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Lady Psyche
Summer, 1527
Sent from court to manage her husband's northern estates, Jane Boleyn finds herself far from all she knows at a time when much is changing in the dangerous world of the Tudor court. Through wit and wiles, Jane must win a position at the side of her sister-in-law, and new love of the King, Anne Boleyn, as through trials of faith and loyalty Jane will pass, as the King seeks to marry Anne, and break from Rome.
Lady of the Tudor Court, servant of queens, courtier, wife, spy... and constant heart. This is the story of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.
Lady Psyche is Book Two of The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford by G. Lawrence.
The author's thanks are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work, and to Tea Jagodic, cover artist.
Sent from court to manage her husband's northern estates, Jane Boleyn finds herself far from all she knows at a time when much is changing in the dangerous world of the Tudor court. Through wit and wiles, Jane must win a position at the side of her sister-in-law, and new love of the King, Anne Boleyn, as through trials of faith and loyalty Jane will pass, as the King seeks to marry Anne, and break from Rome.
Lady of the Tudor Court, servant of queens, courtier, wife, spy... and constant heart. This is the story of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.
Lady Psyche is Book Two of The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford by G. Lawrence.
The author's thanks are due to Julia Gibbs, proof reader of this work, and to Tea Jagodic, cover artist.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2022
115 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
G. Lawrence
50 books282 followersI am an independently published author, and proud to be so. Living in a little cottage in Wales in the UK, I love where I live as much as I love to write.
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
The age of the Tudors has been an obsession for me since I was a child, and many of my upcoming books will center on that time, but I also pen the odd dystopian fiction or historical fiction from other time periods. I will be releasing all my titles on amazon, for kindle and then hopefully for print later.
I studied Literature (with a capital L) at University and usually have twenty or more books I'm currently reading. Reading and writing are about mood for me, and I haven't found a genre I didn't enjoy something about so far...
You can often find me on Wattpad or Twitter when I'm not writing...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 2, 2022
4.5*
The weighty events of the King's 'Great Matter', ie his quest to divorce Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, are just beginning as this part of Jane Rochford's story continues; the book takes us up to Henry's break from Rome.
My favourite aspects of this book:
* The descriptive passages about the sweating sickness plague; it is talked about in other Tudor era books by Gemma Lawrence, but in Lady Psyche Jane tells us what it was actually like to live in a time and place when a deadly disease was rampant—a disease that was not understood, and from which few recovered. She gives detail about how it was to live with this, on a daily basis; I was engrossed.
* The picture painted of the 'cage' Jane was in (as described by a woman she met on a visit to Bedlam); she felt invisible and probably was, to a large extent, sitting as she did on the sidelines of the Boleyn family. So in love with her husband and longing for a child, each day being reminded of her empty womb and her husband's indifference, and being faced with the realisation that she was not of importance to anyone. Her fears for the future, her sanity and her soul once Henry named himself Head of the Church, and her constant loneliness. Rarely have I seen illustrated so well how bleak was the lot of women in those days. Put simply, she had no choice in how her life was lived.
* How Jane has been given a slight and believable psychic ability, the occasional vision of the future. I loved reading about the times when she saw what was to come but could not interpret it, and would have loved to see more, but on balance I think Ms Lawrence was wise to show this only sparsely.
This is the fourth series by Gemma Lawrence in which the 'Great Matter' takes centre stage; it also features prominently in her series about Anne Boleyn (obviously!), Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Each time it is told from a different point of view, which is clever, though I wonder if the accounts might benefit from a little pruning of detail, so that it remained, in this case, primarily Jane's story, rather than that of Anne, Henry, Wolsey, etc. Having said that, the royal love triangle would have been the main topic of conversation for anyone in court circles at the time, Jane's fortunes were inextricably linked with Anne's, and ladies-in-waiting did not do a great deal apart from attend their mistress and take part in court gossip!
I look forward to the next book, very much.
The weighty events of the King's 'Great Matter', ie his quest to divorce Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, are just beginning as this part of Jane Rochford's story continues; the book takes us up to Henry's break from Rome.
My favourite aspects of this book:
* The descriptive passages about the sweating sickness plague; it is talked about in other Tudor era books by Gemma Lawrence, but in Lady Psyche Jane tells us what it was actually like to live in a time and place when a deadly disease was rampant—a disease that was not understood, and from which few recovered. She gives detail about how it was to live with this, on a daily basis; I was engrossed.
* The picture painted of the 'cage' Jane was in (as described by a woman she met on a visit to Bedlam); she felt invisible and probably was, to a large extent, sitting as she did on the sidelines of the Boleyn family. So in love with her husband and longing for a child, each day being reminded of her empty womb and her husband's indifference, and being faced with the realisation that she was not of importance to anyone. Her fears for the future, her sanity and her soul once Henry named himself Head of the Church, and her constant loneliness. Rarely have I seen illustrated so well how bleak was the lot of women in those days. Put simply, she had no choice in how her life was lived.
* How Jane has been given a slight and believable psychic ability, the occasional vision of the future. I loved reading about the times when she saw what was to come but could not interpret it, and would have loved to see more, but on balance I think Ms Lawrence was wise to show this only sparsely.
This is the fourth series by Gemma Lawrence in which the 'Great Matter' takes centre stage; it also features prominently in her series about Anne Boleyn (obviously!), Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Each time it is told from a different point of view, which is clever, though I wonder if the accounts might benefit from a little pruning of detail, so that it remained, in this case, primarily Jane's story, rather than that of Anne, Henry, Wolsey, etc. Having said that, the royal love triangle would have been the main topic of conversation for anyone in court circles at the time, Jane's fortunes were inextricably linked with Anne's, and ladies-in-waiting did not do a great deal apart from attend their mistress and take part in court gossip!
I look forward to the next book, very much.
January 8, 2023
Told from the point of view of Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, we see just how long and frustrating a slog it was for Henry and Anne to get married. You feel it like a physical ache as hours, days, weeks, months, years drag by, with little to no change in the Great Matter of Henry VIII's divorce, but clearly underlining just how desperate Henry was for Anne, and how hard Anne worked to keep him that way.
And then - the Sweating Sickness epidemic hits, and it is clear Lawrence was influenced by living through Covid. We can no longer sit smug and safe in the 21st century and laugh at the foolish peasants dying from plague. As Jane describes every measure takin - wearing masks soaked in vinegar, wiping down all surfaces, keeping apart from everyone - it hits home like a gut kick, and you very much sympathize with Jane's fear.
The book ends with Henry and Anne still not married, and it makes running to Book 3 a must, for, at the very least, hopefully a release of all the tension.
February 26, 2022
Another masterpiece
I have always been curious about the relationship between Jane, Anne, and George, and Jane really shines in this series. It erases the stigma of her being a villain and show just how misunderstood she was. If you haven't read the Lady Anne series you need to, as this ties in beautifully with it. Can't wait for the next one.
I have always been curious about the relationship between Jane, Anne, and George, and Jane really shines in this series. It erases the stigma of her being a villain and show just how misunderstood she was. If you haven't read the Lady Anne series you need to, as this ties in beautifully with it. Can't wait for the next one.
March 13, 2022
Just OK for me
I really loved the first book in the series but didn't enjoy this one as much. Perhaps I am just saturated in this story that I don't find myself interested in it anymore. I love to learn more about Lady Jane, but found this more about the Kings Great Matter. A miss for me.
I really loved the first book in the series but didn't enjoy this one as much. Perhaps I am just saturated in this story that I don't find myself interested in it anymore. I love to learn more about Lady Jane, but found this more about the Kings Great Matter. A miss for me.
May 8, 2022
Can't wait to start book 3. It's already downloaded on my kindle. Book 2 hopefully was a bridge to something more exciting. The author has left quite a bit to build on in this book and she is more than capable of doing that. I kept waiting for something intense that just never came. I like this Jane Rochford character and just can't wait for more.
February 19, 2022
Great read!
Great second book. I read it in three days and now wait for the third book. As a reader of anything I can find about the Tudor reign G Lawrence is one of my favorite authors!
Great second book. I read it in three days and now wait for the third book. As a reader of anything I can find about the Tudor reign G Lawrence is one of my favorite authors!
March 25, 2022
Can't wait for the next book in this series
G. Lawrence is my favorite author. I am endlessly fascinated with Tudor England and I love her meticulously researched and well-written novels. I loved this book so much I was a little sad when I finished it.
G. Lawrence is my favorite author. I am endlessly fascinated with Tudor England and I love her meticulously researched and well-written novels. I loved this book so much I was a little sad when I finished it.
October 8, 2022
Well written
I am looking forward to the next book in the series although fiction, facts are well woven into the narrative and bring the story to life. I can see this as possible reality and enjoy the author's style
I am looking forward to the next book in the series although fiction, facts are well woven into the narrative and bring the story to life. I can see this as possible reality and enjoy the author's style
March 14, 2022
Enjoyable Read
I have read Book One of this series and other titles by Gemma Lawrence. This is a different take on Jane Rockford.
I have read Book One of this series and other titles by Gemma Lawrence. This is a different take on Jane Rockford.
March 20, 2022
As a huge fan of this author this was a terrific read the tale of Lady Jane Rochford
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews