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Servant of Death
Summer 1540
Cromwell has fallen and Jane Rochford, once his spy, is free to serve her new Queen and friend, Catherine Howard. Sworn to protect and shelter the young Queen from enemies past and present, Jane must toil through the perils of the Tudor court so Catherine might survive her dangerous husband, and escape into a better life afterwards.
But the past is coming for Queen Catherine and for Jane, and Death, cheated once, will not be cheated again...
Servant of Death is Book Six of The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford by G. Lawrence.
The author's thanks are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work of fiction, and M.Y. Cover Design, the cover artist.
Cromwell has fallen and Jane Rochford, once his spy, is free to serve her new Queen and friend, Catherine Howard. Sworn to protect and shelter the young Queen from enemies past and present, Jane must toil through the perils of the Tudor court so Catherine might survive her dangerous husband, and escape into a better life afterwards.
But the past is coming for Queen Catherine and for Jane, and Death, cheated once, will not be cheated again...
Servant of Death is Book Six of The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford by G. Lawrence.
The author's thanks are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work of fiction, and M.Y. Cover Design, the cover artist.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
472 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2023
87 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
G. Lawrence
50 books282 followersI am an independently published author, and proud to be so. Living in a little cottage in Wales in the UK, I love where I live as much as I love to write.
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 22, 2023
When I finished this book I felt a gap in my reading life; I kept subconsciously thinking I had it still to go back to then realising, with disappointment, that I hadn't. LOVED it, probably the best of the series.
Servant of Death takes us up to the downfall of poor sweet Catherine Howard and, of course, Jane. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a murderous, self-absorbed tyrant who gave new meaning to the word 'narcissist', one could almost have felt sorry for Henry VIII, so cleverly has Ms Lawrence described how he adored Catherine and thought he'd finally found his perfect woman - though actually what he adored was his fantasy of her, as he neither knew her nor had any inkling that she lived in fear of him, not love. His 'love' for her was but a reflection of the image of himself that her presence provided. In this book we see so clearly the desperation that he thought was his own secret, not knowing how everyone else could see that Catherine was his last hurrah, as in vain he tried to stop the last grains of youth falling through the fat fingers that signed the death warrants for wives and friends alike.
This series has shown how, throughout her life, Jane was in the shadows of everyone else's dramas, with little opportunity to find happiness for herself, or even to work out what that happiness might have included, had she the freedom to find it. As well as Catherine's times with Culpepper, I was glad for both her and Jane that they found comfort in their friendship; both their lives were robbed from them by the men in their world, from the very start. In this finale, more than in the other books, the sense of women having no control over their own lives is starkly shown.
The slow build-up to the point when Jane and Catherine were placed under house arrest (or apartment/chamber arrest, I suppose) was horribly sinister, especially as there was a whisper of what was happening on the wind. I wondered how Ms Lawrence would depict Jane's alleged lapse into insanity at the end of her life, and the way in which she did so was most convincing; I felt almost as though Jane was freeing herself of society's behavioural requirements, and allowing her head to go in whichever direction it pleased.
I highly recommend this whole series, particularly the last three. Highly, highly, highly - and two days on, that gap in my reading life remains.
Servant of Death takes us up to the downfall of poor sweet Catherine Howard and, of course, Jane. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a murderous, self-absorbed tyrant who gave new meaning to the word 'narcissist', one could almost have felt sorry for Henry VIII, so cleverly has Ms Lawrence described how he adored Catherine and thought he'd finally found his perfect woman - though actually what he adored was his fantasy of her, as he neither knew her nor had any inkling that she lived in fear of him, not love. His 'love' for her was but a reflection of the image of himself that her presence provided. In this book we see so clearly the desperation that he thought was his own secret, not knowing how everyone else could see that Catherine was his last hurrah, as in vain he tried to stop the last grains of youth falling through the fat fingers that signed the death warrants for wives and friends alike.
This series has shown how, throughout her life, Jane was in the shadows of everyone else's dramas, with little opportunity to find happiness for herself, or even to work out what that happiness might have included, had she the freedom to find it. As well as Catherine's times with Culpepper, I was glad for both her and Jane that they found comfort in their friendship; both their lives were robbed from them by the men in their world, from the very start. In this finale, more than in the other books, the sense of women having no control over their own lives is starkly shown.
The slow build-up to the point when Jane and Catherine were placed under house arrest (or apartment/chamber arrest, I suppose) was horribly sinister, especially as there was a whisper of what was happening on the wind. I wondered how Ms Lawrence would depict Jane's alleged lapse into insanity at the end of her life, and the way in which she did so was most convincing; I felt almost as though Jane was freeing herself of society's behavioural requirements, and allowing her head to go in whichever direction it pleased.
I highly recommend this whole series, particularly the last three. Highly, highly, highly - and two days on, that gap in my reading life remains.
August 4, 2023
The series reaches its tragic conclusion as we see just how hard Jane Rochford tried to keep Catherine Howard safe before the house of cards came tumbling down.
Lawrence gets deep into the daily details of Catherine Howard's all too brief reign, and shows, despite what people said later, how hard Catherine worked to be a good queen, to help where she could, and to try and bring peace and stability - and just how impossible that was when married to a mad man.
Heart breaking, thoughtful, sharp, wonderfully detailed and an excellent finish to this series.
May 21, 2023
Good Finale
In the style of the other five books in the series, first person perspective of Jane Rochford. I loved the detail and manner in which the historical story is told. If you are a Tudor fan this is a series/book to read. Well worth the wait for the book to be released.
In the style of the other five books in the series, first person perspective of Jane Rochford. I loved the detail and manner in which the historical story is told. If you are a Tudor fan this is a series/book to read. Well worth the wait for the book to be released.
June 10, 2023
UNDERSTANDING JANE
I loved the way Gemma told this in-depth story of the Jane and Queen Catherine. Their care and love for each driven by the fear of the tyrant King Henry V111. In the end their fear was not unfounded. But the way in which Jane dealt with all obstacles and problems all through her life eventually caught up on her.. Brilliantly executed.
I loved the way Gemma told this in-depth story of the Jane and Queen Catherine. Their care and love for each driven by the fear of the tyrant King Henry V111. In the end their fear was not unfounded. But the way in which Jane dealt with all obstacles and problems all through her life eventually caught up on her.. Brilliantly executed.
July 2, 2023
I read all six of these books I could hardly put them down what a great storyteller she showed Jane in a different light all the other books I’ve read Jane was the villain she showed a different Jane caring loving I like this jane a lot
July 6, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this 6 book series on Jayne Parker. Well researched and beautifully written telling a familiar story with many twists, cleverly narrated through the mind and eyes of a little known player in Tudor history. Thank you G Lawrence.
July 20, 2023
Queen catherine
I felt sorry for catherine. A very young girl being misused by men for there owned purpose. Never getting to know real love or be a carefree young lady. She missed out on so much. However I did enjoy the book. Very well written.
I felt sorry for catherine. A very young girl being misused by men for there owned purpose. Never getting to know real love or be a carefree young lady. She missed out on so much. However I did enjoy the book. Very well written.
January 8, 2024
Fabulous insight into the possible life of lady Jane.
I loved the whole series totally captivated buy them. Can't wait to read more. Was an insight into court life for women as we imagine it.
I loved the whole series totally captivated buy them. Can't wait to read more. Was an insight into court life for women as we imagine it.
February 11, 2024
Jean38no
Great reading . I liked the authors style of writing . You are immersed in Medieval culture. The characters really come to life. Always enjoy a different perspective on the Tudor era.
Great reading . I liked the authors style of writing . You are immersed in Medieval culture. The characters really come to life. Always enjoy a different perspective on the Tudor era.
May 29, 2023
A great series of books which I will miss both characters and storylines a must read
July 26, 2023
Great!
This is not the first book of Ms. Lawrence,s I've read and it won't be the last. I love her way of describing all the characters and their personalities.
This is not the first book of Ms. Lawrence,s I've read and it won't be the last. I love her way of describing all the characters and their personalities.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews