What do you think?
Rate this book
The Boleyn Secret
A Boleyn woman is no stranger to secrets...
At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death.
As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls are like sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind.
At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years.
It is a secret that will haunt Kate throughout her life, as her family flee into exile, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again...
At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death.
As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls are like sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind.
At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years.
It is a secret that will haunt Kate throughout her life, as her family flee into exile, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again...
560 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2026
About the author
Alison Weir
86 books8,666 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
April 18, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm always excited to jump into the newest Alison Weir book. Having written fictional accounts of Henry VIII, all six of his wives, his mother and daughters, and even his closest advisor, Weir is now delving into uncharted territory with a book about the Tudor king’s likely-illegitimate daughter, Katherine Carey. The eldest child of Henry’s former mistress, Mary Boleyn, and niece to Anne Boleyn, we come upon Kate at the tender age of twelve, when she is called to wait upon the disgraced queen during her imprisonment in the Tower. As Weir herself later admits, this may be more myth than history, but it forms the basis of Kate's hatred for the poisonous king who, unbeknownst to her, is also her biological father.
Alison Weir’s novels have a cozy vibe to them, and they always start strong. The irony of Kate despising Henry, only to one day learn their true connection, is set up well, although the moment of the big reveal doesn’t quite pack the punch that it should, and is dropped not long thereafter. Through Kate, we get to experience the reigns of four English monarchs, and see Elizabeth (who, the more I read about her, the more she comes across like a sociopath) through the eyes of one of her closest confidantes. Less is known about Kate’s life than those of Weir’s other subjects, giving her room to be more creative in how she crafts the story. Unfortunately, this is an opportunity that Weir does not seize, instead falling back on her habit of narrativized history over historical storytelling. Kate has many, many children, all of whose births are relayed to us, but none of whom become dynamic characters in their own right. There is a deep love between Kate and her husband, Francis, which is intended as the focal point of the book, but their romance is fairly bland and unremarkable.
More compelling is Kate’s close twenty-year bond with her stepfather, William Stafford, whom we learn was much more involved in court affairs than previously known (he even got remarried to a granddaughter of Margaret Pole, cousin of Elizabeth of York) as well as a devout Protestant convert. I would have liked to know if this was borne out of Weir’s research or if she decided to emphasize their relationship for the purpose of the story. Kate’s brother, Henry, by contrast, is rarely ever mentioned (in one unintentionally funny scene, Kate learns that Henry has had five kids since the last time she spoke to him). Weir may also be the one Tudor historian still stubbornly aboard the Jane-Boleyn-was-evil train. Despite many other historians conceding that the primary evidence for Jane’s treachery simply isn’t there, Weir makes it plain that she believes Jane betrayed the Boleyn siblings to their deaths, which she implies was spurred by years of sexual abuse at her husband’s hands (why Jane receives so little sympathy for being subjected to George's cruelty, however, is beyond me).
Unfortunately, The Boleyn Secret is worn down by the same issues as most of Alison Weir’s fictional novels: telling instead of showing, and length. This book is way, way too long. Even with a merciful time skip during Edward VI’s reign, the print book (I read the e-book) comes in at over 550 pages long. Not enough happens to justify the size beyond not wanting to cut a single detail. In that case, Weir should have opted for a traditional biography instead of a novel. Huge swaths of this book were plodding and uneventful, and it greatly weakened what could have been a much stronger novel.
I'm always excited to jump into the newest Alison Weir book. Having written fictional accounts of Henry VIII, all six of his wives, his mother and daughters, and even his closest advisor, Weir is now delving into uncharted territory with a book about the Tudor king’s likely-illegitimate daughter, Katherine Carey. The eldest child of Henry’s former mistress, Mary Boleyn, and niece to Anne Boleyn, we come upon Kate at the tender age of twelve, when she is called to wait upon the disgraced queen during her imprisonment in the Tower. As Weir herself later admits, this may be more myth than history, but it forms the basis of Kate's hatred for the poisonous king who, unbeknownst to her, is also her biological father.
Alison Weir’s novels have a cozy vibe to them, and they always start strong. The irony of Kate despising Henry, only to one day learn their true connection, is set up well, although the moment of the big reveal doesn’t quite pack the punch that it should, and is dropped not long thereafter. Through Kate, we get to experience the reigns of four English monarchs, and see Elizabeth (who, the more I read about her, the more she comes across like a sociopath) through the eyes of one of her closest confidantes. Less is known about Kate’s life than those of Weir’s other subjects, giving her room to be more creative in how she crafts the story. Unfortunately, this is an opportunity that Weir does not seize, instead falling back on her habit of narrativized history over historical storytelling. Kate has many, many children, all of whose births are relayed to us, but none of whom become dynamic characters in their own right. There is a deep love between Kate and her husband, Francis, which is intended as the focal point of the book, but their romance is fairly bland and unremarkable.
More compelling is Kate’s close twenty-year bond with her stepfather, William Stafford, whom we learn was much more involved in court affairs than previously known (he even got remarried to a granddaughter of Margaret Pole, cousin of Elizabeth of York) as well as a devout Protestant convert. I would have liked to know if this was borne out of Weir’s research or if she decided to emphasize their relationship for the purpose of the story. Kate’s brother, Henry, by contrast, is rarely ever mentioned (in one unintentionally funny scene, Kate learns that Henry has had five kids since the last time she spoke to him). Weir may also be the one Tudor historian still stubbornly aboard the Jane-Boleyn-was-evil train. Despite many other historians conceding that the primary evidence for Jane’s treachery simply isn’t there, Weir makes it plain that she believes Jane betrayed the Boleyn siblings to their deaths, which she implies was spurred by years of sexual abuse at her husband’s hands (why Jane receives so little sympathy for being subjected to George's cruelty, however, is beyond me).
Unfortunately, The Boleyn Secret is worn down by the same issues as most of Alison Weir’s fictional novels: telling instead of showing, and length. This book is way, way too long. Even with a merciful time skip during Edward VI’s reign, the print book (I read the e-book) comes in at over 550 pages long. Not enough happens to justify the size beyond not wanting to cut a single detail. In that case, Weir should have opted for a traditional biography instead of a novel. Huge swaths of this book were plodding and uneventful, and it greatly weakened what could have been a much stronger novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2026
I'm as big a Tudor fan as anyone. So, of course, I admire Alison Weir, a recognized scholar and bestselling author of all things Tudor. Unlike most other Tudor authors, Weir writes both fiction and non-fiction. But THE BOLEYN SECRET felt less like fiction to me than other Weir novels I've read. I wouldn't call it a clunker but I only gave it three stars.
This book's protagonist is Katherine Carey*, daughter of Mary Boleyn and friend-cousin-lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Katherine is usually an invisible historical figure. So, I was looking forward to Weir fleshing her out and learning more about her life living so close to the dysfunctional Tudor royal family. I did learn some. But, for me, the Katherine of this book remained two-dimensional. She observed a lot of history, but always remained somewhat removed.
The story begins with Katherine (age 12) witnessing the execution of her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn. She becomes a playmate for young Princess Elizabeth which allows us, through second hand gossip, to learn about King Henry VIII's four subsequent marriages. Eventually, Katherine goes to court as a lady-in-waiting to two queens and, at the age of 16, marries Francis Knollys. Their marriage is a happy one, peppered with many pregnancies (16!). Along the way, readers glean information about multiple monarchs [Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey (if you count her), Mary I, and Elizabeth I].
As I progressed through this novel, I increasingly felt Weir wasn't clear about whose story she was telling. It's not really about a Boleyn secret - because that gets revealed about 1/3 of the way in and turns out to be more well-known conjecture than big surprise. The book contains way too much extraneous detail to simply be a story about the life of Katherine Carey. And while Katherine's life was certainly impacted by this era's contention around religion, the novel is more than a story about the tension between Catholics and Protestants.
In addition, the book felt too heavily weighted toward narration instead of dialogue. Weir explains so much, rather than allowing the characters to show us. For example, there are explanations about some of the differences between the two religions. There's horrible detail about the many Protestants burned by Queen Mary. There's extensive discussion about Queen Elizabeth not wanting to marry. Even a lot of attention to the mysterious death of Amy Robsart Dudley, wife of royal favorite Robert Dudley. And even when content IS shared through back and forth conversations between characters - I simply didn't find the dialogue the least bit believable.
The result is that THE BOLEYN SECRET felt tediously long (560 pages) and slow. While I'm generally a fan of including period detail to increase authenticity, I felt too much was heavy-handed and only tangentially related to Katherine's life. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if it had been written in Katherine's first person voice. Instead, she was mostly a witness in the room.
Or, perhaps, as a historian, Weir just knows so much about this period, it's hard for her to not include everything. It may also be that I'm a reader who already knows too much about the Tudors. I bet the book will be more engaging to those who were new to the Tudor world.
Overall, I still recommend THE BOLEYN SECRET. But I certainly wouldn't describe it as a page-turner and I've found other novels by Weir much more skillfully written. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where Weir reveals what is actually known about Katherine Carey and what is made up.
This book's protagonist is Katherine Carey*, daughter of Mary Boleyn and friend-cousin-lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. Katherine is usually an invisible historical figure. So, I was looking forward to Weir fleshing her out and learning more about her life living so close to the dysfunctional Tudor royal family. I did learn some. But, for me, the Katherine of this book remained two-dimensional. She observed a lot of history, but always remained somewhat removed.
The story begins with Katherine (age 12) witnessing the execution of her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn. She becomes a playmate for young Princess Elizabeth which allows us, through second hand gossip, to learn about King Henry VIII's four subsequent marriages. Eventually, Katherine goes to court as a lady-in-waiting to two queens and, at the age of 16, marries Francis Knollys. Their marriage is a happy one, peppered with many pregnancies (16!). Along the way, readers glean information about multiple monarchs [Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey (if you count her), Mary I, and Elizabeth I].
As I progressed through this novel, I increasingly felt Weir wasn't clear about whose story she was telling. It's not really about a Boleyn secret - because that gets revealed about 1/3 of the way in and turns out to be more well-known conjecture than big surprise. The book contains way too much extraneous detail to simply be a story about the life of Katherine Carey. And while Katherine's life was certainly impacted by this era's contention around religion, the novel is more than a story about the tension between Catholics and Protestants.
In addition, the book felt too heavily weighted toward narration instead of dialogue. Weir explains so much, rather than allowing the characters to show us. For example, there are explanations about some of the differences between the two religions. There's horrible detail about the many Protestants burned by Queen Mary. There's extensive discussion about Queen Elizabeth not wanting to marry. Even a lot of attention to the mysterious death of Amy Robsart Dudley, wife of royal favorite Robert Dudley. And even when content IS shared through back and forth conversations between characters - I simply didn't find the dialogue the least bit believable.
The result is that THE BOLEYN SECRET felt tediously long (560 pages) and slow. While I'm generally a fan of including period detail to increase authenticity, I felt too much was heavy-handed and only tangentially related to Katherine's life. Perhaps the book would have been stronger if it had been written in Katherine's first person voice. Instead, she was mostly a witness in the room.
Or, perhaps, as a historian, Weir just knows so much about this period, it's hard for her to not include everything. It may also be that I'm a reader who already knows too much about the Tudors. I bet the book will be more engaging to those who were new to the Tudor world.
Overall, I still recommend THE BOLEYN SECRET. But I certainly wouldn't describe it as a page-turner and I've found other novels by Weir much more skillfully written. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where Weir reveals what is actually known about Katherine Carey and what is made up.
June 27, 2026
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Presented by RB Media
DNF @ 66%
Bailing on this one. Just kinda bored with it! The historical stuff is interesting but Kate has become an incredibly dull character and there are exactly zero secrets here.
The story begins with Kate, niece to the queen Anne Boleyn, being sent to her side while Anne awaits death. What follows is an express lesson on the history of Henry VIII's wives and their various endings, with very little of note to report. Then it kind of devolves into Kate's personal life which is dull as dishwater, and by the time I gave up it was starting to veer into the topic of religious unrest.
I just stopped caring for anything, and realised it was not something I was excited to keep listening to. The narrator does a decent job but the content just doesn't have a lot going for it.
With a title suggestive of a big secret, this had nothing that wasn't easily predictable and immediately brushed to the side in favour of other issues. Incredibly disappointing on that front, and a dire lack of secrets anywhere else in the book.
It does give a crash course in history at the time, so fans of historical fiction may get a kick out of that aspect. But the story itself doesn't have enough to draw you in and make you really feel anything for anyone. I don't know that I could recommend it for anything other than the historical points of interest.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by RB Media
DNF @ 66%
Bailing on this one. Just kinda bored with it! The historical stuff is interesting but Kate has become an incredibly dull character and there are exactly zero secrets here.
The story begins with Kate, niece to the queen Anne Boleyn, being sent to her side while Anne awaits death. What follows is an express lesson on the history of Henry VIII's wives and their various endings, with very little of note to report. Then it kind of devolves into Kate's personal life which is dull as dishwater, and by the time I gave up it was starting to veer into the topic of religious unrest.
I just stopped caring for anything, and realised it was not something I was excited to keep listening to. The narrator does a decent job but the content just doesn't have a lot going for it.
With a title suggestive of a big secret, this had nothing that wasn't easily predictable and immediately brushed to the side in favour of other issues. Incredibly disappointing on that front, and a dire lack of secrets anywhere else in the book.
It does give a crash course in history at the time, so fans of historical fiction may get a kick out of that aspect. But the story itself doesn't have enough to draw you in and make you really feel anything for anyone. I don't know that I could recommend it for anything other than the historical points of interest.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
July 11, 2026
Highly enjoyable historical fiction by Alison Weir, as she continues to right about Tudor England. This book features Katherine Carey who is the daughter of Mary Boleyn (Mary being the older sister of Anne Boleyn). But now is she also the half-sister of Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne who will become the Queen of England. Well now this is a novel, even though it is based on very extensive historical research, and so the author makes a pretty easy leap as to the ladies actual relationship, But there are enough historical clues to back up Weir's deduction.
Nonetheless while the book features Katherine, it really delves deeply into Queen Elizabeth, the political and religious turmoil that dominated England, court intrigue and Elizabeth's lifetime decision to never marry.. The book takes us on an almost year by year look at these two diametrically opposite women who truly love each other but who cannot understand each others positions. Suffice it to say Elizabeth never married and had no children, whereas Katherine was married at 16, was pregnant 16 times and had 13 surviving children.
Well researched, well written and an extremely easy read, so easy I now understand who all of the wives are of Henry VIII, as well as much Tudor era politics.
4.5 stars
Nonetheless while the book features Katherine, it really delves deeply into Queen Elizabeth, the political and religious turmoil that dominated England, court intrigue and Elizabeth's lifetime decision to never marry.. The book takes us on an almost year by year look at these two diametrically opposite women who truly love each other but who cannot understand each others positions. Suffice it to say Elizabeth never married and had no children, whereas Katherine was married at 16, was pregnant 16 times and had 13 surviving children.
Well researched, well written and an extremely easy read, so easy I now understand who all of the wives are of Henry VIII, as well as much Tudor era politics.
4.5 stars
June 6, 2026
This story follows Katherine Carey from age 12 until her death. This unfolds during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. This is one of the best books I’ve read during this timeframe and I learned so much. This was a real page turner. Kept my attention from beginning to end. It is evident Alison Weir has done outstanding research. Amazing narrator. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ALC and ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ALC and ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
May 20, 2026
If you love Tudor history and stories about Henry VIII and his wives, The Boleyn Secret is a great read. I especially enjoyed how the story focused on Catherine, following her life from being Anne Boleyn’s cousin to her experiences at court. The political intrigue, relationships, and historical details made the novel engaging from start to finish. The narration was also excellent and really helped bring the characters and emotions to life. A wonderful historical fiction novel for fans of the Tudor era.
June 22, 2026
Whilst I found this book interesting and an enjoyable foray into historical fiction, it was very long! And I just kept wanting to know the 'secret' and I felt it took quite a while to get there.
January 25, 2026
At first, I was really interested in the story, but as the chapters went by I think it dragged on. There was a lot of repetition and I don't believe it needed to be so dragged out to 500 pages. The secret was also a let down? It makes barely any impact on the story. I understand that that is probably true to the nature of the real story, although I confess I don't know this much about history and the personal lives of past monarchs, but what brought me to keep reading after the secret was revealed was how it serves the narrative. I appreciate the amount of work and research that must have gone into this, but for me the repetition took me out of the story a lot, and I believe some parts weren't necessary. It reads like Kate's diary.
The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but a little lackluster in my opinion. The mother I didn't care for, the father I wish I knew more about so that I could feel something about him and the whole situation, and Elizabeth... she's the most fleshed out character of all of them (including Kate) and I did appreciate seeing that, but I also didn't like her. Fair, maybe I'm not meant to. Kate's character felt a little all over the place. Going back to her parents and the backstory, I think it would have made a nice understanding of how/ why Kate is the way she is. She had no identity, no views, nothing, and is easily pushed by her husband. Except from the end where she had a litter of kids (again, going back to how it reads like a diary, I don't believe I needed to read about each of her children, which served nothing to the story, except to show that yes people had a lot of kids in that time.) I did, however, feel very sorry for Kate for being surrounded by selfish people. At first, I was disappointed in the ending, but I do think it suits the theme of the story.
However, I do appreciate the author writing about a person and part of history that isn't widely known (or at least, I didn't know!)
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
The writing is good, and the characters are interesting, but a little lackluster in my opinion. The mother I didn't care for, the father I wish I knew more about so that I could feel something about him and the whole situation, and Elizabeth... she's the most fleshed out character of all of them (including Kate) and I did appreciate seeing that, but I also didn't like her. Fair, maybe I'm not meant to. Kate's character felt a little all over the place. Going back to her parents and the backstory, I think it would have made a nice understanding of how/ why Kate is the way she is. She had no identity, no views, nothing, and is easily pushed by her husband. Except from the end where she had a litter of kids (again, going back to how it reads like a diary, I don't believe I needed to read about each of her children, which served nothing to the story, except to show that yes people had a lot of kids in that time.) I did, however, feel very sorry for Kate for being surrounded by selfish people. At first, I was disappointed in the ending, but I do think it suits the theme of the story.
However, I do appreciate the author writing about a person and part of history that isn't widely known (or at least, I didn't know!)
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
June 8, 2026
Advanced audio copy received through netgalley.
I am a big Tudor fan so I was excited to receive this.
We follow the daughter of Mary Boleyn, Catherine, through her life surrounded by the Tudor court and her close connection to Elizabeth. I must confess I did not know much about Catherine prior to this novel so I appreciated hearing the supporting research at the end.
The book explores a lot of the history that unfolded at the court throughout the Tudor reign of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth and we gain insight into the changes, social, religious and political, through the characters' close connections to royalty. It also touches on the many children that Catherine had although she didn't seem to have a truly developed character and came across a bit complacent in contract to Elizabeth who appears more complex.
Whilst I did think the 500+ pages of this book seemed excessive, the narration by Rosalyn Landor did keep me interested.
I would rate this more in the area of 3.5 but rounded up as I enjoyed the historical context.
I am a big Tudor fan so I was excited to receive this.
We follow the daughter of Mary Boleyn, Catherine, through her life surrounded by the Tudor court and her close connection to Elizabeth. I must confess I did not know much about Catherine prior to this novel so I appreciated hearing the supporting research at the end.
The book explores a lot of the history that unfolded at the court throughout the Tudor reign of Henry VIII through to Elizabeth and we gain insight into the changes, social, religious and political, through the characters' close connections to royalty. It also touches on the many children that Catherine had although she didn't seem to have a truly developed character and came across a bit complacent in contract to Elizabeth who appears more complex.
Whilst I did think the 500+ pages of this book seemed excessive, the narration by Rosalyn Landor did keep me interested.
I would rate this more in the area of 3.5 but rounded up as I enjoyed the historical context.
August 7, 2026
Alison Weir has written so many novels about the Tudors it’s surprising that she’s still able to find different angles and perspectives to write from. In The Boleyn Secret, she tells the story of Kate Carey, daughter of Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary and, some believe, Henry VIII himself. There have been other books about Kate, but I haven’t read any (apart from where she’s mentioned as a minor character), so reading a whole book from her point of view was something new for me.
Katherine Carey (referred to as Kate throughout the book, so I will do the same) was born in 1524 to Mary Boleyn and her husband, William Carey, However, as Mary was having an affair with Henry VIII around this time, many historians have suggested that he was the true father, although this has never been confirmed and Henry never acknowledged Kate as his daughter. For the purposes of this novel, Weir assumes that the rumours were true and that Kate was aware that Henry was her father. She uses this idea to explore how this knowledge may have impacted on Kate’s life, how she discovered it and whether she wanted it to be known.
The book begins with the twelve-year-old Kate witnessing the execution of her aunt, Anne Boleyn (another story that has never been confirmed). We are then taken through the whole of Kate’s life, encompassing her close relationship with her cousin and half-sister Elizabeth (the future queen), her marriage to Sir Francis Knollys, her view on key historical events such as Henry VIII’s next four marriages, the reigns of Edward VI and Queen Mary, religious change and turmoil, and finally the long reign of Queen Elizabeth and the downfall of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Having read all of Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series and several of her other Tudor novels, a lot of this felt repetitive as I was just seeing the same events from yet another perspective. However, there was still plenty of new material, mainly surrounding Kate’s family life with Francis and their sixteen (yes, sixteen!) children. Kate and Francis appear to have had a genuinely happy marriage, a nice change from all the unhappy marriages that often fill the pages of historical novels! I particularly enjoyed the part of the book where they, as Calvinists, go into exile in Europe during the reign of Mary I and her Protestant burnings. Weir admits in her author’s note, though, that this episode of their lives is poorly documented so she had to use her imagination here.
Elizabeth is a huge presence in Kate’s life; they are very close from childhood and Kate loves her as a sister, although she’s never quite sure whether Elizabeth knows the truth about their relationship and is afraid to bring the subject up herself. Elizabeth is presented as a complex person of many contradictions: she can be exceptionally generous and thoughtful, but also incredibly selfish; she often seems cold-hearted and appears to be jealous and resentful of Kate’s loving marriage to Francis, but she also has a vulnerable side and relies on Kate for friendship and support. It’s frustrating to see how Elizabeth repeatedly finds ways to keep Kate and Francis apart, purely because she doesn’t want to share Kate with anyone else; I don’t think I could have kept forgiving her the way Kate did – but of course, in the turbulent Tudor period it was important to stay on the right side of your king or queen!
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I thought it felt unnecessarily long, a common criticism I have of Alison Weir’s novels. I understand that she wants to include as much information as possible to give a full picture of the subject she’s writing about, but this is fiction, not non-fiction, and I’m sure there must have been things that could be left out or condensed to make the story more fun to read. Still, it was interesting to have the opportunity to learn more about Kate Carey and her family.
Katherine Carey (referred to as Kate throughout the book, so I will do the same) was born in 1524 to Mary Boleyn and her husband, William Carey, However, as Mary was having an affair with Henry VIII around this time, many historians have suggested that he was the true father, although this has never been confirmed and Henry never acknowledged Kate as his daughter. For the purposes of this novel, Weir assumes that the rumours were true and that Kate was aware that Henry was her father. She uses this idea to explore how this knowledge may have impacted on Kate’s life, how she discovered it and whether she wanted it to be known.
The book begins with the twelve-year-old Kate witnessing the execution of her aunt, Anne Boleyn (another story that has never been confirmed). We are then taken through the whole of Kate’s life, encompassing her close relationship with her cousin and half-sister Elizabeth (the future queen), her marriage to Sir Francis Knollys, her view on key historical events such as Henry VIII’s next four marriages, the reigns of Edward VI and Queen Mary, religious change and turmoil, and finally the long reign of Queen Elizabeth and the downfall of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Having read all of Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series and several of her other Tudor novels, a lot of this felt repetitive as I was just seeing the same events from yet another perspective. However, there was still plenty of new material, mainly surrounding Kate’s family life with Francis and their sixteen (yes, sixteen!) children. Kate and Francis appear to have had a genuinely happy marriage, a nice change from all the unhappy marriages that often fill the pages of historical novels! I particularly enjoyed the part of the book where they, as Calvinists, go into exile in Europe during the reign of Mary I and her Protestant burnings. Weir admits in her author’s note, though, that this episode of their lives is poorly documented so she had to use her imagination here.
Elizabeth is a huge presence in Kate’s life; they are very close from childhood and Kate loves her as a sister, although she’s never quite sure whether Elizabeth knows the truth about their relationship and is afraid to bring the subject up herself. Elizabeth is presented as a complex person of many contradictions: she can be exceptionally generous and thoughtful, but also incredibly selfish; she often seems cold-hearted and appears to be jealous and resentful of Kate’s loving marriage to Francis, but she also has a vulnerable side and relies on Kate for friendship and support. It’s frustrating to see how Elizabeth repeatedly finds ways to keep Kate and Francis apart, purely because she doesn’t want to share Kate with anyone else; I don’t think I could have kept forgiving her the way Kate did – but of course, in the turbulent Tudor period it was important to stay on the right side of your king or queen!
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I thought it felt unnecessarily long, a common criticism I have of Alison Weir’s novels. I understand that she wants to include as much information as possible to give a full picture of the subject she’s writing about, but this is fiction, not non-fiction, and I’m sure there must have been things that could be left out or condensed to make the story more fun to read. Still, it was interesting to have the opportunity to learn more about Kate Carey and her family.
July 15, 2026
The Boleyn Secret by Alison Weir
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Out Now!!
0oooo this author never fails to enthrall me with her delicious Tudor historical fiction!!
I was stuck in a complete book rutt and had no idea what I was in the mood for...it turns out the answer was a good old tumble into my favourite historical era!
This story is centered around Catherine Carey, who was not only the neice of Anne Boleyn and most trusted companion of Queen Elizabeth the first but also the rumored illegitimate daughter of King Henry 8th!
This fascinating story filled with fact and plumped out with fiction follows Catherine from childhood when she witnesses Anne Boleyns Beheading all the way through her life during the eventful Tudor dynasty.
This is an absolute must read for any fellow Tudor fans out there.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Out Now!!
0oooo this author never fails to enthrall me with her delicious Tudor historical fiction!!
I was stuck in a complete book rutt and had no idea what I was in the mood for...it turns out the answer was a good old tumble into my favourite historical era!
This story is centered around Catherine Carey, who was not only the neice of Anne Boleyn and most trusted companion of Queen Elizabeth the first but also the rumored illegitimate daughter of King Henry 8th!
This fascinating story filled with fact and plumped out with fiction follows Catherine from childhood when she witnesses Anne Boleyns Beheading all the way through her life during the eventful Tudor dynasty.
This is an absolute must read for any fellow Tudor fans out there.
Read
May 4, 2026The Boleyn Secret is very much standard fare for Alison Weir: competently written, atmospherically Tudor, and firmly situated within the interpretive universe she has built across her historical novels. Longtime readers will recognize the familiar rhythms of her characterization and thematic interests, but they may also find little here that feels new or revelatory.
The greatest weakness lies in the portrayal of Catherine Carey. Despite the historical record suggesting a marriage of intellectual and emotional equality, Catherine is given remarkably little agency. I kept waiting for her to demonstrate the qualities that would justify her husband’s evident regard, but those moments never truly arrived, leaving her frustratingly underdeveloped.
Weir’s Elizabeth I, by contrast, is vividly drawn, if unevenly so. I appreciated the willingness to explore Elizabeth’s full spectrum of cruelty, and I spent much of the novel genuinely furious with her, a reaction that speaks to the power of the portrayal. At times, however, that cruelty tips into something more simplistic, edging toward a villainous caricature rather than a complex ruler shaped by fear, politics, and survival. In the end, The Boleyn Secret is readable and familiar, but unlikely to surprise or deeply satisfy readers hoping for fresh insight.
The greatest weakness lies in the portrayal of Catherine Carey. Despite the historical record suggesting a marriage of intellectual and emotional equality, Catherine is given remarkably little agency. I kept waiting for her to demonstrate the qualities that would justify her husband’s evident regard, but those moments never truly arrived, leaving her frustratingly underdeveloped.
Weir’s Elizabeth I, by contrast, is vividly drawn, if unevenly so. I appreciated the willingness to explore Elizabeth’s full spectrum of cruelty, and I spent much of the novel genuinely furious with her, a reaction that speaks to the power of the portrayal. At times, however, that cruelty tips into something more simplistic, edging toward a villainous caricature rather than a complex ruler shaped by fear, politics, and survival. In the end, The Boleyn Secret is readable and familiar, but unlikely to surprise or deeply satisfy readers hoping for fresh insight.
July 8, 2026
I received this for review. I have read many books about King Henry the VIII and the Tudors. I think that this book will always stand out as a favorite. Alison Weir has a beautiful writing style and is able to combine history and facts with information that she gathers and conclusions that she comes to seamlessly. The Tudor’s reign was in the 1400-1500s, so the information that we have on their lives is limited, and sometimes reading books about them can become daunting and repetitive. However, Alison‘s books are interesting and never get bogged down with boring details and information. Even though there were many characters in the story, you were able to follow along with their stories and events in their lives without getting confused. Historical fiction can be tricky to write, but Alison does a beautiful job in this book. I was hooked from page one and even though the book is quite lengthy, I was sorry to see it come to an end.
June 25, 2026
Kate girl you need to decentre men. Cozy vibes as usual, Alison I’m always going to be coming back to you!
August 8, 2026
I'll push this to 4.5 stars...once it gets to Elizabeth's time as queen, her whiny nature becomes an irritating reading experience. But that aside, and in spite of the fact that it's a different author, the emotional engagement and the obsessive need to see the story through is on par with "The Other Boleyn Girl" and it serves as a worthy sequel. Captivating and addictive.
July 18, 2026
3.25 Stars
This is not bad but extremely wordy and slightly sexist as is standard for this author.
It’s weird for a woman historian to uphold so much historical sexism. Earlier in her career she challenged some of it selectively but she seems to be aging more conservatively than she started.
This is not bad but extremely wordy and slightly sexist as is standard for this author.
It’s weird for a woman historian to uphold so much historical sexism. Earlier in her career she challenged some of it selectively but she seems to be aging more conservatively than she started.
Read
January 26, 2026Tudor novels excite me. Especially ones set around Anne Boleyn. Katherine Carey is right at the heart of the Anne Boleyn’s execution which is traumatising for her as she was only a teenager.
Katherine then goes onto play a part in the fringes of the Tudor Court, through Henry’s next two wives, and the next three monarchy’s.
This is the first novel that I have read that has included Mary Tudor’s reign and I found this quite traumatic.
I guessed the secret straight away – the fact that Henry had liaisons with Anne Boleyn’s sister is quite a well-known Tudor fact so it could be that the her child could be Henry’s. Katherine is not granted access to the King’s thoughts, and once she made up her mind that Henry was a monster she repeated this ad nauseum until his death.
I found Kate to be a woman of her time. 12 Children and a husband who just seemed to like making babies and being at Court. Katherine has no real opinion of her own and whilst showing herself to be capable of running the manor she doesn’t really stand up for herself; or frame any view other than that of her her husband.
I think maybe the length of the novel and the time periods it skimmed over put me off. Maybe if it had spent more time in one period rather than Henry, Mary and Elizabeth’s rein I would have enjoyed it more. But for me it was to long and tom detailed with events that didn’t need the tine spent on it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This one is for hardcore Tudor lovers.
Katherine then goes onto play a part in the fringes of the Tudor Court, through Henry’s next two wives, and the next three monarchy’s.
This is the first novel that I have read that has included Mary Tudor’s reign and I found this quite traumatic.
I guessed the secret straight away – the fact that Henry had liaisons with Anne Boleyn’s sister is quite a well-known Tudor fact so it could be that the her child could be Henry’s. Katherine is not granted access to the King’s thoughts, and once she made up her mind that Henry was a monster she repeated this ad nauseum until his death.
I found Kate to be a woman of her time. 12 Children and a husband who just seemed to like making babies and being at Court. Katherine has no real opinion of her own and whilst showing herself to be capable of running the manor she doesn’t really stand up for herself; or frame any view other than that of her her husband.
I think maybe the length of the novel and the time periods it skimmed over put me off. Maybe if it had spent more time in one period rather than Henry, Mary and Elizabeth’s rein I would have enjoyed it more. But for me it was to long and tom detailed with events that didn’t need the tine spent on it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This one is for hardcore Tudor lovers.
June 15, 2026
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending a copy of this ebook to review.
Every time, when I read a book by Alison Weir, I fall in love with the characters, follow them on their ups and downs, become happy or miserable for them.
The brilliance of Alison Weir’s writing is in the ability to immerse a reader in the story, in the time, in the world the characters live in.
This novel centers around Katherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn. Kate had a happy simple childhood, which too soon got marred by loss and tragedy. She lives surrounded by secrets, which she doesn’t know or understand. Deprived of her family, she finds joy in serving her younger cousin Elizabeth.
This bond will last all her life, changing and transforming, but strong nevertheless.
Katherine lived quite happy life - found her soulmate, had many surviving children, even exile was relatively easy - they were able to leave in time, had money to support themselves abroad and returned to England to enjoy Elizabeth’s favor.
As in parallel with her mother Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn, Katherine and Elizabeth had different definition of happiness.
For Katherine (Mary) her family was the main goal, Elizabeth (Anne) was not inclined to love and cherish.
Katherine (Mary) was happy in her home, even in exile, but with her husband and children, Elizabeth (Anne) needed power and court life.
Katherine was helping others, Elizabeth demanded attention to herself only.
As always, Alison Weir’s books contain loads of historical information, which I like in fictional novels.
Every time, when I read a book by Alison Weir, I fall in love with the characters, follow them on their ups and downs, become happy or miserable for them.
The brilliance of Alison Weir’s writing is in the ability to immerse a reader in the story, in the time, in the world the characters live in.
This novel centers around Katherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn. Kate had a happy simple childhood, which too soon got marred by loss and tragedy. She lives surrounded by secrets, which she doesn’t know or understand. Deprived of her family, she finds joy in serving her younger cousin Elizabeth.
This bond will last all her life, changing and transforming, but strong nevertheless.
Katherine lived quite happy life - found her soulmate, had many surviving children, even exile was relatively easy - they were able to leave in time, had money to support themselves abroad and returned to England to enjoy Elizabeth’s favor.
As in parallel with her mother Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn, Katherine and Elizabeth had different definition of happiness.
For Katherine (Mary) her family was the main goal, Elizabeth (Anne) was not inclined to love and cherish.
Katherine (Mary) was happy in her home, even in exile, but with her husband and children, Elizabeth (Anne) needed power and court life.
Katherine was helping others, Elizabeth demanded attention to herself only.
As always, Alison Weir’s books contain loads of historical information, which I like in fictional novels.
May 31, 2026
I’ve not read much about Katherine Carey before beyond her being just a mention or small child in other Tudor historical fiction so I was very excited about this one. What a life she had! I really loved the way she was written. Yes, a little naive and idealistic at times, but so kind, loving and loyal. I loved seeing her grow up during such an incredibly volatile time in history between Henry VIII’s changing moods and temper to Mary’s vengeance and Elizabeth’s stubbornness. I LOVED how Elizabeth was written and enjoyed seeing her relationship with Kat, even though her selfishness and unkindness drove me crazy sometimes. I also really enjoyed the book using the theory that Katherine was Henry’s daughter and I found their scenes together so tense and interesting! I loved Mary Boleyn and Will Stafford so much. I was not expecting to cry during the book, but as always, I cry anytime I read about Anne Boleyn’s execution (which was done so beautifully here), I cried when Mary died and also at the very end. It’s a sweeping, multi decade saga filled with drama, tension and political intrigue and I think any Tudor historical fiction lover will enjoy it so much.
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the digital reader’s copy!
Thank you to Ballantine Books for the digital reader’s copy!
May 31, 2026
I’m seriously Tudor obsessed so when I noted that Alison Weir was writing about a new Tudor, Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn, and niece to Queen Anne Boleyn, I was all in!
The book starts with a young 12 year old Catherine who was one of Anne’s maidens during her beheading.
Catherine was also in young Elizabeth Tudor’s household as her cousin and best friend.
The story takes us through all of the intrigues through Henry’s rule, Edward’s short rule, Bloody Mary’s reign, and finally Queen Elizabeth’s.
The books goes into great detail about the persecution of the Protestants and Catherine fleeing England with her husband and children.
Catherine learns a secret about her birth which is never discussed or brought into the open. But there are whispers.
I loved seeing the Tudor history through the eyes of a lesser known historical figure. Was it a bit long and tedious in some parts? Yes. Sure it was… As is history. I still loved it.
I look forward to any and all future Tudor novels from Alison Weir as I’ve read all she’s written to date. (Historical fiction novels that is.)
*Thanks so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
The book starts with a young 12 year old Catherine who was one of Anne’s maidens during her beheading.
Catherine was also in young Elizabeth Tudor’s household as her cousin and best friend.
The story takes us through all of the intrigues through Henry’s rule, Edward’s short rule, Bloody Mary’s reign, and finally Queen Elizabeth’s.
The books goes into great detail about the persecution of the Protestants and Catherine fleeing England with her husband and children.
Catherine learns a secret about her birth which is never discussed or brought into the open. But there are whispers.
I loved seeing the Tudor history through the eyes of a lesser known historical figure. Was it a bit long and tedious in some parts? Yes. Sure it was… As is history. I still loved it.
I look forward to any and all future Tudor novels from Alison Weir as I’ve read all she’s written to date. (Historical fiction novels that is.)
*Thanks so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
June 3, 2026
Tudor England seen from the eyes of Catherine Carey. Catherine is the daughter of Mary Boleyn and William Carey but rumor was that her father really was Henry the 8th.
This book starts right before Anne Boleyn is executed and goes to the death of Catherine. You see the relationship between Catherine and Elizabeth especially as Elizabeth becomes queen. A good focus of the book is when the Protestant religion is starting to take hold among the English people. Catherine was catholic and then switched to being Protestant. You see the fear that must have been growing when Mary became queen and she was wanting to get rid of all heretics and make England catholic.
A really good book! Just felt like it was a tad long. But the narrator did a great job ! I was never bored! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
This book starts right before Anne Boleyn is executed and goes to the death of Catherine. You see the relationship between Catherine and Elizabeth especially as Elizabeth becomes queen. A good focus of the book is when the Protestant religion is starting to take hold among the English people. Catherine was catholic and then switched to being Protestant. You see the fear that must have been growing when Mary became queen and she was wanting to get rid of all heretics and make England catholic.
A really good book! Just felt like it was a tad long. But the narrator did a great job ! I was never bored! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
June 11, 2026
I have never been one to believe that the Carey children were the children of Henry VIII. But, after reading this book, I’m willing to give a bit more credence that Katherine Carey may have been his daughter. After all, for what reason would he need to claim another girl?
I always enjoy reading history about those I don’t know as much about. Katherine Carey is one such figure. Before this book I knew she was a friend, cousin, etc to Elizabeth and knew she served her after she became Queen. Everything else, from the loving marriage she had, to how many children there were and the struggles with faith, that was all new to me.
I will say that even though the book is long, as all Weir’s books tend to be, I wish Katherine’s character had been fleshed out even more. I do feel I got to know her but it always seemed that knowing was through something else, if that makes sense.
I always enjoy reading history about those I don’t know as much about. Katherine Carey is one such figure. Before this book I knew she was a friend, cousin, etc to Elizabeth and knew she served her after she became Queen. Everything else, from the loving marriage she had, to how many children there were and the struggles with faith, that was all new to me.
I will say that even though the book is long, as all Weir’s books tend to be, I wish Katherine’s character had been fleshed out even more. I do feel I got to know her but it always seemed that knowing was through something else, if that makes sense.
July 31, 2026
3.5
Alison Weir has written so many novels set in the Tudor period that it can be easy for them to blur together. As someone who has read most of them, I have to admit that I was beginning to wonder whether the spark had gone. Her recent novels focusing on Cardinal Wolsey and Queen Mary left me feeling surprisingly cold. They weren't poorly researched—as always, Weir's command of Tudor history is impressive—but they lacked the emotional urgency and compelling character work that made her earlier historical fiction so enjoyable. Thankfully, The Boleyn Secret feels like a genuine return to form. In my opinion, this is the strongest novel Weir has written in quite some time.
The novel follows Catherine Carey, one of the most intriguing yet overlooked women of the Tudor court. Catherine lived on the fringes of some of the greatest dramas in English history. She was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, niece to Anne Boleyn, cousin to Elizabeth I, and later became one of Elizabeth's closest attendants. There have long been rumours that Catherine and her brother Henry Carey were actually the illegitimate children of Henry VIII, though no evidence has ever confirmed this. That uncertainty alone makes Catherine a fascinating protagonist, someone forever orbiting the centre of power without ever fully belonging to it.
One of the things I appreciated most was that Weir resists turning Catherine into another Anne Boleyn clone. Catherine is intelligent and observant, but she is also deeply shaped by the trauma surrounding her family. She grows up in the shadow of Anne's downfall and execution, learning early that favour at court can disappear overnight. Rather than focusing on palace intrigue alone, Weir allows Catherine to mature into a woman trying to build a meaningful life despite the instability of Tudor politics.
The novel spans decades, following Catherine through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and eventually Elizabeth I. As expected from Alison Weir, the scope is enormous. At times, perhaps a little too enormous. One criticism I continue to have of Weir's fiction is that her novels are simply too long. She has a tendency to dramatize almost every known historical event, even when some scenes contribute little to the emotional arc of the story. There were stretches where I found myself wishing the narrative had been tightened. A leaner novel would have had greater momentum without sacrificing any historical richness.
That said, whenever the story focuses on Catherine herself rather than simply recounting Tudor history, it truly shines.
The emotional heart of the novel is undoubtedly Catherine's marriage to Francis Knollys. Historically, Catherine and Francis married around 1540 after what appears to have been a genuine courtship rather than a purely political arrangement. Although theirs was certainly a socially advantageous match, surviving letters and contemporary accounts suggest that theirs was also a remarkably affectionate marriage. They would eventually have a large family, and despite spending years apart due to political upheaval, there is little evidence that either ever wavered in their devotion to the other. In an era where noble marriages were often based on duty rather than affection, Catherine and Francis seem to have enjoyed something comparatively rare: a partnership built on mutual respect, shared Protestant convictions and genuine love.
Weir captures this relationship beautifully. Francis is not written as a distant Tudor husband but as Catherine's confidant and equal. Their relationship feels lived-in and believable, filled with small moments of affection that give the novel much of its warmth. Knowing what history tells us about their marriage only enhances these scenes. Their years apart never feel like emotional separation because Weir convincingly portrays the strength of the bond that united them.
For me, the novel reaches its absolute peak during the reign of Mary I. Catherine and Francis, committed Protestants, suddenly find themselves in genuine danger as Mary begins reversing Edward VI's religious reforms. Rather than remaining comfortably at court, they are forced to flee England and seek refuge on the Continent to avoid persecution.
These chapters were by far the most compelling in the entire novel. Tudor fiction often concentrates on glittering courts, elaborate gowns and dangerous romances, but exile offers something different. Weir vividly portrays the uncertainty of displacement, the constant fear of discovery and the sacrifices required to remain faithful to deeply held religious beliefs. Catherine is stripped of privilege and status, becoming instead a woman trying to protect her family while living as a refugee. Those experiences deepen her character far more than any court intrigue ever could.
Francis also comes into sharper focus during this period. Their shared exile demonstrates precisely why historians often regard them as one of the stronger marriages among Tudor nobility. They endure hardship together rather than allowing adversity to divide them. These scenes have genuine emotional weight because the danger feels real, and because the relationship at the centre of the novel is convincing enough that the reader cares deeply about what happens to them.
The supporting cast naturally includes many of the familiar Tudor figures—Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth—but they remain largely in Catherine's orbit rather than overwhelming the story. Elizabeth is particularly interesting because Catherine eventually becomes one of her closest ladies. Weir effectively shows the complicated mixture of affection, loyalty and distance between the two women, reminding readers that even lifelong friendships at court existed within strict political hierarchies.
As always, Weir's research is impeccable. Readers familiar with Tudor history will recognise just how carefully she incorporates surviving evidence while imaginatively filling the inevitable gaps. Catherine Carey is a historical figure about whom we know enough to sketch the broad outline of her life but not enough to fully understand her inner world. That balance gives historical fiction enormous room to breathe, and Weir takes full advantage of it.
Ultimately, The Boleyn Secret reminded me why I enjoyed Alison Weir's novels in the first place. While I still think her tendency toward excessive length remains her greatest weakness, the strength of Catherine Carey as a protagonist and the deeply moving portrayal of her marriage to Francis Knollys elevate this novel well above her recent work. The sections covering their exile during Mary's reign are among the finest pieces of historical fiction Weir has written, transforming familiar Tudor history into an intimate story about faith, love and survival.
For readers fascinated by the women who stood just outside the spotlight of Tudor history, Catherine Carey proves to be an inspired choice. She may never have worn the crown herself, but through her connections to the Boleyn family, her enduring marriage to Francis Knollys and her lifelong service to Elizabeth I, she witnessed—and survived—some of the most turbulent decades in English history. Thanks to The Boleyn Secret, she finally receives the richly imagined story she has long deserved.
Alison Weir has written so many novels set in the Tudor period that it can be easy for them to blur together. As someone who has read most of them, I have to admit that I was beginning to wonder whether the spark had gone. Her recent novels focusing on Cardinal Wolsey and Queen Mary left me feeling surprisingly cold. They weren't poorly researched—as always, Weir's command of Tudor history is impressive—but they lacked the emotional urgency and compelling character work that made her earlier historical fiction so enjoyable. Thankfully, The Boleyn Secret feels like a genuine return to form. In my opinion, this is the strongest novel Weir has written in quite some time.
The novel follows Catherine Carey, one of the most intriguing yet overlooked women of the Tudor court. Catherine lived on the fringes of some of the greatest dramas in English history. She was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, niece to Anne Boleyn, cousin to Elizabeth I, and later became one of Elizabeth's closest attendants. There have long been rumours that Catherine and her brother Henry Carey were actually the illegitimate children of Henry VIII, though no evidence has ever confirmed this. That uncertainty alone makes Catherine a fascinating protagonist, someone forever orbiting the centre of power without ever fully belonging to it.
One of the things I appreciated most was that Weir resists turning Catherine into another Anne Boleyn clone. Catherine is intelligent and observant, but she is also deeply shaped by the trauma surrounding her family. She grows up in the shadow of Anne's downfall and execution, learning early that favour at court can disappear overnight. Rather than focusing on palace intrigue alone, Weir allows Catherine to mature into a woman trying to build a meaningful life despite the instability of Tudor politics.
The novel spans decades, following Catherine through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and eventually Elizabeth I. As expected from Alison Weir, the scope is enormous. At times, perhaps a little too enormous. One criticism I continue to have of Weir's fiction is that her novels are simply too long. She has a tendency to dramatize almost every known historical event, even when some scenes contribute little to the emotional arc of the story. There were stretches where I found myself wishing the narrative had been tightened. A leaner novel would have had greater momentum without sacrificing any historical richness.
That said, whenever the story focuses on Catherine herself rather than simply recounting Tudor history, it truly shines.
The emotional heart of the novel is undoubtedly Catherine's marriage to Francis Knollys. Historically, Catherine and Francis married around 1540 after what appears to have been a genuine courtship rather than a purely political arrangement. Although theirs was certainly a socially advantageous match, surviving letters and contemporary accounts suggest that theirs was also a remarkably affectionate marriage. They would eventually have a large family, and despite spending years apart due to political upheaval, there is little evidence that either ever wavered in their devotion to the other. In an era where noble marriages were often based on duty rather than affection, Catherine and Francis seem to have enjoyed something comparatively rare: a partnership built on mutual respect, shared Protestant convictions and genuine love.
Weir captures this relationship beautifully. Francis is not written as a distant Tudor husband but as Catherine's confidant and equal. Their relationship feels lived-in and believable, filled with small moments of affection that give the novel much of its warmth. Knowing what history tells us about their marriage only enhances these scenes. Their years apart never feel like emotional separation because Weir convincingly portrays the strength of the bond that united them.
For me, the novel reaches its absolute peak during the reign of Mary I. Catherine and Francis, committed Protestants, suddenly find themselves in genuine danger as Mary begins reversing Edward VI's religious reforms. Rather than remaining comfortably at court, they are forced to flee England and seek refuge on the Continent to avoid persecution.
These chapters were by far the most compelling in the entire novel. Tudor fiction often concentrates on glittering courts, elaborate gowns and dangerous romances, but exile offers something different. Weir vividly portrays the uncertainty of displacement, the constant fear of discovery and the sacrifices required to remain faithful to deeply held religious beliefs. Catherine is stripped of privilege and status, becoming instead a woman trying to protect her family while living as a refugee. Those experiences deepen her character far more than any court intrigue ever could.
Francis also comes into sharper focus during this period. Their shared exile demonstrates precisely why historians often regard them as one of the stronger marriages among Tudor nobility. They endure hardship together rather than allowing adversity to divide them. These scenes have genuine emotional weight because the danger feels real, and because the relationship at the centre of the novel is convincing enough that the reader cares deeply about what happens to them.
The supporting cast naturally includes many of the familiar Tudor figures—Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth—but they remain largely in Catherine's orbit rather than overwhelming the story. Elizabeth is particularly interesting because Catherine eventually becomes one of her closest ladies. Weir effectively shows the complicated mixture of affection, loyalty and distance between the two women, reminding readers that even lifelong friendships at court existed within strict political hierarchies.
As always, Weir's research is impeccable. Readers familiar with Tudor history will recognise just how carefully she incorporates surviving evidence while imaginatively filling the inevitable gaps. Catherine Carey is a historical figure about whom we know enough to sketch the broad outline of her life but not enough to fully understand her inner world. That balance gives historical fiction enormous room to breathe, and Weir takes full advantage of it.
Ultimately, The Boleyn Secret reminded me why I enjoyed Alison Weir's novels in the first place. While I still think her tendency toward excessive length remains her greatest weakness, the strength of Catherine Carey as a protagonist and the deeply moving portrayal of her marriage to Francis Knollys elevate this novel well above her recent work. The sections covering their exile during Mary's reign are among the finest pieces of historical fiction Weir has written, transforming familiar Tudor history into an intimate story about faith, love and survival.
For readers fascinated by the women who stood just outside the spotlight of Tudor history, Catherine Carey proves to be an inspired choice. She may never have worn the crown herself, but through her connections to the Boleyn family, her enduring marriage to Francis Knollys and her lifelong service to Elizabeth I, she witnessed—and survived—some of the most turbulent decades in English history. Thanks to The Boleyn Secret, she finally receives the richly imagined story she has long deserved.
June 2, 2026
Oh my gosh, this book is amazing. This might be my favorite book from Alison Weir so far. This was written so well and the story was intriguing. I am so grateful that I was able to get early access to this book!
June 17, 2026
It was a good historical fiction. All books of the author is good for me. I cannot say it was fun, but it was entertaining. Honestly i was a big bored when i read in the book that Catherine Carey is pregnant again and again, but i know that was the normal in that historical time.
June 21, 2026
Ooooh….so good! I feel like I found an unexpected Philippa Gregory. Kate’s possible paternity and relationship to Queen Elizabeth seems very probable. The fact that she gave birth to so many children and survived is pretty incredible.
June 7, 2026
This author can do no wrong in my eyes ❤️🙏
May 26, 2026
The Boleyn Secret follows the life of Katherine Carey, who was the niece of Queen Anne Boleyn. In 1536, Katherine was sent to the Tower of London to become a lady-in-waiting to her aunt, Anne Boleyn. She witnesses Anne Boleyn’s execution which had a profound effect upon her. Immediately afterwards, Katherine forms a close bond with Princess Elizabeth, who has been declared illegitimate upon her mother’s execution. When Katherine’s mother, Mary Boleyn, falls ill and is dying, she tells Katherine a secret that changes her life forever.
Katherine Carey is one of the most mysterious figures in the Tudor. This is because many historians have believed that she was secretly the daughter of King Henry VIII. Therefore, I was intrigued by how Mrs. Weir approaches the subject. I found Katherine’s character development to be pretty bland. She seems like she is mostly a background character. She is largely overshadowed by her husband and later on Queen Elizabeth. Katherine Carey immediately falls in love with Francis Knollys, who is a courtier under King Henry VIII. She soon marries him and bears his children. Francis is devoted to the Protestant faith, and Katherine becomes a Protestant because of him. When she becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she is upset because she wants to be at home raising her family. However, she realizes that she must put Queen Elizabeth’s needs above that of herself, her husband, and her children. Therefore, I found Katherine to be a very weak character. I wanted her to have more of a backbone and stand up to Queen Elizabeth at times.
Overall, this book is about secrets, family, and duty. I did like the characterization of most of the characters. Queen Elizabeth was the one I found most fascinating. I thought that this novel was meticulously researched, and I thought the descriptions of the Tudor court were well-done. I did think that this novel was very repetitive and drawn out at times. It could easily have been much shorter. Nevertheless, The Boleyn Secret was still a very enjoyable and fascinating read! I liked that it told the story of the Tudors from a different perspective! I recommend this book for fans of Rival to the Queen, The Queen’s Governess, and The Boleyn Bride!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Katherine Carey is one of the most mysterious figures in the Tudor. This is because many historians have believed that she was secretly the daughter of King Henry VIII. Therefore, I was intrigued by how Mrs. Weir approaches the subject. I found Katherine’s character development to be pretty bland. She seems like she is mostly a background character. She is largely overshadowed by her husband and later on Queen Elizabeth. Katherine Carey immediately falls in love with Francis Knollys, who is a courtier under King Henry VIII. She soon marries him and bears his children. Francis is devoted to the Protestant faith, and Katherine becomes a Protestant because of him. When she becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she is upset because she wants to be at home raising her family. However, she realizes that she must put Queen Elizabeth’s needs above that of herself, her husband, and her children. Therefore, I found Katherine to be a very weak character. I wanted her to have more of a backbone and stand up to Queen Elizabeth at times.
Overall, this book is about secrets, family, and duty. I did like the characterization of most of the characters. Queen Elizabeth was the one I found most fascinating. I thought that this novel was meticulously researched, and I thought the descriptions of the Tudor court were well-done. I did think that this novel was very repetitive and drawn out at times. It could easily have been much shorter. Nevertheless, The Boleyn Secret was still a very enjoyable and fascinating read! I liked that it told the story of the Tudors from a different perspective! I recommend this book for fans of Rival to the Queen, The Queen’s Governess, and The Boleyn Bride!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
June 5, 2026
3.5! I love historical fiction and everything Tudor, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this ARC. The Boleyn Secret follows Katherine (Kate), the daughter of Mary Boleyn. It spans from her time in the Tower with Anne Boleyn to her final days serving Queen Elizabeth. The interesting part of this story is the bond between suspected sisters, Kate and Elizabeth, while it’s never confirmed between them.
As a main character, Kate is the trad wife final boss. She fits in with the times and wants nothing more than to be with her husband. It’s interesting to imagine a world where Henry married Mary, considering their daughter, Kate, has almost 20 children. That being said I found Kate’s husband a huge bore and his era appropriate views a drag to hear. It didn’t need to be laid on so heavy we’re well aware how women were treated at the time. If it’s a love story make me like the characters.
Elizabeth, who thinks for herself, is painted as a villain, much like Anne would be in Mary’s story. Compared to another author’s recent release, Boleyn Traitor, this story isn’t new or interesting as far as a woman’s story goes. This is history so we know Elizabeth goes on to have a great rule so why spend so much time criticizing her other than to continue the have baby and settle down agenda. While I understand that’s the period, it’s hard to hear so much “women can’t rule” and just have the main character agree. Since most of it is creative liberty, why not let Kate understand Elizabeth’s choices even a little the way the modern reader might? One might even call Alison Weir’s version of Kate a pick-me.
It’s still a great Tudor read, and I enjoyed my time listening to it!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the advance reader copy!
As a main character, Kate is the trad wife final boss. She fits in with the times and wants nothing more than to be with her husband. It’s interesting to imagine a world where Henry married Mary, considering their daughter, Kate, has almost 20 children. That being said I found Kate’s husband a huge bore and his era appropriate views a drag to hear. It didn’t need to be laid on so heavy we’re well aware how women were treated at the time. If it’s a love story make me like the characters.
Elizabeth, who thinks for herself, is painted as a villain, much like Anne would be in Mary’s story. Compared to another author’s recent release, Boleyn Traitor, this story isn’t new or interesting as far as a woman’s story goes. This is history so we know Elizabeth goes on to have a great rule so why spend so much time criticizing her other than to continue the have baby and settle down agenda. While I understand that’s the period, it’s hard to hear so much “women can’t rule” and just have the main character agree. Since most of it is creative liberty, why not let Kate understand Elizabeth’s choices even a little the way the modern reader might? One might even call Alison Weir’s version of Kate a pick-me.
It’s still a great Tudor read, and I enjoyed my time listening to it!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the advance reader copy!
August 13, 2026
I am not too familiar with the life of Katherine Carey other than what is mentioned in other Tudor related books, but I know that like other authors, Alison Weir takes liberties when writing her historical fiction novels about the Tudors. I had no idea she had 16 births. We do not know her cause of death in her 40s, but I have a feeling that many pregnancies would take a toll on someone's body back in those days.
As a whole, The Boleyn Secret is an interesting novel based on the life of Katherine Carey, who is the daughter of Mary Boleyn. It is heavily believed that Katherine was the daughter of Henry VIII. Using this belief as the "secret" is not entirely shocking, especially when it is mentioned very early on in the book. Katherine mainly keeps this secret from Elizabeth.
The pacing felt slow the majority of the time. Weir is known for her lengthy books, but this one did feel very dragged out at times. It is written well and there is a clear, linear timeline. I enjoyed learning about Katherine's life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of The Boleyn Secret in the return of an honest review.
As a whole, The Boleyn Secret is an interesting novel based on the life of Katherine Carey, who is the daughter of Mary Boleyn. It is heavily believed that Katherine was the daughter of Henry VIII. Using this belief as the "secret" is not entirely shocking, especially when it is mentioned very early on in the book. Katherine mainly keeps this secret from Elizabeth.
The pacing felt slow the majority of the time. Weir is known for her lengthy books, but this one did feel very dragged out at times. It is written well and there is a clear, linear timeline. I enjoyed learning about Katherine's life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of The Boleyn Secret in the return of an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews