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Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History
A provocative exploration of the life of Anne Boleyn through a feminist lens, examining her influence on the reformation and relevance for a new generation.
In a story that has intrigued readers for generations this Queen of England has been portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator and as a patsy in the schemes of fathers and kings. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a woman who was desired by the King and found a way to insist on an outcome other than becoming his mistress. She claimed power in a profoundly disempowering situation and was able to exert enormous influence and vision on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe, as a result. In this exploration of her life through the lens of a female priest in the Anglican Communion, readers will see a woman whose choices and personality continues to contribute to the conversation around women in history and how she remains the subject of fascination.
In a story that has intrigued readers for generations this Queen of England has been portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator and as a patsy in the schemes of fathers and kings. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a woman who was desired by the King and found a way to insist on an outcome other than becoming his mistress. She claimed power in a profoundly disempowering situation and was able to exert enormous influence and vision on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe, as a result. In this exploration of her life through the lens of a female priest in the Anglican Communion, readers will see a woman whose choices and personality continues to contribute to the conversation around women in history and how she remains the subject of fascination.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Martha Tatarnic
3 books7 followersMartha Tatarnic is an Anglican priest. She leads the big, busy downtown congregation of St. George's, St. Catharines in the Niagara region of Ontario. Martha’ second book, "Why Gather? The Hope and Promise of the Church" is published in June 2022. She has also authored "The Living Diet: A Christian Journey to Joyful Eating," an exploration of our relationship with food and our body through a Christian perspective. Details on writing, speaking engagements and her author’s journey can be found at https://marthatatarnic.ca
Martha and her husband Dan are parents to two wise teenagers and two funny dogs. Martha keeps emotionally and spiritually grounded by long distance running, singing as often as possible, and enjoying cake and great conversation with friends.
Martha and her husband Dan are parents to two wise teenagers and two funny dogs. Martha keeps emotionally and spiritually grounded by long distance running, singing as often as possible, and enjoying cake and great conversation with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Really had a difficult time deciding on how to rate this. There is so much great information in here, and it is extremely interesting. There were just too many opinions given throughout the book, too many 'I' statements given to give this a 5 star. Thought about going lower, but if that opinions had been left out, I would have given it a 5 star, so settled on a 4.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
I love watching movies and shows about the Tudors, so I thought why not try a book about it? And Anne Boleyn is such an interesting historical figure, so I was actually really excited to read this.
But… this was a miss for me.
The author already kind of lost me when she said on TikTok that the most popular historical women for Gen Z are Anne Boleyn and Joan of Arc. Like… be serious 😭 that just didn’t feel accurate at all.
While reading, I also felt like some information wasn’t fully reliable. There were a lot of moments where the author spoke from an “I think/I feel” perspective without really giving strong evidence, and that made it hard for me to trust what I was reading.
And I hate to say it, but it was also just… boring.
I really had to force myself to finish it, which is sad because I was genuinely interested in the topic.
Overall, I expected something more informative and engaging about such a fascinating historical figure, but this just didn’t deliver for me.
*thank you netgalley, the author, and the publishing team for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
But… this was a miss for me.
The author already kind of lost me when she said on TikTok that the most popular historical women for Gen Z are Anne Boleyn and Joan of Arc. Like… be serious 😭 that just didn’t feel accurate at all.
While reading, I also felt like some information wasn’t fully reliable. There were a lot of moments where the author spoke from an “I think/I feel” perspective without really giving strong evidence, and that made it hard for me to trust what I was reading.
And I hate to say it, but it was also just… boring.
I really had to force myself to finish it, which is sad because I was genuinely interested in the topic.
Overall, I expected something more informative and engaging about such a fascinating historical figure, but this just didn’t deliver for me.
*thank you netgalley, the author, and the publishing team for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2026
I really feel like this book should be renamed. It sets an expectation that you don’t really get when you read the book.
For most of this book I was going to rate it three stars and say it was a good entry point to learning more than you did at school. Then I got to the latter third.
Yes, the prose is easy to read. However, there are a lot of ‘I’s in this book and it’s the latter third where these really show up. These aren’t just about Anne or events of that time, they’re also about the author’s own experiences (e.g. time as a minister, pregnancy, and events attended with daughter). It was hard to know how these related to Anne’s story at times and often detracted from the book, rather than adding anything to it.
Another sticking point for me were the critiques of portrayals of Anne on television and in books. These felt difficult because of some of the author’s own points, which are debatable. For example, saying that Anne’s true influence is only known inside scholarly circles, when there are several great Channel 5 documentary here in the UK that go into this and are easily available. Also, that a body found in St Peter Ad Vincula is Anne Boleyn, when I believe this is now debated. Lastly, the comments around Anne’s portrayal in Six, feel like the author’s misunderstood the subtext & the point of the musical. It’s not meant to be a historically accurate representation but a way to engage new audiences. It’s a gorgeous anachronism.
So where am I with this book? To be honest - disappointed. There’s nothing really new here and all of the ‘I’s mean I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point for new learners. I’m almost not sure what it’s meant to be. Maybe if the title was different so it was clearer what to expect, my feelings might have been a little different. Or I may just have chosen not to pick it up.
Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for access to this ARC in return for an honest review.
For most of this book I was going to rate it three stars and say it was a good entry point to learning more than you did at school. Then I got to the latter third.
Yes, the prose is easy to read. However, there are a lot of ‘I’s in this book and it’s the latter third where these really show up. These aren’t just about Anne or events of that time, they’re also about the author’s own experiences (e.g. time as a minister, pregnancy, and events attended with daughter). It was hard to know how these related to Anne’s story at times and often detracted from the book, rather than adding anything to it.
Another sticking point for me were the critiques of portrayals of Anne on television and in books. These felt difficult because of some of the author’s own points, which are debatable. For example, saying that Anne’s true influence is only known inside scholarly circles, when there are several great Channel 5 documentary here in the UK that go into this and are easily available. Also, that a body found in St Peter Ad Vincula is Anne Boleyn, when I believe this is now debated. Lastly, the comments around Anne’s portrayal in Six, feel like the author’s misunderstood the subtext & the point of the musical. It’s not meant to be a historically accurate representation but a way to engage new audiences. It’s a gorgeous anachronism.
So where am I with this book? To be honest - disappointed. There’s nothing really new here and all of the ‘I’s mean I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point for new learners. I’m almost not sure what it’s meant to be. Maybe if the title was different so it was clearer what to expect, my feelings might have been a little different. Or I may just have chosen not to pick it up.
Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for access to this ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rescuing Anne Boleyn's Reputation: Tatarnic's interpretive and narrowly focused biography of Anne Boleyn, the doomed queen of Henry VIII, argues that history has largely miscast the queen in typical sexist fashion. Broadly known today as a temptress who caught Henry's eye while he was looking for a way to divorce his wife and sire sons, Anne was actually a devout religious reformer and sharp political mind. She found herself in a highly volatile court where power shifted on a dime. Her power, Tatarnic argues with a definite feminist angle, was less in her looks & sexuality and more in her reformer's drive and strong personality. It was Anne's religious zeal and willingness to welcome reformers' books into England that pushed Henry to eventually break with the pope. Politics and religion, this book argues, played more of a role in Anne's ascendancy than sex ever could have. That history remembers Anne as a temptress who soon lost favor with her king speaks to the role her detractors had in forming the public's opinion of her after her death. "Anne as a person of influence and impact gets reduced to Anne as a bad woman" (p 87).
Well-researched with a load of endnotes, the book offers a thorough overview of the many players who impacted Anne's life, marriage, and death. Tatarnic sees beyond Anne herself to imagine her secondary influence through her daughter Elizabeth, who eventually succeeded in making England Protestant. Overall I found the book an interesting exploration of a fascinating period of history.
The author clearly set out to counter popular opinion and defend Anne's character. But her occasional lapse into first person ("I suspect" "I believe" and the like) reveals a personal investment in rescuing Anne's reputation. It's not innacurate, as far as I can see, but her feminist leanings are evident. Whether you take feminist negatively or positively will likely influence how you enjoy this book.
Well-researched with a load of endnotes, the book offers a thorough overview of the many players who impacted Anne's life, marriage, and death. Tatarnic sees beyond Anne herself to imagine her secondary influence through her daughter Elizabeth, who eventually succeeded in making England Protestant. Overall I found the book an interesting exploration of a fascinating period of history.
The author clearly set out to counter popular opinion and defend Anne's character. But her occasional lapse into first person ("I suspect" "I believe" and the like) reveals a personal investment in rescuing Anne's reputation. It's not innacurate, as far as I can see, but her feminist leanings are evident. Whether you take feminist negatively or positively will likely influence how you enjoy this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this up as an ARC because Anne Boleyn is a historical figure I’m endlessly interested in, and I was drawn to the promise of a more modern, feminist-leaning perspective. While there are aspects of this book I appreciated, it didn’t fully work for me, and I ultimately chose not to finish it.
The writing itself is clear and accessible, which makes the book easy to read. However, I struggled with the overall approach. The narrative frequently shifts into the author’s personal reflections and interpretations, and for me, these moments often distracted from Anne Boleyn’s story rather than deepening it. I was hoping for a more structured, evidence-driven exploration of her life, and the reliance on subjective commentary made it harder for me to stay engaged.
That said, I can see how this book might resonate with readers who enjoy a more reflective, personal style of historical writing or who are looking for a conversational take rather than a traditional biography. While it wasn’t the right fit for my expectations, others may appreciate its accessibility and interpretive lens.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy for my honest review.
The writing itself is clear and accessible, which makes the book easy to read. However, I struggled with the overall approach. The narrative frequently shifts into the author’s personal reflections and interpretations, and for me, these moments often distracted from Anne Boleyn’s story rather than deepening it. I was hoping for a more structured, evidence-driven exploration of her life, and the reliance on subjective commentary made it harder for me to stay engaged.
That said, I can see how this book might resonate with readers who enjoy a more reflective, personal style of historical writing or who are looking for a conversational take rather than a traditional biography. While it wasn’t the right fit for my expectations, others may appreciate its accessibility and interpretive lens.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review ✨
On the whole, I did really enjoy reading this but I didn't learn anything particularly new about Anne Boleyn.
The author sets out her argument straight away, which becomes the theme of the whole book. She believes (rightly so) that Anne Boleyn's influence on the Church has been understated for centuries and has instead, been replaced by reductive, misogynistic views that have defined her legacy instead.
While I largely agree with everything she writes about, I feel like it gently skims the surface of the history without actually going right into it, but I suspected this as the author isn't a historian but a priest in the Anglican church, motivated by restoring Anne's legacy to rights.
It was an interesting read, but didn't reveal anything I didn't know already, and at times, lacked historical insight and persuasion. The last 20% of the book forayed into a long winded rant on feminism and the church, which I felt could have been summed up in a paragraph or two.
If you're an Anne Boleyn fan, this is probably worth picking up, but it probably won't tell you anything new.
On the whole, I did really enjoy reading this but I didn't learn anything particularly new about Anne Boleyn.
The author sets out her argument straight away, which becomes the theme of the whole book. She believes (rightly so) that Anne Boleyn's influence on the Church has been understated for centuries and has instead, been replaced by reductive, misogynistic views that have defined her legacy instead.
While I largely agree with everything she writes about, I feel like it gently skims the surface of the history without actually going right into it, but I suspected this as the author isn't a historian but a priest in the Anglican church, motivated by restoring Anne's legacy to rights.
It was an interesting read, but didn't reveal anything I didn't know already, and at times, lacked historical insight and persuasion. The last 20% of the book forayed into a long winded rant on feminism and the church, which I felt could have been summed up in a paragraph or two.
If you're an Anne Boleyn fan, this is probably worth picking up, but it probably won't tell you anything new.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Martha Tatarnic for providing me with a copy. The following review represents my honest opinion.
I am, unfortunately, disappointed in this book. The timeline jumps around, there are a number of "I" statements, and many of the assertions are without evidence. I went into this book expecting more of a traditional biography of Anne Boleyn through a feminist point of view but it was difficult to follow and felt underdeveloped. The author identifies quite closely with Boleyn, explicitly connecting her experiences with Boleyn's.
The saving grace of this book was the clarity of the writing. There was no attempt to sound flowery or confusing just for the sake of sounding academic. The writing is clear and easy to understand.
I do think this book has potential and I would happily read something else by this author but this one book wasn't for me.
I am, unfortunately, disappointed in this book. The timeline jumps around, there are a number of "I" statements, and many of the assertions are without evidence. I went into this book expecting more of a traditional biography of Anne Boleyn through a feminist point of view but it was difficult to follow and felt underdeveloped. The author identifies quite closely with Boleyn, explicitly connecting her experiences with Boleyn's.
The saving grace of this book was the clarity of the writing. There was no attempt to sound flowery or confusing just for the sake of sounding academic. The writing is clear and easy to understand.
I do think this book has potential and I would happily read something else by this author but this one book wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This biography reveals how Anne Boleyn defied expectations, refusing to be the king’s mistress and claiming power in a disempowering situation. Through the lens of a female priest, this book offers a fresh perspective on how Boleyn influenced the English Reformation and shaped the religious and political landscape of Europe.
I loved this! I’ve read a lot of books about Anne Boleyn, but this author’s personal perspective is unique and informative. We tend to talk about Henry VIII reforming the English church—but as this author points out, while Henry was the instrument, Anne was the guiding force. Her intellect drove the changes. I also like how the author frames Anne as the victim of intimate partner violence, which helps contextualize how we understand Anne’s life and death.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved this! I’ve read a lot of books about Anne Boleyn, but this author’s personal perspective is unique and informative. We tend to talk about Henry VIII reforming the English church—but as this author points out, while Henry was the instrument, Anne was the guiding force. Her intellect drove the changes. I also like how the author frames Anne as the victim of intimate partner violence, which helps contextualize how we understand Anne’s life and death.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book! I really appreciate it.
This book was really informative, but it dragged on for a bit, and there was a lot of repetitive and obsolete information. However, considering that it is a historical nonfiction novel, there was a large amount of "I" statements and personal opinions. It felt quite biased, which led to me feeling like I didn't learn a lot.
This book was really informative, but it dragged on for a bit, and there was a lot of repetitive and obsolete information. However, considering that it is a historical nonfiction novel, there was a large amount of "I" statements and personal opinions. It felt quite biased, which led to me feeling like I didn't learn a lot.
May 28, 2026
Read thanks to Netgalley. Not bad, but... Kinda missing the point. Don't get me wrong, nice amount of info about Anne and her growing up and what really push Henry to her, but also lots of feminism and how man is still against a woman on any position within the Church. I expected more about Anne as a history fan.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I am always looking for any book about the Tudor era but this was a pass for me. The author lost me after proclaiming herself a feminist and then saying she became a priest. Not my cup of tea. The book itself was a DNF for me.
I am always looking for any book about the Tudor era but this was a pass for me. The author lost me after proclaiming herself a feminist and then saying she became a priest. Not my cup of tea. The book itself was a DNF for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love Anne Boleyn…this was a great book. Just needs to be cleaned up a little bit more but otherwise great book on her life and history.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.
Did Not Finish
March 27, 2026I liked some parts of the book where Anne was with the French queen, her love for books, the way how string willed she was and how everyone in court wanted her gone.
It was a fresh interesting perspective on her life. But I felt it was not my type of story.
It was a fresh interesting perspective on her life. But I felt it was not my type of story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Dr. Tatarnic presents a biography of Anne Boleyn though the lens of her own career as a minister for the Anglican Church. Tatarnic admits early on that she hates the musical SIX and that the point of this book about Boleyn is to push strongly back against the lyrics: "Oh! I want to dance and sing! / Politics? Not my thing!"
Tatarnic presents a case that for anytime time Anne Boleyn spent dancing or singling, she spent a dozen more times being a politician and not just helping build the Anglican church, but being very much its founding mother. I think she might have gone slightly overboard in suggesting Anne and henry spent all their time reading theology, chaste as church mice, without sex being involved at all.
This biography focuses on the politics and theology of Anne Boleyn's career - but also on how her detractors, in trying to criticize her religious stance, lazily just called her a whore, ignoring the theological politics altogether, to the point that to day people forget about the central issue of the Reformation, and zero in on just the sex.
This book is a needed counter to all the biographies, historical fiction novels, TV shows, movies, documentaries, plays and musicals that focus on Boleyn's sexuality, ignoring the rather large elephant in the room of the Anglican Church.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews