Henry Tudor Must Die

by Jillian Laine

One queen exiled. Another headed for the gallows. Both hungry for revenge. England’s most infamous queens unite in vengeance against Henry VIII.

Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne.

Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive . . . and using their particular skills to advance womankind.

Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. And they're not alone. Anna von Kleve, Kat Howard, and even Catherine Parr all have their own bones to pick with the king. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target . . .

And they want his head.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Fiction, Adult, Historical Fantasy, Witches

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 21, 2026

About the author

Jillian Laine is an author and journalist. She has written multiple children’s books and has worked as an acquisitions editor, book festival director, and literary award judge. She and her husband live with their pride of cats in the Great Lakes State. Henry Tudor Must Die is her first novel.

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
When queens unite in vengeance against Henry VIII..they all want his head.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Jillian Laine for an early copy.

Publication date: July 21, 2026

[Adri]

It’s like “Six” but if it was a book and had witch craft.
I enjoyed the multiple queen POV.
Loved the Hellebore sisterhood and how they all worked together. I liked how Jillian weaved their various lives and timelines to cross over, grow and age together. Tudor Woman - and the injustice of it all - is my Roman Empire.
Whilst Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were usually my fave, in this it was Anna Von Kleave. She was cleaver, witty, resourceful, adaptable, resilient and very aware of her circumstance/power (or lack thereof).
The relationships, friendships and support that was built in the story was lovely to see. But to also see that there could have been circumstances that these queens would have got on, if allowed.

[Manybooks]

I ordered Jillian Laine's July 2026 Henry Tudor Must Die because the wording of the book title sounds intriguing and that the idea of a historical fantasy where Henry VIII is the justified target of his abused (and that it putting things mildly) wives appeals to me.

However, and the above having been said, sorry, but I did not get very far with Henry Tudor Must Die before realising that Laine's story really and truly just does not work for me at all, as aside from the uneven narrative pacing getting on my nerves (too fast at the beginning of Henry Tudor Must Die and then totally slowing down and becoming ever increasingly and draggingly slow), much of the contents also tends to make me rather majorly cringe with regard to historical fallacies and anachronisms. For while I know and equally so accept that Henry Tudor Must Die is supposed to be both historical fantasy and also alternative British history, well, Henry Tudor Must Die still takes place in 16th century England, involves actual historical persons and that the way in which Jillian Laine has reimagined and shown many of them in and throughout her text, in and with Henry Tudor Must Die, this is in my humble opinion absolutely implausible, this is to put it mildly pretty much historically ridiculous (and actually makes me internally want to majorly as well as lastingly scream).

Because and come on, Catherine of Aragon in Henry Tudor Must Die abandoning her deeply held and historically documented Romand Catholic faith to become close friends with a witch is (at least for me and even in a novel that is meant to be fantastical) totally impossible to believe (and Anne Boleyn being portrayed as said witch drives me massively batty as well and in particular since this, since supposed "witchcraft" was actually used by Henry VIII to disgustingly condemn and have his second wife second wife executed for no justifiable reason at all, so it sure is strange for Laine to make Boleyn into a witch). And not to mention Anne of Cleves being written as openly gay in Henry Tudor Must Die and everyone pretty much just casually and all-encompassingly accepting said scenario, this feels completely disconnected from the social and religious, from the actual realities of Tudor England (and Europe). So yes, and for me, Jillian Laine's characters for Henry Tudor Must Die, they sadly and strangely no longer at all truly resemble any of the historical women whom they are named after, who they are meant to be representing, and yes, and furthermore, they all equally so seem to speak and to behave like 21st and not 16th century individuals throughout Henry Tudor Must Die (and as such also more like modern Americans and not really like Brits), making it feel as though Henry Tudor Must Die is simply and loosely transplanted into Tudor clothing, but that only this feels in any manner authentic (well, at least for and to me).

But honestly and no indeed, this type of story is most definitely not my idea of historical fiction and actually not my idea of historical fantasy either, so that I both stopped reading and have also kind of regretted ordering a copy of Henry Tudor Must Die (and that my two star rating for Henry Tudor Must Die is at least for me and because I could neither finish nor did I even want to finish with Henry Tudor Must Die pretty generous, albeit and to be sure, I also do think that for the right kind of reader Henry Tudor Must Die would probably work really well, but that no, I am most definitely not said reader by any stretch of my imagination).

[destiny ✿]

“If only the world had more killer queens.” 🗡️

First of all, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Second of all, this is a DEBUT novel??! Henry Tudor Must Die is truly the story of my dreams. I mean — a fantastical, witchy retelling of a bunch of badass women plotting their revenge against one of the worst men in history? SIGN ME UP!! The absolute badass-ery and strong female voices in this novel had me gripping my kindle and flying through this book at super sonic speeds. I loved the different POVs and Jillian Lane did an absolutely amazing job at giving all of these ladies their own voices and strengths. Overall, this book is perfect and I will be deluding myself into believing it is actually all historically accurate 🥰 A true must read!!!

[labibliofille]

I DNF'd this one twice. While there's nothing inherently wrong with it, there's also nothing keeping my interest. As soon as one interesting, gripping bit of plot happened, we were thrust into yet another "traveling to get to point b" for yet more side characters. The pacing is slow, I just didn't want to pick it back up, and it was effecting my desire to read anything in general. I couldn't bring myself to care. I feel like this could have been a good ALC for me, but reading it with my eyeballs took too many spoons to keep my ADHD at bay. I'd absolutely give this one a third chance as an audiobook some day, but I don't think it's in the cards for me at this time.

[Marissa C]

Secret feminist society of Henry VII’s wives with a touch of magic and witches? Yes, please. Forget what you think you know of Henry VII’s wives. Whilst there is some truth and real history in this book, Henry Tudor Must Die explores the themes of feminism, love, and sacrifice. The story mainly intertwines the lives of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon (Lina). The unlikely pair of ex-wives become united in their desire to save their daughters, future wives of Henry, and other women in a world dominated by men. They are part of a society called the Hellebore Sisterhood led by Marguerite d’Angloueme, who compiles the narrative and has great little tidbits added in the story! (She was one of my favorite characters!) Anna von Cleves and Katherine Parr are introduced later in the book, and the women’s lives become entangled in a story of love and revenge. (Parr was a particularly enjoyable character for me with a little bit of sass, and her princess-rescues-herself, strong willed-vibe.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found myself really cheering at the high points and mourning with the characters at the low points. The relationships developed at a perfect pace, exploring the ins and outs of friendship and love (both romantic and familial). Whilst there are many characters in this book, I feel they were all introduced well at a pace that didn’t feel like I was drowning in character names. I came from some background on Henry VIII’s wives, and I feel that even those without knowledge of their history will still be able to follow and enjoy. The magic was also well done in this book. It felt believable, was easy enough to understand, and didn’t overwhelm the plot. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a Tudor telling with a dash of fantasy. A big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of the ARC!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can*]

Loved this one so much ❤️ 💗 💖

Alternate history is always interesting to me and sad in a way, because it's endless wondering over different possibilities and what could have been different "if only if only"

Henry VIII's wives all deserved better :( and I'm glad some things went differently here.

Just relax and enjoy the roller-coaster ride with this one :)

This would be a fun movie in my opinion.

I hope more books like this and the Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann are written in the future, crossing fingers 🤞.

[Sage]

Thank you for the DRC, PRH — I fear I need to own a physical copy and preorder this book immediately!!

Goddamn. This was a wild ride and I LOVED it so much. Due to life circumstances/reading grief books, it’s been 84 years since I got so sucked into a book like this. Started it last night, had to stay up to finish it tonight.

The concept of ✨vigilante✨ Catherine of Aragon (Lina) and Anne Boleyn??? Absolutely IMMACULATE. 10/10 no notes I would read 100000 other things about this alternate historical fantasy. Their relationship was a joy to watch unfold throughout and made [redacted] all the more devastating.

The whole Sisterhood subplot was WONDERFULLY done and so well fleshed out. And the inclusions of Anna of Kleves (one of my faves!!) and Kat Howard, and the full circle moment of Catherine Parr was just brilliant.

This book made me rage and cheer and FEEL THINGS and I loved it very much. I have many a highlighted passage in my e-reader because DAMN there were some bangers. What a glorious debut. Long live the Queens.

[Bungaku Shoujo]

The content warning for this book contains, among other things, “misogyny (unfortunately)”, which is a good summation of its flippant attitude towards the sixteenth-century as a whole.

I admit it’s possible that I did this to myself with this one– I don’t particularly like Six and what I’ve heard about My Lady Jane has not inspired confidence– but I ended up enjoying the similarly-premised The Beheading Game a lot more than I expected to after giving it a chance, so there was no guarantee that I would hate this. One of the things I appreciated about The Beheading Game was that, while obviously a revenge fantasy inspired by modern feminist angst, an attempt was made to ground Anne’s character and mindset in her contemporary context. Laine, while claiming in the author’s note that it is “impossible” to accurately convey the mindset of Tudor people, doesn’t even try to make the dialogue sound even kind of old, even though it’s meant to be a story-within-a-story written in 1544. While I enjoyed the meta reference to Alison Weir’s mistaken ideas about the color of mourning in Spain, the prose isn’t much better, and the characters’ modern way of speaking is used to convey very modern ideas, especially about feminism. The ending discussion between Anne and Marguerite in particular would have been on the nose even if it was coming out of the mouths of twenty-first century women, but claims about Catherine of Aragon (not actually) “sending womanhood back into the Dark Ages” or Anne Boleyn not being able to “undo centuries of England’s patriarchy” were only slightly less jarring.

While the story is supposed to be about Henry’s wives taking revenge on him, it takes up to half the book for even the beginnings of this plot to take shape. Before that, it’s mostly just Anne and Catherine of Aragon going to different places and talking to different women, while helping some witches on the side. This positions the book in the boom of feminist witchcraft novels that have been coming out lately, but it’s arguably a bit anachronistic given that the early sixteenth-century was far from the height of witch hysteria in Europe, and the real manifestations of this hysteria present during the book's timeframe, like Henry's Witchcraft Act of 1542, are never mentioned. Less important, but also annoying, are the casual errors (other than all of the magic, of course), such as Isabella allegedly being the only queen of Europe as of 1544 (despite mentioning Isabella’s own daughter Juana, who had at least one year of real rule), Jane Seymour being addressed as “Lady”, The Book of the City of Ladies being described as as advocating “women inhabiting every layer of society”, and July being “little more than a month away” from September. Even worse is how Laine “reimagines” the characters, who mostly bear very little resemblance to their real life counterparts. I did like her depiction of Catherine of Aragon’s loneliness and unhappiness during her marriage (even if I was less convinced by the rest of her character), as well as her portrayal of Katherine Howard, but the latter also felt strange in the context of the book– despite Anne objecting to her marriage on account of her being a “child” (while the age gap between Katherine and Henry was unusual, a seventeen year old like her was hardly a child in a world where girls could legally marry at twelve), her lover Thomas Culpepper is portrayed as a good, if foolish, man, and their love is genuine on both sides, while no mention is made of the rape and murder he alleged committed and was pardoned by Henry for; Henry Manox, who can most clearly be accused of having abused her, doesn't seem to exist. I also ended up getting annoyed at the portrayal of Anne, who was headstrong but hardly as impulsive as she’s made to be here. The story is pretty firmly centered on Henry’s first two wives, though all of them get at least some spotlight– except Jane Seymour, who never gets a POV chapter nor is seen on page, and recollections of her from the other characters paint her as mostly being meek and uninteresting, with her queenship being skipped over almost entirely. She’s not part of the Sisterhood (and therefore, implicitly, anti-feminist), and when she dies, Marguerite condescendingly wishes she could have converted and “saved” her.

Throughout the book, my most frequent thought was “what’s the point”? What’s the point of writing a book about Henry’s wives when you exclude one of them from the plot? What’s the point of having the French princess and Navarrean queen Marguerite say that her feminist movement can only thrive if women of all social classes are involved when lower class women’s involvement bears so little relevance to the plot? What’s the point of having Anne Boleyn save fictional witches when the women who were executed for not supporting her ascension as queen are never acknowledged? What’s the point of writing a version of Catherine of Aragon who's sympathetic to freedom of religion for Muslims? What’s the point of having Anne Boleyn, whose importance to history largely hinges on her role in the Reformation and her Protestant daughter, not believe in the Christian God, or having the reformer and author of theological tracts Catherine Parr say that she prefers “Mother Nature to any made-up male deity”, as though this isn’t one of the greatest acts of disrespect you could show them? And what’s the point of writing a novel protesting the mistreatment of women when so many of the protagonists’ historical sufferings are mitigated, and that departs from history so gleefully that it cannot be considered even a mildly serious alternate history novel? Laine’s book has moments where its characters and their relationships shine, but they pale in comparison to the struggles and occasional triumphs of the women they share their names with. These women, even if you give them magic, are the ones we should be seeing in novels– but if you’re really itching for revenge, pick up The Beheading Game instead.

[Jenna]

The Verdict: A Masterclass in Revisionist History

As a reader with both a BA and an MA in History, specifically concentrating on Women’s History, I am well-acquainted with the countless interpretations of Henry VIII’s court. From the sensationalism of the Showtime series The Tudors and the dramatic liberties of The Other Boleyn Girl to the modern pop-reclamation of Six the Musical, this era has been dissected through every imaginable lens of entertainment and academic research. Yet, Jillian Lane’s “Henry Tudor Must Die” managed to surprise me. This particular take is extremely unique and stands out among the rest, making me feel like the perfect niche reader this book was designed to reach.

The story manages to balance the rigid political stakes of the 16th-century court with a speculative edge that feels entirely earned. It isn't just another addition to the saturated market of Tudor fiction; it’s a smart, layered exploration of power where Lane honors the historical record while fearlessly deviating from it.

The narrative centers on the two most famous figures of the era: Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. While their rivalry is well-documented in every textbook, Lane breathes fresh life into the conflict by introducing a clandestine element. In this version of the Great Matter, Anne Boleyn is a witch.

However, readers expecting the stereotypical tropes of Salem or the whimsical aesthetic of Wicked should look elsewhere. Lane treats magic not as a sparkly plot device, but as a grounded, atmospheric force that feels like a natural extension of the era’s superstitions, making the stakes feel visceral rather than cartoonish.

Anne’s power is subtle and dangerous, but she isn't the only powerhouse in the room. Catherine, while possessing no magical talents, serves as the shrewd, strategic brain power behind the duo’s success, ensuring their planning is as intellectually stimulating as the magic is potent.

The most striking departure from history—and indeed, the very heartbeat of this beautiful book—is the relationship between Catherine and Anne. Traditional narratives often pit them against each other, casting Anne as the temptress who ruined Catherine's marriage. Lane reimagines this as a powerful partnership between two women who have been systematically taken advantage of by the same man and who find strength in one another.

This alliance eventually expands to include Henry's later wives, with the ultimate goal of bringing down their ex-husband and protecting their daughters’ futures after the King attempts to cast them aside following the birth of Jane Seymour’s heir. This brings a beautifully diverse group of women into the main narrative.

Anne of Cleves is written with a queer identity, navigating the court alongside a female lover, while Catherine Parr is seen through an asexual lens, standing firm in her identity without conforming to the demure expectations of the era. The inclusion of Katherine Howard provides a poignant look at young love and loss. Lane even weaves in a character who serves as a powerful representation of a trans man, integrating these marginalized identities with superb artistry so they feel like a natural, vibrant part of the historical tapestry.

Ultimately, this is a story of women reclaiming their identities from a world designed to diminish them, a hauntingly relevant theme that Lane encapsulates in a particularly moving passage:

"Not everyone is ready. Not just the men – many of them will never be ready to see women as their equals. But there are thousands upon thousands of women who have been told all their lives they are less clever, less important, less valuable than men. It is up to us to start a movement that convinces women to question or reject what society has told them. But it might take more than a few years to accomplish that."

I could not put this book down and I am already planning my second read-through.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Special thanks to Penguin Random House for providing an advanced reader's copy.

Henry Tudor Must Die hits shelves on July 21, 2026.

[Beka]

Um, I NEED this book. Alt-history taking down serial killer (yes, he was, let's call a spade a spade) Henry Tudor? YES FREAKING PLEASE.

[Amie]

I’m putting this down at 15% because I am bored and thought I was going to be getting a snarky comedy reimagining and …I’m not.

[Haley Cooley]

For a book set in the Tudor period, there’s very little about it that’s actually Tudor. The characters feel like modern women with historical names tacked on, there’s no description of how these women lived back then or how they dressed. And there’s a big issue that I’d like to preface with a statement that I am all for including queer characters and multiple faiths in novels of this time period as those people have existed for all of history.

But this was a point in time where a Muslim woman, a lesbian relationship and a trans man would be very odd to these women. They would need to learn more about them, perhaps confront their own previously held beliefs, but we get none of that. They just nod and move on. And that brings me to another point, the absolute lack of any discussion of religion. The Tudor period took place during the reformation, the Church of England was formed specifically because of Anne Boleyn, and we get no discussion about it. It almost comes off as if the characters are all modern atheists and there is not a single religious character with any redeeming qualities. That’s reflected in the male characters, aside from one very minor character, there is not a male character with even the tiniest bit of good in them. All men are sex obsessed evil authority figures solely driven by their own desires and cutting down women for the fun of it.

I understand this is a “feminist historical fantasy” but that doesn’t mean you have to have all men be evil. Have there been a man who agrees with the women and helps them. As it is, the historical accuracy is not there, the internal consistency is not there, and don’t even get me started on how she totally mishandled Catherine Howard.

[Sophy H]

Hooo hooooo! This was bloody brilliant! I had to make myself stop reading this at 02.30 last night and pick it back up today.

What's not to like? Queens back from the dead, as part of a secret sisterhood using magic to avenge their wrongs. Henry gets what's coming to him the fat misogynistic bastard!!

I bloody loved the writing. The characters were great, women I could really get behind and root for. Feminist, strong, intelligent and resilient women helping each other and being true sisters in arms.

Jillian Laine has played a blinder with her first (adult) novel here. I hope to read what she does next with the next Anne Boleyn chapter ...........

[Kelly Busley]

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed reading about this time period from the queens’ perspectives. Badass women, a bit of magic, and a revenge plot? Yes, please!

[Δανάη Ιμπραχήμ]

trying to shape women from different times according to our beliefs is wild and borderline sexist. also, sexualising Kathryn Howard and romanticising yet another groomer of hers... kinda sucks.

[Caryl Ann]

History… but make it witchy, rebellious, and ridiculously addictive 👑🔥

I absolutely LOVED Henry Tudor Must Die. Give me historical fiction ANY day… but add witchcraft, powerful women, revenge energy, and a bit of Tudor drama? I’m SOLD 😍

This felt fresh and bold, like history finally letting the women grab the quill (and maybe a spell book 😉)

Anne Boleyn with attitude, magic woven into real events, and that constant tension of what if history had gone differently? Chef’s kiss.

It’s clever, atmospheric, slightly dark, and honestly so satisfying watching these women take control of their narrative. I flew through it way faster than expected because I just needed to know how it would all unfold.

If you love:

✨ Historical fiction with a twist
✨ Strong female characters
✨ A touch of witchcraft/magic
✨ Tudor intrigue & revenge plots

…this needs to be on your TBR immediately.

Historical fiction + witchy vibes = my perfect combo. More like this please 🙌📚

Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC 😊

#HenryTudorMustDie

[Lychee]

I don’t even understand what exactly made this book so unbelievably boring and insufferable for me to get through

[Lisa Watson]

I’m writing this review with tears in my eyes. What an amazing book. Royal history, well- women’s history, especially that which recalls the unjust treatment and terrible abuse so often suffered throughout time, for as long as time can be recalled. I have several, smaller Roman empires inside of this giant one. A matryoshka of Roman empires, if you will. Speaking of Russian culture and history, there is definitely a Roman Empire of the Romanov empire inside one of those dolls. Cleopatra. Hypaxia. Joan of Arc. Boudicca. The women of the Wars of the Roses, and of course, the wives of Henry VIII; Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I sadly, were also privy to tragedy at the behest of the men who thought they knew best, especially more than some woman.

Imagine my glorious surprise to learn that author Jillian Laine wrote a book about the very fantasies I have always harbored in my thoughts. Imagining Henry’s queens as a force to be reckoned with, orchestrating the most thorough and satisfying downfall of the men who thought naught of doing them harm. None of them ever cast aside like a forgotten plaything. None of them abused, used and discarded, utterly disposable. What if instead of enemies, they were friends? What if they banded together and did something about it? A formidable sisterhood taking on the patriarchy and breaking the wheel.

Jillian managed to take each Queen’s survived written account and history, hundreds of years old, and flesh them out into living, breathing characters of an alternate history of vengeance, rescue, and survival. I loved reading how Catherine, the strong, sound minded tactician, and Anne, the passionate spellbinding witch, as different in temperament as could be, working together for a new generation of queens and a new world where women are free to learn, express themselves, and live without fear. Queen Marguerite as their mastermind was the absolute cherry on top!

Jillian’s ability to give every woman in this book their own voices, characteristics and beliefs has me in awe. I could not put this down. If you enjoy stories with magic, witches, secret heists and secret societies, feminism, and f*cking the patriarchy, this book is for you. This is a historical fiction, women’s fiction book with multiple POVs, with a few of those being main POVs. The storyline feels entirely plausible in a “what if magic was real” timeline, and the absence of the magic would still keep the story firmly into a very well written historical fictional account. This is not a fantastical, warm and fuzzy tale of good versus bad. It is grittier, and beautifully written to impart the brutality and danger of life at court.
The stakes are very much felt throughout, and it was impossible to guess each character’s destiny.

If you enjoy Phillipa Gregory books, as well as Alison Wier, Jean Plaidy, Elizabeth Chadwick and Anne O’brien, you will absolutely love Jillian Laine.

Huge thanks to NetGalley author Jillian Laine, Berkeley Publishing Group for opportunity to enjoy this ARC.

[callistoscalling]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 In the peak of our homeschooling days, I found cheap tickets to London and booked them. My daughter had been on a months-long independent study on the six wives of Henry VIII and we were not going to miss the opportunity to take a field trip to walk in the footsteps of the wives he so famously wronged. Even in his death, Henry VIII looms large, but historians are not clueless to the misogyny of his reign, and we should all take notes…

Jillian Laine brings an amazing new read that just might have Henry Tudor rolling over in his final resting place of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Anne Boleyn met her fate with the executioner’s sword on the Tower Green…but what if a little magic and the help of her enemy, the presumed dead, Catalina de Aragon, could change the course of history? I may have never wanted something to be more true in my life.

Anne and Lina are the most unlikely pair that I absolutely love more than anything. Anne has always been known for her fiery spirit but Jillian Laine brings a unique look to Henry’s first wife, showing a fiercer, more spirited side to this Spanish princess who became one of the most famous queens of England.

Henry Tudor Must Die is not your typical historical fiction, Laine is reinventing history with a feminist lens in her genre-blending journey through the Renaissance. These powerful queens are here for revenge and to pave the way for a brighter future for women in this refreshing, fast-paced, and brilliant novel and we should all sit down and have a lesson.

[Jessica]

I love the Tudors, I love witchcraft, I love this book. A massive thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.

When I saw the cover and the synopsis, I hit request so fast.

This was such a fun read and reimagining of the fates of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon. I especially loved the friendship and camaraderie they developed.

I also really enjoyed Anne of Cleves and her role in how the story unfolded.

This story had everything. It was honestly a badass blend of friendship, revenge, witchcraft, and real emotional depth. There’s so much heart woven through the magic and the rage, and it made the whole journey feel powerful instead of just dark. Watching these women reclaim their stories felt satisfying in a way that stuck with me after I finished.

Highly recommend for fans of Six, Tudor history, and anyone who enjoys a sharp, witchy twist with a strong dose of revenge against the men who did you wrong. A stunning debut that absolutely delivers.

[Courtney H]

This book is what I wanted Rebecca Lehmann's The Beheading Game to be.

Anne Boleyn receives a surprise visitor the night before her execution -- the dead former queen Catherine (here called Lina, short for Catalina). Lina brings Anne the supplies she needs to fake her beheading using the magic she already possesses.

Anne and Lina leave London to plan their revenge on the king who discarded them both.

Recommended for Tudor historical fiction readers who don't mind a dose of the supernatural.

I received an electronic galley of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lilly - Fantasyandfern]

4.5*, review to come

[Olesya Gilmore]

A delightful alternative historical fantasy in the vein of the musical Six, Lady Jane, and The Great, that imagines a different ending (or beginning?) for the six tragic queens of Henry 8. Wonderfully imaginative, feminist, witchy, and snarky as hell, if you like your fiction with a modernized, fantastical past, this one’s not to be missed.

[Cindy Huskey]

I went into this expecting a delightfully snarky alternate-history romp where Henry VIII finally met his match and his wives got to rewrite history with a healthy dose of revenge.



That was my first mistake.

The opening had me convinced I was in for a wild ride. Anne Boleyn escaping execution? Catalina of Aragon back from exile? Secret sisterhood? Sign me up. Unfortunately, somewhere around the 20% mark, the story lost all momentum. I kept reading because I'm no quitter... and because I was stubbornly convinced the fun part had to be just a few chapters away.

It wasn't.

I completely understand that this is alternate history, and I'm all for creative liberties. But this version leaned so hard into "creative history" that I never really connected with the story. Instead of watching events unfold, I felt like I was sitting through a very long meeting where someone summarized everything interesting that had already happened. There was a lot of telling, very little action, and entire chapters that casually informed me years had passed—as if I hadn't just been waiting for something to actually happen during those years.

The premise is fantastic. The execution just never lived up to it for me.

If you're looking for a heavily reimagined Tudor story with lots of exposition and a slower pace, this may be exactly your cup of tea. I was just hoping for more scheming, more snark, more revenge, and considerably fewer historical fast-forwards.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this review copy.

[Veerle]

I’m still trying to explain the plot of Henry Tudor Must Die to my husband, who is a historian, and the more I explain it, the more I realise just how completely bonkers it sounds. 😂 And yet I absolutely devoured this book — well, technically I audiobinged it — in three days.

The basic premise is wonderfully mad: Henry Tudor becomes the centre of a revenge quest, secret alliances, murder and manipulation, with history taking a very definite turn into “what if?” territory.

And that was probably one of my favourite things about the book. I really enjoyed the way it explores what educated women could actually do with their education. They aren't just there to be clever ladies who know Latin and embroider beautifully — their devellish knowledge gives them power, and they use it.

The Hellebore Sisterhood in particular was such a great concept: a secret network of women with knowledge, connections and their own political agenda, quietly influencing the world around them. I wanted more of them.

There is also something very satisfying about watching historical figures and events being taken apart and rearranged into this completely different version of Tudor history. Is it plausible? Well… let’s just say I would probably not use this book to defend a historical argument in front of my husband. 😂 But is it entertaining? Very much so.

The audiobook made it especially easy to get completely sucked in. I kept thinking I’d listen to one more chapter and then suddenly several hours had disappeared and Henry Tudor was still very much in danger.

I went in thinking I’d give it a try, and three days later I emerged from my Tudor fever dream wondering what on earth I should listen to next.

If you enjoy historical fantasy and don’t mind your history being enthusiastically thrown into a blender, this one is a lot of fun.

[Ranjini Shankar]

3 stars. I REALLY wanted to like this book. I was obsessed with the Tudors and a reimagining where the wives take revenge seems so delectable. And yet it didn’t quite hit the spot. Partially because it relied on witchcraft that didn’t seem to follow particular rules, or because I didn’t care about the characters or because the characters were so far from who I’d grown up thinking they were that this just felt weird.

The ending bothered me way too much. There was no benefit to ending it that way. If it’s aRevenge fantasy, give me to full satisfaction of the revenge!

[Jinny]

⭐ 3 stars ⭐

The snappy title reeled me in! And of course, I love reading about the Tudors so naturally I wanted to read this. I knew it was going to be a historical fantasy that's heavy on the fantasy (think Six Wild Crowns, if you know that book) so I knew it was going to probably be magical and wildly historically inaccurate, which is fine. Sometimes it's fun to read a "what if ..." book, and in this case, it is, "What if Henry's wives never died?"

In this book, Anne Boleyn is a witch and the story opens with her execution day. She is saved by none other than Katherine of Aragon, or Catalina de Aragon, as she is known in this book, who is supposed to be already dead! Catalina introduces Anne to the Hellebore Sisterhood, headed by Princess Marguerite in France. The Hellebore Sisterhood is an organization of witches, mystics and ordinary people, dedicated to feminism and helping other women. Together, Anne and Catalina help the other queens that Henry marries, while ultimately planning their final move to assassinate Henry Tudor.

So, I thought this book was alright. I think the synopsis makes it sound way more exciting than it actually is. Basically you go through the known history of Henry's wives, and discover how the Hellebore Sisterhood had a hand in everything. If you are unfamiliar with the real life history on this, perhaps it would be more exciting, but as I am quite familiar with Henry Tudor and his six wives, it was a little less thrilling to go through it all again, just with explanations on how the Sisterhood caused this or that event to happen.

Everything also goes really well for the Sisterhood, they never (or rarely) have any hiccups to their plans, at least as far as I recall. Any problems they have are minor at best. So I felt there was a lack of any real conflict or problem for the characters. You would think the biggest problem would be Catalina and Anne working together, but no, they quickly become BFFs.

The other thing were the characters, who were okay, but were really one dimensional.

I liked the general idea of the story of the queens banding together to destroy Henry Tudor, and I enjoyed how Princess Marguerite was the narrator, as she would leave little footnotes with her own musings, which I found entertaining.

This was an okay novel, I liked it, but I guess I wish the book took more risks in writing a new history, rather than follow real life beat for beat with some magical twists.

[Hailey (haileyhardcover)]

If you, like me, have ever obsessed over the injustice and cruelty experienced by the six wives of Henry VIII and/or the majesty of Six the musical, you’re going to absolutely love Henry Tudor Must Die.

I’m generally not a huge historical fiction reader, but when you add witchcraft and revenge to the already fascinating and tragic history of the six wives, I couldn’t pass this up. The story was gripping from the start (placing us in the Tower of London with Anne, the night before her scheduled beheading), and it did not let up from there. Adding an element of witchcraft and a secret feminist society influencing the goings-on of the world was a brilliant. I want to accept this version of events as what really happened.

My one small gripe is the historic facts that were changed without real justification, or in ways that didn’t explain how & why they would’ve been misdocumented. Henry dying (spoiler?) five years earlier, to the day, than he did in actuality, for example. While the author directly responds to and essentially asks the reader to get over in the acknowledgements, I don’t agree that there was justification for changing documented history in this way. I would’ve loved to just be able to take on the fictionalized details - this delicious and righteous revenge by some strong, smart, witchy women - as truth, but changing documented facts just to hit a plot point ruins that. Not enough to deduct a star from a story that I otherwise loved, but enough for me to be disappointed enough to add it to a review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Angela Verry]

📚✨ Book Review: Henry Tudor Must Die ✨📚

An amazing, wonderful, stupendous retelling with a twist! 👑🔮

What if Henry VIII's wives lived? What if they were witches? 🧙‍♀️✨ This clever reimagining takes a familiar piece of history and turns it completely on its head. Filled with magic, intrigue, friendship, and a healthy dose of revenge, this story kept me hooked from beginning to end. 📖⚡

I loved seeing these iconic women reclaim their power and rewrite their own destinies. If you enjoy historical fiction with a fantastical twist, this one is a must-read! 👑💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Club Questions:
Which of Henry's wives was your favorite in this retelling, and why?

How did the addition of witchcraft change the story for you?

What themes of power and agency stood out most?

Did knowing the real history make the twists more enjoyable?

If you could rewrite the fate of one historical figure, who would it be?

🔮👑✨ "History is written by the victors... unless the witches have something to say about it!" ✨👑🔮