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The Ravenmaster's Boy
The story of the fall of Anne Boleyn as it has never been told – this time with ravens.
Young Kit finds himself on a plague cart wedged between the bodies of his mother and father. But he is alive and is rescued and taken into the home of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He soon finds he can speak the language of the big black birds, a skill which proves useful when he finds himself caught up in a story of queens and treason, princesses and executioners.
There can be no change in the history of Henry Vlll’s first two wives but without Kit and the ravens another Tudor monarch might never have survived.
“The Ravenmaster’s Boy is a dark but charming Tudor tale – history with a twist. The events of May 1536 – the days of the fall of the Boleyn regime – are still cloudy and mysterious, and it is possible that the birds of the air know as much as the rest of us about what really happened and why.“
Hilary Mantel
author of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies.
Young Kit finds himself on a plague cart wedged between the bodies of his mother and father. But he is alive and is rescued and taken into the home of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He soon finds he can speak the language of the big black birds, a skill which proves useful when he finds himself caught up in a story of queens and treason, princesses and executioners.
There can be no change in the history of Henry Vlll’s first two wives but without Kit and the ravens another Tudor monarch might never have survived.
“The Ravenmaster’s Boy is a dark but charming Tudor tale – history with a twist. The events of May 1536 – the days of the fall of the Boleyn regime – are still cloudy and mysterious, and it is possible that the birds of the air know as much as the rest of us about what really happened and why.“
Hilary Mantel
author of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies.
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2017
2 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Mary Hoffman
274 books592 followersSee also works published under Mary Lassiter
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 23, 2018
‘Kit wasn’t the only one who thought that he was dead.’
So begins this wonderful story about a boy in the 1500s who is rescued from a plague-cart by the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. Living within the confines of the tower, gifted with the ability to speak with the king’s ravens, Kit lives in violent times. King Henry VIII rules England, and many of his enemies find themselves imprisoned within the tower’s dank walls.
One day the king’s young and beautiful queen, Anne Boleyn, finds herself accused of unspeakable crimes and imprisoned. Kit and the ravens find themselves drawn into a world of intrigue, treason, and bloodshed. Kit may not be able to save the doomed queen, but perhaps he can help save her baby princess …
Swiftly moving and suspenseful, this is an enthralling novel for children aged twelve and upwards, and a fascinating introduction to Tudor history. Loved it.
So begins this wonderful story about a boy in the 1500s who is rescued from a plague-cart by the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. Living within the confines of the tower, gifted with the ability to speak with the king’s ravens, Kit lives in violent times. King Henry VIII rules England, and many of his enemies find themselves imprisoned within the tower’s dank walls.
One day the king’s young and beautiful queen, Anne Boleyn, finds herself accused of unspeakable crimes and imprisoned. Kit and the ravens find themselves drawn into a world of intrigue, treason, and bloodshed. Kit may not be able to save the doomed queen, but perhaps he can help save her baby princess …
Swiftly moving and suspenseful, this is an enthralling novel for children aged twelve and upwards, and a fascinating introduction to Tudor history. Loved it.
July 13, 2017
The Tudor period is one that many of us have been taught at some point in our school careers. But how much do we really know? What happened to turn the King once so smitten he was willing to be excommunicated from Rome to enable his marriage to Anne Boleyn, to three years later having her locked away in the Tower of London awaiting execution?
The Ravenmaster’s Boy tells the tale of the orphaned boy Kit, adopted off of a plague cart by the Tower of London's Ravenmaster. He soon discovers he has the ability to communicate with Ravens, a skill which proves invaluable in the politically charged months of 1536 when treason, bloodshed, and plots are in the air. With the Queen locked up inside the Tower, Kit her Raven Knight, meddles in Royal Affairs after he vows to help her however he can.
Aimed at young adults this historical novel with a flare of the paranormal is quite the page turner. Creative, suspenseful and perfect for anyone who enjoy a Tudor period novel.
April 13, 2017
Quick enjoyable read.
July 18, 2017
The Ravenmaster’s Boy is a young adult historical fiction which can easily be read by an adult for its engaging and exciting story. The main character, Kit Wagstaffe is such an incredible persona and his talents made him not only the Ravenmaster’s Boy at the Tower of London, but also an accomplice of the Queen Anne Boleyn. The story involves the trial of Anne Boleyn and is all about love, treason and loyalty. Mary Hoffman is such a great author and writes with subtlety, something that makes you dive into the story. Recommended.
April 10, 2017
An interesting take on an often told story.
I really enjoyed this story . It kept my interest from start till finish.
I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a Tudor novel.
I really enjoyed this story . It kept my interest from start till finish.
I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a Tudor novel.
August 8, 2019
This book is rather lovely.
March 12, 2018
Kit wasn't the only one who thought he was dead... This book had me gripped from the start. A children's/Younger teen's historical fiction set in 1536 around the trial of Anne Boleyn. A period of Tudor history that I find fascinating.
Kit was rescued from a plague cart and taken in by the Ravenmaster and his wife at The Tower of London. His lips and ears are brushed by a Raven's feather and he is given the ability to speak with the ravens. He uses these ravens as spies to gleen information for Queen Anne who finds herself imprisoned in the tower accused of crimes she hasn't committed.
The Tudor times can be dangerous for those close to the King. Nobles can quickly find themselves out of favour. Is Kit, a commoner, putting himself at risk of losing his head?
Kit was rescued from a plague cart and taken in by the Ravenmaster and his wife at The Tower of London. His lips and ears are brushed by a Raven's feather and he is given the ability to speak with the ravens. He uses these ravens as spies to gleen information for Queen Anne who finds herself imprisoned in the tower accused of crimes she hasn't committed.
The Tudor times can be dangerous for those close to the King. Nobles can quickly find themselves out of favour. Is Kit, a commoner, putting himself at risk of losing his head?
May 7, 2017
An interesting and enjoyable take on a bit of Tudor history: Kit, the Ravenmaster's adopted son, lives at the Tower of London and, as such, sees and is drawn into the circumstances surrounding the end of King Henry VIII's second marriage.
Suitable for older children and younger teens
Suitable for older children and younger teens
November 24, 2017
I'm always apprehensive when going into books about the Tudors for younger people. Mainly because they normally fail to capture that particular adult darkness about the Tudor world - the stuff that makes literally defines it. And I guess my fears were only again confirmed in this book.
- So, as I said above, Tudor books need to have that more grown up element. And did this deliver? Nope. Everything felt so juvenile, and this book is supposed to be aimed at young adults. I could have made excuses for it if it was supposed to be a child's book (and I'm not sure I recommend writing a book about the Tudors for kids people - you will never capture that world fully), but this was AIMED AT YOUNG ADULTS. Kit was what - sixteen? I think. I'm almost 99.76845391% sure. But he acted like he was ten or something.
- Kit. He just didn't seem his age. I've never read a Mary Hoffman book before, but I think she is more suited to writing Middle Grade age aimed books. I was kind of hoping for some dark brooding boy who has struggles and some sort of character arc. But no. Kit was pretty cliché and all that lot. He was so....bland. No connection. Nada.
- And the story was so simple. It was just not complex enough for a book aimed a YOUNG ADULTS. Or teenagers. I would think this kind of writing style (which was very simplistic and dumbed down) was for much younger people. It was so uninteresting and not memorable. The plot was very small and straightforward and didn't really do anything for me. I didn't understand the whole slight magical element - it wasn't very well explained. Also, some ravens were supposed to be magical or something...? Um, when was this explained?????? And I feel like I have read this type of book before.
Over all, this was just yet another Anne Boleyn story with nothing new to add. I wish some author would write something about Jane Seymour in a favourable light for once (I have my eye on the next Six Tudor Queens book). However, slightly irrelevant. Anne Boleyn's story is always intriguing, but is so popular that it needs to be good, well written and original or accurate. This was not and I just don't think it was for me at all.
- So, as I said above, Tudor books need to have that more grown up element. And did this deliver? Nope. Everything felt so juvenile, and this book is supposed to be aimed at young adults. I could have made excuses for it if it was supposed to be a child's book (and I'm not sure I recommend writing a book about the Tudors for kids people - you will never capture that world fully), but this was AIMED AT YOUNG ADULTS. Kit was what - sixteen? I think. I'm almost 99.76845391% sure. But he acted like he was ten or something.
- Kit. He just didn't seem his age. I've never read a Mary Hoffman book before, but I think she is more suited to writing Middle Grade age aimed books. I was kind of hoping for some dark brooding boy who has struggles and some sort of character arc. But no. Kit was pretty cliché and all that lot. He was so....bland. No connection. Nada.
- And the story was so simple. It was just not complex enough for a book aimed a YOUNG ADULTS. Or teenagers. I would think this kind of writing style (which was very simplistic and dumbed down) was for much younger people. It was so uninteresting and not memorable. The plot was very small and straightforward and didn't really do anything for me. I didn't understand the whole slight magical element - it wasn't very well explained. Also, some ravens were supposed to be magical or something...? Um, when was this explained?????? And I feel like I have read this type of book before.
Over all, this was just yet another Anne Boleyn story with nothing new to add. I wish some author would write something about Jane Seymour in a favourable light for once (I have my eye on the next Six Tudor Queens book). However, slightly irrelevant. Anne Boleyn's story is always intriguing, but is so popular that it needs to be good, well written and original or accurate. This was not and I just don't think it was for me at all.
August 27, 2017
The Ravenmaster’s Boy is an enthralling, immersive glimpse into history.
The Tudor period is such a fascinating period of this nation’s history and it holds such a wealth of great stories. Mary Hoffman has crafted a gem of a book with her take on the fall on Anne Boleyn.
Straight away you are immersed in the story as young Kit finds himself on a plague cart, surrounded by the dead bodies of his family, before he is rescued and adopted by the Ravenmaster. His new home is the Tower of London and he soon finds he can speak the language of the big black birds that inhabit the foreboding towers, a skill which proves useful when he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous web of intrigue and secrecy in one of the period’s bloodiest times.
Hoffman just reels you into this rich, immersive world that she’s created with a new perspective on some of history’s darkest moments. She puts a new spin on a story that we all thought we knew, with glimpses of deliciously fun sub-plots and ever-so-subtle hints of the tangled romances of the Tudor period.
The Tudor period is such a fascinating period of this nation’s history and it holds such a wealth of great stories. Mary Hoffman has crafted a gem of a book with her take on the fall on Anne Boleyn.
Straight away you are immersed in the story as young Kit finds himself on a plague cart, surrounded by the dead bodies of his family, before he is rescued and adopted by the Ravenmaster. His new home is the Tower of London and he soon finds he can speak the language of the big black birds that inhabit the foreboding towers, a skill which proves useful when he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous web of intrigue and secrecy in one of the period’s bloodiest times.
Hoffman just reels you into this rich, immersive world that she’s created with a new perspective on some of history’s darkest moments. She puts a new spin on a story that we all thought we knew, with glimpses of deliciously fun sub-plots and ever-so-subtle hints of the tangled romances of the Tudor period.
November 5, 2019
Picking out the ravens from the crows
An excellent story. Obviously well researched. Good to read another fictional story around a real historical character, Anne Boleyn, that doesn't portray her as a the traitor and whore she was wrongly convicted of being. I had previously read Chris Scaifes book and was fascinated by his understanding and love of the real Tower ravens. Was it a coincidence the principal character was a Christopher? Was there a real Tower sadder called Thomas Wagstaffe? More good books like this please, Ms Hoffman.
An excellent story. Obviously well researched. Good to read another fictional story around a real historical character, Anne Boleyn, that doesn't portray her as a the traitor and whore she was wrongly convicted of being. I had previously read Chris Scaifes book and was fascinated by his understanding and love of the real Tower ravens. Was it a coincidence the principal character was a Christopher? Was there a real Tower sadder called Thomas Wagstaffe? More good books like this please, Ms Hoffman.
June 2, 2020
This is an enjoyable book. It tells the story of the fall of Anne Boleyn from the viewpoint of a boy who lives at the Tower and takes care of the ravens. It has a nice mixture of history and fantasy. Young people would enjoy it and also learn some history.
January 6, 2018
Listened to my 10 year old daughter read this. She really enjoys it, especially being in the States and wanting to learn more about Tudor England. 👍
July 18, 2023
Lovely story, faithful to the events and era set
December 22, 2021
Happy ending. The queen died near the end, but the last chapter solved the problem.
December 17, 2022
Interesting book, probably for a younger audience but I liked how they tied the history into it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews