The Queen's Sister: A vivid and imaginative historical novel of a life among the wives of King Henry VIII

by Carol McGrath

A mother, a wife, a woman of substance...

At nineteen, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and business woman. As her family in Wiltshire curry favour with King Henry, aided by Thomas Cromwell, Elizabeth makes Kexby Manor her home, finding loyalty among her people there.

Soon, news comes to Elizabeth of the King's desires for her sister, Jane and while her brother, Edward, encourages her own betrothal to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas. It is a happy second marriage for Elizabeth, but it brings unwanted involvement in the dark plots and secrecy of the court, while in the wider country, changes in religious practice threaten to alter the traditions and values of all she has known...

THE QUEEN'S SISTER vividly imagines the story of the woman possibly portrayed in Hans Holbein's beautiful painting 'Portrait of a Lady,' and is a colourful, meticulously researched novel of Tudor life behind the scenes.

What readers say about Carol McGrath's

'Another beautifully crafted, well-researched work of historical fiction from Carol McGrath'

'Brimming with intrigue, tension and adventure, The Lost Queen is a powerful Medieval tale full of atmosphere, danger and emotion and transports the reader to another world'

'The story of Matilda is strikingly brought to life with this beautiful written novel'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

My first degree is in History and English from Queens University Belfast. I have a postgraduate MA in writing from Queens University and an Mphil in writing from The Royal Holloway ,University of London. My debut novel The Handfasted Wife is the first in a Trilogy The Daughters of Hastings. The first is the story of 1066 and its aftermath from the perspective of the noble women. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister have followed. All have been best sellers. My new novel The Woman in the Shadows tells the tale of Thomas and Elizabeth Cromwell and is the story of an early Tudor marriage. I am now working on a medieval trilogy about 'she wolf' queens.

Reviews

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘How could Jane bring my family into the King’s orbit in such a manner, placing us Seymours so close to a fickle and dangerous man'?

Recently widowed and facing an uncertain future, Elizabeth Seymour is struggling to maintain her position amidst increasing financial hardship. However, when her sister Jane becomes Henry VIII’s third wife, Elizabeth suddenly finds herself drawn back into the centre of Tudor politics. A marriage to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas Cromwell, brings her yet closer to the political and religious upheaval reshaping England, where proximity to the King can be both a privilege and a peril.

Set during the first decade of Reformation England, The Queen’s Sister explores a period of immense change as Henry VIII establishes himself as Supreme Head of the Church and the dissolution of the monasteries gathers pace.

Through Elizabeth’s eyes, readers witness the delicate balancing act required to survive at court. Following Jane’s untimely death, the atmosphere becomes increasingly precarious as questions of succession once again dominate the King’s thinking. In an environment where alliances shift rapidly and words can become weapons, Elizabeth finds herself navigating increasingly dangerous waters.

Carol McGrath brings this turbulent era vividly to life, blending historical detail with an intimate personal story that captures both the uncertainty of a nation in transition and the constant danger faced by those living within the orbit of the Tudor court. The result is an immersive novel that transports readers into a world nearly 500 years past.

Rich in political intrigue and historical detail, The Queen’s Sister shines a light on a lesser-known Tudor woman while vividly recreating one of the most transformative periods in English history.

‘Letters will be taken and I fear words will be twisted and used to condemn...’

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Most of it was historically accurate, as per the author, but there were certain exceptions she added in that were fiction. I enjoyed reading it and learned more about that era, as well. As far as I can remember, no language and no sexual content, just good reading throughout. Recommend to all, especially anyone who enjoys history, especially during the Tudor time. Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers, and author for the ARC and opportunity to read The Queen’s Sister. My thoughts are my own and are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Annelies - In Another Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Seymour is married off at a young age to Anthony Burghed, and therefore resigns from her position as lady-in-waiting to queen Anne Boleyn. When her husband dies soon after, she inherits an estate in Kexby, where she needs to manage the household on her own. It is there that she hears of Anne’s fate and discovers that her sister is to become the new queen. And her ambitious family also wants to arrange a new marriage for Elizabeth.

McGrath returns with ‘The queen’s sister‘ to the Tudor period, and unlike the other books of hers I’ve read (the She wolves trilogy, The lost queen…), the main character is not a queen, nor are there two perspectives. McGrath focuses on Elizabeth Seymour, sister of Jane Seymour and wife of Gregory Cromwell, the son of Thomas Cromwell. In that sense, you could see it as another story about the Cromwell family, following McGrath’s ‘Mistress Cromwell’, which I still need to read. In any case, I find it an original and interesting choice to put Elizabeth Seymour at the center of the novel.

The title is somewhat misleading because Elizabeth does not experience her sister’s reign at court. The beginning of the book focuses on her time as a widow when she experiences the “Pilgrimage of Grace” in the north. It is actually in the second half of the novel, when she witnesses the marriage to Anne of Cleves as a lady-in-waiting, that she really gets close to the events.

In a way, the book was refreshing: we see a Seymour who is sympathetic toward Anne Boleyn, who is moderate in her religious views, and we witness Cromwell’s downfall up close. Hans Holbein is also an important character. Elizabeth is presumably the woman in his “Portrait of an Unknown Lady”—which was previously attributed to Catherine Howard—and so that portrait is also discussed at length.

At the same time, there was a lot packed into this book, and perhaps two perspectives would have been more interesting. But I did enjoy this book. Many Tudor books are coming out this year but this proved already a success.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Dutch review:
Elizabeth Seymour wordt al jong uitgehuwelijkt aan Anthony Burghed en daarvoor treed ze uit dienst als hofdame van Anne Boleyn. Wanneer haar man vroeg sterft, erft ze een estate in Kexby waar ze zelf haar boontjes dopt. Het is daar dat ze hoort over het lot van Anne en ontdekt dat haar zus de nieuwe koningin zal worden. En haar ambitieuze familie wil ook een nieuw huwelijke voor Elizabeth sluiten.

McGrath keert terug naar de Tudorperiode en in tegenstelling tot de andere boeken die ik van haar las is het hoofdpersonage geen koningin en zijn er ook geen twee perspectieven. McGrath kiest voor Elizabeth Seymour, zus van Jane Seymour en vrouw van Gregory Cromwell, de zoon van Thomas Cromwell. In die zin kan je het zien als opnieuw een verhaal over de Cromwell familie, na McGrath's Mistress Cromwell die ik nog moet lezen. Ik vind het in ieder geval een originele en interessante keuze.

De titel is wat misleidend want Elizabeth maakt de regeerperiode van haar zus aan het hof niet mee. Het begin van het boek focust net op haar periode als weduwe wanneer ze in het noorden de "Pilgrimace of the grace" meemaakt. Het is eigenlijk in de tweede helft wanneer ze het huwelijk met Anne Of Cleves meemaakt als hofdame dat ze echt dicht bij de gebeurtenissen komt.

Het boek was ergens wel verfrissend: we krijgen een Seymour die positief tov Anne Boleyn staat, die gematigd is in religie en we zien de val van Cromwell van dichtbij. Daarnaast is ook Hans Holbein een belangrijk personage. Elizabeth is vermoedelijk de vrouw op zijn 'Portrait of an unknown lady' - dat vroeger aan Catherine Howard werd toegeschreven - en dus komt ook dat portret uitvoerig aan bod.

Tegelijk zat er veel in dit boek wel veel tezamen en misschien waren twee perspectieven daarom interessanter geweest. Maar ik vond dit wel een fijn boek. Er komen dit jaar veel Tudorboeken uit, maar deze is alvast geslaagd.

Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I read this book, I never realized that Queen Jane had a sister. What a surprise! Apparently the two were not very close, for we really don’t encounter the queen except in passing. And the book is not about Queen Jane at all. Written in first person by Elizabeth Seymour, we get a peek at the difficult life of those within the royal circle who may not approve of what the king is doing, but who dare not voice their real opinion. In fact, Elizabeth mourns the late Queen Anne, and senses the presence of Anne’s spirit throughout the book. I think she is dubious about Jane’s position altogether, though she is careful to remain neutral. The book gets off to a slow start, but once I learn that she is to marry the son of Thomas Cromwell, my curiosity is piqued. Now, here is a potential battleground. And indeed, both husband and wife are cognizant of their fragile existence:

I speak softly, for I am about to offer what could be construed as criticism of a difficult king. ‘Gregory, don’t you see that rumour and idle talk around Lewes can harm us? You are only powerful as long as your father has the King’s ear. He could fall from grace. Other than the King’s position as Head of the Church and Thomas filling coffers with money from melted-down relics and other such Church wealth, he is a man who loves tradition. He does not like change.’ Gregory does not reply and leaves the parlour with an angry sweep of his gown.

Elizabeth and Gregory certainly benefit from Cromwell’s good fortune, and are given wonderful places to live, such as Leeds castle—to live in, not own. Their day-to-day existence is predicated on the king’s will, or Gregory’s father’s instructions. Elizabeth also must frequent court at times, especially when attending the new Queen Anne, who is very likeable but whose situation is precarious to all. Elizabeth must watch helplessly as Thomas Cromwell slips from royal favor. She does not approve of Thomas’s actions, especially his treatment of Anne Boleyn. But on the other hand, she loves her husband and also sees the personal side of her father in-law, which almost redeems him. Theirs is a complicated family life and, not knowing the fate of Gregory Cromwell, I was in mystery as to where his father’s fall would take them. It was a very interesting book.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Queen's Sister follows Elizabeth Seymour, sister to Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, as she navigates the intrigue, secrets, and shifting loyalties of the Tudor court through her marriage to Gregory Cromwell, son to the kings trusted advisor. Throughout the years she witnesses the political and religious upheaval shaping England during one of its most turbulent periods.

Carol McGrath's strong research and rich historical detail bring Tudor England to life, offering an engaging perspective on a lesser-known historical figure. While the pacing is slower and more character-driven than action-packed, it allows the relationships and court politics to develop naturally.

I found this book to be well-written and an immersive read for fans of Tudor historical fiction! Thank you to NetGalley, Carol McGrath and Headline Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seymour family was a gentry family that rose to prominence and nobility through their illustrious marriages. When we think about the Seymours and their marriages, the one marriage that shaped the future of the family is the marriage of Jane Seymour and King Henry VIII. But our story focuses on another Seymour daughter during the time of the Tudors. She was Jane’s sister who married three times and had numerous children. Her second marriage was to Gregory Cromwell, the son of Thomas Cromwell pushes Elizabeth Seymour straight into the middle of the Tudor court. Elizabeth soon learns that dark plots and conspiracies are afoot in the midst of religious change. Can Elizabeth and her family survive, or will the Tudor court be their downfall? Carol McGrath explores Elizabeth’s life in the Tudor court and in her family homes in her latest novel, “The Queen’s Sister.”

I would like to thank Carol McGrath and Headline Accent for sending me a copy of this novel. I have enjoyed the previous novels that I have read by Carol McGrath, so when I saw that she was exploring the world of the Tudors yet again, I was excited. I have heard of Elizabeth Seymour, but I did not know much about her story, so when Carol McGrath reached out and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing this novel, I was thrilled.

We begin Elizabeth’s story in 1537, when she is about to marry her second husband, Gregory Cromwell. Her sister Jane has recently married King Henry VIII after the death of Anne Bullen, and now Jane is pregnant with hopefully Henry’s heir. Elizabeth remembers her first marriage to Sir Anthony Ughtred. She had two children with Anthony, a son named Henry and a daughter named Margery, but Anthony never met his daughter as he died while Elizabeth was pregnant. Elizabeth moves to Kexby Manor and learns to be Lady Ughtred as well as a widowed mother.

Time passes, and her family decides that Elizabeth should remarry, and the man they have chosen for her is the son of Thomas Cromwell, Gregory Cromwell. Elizabeth and Gregory built a happy life full of love and many children, but life has a way of throwing curveballs. In this case, it was religious conspiracies, a former love, spies, the Pilgrimage of Grace, and the fall of Thomas Cromwell. Elizabeth has to navigate it all while looking after her family and her beloved Kexby Manor.

Our protagonist, Elizabeth, is a hard-working noblewoman who might have been the inspiration for Hans Holbein’s “Portrait of a Lady,” whose story deserves to be told, and McGrath was the perfect author to tell her tale. It gives more depth to the Tudor era, especially during the reigns of Jane Seymour and Anna of Cleves. If you are a fan of reading novels about lesser-known members of the Tudor court, I highly suggest you read “The Queen’s Sister” by Carol McGrath.

[Nicola Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Carol McGrath, Headline Accent and the Coffee Pot Book Club for my advanced copy of this novel. I received it at no cost, but my review is entirely honest.

This novel follows the life of Elizabeth, the sister of Queen Jane Seymour. It opens in the Yorkshire countryside, where the recently widowed Elizabeth, only nineteen, is already a mother, the manager of Kexby Manor and is becoming an enterprising cloth merchant and employer.

The story gives a vivid sense of what the religious upheavals of the sixteenth century must have felt like for ordinary people and how easy it was to be swept up in the changes and to fall into danger. I also felt the slower rhythm of Tudor life very clearly. Gossip travelled slowly, and the seasons and the church shaped every part of daily existence.

Elizabeth is still reeling from the news of the sudden arrest of Anne Boleyn when news arrives of the queen’s execution. Elizabeth was once Anne’s maid of honour, and the moral injustice of her former mistress’s fall feels very real. The shock of that moment is powerfully drawn. We know it is coming, reading in the comfort of the twenty‑first century, but Elizabeth has no such luxury. For her, it is a seismic event, made even more astonishing when she learns that her sister Jane will be the next queen of England.

Soon, news comes from her brother, Edward Symour, who encourages her second marriage to the son of Thomas Cromwell Gregory. It is a delicious second marriage for Elizabeth, and the joy she shares with her new husband shines through every scene. She sits for a painting with Hans Holbein, a moment that underlines just how elite her new family is.

But her marriage brings her into the shadows of courtly plots and secrecy, at the same time as religious change across the country threatens the traditions and values she has always lived by.

This is an exceptionally well written and well researched novel, and it stands out as a work worth reading. This is a five Star novel.

[Paige Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen's Sister by Carol McGrath is a richly imagined historical fiction novel that explores the hidden life of Elizabeth Seymour, offering readers a fascinating portrait of ambition, resilience, family loyalty, and survival during one of the most dramatic periods of Tudor history.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Elizabeth Seymour as a woman determined to create her own identity beyond the influence of the royal court. Her journey from a young widow connected to the tragedy of Anne Boleyn’s downfall to an independent landowner and business woman provides a compelling exploration of strength and reinvention.

The Tudor setting is beautifully developed, capturing the political uncertainty, religious transformation, and personal struggles that defined the era. Through Elizabeth’s experiences, readers gain insight into the complex relationships between power, family ambition, and survival within Henry VIII’s court.

Another compelling aspect of the novel is its exploration of the Seymour family’s rise and the difficult choices surrounding loyalty and advancement. Elizabeth’s connection to her sister Jane’s relationship with the King creates a fascinating emotional conflict as personal relationships become intertwined with political influence.

Carol McGrath’s attention to historical detail brings authenticity to the story, from the atmosphere of Tudor estates to the expectations placed upon women during the period. The novel balances historical events with personal drama, creating a deeply immersive reading experience.

For readers who enjoy Tudor fiction, historical biographies reimagined through storytelling, royal court intrigue, and character driven narratives, The Queen's Sister offers a captivating journey into the life of a woman standing at the crossroads of family, power, and history.

[Bookish Travels · Rating 4 out of 5]

While fiction based on the court of Henry VIII often feels oversaturated, Carol McGrath breathes new life into the era by shifting the spotlight to Elizabeth Seymour. As a young widow watching her sister Jane ascend to the throne in the shadow of Anne Boleyn’s execution, Elizabeth is a highly compelling figure caught in a web of shifting political alliances.

The strength of this novel lies in its meticulous world-building. Rather than focusing solely on royal pageantry, the narrative spends valuable time exploring the economic and social realities of the period, particularly Elizabeth’s management of her estate in Yorkshire and her involvement in the wool trade. The author beautifully contrasts the rural independence of the countryside with the paranoid, high-stakes atmosphere of London.

Elizabeth's marriage to Gregory Cromwell—the son of the notorious Thomas Cromwell—adds a fantastic layer of tension to the story. Watching her navigate a relationship with a family responsible for so much political upheaval provides excellent narrative weight, showing how ordinary people had to survive the whims of a volatile monarch. The pacing is steady and deliberate, prioritizing historical accuracy and internal growth over cheap drama.

Ultimately, this is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy deeply researched, slow-burn historical fiction. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh angle on the Tudor court that prioritizes the resilience and perspective of its women.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlotte reads history · Rating 4 out of 5]

She had a cloth business, a quiet estate, and absolutely no interest in court life. Then her family had other ideas. Elizabeth Seymour, sister of Jane Seymour, is the focus of Carol McGrath's latest novel.

My favourite section explored Elizabeth's life as a young widow away from the Tudor court, quietly focused on improving her estate and establishing a cloth business, much to the dismay of the wider Seymour family, who had rather grander plans once her sister was catapulted into the most exalted position in the land. Fate, of course, has other ideas, and once betrothed to Gregory Cromwell, Thomas Cromwell's son, Elizabeth is pulled straight back into court life as a support to Anne of Cleves.

Much of the novel explores the religious upheaval between the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and how it rippled through the great aristocratic families of the period. This was genuinely fascinating; I only had a vague sense that several families fled to Protestant Europe during Mary's reign, so experiencing this through Elizabeth's eyes brought it vividly to life.

The novel also views this turbulent period through Elizabeth's interactions with Hans Holbein, tracing his own rise and fall within the Tudor court. His Portrait of an Unknown Lady is now thought to depict Elizabeth herself, a lovely, knowing detail that ties the fiction neatly back to the history.

Thank you to @headlinebooks and the author for an advance, gifted copy of The Queen's Sister, out now.

Q: Had you heard of Elizabeth Seymour before this book?

[Valerie Mighall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Carol McGrath has managed to transport you right back into an age when women were the pawns of powerful men. In the Queen's Sister, Carol gives life to Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry V111. Elizabeth had previously been close to Anne Boleyn and feels her spirit everywhere. After the death of her first husband , Elizabeth marries Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas Cromwell and is drawn back onto the political stage, at a time of great turmoil with Henry having broken with Rome to enable him to marry Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth's marriage to Gregory is a happy one but she never completely trusts Thomas Cromwell holding him responsible for Anne's execution. After the marriage of her sister Jane to Henry, she fears for Jane if she does not produce the longed for son and is devastated at her death. Henry's disastrous marriage to Anne of Cleves, and the subsequent execution of Thomas Cromwell puts Elizabeth and her family in danger.
Although not fan of Henry VIII, a cruel and destructive King, I did enjoy this book very much and it was a very satisfactory read.

[Elizabeth John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen’s Sister is a truly fascinating and richly detailed novel that often reads more like narrative non-fiction than historical fiction. Carol McGrath’s meticulous research brings the Tudor world vividly to life through the experiences of Queen Jane Seymour’s sister, immersing the reader in the politics, social customs, household management, and economic realities of the period. The wealth of historical detail is completely addictive, making every chapter a pleasure to explore.

While the novel perhaps plays things a little safely on the emotional front—Lady Ughtred remains remarkably composed and unruffled throughout even the most turbulent events, including the death of two queens, marriage into the Cromwell family and the downfall of Anne of Cleves—the authenticity and depth of the historical setting more than compensate.

For readers who love being transported into the daily realities of Tudor England, this is an utterly absorbing and rewarding read.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the age of nineteen, Elisabeth has been married and widowed so she retreats to her dower property of Kexby to give birth to her second child and to regroup. The manor is struggling but Elisabeth is capable and she creates a community. However, Elisabeth cannot just retreat to the country, her life at court will follow her as her sister Jane is now queen and her new husband is the son of Thomas Cromwell, one of the most important men in the country.
I really liked the idea of creating a romantic fictionalised tale around the life of Elisabeth Seymour. The Seymour family became very prominent and much has been written about Jane, Edward and Thomas whereas their sister has faded away. McGrath has seen that as wife to Thomas Cromwell's son during the Dissolution of the monasteries and the scandal of the Cleves marriage so there is a lot of history which can be woven into her trademark romantic fiction and it works well.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again an impressive novel by Carol McGrath with meticulously researched historical details. Elizabeth's character is believable and convincing. The novel is written in the first person allowing the reader to have an insight into Elizabeth's thoughts. That's not all. It also enables the reader to make her/his own mind about this lady. Her life is an interesting one, particularly when one considers that at nineteen, Elizabeth was a widow and a mother. She had to look after herself and her family. No easy task, particularly when one is so very close to the throne and the terrible Henry VIII. But she was a pragmatic woman.... Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again this has been already published June 4th 2026 and I tried to edit the book details to show this but it won't change. At first I thought the author was throwing everything she had researched about the period onto the page and it was too much but either she eased off a bit or I got used to it. Whatever it still brought the period very much to life. I was drawn to read this in the first place because of reading and seeing on screen the Hilary Mantel novels about Thomas Cromwell. I was intrigued to read about his son's marriage to Jane Seymour's sister and get a different perspective on familiar characters. The main character Elizabeth Seymour is strong, kind and wise. Her various places of abode interesting. I am reminded I do like a good historical fiction now and then

[Heather Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book.

I wasn’t aware that Jane Seymour’s sister had married Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas Cromwell.

The court around King Henry VIII was precarious and reading this novel demonstrates just how dangerous it was. However this also succeeds in really bringing the characters to life as well as describing the world surrounding them.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant read that drew me into the world of Elizabeth Seymour through what must have been a chaotic time where success, failure, life and death are held in the hands of a quixotic King. Another must read that I didn’t want to end.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wrapped up in this story. I know little about this era and loved the well researched story. Tudor life is fascinating. Highly recommended.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read and fabulously written