn't fundamentally the horrible person history remembers him as. i thought that was a pretty important theme that i really appreciated.

this book really reminded me of sofia coppola's 'marie antoinette' just in the way that it felt reading it. that movie is one of my absolute favorites, which just made me love this even more. ugh. CLEMMIEEEEEE

overall, this is just back to the future for anne boleyn lovers

4.75 stars

[Jacqueline Carlucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh! Liked the the historical side, but went a little off the rails. I see that she’s trying to do some sort of Tudor time period Outlander thing. It just got too strange and the ending wasn’t ideal. I guess I smell a sequel or a series

[Rebecca Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual genre and was hesitant to start but I couldn’t put it down!! This is such a great twist on history and the crossover from modern life to the past was written brilliantly. Gripping and thrilling with a great unsuspecting love tale throughout. Patiently waiting for it to be picked up for a TV series, impatiently waiting for the sequel!

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the year 2020, Ella lives in London and her Grandmother who had looked after since a baby has recently passed away, she left her a sapphire ring that she used to wear on a chain around her neck. Her father, who had told her on a phone call when she was eight years old that she had ruined his life, wanted the ring back from her but Ella knew it was just so he could sell it and get money for it so she refused to give it back. She spoke to her best friend Iris and told her she was going to Eltham Palace for the day and that she would take a book to read. During the day, she got a text from her father about the ring which made her throw her phone and book down in disgust. That afternoon she must have fallen asleep because when she woke up she was all alone, she couldn’t find her phone, book or her bag. Great, she’d been robbed again! She goes in search of someone, then she sees the moat and she wonders where she is. Then she heard a voice singing and she shot off through the trees and ran for a bit then slowed down. She slapped her face to make sure she was awake and it didn’t make any difference. She then felt for Lolly’s ring and found it was missing from her hand. She then tripped and fell into some mud on all fours. She could hear a weak sound but not sure what. She got up and wiped her hands on her dress. She followed the sounds to find a pup caught in a bush by its collar. She rescues him and then carries him to find his owner, the voice of the singer. She noticed the pup had a deep cut on his paw. It was easy to find the owner, just follow the voice but she couldn’t believe what he was wearing, red tights?

He thanked her for her assistance in finding their companion. He seemed about the same age as Ella. He calmly and firmly took the dog back. Ella asked, ‘Where are we?’ ‘In the gardens of our palace of Eltham,’ he replied. ‘But there is a moat,’ she replied. He laughed, ‘Indeed.’ ’Are you unwell?’ he asked. ‘What is your name?’ he asked She replied, ‘I…I don’t know.’ A low throaty voice repeated, ‘You do not know?’ She lied, ‘I…no..I fell when I tried to help your dog. I must have hit my head. And I…I don’t remember my name or anything else.’ The man said they were in her debt, they would get her seen by Grace’s physician and find her suitable clothing. She had to admit she didn’t know who he was. The guy was amused and a laugh in his smile as he said, ‘Henry the Eighth.’ He decided to call her , ‘Elizabeth.’ The king told her it was 1510.

Ella was trying to remember what she had learnt at school about Henry the Eighth and what Lolly had told her on their various travels around the palaces. She had a hard time reconciling the guy that did all the beheading with the one she had just met who seemed lovely and really friendly. She was on hand when Queen Grace gave birth to Hal as Ella was positive that the baby survived but she brought in strict hand washing rules and tried to make sure they were adhered to before and after the birth. Then Ella was promoted to nurse baby Hal and she was over the moon, she loved that baby like her own and they grew very close. She was with him for two and a half years before she went back to Grace and oversaw the birth of another baby boy. She was found a husband and was to be wed which was paid for by the king. Her husband Nicholas grew to love her but she could not love him only like him. At a May Day meeting, her husband got hurt and she told him he had to allow the physician to treat him and the King agreed with her, her husband then let the treatment go ahead. The other man came off worse.

Did Ella and Nicholas have children? Was theirs a happy marriage? Did they always stay around the King or at their own houses?

This was an enjoyable book to read and I found it to be an easy to read historical book. The plot was an interesting one including the ring and the time travel to the future. There was plenty of descriptive writing throughout the book. This is the author’s debut book and I wish her good luck, I hope it does well. It's a brilliant book, well worth a read if you enjoy historical fantasy.

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Tudor timeslip story takes London nanny Ella Buckley, whose modern life is frustrating and lonely (her mother is dead, her father neglects her and her adored grandmother has just died) and thrusts her back into the court of King Henry VIII. She falls asleep in the grounds of Eltham Palace, twisting her grandmother’s sapphire ring around her finger, and awakes in the same spot in 1510. The first person she meets, through the useful device of finding his lost beagle, is indeed His Grace the King himself, but this Henry is 19 years old (as is Ella) ‘his eyes so blue and his gaze so intense it was impossible to focus on anything else’. This portrayal of the King as kind, considerate and very handsome is not one I have encountered before, but in terms of this book it is conveyed convincingly enough.
Ella tells the court she has amnesia, but is otherwise found to be in good health by Catherine of Aragon’s Spanish doctor. The ring that allows time travel has vanished in the Eltham woods and so, unwillingly at first, Ella embraces life as a lady in waiting. Her name is changed to Elizabeth White. In due course a suitable marriage is arranged for her -though her real fascination remains His Grace. The author delivers a believable counter-factual narrative whereby Queen Catherine has two healthy sons with Henry. Ella is extremely knowledgeable about the Tudor period - we are shown in occasional flashbacks how her grandmother had educated her during childhood visits to castle and museums. Much suspense derives from her speculations about how history could be so different if King Henry had had sons and only married once. Despite this, as if to maintain the status quo of England as a Protestant country, Ella-as-Elizabeth decides to secretly promote the writings of Martin Luther – I felt this did not quite ring true for a character who, in her modern persona, considers herself an atheist. Still, I found it interesting to speculate whether, if at all, the Reformation might have crossed the English channel if King Henry had secured a male heir with Catherine of Aragon.
At last Ella’s own role becomes too close to the alternative history for comfort, but unless she can find the elusive ring she is doomed to remain stranded in the comfortable but dangerous world of the Tudor court.
Written in a fresh, vivid style, the book offers an entertaining combination of modern hindsight and historical accuracy - for instance, ‘She was rewriting future Wikipedia pages with pillow talk.’ There is some unevenness in the editing. The denouement, where Ella manages to move to the 20th century, but discovers how harsh had been the fates of those she had loved in the 16th century, is rather rushed. I would happily have read a longer book.
Still, this author, whose knowledgeable love of history shines through on every page, has made very promising debut. This is an intelligent, original and entertaining tale, which I found gripping, thought-provoking and consistently enjoyable.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up an e-copy of this book after seeing it recommended on Tiktok and I was very pleasantly surprised as I often struggle to find historical fiction based on major historical figures enjoyable.

It had a strong basis in historical fact and played gently with ideas about 16th century values from a 21st century perspective and presented a plausible alternate history. It had far more respect for it's historical figures than is often found in historical fiction- especially the six wives of Henry VIII. None of the characters are unfairly villainised and those who are antagonists do so for clear political and personal motivations. As a lover of the time period and history in general, this is something historical fiction so often fails to do- and this author handles it with grace and wit.

The main characters ascent from a girl found roaming the palace grounds with no memory to accepted courtier feels a little bit of a stretch but it's an essential part of the premise of the novel.
Ella or Elizabeth felt like a well-rounded and complex human being. She kept her modern perspectives while increasingly changing to fit the world around her. She made "bad" decisions at time but these felt well justified and troubled our protagonist as much as it troubled us.

My main issue was the ending. It felt really abrupt and the fate of Ella's daughter Grace felt like it came out of nowhere. There was no animosity set up between Ella's faction at skirt and the French faction at court. Both Grace and Princess Charlotte are still young children when she travels back to the future and have not interacted at all- nor do I feel they are set up as rivals in position as foreign-born princess of Wales and illegitimate (but favoured) daughter of the king.
I get what the author was going for in setting up a tragedy that Ella feels she should have been there to prevent - but having her die as a result of sudden illness or childbirth (especially without her mother there to ensure she was not married too young) would have felt more realistic and in tune with the main themes and events of the rest of the novel. Even having her burned as a heretic - following her mother's religious recklessness and unable to escape the consequences through time travel- would have felt more justified.

This was literally only a short passage at the end and didn't hamper my own overall enjoyment of the book- which was very very readable. I could barely put it down and finished it within a day of starting.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story:
2020: Mourning the loss of her beloved grandmother Lolly, Ella decides to visit a place special to both of them — Eltham Palace, the boyhood home of Henry VIII. She is wearing her sole inheritance from Lolly — a beautiful sixteenth century sapphire ring. But lying in the grass of the magnificent gardens, Ella finds there is a lot more to the ring than meets the eye…

1510: Ella rises to find herself thrown back in time more than 500 years. And not only that, the first person she meets is Henry VIII himself! But this is not the tyrant Ella has come to know from the history books… This is a 19-year-old Henry, just 1 year into his infamous reign. Knowing what she knows of the bloodshed and upheaval to follow, will Ella be able to navigate the intrigues of the royal court, and even change the course of history itself?

My thoughts:
“The Apple and the Tree” is such an intriguing premise for a historical fantasy! Henry VIII is probably the most (in)famous of England’s monarchs, with his six wives and their terrible fates so well known. But what of the young Henry? Was he always a tyrant? And if you had the chance to change that history, would (and should) you do it?

It was fascinating to read about how Ella’s life progresses in the 16th century royal court, and author Clemmie Bennett is clearly very knowledgable about this period, painting a full picture of the day-to-day life in court, with its pageantry and opulence. But along with the good, there is also the bad of what this time has to offer, and the author doesn’t spare us from the realities for women at this time, or the deadly nature of illnesses that are easily prevented or cured in the 21st century, from smallpox to childbed fever.

So much of English history pivots on Henry’s desire for a male heir. What if his young son with Catherine of Aragon, Prince Henry, had lived beyond 7 weeks and had succeeded his father to the throne?

I enjoyed viewing the 16th century through Ella’s modern eyes, and overall this was a great read for history lovers and an impressive debut novel from the author. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

[petalsofpages ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction has always held a special place in my heart for they are brilliantly researched, complex and mysterious plotlines, almost magical books, written by talented writers with the most influential being the works of Hilary Mantel, Philippa Gregory, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and many, many more!

However—just like any other book—historical fiction can quite a dangerous genre to delve into, both as a writer and a reader, due to the heavy amount of research necessary to ensure your book is both entertaining and historically accurate. Even the greatest of historical fiction novels have fell victim to this and it’s one of the key aspects of a book that history lovers love to scrutinize—myself included.

When a reader is incredibly knowledgeable in the subject area you are writing about, it can be daunting to see if the reader will not only like your book but the way you interpret/represent history. You either pass or fail the history test.

And I’m proud to say that Clemmie Bennett’s wonderful debut novel, The Apple and the Tree, passed the test with flying colors!

Without spoiling the ending for everyone, I just wanna say that the cliffhanger broke me, it truly did. I need to know what happens next and what the end of not just Ella’s but Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Catherine and all the other amazing characters whose names I will allow you to be introduced to.

I wholeheartedly look forward to the sequel and seeing what Clemmie Bennett has in store for us readers.

So, to sum up—dramatic, captivating and heart-wrenching, this book will pull at your heart strings as well as leave you clinging on the edge of your seat for more. If you’re looking for arguably one of the best Tudor fiction books out there, this is the one for you!

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella-Grace Buckley falls asleep after spending the day in the gardens of Eltham Palace. She is grieving for her beloved grandmother who passed away during the Covid pandemic, and having often visited the Palace with her, feels a connection to her there.

Waking up, she doesn’t recognise the building before her as Eltham Palace, so follows the sound of a male singing, in the hope that he can help her, and assumes he is in costume and a professional, part of a reenactment group.
She slowly realises, though, that she is no longer in the year 2020, but has travelled back to the 16th century, and the male is a young King Henry V111.

Ella is taken under the wing of the King and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, and renamed Elizabeth by the King after she claimed loss of memory following her time travelling, and becomes one of many ladies serving the Queen as a member of her household.

Ella/Elizabeth’s life at the Court takes many turns, from being promoted within the Queen’s household to being married to one of the King’s closest friends, and becoming a high ranking lady.
She is forced to use her wits when viewed with suspicion by many in the Court, but also uses her knowledge of the history of Henry V111 to try and change the course of it, furthering the suspicions of many.

This is a long read, but very well researched. I found this book difficult to get into at first, but then became engrossed by the story. I would recommend it to any history lover.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Seriesbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apple and The Tree by Clemmie Bennett is a time-travelling historical fiction set in Tudor times and features Henry VIII in a completely different light
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased review.
Ella accidentally slips through time when she wears her grandmother’s ancient ring and finds herself trying to survive not only in Tudor England but also the court of King Henry the Eighth.Ella bumps into the young King Henry and learns to thrive in a dangerous time.

Ella starts the book an insecure woman, but I could empathise with her difficulty in adapting to Tutor England and unlike some other time-travelling women she did try to blend in at the start and stay in the background. But with a few simple hygiene techniques, she changes the course of history (again something that seemed realistic).
I enjoyed the speculation that perhaps King Henry would have been a much nicer man if he didn’t have to worry about securing the succession to the throne. The book is rich with historical detail with plenty of descriptions. The reality of women’s life isn’t sugar-coated and Ella’s horror of becoming her husband’s property or dying in childbirth rings through.
The tension ramps up in the second half of the book with a dramatic end.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apple and the Tree by Clemmie Bennett was a very interesting read. I do love historical romances but never have I read a time travelling historical romance before and I must say I enjoyed every page of it. It was well written and held my interest in its entirety. Hearing about the characters we know to be real people back in the 1500’s and how their lives evolved through Ella’s eyes was so interesting. The character I found most interesting was King Henry VIII as he’s such a controversial character in real life and this book made quite the point of people not always being black and white in their kindness and their cruelty. I didn’t agree with all of Ella’s actions but I really felt for her as the MC and found her a very relatable character in many ways. I did feel that the way the story ended was too abrupt but found myself not quite sure where things would lead throughout which I enjoyed as I do get bored of a predictable read. Overall I did really enjoy this book and if you like historical romances I would definitely give it a read!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apple and The Tree is a historical fantasy tale with the added edge of being timeslip as well! These are amongst my favourite types of stories. Released today, I was so lucky to be able to read this early.
Set in 2020 and 1510, Ella discovers her grandmother's ring has transported her back to the court of a youthful King Henry the Eighth. She realises she has the power of knowledge but knows she needs to keep herself safe until she discovers a way to get back to 2020. She finds herself in a position where she could possibly change the course of history, but should she? Or should I say will she?
The amount of research Clemmie Bennett has poured into this debut is crystal clear. It made it such an authentic read for me. It captivated me from the start. I felt I was in Tudor England alongside Ella as she traversed her way through the politics of the time.
An immersive and captivating tale that any history lover should enjoy, I know I did! Great debut by Clemmie Bennett. Thanks to Jaime Whitcomb and the author for my gifted copy of the book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a history lover who's interested in the Tudors, then you'll enjoy this.

Ella's grandmother recently passed away, leaving her with a ring. But the ring isn't just a piece of jewellery, when Ella puts it on in the grounds of Eltham Palace, she's transported back in time to the 16th Century - one where young King Henry VIII rules.

Using her knowledge passed down from her grandmother, she navigates court, becoming a Lady in Waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, and nobility through marriage. However her knowledge of the Tudor period changes the course of history.

As time passes, Ella becomes as ruthless as Tudor history goes, doing anything to keep her place at court with Henry.

It did take me some time to get used to all of the names used. However, like with any Tudor or War of the Roses media, I do like a good research and Google into their lives!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Ann-Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history or a good story. It's a time travel novel that takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 1500s. Unlike many time travel stories that avoid changing the course of history, this one features our time traveller Ella/Elizabeth who has full knowledge of this period. Will the knowledge she learned from her grandmother assist or obstruct her as she navigates this shift in time?

I was immediately drawn into this book and had a difficult time setting it down. The author's extensive research and knowledge of the historical time period greatly enhanced my reading experience. The depth of the characters and length of the story left a strong impact on me as a reader.

I received a free copy of the book from BookSirens and have provided a voluntary review.

[Milly Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled with this book. Whilst on board with the concept of time travel, this does not seem to be the most far fetched aspect of the novel. I found myself rolling my eyes at certain parts due to it being too predictable. The main character is not very likeable (and not in a Heathcliff type of way) which left me struggling to even care where it was leading. Parts of the story are very rushed, while others drawn out.
The writer seemed to be constantly trying to give a history lesson throughout, which, at times, seemed patronising. Also the idea history could be changed so easily just felt very childish and immature. I felt changing what we know about past real life people throughout history also seemed quite dismissive and rude. Overall very underwhelmed, which is a shame. The ending was also very rushed and left questions and plot holes.

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great fan of this period of history and have read quite a few books from this time. This book is quite different from others and I really enjoyed the time travel aspect and wondered that might be the consequences of changing anything. Ella is unaware that the ring her Grandmother gave her could transport her back to such a dangerous time. She does try to fit quietly into court life at first but then throws caution to the wind and looks to make her own future. She does make decisions many of us would never make without thought. The great background research and details were very well done and I did enjoy the book and hope Clemmie Bennett has ideas for another book. I read an ARC for free and this is my honest review.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apple and the Tree is an interesting story about Ella who is mourning her recently deceased grandmother, Lolly. She has inherited her Lolly's antique ring.
As she places it on her finger, she gives it a spin since it very loose and is taken back to 1510.

Ella realizes she is not in the same place she thought she was and discovers she has gone back in time.

It is an interesting premise, if you could go back in time, would you? And if you did, would it be altered by you and anyone you met. I liked it very much and found it to be very entertaining.

I received an ARC from BookSirens for an unbiased review.

[L.M. Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The story is compelling enough, but I struggled with grammatical errors throughout the book that really almost made me not finish the book. I think the plot moved along at an erratic pace at times. Sometimes we would span years in a few paragraphs and then spend time in minutiae for pages. Some consistency in pacing could really benefit the story.

I found the protagonist to be largely unbelievable and even unlikable at times, but the world was immersive and the story intriguing.

[Claire Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start off by saying this book is basically my dream! I would love to have the opportunity to go back to Tudor times but I think I would also prefer to be a man in those times as Ella found out! I really enjoyed the plot and was extremely invested in whether Ella would get back or not. It was interesting to see her build relationships (and enemies!) and to consider the “butterfly effect” she might have on history. A brilliant read especially for those who love Tudor historical fiction!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly amazing book! I was apprehensive at first as I’m not massively into alternate historical fiction, however, I practically swallowed this book whole. Clemmie has clearly done a lot of research when it comes to the early years of Henry VIII, she pretty much stayed to the facts and even with her storyline it was still historically accurate. The main character Ella was likeable and relatable at the same time, the book was a whirlwind of emotion for me, I laughed, I cried and I even got annoyed at myself when I finished it too quick. I highly recommend 💙

[Katie Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, having discovered it after watching some of Clemmie’s history videos on Instagram. Being a fan of the Tudor period, I love to read about it but often find more traditional historical novels quite heavy going. I found The Apple and the Tree to be the perfect blend of history with a modern outlook. The aspects brought in with Ella’s 21st century perspective were really interesting whilst also keeping the historical facts flowing. I flew through it in just a few days! Highly recommend :)

[Raven Dinkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book … ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
if you love Tudor history and want to be there !!! this is the book for you !!!
any one who knows me, knows i have not shut up about it since i began reading !!!
it is an absolute tear jerker… very powerful… written by a lovely lady i found on Tiktok Clemmie Bennett Author… her videos are amazing and so is her book … lets hope there is more to come 🙏🏽
Bought from Amazon

[Claire (c.isfor.claire_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fantasy tale set both in modern day 2020, and the Tudor period of 1510. The background details and historical research by the author was detailed and I found I was easily absorbed into the storyline, and part of the Tudor period. Such a great premise for a debut novel, we ith all the historical details and time travel too. A fab read if you like your historical fiction with a twist .

[Joseph Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best historical fiction books I have ever read. The blend of fact and fiction is spot on, the story is captivating and the drama is constant!

If you have any interest in the Tudors, this is a must read. A fantastic alternative (and familiar) view of history. Couldn’t put it down. Well done Clemmie on your first book!

[Adena Friedberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book-a very quick and entertaining read. There were some typos throughout which I didn’t like, and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. But the book was well researched and very enjoyable regardless. Great first book for this author.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, a time travelling ring sending a protagonist back to Tudor England seemed relatively easy to grasp. But goodness was I wrong! The plot twists, the alternate reality, the conflict within Ella's own self all made for a page-turner.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the history, the what ifs and the brutality of the times. I did think the ending was a little rushed, but would definitely recommend it to any history/Tudor fiction lovers.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read Ella’s grandmother leaves her a ring after her death which transports her back to Tudor England