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The Boleyn Secret: the spellbinding new Tudor novel by the Sunday Times bestselling author
From the bestselling author of SIX TUDOR QUEENS, a captivating new novel about two Boleyn cousins, close as sisters - and the truth that will change everything.
'Vivid and utterly addictive... brings to life a fascinating woman who has remained in the shadows for too long' TRACY BORMAN
'Her story is as fascinating as it is gripping... a remarkable woman who had a ring-side seat to some of the most precarious and pivotal passages of history' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE
A BOLEYN WOMAN IS NO STRANGER TO SECRETS...
At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death.
As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls are like sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind.
At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years.
It is a secret that will haunt Kate throughout her life, as her family flee into exile, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again...
PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION
'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' CONN IGGULDEN
'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD
'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINE
'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN
'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE
'Vivid and utterly addictive... brings to life a fascinating woman who has remained in the shadows for too long' TRACY BORMAN
'Her story is as fascinating as it is gripping... a remarkable woman who had a ring-side seat to some of the most precarious and pivotal passages of history' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE
A BOLEYN WOMAN IS NO STRANGER TO SECRETS...
At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death.
As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls are like sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind.
At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years.
It is a secret that will haunt Kate throughout her life, as her family flee into exile, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again...
PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION
'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' CONN IGGULDEN
'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD
'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINE
'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN
'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE
Audible Audio
Published May 21, 2026
About the author
Alison Weir
84 books8,602 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 18, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm always excited to jump into the newest Alison Weir book. Having written fictional accounts of Henry VIII, all six of his wives, his mother and daughters, and even his closest advisor, Weir is now delving into uncharted territory with a book about the Tudor king’s likely-illegitimate daughter, Katherine Carey. The eldest child of Henry’s former mistress, Mary Boleyn, and niece to Anne Boleyn, we come upon Kate at the tender age of twelve, when she is called to wait upon the disgraced queen during her imprisonment in the Tower. As Weir herself later admits, this may be more myth than history, but it forms the basis of Kate's hatred for the poisonous king who, unbeknownst to her, is also her biological father.
Alison Weir’s novels have a cozy vibe to them, and they always start strong. The irony of Kate despising Henry, only to one day learn their true connection, is set up well, although the moment of the big reveal doesn’t quite pack the punch that it should, and is dropped not long thereafter. Through Kate, we get to experience the reigns of four English monarchs, and see Elizabeth (who, the more I read about her, the more she comes across like a sociopath) through the eyes of one of her closest confidantes. Less is known about Kate’s life than those of Weir’s other subjects, giving her room to be more creative in how she crafts the story. Unfortunately, this is an opportunity that Weir does not seize, instead falling back on her habit of narrativized history over historical storytelling. Kate has many, many children, all of whose births are relayed to us, but none of whom become dynamic characters in their own right. There is a deep love between Kate and her husband, Francis, which is intended as the focal point of the book, but their romance is fairly bland and unremarkable.
More compelling is Kate’s close twenty-year bond with her stepfather, William Stafford, whom we learn was much more involved in court affairs than previously known (he even got remarried to a granddaughter of Margaret Pole, cousin of Elizabeth of York) as well as a devout Protestant convert. I would have liked to know if this was borne out of Weir’s research or if she decided to emphasize their relationship for the purpose of the story. Kate’s brother, Henry, by contrast, is rarely ever mentioned (in one unintentionally funny scene, Kate learns that Henry has had five kids since the last time she spoke to him). Weir may also be the one Tudor historian still stubbornly aboard the Jane-Boleyn-was-evil train. Despite many other historians conceding that the primary evidence for Jane’s treachery simply isn’t there, Weir makes it plain that she believes Jane betrayed the Boleyn siblings to their deaths, which she implies was spurred by years of sexual abuse at her husband’s hands (why Jane receives so little sympathy for being subjected to George's cruelty, however, is beyond me).
Unfortunately, The Boleyn Secret is worn down by the same issues as most of Alison Weir’s fictional novels: telling instead of showing, and length. This book is way, way too long. Even with a merciful time skip during Edward VI’s reign, the print book (I read the e-book) comes in at over 550 pages long. Not enough happens to justify the size beyond not wanting to cut a single detail. In that case, Weir should have opted for a traditional biography instead of a novel. Huge swaths of this book were plodding and uneventful, and it greatly weakened what could have been a much stronger novel.
I'm always excited to jump into the newest Alison Weir book. Having written fictional accounts of Henry VIII, all six of his wives, his mother and daughters, and even his closest advisor, Weir is now delving into uncharted territory with a book about the Tudor king’s likely-illegitimate daughter, Katherine Carey. The eldest child of Henry’s former mistress, Mary Boleyn, and niece to Anne Boleyn, we come upon Kate at the tender age of twelve, when she is called to wait upon the disgraced queen during her imprisonment in the Tower. As Weir herself later admits, this may be more myth than history, but it forms the basis of Kate's hatred for the poisonous king who, unbeknownst to her, is also her biological father.
Alison Weir’s novels have a cozy vibe to them, and they always start strong. The irony of Kate despising Henry, only to one day learn their true connection, is set up well, although the moment of the big reveal doesn’t quite pack the punch that it should, and is dropped not long thereafter. Through Kate, we get to experience the reigns of four English monarchs, and see Elizabeth (who, the more I read about her, the more she comes across like a sociopath) through the eyes of one of her closest confidantes. Less is known about Kate’s life than those of Weir’s other subjects, giving her room to be more creative in how she crafts the story. Unfortunately, this is an opportunity that Weir does not seize, instead falling back on her habit of narrativized history over historical storytelling. Kate has many, many children, all of whose births are relayed to us, but none of whom become dynamic characters in their own right. There is a deep love between Kate and her husband, Francis, which is intended as the focal point of the book, but their romance is fairly bland and unremarkable.
More compelling is Kate’s close twenty-year bond with her stepfather, William Stafford, whom we learn was much more involved in court affairs than previously known (he even got remarried to a granddaughter of Margaret Pole, cousin of Elizabeth of York) as well as a devout Protestant convert. I would have liked to know if this was borne out of Weir’s research or if she decided to emphasize their relationship for the purpose of the story. Kate’s brother, Henry, by contrast, is rarely ever mentioned (in one unintentionally funny scene, Kate learns that Henry has had five kids since the last time she spoke to him). Weir may also be the one Tudor historian still stubbornly aboard the Jane-Boleyn-was-evil train. Despite many other historians conceding that the primary evidence for Jane’s treachery simply isn’t there, Weir makes it plain that she believes Jane betrayed the Boleyn siblings to their deaths, which she implies was spurred by years of sexual abuse at her husband’s hands (why Jane receives so little sympathy for being subjected to George's cruelty, however, is beyond me).
Unfortunately, The Boleyn Secret is worn down by the same issues as most of Alison Weir’s fictional novels: telling instead of showing, and length. This book is way, way too long. Even with a merciful time skip during Edward VI’s reign, the print book (I read the e-book) comes in at over 550 pages long. Not enough happens to justify the size beyond not wanting to cut a single detail. In that case, Weir should have opted for a traditional biography instead of a novel. Huge swaths of this book were plodding and uneventful, and it greatly weakened what could have been a much stronger novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2026
I'm as big a Tudor fan as anyone. So, of course, I admire Alison Weir, a recognized scholar and bestselling author of all things Tudor. Unlike most other Tudor authors, Weir writes both fiction and non-fiction. But THE BOLEYN SECRET felt less like fiction to me than other Weir novels I've read. I wouldn't call it a clunker but I only gave it three stars.
This book's protagonist is Katherine Carey*, daughter of Mary Boleyn and friend-cousin-lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Katherine is usually an invisible historical figure. So, I was looking forward to Weir fleshing her out and learning more about her life living so close to the dysfunctional Tudor royal family. I did learn some. But, for me, the Katherine of this book remained two-dimensional. She observed a lot of history, but always remained somewhat removed.
The story begins with Katherine (age 12) witnessing the execution of her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn. She becomes a playmate for young Princess Elizabeth which allows us, through second hand gossip, to learn about King Henry VIII's four subsequent marriages. Eventually, Katherine goes to court as a lady-in-waiting to two queens and, at the age of 16, marries Francis Knollys. Their marriage is a happy one, peppered with many pregnancies (16!). Along the way, readers glean information about multiple monarchs [Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey (if you count her), Mary I, and Elizabeth I].
As I progressed through this novel, I increasingly felt Weir wasn't clear about whose story she was telling. It's not really about a Boleyn secret - because that gets revealed about 1/3 of the way in and turns out to be more well-known conjecture than big surprise. The book contains way too much extraneous detail to simply be a story about the life of Katherine Carey. And while Katherine's life was certainly impacted by this era's contention around religion, the novel is more than a story about the tension between Catholics and Protestants.
In addition, the book felt too heavily weighted toward narration instead of dialogue. Weir explains so much, rather than allowing the characters to show us. For example, there are explanations about some of the differences between the two religions. There's horrible detail about the many Protestants burned by Queen Mary. There's extensive discussion about Queen Elizabeth not wanting to marry. Even a lot of attention to the mysterious death of Amy Robsart Dudley, wife of royal favorite Robert Dudley. And even when content IS shared through back and forth conversations between characters - I simply didn't find the dialogue the least bit believable.
The result is that THE BOLEYN SECRET felt tediously long (560 pages) and slow. While I'm generally a fan of including period detail to increase authenticity, I felt too much was heavy-handed and only tangentially related to Katherine's life. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if it had been written in Katherine's first person voice. Instead, she was mostly a witness in the room.
Or, perhaps, as a historian, Weir just knows so much about this period, it's hard for her to not include everything. It may also be that I'm a reader who already knows too much about the Tudors. I bet the book will be more engaging to those who were new to the Tudor world.
Overall, I still recommend THE BOLEYN SECRET. But I certainly wouldn't describe it as a page-turner and I've found other novels by Weir much more skillfully written. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where Weir reveals what is actually known about Katherine Carey and what is made up.
This book's protagonist is Katherine Carey*, daughter of Mary Boleyn and friend-cousin-lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Katherine is usually an invisible historical figure. So, I was looking forward to Weir fleshing her out and learning more about her life living so close to the dysfunctional Tudor royal family. I did learn some. But, for me, the Katherine of this book remained two-dimensional. She observed a lot of history, but always remained somewhat removed.
The story begins with Katherine (age 12) witnessing the execution of her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn. She becomes a playmate for young Princess Elizabeth which allows us, through second hand gossip, to learn about King Henry VIII's four subsequent marriages. Eventually, Katherine goes to court as a lady-in-waiting to two queens and, at the age of 16, marries Francis Knollys. Their marriage is a happy one, peppered with many pregnancies (16!). Along the way, readers glean information about multiple monarchs [Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey (if you count her), Mary I, and Elizabeth I].
As I progressed through this novel, I increasingly felt Weir wasn't clear about whose story she was telling. It's not really about a Boleyn secret - because that gets revealed about 1/3 of the way in and turns out to be more well-known conjecture than big surprise. The book contains way too much extraneous detail to simply be a story about the life of Katherine Carey. And while Katherine's life was certainly impacted by this era's contention around religion, the novel is more than a story about the tension between Catholics and Protestants.
In addition, the book felt too heavily weighted toward narration instead of dialogue. Weir explains so much, rather than allowing the characters to show us. For example, there are explanations about some of the differences between the two religions. There's horrible detail about the many Protestants burned by Queen Mary. There's extensive discussion about Queen Elizabeth not wanting to marry. Even a lot of attention to the mysterious death of Amy Robsart Dudley, wife of royal favorite Robert Dudley. And even when content IS shared through back and forth conversations between characters - I simply didn't find the dialogue the least bit believable.
The result is that THE BOLEYN SECRET felt tediously long (560 pages) and slow. While I'm generally a fan of including period detail to increase authenticity, I felt too much was heavy-handed and only tangentially related to Katherine's life. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if it had been written in Katherine's first person voice. Instead, she was mostly a witness in the room.
Or, perhaps, as a historian, Weir just knows so much about this period, it's hard for her to not include everything. It may also be that I'm a reader who already knows too much about the Tudors. I bet the book will be more engaging to those who were new to the Tudor world.
Overall, I still recommend THE BOLEYN SECRET. But I certainly wouldn't describe it as a page-turner and I've found other novels by Weir much more skillfully written. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where Weir reveals what is actually known about Katherine Carey and what is made up.
June 6, 2026
This story follows Katherine Carey from age 12 until her death. This unfolds during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. This is one of the best books I’ve read during this timeframe and I learned so much. This was a real page turner. Kept my attention from beginning to end. It is evident Alison Weir has done outstanding research. Amazing narrator. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ALC and ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ALC and ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
May 20, 2026
If you love Tudor history and stories about Henry VIII and his wives, The Boleyn Secret is a great read. I especially enjoyed how the story focused on Catherine, following her life from being Anne Boleyn’s cousin to her experiences at court. The political intrigue, relationships, and historical details made the novel engaging from start to finish. The narration was also excellent and really helped bring the characters and emotions to life. A wonderful historical fiction novel for fans of the Tudor era.
January 25, 2026
At first, I was really interested in the story, but as the chapters went by I think it dragged on. There was a lot of repetition and I don't believe it needed to be so dragged out to 500 pages. The secret was also a let down? It makes barely any impact on the story. I understand that that is probably true to the nature of the real story, although I confess I don't know this much about history and the personal lives of past monarchs, but what brought me to keep reading after the secret was revealed was how it serves the narrative. I appreciate the amount of work and research that must have gone into this, but for me the repetition took me out of the story a lot, and I believe some parts weren't necessary. It reads like Kate's diary.
The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but a little lackluster in my opinion. The mother I didn't care for, the father I wish I knew more about so that I could feel something about him and the whole situation, and Elizabeth... she's the most fleshed out character of all of them (including Kate) and I did appreciate seeing that, but I also didn't like her. Fair, maybe I'm not meant to. Kate's character felt a little all over the place. Going back to her parents and the backstory, I think it would have made a nice understanding of how/ why Kate is the way she is. She had no identity, no views, nothing, and is easily pushed by her husband. Except from the end where she had a litter of kids (again, going back to how it reads like a diary, I don't believe I needed to read about each of her children, which served nothing to the story, except to show that yes people had a lot of kids in that time.) I did, however, feel very sorry for Kate for being surrounded by selfish people. At first, I was disappointed in the ending, but I do think it suits the theme of the story.
However, I do appreciate the author writing about a person and part of history that isn't widely known (or at least, I didn't know!)
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but a little lackluster in my opinion. The mother I didn't care for, the father I wish I knew more about so that I could feel something about him and the whole situation, and Elizabeth... she's the most fleshed out character of all of them (including Kate) and I did appreciate seeing that, but I also didn't like her. Fair, maybe I'm not meant to. Kate's character felt a little all over the place. Going back to her parents and the backstory, I think it would have made a nice understanding of how/ why Kate is the way she is. She had no identity, no views, nothing, and is easily pushed by her husband. Except from the end where she had a litter of kids (again, going back to how it reads like a diary, I don't believe I needed to read about each of her children, which served nothing to the story, except to show that yes people had a lot of kids in that time.) I did, however, feel very sorry for Kate for being surrounded by selfish people. At first, I was disappointed in the ending, but I do think it suits the theme of the story.
However, I do appreciate the author writing about a person and part of history that isn't widely known (or at least, I didn't know!)
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
June 22, 2026
Whilst I found this book interesting and an enjoyable foray into historical fiction, it was very long! And I just kept wanting to know the 'secret' and I felt it took quite a while to get there.
June 8, 2026
Advanced audio copy received through netgalley.
I am a big Tudor fan so I was excited to receive this.
We follow the daughter of Mary Boleyn, Catherine, through her life surrounded by the Tudor court and her close connection to Elizabeth. I must confess I did not know much about Catherine prior to this novel so I appreciated hearing the supporting research at the end.
The book explores a lot of the history that unfolded at the court throughout the Tudor reign of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth and we gain insight into the changes, social, religious and political, through the characters' close connections to royalty. It also touches on the many children that Catherine had although she didn't seem to have a truly developed character and came across a bit complacent in contract to Elizabeth who appears more complex.
Whilst I did think the 500+ pages of this book seemed excessive, the narration by Rosalyn Landor did keep me interested.
I would rate this more in the area of 3.5 but rounded up as I enjoyed the historical context.
I am a big Tudor fan so I was excited to receive this.
We follow the daughter of Mary Boleyn, Catherine, through her life surrounded by the Tudor court and her close connection to Elizabeth. I must confess I did not know much about Catherine prior to this novel so I appreciated hearing the supporting research at the end.
The book explores a lot of the history that unfolded at the court throughout the Tudor reign of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth and we gain insight into the changes, social, religious and political, through the characters' close connections to royalty. It also touches on the many children that Catherine had although she didn't seem to have a truly developed character and came across a bit complacent in contract to Elizabeth who appears more complex.
Whilst I did think the 500+ pages of this book seemed excessive, the narration by Rosalyn Landor did keep me interested.
I would rate this more in the area of 3.5 but rounded up as I enjoyed the historical context.
Read
May 4, 2026The Boleyn Secret is very much standard fare for Alison Weir: competently written, atmospherically Tudor, and firmly situated within the interpretive universe she has built across her historical novels. Longtime readers will recognize the familiar rhythms of her characterization and thematic interests, but they may also find little here that feels new or revelatory.
The greatest weakness lies in the portrayal of Catherine Carey. Despite the historical record suggesting a marriage of intellectual and emotional equality, Catherine is given remarkably little agency. I kept waiting for her to demonstrate the qualities that would justify her husband’s evident regard, but those moments never truly arrived, leaving her frustratingly underdeveloped.
Weir’s Elizabeth I, by contrast, is vividly drawn, if unevenly so. I appreciated the willingness to explore Elizabeth’s full spectrum of cruelty, and I spent much of the novel genuinely furious with her, a reaction that speaks to the power of the portrayal. At times, however, that cruelty tips into something more simplistic, edging toward a villainous caricature rather than a complex ruler shaped by fear, politics, and survival. In the end, The Boleyn Secret is readable and familiar, but unlikely to surprise or deeply satisfy readers hoping for fresh insight.
The greatest weakness lies in the portrayal of Catherine Carey. Despite the historical record suggesting a marriage of intellectual and emotional equality, Catherine is given remarkably little agency. I kept waiting for her to demonstrate the qualities that would justify her husband’s evident regard, but those moments never truly arrived, leaving her frustratingly underdeveloped.
Weir’s Elizabeth I, by contrast, is vividly drawn, if unevenly so. I appreciated the willingness to explore Elizabeth’s full spectrum of cruelty, and I spent much of the novel genuinely furious with her, a reaction that speaks to the power of the portrayal. At times, however, that cruelty tips into something more simplistic, edging toward a villainous caricature rather than a complex ruler shaped by fear, politics, and survival. In the end, The Boleyn Secret is readable and familiar, but unlikely to surprise or deeply satisfy readers hoping for fresh insight.
Read
January 26, 2026Tudor novels excite me. Especially ones set around Anne Boleyn. Katherine Carey is right at the heart of the Anne Boleyn’s execution which is traumatising for her as she was only a teenager.
Katherine then goes onto play a part in the fringes of the Tudor Court, through Henry’s next two wives, and the next three monarchy’s.
This is the first novel that I have read that has included Mary Tudor’s reign and I found this quite traumatic.
I guessed the secret straight away – the fact that Henry had liaisons with Anne Boleyn’s sister is quite a well-known Tudor fact so it could be that the her child could be Henry’s. Katherine is not granted access to the King’s thoughts, and once she made up her mind that Henry was a monster she repeated this ad nauseum until his death.
I found Kate to be a woman of her time. 12 Children and a husband who just seemed to like making babies and being at Court. Katherine has no real opinion of her own and whilst showing herself to be capable of running the manor she doesn’t really stand up for herself; or frame any view other than that of her her husband.
I think maybe the length of the novel and the time periods it skimmed over put me off. Maybe if it had spent more time in one period rather than Henry, Mary and Elizabeth’s rein I would have enjoyed it more. But for me it was to long and tom detailed with events that didn’t need the tine spent on it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This one is for hardcore Tudor lovers.
Katherine then goes onto play a part in the fringes of the Tudor Court, through Henry’s next two wives, and the next three monarchy’s.
This is the first novel that I have read that has included Mary Tudor’s reign and I found this quite traumatic.
I guessed the secret straight away – the fact that Henry had liaisons with Anne Boleyn’s sister is quite a well-known Tudor fact so it could be that the her child could be Henry’s. Katherine is not granted access to the King’s thoughts, and once she made up her mind that Henry was a monster she repeated this ad nauseum until his death.
I found Kate to be a woman of her time. 12 Children and a husband who just seemed to like making babies and being at Court. Katherine has no real opinion of her own and whilst showing herself to be capable of running the manor she doesn’t really stand up for herself; or frame any view other than that of her her husband.
I think maybe the length of the novel and the time periods it skimmed over put me off. Maybe if it had spent more time in one period rather than Henry, Mary and Elizabeth’s rein I would have enjoyed it more. But for me it was to long and tom detailed with events that didn’t need the tine spent on it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This one is for hardcore Tudor lovers.
May 26, 2026
The Boleyn Secret follows the life of Katherine Carey, who was the niece of Queen Anne Boleyn. In 1536, Katherine was sent to the Tower of London to become a lady-in-waiting to her aunt, Anne Boleyn. She witnesses Anne Boleyn’s execution which had a profound effect upon her. Immediately afterwards, Katherine forms a close bond with Princess Elizabeth, who has been declared illegitimate upon her mother’s execution. When Katherine’s mother, Mary Boleyn, falls ill and is dying, she tells Katherine a secret that changes her life forever.
Katherine Carey is one of the most mysterious figures in the Tudor. This is because many historians have believed that she was secretly the daughter of King Henry VIII. Therefore, I was intrigued by how Mrs. Weir approaches the subject. I found Katherine’s character development to be pretty bland. She seems like she is mostly a background character. She is largely overshadowed by her husband and later on Queen Elizabeth. Katherine Carey immediately falls in love with Francis Knollys, who is a courtier under King Henry VIII. She soon marries him and bears his children. Francis is devoted to the Protestant faith, and Katherine becomes a Protestant because of him. When she becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she is upset because she wants to be at home raising her family. However, she realizes that she must put Queen Elizabeth’s needs above that of herself, her husband, and her children. Therefore, I found Katherine to be a very weak character. I wanted her to have more of a backbone and stand up to Queen Elizabeth at times.
Overall, this book is about secrets, family, and duty. I did like the characterization of most of the characters. Queen Elizabeth was the one I found most fascinating. I thought that this novel was meticulously researched, and I thought the descriptions of the Tudor court were well-done. I did think that this novel was very repetitive and drawn out at times. It could easily have been much shorter. Nevertheless, The Boleyn Secret was still a very enjoyable and fascinating read! I liked that it told the story of the Tudors from a different perspective! I recommend this book for fans of Rival to the Queen, The Queen’s Governess, and The Boleyn Bride!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Katherine Carey is one of the most mysterious figures in the Tudor. This is because many historians have believed that she was secretly the daughter of King Henry VIII. Therefore, I was intrigued by how Mrs. Weir approaches the subject. I found Katherine’s character development to be pretty bland. She seems like she is mostly a background character. She is largely overshadowed by her husband and later on Queen Elizabeth. Katherine Carey immediately falls in love with Francis Knollys, who is a courtier under King Henry VIII. She soon marries him and bears his children. Francis is devoted to the Protestant faith, and Katherine becomes a Protestant because of him. When she becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she is upset because she wants to be at home raising her family. However, she realizes that she must put Queen Elizabeth’s needs above that of herself, her husband, and her children. Therefore, I found Katherine to be a very weak character. I wanted her to have more of a backbone and stand up to Queen Elizabeth at times.
Overall, this book is about secrets, family, and duty. I did like the characterization of most of the characters. Queen Elizabeth was the one I found most fascinating. I thought that this novel was meticulously researched, and I thought the descriptions of the Tudor court were well-done. I did think that this novel was very repetitive and drawn out at times. It could easily have been much shorter. Nevertheless, The Boleyn Secret was still a very enjoyable and fascinating read! I liked that it told the story of the Tudors from a different perspective! I recommend this book for fans of Rival to the Queen, The Queen’s Governess, and The Boleyn Bride!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
June 5, 2026
3.5! I love historical fiction and everything Tudor, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this ARC. The Boleyn Secret follows Katherine (Kate), the daughter of Mary Boleyn. It spans from her time in the Tower with Anne Boleyn to her final days serving Queen Elizabeth. The interesting part of this story is the bond between suspected sisters, Kate and Elizabeth, while it’s never confirmed between them.
As a main character, Kate is the trad wife final boss. She fits in with the times and wants nothing more than to be with her husband. It’s interesting to imagine a world where Henry married Mary, considering their daughter, Kate, has almost 20 children. That being said I found Kate’s husband a huge bore and his era appropriate views a drag to hear. It didn’t need to be laid on so heavy we’re well aware how women were treated at the time. If it’s a love story make me like the characters.
Elizabeth, who thinks for herself, is painted as a villain, much like Anne would be in Mary’s story. Compared to another author’s recent release, Boleyn Traitor, this story isn’t new or interesting as far as a woman’s story goes. This is history so we know Elizabeth goes on to have a great rule so why spend so much time criticizing her other than to continue the have baby and settle down agenda. While I understand that’s the period, it’s hard to hear so much “women can’t rule” and just have the main character agree. Since most of it is creative liberty, why not let Kate understand Elizabeth’s choices even a little the way the modern reader might? One might even call Alison Weir’s version of Kate a pick-me.
It’s still a great Tudor read, and I enjoyed my time listening to it!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the advance reader copy!
As a main character, Kate is the trad wife final boss. She fits in with the times and wants nothing more than to be with her husband. It’s interesting to imagine a world where Henry married Mary, considering their daughter, Kate, has almost 20 children. That being said I found Kate’s husband a huge bore and his era appropriate views a drag to hear. It didn’t need to be laid on so heavy we’re well aware how women were treated at the time. If it’s a love story make me like the characters.
Elizabeth, who thinks for herself, is painted as a villain, much like Anne would be in Mary’s story. Compared to another author’s recent release, Boleyn Traitor, this story isn’t new or interesting as far as a woman’s story goes. This is history so we know Elizabeth goes on to have a great rule so why spend so much time criticizing her other than to continue the have baby and settle down agenda. While I understand that’s the period, it’s hard to hear so much “women can’t rule” and just have the main character agree. Since most of it is creative liberty, why not let Kate understand Elizabeth’s choices even a little the way the modern reader might? One might even call Alison Weir’s version of Kate a pick-me.
It’s still a great Tudor read, and I enjoyed my time listening to it!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the advance reader copy!
June 11, 2026
I have never been one to believe that the Carey children were the children of Henry VIII. But, after reading this book, I’m willing to give a bit more credence that Katherine Carey may have been his daughter. After all, for what reason would he need to claim another girl?
I always enjoy reading history about those I don’t know as much about. Katherine Carey is one such figure. Before this book I knew she was a friend, cousin, etc to Elizabeth and knew she served her after she became Queen. Everything else, from the loving marriage she had, to how many children there were and the struggles with faith, that was all new to me.
I will say that even though the book is long, as all Weir’s books tend to be, I wish Katherine’s character had been fleshed out even more. I do feel I got to know her but it always seemed that knowing was through something else, if that makes sense.
I always enjoy reading history about those I don’t know as much about. Katherine Carey is one such figure. Before this book I knew she was a friend, cousin, etc to Elizabeth and knew she served her after she became Queen. Everything else, from the loving marriage she had, to how many children there were and the struggles with faith, that was all new to me.
I will say that even though the book is long, as all Weir’s books tend to be, I wish Katherine’s character had been fleshed out even more. I do feel I got to know her but it always seemed that knowing was through something else, if that makes sense.
May 31, 2026
I’ve not read much about Katherine Carey before beyond her being just a mention or small child in other Tudor historical fiction so I was very excited about this one. What a life she had! I really loved the way she was written. Yes, a little naive and idealistic at times, but so kind, loving and loyal. I loved seeing her grow up during such an incredibly volatile time in history between Henry VIII’s changing moods and temper to Mary’s vengeance and Elizabeth’s stubbornness. I LOVED how Elizabeth was written and enjoyed seeing her relationship with Kat, even though her selfishness and unkindness drove me crazy sometimes. I also really enjoyed the book using the theory that Katherine was Henry’s daughter and I found their scenes together so tense and interesting! I loved Mary Boleyn and Will Stafford so much. I was not expecting to cry during the book, but as always, I cry anytime I read about Anne Boleyn’s execution (which was done so beautifully here), I cried when Mary died and also at the very end. It’s a sweeping, multi decade saga filled with drama, tension and political intrigue and I think any Tudor historical fiction lover will enjoy it so much.
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the digital reader’s copy!
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the digital reader’s copy!
June 3, 2026
Tudor England seen from the eyes of Catherine Carey. Catherine is the daughter of Mary Boleyn and William Carey but rumor was that her father really was Henry the 8th.
This book starts right before Anne Boleyn is executed and goes to the death of Catherine. You see the relationship between Catherine and Elizabeth especially as Elizabeth becomes queen. A good focus of the book is when the Protestant religion is starting to take hold among the English people. Catherine was catholic and then switched to being Protestant. You see the fear that must have been growing when Mary became queen and she was wanting to get rid of all heretics and make England catholic.
A really good book! Just felt like it was a tad long. But the narrator did a great job ! I was never bored! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
This book starts right before Anne Boleyn is executed and goes to the death of Catherine. You see the relationship between Catherine and Elizabeth especially as Elizabeth becomes queen. A good focus of the book is when the Protestant religion is starting to take hold among the English people. Catherine was catholic and then switched to being Protestant. You see the fear that must have been growing when Mary became queen and she was wanting to get rid of all heretics and make England catholic.
A really good book! Just felt like it was a tad long. But the narrator did a great job ! I was never bored! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
June 15, 2026
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending a copy of this ebook to review.
Every time, when I read a book by Alison Weir, I fall in love with the characters, follow them on their ups and downs, become happy or miserable for them.
The brilliance of Alison Weir’s writing is in the ability to immerse a reader in the story, in the time, in the world the characters live in.
This novel centers around Katherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn. Kate had a happy simple childhood, which too soon got marred by loss and tragedy. She lives surrounded by secrets, which she doesn’t know or understand. Deprived of her family, she finds joy in serving her younger cousin Elizabeth.
This bond will last all her life, changing and transforming, but strong nevertheless.
Katherine lived quite happy life - found her soulmate, had many surviving children, even exile was relatively easy - they were able to leave in time, had money to support themselves abroad and returned to England to enjoy Elizabeth’s favor.
As in parallel with her mother Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn, Katherine and Elizabeth had different definition of happiness.
For Katherine (Mary) her family was the main goal, Elizabeth (Anne) was not inclined to love and cherish.
Katherine (Mary) was happy in her home, even in exile, but with her husband and children, Elizabeth (Anne) needed power and court life.
Katherine was helping others, Elizabeth demanded attention to herself only.
As always, Alison Weir’s books contain loads of historical information, which I like in fictional novels.
Every time, when I read a book by Alison Weir, I fall in love with the characters, follow them on their ups and downs, become happy or miserable for them.
The brilliance of Alison Weir’s writing is in the ability to immerse a reader in the story, in the time, in the world the characters live in.
This novel centers around Katherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn. Kate had a happy simple childhood, which too soon got marred by loss and tragedy. She lives surrounded by secrets, which she doesn’t know or understand. Deprived of her family, she finds joy in serving her younger cousin Elizabeth.
This bond will last all her life, changing and transforming, but strong nevertheless.
Katherine lived quite happy life - found her soulmate, had many surviving children, even exile was relatively easy - they were able to leave in time, had money to support themselves abroad and returned to England to enjoy Elizabeth’s favor.
As in parallel with her mother Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn, Katherine and Elizabeth had different definition of happiness.
For Katherine (Mary) her family was the main goal, Elizabeth (Anne) was not inclined to love and cherish.
Katherine (Mary) was happy in her home, even in exile, but with her husband and children, Elizabeth (Anne) needed power and court life.
Katherine was helping others, Elizabeth demanded attention to herself only.
As always, Alison Weir’s books contain loads of historical information, which I like in fictional novels.
June 2, 2026
Oh my gosh, this book is amazing. This might be my favorite book from Alison Weir so far. This was written so well and the story was intriguing. I am so grateful that I was able to get early access to this book!
June 17, 2026
It was a good historical fiction. All books of the author is good for me. I cannot say it was fun, but it was entertaining. Honestly i was a big bored when i read in the book that Catherine Carey is pregnant again and again, but i know that was the normal in that historical time.
June 21, 2026
Ooooh….so good! I feel like I found an unexpected Philippa Gregory. Kate’s possible paternity and relationship to Queen Elizabeth seems very probable. The fact that she gave birth to so many children and survived is pretty incredible.
May 8, 2026
I love any books about Tudor history and The Boleyn Secret gave me a chance to learn about a Tudor who I was unfamiliar with - Katherine Carey. What I enjoyed about this book, was the opportunity to learn more about an unfamiliar Tudor through the backdrop of the familiar and (in)famous events of the time - from Anne Boleyn’s execution to the Queen Elizabeth’s time on the throne.
It’s a difficult book to assign a rating too. It’s a very long book, which I can understand given all that happened within Kate’s life - but when I got to the 50% mark, I felt like I had been reading the book for forever. It kept me interested and even inspired to read up further on events within the book (though in terms of the heresy burnings, I wish I hadn’t!) but around the 70% mark, my interest wained and I skim read to the end. I really struggled with many of the characters in her life (Francis and Elizabeth, I am looking at you!) who were rage bait as my teenagers would say. I did enjoy the writing and the way the author framed the tension at Anne Boleyn’s execution and during Mary’s reign was so effective.
In short, I liked a lot about the book but it could have been more effective had it been more succinct.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
It’s a difficult book to assign a rating too. It’s a very long book, which I can understand given all that happened within Kate’s life - but when I got to the 50% mark, I felt like I had been reading the book for forever. It kept me interested and even inspired to read up further on events within the book (though in terms of the heresy burnings, I wish I hadn’t!) but around the 70% mark, my interest wained and I skim read to the end. I really struggled with many of the characters in her life (Francis and Elizabeth, I am looking at you!) who were rage bait as my teenagers would say. I did enjoy the writing and the way the author framed the tension at Anne Boleyn’s execution and during Mary’s reign was so effective.
In short, I liked a lot about the book but it could have been more effective had it been more succinct.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
June 3, 2026
Ill be honest and say I thought about not finishing this audiobook. Not because of the narrator though... the storyline just never pulled my attention, and it felt like it was hard to keep it.
June 7, 2026
Three and a half. An interesting, well researched novelisation of the life of Katherine Carey. It’s easy to read and appealing to lovers of the Tudor period.
June 7, 2026
This author can do no wrong in my eyes ❤️🙏
June 25, 2026
Kate girl you need to decentre men. Cozy vibes as usual, Alison I’m always going to be coming back to you!
May 31, 2026
I’m seriously Tudor obsessed so when I noted that Alison Weir was writing about a new Tudor, Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn, and niece to Queen Anne Boleyn, I was all in!
The book starts with a young 12 year old Catherine who was one of Anne’s maidens during her beheading.
Catherine was also in young Elizabeth Tudor’s household as her cousin and best friend.
The story takes us through all of the intrigues through Henry’s rule, Edward’s short rule, Bloody Mary’s reign, and finally Queen Elizabeth’s.
The books goes into great detail about the persecution of the Protestants and Catherine fleeing England with her husband and children.
Catherine learns a secret about her birth which is never discussed or brought into the open. But there are whispers.
I loved seeing the Tudor history through the eyes of a lesser known historical figure. Was it a bit long and tedious in some parts? Yes. Sure it was… As is history. I still loved it.
I look forward to any and all future Tudor novels from Alison Weir as I’ve read all she’s written to date. (Historical fiction novels that is.)
*Thanks so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
The book starts with a young 12 year old Catherine who was one of Anne’s maidens during her beheading.
Catherine was also in young Elizabeth Tudor’s household as her cousin and best friend.
The story takes us through all of the intrigues through Henry’s rule, Edward’s short rule, Bloody Mary’s reign, and finally Queen Elizabeth’s.
The books goes into great detail about the persecution of the Protestants and Catherine fleeing England with her husband and children.
Catherine learns a secret about her birth which is never discussed or brought into the open. But there are whispers.
I loved seeing the Tudor history through the eyes of a lesser known historical figure. Was it a bit long and tedious in some parts? Yes. Sure it was… As is history. I still loved it.
I look forward to any and all future Tudor novels from Alison Weir as I’ve read all she’s written to date. (Historical fiction novels that is.)
*Thanks so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
June 25, 2026
As a massive fan of Alison Weir over the past several years both as a historical fiction author and a historian, I almost always have to jump in head first whenever she releases a new book and “The Boleyn Secret” I think is one of her best novels.
“The Boleyn Secret” is a historical fiction novel on another kind of obscure Tudor historical figure, Katherine Carey; the daughter of Mary Boleyn, niece of Anne Boleyn and therefore cousin of Queen Elizabeth I.
You might think following a character like Kate, a non-Royal who mostly lived outside of the court before the accession of Elizabeth I and never made any real life historical impact in anyway other than the speculation, but actually I personally became quite enthralled with Katherine’s story here the further I went along.
Weir bases a good chunk of the novel from her theory about Katherine Carey being biologically fathered by King Henry VIII which she also weaved into her other novels about the six wives of Henry VIII and it’s pretty intriguing how this affects Katherine and her feelings toward Henry VIII. Though of course that’s not the only reason she has.
With Katherine Carey as our main character, we also get to take a journey through the reigns of four of the five Tudor Monarchs and I loved the emotional transitions that happened as I moved through the book. During Henry VIII’s reign, Katherine lived with a growing loathing of the King and a dread of being summoned to court because of it despite a still relatively peaceful life, Edward VI’s reign I think was possibly Kate’s happiest time as they shared the King’s religion and with the King being too young to marry, there was no risk of Kate being called to Court. Then during Mary I’s reign, I was absolutely on pins and needles, my nerves almost on fire with anxiety over Kate and her family’s safety considering Mary’s radical Catholicism and increasingly unpopular and hostile policies. When Elizabeth I finally took the throne, I thought I and Katherine could finally breathe easily, only for Elizabeth’s possessive and selfish love for Kate to result in a kind of tragic ending for the book.
I really liked how Kate’s life throughout these different monarchs’ reigns could evoke these different feelings for me and in my opinion, Weir did a really nice job bringing Katherine Carey to life and making her a likable, understandable, sympathetic and endearing character. I really felt for her position a lot, being constantly being under the thumbs of absolute monarchs who cannot be gainsaid even when they have the best intentions and especially when those obligations force her to be away from her husband and children. For me it really kept me hooked and engaged throughout the book and also think Weir has improved on writing Elizabeth I a little though I’m beginning to think she hates her as much as her mother Anne Boleyn between this and her two Elizabeth I novels.
I also liked how Weir wrote Will Stafford, Mary Boleyn’s second husband and his relationship with Kate. I think he’s my favorite version of Will Stafford that I’ve seen so far.
That all being said, at 519 pages the novel is as long as Weir’s other novels as she tends to end her novels with the death of her main character and since the book starts with Kate at age 12 being summoned to wait on Anne Boleyn during her final days in the Tower, you can imagine the extent of the journey readers will go on with “The Boleyn Secret”.
Also I have to admit at the beginning I was not a huge fan of Kate’s husband Francis Knollys as in the beginning of their marriage his ambitions in court and his highborn ways often led him to say things to Kate and make decisions that kind of made me want to smack him. He did win me over in the end with how he looked after Kate and their children during the terror of Mary’s reign and the frustrations of being in Elizabeth’s service so I guess it’s a small drawback.
Elizabeth was also a frustration in the book to me. I get her terrible traumas and that they shaped a major part of her as an adult, it didn’t really excuse her selfish unkind actions for me. Though she was not as infuriating as she was in “The Marriage Game”, it’s kind of close. I especially hated how she kept Kate separated from her husband and young children, especially in the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I can only imagine Francis’s reactions after the end. If you hated Elizabeth in “The Marriage Game”, I don’t think you’ll like her much better here.
Other than that I didn’t think much else was wrong with “The Boleyn Secret”. It was interesting to focus on someone so far yet so close to the royal family and to try to get into their head as much as possible. It’s not without its flaws and it’s far from the most dramatic and scandalous historical fiction novel out there, but I still think it’s pretty good and well worth reading. Especially for a Boleyn fan. I loved it and can’t wait to acquire my own copy of the book so I can read it again sometime.
June 4, 2026
When I review historical fiction, I always review as if they are characters rather than real people. As there is too much unknown, especially on thoughts, feelings and beliefs. It's all on interpretation. So all opinions should be applied to this interpretation of their character, rather than the real person themselves. Especially when they're shrouded in mystery like Catherine carey. The records about her are scant.
This was alright. One of the big reasons I struggled with this was that I never bought the "great love story" that is woven throughout this novel. It never felt like he truly loved her at times, it just seemed he had a raging libido and she satisfied that. I truthfully thought Francis was a bit of a knob and was really cruel at times. I know he's gotta be misogynistic because it is the times, lalala and all that, but I quickly found it tiring. Like his attitude after she tries to breastfeed her child, which I know wasn't sadly normal, but I found him way too harsh towards a woman who he is supposed to love and has just give birth to your heir for 37 hours!!! "Remember your duty to me!" 37 hours of labour and he's like, breastfeeding makes it not likely to conceive and obviously we need 16! children. "Your duty is to provide me with sons and to help ensure that they are well raised, well educated, and well married. You are not a milch-cow! I will brook no further argument. A wet nurse will be engaged.” Yeah. He really sounds like he loves her deeply doesn't he? And I know it's the time period but it's not like this is a well known fact about their relationship, it's all made up so why do we need it here? "I strongly advise you to remember your vow of obedience and be compliant as a wife should.” Icky. "When Francis had seen that she was willing to obey him, he was pleased to put her small rebellion down to her deranged womb, and showed himself as loving as ever." Ahhh, such true love isn't it. True love that will only run smooth if one person gets their way 100% of the time.
I also do believe her way too many pregnancies lead to her dying earlier than maybe she would've if she didn't have that many pregnancies, like some years, she was legit having babies every single year for quite a while, legit getting pregnant a few months after birth. That can't have been easy on her body. I also didn't like that Francis wouldn't allow a bad word to be said about Henry, but would happily talk badly about Elizabeth. I felt like the character of Kate was a bit wishy washy. She didn't come across as having a strong personality and would give in, a lot. She had very little agency. Even her religious views changing, felt like it was to please Francis, rather than from her own convictions.
I also do believe that she was most probably Henry VIII child rather than William Carey's especially when we focus on Lettice's appearance. so it was interesting to see Catherine wrestle with that, though I thought it would be a slight more prominent than it was. (Her brother Henry was William's imo)
Catherine's relationship with Elizabeth was really interesting. It was interesting to see how it developed from childhood to adulthood. And I felt the personality of Elizabeth came across strongly. She could be kind, selfish, vindictive and it showed a huge wound she had from losing her mother. That wound transferred onto Catherine and Kate Ashley, Blanche Parry etc. Elizabeth was desperate to keep them close and would not let them go. I understood that some of her cruelty towards catherine came from that utter desperation.
I have gotten bored of "Jane Boleyn was evil" train and that was a feature in this book.
I also thought the relationship between Mary and William was an interpretation I haven't read a lot, their relationship was really sweet. And how close Catherine was with her step dad.
This was alright. One of the big reasons I struggled with this was that I never bought the "great love story" that is woven throughout this novel. It never felt like he truly loved her at times, it just seemed he had a raging libido and she satisfied that. I truthfully thought Francis was a bit of a knob and was really cruel at times. I know he's gotta be misogynistic because it is the times, lalala and all that, but I quickly found it tiring. Like his attitude after she tries to breastfeed her child, which I know wasn't sadly normal, but I found him way too harsh towards a woman who he is supposed to love and has just give birth to your heir for 37 hours!!! "Remember your duty to me!" 37 hours of labour and he's like, breastfeeding makes it not likely to conceive and obviously we need 16! children. "Your duty is to provide me with sons and to help ensure that they are well raised, well educated, and well married. You are not a milch-cow! I will brook no further argument. A wet nurse will be engaged.” Yeah. He really sounds like he loves her deeply doesn't he? And I know it's the time period but it's not like this is a well known fact about their relationship, it's all made up so why do we need it here? "I strongly advise you to remember your vow of obedience and be compliant as a wife should.” Icky. "When Francis had seen that she was willing to obey him, he was pleased to put her small rebellion down to her deranged womb, and showed himself as loving as ever." Ahhh, such true love isn't it. True love that will only run smooth if one person gets their way 100% of the time.
I also do believe her way too many pregnancies lead to her dying earlier than maybe she would've if she didn't have that many pregnancies, like some years, she was legit having babies every single year for quite a while, legit getting pregnant a few months after birth. That can't have been easy on her body. I also didn't like that Francis wouldn't allow a bad word to be said about Henry, but would happily talk badly about Elizabeth. I felt like the character of Kate was a bit wishy washy. She didn't come across as having a strong personality and would give in, a lot. She had very little agency. Even her religious views changing, felt like it was to please Francis, rather than from her own convictions.
I also do believe that she was most probably Henry VIII child rather than William Carey's especially when we focus on Lettice's appearance. so it was interesting to see Catherine wrestle with that, though I thought it would be a slight more prominent than it was. (Her brother Henry was William's imo)
Catherine's relationship with Elizabeth was really interesting. It was interesting to see how it developed from childhood to adulthood. And I felt the personality of Elizabeth came across strongly. She could be kind, selfish, vindictive and it showed a huge wound she had from losing her mother. That wound transferred onto Catherine and Kate Ashley, Blanche Parry etc. Elizabeth was desperate to keep them close and would not let them go. I understood that some of her cruelty towards catherine came from that utter desperation.
I have gotten bored of "Jane Boleyn was evil" train and that was a feature in this book.
I also thought the relationship between Mary and William was an interpretation I haven't read a lot, their relationship was really sweet. And how close Catherine was with her step dad.
May 22, 2026
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
If you were to ask the question "how many books can there be about the Tudors?" THE BOLEYN SECRET is an answer that says "always at least one more."
The first section of the book, covering Henry VIII's reign, does feel like treading ground that has been trod many, many times (to the point of being over trod and repetitive). If this hadn't been an Alison Weir book, I suspect I wouldn't have picked it up because I am a little over novelisations of this period. Kate's perspective doesn't really add much to the discourse around him - she is disgusted by his behaviour towards his wives. Also, if you have read THE OTHER BOLEYN SISTER, then you know the secret of the title, which takes some of the tension and mystery from the story.
The book really picks up after his death as it begins to explore the protestant movement in England. Kate, in this book, through her husband becomes a protestant and the hope that Edward VI brings for the cause is explored. Edward VI is an oft overlooked king thanks to his short reign and being book ended by Henry VII (who looms large - too large, in my opinion - over the period) and Mary I (who has a terrible reputation.) Here, though, time is actually given to his reign and what it meant for the religious upheaval in the land.
I found the section during Mary's reign fascinating. Katherine and her husband Francis are protestants who end up fleeing the country to live in Europe because of their beliefs. It was a part of Mary's reign that I had not known much about, and it was really interesting to get a sense of the lives lived by those who felt compelled to leave for their own safety.
Then Elizabeth comes to the throne and the tension comes from how possessive Elizabeth is. It means that the politics of Elizabeth's early reign - particularly the so-called marriage game - are not the focus, but instead the relationship between the women, which offers a different perspective. It also explores the tensions between motherhood and royal duty, the sacrifices asked of the women who served Elizabeth.
I also really liked how the relationship between Kate and her husband Francis was portrayed. It is a deeply loving one (which we can guess from the record) and offers a good counterpoint to the terrible marriages of the royals at the time. The societal customs and hierarchies of the time are observed but the book explores how a more equal reality may have played out between a couple who deeply loved and respected one another.
In all this was a good book, with a different perspective in the later two acts of the book.
If you were to ask the question "how many books can there be about the Tudors?" THE BOLEYN SECRET is an answer that says "always at least one more."
The first section of the book, covering Henry VIII's reign, does feel like treading ground that has been trod many, many times (to the point of being over trod and repetitive). If this hadn't been an Alison Weir book, I suspect I wouldn't have picked it up because I am a little over novelisations of this period. Kate's perspective doesn't really add much to the discourse around him - she is disgusted by his behaviour towards his wives. Also, if you have read THE OTHER BOLEYN SISTER, then you know the secret of the title, which takes some of the tension and mystery from the story.
The book really picks up after his death as it begins to explore the protestant movement in England. Kate, in this book, through her husband becomes a protestant and the hope that Edward VI brings for the cause is explored. Edward VI is an oft overlooked king thanks to his short reign and being book ended by Henry VII (who looms large - too large, in my opinion - over the period) and Mary I (who has a terrible reputation.) Here, though, time is actually given to his reign and what it meant for the religious upheaval in the land.
I found the section during Mary's reign fascinating. Katherine and her husband Francis are protestants who end up fleeing the country to live in Europe because of their beliefs. It was a part of Mary's reign that I had not known much about, and it was really interesting to get a sense of the lives lived by those who felt compelled to leave for their own safety.
Then Elizabeth comes to the throne and the tension comes from how possessive Elizabeth is. It means that the politics of Elizabeth's early reign - particularly the so-called marriage game - are not the focus, but instead the relationship between the women, which offers a different perspective. It also explores the tensions between motherhood and royal duty, the sacrifices asked of the women who served Elizabeth.
I also really liked how the relationship between Kate and her husband Francis was portrayed. It is a deeply loving one (which we can guess from the record) and offers a good counterpoint to the terrible marriages of the royals at the time. The societal customs and hierarchies of the time are observed but the book explores how a more equal reality may have played out between a couple who deeply loved and respected one another.
In all this was a good book, with a different perspective in the later two acts of the book.
June 18, 2026
Catherine Carey, Lady Knollys, is a woman who has always fascinated me. The daughter of Mary Boleyn and niece of Anne Boleyn, she was close to Elizabeth I in the first decade of her reign. The narrative is generally engaging, although after the first chapters in the Tower of London, I found it slow to really get going and it took me a while to get through the first half, though the background to Kate’s (as Catherine is known in the novel) life was interesting to see in a fictional form.
The story starts with something controversial – Catherine ‘Kate’ waiting on her aunt, Anne Boleyn, in the Tower of London in 1536, and accompanying her to her execution. There is no contemporary source that records Catherine as being in the Tower at this time – she was only aged 12. However, using this as the beginning of the story gives Kate a close link to her Boleyn aunt, and helps her forge a bond with Elizabeth. However, I did expect that, at some point in the narrative, Kate and Elizabeth would have an emotional chat about what Kate witnessed and that she would tell Elizabeth about her mother’s last hours, but it never happened, and I have to admit to being disappointed.
The relationship between Kate and Francis was beautiful, with plenty of time given to their early relationship and marriage, and how together they navigated the courts of multiple Tudor monarchs, while raising their family. They had a lot of children, including the famed Lettice Knollys, the mother of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, and wife of Robert Dudley. Seeing the relationship between Kate’s mother Mary Boleyn and her second husband William Stafford was also lovely. They are relationships that are often glossed over.
I thought that the revelation of the secret of Kate’s parentage in the novel, although unclear in reality, was emotional and well-done. Seeing Kate try to come to terms with her own history and her wish for Elizabeth to even mention it and acknowledge it pushed the emotions of both women. We see Elizabeth as vulnerable, fighting her ministers to prove she was worth being queen, while Kate tries her best to balance her duties to the queen with her family life.
I always enjoy a good author note, and Weir takes quite a detailed walk through the history of Catherine Carey and her parentage, highlighting what we do know and where she has taken liberties. I think it helps for people to distinguish what’s real and what’s not. I really enjoyed ‘The Boleyn Secret’ as a way to bring Catherine Carey out of the shadows and into the light as a fascinating woman with plenty of unknowns. Weir has a talent for writing engaging fiction and ‘The Boleyn Secret’ puts the characters at its heart.
The story starts with something controversial – Catherine ‘Kate’ waiting on her aunt, Anne Boleyn, in the Tower of London in 1536, and accompanying her to her execution. There is no contemporary source that records Catherine as being in the Tower at this time – she was only aged 12. However, using this as the beginning of the story gives Kate a close link to her Boleyn aunt, and helps her forge a bond with Elizabeth. However, I did expect that, at some point in the narrative, Kate and Elizabeth would have an emotional chat about what Kate witnessed and that she would tell Elizabeth about her mother’s last hours, but it never happened, and I have to admit to being disappointed.
The relationship between Kate and Francis was beautiful, with plenty of time given to their early relationship and marriage, and how together they navigated the courts of multiple Tudor monarchs, while raising their family. They had a lot of children, including the famed Lettice Knollys, the mother of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, and wife of Robert Dudley. Seeing the relationship between Kate’s mother Mary Boleyn and her second husband William Stafford was also lovely. They are relationships that are often glossed over.
I thought that the revelation of the secret of Kate’s parentage in the novel, although unclear in reality, was emotional and well-done. Seeing Kate try to come to terms with her own history and her wish for Elizabeth to even mention it and acknowledge it pushed the emotions of both women. We see Elizabeth as vulnerable, fighting her ministers to prove she was worth being queen, while Kate tries her best to balance her duties to the queen with her family life.
I always enjoy a good author note, and Weir takes quite a detailed walk through the history of Catherine Carey and her parentage, highlighting what we do know and where she has taken liberties. I think it helps for people to distinguish what’s real and what’s not. I really enjoyed ‘The Boleyn Secret’ as a way to bring Catherine Carey out of the shadows and into the light as a fascinating woman with plenty of unknowns. Weir has a talent for writing engaging fiction and ‘The Boleyn Secret’ puts the characters at its heart.
April 9, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For an author so well-known and liked, this book is extremely disappointing. I have heard so many great things about the author and really wanted to like it, but I didn't. Although this book was clearly well researched and covers a great deal of Tudor history, I had to stop reading at 12% despite loving many books set in this era.
For me, the biggest issues were the quality of the writing and a lack of believability.
Settings, clothing, and characters are described in only the briefest detail, and the details that are mentioned don't add much to the feel of the book or immersion in the time period.
Transitions feel off, the sentence-level writing is often clunky, and the book is very unnecessarily repetitive. Though I stopped early, there are already numerous times when Kate would think something or the narrator would mention it, and suddenly a different character would repeat that same thing a few lines later.
Kate feels very flat. Readers have no sense of who she is or how she feels other than when we are told she cries, clenches her hands, or is angry without giving any detail or nuance in the depiction of her emotions. So far, she also hasn't done much of anything.
She has rarely spoken more than a few words at a time, but other characters speak for pages. For example, in the segment that made me give up, a character spends eight straight Kindle pages telling Kate back story they would never tell a twelve year old. During this, Kate only interjects a single sentence. This whole scene is a massive info dump to give the reader context rather than weaving the information in naturally.
This long one-sided conversation is also entirely unbelievable because the character talks about a time and place, describing things they nor anyone else in this era would ever be able to know, even with the flimsy excuse given for why she knows it in the book. It is entirely unnecessary, and all it does is pull the reader out of the story.
This book was not for me, and I cannot recommend it for readers who are are easily frustrated by bland, repetitive prose or who have difficulty suspending disbelief when characters, descriptions, or dialogue do not fit the time period.
I do, however, think the concept is interesting, and the book can be a fun and enlightening read for those who want to learn more about the Boleyn/Carey family in a digestible fiction format.
For an author so well-known and liked, this book is extremely disappointing. I have heard so many great things about the author and really wanted to like it, but I didn't. Although this book was clearly well researched and covers a great deal of Tudor history, I had to stop reading at 12% despite loving many books set in this era.
For me, the biggest issues were the quality of the writing and a lack of believability.
Settings, clothing, and characters are described in only the briefest detail, and the details that are mentioned don't add much to the feel of the book or immersion in the time period.
Transitions feel off, the sentence-level writing is often clunky, and the book is very unnecessarily repetitive. Though I stopped early, there are already numerous times when Kate would think something or the narrator would mention it, and suddenly a different character would repeat that same thing a few lines later.
Kate feels very flat. Readers have no sense of who she is or how she feels other than when we are told she cries, clenches her hands, or is angry without giving any detail or nuance in the depiction of her emotions. So far, she also hasn't done much of anything.
She has rarely spoken more than a few words at a time, but other characters speak for pages. For example, in the segment that made me give up, a character spends eight straight Kindle pages telling Kate back story they would never tell a twelve year old. During this, Kate only interjects a single sentence. This whole scene is a massive info dump to give the reader context rather than weaving the information in naturally.
This long one-sided conversation is also entirely unbelievable because the character talks about a time and place, describing things they nor anyone else in this era would ever be able to know, even with the flimsy excuse given for why she knows it in the book. It is entirely unnecessary, and all it does is pull the reader out of the story.
This book was not for me, and I cannot recommend it for readers who are are easily frustrated by bland, repetitive prose or who have difficulty suspending disbelief when characters, descriptions, or dialogue do not fit the time period.
I do, however, think the concept is interesting, and the book can be a fun and enlightening read for those who want to learn more about the Boleyn/Carey family in a digestible fiction format.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Katherine (Kate) Carey, niece to Anne Boleyn, lives a life intrinsically linked to the Tudor court. Serving Queen Anne through her execution and then the young Princess Elizabeth, Kate is highly aware of the fact that rumour and scandal follow her family. She meets and marries Francis Knollys with whom she enjoys the joys and many trials of life, but is never far from the family secret.
I love a good historical fiction, and the Tudor Age is my favourite period of UK history - so this should have been the perfect book for me. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something of nothing. This book was very bloated - it absolutely didn't need to be 500+ pages - and as a result very repetitive. I was captivated during the first third of the book but sadly it wasn't able to keep my attention, and if I'm honest I pretty much skimmed the final third because I just wanted to finish.
I think the biggest issues this book had were a lack of a main, strong focal character and also that it tried to cover far too much in terms of time. Kate is a sympathetic character throughout but at points she comes off as simpering and childish. She is very much a woman of her time in that she defers to her husband in most matters, bears a large number of children, and learns to be mistress of a great household at a young age - and I respect that those things were accurately represented. However there was no real narrative for her to follow and any character development ended up being overlooked. The timeline is a long one - 30 years or so - and follows Kate through the reign of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. There are so many names, families and Acts of Parliament that it's impossible to keep up. And a personal thought - this book contains one of the worst descriptions of female pleasure I have ever read. You'll know it when you get there.
There are selling points to this book. It is painstakingly, meticulously researched - as are all of Alison Weir's works. She paints a vivid picture of life at court, religious uncertainty and persecution in the reign of Mary, and the famous vanity and selfishness of Elizabeth. She invites you to wonder what it might have been like to live in the aftermath of a Queen being executed and to look at the bold ambition some of the leading families of the day had.
Overall not one I'll be returning to or adding to my bookshelf - Alison Weir is an excellent historian and her non-fiction work is generally stellar; but this falls short for me.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
I love a good historical fiction, and the Tudor Age is my favourite period of UK history - so this should have been the perfect book for me. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something of nothing. This book was very bloated - it absolutely didn't need to be 500+ pages - and as a result very repetitive. I was captivated during the first third of the book but sadly it wasn't able to keep my attention, and if I'm honest I pretty much skimmed the final third because I just wanted to finish.
I think the biggest issues this book had were a lack of a main, strong focal character and also that it tried to cover far too much in terms of time. Kate is a sympathetic character throughout but at points she comes off as simpering and childish. She is very much a woman of her time in that she defers to her husband in most matters, bears a large number of children, and learns to be mistress of a great household at a young age - and I respect that those things were accurately represented. However there was no real narrative for her to follow and any character development ended up being overlooked. The timeline is a long one - 30 years or so - and follows Kate through the reign of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. There are so many names, families and Acts of Parliament that it's impossible to keep up. And a personal thought - this book contains one of the worst descriptions of female pleasure I have ever read. You'll know it when you get there.
There are selling points to this book. It is painstakingly, meticulously researched - as are all of Alison Weir's works. She paints a vivid picture of life at court, religious uncertainty and persecution in the reign of Mary, and the famous vanity and selfishness of Elizabeth. She invites you to wonder what it might have been like to live in the aftermath of a Queen being executed and to look at the bold ambition some of the leading families of the day had.
Overall not one I'll be returning to or adding to my bookshelf - Alison Weir is an excellent historian and her non-fiction work is generally stellar; but this falls short for me.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
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