Out of the Ashes: Queen Jane Seymour - A Novel

by Nicola Harris

In the aftermath of Anne Boleyn’s brutal downfall, Jane Seymour is thrust into the scorched ashes of a fractured royal court and into the arms of a king she finds physically repellent. His bloated pride, mercurial temper, and the ghosts of two dead queens stir not desire, but dread.

Quiet, devout, and long dismissed as unremarkable, Jane becomes Henry VIII’s third wife and the unlikely figure entrusted with restoring order and delivering the one prize he craves above a male heir.

To survive, Jane must become what the court the obedient bride, the submissive consort, the vessel for England’s future. But behind the mask lies a woman torn between loyalty and conscience, ambition and faith and haunted by the blood price of her crown.

As she walks the knife-edge of Tudor politics, Jane must decide how far she will go to protect her beliefs, her legacy, and the fragile peace she’s fought to create.

Out of the ashes of scandal rises a queen whose silence speaks louder than rebellion and whose sacrifice will echo through history.

Out of the Ashes is a tender, haunting portrait of quiet defiance and of the queen whose silence reshaped a kingdom.

199 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2026

About the author

I have written three historical novels about the wives of Henry VIII. Each one stands alone, and you can read them in any order you choose.

I’ve been asked about my writing process, and I find that I have to immerse myself completely in the lives of my characters. I do this by reading and listening to audiobook biographies every night before I fall asleep, letting their voices and experiences settle into my mind until I feel I understand them. I am writing about Catherine Howard at the moment, and at last I feel I understand her. She is not a stupid girl, as she is so often portrayed. She is a young woman caught in a trap she cannot escape.

I have always been a writer. As a little girl, I filled my exercise books with love stories, tales of pirates and Victorian dramas. My first full novel was written when I was ten. It was dystopian, and I was very proud of it. It was utter rubbish, of course, but we are all rubbish at the start. In my teens, I wrote a lot of love stories.

To read more, visit my free blog: https://nicolaharrisauthor.com/

Reviews

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Nicola Harris #KindleUnlimited

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts with jane Seymour waiting for the news that Anne Boleyn is dead. We jump straight into her betrothal and then marriage to Henry VIII, keeping the book centered on Jane Seymour's reign as the third wife and queen of Henry VIII. Jane understands Henry will accept no criticism and does her best to tiptoe around his brittle temper, but can't help herself when she sees her faith being threatened. I like how Harris shows her Jane's please for the monasteries coming from a place of deep seated faith and not a political power play. A good portrayal of Jane's all too brief reign and what she was probably feeling throughout.

[Nicola Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book. I wrote it. I should not be revewing it but I am because thats how the system works. I have seen lots of other authors doing this to get their work noticed. I hate doing it. It's spammy and a bit cringe but there we are.

[Robert Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I enjoyed this book about Jane Seymour as it focused mostly on her as the person she was, and she had a sharp mind that kept her alive.