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The Tudor Court #1
Songbird
Bess has the voice of an angel, or so Henry VIII declares when he buys her from her father. As a member of the Music, the royal company of minstrels, Bess grows up within the decadent Tudor court, navigating the ever-changing tide of royals and courtiers. Friends come and go as cracked voices, politics, heartbreak, and death loom over even the lowliest of musicians. Tom, her first and dearest friend, is her only constant. But as Bess becomes too comfortable at court, she may find that constancy has its limits.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2021
992 people are currently reading
816 people want to read
About the author
Karen Heenan
22 books89 followersAs an only child, Karen Heenan learned young that boredom was the ultimate enemy. Shortly after, she discovered perpetual motion and has rarely been seen holding still since.
Since discovering books, she is never without one in her hand and several more in her head. Her first series, The Tudor Court, stemmed from a lifelong interest in British history, but she's now turned her gaze closer to home and is writing stories set in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Karen lives in Lansdowne, PA, just outside Philadelphia, where she grows much of her own food and makes her own clothes. She is accompanied on her quest for self-sufficiency by a very patient husband and an ever-changing number of cats.
One constant: she is always writing her next book.
Since discovering books, she is never without one in her hand and several more in her head. Her first series, The Tudor Court, stemmed from a lifelong interest in British history, but she's now turned her gaze closer to home and is writing stories set in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Karen lives in Lansdowne, PA, just outside Philadelphia, where she grows much of her own food and makes her own clothes. She is accompanied on her quest for self-sufficiency by a very patient husband and an ever-changing number of cats.
One constant: she is always writing her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 28, 2020
What a gorgeous book. Some Jane Austen, some Lucy Maud Montgomery, some… some Karen Heenan, I guess. Or rather a lot.
Songbird spends the first 15% setting the stage, which is unfortunate, seeing as the length of a sample on e-book stores ranges from 10 to 15%. I'll admit that the first 15% took me quite a while to read, and had it not been for a friend's insistence that I need to continue I might have put it away. I am so glad I didn't, because once the book really starts, boy, it's – the dreaded word – unputdownable. "Captivating" isn't enough.
When I saw "a novel of the Tudor Court" I thought, obviously, that it was going to be all about the Tudors and other Boleyns. They are featured – after all, Bess is bought by the king from her parents – but it's a book about the kids that grow up being the king's entertainment, children from poor families finding themselves in a curious situation where they are being somewhat spoiled servants. When Bess is pursued by a noble, it is understood that the pursuit is not and never will be a marital one – "At my father's house, a joint of beef and a mug of ale suited him well enough, but now, he must have the best hippocras, for fear he'll be thought less of if he drinks what he likes" is a sentence uttered in completely different context, but one that explains the relationship better than anything else.
Where the first 15% was somewhat flat (not a slog!), the final 15% had me blubbing uncontrollably. Growing up hurts; finding love hurts; losing that love hurts; being left behind by the ones we loved hurts. I bit my fingernails all the way to my elbows praying for the HEA ending. When I finished, I couldn't write the review immediately, because I needed rest from the emotional ride.
I will be re-reading this book and can't wait for the next one from Karen Heenan.
Songbird spends the first 15% setting the stage, which is unfortunate, seeing as the length of a sample on e-book stores ranges from 10 to 15%. I'll admit that the first 15% took me quite a while to read, and had it not been for a friend's insistence that I need to continue I might have put it away. I am so glad I didn't, because once the book really starts, boy, it's – the dreaded word – unputdownable. "Captivating" isn't enough.
When I saw "a novel of the Tudor Court" I thought, obviously, that it was going to be all about the Tudors and other Boleyns. They are featured – after all, Bess is bought by the king from her parents – but it's a book about the kids that grow up being the king's entertainment, children from poor families finding themselves in a curious situation where they are being somewhat spoiled servants. When Bess is pursued by a noble, it is understood that the pursuit is not and never will be a marital one – "At my father's house, a joint of beef and a mug of ale suited him well enough, but now, he must have the best hippocras, for fear he'll be thought less of if he drinks what he likes" is a sentence uttered in completely different context, but one that explains the relationship better than anything else.
Where the first 15% was somewhat flat (not a slog!), the final 15% had me blubbing uncontrollably. Growing up hurts; finding love hurts; losing that love hurts; being left behind by the ones we loved hurts. I bit my fingernails all the way to my elbows praying for the HEA ending. When I finished, I couldn't write the review immediately, because I needed rest from the emotional ride.
I will be re-reading this book and can't wait for the next one from Karen Heenan.
March 6, 2020
Combine one of my favourite historical fiction time periods with a character born to sing and perform – a hobby of mine as a teenager – and Songbird is an ideal read for me! In truth, Songbird is far much more than that. I expected a novel a lot more light-hearted than this proved to be, but it is so much better for its unexpected depth.
From a historical perspective, the tale of Katherine’s downfall, Anne Boleyn’s ascension and the political/religious rumblings of the move by Henry VIII is an interesting one. Having the tale narrated by a well-placed servant, party to all the gossip but without allegiance in all the machinations made a refreshing change of perspective. The life of a minstrel in the King's Court is dictated by his will entirely. Yet, Bess' personal life and the historical element of the novel are both distinct and complementary to one another. Neither overshadows the other, making for a perfect balance of historically-driven plot and character development.
Elizabeth, or Bess, lives a comfortable life at Court, performing for King Henry VIII. It’s an honour well earned by our songbird, but that honour is tainted by the knowledge that Bess was sold to the King by her family. As a child, Bess is resented by her mother and sister for frittering away her days fostering her talent instead of helping with ‘honest’ work. She is also wrongly blamed for a family tragedy, marring one of the few relationships she has in her young life. Only her father has good motivations in securing her a place in King Henry’s court.
I should have known that such an emotional beginning would be setting a precedent for the rest of the novel. Songbird’s narrative is powerfully emotive. Friendship, love, longing and loss all touch Bess from an early age. The narrative is written entirely from her perspective and her character development plays a strong part in the book. As a reader we experience Bess grow up from an immature young girl into a young woman tempered by her experiences. The stark differences in her character at the start and end of the book are remarkably written.
I confess to shedding a tear or two at times whilst reading this. It might seem bizarre that my next statement is a compliment, but at times the narrative was hard to read. The depth of emotion woven into the narrative is so stark and real. I was so invested in Bess, Tom and the other members of the Music and Henry VIII’s court that their loves and losses were mine. The feelings evoked are incredibly relatable to the reader. Songbird has a profound rawness of emotion throughout the novel that will stick with me for a long time.
From a historical perspective, the tale of Katherine’s downfall, Anne Boleyn’s ascension and the political/religious rumblings of the move by Henry VIII is an interesting one. Having the tale narrated by a well-placed servant, party to all the gossip but without allegiance in all the machinations made a refreshing change of perspective. The life of a minstrel in the King's Court is dictated by his will entirely. Yet, Bess' personal life and the historical element of the novel are both distinct and complementary to one another. Neither overshadows the other, making for a perfect balance of historically-driven plot and character development.
Elizabeth, or Bess, lives a comfortable life at Court, performing for King Henry VIII. It’s an honour well earned by our songbird, but that honour is tainted by the knowledge that Bess was sold to the King by her family. As a child, Bess is resented by her mother and sister for frittering away her days fostering her talent instead of helping with ‘honest’ work. She is also wrongly blamed for a family tragedy, marring one of the few relationships she has in her young life. Only her father has good motivations in securing her a place in King Henry’s court.
I should have known that such an emotional beginning would be setting a precedent for the rest of the novel. Songbird’s narrative is powerfully emotive. Friendship, love, longing and loss all touch Bess from an early age. The narrative is written entirely from her perspective and her character development plays a strong part in the book. As a reader we experience Bess grow up from an immature young girl into a young woman tempered by her experiences. The stark differences in her character at the start and end of the book are remarkably written.
I confess to shedding a tear or two at times whilst reading this. It might seem bizarre that my next statement is a compliment, but at times the narrative was hard to read. The depth of emotion woven into the narrative is so stark and real. I was so invested in Bess, Tom and the other members of the Music and Henry VIII’s court that their loves and losses were mine. The feelings evoked are incredibly relatable to the reader. Songbird has a profound rawness of emotion throughout the novel that will stick with me for a long time.
March 8, 2023
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum with my choice of song.
Actual rating: 3.5*
Songbird is one of those books that’s been on the periphery of my awareness for a while, but then somehow I never picked it up. Then I opened my requests for a short while at the end of 2022, and finally, it found its way near the top of my TBR pile. I was supposed to read this a bit sooner, but seeing how long it took me to finally get to it, I don’t think that a few months counts much either way.
There are two reasons Songbird caught my attention back when we hosted Karen Heenan during one of our Pride Month celebrations: 1. the MC is a singer (you can pretty much sell me anything with that), and 2. it’s set in the Tudor court. I love historical fiction, but don’t think that’s anything new by now. And the Tudor era was always close to my heart. That said, it’s an era that’s very popular with all types of creatives (just think about the Tudor series, the countless documentaries on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the movies, all the books, etc.) and thus sometimes it can be hard to find something new to say or to fall way too far into fiction. I always pick up things set in that era with caution, because I generally prefer historical fiction to be closer to historical accuracy than fiction. And I also tend to compare everything to the most amazing Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom. And that’s a high bar to jump. Did Songbird make it? Mostly yes. Let me elaborate on that further below.
Songbird is the story of Bess, who arrives at King Harry VIII’s court just before her tenth birthday, sold by her parents and basically left alone in the world. But soon she finds her home within the court, among the people of Music who are responsible to entertain the king and his household whenever they are needed. And since King Harry is an accomplished musician himself and has an ear for it, they are required a lot, indeed. We follow her life through childhood to adulthood as she navigates the court and love in its many form.
History and the court only act as a background, as the main focus is on Bess amid the turbulent times both politically and in her own personal life. We see everything through her eyes, and since she doesn’t have a great interest in politics, nor does she understand/know a lot of things that are going on, we only get as much information as we need for context. And this works, because Heenan assumes that we are mostly familiar with how things went down between King Harry, Queen Cathrine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn. You don’t have to be a history buff to understand the implications or get the big picture. And honestly, I appreciated that Heenan doesn’t try to push down yet another version of their story on our throats. She takes the readers gently through the years, showing just as much as we need to understand the significance those events make on Bess’ life. And the relationships she makes within the court because her being a musician makes it inevitable that she meets all the fine ladies and lords, partakes in their gossip or merrymaking.
All said, the setting and the people appearing in Bess’ life felt authentic enough, and it was an interesting peek into women’s lives in general, especially since they belonged to different classes, had very similar problems and different solutions. The fact that the ladies here were portrayed as nearly equals to men when it comes to passions and sexuality was definitely refreshing.
The reason though, why I’m not going to give Songbird all five stars, is that I didn’t really like Bess. Nor cared about many of the other characters, with maybe one exception – Tom. I liked quiet, talented, impossibly patient Tom who is loyal to a fault. He is not your typical masculine character and was a very good opposite to Nicholas Hawkins, one of the king’s friends. But the thing is, quick and easy read as it was, to me it felt like Songbird was lacking memorable characters, people who you want to root for, and can get invested in. They just felt all… bland to me. It’s a shame because I still was invested enough to burn through the book in just a couple of days. With a bit better characterization, slightly richer worldbuilding (I wanted a bit more about the court and the intrigues and the whole feel of the era), and smoothing out the sometimes a bit uneven writing, this would have been *chef’s kiss*.
Fortunately, however, Songbird being Karen Heenan‘s debut novel, there is still room for improvement and I’m curious to see how she progressed as an author and storyteller. Because I believe that with some more confidence and experience under her belt, and having a firm grasp of her own author voice, The Tudor Court series could become something special within the historical romance genre. I recommend Songbird for those who are looking for a coming-of-age found family romance story set in the Tudor era, sprinkled with a bit of court intrigue.
Actual rating: 3.5*
Songbird is one of those books that’s been on the periphery of my awareness for a while, but then somehow I never picked it up. Then I opened my requests for a short while at the end of 2022, and finally, it found its way near the top of my TBR pile. I was supposed to read this a bit sooner, but seeing how long it took me to finally get to it, I don’t think that a few months counts much either way.
There are two reasons Songbird caught my attention back when we hosted Karen Heenan during one of our Pride Month celebrations: 1. the MC is a singer (you can pretty much sell me anything with that), and 2. it’s set in the Tudor court. I love historical fiction, but don’t think that’s anything new by now. And the Tudor era was always close to my heart. That said, it’s an era that’s very popular with all types of creatives (just think about the Tudor series, the countless documentaries on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the movies, all the books, etc.) and thus sometimes it can be hard to find something new to say or to fall way too far into fiction. I always pick up things set in that era with caution, because I generally prefer historical fiction to be closer to historical accuracy than fiction. And I also tend to compare everything to the most amazing Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom. And that’s a high bar to jump. Did Songbird make it? Mostly yes. Let me elaborate on that further below.
Songbird is the story of Bess, who arrives at King Harry VIII’s court just before her tenth birthday, sold by her parents and basically left alone in the world. But soon she finds her home within the court, among the people of Music who are responsible to entertain the king and his household whenever they are needed. And since King Harry is an accomplished musician himself and has an ear for it, they are required a lot, indeed. We follow her life through childhood to adulthood as she navigates the court and love in its many form.
History and the court only act as a background, as the main focus is on Bess amid the turbulent times both politically and in her own personal life. We see everything through her eyes, and since she doesn’t have a great interest in politics, nor does she understand/know a lot of things that are going on, we only get as much information as we need for context. And this works, because Heenan assumes that we are mostly familiar with how things went down between King Harry, Queen Cathrine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn. You don’t have to be a history buff to understand the implications or get the big picture. And honestly, I appreciated that Heenan doesn’t try to push down yet another version of their story on our throats. She takes the readers gently through the years, showing just as much as we need to understand the significance those events make on Bess’ life. And the relationships she makes within the court because her being a musician makes it inevitable that she meets all the fine ladies and lords, partakes in their gossip or merrymaking.
All said, the setting and the people appearing in Bess’ life felt authentic enough, and it was an interesting peek into women’s lives in general, especially since they belonged to different classes, had very similar problems and different solutions. The fact that the ladies here were portrayed as nearly equals to men when it comes to passions and sexuality was definitely refreshing.
The reason though, why I’m not going to give Songbird all five stars, is that I didn’t really like Bess. Nor cared about many of the other characters, with maybe one exception – Tom. I liked quiet, talented, impossibly patient Tom who is loyal to a fault. He is not your typical masculine character and was a very good opposite to Nicholas Hawkins, one of the king’s friends. But the thing is, quick and easy read as it was, to me it felt like Songbird was lacking memorable characters, people who you want to root for, and can get invested in. They just felt all… bland to me. It’s a shame because I still was invested enough to burn through the book in just a couple of days. With a bit better characterization, slightly richer worldbuilding (I wanted a bit more about the court and the intrigues and the whole feel of the era), and smoothing out the sometimes a bit uneven writing, this would have been *chef’s kiss*.
Fortunately, however, Songbird being Karen Heenan‘s debut novel, there is still room for improvement and I’m curious to see how she progressed as an author and storyteller. Because I believe that with some more confidence and experience under her belt, and having a firm grasp of her own author voice, The Tudor Court series could become something special within the historical romance genre. I recommend Songbird for those who are looking for a coming-of-age found family romance story set in the Tudor era, sprinkled with a bit of court intrigue.
January 4, 2020
I loved this book! It provided a completely new look at the court of Henry VIII, and also was a page-turning come of age historical novel, the kind I miss reading, the kind with excellent storytelling at its core.
King Henry likes to own spectacular things, and that includes his musicians and entertainers. So the story begins as our little heroine is sold to the King for the purity of her voice. With the help of her only friend, young Tom, Bess grows as a member of the King’s household, learning about love and friendship and music. Being the King’s court, it’s a fascinating age, and there is never a dull moment. But Bess has learned to keep her
tender heart wrapped tight. Can she open up and share her love before it is too late?
If you give this novel a chance, be prepared to be swept into the world of a court and country at the beginning of its hey day. The pacing builds, making me speed to the ending once I got to the 50% mark. As I read, it reminded me of Philippe Gregory novels for their world building and story telling excellence. It reminded me of Upstairs/Downstairs for it’s look at an insider part of the court. And though the political figures are mostly peripheral, there are some intriguing views of the main characters. Though from a vastly different POV, it also reminded me how excited I am for Hilary Mantel’s new book. This was a great way to remind myself of the period and why it’s stories are so compelling, and why I’ll always be interested to read about it.
Karen Heenan, congrats on a story well told. I have one suggestion: get this on audio!
King Henry likes to own spectacular things, and that includes his musicians and entertainers. So the story begins as our little heroine is sold to the King for the purity of her voice. With the help of her only friend, young Tom, Bess grows as a member of the King’s household, learning about love and friendship and music. Being the King’s court, it’s a fascinating age, and there is never a dull moment. But Bess has learned to keep her
tender heart wrapped tight. Can she open up and share her love before it is too late?
If you give this novel a chance, be prepared to be swept into the world of a court and country at the beginning of its hey day. The pacing builds, making me speed to the ending once I got to the 50% mark. As I read, it reminded me of Philippe Gregory novels for their world building and story telling excellence. It reminded me of Upstairs/Downstairs for it’s look at an insider part of the court. And though the political figures are mostly peripheral, there are some intriguing views of the main characters. Though from a vastly different POV, it also reminded me how excited I am for Hilary Mantel’s new book. This was a great way to remind myself of the period and why it’s stories are so compelling, and why I’ll always be interested to read about it.
Karen Heenan, congrats on a story well told. I have one suggestion: get this on audio!
November 2, 2020
Songbird by Karen Heenan
A great read! This was my first historical fiction set in the Tudor period and I didn’t know what to expect, but thanks to Heenan, it won’t be my last! From the very opening line, I was charmed by Heenan’s storytelling!
Beloved Bess, a ten-year-old talent, is sold to the King of England. She is the songbird that readers can’t help but adore! Heenan’s entire cast of characters – from King Henry VIII to lutenist Tom and girl Agnes – captured my attention, and my heart, from the very first page, and they did not let me go! The courtly life is enchanting and at times cruel, and always believable. Even now I think of dear Bess and Tom fondly and wonder how they are.
I highly recommend this exquisite work of historical fiction. Well done!!!
A great read! This was my first historical fiction set in the Tudor period and I didn’t know what to expect, but thanks to Heenan, it won’t be my last! From the very opening line, I was charmed by Heenan’s storytelling!
Beloved Bess, a ten-year-old talent, is sold to the King of England. She is the songbird that readers can’t help but adore! Heenan’s entire cast of characters – from King Henry VIII to lutenist Tom and girl Agnes – captured my attention, and my heart, from the very first page, and they did not let me go! The courtly life is enchanting and at times cruel, and always believable. Even now I think of dear Bess and Tom fondly and wonder how they are.
I highly recommend this exquisite work of historical fiction. Well done!!!
February 25, 2022
This is my third review for #FebruarySheWrote.
Songbird is a historical romance novel set in Tudor, England. The writing is so top-notch and pitch-perfect, the attention to historical detail is so exquisite, and the characters are so fascinating, human, and relatable that I couldn't put the book down for long without wanting to return to it.
The two biggest strengths of this novel, IMO, were the prose and the characters. In terms of the writing and voice, the author manages to accomplish the difficult task of making the story sound historical without making it sound overly stilted to the modern "ear." Simply put, the author is clearly a well-practiced and an excellent writer.
In terms of the characters, Bess, the heroine, wasn't always perhaps the most likable character, but she always came across as a compelling and fully fleshed-out character, and her behavior seemed authentic and realistic given her background. She is a compelling protagonist, and as a reader, even if I didn't "love" her, I did very much care about what happened to her. And as far as Tom - well, suffice to say, I loved Tom. Romance as a genre seems filled with overly macho, masculine, and even brutish characters -- gentle and musically-inclined Tom, while he also had some flaws, was such a breath of fresh air.
I can't find anything negative to say about Songbird, other than I would not recommend it to readers who can't enjoy a book unless it has a lot of bloodshed and action; while there is some court intrigue, this is a quieter more character-driven and literary-leaning romance novel that relies on you caring about the characters and what happens to them to keep you turning the pages. But for readers who love literary/historical novels, or for who enjoy historical romance novels, I don't think Songbird will disappoint.
Five stars and a plus; highly recommended. One of the best books I've read over the last couple of years.
Songbird is a historical romance novel set in Tudor, England. The writing is so top-notch and pitch-perfect, the attention to historical detail is so exquisite, and the characters are so fascinating, human, and relatable that I couldn't put the book down for long without wanting to return to it.
The two biggest strengths of this novel, IMO, were the prose and the characters. In terms of the writing and voice, the author manages to accomplish the difficult task of making the story sound historical without making it sound overly stilted to the modern "ear." Simply put, the author is clearly a well-practiced and an excellent writer.
In terms of the characters, Bess, the heroine, wasn't always perhaps the most likable character, but she always came across as a compelling and fully fleshed-out character, and her behavior seemed authentic and realistic given her background. She is a compelling protagonist, and as a reader, even if I didn't "love" her, I did very much care about what happened to her. And as far as Tom - well, suffice to say, I loved Tom. Romance as a genre seems filled with overly macho, masculine, and even brutish characters -- gentle and musically-inclined Tom, while he also had some flaws, was such a breath of fresh air.
I can't find anything negative to say about Songbird, other than I would not recommend it to readers who can't enjoy a book unless it has a lot of bloodshed and action; while there is some court intrigue, this is a quieter more character-driven and literary-leaning romance novel that relies on you caring about the characters and what happens to them to keep you turning the pages. But for readers who love literary/historical novels, or for who enjoy historical romance novels, I don't think Songbird will disappoint.
Five stars and a plus; highly recommended. One of the best books I've read over the last couple of years.
February 6, 2020
“Two days before my tenth birthday, my father sold me to the King of England.”
It was a great privilege, although as she watched her father walk away, Elizabeth “Bess” Davydd could not appreciate it. He had sold her. Her father had sold her to the King.
Growing up in a world dominated by music was a better alternative to the one Bess had been living, but still, it took some getting used to. If it had not been for Tom, Bess did not know what she would have done. From the moment thirteen-year-old Tom, a musician, had taken her hand in front of the court while her father so cruelly abandoned her, he had become Bess’ one constant.
As the two inseparable friends reached adulthood, Bess realised that everything about her life depended upon the whim of the King. There were rumours abound that the King no longer shared his Spanish Queen’s bed. What did this mean? No one knew. But, Bess had other things to concern herself with, for she had noticed how similar she was in looks to the King’s latest mistress’ sister, Anne Boleyn. And nobleman, Nick Hawkins, had caught Bess' eye.
From the squalid conditions of Southwick to the grandeur of the Field of Cloth of Gold and the intrigue and treachery of Henry VIII’s Tudor court during an unprecedented time in English History, Songbird by Karen Heenan is in all ways a Historical Fiction triumph.
I have read my fair share of books set in the Tudor period, but I have never read one from the perspective of the musicians that went wherever King Henry demanded them to go. And never has any book touched my heart as Songbird by Karen Heenan has. Songbird is one of those tremendously rare books that you may only ever stumble upon once in a lifetime. It is a totally bewitching story that enchanted me from the very first sentence, and even now, a day after I have read it, this book is all I can think about. It is an utterly enthralling story that is as beautiful as it is impressive. These characters, and their story, is hauntingly unforgettable.
The narrative is harmonically pleasing, the prose a sweet melody. Heenan has penned, or should I say composed, a story that is lyrically pleasing. It is an incredible success. Heenan has brought the court of Henry VIII gloriously back to life in all its splendour, and all its controversy.
Heenan demands every conceivable emotion from her readers. I laughed, I grimace, I felt embarrassment for young Bess, and at times...at times I found myself reaching for the Kleenex. Songbird is a bittersweet romance, a passionate affair. But above everything else, it is a story of unquenchable and undeniable love — and what a story it is.
Everything about Songbird is victorious, from the historical setting to the characters themselves. At the beginning of this story Bess is this musically-gifted sweet child who is overwhelmed by what she is seeing, where she is, and the fact that her father, of all people, has sold her to the King because she has a pretty voice. The moment Tom takes her hand, however, Bess feels this deep and almost ancient connection with him — as if two souls have found each other, although Bess is too young to understand such feelings. What she does know is that as long as Tom is with her, then she is safe. I absolutely adored Bess. She is a protagonist that you cannot help but love. We, lucky readers, watch this wonderful little girl grow up in the pages of this book. Heenan is candid in her depiction of Bess’ character, and everything that happens in Bess’ life is so incredibly believable. Heenan’s portrayal of Bess has such a sense of realism about it that it is tangible. It almost felt like a privilege reading about Bess’ life. Bess’ portrayal is brilliant. There is no other word for it. Absolutely brilliant.
Which leads me on to Tom. Dear, dear Tom, who is the most loving of children, the most caring of men. I believe Tom may have stolen a little piece of my heart while I was reading about him. He is the most wonderful hero that I have ever come across. Heenan has really outdone herself in Tom’s portrayal. There was nothing I did not love about him. Tom’s patience, his utter devotion makes him worthy. Tom is a character that feels very deeply. He loves completely, or not at all. I thought Tom’s depiction was fabulously executed. Bravo, Ms Heenan. Bravo, indeed.
There are, as you can imagine, many historical characters and events in this book. From Henry VIII, Queen Katherine, Princess Mary, Charles Brandon: The 1st Duke of Suffolk, Thomas Wolsey, and of course Anne Boleyn. Although these historical figures are, for the majority of this book, on the fringe of the story, they are however wonderfully depicted and rich in the telling. Heenan has managed to resurrect the dead back to life and make them breathe again. I mean, WOW! What an achievement. What a book!
Songbird is very luxurious in the historical detail. Heenan has certainly done her homework. She has captured the very essence of this era. Several historical events are depicted during this novel. In particular, I thought the portrayal of the Field of Cloth of Gold was particularly well-drawn. Heenan has captured the rivalry between Henry and Francis magnificently. Heenan seems to have an intuitive understanding of what makes history worth reading, and then she writes about it with such passion. It does not get any better than this.
There are many great Historical Fiction books based on the Tudor era, but Songbird by Karen Heenan is something not only extraordinary but also unique. I have never read a book like it. It is witty and inspired and so incredibly vivid. I loved every word, every sentence. It is a book that deserves to be read over and over again. Songbird is a vastly entertaining read and absolutely impossible to put down. It is tense, and it is powerful — a real treat.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
February 24, 2020
This novel made me realize how much I missed my first historical fiction love—Tudor England. More than that, it made me realize why I love reading and writing: to feel an emotion that gets lost in the whirl of the everyday, to peek into a past long gone, to fall in love with a story, plain and simple. Well, I fell completely and utterly in love with Karen Heenan’s Songbird.
In short, Bess is a young girl who is sold to Henry VIII by her father. She grows up at the royal court, where she meets Tom, another musician. Their relationship blossoms as they grow and as the years pass, but so do the complexities of adulthood, human loss and pain, and of course, romantic love.
The storyline is deceptively simple, yet with a complexity that really shines through the characters’ relationships and the scope of time covered, rendering it fresh and beautiful. I have such an admiration for writers who expertly use exposition in a way that doesn’t bore or confuse the reader, and I found this author does this so well. The prose is true to the time, does not get bogged down with description while keeping a song-like lyricism to the words and sentences, and tells a pure story, the type of story you don’t see very often because of the emotion and humanity behind it.
The author has a strong handle on the history of the time, and a talent for using it as a background to the plot. Since the main characters are all fictional, it was interesting to see how the historical events were weaved in in a non-intrusive, non-dry, and, most significantly, relevant way. I also really loved the author’s treatment of the romance. In my opinion, it is the hardest to pull off. The romance in Songbird is poignant without being cheesy; it is heartbreaking and painful, as all great love should be.
So many novels these days have great concepts but very little substance behind the storyline and characters; very few move me to tears. Songbird did in a way I didn’t expect it to. This coming of age story absolutely touched my heart. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. I’ll be eagerly waiting to get my hands on it!
In short, Bess is a young girl who is sold to Henry VIII by her father. She grows up at the royal court, where she meets Tom, another musician. Their relationship blossoms as they grow and as the years pass, but so do the complexities of adulthood, human loss and pain, and of course, romantic love.
The storyline is deceptively simple, yet with a complexity that really shines through the characters’ relationships and the scope of time covered, rendering it fresh and beautiful. I have such an admiration for writers who expertly use exposition in a way that doesn’t bore or confuse the reader, and I found this author does this so well. The prose is true to the time, does not get bogged down with description while keeping a song-like lyricism to the words and sentences, and tells a pure story, the type of story you don’t see very often because of the emotion and humanity behind it.
The author has a strong handle on the history of the time, and a talent for using it as a background to the plot. Since the main characters are all fictional, it was interesting to see how the historical events were weaved in in a non-intrusive, non-dry, and, most significantly, relevant way. I also really loved the author’s treatment of the romance. In my opinion, it is the hardest to pull off. The romance in Songbird is poignant without being cheesy; it is heartbreaking and painful, as all great love should be.
So many novels these days have great concepts but very little substance behind the storyline and characters; very few move me to tears. Songbird did in a way I didn’t expect it to. This coming of age story absolutely touched my heart. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. I’ll be eagerly waiting to get my hands on it!
April 12, 2021
I had heard that Songbird was one of those rare books that if you are lucky, you may one day stumble across. When I saw that The Coffee Pot Book Club was taking on tour the novel that they had named — The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Of The Year 2020 — I knew that I could not miss out on the opportunity of reading this book.
Words cannot even begin…there are not enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe how amazing this novel is. It is consuming, engrossing, and so compelling that I stayed up half the night reading it. Hand on heart, I have never read a book like it. The author demands so much from her readers, I laughed, I cried, a cringed, I hoped, oh how I hoped that Bess would one day find the happiness she deserved. And I so hoped she would find what she was looking for with Tom. But circumstances tear them apart again and again and…Shh! I must not give away any spoilers because I don’t want to ruin this book for anyone. It is suffice to say that the story is…it’s bloody brilliant from start to finish.
This book has left a deep impression in my heart, maybe even in my soul. This is a story that I will never ever forget and it is a book that I am going to read over and over again, because that is the kind of book it is. Without a doubt, I really think that this is my all-time favourite book. I cannot see anything toppling Songbird from the number 1 position.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Words cannot even begin…there are not enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe how amazing this novel is. It is consuming, engrossing, and so compelling that I stayed up half the night reading it. Hand on heart, I have never read a book like it. The author demands so much from her readers, I laughed, I cried, a cringed, I hoped, oh how I hoped that Bess would one day find the happiness she deserved. And I so hoped she would find what she was looking for with Tom. But circumstances tear them apart again and again and…Shh! I must not give away any spoilers because I don’t want to ruin this book for anyone. It is suffice to say that the story is…it’s bloody brilliant from start to finish.
This book has left a deep impression in my heart, maybe even in my soul. This is a story that I will never ever forget and it is a book that I am going to read over and over again, because that is the kind of book it is. Without a doubt, I really think that this is my all-time favourite book. I cannot see anything toppling Songbird from the number 1 position.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
February 6, 2021
Immerse yourself in the Tudor court
As the title might suggest, Songbird is about music: in this case, about a young girl called Bess at the court of Henry VIII who possesses the voice of an angel. I don’t want to include any spoilers but the first line of the novel is one of the most dramatic I’ve read in a long time.
It is a tale of upstairs and downstairs at the Tudor court, where the members of ‘the Music’ as it is called, witness close-up all the movers and shakers so familiar to us (the King, Queen, Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn) but live their own lives, totally separate to the rest of the court. Karen Heenan writes with so much verve and attention to detail that the reader lives and breathes Bess’s life as she tells her story in the first person.
At one point, Bess describes Anne Boleyn’s black eyes as ‘dangerous’ and when she first meets the King, she describes him as a ‘golden giant’.
There is romance a-plenty in Heenan’s novel: intense passion that spills over into every aspect of Bess’s life. The reader is with her every step of the way, following each of her attachments, with their hopes and dreams. One possible suitor is from Bess’s own circle but another not; knowing a handsome young courtier is beyond her reach, she doesn’t expect to be noticed back. All this makes for a gripping, often edgy story that is very hard to gauge and keeps you guessing until the very last page. Very highly recommended.
As the title might suggest, Songbird is about music: in this case, about a young girl called Bess at the court of Henry VIII who possesses the voice of an angel. I don’t want to include any spoilers but the first line of the novel is one of the most dramatic I’ve read in a long time.
It is a tale of upstairs and downstairs at the Tudor court, where the members of ‘the Music’ as it is called, witness close-up all the movers and shakers so familiar to us (the King, Queen, Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn) but live their own lives, totally separate to the rest of the court. Karen Heenan writes with so much verve and attention to detail that the reader lives and breathes Bess’s life as she tells her story in the first person.
At one point, Bess describes Anne Boleyn’s black eyes as ‘dangerous’ and when she first meets the King, she describes him as a ‘golden giant’.
There is romance a-plenty in Heenan’s novel: intense passion that spills over into every aspect of Bess’s life. The reader is with her every step of the way, following each of her attachments, with their hopes and dreams. One possible suitor is from Bess’s own circle but another not; knowing a handsome young courtier is beyond her reach, she doesn’t expect to be noticed back. All this makes for a gripping, often edgy story that is very hard to gauge and keeps you guessing until the very last page. Very highly recommended.
April 20, 2021
A beautifully captivating novel of the endurance of love, Songbird encapsulates the life of Bess, a minstrel in the court of Henry VIII. Every word lived and breathed the time, and it was truly an amazing read. I immensely enjoyed watching Bess grow from child to adult, facing and fighting her emotions. I especially liked the focus on Bess solely, whereas some other historical romances of the time tend to encapsulate two points of view. It was lovely to get such an in depth story about the life of one person. Definitely recommend this novel for lovers of historical romance in Tudor times.
April 11, 2021
My review: http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...
This historical fiction novel set in my favorite 16th century follows quasi-orphaned Bess from age 10 to adulthood as she navigates Henry VII's court with her musical talent . . .
This historical fiction novel set in my favorite 16th century follows quasi-orphaned Bess from age 10 to adulthood as she navigates Henry VII's court with her musical talent . . .
December 3, 2025
I don’t think I’ve ever given any of the books I’ve read a three star review…. Unfortunately, this one deserved three stars. Although I could describe it as a « lovely » book, the story was almost monotonous in the sense that there were no highs and lows. It remained this way until the end.
June 9, 2020
Well done, Karen. I enjoyed this story set at the court of Henry VIII. The setting felt real as did the emotional upheavals of the Heroine.
February 22, 2020
This is the story of Bess who has a voice of an angel and she’s bought by Henry Viii and set up as part of his Royal Company of Minstrels. I loved this book great characters and well written
November 18, 2019
I absorbed my father’s love for Tudor history almost by osmosis, and it’s never left me, although the better-known aspects of Henry VIII’s six wives and his rift with the Roman Catholic Church were never the parts that interested me the most. Social history and the lives of people not courtiers or nobles, but still affected by the massive changes that Henry brought to England during his reign, are my area.
Karen Heenan’s Songbird caught my attention as soon as I heard about it, pre-publication. I knew about Henry’s love for music: he was reputed to be a skilled musician himself. I knew, vaguely, that he had court singers and minstrels, and with a little thought I would have related the name William Cornysh with Henry’s court, and I might have even known he had something to do with music.
This tale of Bess, a young girl sold to the King for her pure, lovely voice, and of her training to be part of the troupe of singers who entertained Henry and his court plunges the reader into the lives of a group of young men and women of the back corridors and rooms of the palaces. Like all royal servants, they had little control over their lives; they were subject to royal demands and whimsies: sing now; travel now; perform now, as they moved in and out of favour.
It would be easy to see them as pawns, unimportant, but Heenan crafts a rich and satisfying story around three lives, the girl Bess, the boy Tom, and the outsider Robin. The names expected in a Tudor court story are there, of course: Henry himself, Queen Katharine, Anne Boleyn, Cardinal Wolsey. But they are the minor characters. Through Bess’s eyes, we see events unfolding that are familiar to any student of Tudor history, but we also see the intimate details of her own.
Heenan writes with confidence and style, vividly drawing the reader into the Tudor court. Each character in her story is fully real, even the enigmatic Robin, and as they mature over the course of the book, their personalities develop. They become much more complex, but in ways that seem fully consistent with the children the reader first meets.
Court intrigues and politics; the fear of almost-random death from disease or accident; the divisions of class and the restrictions of religion: all these form the background to a bittersweet love story that unfolds over the course of the story. Each colours Bess’s view of life. her expectations, and her determination to grasp as much control of her life as is possible for a young woman in her position.
I wanted to read this book in one long sitting, immersing myself in its beautifully drawn world both familiar and new. I didn’t: I rationed myself, to enjoy it longer. I await its planned sequel with impatience.
Karen Heenan’s Songbird caught my attention as soon as I heard about it, pre-publication. I knew about Henry’s love for music: he was reputed to be a skilled musician himself. I knew, vaguely, that he had court singers and minstrels, and with a little thought I would have related the name William Cornysh with Henry’s court, and I might have even known he had something to do with music.
This tale of Bess, a young girl sold to the King for her pure, lovely voice, and of her training to be part of the troupe of singers who entertained Henry and his court plunges the reader into the lives of a group of young men and women of the back corridors and rooms of the palaces. Like all royal servants, they had little control over their lives; they were subject to royal demands and whimsies: sing now; travel now; perform now, as they moved in and out of favour.
It would be easy to see them as pawns, unimportant, but Heenan crafts a rich and satisfying story around three lives, the girl Bess, the boy Tom, and the outsider Robin. The names expected in a Tudor court story are there, of course: Henry himself, Queen Katharine, Anne Boleyn, Cardinal Wolsey. But they are the minor characters. Through Bess’s eyes, we see events unfolding that are familiar to any student of Tudor history, but we also see the intimate details of her own.
Heenan writes with confidence and style, vividly drawing the reader into the Tudor court. Each character in her story is fully real, even the enigmatic Robin, and as they mature over the course of the book, their personalities develop. They become much more complex, but in ways that seem fully consistent with the children the reader first meets.
Court intrigues and politics; the fear of almost-random death from disease or accident; the divisions of class and the restrictions of religion: all these form the background to a bittersweet love story that unfolds over the course of the story. Each colours Bess’s view of life. her expectations, and her determination to grasp as much control of her life as is possible for a young woman in her position.
I wanted to read this book in one long sitting, immersing myself in its beautifully drawn world both familiar and new. I didn’t: I rationed myself, to enjoy it longer. I await its planned sequel with impatience.
May 27, 2020
The measure of a great book is a story that you can’t wait to find out what will happen, but leaves you wanting to know more. Karen hits the mark with Songbird with engaging characters that you care about. I look forward to more great tales from this author.
May 5, 2021
This is a beautiful novel. I loved the beginning. I loved how it brought me into the world through the eyes of a young girl, sold by her family, into service singing in Henry VIII's court. If you don't know this about her, you cannot fathom the choices she makes later. There is a romance in this and her actions might make you want to tell her exactly what you think, but they are inevitable given the arc of her life. In its way it is both a small book and a grand book. It tells a small story of the coming of age of singer with an exquisite voice, her loves, her friendships, her emotional growth. But this is also a larger story, in that it is like micro-history, a story told on the edges of something important and as a result immerses you more profoundly in the period than these grand stories of kings and queens do. The romance is set against Henry VIII's own romantic turn from Katherine to Anne Boleyn and is told from the perspective of the court's musicians, singularly, Bess. As for me, I prefer a murder or some conspiracy in my historical fiction, yet this held me fast. I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying it. Give yourself the treat of spending time in this world and with these characters.
Now that I've read the sequel, which is a powerhouse of a novel, I cannot implore you enough to read this one first. Besides, what happens to Bess and Tom in the end is revealed in A Wider World and you don't want to ruin your fun by finding out first. Start with Songbird and move on. Better yet, buy them both at once so don't have to wait to be cast in Heenan's world again.
Now that I've read the sequel, which is a powerhouse of a novel, I cannot implore you enough to read this one first. Besides, what happens to Bess and Tom in the end is revealed in A Wider World and you don't want to ruin your fun by finding out first. Start with Songbird and move on. Better yet, buy them both at once so don't have to wait to be cast in Heenan's world again.
November 17, 2019
Told from the point of view of a singer purchased by King Henry VIII, Songbird is an emotional tale that pulls at the heartstrings in a good way. I rooted for Bess throughout the book even when she frustrated me. The vivid descriptions of the Tudor court were also very realistic, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the novel. Excellent historical novel!
October 21, 2019
This book puts you at the center of the life of the main character, Bess, and the constant progression of her relationships with the other musicians of the court of King Henry VIII as well as other figures in the royal household, both real and imagined. The attention to historical detail is also notable. The historical information Karen Heenan supplies offers the kind of fine detail that helps flesh out the characters and transport the reader into the story's time and place. I found it hard to put down once I started reading. Each chapter moves swiftly into the next. While I admit to not being the biggest fan of historical fiction, when it's done well it can be immensely entertaining and educational at the same time. This book definitely hits that mark.
January 3, 2020
The author found the right balance of historical details that make you "see" the court of Henry VIII without weighting down or slowing the story. While the main character Bess frustrates you with her choices, her behavior is that of a teenager and we must remember that. Other characters, who as well as Bess are servants in court give you insight into how day to day and special events were handled by the many that kept things running.
This was a very enjoyable read and kept me up later that I had planned.
This was a very enjoyable read and kept me up later that I had planned.
November 3, 2019
From its intriguing first line to its satisfying ending, I enjoyed every word of this novel by this talented new writer. Let Songbird transport you to the court of King Henry the 8th as seen through the eyes of a member of the court who is neither nobility nor servant. Heenan melds historical accuracy with a keen understanding of the human heart. You will not be able to put this book down. I'm looking forward to new works from this author in the future.
April 18, 2021
The opening sentence in Songbird by Karen Heenan immediately sets the dark tone of Renaissance England and hooks you into the story: "Two days before my tenth birthday, my father sold me to the King of England." The historical novel, Songbird (The Tudor Court, Book 1), is set in the backdrop of King Henry VIII's court and has an element of romance. The story begins when Bethan's impoverished father presents her to King Henry VIII to audition for an elite group of singers and musicians that entertain the court. A young musician, Tom, offers to accompany her on a string instrument to help her relax as she sings and brings out the quality of her singing voice. The courtiers hush as she sings like a songbird, more to the young musician for whom she feels an instant connection. Her father relinquishes Bethan at a high price to the King. Tom shows her kindness and helps her to adjust to a new family of minstrels at the court. He gives her the pseudonym Bess Llewelyn, more befitting of her Welsh background. The story spans from her coming-of-age teen years to her maturation as an adult. She is caught up in the decadence of courtly life and the lure of passion, dismissing Tom's strong feelings for her. Consequences of past and present reckless liaisons collide when Bethan must come to terms with her place in life and relationships.
Author Karen Heenan is a gifted storyteller who has written a spelling-binding novel from the first-person perceptive of Bethan, a musical servant behind the scenes in the King's court. Bethan's underlying beauty, similar to Anne Boleyn, enthralls men. Impetuous, she often lives for the moment and gives no thought to how her reckless action and words affect others. Devastated by her father's abandonment, Bethan struggles to understand how she fits in the world. I particularly empathize with Tom, whose mother, a prostitute, sells him as a choir boy to the King. Losing his boyish voice at a young age, Tom has to play an instrument and compose music to remain at court. He is Bethan's soulmate, always there to support and advise her. But she dismisses his loyalty and feelings in pursuit of loftier passions. Yet, he has limits on what he will accept from her unrequited love.
Though the novel centers around Bethan and Tom, you can also get caught up in the lives of memorable secondary characters. It reminds me somewhat of the Downtown Abbey series that shows the lives of both the aristocratic family members and their servants. Although there is a romantic component to the story, it also explores the consequences of social inequities and injustices forced on children born out of wedlock due to reckless dalliances of nobles with women beneath their status. This theme parallels the national consequences from King Henry's break with tradition to divorce Queen Catherine of Aragon in favor of marrying Anne Boleyn.
Songbird is a multi-layered story that weaves in various characters and their sub-plots into a tapestry rich with themes of love, revenge, coming-of-age, perseverance, and redemption. For the most part, the writing style, descriptions, and pacing are eloquent and lyrical like a song. One example of a unique and vivid description is how Bethan perceives the King when she first meets him as follows: "The giant was immense, and from his bright hair to the tissue-like fabric that made up his costume, he seemed to be fashion entirely of gold." A memorable quote that resonated with me is as follows: "A cat may look at a king, but it upsets the natural order of things when the King looks at the cat."
Songbird by Karen Heenan is a richly-layered story with engaging, memorable characters that will keep a reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. It is a journey back in time to Renaissance England with universal themes of love, self-discovery, and redemption relevant to modern times. Highly Recommended.
Author Karen Heenan is a gifted storyteller who has written a spelling-binding novel from the first-person perceptive of Bethan, a musical servant behind the scenes in the King's court. Bethan's underlying beauty, similar to Anne Boleyn, enthralls men. Impetuous, she often lives for the moment and gives no thought to how her reckless action and words affect others. Devastated by her father's abandonment, Bethan struggles to understand how she fits in the world. I particularly empathize with Tom, whose mother, a prostitute, sells him as a choir boy to the King. Losing his boyish voice at a young age, Tom has to play an instrument and compose music to remain at court. He is Bethan's soulmate, always there to support and advise her. But she dismisses his loyalty and feelings in pursuit of loftier passions. Yet, he has limits on what he will accept from her unrequited love.
Though the novel centers around Bethan and Tom, you can also get caught up in the lives of memorable secondary characters. It reminds me somewhat of the Downtown Abbey series that shows the lives of both the aristocratic family members and their servants. Although there is a romantic component to the story, it also explores the consequences of social inequities and injustices forced on children born out of wedlock due to reckless dalliances of nobles with women beneath their status. This theme parallels the national consequences from King Henry's break with tradition to divorce Queen Catherine of Aragon in favor of marrying Anne Boleyn.
Songbird is a multi-layered story that weaves in various characters and their sub-plots into a tapestry rich with themes of love, revenge, coming-of-age, perseverance, and redemption. For the most part, the writing style, descriptions, and pacing are eloquent and lyrical like a song. One example of a unique and vivid description is how Bethan perceives the King when she first meets him as follows: "The giant was immense, and from his bright hair to the tissue-like fabric that made up his costume, he seemed to be fashion entirely of gold." A memorable quote that resonated with me is as follows: "A cat may look at a king, but it upsets the natural order of things when the King looks at the cat."
Songbird by Karen Heenan is a richly-layered story with engaging, memorable characters that will keep a reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. It is a journey back in time to Renaissance England with universal themes of love, self-discovery, and redemption relevant to modern times. Highly Recommended.
March 5, 2020
This is an absolutely brilliant read!!!! It reminded me of why I love historical fiction!
Bess comes to the court of Henry VIII after her father sells her to the king because of her angelic voice. She is to become a member of the royal company of minstrels. Not only is this a historical novel, but the story of a young girl who finds herself in a completely different life than she was born into. One of her first friends is Tom who becomes her most constant confidante.
Bess is a complex character, and the author really captures her story and her emotions. When readers first meet her, she is a scared child who is completely thrust into an entirely different atmosphere. She comes to realize that it is better in some ways than her old life. By the end of the novel, she has grown into a confident young woman who has experienced love and loss.
I was blown away by Karen Heenan’s writing. She knows how to draw readers into her book. While the story is about fictional characters, she gives an inside glimpse into the secrets and intrigue of the Tudor Court. It was fascinating to see Henry VIII through her eyes. I felt like I was part of the court watching Bess and Tom grow from children into adults and watching their friendship turn into something more. As the book follows Bess from childhood to young adulthood, I not only got to witness the changes in Bess, but in Henry VII’s rule, his ever-changing wives, the politics, and the changing face of religion.
There is a difference in writers who craft a book with no storytelling or substance, and writers who actually tell us a story. Karen Heenan is the latter, and she is quite talented in it! My only regret I have about the novel is that I had to tell the characters good-bye! If you are looking for a well-written historical book, you simply must give this one a try!!!!!
Bess comes to the court of Henry VIII after her father sells her to the king because of her angelic voice. She is to become a member of the royal company of minstrels. Not only is this a historical novel, but the story of a young girl who finds herself in a completely different life than she was born into. One of her first friends is Tom who becomes her most constant confidante.
Bess is a complex character, and the author really captures her story and her emotions. When readers first meet her, she is a scared child who is completely thrust into an entirely different atmosphere. She comes to realize that it is better in some ways than her old life. By the end of the novel, she has grown into a confident young woman who has experienced love and loss.
I was blown away by Karen Heenan’s writing. She knows how to draw readers into her book. While the story is about fictional characters, she gives an inside glimpse into the secrets and intrigue of the Tudor Court. It was fascinating to see Henry VIII through her eyes. I felt like I was part of the court watching Bess and Tom grow from children into adults and watching their friendship turn into something more. As the book follows Bess from childhood to young adulthood, I not only got to witness the changes in Bess, but in Henry VII’s rule, his ever-changing wives, the politics, and the changing face of religion.
There is a difference in writers who craft a book with no storytelling or substance, and writers who actually tell us a story. Karen Heenan is the latter, and she is quite talented in it! My only regret I have about the novel is that I had to tell the characters good-bye! If you are looking for a well-written historical book, you simply must give this one a try!!!!!
March 5, 2020
The court of Henry VIII, is a popular subject for historical fiction, the glamour, intrigue and romance of the era, warring with the disregard for life and treachery. ‘Songbird’, as the title suggests focuses on the court musicians, an essential part of the royal Tudor court. Bess’s voice, spotted by the King leads to her Father’s sale of her to the monarch. This abhorrent action, not uncommon in the sixteenth century, means that young Bess is left alone in a place unsuited to an innocent. This story charts her life, the alliance she forges and her friendship that blossoms into something more with Tom, a fellow musician, as they both try to survive the turbulent life at court. The dangerously decadent, political nature of the Royal court means no one is safe, not even the girl with the golden voice.
The historical detail enlivens the plot and the characters are authentically written. A clever mix of actual historical characters and events are interwoven with the author’s fictional creations. Against a vivid tapestry of Tudor life, Bess comes of age. Sadly, her life is angst-ridden, and her love life full of conflict.
The book flows well and is easy to read. Bess is portrayed believably, her naivety and youth evident in the earlier parts of the story. Emotion and danger colour every action of the characters in the story.
An original perspective on a popular historical theme, which brings the Tudor times to life through the life of a young talented girl.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
The historical detail enlivens the plot and the characters are authentically written. A clever mix of actual historical characters and events are interwoven with the author’s fictional creations. Against a vivid tapestry of Tudor life, Bess comes of age. Sadly, her life is angst-ridden, and her love life full of conflict.
The book flows well and is easy to read. Bess is portrayed believably, her naivety and youth evident in the earlier parts of the story. Emotion and danger colour every action of the characters in the story.
An original perspective on a popular historical theme, which brings the Tudor times to life through the life of a young talented girl.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
March 21, 2020
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I loved this book, it was a great story set in the Tudor period!
I am a massive fan of historical fiction and have a real passion for books set in this period so I was really excited to read this one!
I thought that the characters were well developed and Bess really pulled on my heart-strings right from the outset. The author did a great job bringing her to life for me, the story is very well told and quite emotional too in places but I found it to be an easy read and very enjoyable.
The setting of the book was lovely and I really liked how the author brought the period to life. The book showed a different side to the court and it was great for that, there are a lot of books set in this period as it is so popular so for me this one stood out from the other books available.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – I thoroughly enjoyed it – very highly recommended!
I loved this book, it was a great story set in the Tudor period!
I am a massive fan of historical fiction and have a real passion for books set in this period so I was really excited to read this one!
I thought that the characters were well developed and Bess really pulled on my heart-strings right from the outset. The author did a great job bringing her to life for me, the story is very well told and quite emotional too in places but I found it to be an easy read and very enjoyable.
The setting of the book was lovely and I really liked how the author brought the period to life. The book showed a different side to the court and it was great for that, there are a lot of books set in this period as it is so popular so for me this one stood out from the other books available.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – I thoroughly enjoyed it – very highly recommended!
July 10, 2022
This is a beautiful, beautiful book. The Tudors were one of my first historical obsessions as a child, and it was deeply refreshing to get to read a book set in this period from the viewpoint of someone who wasn't a royal. I was swept up in the lives and concerns of everyone in The Music, and the found family aspect of this book struck close to my heart. This was such a character-driven story, which I absolutely loved, and my heart ached for Bess as she suffered losses, and even when I wanted to shake her, I loved her dearly. Her relationship with Tom, and all their trials, brought tears to my eyes several times, and I was so extremely invested. The prose too, was just lovely. Also I'd like to just give Tom a hug!
This story was one of those quiet ones that is so emotionally compelling that it will stick with you long after you finish reading. I can't wait to read more in this series!
This story was one of those quiet ones that is so emotionally compelling that it will stick with you long after you finish reading. I can't wait to read more in this series!
March 26, 2020
If you love historical romance, this is the book for you!
However, the most impressive thing is that Heenan has a real wealth of knowledge on Tudor times and her research, passion, and hunger for this period in history shines through every page. Women, their plight in the 16th century, and how they handled those terms is masterfully approached. Unapologetically, Heenan shines light on a corrupt, sexually charged court that often manipulated the innocent.
Strength of every character is surgically precise and though I don't ordinarily read romances, I was stunned at a debut novel handling the various personalities in the story so very well. This is a rich, colorful romp, complete with whores, teenage infatuations that become dangerous, turbulent times, and even a plague! Give it a read!
However, the most impressive thing is that Heenan has a real wealth of knowledge on Tudor times and her research, passion, and hunger for this period in history shines through every page. Women, their plight in the 16th century, and how they handled those terms is masterfully approached. Unapologetically, Heenan shines light on a corrupt, sexually charged court that often manipulated the innocent.
Strength of every character is surgically precise and though I don't ordinarily read romances, I was stunned at a debut novel handling the various personalities in the story so very well. This is a rich, colorful romp, complete with whores, teenage infatuations that become dangerous, turbulent times, and even a plague! Give it a read!
November 21, 2022
The best historical fiction I have read in a while
This is the riveting story of a fictional young musician in the court of Henry VIII. It made me laugh. It evoked feelings of melancholy. I especially enjoyed the way that the author incorporated historical figures into the plot in creative ways. My favorite scene involved the king himself bumping into the main character at night, both returning from clandestine rendezvouses. It is evident that the author is quite familiar with history, and I am really looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This is the riveting story of a fictional young musician in the court of Henry VIII. It made me laugh. It evoked feelings of melancholy. I especially enjoyed the way that the author incorporated historical figures into the plot in creative ways. My favorite scene involved the king himself bumping into the main character at night, both returning from clandestine rendezvouses. It is evident that the author is quite familiar with history, and I am really looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
February 19, 2020
As a huge fan of historical fiction, when I saw this book I knew I had to have it and I'm pleased to say, it didn't disappoint! The characters were realistic and easy to relate to. I couldn't put it down, so eager was I to see how it was going to end. This is easily one of the best books I've read and this author has become one of my top favorites. I will definitely be buying any and all future books by Karen Heenan! HIGHLY recommend!
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