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The House of Boleyn
“Historical fiction at its absolute best.”—Alison Weir
Acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII
When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten. His daughters Mary and Anne were young then, and though he was ambitious for his family to prosper, he could not imagine what would transpire in the two decades to come.
Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family’s three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life. Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colorful tableau in which familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne’s ever-loyal attendant Esther Frideswide and Thomas Boleyn’s perfidious steward Robert Cranwell are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of the royal court. Henry VIII pursues Anne relentlessly, showering her with gifts as the Boleyns are catapulted to political prominence. But when she can’t give him the son and heir he desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible and bloody fate. With lavish and compelling historical detail, Tracy Borman displays her keen gift for storytelling in this resonant novel of family, fate, and intrigue.
Acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII
When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten. His daughters Mary and Anne were young then, and though he was ambitious for his family to prosper, he could not imagine what would transpire in the two decades to come.
Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family’s three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life. Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colorful tableau in which familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne’s ever-loyal attendant Esther Frideswide and Thomas Boleyn’s perfidious steward Robert Cranwell are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of the royal court. Henry VIII pursues Anne relentlessly, showering her with gifts as the Boleyns are catapulted to political prominence. But when she can’t give him the son and heir he desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible and bloody fate. With lavish and compelling historical detail, Tracy Borman displays her keen gift for storytelling in this resonant novel of family, fate, and intrigue.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Tracy Borman
25 books1,019 followersTracy Borman, PhD, FRHistS, FSA is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth's Women.
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
May 7, 2026
4.5⭐️
I just love reading about this time in history and, even though I am very familiar with Anne’s story, I always look forward to reading different interpretations of it.
I found this such a fascinating narrative as it takes a look at the whole of the Boleyn family - including Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret. Little is known of the servants who waited on the Boleyn family at Hever Castle, but it was very interesting to see the author’s interpretation of what their life would have been like too.
The story begins in 1512, with a young Anne, and each chapter moves forward in time - sometimes within the same month, and sometimes a few years. It did take me a while to become familiar with all the names and relationships again and, if you’re not familiar with the Boleyn family tree, it would be better reading this book with a family tree in front of you.
The narrative is raw, gritty and sometimes brutal; combined with beautifully written descriptions of place and setting. It offers a slightly different insight into some of the characters we almost we feel like we know after reading so much about them. Both Anne Boleyn and Jane Rochford, her sister-in-law, are portrayed from a new angle; based on Tracy’s exhaustive research.
I never cease to be intrigued by the shifting loyalties at this time, with so many people only looking out for themselves. It’s a time when gossip and scandal are rampant, and the author has done an exceptional job of bringing this to life.
I’m so glad I had the pleasure of listening to @tracyborman talk about this book, at one of her events, and reading this brought it all back. There’s a comprehensive ‘Author’s Notes’ section at the back of the book, where you can see some of the research and information that Tracy has based this book on. She also lets you know where she has used her imagination.
I absolutely loved reading this one, and can’t recommend it enough for historical fiction fans or readers new to Anne’s story. ❤️❤️
I just love reading about this time in history and, even though I am very familiar with Anne’s story, I always look forward to reading different interpretations of it.
I found this such a fascinating narrative as it takes a look at the whole of the Boleyn family - including Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret. Little is known of the servants who waited on the Boleyn family at Hever Castle, but it was very interesting to see the author’s interpretation of what their life would have been like too.
The story begins in 1512, with a young Anne, and each chapter moves forward in time - sometimes within the same month, and sometimes a few years. It did take me a while to become familiar with all the names and relationships again and, if you’re not familiar with the Boleyn family tree, it would be better reading this book with a family tree in front of you.
The narrative is raw, gritty and sometimes brutal; combined with beautifully written descriptions of place and setting. It offers a slightly different insight into some of the characters we almost we feel like we know after reading so much about them. Both Anne Boleyn and Jane Rochford, her sister-in-law, are portrayed from a new angle; based on Tracy’s exhaustive research.
I never cease to be intrigued by the shifting loyalties at this time, with so many people only looking out for themselves. It’s a time when gossip and scandal are rampant, and the author has done an exceptional job of bringing this to life.
I’m so glad I had the pleasure of listening to @tracyborman talk about this book, at one of her events, and reading this brought it all back. There’s a comprehensive ‘Author’s Notes’ section at the back of the book, where you can see some of the research and information that Tracy has based this book on. She also lets you know where she has used her imagination.
I absolutely loved reading this one, and can’t recommend it enough for historical fiction fans or readers new to Anne’s story. ❤️❤️
May 22, 2026
THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN is new historical fiction from British historian and author Tracy Borman, whose name you may recognize as the host of assorted educational documentaries produced by British television and airing on PBS and various streaming services. Awarded three stars but I might go as high as 3.5.
In THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN Borman presents the story of the entire Boleyn clan (briefly covering their origins) but beginning in earnest when infamous Tudor King, Henry VIII's (1491-1547) second wife, Anne Boleyn (1507-1536) is just a child. Anne's unusual intelligence helps her family secure her positions in the Hapsburg regency court of Margaret of Austria (1480-1530) and later, in the French courts of Louis XII (1462-1515) and Francois I (1494-1547). But it's not until she returns to England (after these "internships" )that she captures the attention of Henry VIII.
Having read an embarrassing number of Tudor novels - what strikes me as unique in this story is the author introducing some new motivations, plot twists, relationships, and romances -- which as far as I know are purely conjecture. Borman explains much of where these ideas originated in her Author's Note at the end of the book.
Borman's imaginings DO reframe the Boleyn family story in interesting ways:
• This Anne Boleyn, for example, is deeply attached to a secret true love. Yet she remains practical about her growing position of power, and eager for her family to benefit.
• In this novel, her father, Thomas, primarily wants to protect his much loved daughter, instead of the customary portrayal of a man so determined to advance his own ambition, he doesn't hesitate to sacrifice his family.
• Thomas's son George who is wildly ambitious and hedonistic.
• Anne's mother Elizabeth, sister to the powerful Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554), is often elsewhere nursing her migraines.
• Anne's sister Mary, a former lover of King Henry VIII, remains a minor character.
• And in George's wife, Jane Parker, Borman offers the biggest surprise of all.
Despite enjoying Borman's new and different takes on what motivated each Boleyn, I found this book felt long (368 pages) and the pace slow. Particularly the first half which seemed to last at least as long as Henry's courtship of Anne.
For me THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN reads more like non-fiction than fiction. In other words, a bit dry. But I suppose that might be expected when a novel is written by an historian. I do recommend the novel, particularly to those steeped in Tudor lore. Borman's unique take will give you much to think about.
In THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN Borman presents the story of the entire Boleyn clan (briefly covering their origins) but beginning in earnest when infamous Tudor King, Henry VIII's (1491-1547) second wife, Anne Boleyn (1507-1536) is just a child. Anne's unusual intelligence helps her family secure her positions in the Hapsburg regency court of Margaret of Austria (1480-1530) and later, in the French courts of Louis XII (1462-1515) and Francois I (1494-1547). But it's not until she returns to England (after these "internships" )that she captures the attention of Henry VIII.
Having read an embarrassing number of Tudor novels - what strikes me as unique in this story is the author introducing some new motivations, plot twists, relationships, and romances -- which as far as I know are purely conjecture. Borman explains much of where these ideas originated in her Author's Note at the end of the book.
Borman's imaginings DO reframe the Boleyn family story in interesting ways:
• This Anne Boleyn, for example, is deeply attached to a secret true love. Yet she remains practical about her growing position of power, and eager for her family to benefit.
• In this novel, her father, Thomas, primarily wants to protect his much loved daughter, instead of the customary portrayal of a man so determined to advance his own ambition, he doesn't hesitate to sacrifice his family.
• Thomas's son George who is wildly ambitious and hedonistic.
• Anne's mother Elizabeth, sister to the powerful Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554), is often elsewhere nursing her migraines.
• Anne's sister Mary, a former lover of King Henry VIII, remains a minor character.
• And in George's wife, Jane Parker, Borman offers the biggest surprise of all.
Despite enjoying Borman's new and different takes on what motivated each Boleyn, I found this book felt long (368 pages) and the pace slow. Particularly the first half which seemed to last at least as long as Henry's courtship of Anne.
For me THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN reads more like non-fiction than fiction. In other words, a bit dry. But I suppose that might be expected when a novel is written by an historian. I do recommend the novel, particularly to those steeped in Tudor lore. Borman's unique take will give you much to think about.
May 13, 2026
I feel like it’s been ages since this was announced and I was dying to get my hands on a copy! I’m so glad I’ve finished it now, before my trip to Hever Castle next week. Borman’s research, as always, is meticulous, and I always love a detailed Author’s Note at the end with historical fiction, explaining what has been changed and why, what is known and what is fiction. I think for those less familiar with the period, it draws clean lines.
I loved how it had a Downton Abbey feel with an upstairs / downstairs thing, though it did take me a while to get used to the changing points of view from chapter to chapter, but once I did, I raced through it. I think I read the last two-thirds in a single sitting! Of course, the cover is gorgeous, with the red ivy which adorns Hever Castle in the autumn, with the B necklace and the falcon. You can tell that Borman has spent a lot of time at Hever and talking to those who know the castle well, as it really comes to life in her writing. It’s almost a character in itself in the novel.
The meld of characters we know from history with those who were fictionalised or based on a real character but with a fictionalised personality, worked really well, and often it was difficult to tell the real from the made-up, which is a mark of a great historical fiction writer. Borman immerses you in Tudor England through the characters. We see the vulnerability of Anne Boleyn, her uncertainty, and fear. Jane Boleyn is often portrayed as a villain, but we see a softer and more sympathetic portrayal of her here. Thomas Boleyn is often shown to be grasping and ambitious, pushing his daughters at the king, but we know he wasn’t happy about Anne’s marriage to the king, and we see his fears here. It was also good to see more of Margaret Boleyn, Thomas’ father, who doesn’t often seem to appear in the history books.
Of the fictionalised characters, I adored Esther and her devotion to Anne, and the Boleyn family more generally. Towards the end I enjoyed seeing Esther’s burgeoning relationship with Jane Boleyn. Cranwell, the steward, we know was real, but we know very little, and Borman has made him into the villain of the piece, working against the Boleyns. We see the divisions in the Boleyn household through their servants, which works really well.
Overall, I loved it. Tracy Borman is honestly a genius with this book, giving us a view of the Boleyn family which is new. The focus is often on the court itself in Tudor novels, but setting the entire book at Hever Castle allows opinions to spread and distort, the waiting for news to build tension, even when we know the history, and us to see the characters in a more relaxed home space, the private rather than the public, and imagine what might really have been said and done behind the walls of Hever Castle when the Boleyns were in residence.
I loved how it had a Downton Abbey feel with an upstairs / downstairs thing, though it did take me a while to get used to the changing points of view from chapter to chapter, but once I did, I raced through it. I think I read the last two-thirds in a single sitting! Of course, the cover is gorgeous, with the red ivy which adorns Hever Castle in the autumn, with the B necklace and the falcon. You can tell that Borman has spent a lot of time at Hever and talking to those who know the castle well, as it really comes to life in her writing. It’s almost a character in itself in the novel.
The meld of characters we know from history with those who were fictionalised or based on a real character but with a fictionalised personality, worked really well, and often it was difficult to tell the real from the made-up, which is a mark of a great historical fiction writer. Borman immerses you in Tudor England through the characters. We see the vulnerability of Anne Boleyn, her uncertainty, and fear. Jane Boleyn is often portrayed as a villain, but we see a softer and more sympathetic portrayal of her here. Thomas Boleyn is often shown to be grasping and ambitious, pushing his daughters at the king, but we know he wasn’t happy about Anne’s marriage to the king, and we see his fears here. It was also good to see more of Margaret Boleyn, Thomas’ father, who doesn’t often seem to appear in the history books.
Of the fictionalised characters, I adored Esther and her devotion to Anne, and the Boleyn family more generally. Towards the end I enjoyed seeing Esther’s burgeoning relationship with Jane Boleyn. Cranwell, the steward, we know was real, but we know very little, and Borman has made him into the villain of the piece, working against the Boleyns. We see the divisions in the Boleyn household through their servants, which works really well.
Overall, I loved it. Tracy Borman is honestly a genius with this book, giving us a view of the Boleyn family which is new. The focus is often on the court itself in Tudor novels, but setting the entire book at Hever Castle allows opinions to spread and distort, the waiting for news to build tension, even when we know the history, and us to see the characters in a more relaxed home space, the private rather than the public, and imagine what might really have been said and done behind the walls of Hever Castle when the Boleyns were in residence.
February 26, 2026
(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)
When a story has been retold as many times as that of Anne Boleyn, it’s hard to imagine that a fresh take is possible. Yet, historian and writer Tracy Borman has done just that with her novel of the lives of people, real and imagined, who lived, loved, and served at Hever, the Boleyn family home.
Tracing the rise of the family from the childhoods of the three infamous children of Thomas Boleyn, this historical fiction imagines not just the interplay between the members of the Boleyn family but also of those who lived with them at Hever: the trusted (or not) servants of the family.
Borman paints a realistic portrait of a family torn between love for each other and the dangerous allure of power dangled over them by fickle King Henry VIII. Seeing characters who have often been portrayed as distasteful revised into complex and sympathetic humans made me rethink some of the assumptions I’ve made based only on Hollywood retelling of this period of British royal history. I worried and wept with Esther and Jane; I felt the heartbreak of a husband and father discovering he has no power over his life or family; I silently begged Anne to hold her tongue and see the looming threats around her.
An old story retold well, Borman’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to recognize and feel the human element of figures who have been made larger-than-life by their roles in history.
When a story has been retold as many times as that of Anne Boleyn, it’s hard to imagine that a fresh take is possible. Yet, historian and writer Tracy Borman has done just that with her novel of the lives of people, real and imagined, who lived, loved, and served at Hever, the Boleyn family home.
Tracing the rise of the family from the childhoods of the three infamous children of Thomas Boleyn, this historical fiction imagines not just the interplay between the members of the Boleyn family but also of those who lived with them at Hever: the trusted (or not) servants of the family.
Borman paints a realistic portrait of a family torn between love for each other and the dangerous allure of power dangled over them by fickle King Henry VIII. Seeing characters who have often been portrayed as distasteful revised into complex and sympathetic humans made me rethink some of the assumptions I’ve made based only on Hollywood retelling of this period of British royal history. I worried and wept with Esther and Jane; I felt the heartbreak of a husband and father discovering he has no power over his life or family; I silently begged Anne to hold her tongue and see the looming threats around her.
An old story retold well, Borman’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to recognize and feel the human element of figures who have been made larger-than-life by their roles in history.
August 15, 2026
I’m always, immediately tempted by anything about Anne Boleyn. This isn’t even the only ARC I’ve read about her recently. But for a woman who’s captivated me for a decade now, I’m leaving pretty unattached and unemotional.
The author’s expertise is evident. I love an author’s note explaining decisions, and this was a great one.
That being said, it doesn’t surprise me that this is from a primarily nonfiction author. It just didn’t land as a novel for me. I found it dry and slow. I think the biggest issue I had was the sheer volume of narrators. I couldn’t get attached to any of these because of the constant bouncing around. Jumping off that, I felt a lack of both plot and character arc. There’s just too much going on to really accomplish either.
While some of the characters’ motivations were interesting, I was a little shocked by what was glossed over vs explored, and which narrator got to tell which part of the story. Anne is so, painfully absent from her own end.
I don’t ever expect a love story for Anne and Henry, but there was absolutely none here. That is not necessarily a complaint—but go in expecting to be wary and sad the entire time. This Anne did not seem to have any positive reaction to literally anything that happened to her. It’s fair, it just sustains a somber and dread-filled tone for the entire novel.
This is an ambitious project and I respect the breadth of the research and attention to detail. While it didn’t land for me as a novel, plenty of others loved it, and you should give it a try if you’re a die-hard Tudor fan.
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⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Spice level: On-page, but technical. One scene between Henry and Anne reads very close to rape
Graphic: Sexual assault, stillbirth/miscarriage
Moderate: Pregnancy, death
Minor: Abortion, incest, adult/minor relationship
The author’s expertise is evident. I love an author’s note explaining decisions, and this was a great one.
That being said, it doesn’t surprise me that this is from a primarily nonfiction author. It just didn’t land as a novel for me. I found it dry and slow. I think the biggest issue I had was the sheer volume of narrators. I couldn’t get attached to any of these because of the constant bouncing around. Jumping off that, I felt a lack of both plot and character arc. There’s just too much going on to really accomplish either.
While some of the characters’ motivations were interesting, I was a little shocked by what was glossed over vs explored, and which narrator got to tell which part of the story. Anne is so, painfully absent from her own end.
I don’t ever expect a love story for Anne and Henry, but there was absolutely none here. That is not necessarily a complaint—but go in expecting to be wary and sad the entire time. This Anne did not seem to have any positive reaction to literally anything that happened to her. It’s fair, it just sustains a somber and dread-filled tone for the entire novel.
This is an ambitious project and I respect the breadth of the research and attention to detail. While it didn’t land for me as a novel, plenty of others loved it, and you should give it a try if you’re a die-hard Tudor fan.
Bookstagram
Let’s Connect
---
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Spice level: On-page, but technical. One scene between Henry and Anne reads very close to rape
Graphic: Sexual assault, stillbirth/miscarriage
Moderate: Pregnancy, death
Minor: Abortion, incest, adult/minor relationship
August 12, 2026
An interesting take for a historical fiction featuring the Boleyn family and all the drama surrounding them. I did enjoy this take on their story after seeing and reading other takes on this family, this one felt more emotionally connected.
March 13, 2026
The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman is a great historical fiction that revisits the infamous family.
I just love Ms Borman, and I always enjoy her writing. Normally I read her nonfiction, but interspersed are true gems of fiction.
I enjoyed this visit back to Tudor England and the infamous family that were at the center of it all during those turbulent and pivotal times.
The author keeps things new and fresh, and weaves a story with multiple points of view to give a more rounded effect for the reader and also adds a bit of her own personal flare to the historical story lines.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone that enjoys Tudor-era history.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/4/26.
I just love Ms Borman, and I always enjoy her writing. Normally I read her nonfiction, but interspersed are true gems of fiction.
I enjoyed this visit back to Tudor England and the infamous family that were at the center of it all during those turbulent and pivotal times.
The author keeps things new and fresh, and weaves a story with multiple points of view to give a more rounded effect for the reader and also adds a bit of her own personal flare to the historical story lines.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone that enjoys Tudor-era history.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/4/26.
July 31, 2026
The House of Boleyn was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026. I love the Tudor era and King Henry and his myriad of wives fascinates me. I was particularly excited to read about how Borman interpreted King Henry's courtship of Anne and his dethroning of Catherine and this portion of the novel did not disappoint. The long-game Anne played was nothing short of legendary and even knowing how it would eventually play out, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his pursuit and ultimate dismissal of her.
As a mother, the relationships between mothers and their children was also fascinating. That children were so quickly separated by their mothers was somewhat shocking and deeply saddened me. I appreciated the love and maternal instincts that seemed to persevere even across distance and time.
I was particularly excited for The House of Boleyn because of the creative liberties taken, but still found some elements of the story a little drawn out and dry. I paused this novel about 1/3 of the way through because it wasn't fully holding my attention. In particularly, while I was interested in Lady Margaret and the accusations against her regarding her sanity and ultimately thought Borman brought this back nicely, it was far too drawn out. There was also extensive focus on the servants which while interesting, wasn't exactly what I was hoping for with this read.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and the different perspective of this piece of history. It was a good read and I'm excited to read more by Borman.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic for the copy.
As a mother, the relationships between mothers and their children was also fascinating. That children were so quickly separated by their mothers was somewhat shocking and deeply saddened me. I appreciated the love and maternal instincts that seemed to persevere even across distance and time.
I was particularly excited for The House of Boleyn because of the creative liberties taken, but still found some elements of the story a little drawn out and dry. I paused this novel about 1/3 of the way through because it wasn't fully holding my attention. In particularly, while I was interested in Lady Margaret and the accusations against her regarding her sanity and ultimately thought Borman brought this back nicely, it was far too drawn out. There was also extensive focus on the servants which while interesting, wasn't exactly what I was hoping for with this read.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and the different perspective of this piece of history. It was a good read and I'm excited to read more by Borman.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic for the copy.
August 12, 2026
A book about my own Roman Empire, Anne Boleyn? Yes, please.
House of Boleyn is a charming story that offers a new perspective: Hever Castle. The author took some liberties with the histories that I don’t think were quite necessary when the reality is already so dramatic, but I did appreciate the original characters and what they brought to the story.
Good for: anyone who keeps watching Reign regardless of the bad history or inaccurate costumes; casual history buffs; girlies with a Tudor hyperfixation
Note: if you’re unfamiliar with the general Anne Boleyn story, this will probably be VERY confusing as all the court-focused drama is told through conversations or letters rather than on-page.
House of Boleyn is a charming story that offers a new perspective: Hever Castle. The author took some liberties with the histories that I don’t think were quite necessary when the reality is already so dramatic, but I did appreciate the original characters and what they brought to the story.
Good for: anyone who keeps watching Reign regardless of the bad history or inaccurate costumes; casual history buffs; girlies with a Tudor hyperfixation
Note: if you’re unfamiliar with the general Anne Boleyn story, this will probably be VERY confusing as all the court-focused drama is told through conversations or letters rather than on-page.
September 16, 2026
Everyone knows the story of the Boleyn family, who took Henry VIII's court by storm; the rise and fall of this family is legendary, and of course, everyone knows what happened to the ill-fated Anne Boleyn. However, Tracy Borman, a Tudor Historian, delves deeper into the Boleyn family as a whole, starting with Anne's father, Thomas. The story of this family spans three generations and offers a fresh perspective by examining not only the usual Boleyns (Mary, Anne, and George, along with their father) but also their grandmother, Margaret. Her story is complex, and other secondary characters come to the forefront, one being Anne's attendant, Esther, and Thomas's steward, Robert Cranwell (not to be confused with Cromwell!). Since Borman is a Tudor historian, readers can appreciate the level of detail in The House of Boleyn and the fresh perspective on a much-told story.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 15, 2026
Familiar story, but a different take from the usual
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 ⭐️
The House of Boleyn is a historical fiction novel by Tracy Borman that explores the story of the infamous second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth Tudor. The novel delves into the events within the Boleyn family that led to one of the most tragic downfalls of power and the eventual end of the Tudor reign.
This book leans heavily on the fictional side of historical fiction, with POVs from imagined servants and many creative liberties taken with rumors and gossip. Initially, it read like a reality TV show set in the Tudor era. It took me about 35–40% to really get into it, as the pacing is a bit slow and keeping track of the servants was somewhat frustrating.
However, once we get to the part where Anne enters Henry VIII’s court, things pick up. We do get Anne’s POV for a while, but it is mostly limited to her reflecting on or recounting her interactions with the King while she is at Hever Castle. Eventually, we no longer get her POV, as she does not return to Hever Castle. Instead, we learn of events through Thomas Boleyn (Anne’s father), Jane Boleyn (Anne’s sister-in-law), and what the servants hear in town.
Even though I knew how the story would end, I couldn’t help wishing it would end differently. I kept feeling grateful that I was not born in a time when women were simply pawns for the entertainment of men, a time when a clever, outspoken woman was considered either a heretic or a whore, or both. Then I was reminded that there are still people in the world who wish to return to such a time, and how precarious women’s freedom truly is.
Overall, this was a decent retelling of the story, exploring the butterfly effect of events and what might have happened if even one moment had gone differently.
Do make sure to read the author’s note at the end for a breakdown of the factual and fictional elements.
The House of Boleyn is a historical fiction novel by Tracy Borman that explores the story of the infamous second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth Tudor. The novel delves into the events within the Boleyn family that led to one of the most tragic downfalls of power and the eventual end of the Tudor reign.
This book leans heavily on the fictional side of historical fiction, with POVs from imagined servants and many creative liberties taken with rumors and gossip. Initially, it read like a reality TV show set in the Tudor era. It took me about 35–40% to really get into it, as the pacing is a bit slow and keeping track of the servants was somewhat frustrating.
However, once we get to the part where Anne enters Henry VIII’s court, things pick up. We do get Anne’s POV for a while, but it is mostly limited to her reflecting on or recounting her interactions with the King while she is at Hever Castle. Eventually, we no longer get her POV, as she does not return to Hever Castle. Instead, we learn of events through Thomas Boleyn (Anne’s father), Jane Boleyn (Anne’s sister-in-law), and what the servants hear in town.
Even though I knew how the story would end, I couldn’t help wishing it would end differently. I kept feeling grateful that I was not born in a time when women were simply pawns for the entertainment of men, a time when a clever, outspoken woman was considered either a heretic or a whore, or both. Then I was reminded that there are still people in the world who wish to return to such a time, and how precarious women’s freedom truly is.
Overall, this was a decent retelling of the story, exploring the butterfly effect of events and what might have happened if even one moment had gone differently.
Do make sure to read the author’s note at the end for a breakdown of the factual and fictional elements.
August 8, 2026
The (Real) House(wives) of Boleyn.
Novelists who want to write about the reign of Henry VIII, especially the period covering the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, are faced with the challenge of how to add something fresh to a story that has seemingly been captured from every possible angle. Adding sensational and often sexed-up plot points is a not uncommon solution, and it’s one that Borman wholeheartedly embraces. To pull from just the first half of the book, some of her inventions include the teenage Mary Boleyn having an abortion (as do apparently half the women in the French court), Thomas Boleyn Jr’s death being a murder resulting from a family feud, Jane Boleyn being a lesbian in love with Anne, Anne’s longstanding love for Thomas Wyatt, and Robert Cranwell’s attempted murder by inaction of his fictional mistress and their unborn child; though thankfully, rapes are kept to a minimum. Most of Borman’s embellishments are not acknowledged in the author’s note, but she does make sure to answer the burning question of whether Henry actually went to Hever; since she’s written many non-fiction books about the Tudors, I fear some readers might get the impression that there’s a basis for her more serious inventions. Even the less extraordinary plot points largely concern sex, which can make for good drama, but quickly becomes tedious by its overuse.
Chapters frequently involve time skips, ranging from months to years, making the book feel a bit like a series of vignettes. While an interesting concept, it has the unfortunate side effect of not properly explaining/depicting important political events and cutting a number of scenes that really should have been included. The Field of Cloth of Gold, an important diplomatic event that the Boleyns were present at, takes place between chapters and is merely remembered afterwards. Mary’s elopement with William Stafford and subsequent banishment from court is recounted after the fact, with little build up given that, following her prominence at the beginning, she had largely vanished from the plot at that point. Anne’s execution, which has produced some stirring scenes, is passed over. There’s an invented scene where Jane goes to Anne’s room at night with the intention of spilling her guts to her, but after finding her in less than ideal circumstances has to come up with a different topic to discuss; it sure would have been nice to see this conversation play out, but the chapter just ends and we’re later just told what she came up with. As for politics, I genuinely think that somebody without background knowledge would be confused about how the King’s Great Matter got done and why some people were offended at the idea of reading the Bible in English. When the novel finally gets to the engineering of Anne’s downfall, it ends up making very little sense.
Character-wise, the book breaks the mold by giving more attention to the older generation of Boleyns than is typical, led by a surprisingly benign Thomas. Despite the soap opera plots she was thrown into, I quite enjoyed the invented character of Esther. I also liked Borman’s takes on Lady Margaret, George, Jane, and Anne. The characters outside the family, however, are less impressive. Wolsey and Catherine of Aragon are essentially ciphers who never really get the chance to actually be in a scene, with the latter unfairly stereotyped into being essentially a royal housewife. While part of this can be attributed to lack of direct interactions with the Boleyn family, given the other things Borman had no problem adding I’m sure nobody would care if she added a historically unattested interaction between Wolsey and Anne or Thomas. Henry himself is also drawn pretty faintly, other than him being entirely unsympathetic, and the depiction of Jane Seymour is highly cliched.
Overall, while this book has some interesting interpretations of a subject that’s been done to death, it falls short of its full potential.
Novelists who want to write about the reign of Henry VIII, especially the period covering the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, are faced with the challenge of how to add something fresh to a story that has seemingly been captured from every possible angle. Adding sensational and often sexed-up plot points is a not uncommon solution, and it’s one that Borman wholeheartedly embraces. To pull from just the first half of the book, some of her inventions include the teenage Mary Boleyn having an abortion (as do apparently half the women in the French court), Thomas Boleyn Jr’s death being a murder resulting from a family feud, Jane Boleyn being a lesbian in love with Anne, Anne’s longstanding love for Thomas Wyatt, and Robert Cranwell’s attempted murder by inaction of his fictional mistress and their unborn child; though thankfully, rapes are kept to a minimum. Most of Borman’s embellishments are not acknowledged in the author’s note, but she does make sure to answer the burning question of whether Henry actually went to Hever; since she’s written many non-fiction books about the Tudors, I fear some readers might get the impression that there’s a basis for her more serious inventions. Even the less extraordinary plot points largely concern sex, which can make for good drama, but quickly becomes tedious by its overuse.
Chapters frequently involve time skips, ranging from months to years, making the book feel a bit like a series of vignettes. While an interesting concept, it has the unfortunate side effect of not properly explaining/depicting important political events and cutting a number of scenes that really should have been included. The Field of Cloth of Gold, an important diplomatic event that the Boleyns were present at, takes place between chapters and is merely remembered afterwards. Mary’s elopement with William Stafford and subsequent banishment from court is recounted after the fact, with little build up given that, following her prominence at the beginning, she had largely vanished from the plot at that point. Anne’s execution, which has produced some stirring scenes, is passed over. There’s an invented scene where Jane goes to Anne’s room at night with the intention of spilling her guts to her, but after finding her in less than ideal circumstances has to come up with a different topic to discuss; it sure would have been nice to see this conversation play out, but the chapter just ends and we’re later just told what she came up with. As for politics, I genuinely think that somebody without background knowledge would be confused about how the King’s Great Matter got done and why some people were offended at the idea of reading the Bible in English. When the novel finally gets to the engineering of Anne’s downfall, it ends up making very little sense.
Character-wise, the book breaks the mold by giving more attention to the older generation of Boleyns than is typical, led by a surprisingly benign Thomas. Despite the soap opera plots she was thrown into, I quite enjoyed the invented character of Esther. I also liked Borman’s takes on Lady Margaret, George, Jane, and Anne. The characters outside the family, however, are less impressive. Wolsey and Catherine of Aragon are essentially ciphers who never really get the chance to actually be in a scene, with the latter unfairly stereotyped into being essentially a royal housewife. While part of this can be attributed to lack of direct interactions with the Boleyn family, given the other things Borman had no problem adding I’m sure nobody would care if she added a historically unattested interaction between Wolsey and Anne or Thomas. Henry himself is also drawn pretty faintly, other than him being entirely unsympathetic, and the depiction of Jane Seymour is highly cliched.
Overall, while this book has some interesting interpretations of a subject that’s been done to death, it falls short of its full potential.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Borman means for you to very much take the title literally, as 'House of Boleyn' is all about events that take place at Hever Castle during the Boleyn ownership period. Its very Downtown Abbey - the huge changes of a time period as observed by the upstairs/downstairs members of a specific place.
Borman takes all the facts - the birth, wedding, death dates, the letters and contracts, the memorial stones and castle upgrades, the medicine and food of the era, etc., and then fills in the gaps with the most soap opera angle possible every time. Every known event is given the most salacious motivation possible, almost to the point of ridiculousness, but it certainly makes for an entertaining read as it refuses almost every time to take a well worn path.
My biggest grip is it gives a VERY misogynist treatment to Mary Boleyn, ignoring all the latest research into what was a more likely situation, but it certainly fits the theme of all things Hever and Boleyn being involved in scandal one way or another.
June 30, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5, but rounded up for good writing style.
This book gave an interesting perspective to events that I know really well. It was very well-written and, of course, well-researched (Borman being one of the chief curators at Hampton Court Palace - listening to her narrate parts of the audioguide tour of HCP while reading this book was doubly fun!). She did insert some fictional characters, as she acknowledges at the end of the book, which I never mind. I didn't love her interpretation of the servant Cranwell's involvement, though, simply because his name is too similar to two other major players at the Tudor court: Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell. Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorite Tudor books.
3.5, but rounded up for good writing style.
This book gave an interesting perspective to events that I know really well. It was very well-written and, of course, well-researched (Borman being one of the chief curators at Hampton Court Palace - listening to her narrate parts of the audioguide tour of HCP while reading this book was doubly fun!). She did insert some fictional characters, as she acknowledges at the end of the book, which I never mind. I didn't love her interpretation of the servant Cranwell's involvement, though, simply because his name is too similar to two other major players at the Tudor court: Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell. Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorite Tudor books.
June 22, 2026
This book was a really refreshing take on the story of the Boleyns' rise and fall during the reign of Henry VIII.
Having read so much about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, I wanted to go into this with no expectations other than the meticulous research for which Tracy Borman is renowned. I've not read any of her other fiction, so I had no basis for comparison, and I was careful not to read any other reviews beforehand.
There are some things we will never know as fact, and that is an author's playground. I liked that themes of sexuality and motive are explored differently from how they have been portrayed before. Thomas Boleyn may not have been the scheming, ambition-without-conscience courtier he is often depicted as, and Lady Jane Rochford may never have spoken openly against her husband or hidden a son or daughter from the fallout that engulfed the family.
I particularly enjoyed that many of our insights into the family come from the servants' perspective. They had just as much to lose from the family's fall from grace and would have formed close connections through their daily service, whether those feelings were of loyalty, affection, or even dislike. Ester's story seemed to bind together the threads of the female leads, and I especially enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Robert Cranwell was written so well that I was left with a lingering sense of dislike for him, and his dismissal at the end of the book felt like a measure of justice amid so many tragic events.
I actually read this book while visiting Hever Castle, and both the castle and its surrounding grounds truly came to life through the story.
I would very much recommend this book, particularly to readers looking for a different perspective on the Boleyn family and their place in Tudor history.
Having read so much about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, I wanted to go into this with no expectations other than the meticulous research for which Tracy Borman is renowned. I've not read any of her other fiction, so I had no basis for comparison, and I was careful not to read any other reviews beforehand.
There are some things we will never know as fact, and that is an author's playground. I liked that themes of sexuality and motive are explored differently from how they have been portrayed before. Thomas Boleyn may not have been the scheming, ambition-without-conscience courtier he is often depicted as, and Lady Jane Rochford may never have spoken openly against her husband or hidden a son or daughter from the fallout that engulfed the family.
I particularly enjoyed that many of our insights into the family come from the servants' perspective. They had just as much to lose from the family's fall from grace and would have formed close connections through their daily service, whether those feelings were of loyalty, affection, or even dislike. Ester's story seemed to bind together the threads of the female leads, and I especially enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Robert Cranwell was written so well that I was left with a lingering sense of dislike for him, and his dismissal at the end of the book felt like a measure of justice amid so many tragic events.
I actually read this book while visiting Hever Castle, and both the castle and its surrounding grounds truly came to life through the story.
I would very much recommend this book, particularly to readers looking for a different perspective on the Boleyn family and their place in Tudor history.
August 8, 2026
The House of Boleyn surprised me in the best way. I’ve read a LOT of Tudor/Henry VIII fiction over the years, so I wasn’t expecting anything new—but Tracy Borman’s take felt genuinely fresh. The story moves quickly, the characters are unique, and there’s an energy to the whole thing that kept me turning pages. I’ve always liked her nonfiction style, and it was great to see that same engaging voice carry over into her fiction. This was my first Borman novel, and I’d happily pick up another.
This was a review for NetGalley.
This was a review for NetGalley.
August 5, 2026
I can never get enough of the Tudor period, specially Henry VIII and the women he had executed.
This book has drama, intrigue, political manipulation and a great way to retell the life and times of the Boleyn family. I felt like I was right there watching all the turmoil unfold and how history was being made. The narrative was fascinating, specially hearing their staff's perspectives. Anne's life was so interesting and tempestuous and all the men that played a role in her ultimate demise. I look forward to re-reading this book again.
Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
This book has drama, intrigue, political manipulation and a great way to retell the life and times of the Boleyn family. I felt like I was right there watching all the turmoil unfold and how history was being made. The narrative was fascinating, specially hearing their staff's perspectives. Anne's life was so interesting and tempestuous and all the men that played a role in her ultimate demise. I look forward to re-reading this book again.
Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
August 23, 2026
The book did not give the whole story of Henry and Anne which was refreshing as it came in from a different point of view
I know it is historical fiction, but the story would have been intriguing enough without the addition of the made-up characters, who did little to enhance the story. I expected better of such a renown historian.
I would have liked to give it 3.5, but that was not possible.
I know it is historical fiction, but the story would have been intriguing enough without the addition of the made-up characters, who did little to enhance the story. I expected better of such a renown historian.
I would have liked to give it 3.5, but that was not possible.
June 25, 2026
Once again Tracy Borman proves to be the Queen of Boleyn history while being a fabulous storyteller, both in fiction and non-fiction.
I enjoyed this take on the Boleyn family history, not just focusing on Anne herself, but those in her family and the household staff.
I enjoyed this take on the Boleyn family history, not just focusing on Anne herself, but those in her family and the household staff.
August 22, 2026
4.5
Tracy Borman is one of my favorite historians and I love how she is writing historical fiction as well.
Tracy Borman is one of my favorite historians and I love how she is writing historical fiction as well.
June 30, 2026
Loved this book and especially the parts about Jane Boleyn - always felt she had some ‘bad press’, intriguing notion to think she may have had a son.
August 24, 2026
This is a brilliant book, told by the eminent historian Tracy Borman about the Boleyn family, in particular the events around the life and subsequent death of Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII. She weaves a thrilling and beautiful story, that written in such a way that you are transported in the world of Tudor England, its conspiratorial nature and traitorous environment. Such that anyone could be one step away from the Tower and the executioner’s axe. Tracy Borman writes with the authority of the historian that she is. I loved this book and will seek out her other works..
July 4, 2026
Yes, I understand that this is a work of fiction, but I felt the author took considerable liberties with the subject matter. In a novel centred on the House of Boleyn, I expected some of the most significant aspects of the lives of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and her family to receive greater attention. Surprisingly, many of these events are not mentioned at all.
The entire story is set at Hever Castle, the Boleyn family home, as the title suggests. I appreciate that this setting means some of the more famous historical events would only reach the castle’s inhabitants after they occurred elsewhere. However, to omit what is arguably the most important element of this period of history feels very strange.
I also found the author’s narrative structure somewhat disjointed. At times, the story seemed to jump forward without warning or explanation, which left me feeling confused.
That said, I did appreciate the author’s clean, restrained prose. The writing avoids excessive sentimentality and overly ornate description, which made it easy to read.
Overall, I began the book with great excitement, eager to see what such a well-known and highly respected historian would bring to this period of history. Unfortunately, I finished it feeling rather disappointed.
The entire story is set at Hever Castle, the Boleyn family home, as the title suggests. I appreciate that this setting means some of the more famous historical events would only reach the castle’s inhabitants after they occurred elsewhere. However, to omit what is arguably the most important element of this period of history feels very strange.
I also found the author’s narrative structure somewhat disjointed. At times, the story seemed to jump forward without warning or explanation, which left me feeling confused.
That said, I did appreciate the author’s clean, restrained prose. The writing avoids excessive sentimentality and overly ornate description, which made it easy to read.
Overall, I began the book with great excitement, eager to see what such a well-known and highly respected historian would bring to this period of history. Unfortunately, I finished it feeling rather disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After seeing that Janet Wertman had read this book (and reading the description), I thought, "Ooo! That sounds interesting! Let me request this on NetGalley!"
I hesitated when I saw the author was Tracy Borman, but I thought, "Eh, it was just one book. Let me give this a shot."
I honestly need to learn to do better research on my reading, because I've tried more of Tracy's work than I thought.
(Warning: a quote from every one I've tried ahead.)
Eesh. Sorry to the folks at Grove Atlantic who allowed me to have this via NetGalley a few months in advance. I guess I shouldn't have tried reading this. (I almost wasn't going to rate this book as an apology, but there's an issue that I'd rather not ignore.)
~*~
And now for my usual nitpicks and general opinions:
I always find myself checking things when they set off little red flags in my mind. Not that I consider myself a Tudor scholar by any stretch; more that I have an eye for when something doesn’t ring true. The first successful flag was early on in this book: Mary having an abortion in 1513. Having read more Tudor books than I can possibly count in the last 20+ years (I don’t think I even have them all recorded here), you’d think someone would’ve brought it up before this. The only thing I can figure is that Tracy took a little creative license to explain why Thomas Boleyn suddenly pushed for Mary to go to Europe the following year, and also laying the foundation for her reputation as a loose woman at the French court—despite other authors’ insistence that Francis raped her and ruined her reputation.
John de Cobham didn’t build Hever. According to the castle’s website, he only put crenellations on it. It was actually passed down through the de Cobham family for several generations.
The amount of time spent on the sex life of the inhabitants of Hever is annoying. I don’t care who’s bonking who. I wanted to read about the Boleyn family, not the Real Housewives of Hever! (I’m skipping the Cranwell sections from now on. It doesn’t add to the story whatever and he's a giant asshole.)
Apparently the idea that Tom Boleyn probably died of the sweating sickness was too boring for the author, so that's why she made up the thing about Buckingham’s son killing him. I realize if the cause of death is uncertain, you can take liberties like that; but don’t you think that a nobly born boy would know better to push another kid into the river over a simple argument? If he had a reputation of misbehaving that badly, you’d think that the tutor would go out after them to herd them back into the classroom. In the other books I’ve read, tutors of that era didn't brook any bullshit.
I find it interesting that the author invented a whole side story with Margaret Butler’s memory issues, but completely glossed over a major event like the Field of Cloth of Gold. I know Elizabeth Boleyn has never gotten much of a mention in any of the books I’ve read that deal with Anne and her life, but you’d think if there was even a nugget of historical evidence that Elizabeth was a total bitch, someone would’ve seized on it! (Sounds like a total Pippa move, actually!)
There is no way on Goddess's green earth that Anne was simply leading Henry Percy on simply to keep James Butler at bay. If Thomas and Elizabeth were set on Anne marrying James, no amount of dallying with other men would've thrown them off. While it's true that other authors have depicted them meeting at court and had James acting possessive, their betrothal wasn't James's idea, so what would he care if she was making googly eyes at another man?
Although Tracy hinted at it in a previous chapter, twelve is where she finally spelled it out: Jane (Parker) Boleyn is a lesbian.
Not only that, but she got involved with a woman who ended up being sent to be a maid in some faraway place, and rather than Having a Talk with her, the Parkers ignored the whole thing, leaving Jane free to lust after (and get bizarrely attached to) her sister-in-law.
WHAT?!
So she couldn't have helped her in-laws just to get her philandering husband to pay attention to her, and to make sure she got in good with the future queen (I'm sure being chief lady-in-waiting was the most lucrative position possible), she had to be a lesbian?
That's exactly why this is a DNF for me.
And I thought inventing an entire trilogy about a historical figure being accused of witchcraft when she never was was bad!
I hesitated when I saw the author was Tracy Borman, but I thought, "Eh, it was just one book. Let me give this a shot."
I honestly need to learn to do better research on my reading, because I've tried more of Tracy's work than I thought.
(Warning: a quote from every one I've tried ahead.)
...I was under the impression that this book (or rather the trilogy, since I got them as an omnibus) would tell a story of how Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar decided to travel together...Nope. The primary driver of this one is one of three pieces of a staff that Moses once owned, and Gaspar is barely mentioned...(Star of Wonder)
I wanted to hang on until Cato saw Ariella battle, but after six chapters, I gave up. This book just didn't have the same hook as Petra: City of Stone and that's what lost me.(City on Fire)
Isn’t it a little too convenient that just when Cassia is seemingly on death’s doorstep, she has a vision of Jesus and suddenly converts? Just like the final chapter ends a hair too tidily when the love interest’s brother converts!(Petra)
Two people died in the same chapter and I still didn't find it exciting enough!(Isle of Shadows)
First and foremost: FRANCES GORGES WAS NEVER ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT!(The King's Witch)
Are we supposed to think that [Sir] Walter [Raleigh] believes that because Frances was brought up on charges of being a witch, that she is a witch, despite being exonerated? If that's the case, why is he even working with her?(The Devil's Slave)
When writing a book, the author needs to ensure that the reader has a reason to continue, and anyone who has successfully managed to get out of their emo/goth stage will surely not want to continue this dreadful trilogy.(The Fallen Angel)
Eesh. Sorry to the folks at Grove Atlantic who allowed me to have this via NetGalley a few months in advance. I guess I shouldn't have tried reading this. (I almost wasn't going to rate this book as an apology, but there's an issue that I'd rather not ignore.)
~*~
And now for my usual nitpicks and general opinions:
I always find myself checking things when they set off little red flags in my mind. Not that I consider myself a Tudor scholar by any stretch; more that I have an eye for when something doesn’t ring true. The first successful flag was early on in this book: Mary having an abortion in 1513. Having read more Tudor books than I can possibly count in the last 20+ years (I don’t think I even have them all recorded here), you’d think someone would’ve brought it up before this. The only thing I can figure is that Tracy took a little creative license to explain why Thomas Boleyn suddenly pushed for Mary to go to Europe the following year, and also laying the foundation for her reputation as a loose woman at the French court—despite other authors’ insistence that Francis raped her and ruined her reputation.
John de Cobham didn’t build Hever. According to the castle’s website, he only put crenellations on it. It was actually passed down through the de Cobham family for several generations.
The amount of time spent on the sex life of the inhabitants of Hever is annoying. I don’t care who’s bonking who. I wanted to read about the Boleyn family, not the Real Housewives of Hever! (I’m skipping the Cranwell sections from now on. It doesn’t add to the story whatever and he's a giant asshole.)
Apparently the idea that Tom Boleyn probably died of the sweating sickness was too boring for the author, so that's why she made up the thing about Buckingham’s son killing him. I realize if the cause of death is uncertain, you can take liberties like that; but don’t you think that a nobly born boy would know better to push another kid into the river over a simple argument? If he had a reputation of misbehaving that badly, you’d think that the tutor would go out after them to herd them back into the classroom. In the other books I’ve read, tutors of that era didn't brook any bullshit.
I find it interesting that the author invented a whole side story with Margaret Butler’s memory issues, but completely glossed over a major event like the Field of Cloth of Gold. I know Elizabeth Boleyn has never gotten much of a mention in any of the books I’ve read that deal with Anne and her life, but you’d think if there was even a nugget of historical evidence that Elizabeth was a total bitch, someone would’ve seized on it! (Sounds like a total Pippa move, actually!)
There is no way on Goddess's green earth that Anne was simply leading Henry Percy on simply to keep James Butler at bay. If Thomas and Elizabeth were set on Anne marrying James, no amount of dallying with other men would've thrown them off. While it's true that other authors have depicted them meeting at court and had James acting possessive, their betrothal wasn't James's idea, so what would he care if she was making googly eyes at another man?
Although Tracy hinted at it in a previous chapter, twelve is where she finally spelled it out: Jane (Parker) Boleyn is a lesbian.
Not only that, but she got involved with a woman who ended up being sent to be a maid in some faraway place, and rather than Having a Talk with her, the Parkers ignored the whole thing, leaving Jane free to lust after (and get bizarrely attached to) her sister-in-law.
WHAT?!
So she couldn't have helped her in-laws just to get her philandering husband to pay attention to her, and to make sure she got in good with the future queen (I'm sure being chief lady-in-waiting was the most lucrative position possible), she had to be a lesbian?
That's exactly why this is a DNF for me.
And I thought inventing an entire trilogy about a historical figure being accused of witchcraft when she never was was bad!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At Hever Castle, Mary, George, and Anne grow up as the children of diplomat Thomas Boleyn, who serves King Henry VIII. He sends both of his daughters to the courts of Mechelen or France, and when they return, first Mary and than Anne’s catches the king’s eye. But Anne has no intention of simply becoming his mistress.
This book could have been a five-star read, but ultimately, Tracy Borman takes so many liberties with Jane Parker’s story that I found it a bit too far-fetched.
Borman chooses to tell Anne Boleyn’s story. That always makes me a little wary, because what new insights can you possibly add? The Boleyn revival this year is huge. From ‘The queen’s sister‘ (with Anne’s ghost in it), The queen’s painter, The Boleyn secret to Gregory’s ‘Boleyn traitor’. So I was curious to see if ‘The house of Boleyns would bring anything new.
When I read the first chapter—written from Anne’s first-person perspective—and her sister Mary was immediately dismissed as a loose girl, with hints about her mother’s relationship with Henry VIII, I really thought: oh boy, this isn’t going to work.
But suddenly, the tone of the book shifts. It’s about the Boleyns, and Hever Castle—their home—takes center stage. The title The House of Boleyn thus takes on a double meaning. In addition to Anne, her father Thomas, and later Jane Parker, the servants also get a voice. This gives the book a bit of a Downton Abbey vibe. That, combined with the fact that Hever—and not the court—is the central setting, makes for a very original story.
The novel races through the years at breakneck speed. Anne’s childhood, her time abroad, her return, her rise, and her downfall are all covered—as told by people who were close to her.
The book also draws a line between good and evil. In this story, Thomas Boleyn is a concerned father and Elizabeth Howard is the evil mother—and by extension, the entire Howard family and the Buckinghams as well. Refreshing as Thomas is mostly set a the sheming courtier.
Jane Parker, on the other hand, is portrayed as good. I thought it was original what Borman did with her, especially since her marriage to George isn’t portrayed as entirely bad. But letting her have a child might be a step too far. Perhaps my biggest criticism is that Borman’s characters are all rather one-dimensional.
Except for Anne. This Anne is portrayed quite realistically. She’s not bad, and she’s not a saint. At one point, Anne chooses to be queen. She cares about her family and in the end, she becomes so fearful that she lashes out and makes too many enemies. In my opinion, this comes close to the real Anne.
Margaret Butler, Anne’s grandmother, also plays a major role in this book, and she is very often overlooked. She presumably had a major influence on her grandchildren, and her noble lineage likely ensured that her son Thomas secured a position at court in the first place.
The side stories involving the servants—especially Esther and Richard Carnwell—might not have been necessary, but they were entertaining and served as a nice add-on in the story. Borman’s love for Hever Castle is quite clear and I hope to visit it one myself.
The house of Boleyns is not perfect, but probably will be the most original Boleyn story that comes out this year. And for that alone, it was well-worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
In Hever Castle groeien Mary, George en Anne op als kinderen van diplomaat Thomas Boleyn die steeds meer verantwoordelijkheden krijgt van koning Henry VIII. Hij stuurt zijn beide dochters naar het hof van Mechelen of Frankrijk en wanneer ze terugkeren vangen ze één voor één het oog van de koning. Maar Anne is niet van plan om zomaar zijn maitresse te worden.
Dit boek kon ook een vijfsterrenboek zijn, maar uiteindelijk neemt Borman iets veel vrijheden met Jane Parker's verhaal dat ik het toch wat te far-fetched vond.
Borman kiest voor het verhaal van Anne Boleyn. Ik ben altijd wat bang dan, want wat heb je nog voor nieuws toe te voegen? Dus toen ik het eerste hoofdstuk las vanuit Anne's eerste persoon geschreven en haar zus Mary meteen werd afgedaan als een losbandig meisje en er gehint werd naar haar moeder's relatie met Henry VIII dacht ik echt: oh boy, dit wordt niets.
Maar plots verandert de toon van het boek. Het gaat over de Boleyns en Hever Castle, hun thuis, staat centraal. De titel The house of Boleyn krijgt zo een dubbele betekenis. Naast Anne, haar vader Thomas en later ook Jane Parker, krijgen ook de bediendes een stem. Zo krijgt het een boek een beetje een Downton Abbey gevoel. Dat en het feit dat Hever en niet het hof de centrale plek is maakt een heel origineel verhaal.
Het boek gaat als een rotvaart door de jaren heen. Anne's jeugd, haar tijd in het buitenland, haar terugkeer, haar opkomst en haar downfall worden allemaal gecoverd. Vanuit mensen die dicht bij haar stonden.
Het boek kiest ook tussen kwaad en goed. In dit boek is Thomas Boleyn een bezorgde vader en Elizabeth Howard de slechte moeder, en bij uitbreiding de hele familie Howard en ook de Buckinghams. Jane Parker is dan weer wel goed. Ik vond het origineel wat Borman met haar deed, zeker ook omdat haar huwelijk met George niet helemaal als slecht wordt neergezet. Maar haar een kind doen krijgen is misschien de stap te ver. Misschien is mijn grootste kritiek wel dat Bornam's personages allemaal nogal eendimensionaal zijn.
Behalve Anne. Deze Anne is best realistisch neergezet. Ze is niet slecht en ze is niet heilig. Anne kiest op een gegeven moment voor het koninginschap, Anne geeft om haar familie én op het einde wordt ze zo angstig dat ze om zich heen slaat en te veel vijanden maakt. Mijns inziens komt dit dicht bij de echte Anne.
Ook Margaret Butler, Anne's grootmoeder, heeft een grote rol in dit boek en zij wordt heel vaak vergeten. Vermoedelijk had ze een grote invloed op haar kleinkinderen en zorgde ze ook door haar edele afkomst dat haar zoon Thomas in de eerste plaats een plek aan het hof heeft gekregen.
De bijverhalen rond de bediende, vooral Esther en Richard Carnwell, hadden misschien niet gehoeven, maar waren wel vermakelijk en fijn als insteek voor het boek.
Dus ja, waarschijnlijk de meest originele insteek van de vele boeken die over de Boleyns worden uitgebracht dit jaar. Daarom alleen al de moeite waard.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
This book could have been a five-star read, but ultimately, Tracy Borman takes so many liberties with Jane Parker’s story that I found it a bit too far-fetched.
Borman chooses to tell Anne Boleyn’s story. That always makes me a little wary, because what new insights can you possibly add? The Boleyn revival this year is huge. From ‘The queen’s sister‘ (with Anne’s ghost in it), The queen’s painter, The Boleyn secret to Gregory’s ‘Boleyn traitor’. So I was curious to see if ‘The house of Boleyns would bring anything new.
When I read the first chapter—written from Anne’s first-person perspective—and her sister Mary was immediately dismissed as a loose girl, with hints about her mother’s relationship with Henry VIII, I really thought: oh boy, this isn’t going to work.
But suddenly, the tone of the book shifts. It’s about the Boleyns, and Hever Castle—their home—takes center stage. The title The House of Boleyn thus takes on a double meaning. In addition to Anne, her father Thomas, and later Jane Parker, the servants also get a voice. This gives the book a bit of a Downton Abbey vibe. That, combined with the fact that Hever—and not the court—is the central setting, makes for a very original story.
The novel races through the years at breakneck speed. Anne’s childhood, her time abroad, her return, her rise, and her downfall are all covered—as told by people who were close to her.
The book also draws a line between good and evil. In this story, Thomas Boleyn is a concerned father and Elizabeth Howard is the evil mother—and by extension, the entire Howard family and the Buckinghams as well. Refreshing as Thomas is mostly set a the sheming courtier.
Jane Parker, on the other hand, is portrayed as good. I thought it was original what Borman did with her, especially since her marriage to George isn’t portrayed as entirely bad. But letting her have a child might be a step too far. Perhaps my biggest criticism is that Borman’s characters are all rather one-dimensional.
Except for Anne. This Anne is portrayed quite realistically. She’s not bad, and she’s not a saint. At one point, Anne chooses to be queen. She cares about her family and in the end, she becomes so fearful that she lashes out and makes too many enemies. In my opinion, this comes close to the real Anne.
Margaret Butler, Anne’s grandmother, also plays a major role in this book, and she is very often overlooked. She presumably had a major influence on her grandchildren, and her noble lineage likely ensured that her son Thomas secured a position at court in the first place.
The side stories involving the servants—especially Esther and Richard Carnwell—might not have been necessary, but they were entertaining and served as a nice add-on in the story. Borman’s love for Hever Castle is quite clear and I hope to visit it one myself.
The house of Boleyns is not perfect, but probably will be the most original Boleyn story that comes out this year. And for that alone, it was well-worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
In Hever Castle groeien Mary, George en Anne op als kinderen van diplomaat Thomas Boleyn die steeds meer verantwoordelijkheden krijgt van koning Henry VIII. Hij stuurt zijn beide dochters naar het hof van Mechelen of Frankrijk en wanneer ze terugkeren vangen ze één voor één het oog van de koning. Maar Anne is niet van plan om zomaar zijn maitresse te worden.
Dit boek kon ook een vijfsterrenboek zijn, maar uiteindelijk neemt Borman iets veel vrijheden met Jane Parker's verhaal dat ik het toch wat te far-fetched vond.
Borman kiest voor het verhaal van Anne Boleyn. Ik ben altijd wat bang dan, want wat heb je nog voor nieuws toe te voegen? Dus toen ik het eerste hoofdstuk las vanuit Anne's eerste persoon geschreven en haar zus Mary meteen werd afgedaan als een losbandig meisje en er gehint werd naar haar moeder's relatie met Henry VIII dacht ik echt: oh boy, dit wordt niets.
Maar plots verandert de toon van het boek. Het gaat over de Boleyns en Hever Castle, hun thuis, staat centraal. De titel The house of Boleyn krijgt zo een dubbele betekenis. Naast Anne, haar vader Thomas en later ook Jane Parker, krijgen ook de bediendes een stem. Zo krijgt het een boek een beetje een Downton Abbey gevoel. Dat en het feit dat Hever en niet het hof de centrale plek is maakt een heel origineel verhaal.
Het boek gaat als een rotvaart door de jaren heen. Anne's jeugd, haar tijd in het buitenland, haar terugkeer, haar opkomst en haar downfall worden allemaal gecoverd. Vanuit mensen die dicht bij haar stonden.
Het boek kiest ook tussen kwaad en goed. In dit boek is Thomas Boleyn een bezorgde vader en Elizabeth Howard de slechte moeder, en bij uitbreiding de hele familie Howard en ook de Buckinghams. Jane Parker is dan weer wel goed. Ik vond het origineel wat Borman met haar deed, zeker ook omdat haar huwelijk met George niet helemaal als slecht wordt neergezet. Maar haar een kind doen krijgen is misschien de stap te ver. Misschien is mijn grootste kritiek wel dat Bornam's personages allemaal nogal eendimensionaal zijn.
Behalve Anne. Deze Anne is best realistisch neergezet. Ze is niet slecht en ze is niet heilig. Anne kiest op een gegeven moment voor het koninginschap, Anne geeft om haar familie én op het einde wordt ze zo angstig dat ze om zich heen slaat en te veel vijanden maakt. Mijns inziens komt dit dicht bij de echte Anne.
Ook Margaret Butler, Anne's grootmoeder, heeft een grote rol in dit boek en zij wordt heel vaak vergeten. Vermoedelijk had ze een grote invloed op haar kleinkinderen en zorgde ze ook door haar edele afkomst dat haar zoon Thomas in de eerste plaats een plek aan het hof heeft gekregen.
De bijverhalen rond de bediende, vooral Esther en Richard Carnwell, hadden misschien niet gehoeven, maar waren wel vermakelijk en fijn als insteek voor het boek.
Dus ja, waarschijnlijk de meest originele insteek van de vele boeken die over de Boleyns worden uitgebracht dit jaar. Daarom alleen al de moeite waard.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
August 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
I knew how this story ended. We ALL know how this story ends. And somehow I was still reading The House of Boleyn like maybe this time the Boleyn family would make better decisions. 😂 I love Tudor history, and there is something about the Boleyn family specifically that gets me every single time—the ambition, politics, strategic marriages, betrayals, manipulation and the absolute AUDACITY of basically everyone involved. What I really enjoyed about Tracy Borman’s approach is that this isn’t simply another retelling centered entirely around Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Instead, we get the family before Anne becomes Anne Boleyn, and seeing how the Boleyns built their position and moved closer and closer to the center of Tudor power made the story so much more interesting.
Thomas Boleyn’s ambition in particular was fascinating to watch because this man was WORKING. 😂 Every connection, opportunity and relationship mattered, and you really get a sense of how carefully families had to maneuver through court if they wanted to rise. Of course, reading it hundreds of years later means we have the terrible privilege of knowing exactly where all of this ambition is eventually going to lead. Every success started to feel slightly ominous. Every step upward had me thinking, Okay babies, maybe this is high enough. We can stop climbing now. Naturally, they do not listen to me. Nobody in Tudor England ever listens to me, which feels extremely rude considering I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
I also loved getting a broader look at the Boleyn family dynamics because it makes their story feel much more complicated than the simplified version we usually get: ambitious family puts beautiful daughter in front of king, king falls in love, chaos ensues. There were years of relationships, loyalties, rivalries and calculations that came before Anne’s relationship with Henry VIII, and I loved seeing how much marriage, reputation and survival were intertwined with political power. The women in particular may not have officially controlled the court, but they were constantly being used to create alliances, strengthen families and secure influence. Knowing what eventually happens to Anne makes those earlier moments hit differently because you can see the machinery of the Tudor court moving long before anyone realizes just how dangerous their position will become.
And then, of course, Anne enters the equation. One thing about me: put Anne Boleyn in historical fiction and I am going to have OPINIONS. 😂 Watching the familiar pieces begin sliding into place—the court, Henry, the Boleyn family’s growing influence and the realization that Anne’s relationship with the king could become something much bigger than another advantageous connection—was probably my favorite part. Borman creates this wonderful tension because these characters are simply living their lives, making choices they believe will secure their futures, while I’m sitting hundreds of years in the future wanting to scream, DO NOT TRUST THAT MAN. Unfortunately, I remain powerless to save the women of Tudor England.
What kept this from being a full five stars for me was the pacing. There were sections where the amount of historical detail slowed the story enough that I felt more like I was observing the Boleyn family than completely disappearing into their lives. I was interested throughout, and I absolutely appreciate how researched and detailed the novel feels, but I didn’t have that obsessive I need to know what happens next even though I literally already know what happens next feeling for the entire book. Apparently we’ve established that my five-star rating now requires at least a minor degree of emotional instability. 😂
Still, as a lover of historical fiction and Tudor mess, I had such a good time with this. The House of Boleyn is richly researched, political, dramatic and full of the court intrigue that makes this period endlessly fascinating to me. More importantly, it gave me a fuller picture of the family surrounding one of history’s most famous women rather than reducing everyone to supporting characters in Anne and Henry’s story. There is something especially tragic about watching a family spend years carefully building its influence, finally reach the very center of power, and knowing that the thing they believed would secure their legacy would ultimately help destroy them.
The Boleyn family really said, We’re going all the way to the top.
And history said, about that… 👑💀😂
I knew how this story ended. We ALL know how this story ends. And somehow I was still reading The House of Boleyn like maybe this time the Boleyn family would make better decisions. 😂 I love Tudor history, and there is something about the Boleyn family specifically that gets me every single time—the ambition, politics, strategic marriages, betrayals, manipulation and the absolute AUDACITY of basically everyone involved. What I really enjoyed about Tracy Borman’s approach is that this isn’t simply another retelling centered entirely around Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Instead, we get the family before Anne becomes Anne Boleyn, and seeing how the Boleyns built their position and moved closer and closer to the center of Tudor power made the story so much more interesting.
Thomas Boleyn’s ambition in particular was fascinating to watch because this man was WORKING. 😂 Every connection, opportunity and relationship mattered, and you really get a sense of how carefully families had to maneuver through court if they wanted to rise. Of course, reading it hundreds of years later means we have the terrible privilege of knowing exactly where all of this ambition is eventually going to lead. Every success started to feel slightly ominous. Every step upward had me thinking, Okay babies, maybe this is high enough. We can stop climbing now. Naturally, they do not listen to me. Nobody in Tudor England ever listens to me, which feels extremely rude considering I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
I also loved getting a broader look at the Boleyn family dynamics because it makes their story feel much more complicated than the simplified version we usually get: ambitious family puts beautiful daughter in front of king, king falls in love, chaos ensues. There were years of relationships, loyalties, rivalries and calculations that came before Anne’s relationship with Henry VIII, and I loved seeing how much marriage, reputation and survival were intertwined with political power. The women in particular may not have officially controlled the court, but they were constantly being used to create alliances, strengthen families and secure influence. Knowing what eventually happens to Anne makes those earlier moments hit differently because you can see the machinery of the Tudor court moving long before anyone realizes just how dangerous their position will become.
And then, of course, Anne enters the equation. One thing about me: put Anne Boleyn in historical fiction and I am going to have OPINIONS. 😂 Watching the familiar pieces begin sliding into place—the court, Henry, the Boleyn family’s growing influence and the realization that Anne’s relationship with the king could become something much bigger than another advantageous connection—was probably my favorite part. Borman creates this wonderful tension because these characters are simply living their lives, making choices they believe will secure their futures, while I’m sitting hundreds of years in the future wanting to scream, DO NOT TRUST THAT MAN. Unfortunately, I remain powerless to save the women of Tudor England.
What kept this from being a full five stars for me was the pacing. There were sections where the amount of historical detail slowed the story enough that I felt more like I was observing the Boleyn family than completely disappearing into their lives. I was interested throughout, and I absolutely appreciate how researched and detailed the novel feels, but I didn’t have that obsessive I need to know what happens next even though I literally already know what happens next feeling for the entire book. Apparently we’ve established that my five-star rating now requires at least a minor degree of emotional instability. 😂
Still, as a lover of historical fiction and Tudor mess, I had such a good time with this. The House of Boleyn is richly researched, political, dramatic and full of the court intrigue that makes this period endlessly fascinating to me. More importantly, it gave me a fuller picture of the family surrounding one of history’s most famous women rather than reducing everyone to supporting characters in Anne and Henry’s story. There is something especially tragic about watching a family spend years carefully building its influence, finally reach the very center of power, and knowing that the thing they believed would secure their legacy would ultimately help destroy them.
The Boleyn family really said, We’re going all the way to the top.
And history said, about that… 👑💀😂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every book that seeks to retell an infamous person or moment in history has to find its own hook, its reason to distinguish itself from the rest that crowd the market.
So it is with 'The House of Boleyn' which makes the choice to have almost all the action take place at Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. This gives us the chance to delve into the lives of the servants who work for the Boleyn's to differing degrees of success. I have to admit, all the maids blended into one character in my mind and while I know one of them went on an adventure, I couldn't tell you how her character was any different to any of the others.
The weakness in this idea becomes apparent in the second half of the book. All the momentous events are happening at court where Henry and Anne are, so not only are we left with secondary characters but we are forced to hear about events at one step removed. There is so much 'telling' over 'showing' because of the choice to anchor the story there. Having two women gossiping over things such as Elizabeth's birth, Catherine's death etc does sort of make it less interesting. The same with Thomas Boleyn (depicted here as a good, well meaning father who doesn't want Anne to marry the King, but merely be happy) reading a letter from Anne about dramatic events.
I have to wonder what was the point in pretending Margaret Butler had memory issues in order to seize her inheritance, only to have her then instantly collapse into really having those issues? Why not just have that to start with? All it does is labour the point that certain characters are evil. And there is enough of that. There is no subtly here, no shades of grey. The villains are truly wicked, black through and through.
There were plenty of odd choices, some desire to stoke up drama at Hever itself perhaps but inventing all manner of murder, betrayal and blackmail. The Boleyn's lives were dramatic enough, yet those events are all but brushed aside because they didn't happen at Hever.
Also Jane Boleyn (nee Parker) was... well few characters in this book bare much resemblance to their historical counterparts but Jane I think was done the worst. There were some major hints about her sexuality that went absolutely nowhere and did nothing for the plot or the character, or even her motivations for anything. She started out well but by the end of it she had done things directly opposite to what we know she did.
These people were messy, they did good and bad, but you wouldn't know that to read this book. In this book all the Boleyn's were completely innocent, good people who were eventually betrayed by people they should have been able to trust except for one who married in and then their loyalties were of course to their own house over the new one, even with children involved.
Some of the scenes were beautifully written, I loved the relationship between Anne and her grandmother, it was great to see her have that support and support someone in return. I also like any book that shows Henry as the horrible man he was, so bonus points there. There is clearly a lot of love of Hever Castle in the writer's heart, as it is so magically conjured up. The epilogue was a nice little touch as well, a vision of a victory and sets the stage for what happens next in these people's lives.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
So it is with 'The House of Boleyn' which makes the choice to have almost all the action take place at Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. This gives us the chance to delve into the lives of the servants who work for the Boleyn's to differing degrees of success. I have to admit, all the maids blended into one character in my mind and while I know one of them went on an adventure, I couldn't tell you how her character was any different to any of the others.
The weakness in this idea becomes apparent in the second half of the book. All the momentous events are happening at court where Henry and Anne are, so not only are we left with secondary characters but we are forced to hear about events at one step removed. There is so much 'telling' over 'showing' because of the choice to anchor the story there. Having two women gossiping over things such as Elizabeth's birth, Catherine's death etc does sort of make it less interesting. The same with Thomas Boleyn (depicted here as a good, well meaning father who doesn't want Anne to marry the King, but merely be happy) reading a letter from Anne about dramatic events.
I have to wonder what was the point in pretending Margaret Butler had memory issues in order to seize her inheritance, only to have her then instantly collapse into really having those issues? Why not just have that to start with? All it does is labour the point that certain characters are evil. And there is enough of that. There is no subtly here, no shades of grey. The villains are truly wicked, black through and through.
There were plenty of odd choices, some desire to stoke up drama at Hever itself perhaps but inventing all manner of murder, betrayal and blackmail. The Boleyn's lives were dramatic enough, yet those events are all but brushed aside because they didn't happen at Hever.
Also Jane Boleyn (nee Parker) was... well few characters in this book bare much resemblance to their historical counterparts but Jane I think was done the worst. There were some major hints about her sexuality that went absolutely nowhere and did nothing for the plot or the character, or even her motivations for anything. She started out well but by the end of it she had done things directly opposite to what we know she did.
These people were messy, they did good and bad, but you wouldn't know that to read this book. In this book all the Boleyn's were completely innocent, good people who were eventually betrayed by people they should have been able to trust except for one who married in and then their loyalties were of course to their own house over the new one, even with children involved.
Some of the scenes were beautifully written, I loved the relationship between Anne and her grandmother, it was great to see her have that support and support someone in return. I also like any book that shows Henry as the horrible man he was, so bonus points there. There is clearly a lot of love of Hever Castle in the writer's heart, as it is so magically conjured up. The epilogue was a nice little touch as well, a vision of a victory and sets the stage for what happens next in these people's lives.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tracy Borman is a highly-regarded historian and author of several nonfiction books of Tudor-era history. She is regularly interviewed on documentaries and podcasts, and speaks and writes eloquently about the Tudors and the world they lived in. So one would assume that, with such credentials, Borman would be the perfect choice to write novels set in Tudor England. Unfortunately, her eloquence does not carry over from nonfiction to fiction.
The House of Boleyn is Borman's fourth historical novel. Set during the reign of King Henry VIII, it delves into the world of the Boleyn family, whose extraordinary rise and precipitous fall continue to fascinate us five hundred years later. This novel seeks to give readers a different view of the Boleyns, and takes place entirely within the confines of Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn spent her childhood and retreated to now and then after her return to England around 1520. Thanks to this conceit, we see a different, more domestic side of the Boleyn family as well as seeing things from the perspective of some of their servants.
This is where part of the problem begins. By trying to showcase both the courtly politics the Boleyns were involved in as well as the workaday events of the servants' lives, The House of Boleyn loses focus entirely. It wants to be both a historically accurate take on the Boleyns and also to speculate on what their servants' lives might have been like, and as a result it ends up doing both things poorly. Historical events are commented upon with clunky dialogue, while the threads of the servants' lives are picked up and put down at random while their storylines have no effect on the greater plot. This is a book that wants to have the scale of something like Downton Abbey, but does not have the pages necessary to fully explore the lives of so many characters across the span of nearly thirty years. As a result, none of the characters are fully fleshed out and Borman relies on the reader's general knowledge of the Boleyns to carry the story along.
Had Borman decided to write solely about the lives of the servants of Hever Castle, it could have been a fascinating story of ordinary lives lived among extraordinary events. Jo Baker did something similar to excellent effect in her book Longbourn, about the servants behind the scenes of Pride and Prejudice. Instead, The House of Boleyn is a book with clunky writing that doesn't focus on much of anything, doesn't carry its plot threads through the book in a coherent manner, and is full of flat characters who never really feel alive. They just act as mouthpieces for political commentary when they're not badmouthing each other's sex lives. Please, can authors and directors stop acting like Mary Boleyn and Jane Rochford were the worst people ever? Mary is slut-shamed every time her name is mentioned while Jane Rochford becomes a pathetic figure endlessly sighing over someone she can never have.
Whenever I picked this book up to read it again, I thought of other Tudor-based works that were much more interesting, if less historically accurate, namely Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes or *gasp* the Showtime series, The Tudors.
I picked this book up because I find Anne Boleyn fascinating, but Borman is better suited to writing nonfiction. I'll keep reading her histories, but I'm not going to be reading more of her fiction anytime soon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the free advance copy for review.
The House of Boleyn is Borman's fourth historical novel. Set during the reign of King Henry VIII, it delves into the world of the Boleyn family, whose extraordinary rise and precipitous fall continue to fascinate us five hundred years later. This novel seeks to give readers a different view of the Boleyns, and takes place entirely within the confines of Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn spent her childhood and retreated to now and then after her return to England around 1520. Thanks to this conceit, we see a different, more domestic side of the Boleyn family as well as seeing things from the perspective of some of their servants.
This is where part of the problem begins. By trying to showcase both the courtly politics the Boleyns were involved in as well as the workaday events of the servants' lives, The House of Boleyn loses focus entirely. It wants to be both a historically accurate take on the Boleyns and also to speculate on what their servants' lives might have been like, and as a result it ends up doing both things poorly. Historical events are commented upon with clunky dialogue, while the threads of the servants' lives are picked up and put down at random while their storylines have no effect on the greater plot. This is a book that wants to have the scale of something like Downton Abbey, but does not have the pages necessary to fully explore the lives of so many characters across the span of nearly thirty years. As a result, none of the characters are fully fleshed out and Borman relies on the reader's general knowledge of the Boleyns to carry the story along.
Had Borman decided to write solely about the lives of the servants of Hever Castle, it could have been a fascinating story of ordinary lives lived among extraordinary events. Jo Baker did something similar to excellent effect in her book Longbourn, about the servants behind the scenes of Pride and Prejudice. Instead, The House of Boleyn is a book with clunky writing that doesn't focus on much of anything, doesn't carry its plot threads through the book in a coherent manner, and is full of flat characters who never really feel alive. They just act as mouthpieces for political commentary when they're not badmouthing each other's sex lives. Please, can authors and directors stop acting like Mary Boleyn and Jane Rochford were the worst people ever? Mary is slut-shamed every time her name is mentioned while Jane Rochford becomes a pathetic figure endlessly sighing over someone she can never have.
Whenever I picked this book up to read it again, I thought of other Tudor-based works that were much more interesting, if less historically accurate, namely Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes or *gasp* the Showtime series, The Tudors.
I picked this book up because I find Anne Boleyn fascinating, but Borman is better suited to writing nonfiction. I'll keep reading her histories, but I'm not going to be reading more of her fiction anytime soon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the free advance copy for review.
May 27, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy.
More like 3.5 but rounded to 4
I've read the author's non-fiction works and was therefore looking forward to this novel, I'm aware this is a fictional portrayal of the history, but I was surprised--given the author's credentials--at some of the plot and character choices made. My perspective as someone who's studied and read a lot about the Tudors, including fiction and non-fiction works:
The Positives
(1) I loved the intergenerational approach to the Boleyns and the focus on Hever. That was a nice change in perspective.
(2) Yes to a positive portrayal of Thomas Boleyn. Too often he gets the same negative depiction as the "greedy, corrupt father who forces Anne to Henry," so it was refreshing to portray him as still ambitious but caring for his children, who's aware of the danger being with Henry causes, and actually wants Anne away from Henry.
(3) Lady Maragret and Esther are great characters. I like getting the perspective of the servants in these kinds of stories.
The Negatives
(1) Elizabeth and Mary Boleyn. Sigh. Thomas Boleyn is finally decent but then the author throws Anne's mother under the bus for no reason. It's okay for Anne to have two decent parents. It felt like a narrative copout to replace the evil father with the "evil mother" and on top of that to actually use the salacious gossip about Elizabeth Howard spread by Anne's enemies. Like, why? Similarly, author goes for the same "Mary Boleyn whore" portrayal, even making her "a slut" before France. Again, it was totally unnecessary.
(2) The narrative is choppy. Next chapters can jump a year or two later. I don't mind time skips when done well, but the author wanted to cover too much in too few pages and so events (and people) are given short space. It almost feels like a checklist or highlights approach to the story. I suppose this is the tradeoff of having so many characters. Maybe it would have been better to have less POVs to maintain a tighter narrative.
(3) Anne and Wyatt. I'm so tired of this one, but beyond my personal dislike, the way their consummation happens makes no logical sense based on Anne's character so far. I can maybe see something BEFORE her involvement with Henry, but Anne wasn't stupid. No way would she jeopardize her position by that point in time in the novel to sleep with Wyatt. The reason provided by the author is flimsy (MINOR SPOILER: let's make Henry nearly assault her so she'll decide to lose her virginity to someone else--what???).
(4) Cranwell (not Cromwell, different characters). Felt like a plot device for "villainy." Plenty of other nasty characters could have used the page space and would have been more interesting. Esther could still exist without him. The end for the character was unsatisfying too.
Overall, I read the novel in one go, so that's a plus. I enjoyed the different perspective of Thomas Boleyn and the inclusion of Lady Margaret, but for a novel that's supposed to challenge streotypes, the novel still uses many when it comes to a lot of the female characters, which suprised me.
More like 3.5 but rounded to 4
I've read the author's non-fiction works and was therefore looking forward to this novel, I'm aware this is a fictional portrayal of the history, but I was surprised--given the author's credentials--at some of the plot and character choices made. My perspective as someone who's studied and read a lot about the Tudors, including fiction and non-fiction works:
The Positives
(1) I loved the intergenerational approach to the Boleyns and the focus on Hever. That was a nice change in perspective.
(2) Yes to a positive portrayal of Thomas Boleyn. Too often he gets the same negative depiction as the "greedy, corrupt father who forces Anne to Henry," so it was refreshing to portray him as still ambitious but caring for his children, who's aware of the danger being with Henry causes, and actually wants Anne away from Henry.
(3) Lady Maragret and Esther are great characters. I like getting the perspective of the servants in these kinds of stories.
The Negatives
(1) Elizabeth and Mary Boleyn. Sigh. Thomas Boleyn is finally decent but then the author throws Anne's mother under the bus for no reason. It's okay for Anne to have two decent parents. It felt like a narrative copout to replace the evil father with the "evil mother" and on top of that to actually use the salacious gossip about Elizabeth Howard spread by Anne's enemies. Like, why? Similarly, author goes for the same "Mary Boleyn whore" portrayal, even making her "a slut" before France. Again, it was totally unnecessary.
(2) The narrative is choppy. Next chapters can jump a year or two later. I don't mind time skips when done well, but the author wanted to cover too much in too few pages and so events (and people) are given short space. It almost feels like a checklist or highlights approach to the story. I suppose this is the tradeoff of having so many characters. Maybe it would have been better to have less POVs to maintain a tighter narrative.
(3) Anne and Wyatt. I'm so tired of this one, but beyond my personal dislike, the way their consummation happens makes no logical sense based on Anne's character so far. I can maybe see something BEFORE her involvement with Henry, but Anne wasn't stupid. No way would she jeopardize her position by that point in time in the novel to sleep with Wyatt. The reason provided by the author is flimsy (MINOR SPOILER: let's make Henry nearly assault her so she'll decide to lose her virginity to someone else--what???).
(4) Cranwell (not Cromwell, different characters). Felt like a plot device for "villainy." Plenty of other nasty characters could have used the page space and would have been more interesting. Esther could still exist without him. The end for the character was unsatisfying too.
Overall, I read the novel in one go, so that's a plus. I enjoyed the different perspective of Thomas Boleyn and the inclusion of Lady Margaret, but for a novel that's supposed to challenge streotypes, the novel still uses many when it comes to a lot of the female characters, which suprised me.
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