The Haunted Queen

Tudor Heirs #2

by Leah Toole

“’My sister’s ring,’ I breathe, my voice no more than a whisper, the enormity of this moment weighing heavily upon my conscience. He reaches for me, his new Queen, and my chest becomes heavy with dread.
I have never wanted this. ”

Elizabeth, the daughter to the proclaimed Great Whore, Anne Boleyn, learns early on in life that the throne of England is a dangerous pursuit.

But when her beloved brother and sister die childless and she is left as the only remaining Tudor heir, Elizabeth hardens herself to do her duty. She knows what she must do, though it might cost her her own happiness.

She would become Queen of England and do everything in her power to be remembered gloriously.
Not for the sake of her father’s legacy, but rather for the sake of her mother’s.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Tudor Period

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2023

About the author

Leah Toole is a captivating historical storyteller, bringing the past to life with her vivid narratives and meticulous research. With an educational background in History, English Literature, and English Language, Toole's passion and dedication is clear, and since publishing her debut novel "The Saddest Princess" she has gone on to write several more books on the Tudor era, which have received praise from all over the world. Outside of work, Leah Toole, as a wife and mother of two, enjoys spending time with her family, as well as reading, and maintaining her thriving TikTok platform, where she shares educational and entertaining Tudor history content.

Reviews

[Sophie Meulemans · Rating 5 out of 5]

As like the first book about Mary I , this second book was so good I could not put it down !

It covers many years …. But it does not feels rushed
It gives you sympathy for what Elizabeth has experienced but also shows you how much she is like her father…. A ruthless ruler who brought a lot of good to England but also a lot of negative things
And I must admit I sometimes really hated her in this book !

But I recommend it to every Tudor lover or to any person who does not know anything about the tudors , doesn’t matter it is a wonderful wonderful read !!!!

[Jolene Gettler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good, whether you love Tudor History, like me, or know very little about it.

This book covered decades but was fast paced, never lingering too long on a point in history. 100% a page turner.

The author made you feel sympathy for Elizabeth on one page, and had you hating her the next. It was brilliant.

I can't wait for the third installment of this series.

[everything.kate.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leah Toole amazes with her study on the life of Queen Elizabeth, the actual woman, as opposed to the crafted image of Virgin Queen.

Toole makes Elizabeth into a real person, showing the attitudes, thoughts and reactions that not only shaped her life, but the effect she left on the world itself.

Contrary to all that Elizabeth wanted and tried to clear her mothers name from the Great Whore, Elizabeth also wanted her life and Reign to be see as her own, beautifully achieved here.

I love the way Toole makes the flow of Elizabeth's life (without being overwhelming, her birth to age 18 could be a book of its own.) with the necessary views behind the curtains of Privy Councils',the reigns of her siblings and the way she fell in and out of favor within each court before she took the Throne as her own.

I've personally always held the belief that the Virgin Queen was as insane as a title (aside from her proclamation of WHY Elizabeth took the moniker as she married her country) as she loved her sweet Robin Dudley from childhood.I will not reveal if Author Leah Toole stood with the traditional or the love story. (I'm a sap) Read it to discover this major part of Queen Lizzie's life.

She shows the Queen as real, a person that faced the hideous smallpox, the changes in her behaviors ("Hello there, Henry") and the struggles and joys of her running a country...as a single, female ruler.

Before you say anything, please remember that this is a work of HISTORICAL FICTION. Historical fictions always allows for artistic licence and NO ONE was EVER THERE TO PAINSTAKINGLY record every word, mood, though and swish of a dress. This book is meant to show you Elizabeth as a person, known and widely accepted facts about her but with Author Leah Toole's beautiful storytelling, transporting you back to Elizabethan England.
I strongly recommend the series, understand the children of Old Henry the 8th and immerse yourself in Elizabeth's life and mind.

I know I did...and loved every moment of it.

5/5 story (not saying anything about spice) and a MUST READ.

[Erin Woolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book revealed so much to me about Queen Elizabeth I and how she was treated by not just her court but people she thought were her family. Men were purely evil in that time and shows that not much has changed since 1500s. My heart aches for how haunted she was by her mistakes and how she put the country’s needs, and her need to make sure her mother was known not as a mistress but as a queen before her own happiness and I truly feel sorry for her.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) I really enjoyed seeing things from Elizabeth’s perspective, and was interested to learn new things that happened in her reign that I wasn’t aware of beforehand. A great account of the reign of Elizabeth I

[Saga Johansson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ❤️ it will be weird to go to school tomorrow without one of Leah's books 😅❤️

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous re-enactment of one of England's greatest rulers!

Another wonderful book by yours truly Leah Toole! This time covering the virgin queen herself Elizabeth I.

I had a blast reading about the highs and lows of not only Elizabeth's life but her great reign. As stated in the book she had a lot to prove being the daughter of Anne Boleyn and being a woman in itself during a harsh patrically dominated system. Her goal is to clear her mother's name and prove that she is the rightful queen not only in name but through her rule.

As always there are many positives and negatives when it comes to reading a book. To summerise briefly I loved that we saw the transition of Elizabeth as a vulnerable young girl living in a terrifying period where her claim to the throne was questioned, taken away and regained, to a powerful hardhearted ruler with an iron fist.

I loved that the book touched on her relationship with her advisors, her determination to balance the religious turmoil of England and her forbidden love with Robert. However, there were parts of the book I wish got more attention such as Elizabeth's enjoyment of not only theatre but bloodsports and dancing. I also wish there was more on Elizabeth's relationship with William Cecil because he was an important person in her reign and she considered him to be a father figure. I also wished that Robert's feelings didnt decline (I did read the authors notes about that) but instead it ended a bit more bittersweet with him dying still proclaiming his love despite knowing that in this life they couldn't have been together :(

I will be posting a review on my tiktok soon and I will go a bit more in depth on my feelings about the book! Otherwise I think these 4 stars are very well deserved and I cant wait to read the next book!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 😚🤌🏼

Smashed through this in three & a half days.

You’re able to see both positives and negatives of Elizabeth’s reign, but also sympathise with her and understand her behaviour (at times). Unbiased writing style.. I like it.

“Well, if they are in Heaven, and we know where they are,” Elizabeth said with a bright smile, “Then they are not lost to us.” 😭😭😭😭

I’m loving themmmm 🥰🥰

[Katie Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this look at the life of Elizabeth I, from her childhood all the way to the end of her life. I loved how her character changed with the weight of the crown, and her morale and character were beaten down over the years. Her relationship with Rober Dudley I thought was done really well, it felt authentic and real to what could have been between them.

I enjoyed the writing and pacing, ample time was given to key moments in Elizabeth's life, without getting bogged down by too much politics so you were able to stay engaged throughout.

I'd recommend this to any Tudor fiction fans!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also gave this book 4.5 stars

What a gripping read! Elizabeth like her sister Mary really didn’t have it easy growing up. A lot of trauma!!!

What I loved about this book was the tragedy of Elizabeth and Robert, so desperately in love but not to be together. It was truly heartbreaking.

I found her life incredibly interesting and she really was such a formidable woman, determined not to have her mothers name tarnished and that she wouldn’t just be Henry VIII’s Great Whore but the Queen of England as well.

She didn’t go without her faults. She had her father’s temper I felt, and my oh my was she stubborn!

I just wonder what if Elizabeth had married Robert, and her council had just approved. Rather than being typical men!

[Krista Kindschi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ - An interesting new imagining of Elizabeth’s life. Reminding readers how horrible her father was, how hard it would be to be a female ruler during that time, and how no matter who, power changes a person. While the author does a wonderful job of making you care deeply for the characters (through flaws and all) I do wish the book went through more editing. The first book in this series had quite a few grammatical errors (and for me to notice them they have to be egregious), and while this one was better, there was quite a bit of repetitive reminding of Elizabeth’s mission which seemed unnecessary.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really good! Exactly what I hoped…a humanized version of Queen Elizabeth I from birth to death. It tied together all the TV shows, movies, and books about Elizabeth that I’ve seen over the years. The theme of her life’s goals and that of her reign (which she never wanted in the first place) and how she wanted to be remembered flowed throughout the story. Elizabeth wanted to be more than just the daughter of either of her famous parents and this ultimately shaped some of the decisions that were unique to her reign like her never marrying. I’ve always wondered about her relationship with Robert Dudley and it’s portrayed as a life long relationship that helped tie the story together. There were great sections about her political maneuvers and how she became ruthless in her old age too that I never knew. If you’re interested in Queen Elizabeth I, this is a great read. Now I wanna read about her half sister, Mary. My year of reading about kings and queens continues!

[Daysanddreaming · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this novel. Exploring the lesser exposed events of Elizabeth’s life and reign made it absolutely fascinating and new - no matter how many other books about her I had read before. The intense motivation and personal injury, as well as her slow change into a harder and icier version of herself, was all truly compelling. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

[Sarah Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incredible! I never realized how little I actually knew about Elizabeth until reading this. Fantastic Job, Leah!

[Abbey-Megan Ainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Anne Boleyn fan I love the perspective from Elizabeth’s point of view of what life was like growing up as a royal without her mother. Really recommend you read it.

[Sharon Stolte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life of Elizabeth

This book kept me engaged and I enjoyed it very much. There were some events in the book that I found questionable, I still found it good reading.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

a mirrored version

When you look in a mirror who does one see, their crowned king or their blamed sham ridden mother dying at her fathers attempts for not a daughter but a son, male line heir. But thru same said mirror she acts, denies, rules, bargains, decides, hides and is haunted in life while still alive

[Sarah Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

I am honestly in tears, and at a loss of words simultaneously, for this book was written beautifully. I remember when I was about 6 years old and being introduced to Elizabeth I in the royal diaries series and that has had me in a Tudor history chokehold all the way into adulthood. I learned so many things that I previously didn’t know by reading this book on Elizabeth’s life, and the author, Leah, does such an amazing job showing the reader Elizabeth’s ups and downs, her heart wrenching romance with the handsome Lord Robert Dudley, and also shows her humanity that impacted her decisions underneath the persona of The Virgin Queen. I am such a fan of this series and cannot wait for book 3! If you are a fan of anything Tudor related, this series is a must read!

[Kayla Rease · Rating 4 out of 5]

My British Royal history loving soul was right at home with this book. Especially with the Tudor family, specifically Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, being my guilty pleasure.
•
It’s worth noting that even though this book records true events and facts, it’s still riddled with fiction and the author’s own opinions or interpretations. It’s the epitome of historical fiction.
•
As mentioned in my earlier post, this book held a lot of brilliant quotes. The dialogue was great. The flow of the reign of Elizabeth was easy to read without lingering too long on certain events.
•
Toole chose to focus heavily on the love story between Elizabeth and Robert Dudley - which despite historical controversy, I actually enjoy. It softens the rather hardened Elizabeth we are told about in history. Toole uses the love story to highlight the true challenges of being a female monarch and the struggle with wanting a partnership but also fighting to prove oneself as an independent female leader.
•
I docked one star because there was certain routes Toole took with the storyline that slightly missed the mark for me. Some choices about Elizabeth’s reaction to things, especially towards the end of the book, disappointed me and felt too unauthentic. But overall, it was a well written, interesting historical fiction novel.

[Shaylyn Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR:
As a big fan of Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn, I found this book less captivating than Mary’s story, likely because I’m more familiar with Elizabeth’s life. The retelling felt more rigid and historically focused, lacking the drama and romance of the first book in the series. One scene involving Princess Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour felt unnecessarily graphic, and a trigger warning would have been appropriate. While the book was great overall, especially up until Robert’s death, it lost momentum for me afterward. Despite that, I’m excited to read the next one!

There are a few things I want to address in my review. Firstly, I am a huge fan of Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn. I’m fascinated by their stories and wish there were more first-hand accounts available from them. However, one thing about this particular story is that it wasn’t as captivating as Mary’s.

That could be because I already know a lot about Elizabeth’s life, and Mary’s story felt novel and new to me. Or, perhaps, the historical accuracy in Elizabeth’s tale felt more rigid compared to the freedom in Mary’s story. I’m not entirely sure. While I absolutely support stories that aim to portray history as it was, this retelling of Elizabeth’s life felt like it came from someone who read a few books on the Tudors rather than someone who deeply researched, learned, and cared about her story.

I’m not sure how else to explain it. The first book in this series was full of drama, truth, and some truly amazing romantic moments. In that aspect, I found this installment somewhat underwhelming. That said, the book is still well-written, and I love how each one connects to the next in the series.

My biggest issue with this book, however, is the overly graphic nature of one scene involving Princess Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour. While I know what happened in that scene is likely entirely true, I felt that the graphic detail was unnecessary. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t have any personal trauma related to that kind of content. I also think a trigger warning at the beginning of the book would have been appropriate for readers who might be sensitive to such material.

Overall, the book is great. The build-up and storyline are solid, and honestly, it was amazing up until (spoiler alert!) Robert’s death. After that, though, I feel like the book could have taken more creative liberties, similar to how the first one did. I expected a bit more creativity in Elizabeth’s story.

While this book is shorter than the first, it took me almost twice as long to finish because I lost interest toward the end. Still, I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read this authors previous book in which I throughly enjoyed this book is brilliant and it’s left a lump in my throat the story of Elizabeth from birth to her death #KindleUnlimited

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth's story is just as heartbreaking as Mary's but for completely different reasons. Elizabeth lost so much so young. Her mother, her sister, her household, everything ripped away by Henry. He is a disgusting human. I love how history has completely turned against King Henry. Elizabeth and Anne are remembered fondly. I hope that they found peace. This book exposes so much more of Elizabeth's pain and what she overcame. She tried to make her mother proud so Anne didnt die in vain. I love how strong Elizabeth is, but I saw some cracks and vulnerabilities throughout. I wish Elizabeth could see what we think of her and her mother and her rule. She is an inspiration but also a tale of such sadness. Poor women who lost way too much. This book is everything their lives deserved.

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love the most about this book is that it shows the good and bad of Elizabeth I and wasn’t biased at all, the haunted queen shows how much Elizabeth suffered especially as a child, but it also shows how ruthless and bloody she could be at times, I really appreciate that leah included how Elizabeth treated the Irish as it’s something that has been completely ignored for centuries.

This book includes all of Elizabeth’s life, but it doesn’t feel like the events are being rushed through.

I loved the whole story line about Elizabeth not wanting to be queen at all then changing her mind when she finds out that it’s what her mother had wanted for her, I thought it was very beautiful and creative.

Overall this book was amazing, just like the rest of Leah toole’s books I definitely recommend it!!

[Vickie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book on Elizabeth 1st. I especially loved how it describes the good and the bad that happened during Elizabeth’s reign, in contrast to usual views of Elizabeth being the most amazing queen who could do no bad and was beloved by everyone. This book humanises Elizabeth, showing that whilst she was a great queen, she was also just human, and her mistreatment during her childhood affected her in ways most would not consider. As with Anne Boleyn in chapters, Leah accurately depicts the two sides of Gloriana, showing her as both a queen and as a simple lady. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner by Leah Toole, as she delves into the extraordinary life of Elizabeth I. The Haunted Queen is Book 2 of the Tudor Heirs Series. I had known very little about Elizabeth I before reading this book. What a life she led during her 44 year reign as Queen of England. Thank you, Leah, for another amazing read. I say it again, I am so thrilled to have discovered your books! On to Book 3, The Puppet King!

[Cheyenne Minton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought it is a fiction book that is, of course, factual. I loved it very much. I'm excited to read about edwards rule over England in the next book

[Loubna 🤍 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Sad Princess in September, I was overjoyed to find out that Leah’s next book was going to be published very soon. I immediately bought it and I loved every second of it!

[Rosie Walling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of this series The Saddest Princess focusing on Mary Tudor was incredible so I was extremely excited to read this one about Elizabeth. But was unsure if she could make me fall in love with anyone the way she did make me fall in love with Mary. But by golly she did it! And she doesn’t do it by making the character perfect. She made Elizabeth human and relatable which is what made me love her flaws and all.

Like with Mary, Leah shows another side to the historical figure than what is mainly portrayed in current history. She uses facts and documented accounts to make clever judgements about what she believes the historical figure to truly be rather than random made up storylines.

It is a beautiful tale of Elizabeth’s life from birth until death. This book had me sobbing for a little while after I finished it. Although Leah portrays warts and all of Elizabeth’s character I felt so connected to her and like I had lived a whole lifetime with her.

Once again the writing was beautiful and the flow impeccable.

You do not have to be a Tudor buff to read either of the books released in this Tudor heirs series!

Wow! I can not wait to see more from
This Author!

[David Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from The Saddest Princess, this book focuses on Elizabeth I and I enjoyed it immensely. I had read some about Elizabeth before but this gives her a whole different spin and I LOVED IT! Highly recommend to anyone interested in the tudor era and Elizabeth I. You'll learn a lot about her reign which you might not have known.

[margaret mc auley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

An interesting imaginative insight into the life of Elizabeth 1st. and her motivations during her lengthy reign. Her past determined how she viewed life and her role as Queen, more like her Father and Sister than she realised. Probably best that the Tudor line died out.