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King's Fool Mystery #1
Courting Dragons
Introducing Will Somers, the king's jester but nobody's fool in this exuberant, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining mystery set in Tudor England – the first in a new series from the author of the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series.
1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.
But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .
1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.
But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2023
50 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Westerson
50 books427 followersLos Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 11, 2024
Actually 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars.
I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the entire story from start to finish and there was never a point where I felt bored.
---> I immediately fell in love with the character and I already miss him (so I will also read book #2 in the series).
However, there are a few reasons why my score is not a full 4 stars, but 3.7 and it would not be the first book I would recommend to anyone who asked me to suggest a mystery with a "late medieval/early renaissance" setting.
___ THE PLOT____ We are at the court of King Henry VIII, at the time in which his marriage to Catherine of Aragon entered into crisis due to the lack of a male heir and above all due to the king's infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
The "Great Matters" is what everyone whispers about at court, what it is dangerous to talk about openly, why the Spanish ambassador and his diplomats try to find solutions and why the king continually meets with his advisors.
While our narrator, court jester Will Somers, flirts left and right with men and professes his love for the only woman he would like to marry, one day he finds one of the Spanish diplomats having his throat cut.
As it happens, the dead man was the last casual lover with whom he had spent the night two days earlier. A blackmail letter follows that threatens to reveal his bisexuality to the king...circumstances then force him to find the murderer before any more bad consequences ensue.
____________________________
___WHAT I LIKED ___
THE MAIN CHARACTER__ The "hero" of the book is also the narrator of the story: the king's fool, Will Somers.
This 23 year old boy might seem a bit lewd and superficial from what I wrote in the plot, but instead it is easy to become attached to him and feel like he is a little like the friend next door, because from his words and the feelings he tells us, a good heart and great generosity shines through, as well as intelligence and irony.
The story takes place in the present, as events occur, Will shares with us every thought, emotion, hope, fear and suspicion.
Maybe that's what made it all so engaging.
The narrative made me feel like I was at Will's side each second of the story, from the first page to the last one: I walked down every corridor Will went through, I enjoyed every moment of playfulness with the king or with the little dog adopted by our jester, I feared every face-to-face meeting with characters who disagreed with the jester... I experienced all of it firsthand together with Somers.
___ THE PRESENTATION OF THE COURT, OF THE REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES and the few fictional characters ____
In this book I felt as if I was part of an episode of the TV series The Tudors (remember? Year 2007-2010). This is because, by chance, I watched all 8 seasons of the series just a month ago and I must say that it was useful to me so as not to get confused amidst the hundreds of names of real historical figures mentioned (and of which Will explained to us the role) in the story.
King Henry VIII always remained the fickle and capricious man that history tells us and that we have seen in the series, but the author also offers us a warmer facet of the character: a certain paternal affection and a particular tolerance for his jester and understanding of his feelings.
Will loves him like a father and feels that without this emotional warmth he could not live (history tells us that Will Somers remained the king's jester until his death and was also at the court of his 3 children: Edward, Elizabeth and Mary. Looks like he loved them as if they were his family).
I liked the character of Marion, Will's unofficial girlfriend, who knows Will's nature. She is very tolerant, but by her own free choice. She simply loves him as he is, without feeling cuckolded or betrayed.
I liked the courage Will found in himself to stand up to her father, the classic gruff but affectionate man with his daughter, who doesn't want to give his blessing to the engagement.
All the characters around Will (fictional and historical) have few acting lines, but this is enough to fully show us their character traits.
There are no battles and wars in this story.
Only an atmosphere of playfulness and of transformation (of the king's relationships towards his marriage and towards the Church).
It's not a fast-paced "whodunit", but I can assure I never felt bored.
THE REASONS WHY I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE:
_ _ There is no real investigation. Will Somers asks questions around and tries to understand more about certain situations and characters.
If you think about it, this is totally logical, because Will is neither a detective nor a person who investigates amateurally out of natural curiosity and passion (as in many mysteries where the main character, despite not being a policeman or investigator, has a passion for doing investigations)
Will's job is to make the king and his courtiers laugh and he finds himself forced by events to try to uncover a murderer.
It would have been far-fetched if he had investigated like a real sleuth... so for me the story was perfect like that, however it might not be satisfactory for all readers.
_ _ We are in the Middle Ages and as you can imagine the language among men was not the most refined, nor did they have any problems speaking scurrilously in front of women.
I read this book in English, which is not my native language and although I realized that the "male member" was mentioned several times...reading in a foreign language, the impact of some slightly vulgar words was different... less intense and less annoying.
I admit that if I had read the book in Italian (my country's language), I would have been annoyed and most likely I would have abandoned this reading.
_ _ I have already said that Will Somers, bisexual, continually flirts with all the handsome men who come his way.
Not just flirting, there is kissing and sexual acts. The descriptions are not detailed and vulgar, but I think the author could have avoided "the little services" given to Will by a certain servant.
I'm not bothered by homosexuality, I have no problems with other people's sexual choices... but seeing the protagonist with his underwear down too often... ugh, what a drag!
(Perhaps the author had also watched the series "The Tudors" before writing the book... in fact in that series it seemed that sex was one of the most common and popular pastimes)
Thank you for reading my review, I hope it can be useful to you, but without influencing you too much one way or another.
After all, taste and perception are personal.
---> Sorry for my bad English, as I said I'm Italian.
I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the entire story from start to finish and there was never a point where I felt bored.
---> I immediately fell in love with the character and I already miss him (so I will also read book #2 in the series).
However, there are a few reasons why my score is not a full 4 stars, but 3.7 and it would not be the first book I would recommend to anyone who asked me to suggest a mystery with a "late medieval/early renaissance" setting.
___ THE PLOT____ We are at the court of King Henry VIII, at the time in which his marriage to Catherine of Aragon entered into crisis due to the lack of a male heir and above all due to the king's infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
The "Great Matters" is what everyone whispers about at court, what it is dangerous to talk about openly, why the Spanish ambassador and his diplomats try to find solutions and why the king continually meets with his advisors.
While our narrator, court jester Will Somers, flirts left and right with men and professes his love for the only woman he would like to marry, one day he finds one of the Spanish diplomats having his throat cut.
As it happens, the dead man was the last casual lover with whom he had spent the night two days earlier. A blackmail letter follows that threatens to reveal his bisexuality to the king...circumstances then force him to find the murderer before any more bad consequences ensue.
____________________________
___WHAT I LIKED ___
THE MAIN CHARACTER__ The "hero" of the book is also the narrator of the story: the king's fool, Will Somers.
This 23 year old boy might seem a bit lewd and superficial from what I wrote in the plot, but instead it is easy to become attached to him and feel like he is a little like the friend next door, because from his words and the feelings he tells us, a good heart and great generosity shines through, as well as intelligence and irony.
The story takes place in the present, as events occur, Will shares with us every thought, emotion, hope, fear and suspicion.
Maybe that's what made it all so engaging.
The narrative made me feel like I was at Will's side each second of the story, from the first page to the last one: I walked down every corridor Will went through, I enjoyed every moment of playfulness with the king or with the little dog adopted by our jester, I feared every face-to-face meeting with characters who disagreed with the jester... I experienced all of it firsthand together with Somers.
___ THE PRESENTATION OF THE COURT, OF THE REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES and the few fictional characters ____
In this book I felt as if I was part of an episode of the TV series The Tudors (remember? Year 2007-2010). This is because, by chance, I watched all 8 seasons of the series just a month ago and I must say that it was useful to me so as not to get confused amidst the hundreds of names of real historical figures mentioned (and of which Will explained to us the role) in the story.
King Henry VIII always remained the fickle and capricious man that history tells us and that we have seen in the series, but the author also offers us a warmer facet of the character: a certain paternal affection and a particular tolerance for his jester and understanding of his feelings.
Will loves him like a father and feels that without this emotional warmth he could not live (history tells us that Will Somers remained the king's jester until his death and was also at the court of his 3 children: Edward, Elizabeth and Mary. Looks like he loved them as if they were his family).
I liked the character of Marion, Will's unofficial girlfriend, who knows Will's nature. She is very tolerant, but by her own free choice. She simply loves him as he is, without feeling cuckolded or betrayed.
I liked the courage Will found in himself to stand up to her father, the classic gruff but affectionate man with his daughter, who doesn't want to give his blessing to the engagement.
All the characters around Will (fictional and historical) have few acting lines, but this is enough to fully show us their character traits.
There are no battles and wars in this story.
Only an atmosphere of playfulness and of transformation (of the king's relationships towards his marriage and towards the Church).
It's not a fast-paced "whodunit", but I can assure I never felt bored.
THE REASONS WHY I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE:
_ _ There is no real investigation. Will Somers asks questions around and tries to understand more about certain situations and characters.
If you think about it, this is totally logical, because Will is neither a detective nor a person who investigates amateurally out of natural curiosity and passion (as in many mysteries where the main character, despite not being a policeman or investigator, has a passion for doing investigations)
Will's job is to make the king and his courtiers laugh and he finds himself forced by events to try to uncover a murderer.
It would have been far-fetched if he had investigated like a real sleuth... so for me the story was perfect like that, however it might not be satisfactory for all readers.
_ _ We are in the Middle Ages and as you can imagine the language among men was not the most refined, nor did they have any problems speaking scurrilously in front of women.
I read this book in English, which is not my native language and although I realized that the "male member" was mentioned several times...reading in a foreign language, the impact of some slightly vulgar words was different... less intense and less annoying.
I admit that if I had read the book in Italian (my country's language), I would have been annoyed and most likely I would have abandoned this reading.
_ _ I have already said that Will Somers, bisexual, continually flirts with all the handsome men who come his way.
Not just flirting, there is kissing and sexual acts. The descriptions are not detailed and vulgar, but I think the author could have avoided "the little services" given to Will by a certain servant.
I'm not bothered by homosexuality, I have no problems with other people's sexual choices... but seeing the protagonist with his underwear down too often... ugh, what a drag!
(Perhaps the author had also watched the series "The Tudors" before writing the book... in fact in that series it seemed that sex was one of the most common and popular pastimes)
Thank you for reading my review, I hope it can be useful to you, but without influencing you too much one way or another.
After all, taste and perception are personal.
---> Sorry for my bad English, as I said I'm Italian.
December 8, 2022
Historical fiction with a mystery. I am a very happy reader. Set in the time of Henry VIII and we are introduced to Will Somers. He is twenty years old and and is the kings jester or fool. He also has the ear of the king, but that is not always a good thing. The court is full of intrigue with plots and murder. Who can Will trust and more importantly can he save the King!!!!!. Richly descriptive and beautifully written and the start of a new series. All in all a very entertaining read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 30, 2022
Beware the Royal Court!
A brilliant new series from the ever masterful spinner of tales, Jeri Westerson. Set in the court of Henry VIII, at the time when Henry is trying to put the Queen, Catherine of Aragon, aside and marry Lady Anne Boleyn or here known as the Lady Nan Bullen (read Westerson’s commentary at the end for further information about the spelling of Bullen). Will Somers is Henry’s court jester. (He was a real person historically in Henry’s court btw) A complicated man who can move through the court, unseen and yet not. A man who learns the secrets of the court, even as he has his own. Will is bisexual. He has one true love, Marion, a court seamstress / embroiderer, the illegitimate child of Lord Robert Heyward.
He has various alliances of the moment with men. One is the Spanish contingent, Don Gonzalo de Yascar. When Gonzalo is found murdered, Will investigates. There are so many plots brewing that Will feels stymied. Was this an assignation, were Cromwell or Wolsley involved?
There’s another murder! A rogue priest is abroad, a sharp visaged pedant, whom Will is suspicious of. After all the priest did search Gonzalo’s rooms.
The relationship between Will and Henry is fascinating, often tender, and yet Henry is the King. Perhaps that’s what allows the freedom between the King and his fool? But Will always needs to read the room very carefully.
Westerson has put a very human face to these turbulent times.
The scene of Will visiting the once with Queen Catherine and Princess Mary, are filled with love and sadness. After all, as Will says he had been part of their family, but now all is pulled asunder with Henry’s plans for Catherine. The Great Matter as the king’s pursuit of the divorce is being called.
Superb storytelling gives life to these people of history. I am looking forward to hearing more of Will Somers. The title, ‘Courting Dragons’ gives food for thought. Courting trouble perhaps! Not for the faint hearted! Grabbing a dragon by the tail? Beware!
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
A brilliant new series from the ever masterful spinner of tales, Jeri Westerson. Set in the court of Henry VIII, at the time when Henry is trying to put the Queen, Catherine of Aragon, aside and marry Lady Anne Boleyn or here known as the Lady Nan Bullen (read Westerson’s commentary at the end for further information about the spelling of Bullen). Will Somers is Henry’s court jester. (He was a real person historically in Henry’s court btw) A complicated man who can move through the court, unseen and yet not. A man who learns the secrets of the court, even as he has his own. Will is bisexual. He has one true love, Marion, a court seamstress / embroiderer, the illegitimate child of Lord Robert Heyward.
He has various alliances of the moment with men. One is the Spanish contingent, Don Gonzalo de Yascar. When Gonzalo is found murdered, Will investigates. There are so many plots brewing that Will feels stymied. Was this an assignation, were Cromwell or Wolsley involved?
There’s another murder! A rogue priest is abroad, a sharp visaged pedant, whom Will is suspicious of. After all the priest did search Gonzalo’s rooms.
The relationship between Will and Henry is fascinating, often tender, and yet Henry is the King. Perhaps that’s what allows the freedom between the King and his fool? But Will always needs to read the room very carefully.
Westerson has put a very human face to these turbulent times.
The scene of Will visiting the once with Queen Catherine and Princess Mary, are filled with love and sadness. After all, as Will says he had been part of their family, but now all is pulled asunder with Henry’s plans for Catherine. The Great Matter as the king’s pursuit of the divorce is being called.
Superb storytelling gives life to these people of history. I am looking forward to hearing more of Will Somers. The title, ‘Courting Dragons’ gives food for thought. Courting trouble perhaps! Not for the faint hearted! Grabbing a dragon by the tail? Beware!
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
January 3, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this opportunity to review Courting Dragons. All opinions and comments are my own.
Jeri Westerson’s new series features Will Somers, jester to King Henry VIII. He’s watched men (and women) come and go. It’s Anne Boleyn’s (or Nan Bullen, as here) turn now.
Will soon makes the acquaintance -- very close acquaintance -- of Don Gonzalo de Yscar, an aide to the Spanish Ambassador. All’s well and good until the man turns up with his throat slit. Could he be dead because of his involvement with the King’s “Great Matter” -- the intrigue surrounding all the work to secure a divorce from Queen Catherine. Will determines to seek justice for the man.
During the investigation, for that's certainly what it is, readers also receive a thorough history lesson. It will increase your enjoyment if you know a bit of it already, what part the Cromwells and Wolseys of the time played. The Lady Boleyn is prominent in the narrative. As Will himself says, “Which dragons must I slay to protect Henry? And which to protect myself?”
In between, we get a full discussion of Will’s love life -- with the dead Spaniard, the man’s servant, a kitchen boy, and especially the daughter of a nobleman of the English court. Yes, Will Somers doesn’t discriminate -- he loves everybody, as he tells his fiancé, the nobleman’s daughter; who he loves best of all and wishes to marry.
Will does a lot of work -- the author is a master of plotting -- and discovers why certain people had to die (for there’s another murder in the book), uncovering a tangled web of lies and confronting a murderer. And his king proclaims himself well satisfied.
An afterword explains about the life of the real Will Somers, who served the Tudor monarchs his entire life. Jeri Westerson has given readers a richly detailed historical mystery which should satisfy fans of the genre, and also mentions there are more to come.
Jeri Westerson’s new series features Will Somers, jester to King Henry VIII. He’s watched men (and women) come and go. It’s Anne Boleyn’s (or Nan Bullen, as here) turn now.
Will soon makes the acquaintance -- very close acquaintance -- of Don Gonzalo de Yscar, an aide to the Spanish Ambassador. All’s well and good until the man turns up with his throat slit. Could he be dead because of his involvement with the King’s “Great Matter” -- the intrigue surrounding all the work to secure a divorce from Queen Catherine. Will determines to seek justice for the man.
During the investigation, for that's certainly what it is, readers also receive a thorough history lesson. It will increase your enjoyment if you know a bit of it already, what part the Cromwells and Wolseys of the time played. The Lady Boleyn is prominent in the narrative. As Will himself says, “Which dragons must I slay to protect Henry? And which to protect myself?”
In between, we get a full discussion of Will’s love life -- with the dead Spaniard, the man’s servant, a kitchen boy, and especially the daughter of a nobleman of the English court. Yes, Will Somers doesn’t discriminate -- he loves everybody, as he tells his fiancé, the nobleman’s daughter; who he loves best of all and wishes to marry.
Will does a lot of work -- the author is a master of plotting -- and discovers why certain people had to die (for there’s another murder in the book), uncovering a tangled web of lies and confronting a murderer. And his king proclaims himself well satisfied.
An afterword explains about the life of the real Will Somers, who served the Tudor monarchs his entire life. Jeri Westerson has given readers a richly detailed historical mystery which should satisfy fans of the genre, and also mentions there are more to come.
February 6, 2023
Courting Dragons Earns 5+/5 Royal Hunts … “Couldn’t Put Down” Gem!
It’s October, 1529, and King Henry VIII has upset the delicate balance of world politics as he seeks a divorce from his Spanish queen hoping to marry Anne Boleyn. Will Somers, the king’s “Fool,” travels freely through the halls of court hearing the gossip and secrets, but he finds himself more intimately involved with Don Gonzalo de Yscar, aide to the Holy Roman ambassador. Will keeps secret his equal opportunity affairs since revealing them could ruin his life at court. The next day Gonzalo is conspicuously absent which is understandable since he’s been murdered. Will’s pup Nosewise “nosied” around making the gruesome discovery. Will is quietly devastated, but matters become more complicated when he receives a note of blackmail. Someone knows of his dalliance with the victim and his having the ear of the king, it’s the perfect recipe for trouble.
With an unofficial team of the woman he loves and Gonzalo’s groom, he has much of the palace covered, in multiple languages, and even his staunchest detractors hold some value. But, can Will find what he’s looking for without exposing himself? When more murders are discovered, are those near him targets as well? Is the king’s own determination to divorce then wed a motive for murder?
Jeri Westerson has penned a brilliant first in a series book with a unique and clever perspective ... the king’s fool. I am an eager fan of her medieval settings and clever murder mysteries, and found placing her drama in the court of King Henry VIII intriguing. And with more wives waiting in Henry’s history, I see a long run for this series—at least five more books with the five other wives. Even though names are familiar and their successes and failures are well documented, there is no prerequisite knowledge needed to enjoy Westerson’s tale. The book reads easy as an old-fashioned murder mystery relying on intrigue, hidden agendas, plots, secrets, and even some sexual liaisons that are tastefully portrayed. As Will seeks answers, he runs into some perilous situations which only keeps me turning the pages to discover who will be targeted next.
Westerson’s writing has sensory-laden description using the cadence and vernacular that best fits the medieval era. The hierarchy is well portrayed from the king to clerics, from courtiers to servants, from women to men no matter their place in society. The dynamic between King Henry and his “fool” was fascinating, and may actually have some accuracy since Will Somers was actually Henry’s jester. I thought I had the solution at a few points in the story, but I had been cleverly manipulated by Westerson as Will had been by the real killer. The final answers were realistic, nothing out of left field, with just the right amount of justice. No cliffhangers to fuss over, although the historical events are still being sorted, but still I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Severn House thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
It’s October, 1529, and King Henry VIII has upset the delicate balance of world politics as he seeks a divorce from his Spanish queen hoping to marry Anne Boleyn. Will Somers, the king’s “Fool,” travels freely through the halls of court hearing the gossip and secrets, but he finds himself more intimately involved with Don Gonzalo de Yscar, aide to the Holy Roman ambassador. Will keeps secret his equal opportunity affairs since revealing them could ruin his life at court. The next day Gonzalo is conspicuously absent which is understandable since he’s been murdered. Will’s pup Nosewise “nosied” around making the gruesome discovery. Will is quietly devastated, but matters become more complicated when he receives a note of blackmail. Someone knows of his dalliance with the victim and his having the ear of the king, it’s the perfect recipe for trouble.
With an unofficial team of the woman he loves and Gonzalo’s groom, he has much of the palace covered, in multiple languages, and even his staunchest detractors hold some value. But, can Will find what he’s looking for without exposing himself? When more murders are discovered, are those near him targets as well? Is the king’s own determination to divorce then wed a motive for murder?
Jeri Westerson has penned a brilliant first in a series book with a unique and clever perspective ... the king’s fool. I am an eager fan of her medieval settings and clever murder mysteries, and found placing her drama in the court of King Henry VIII intriguing. And with more wives waiting in Henry’s history, I see a long run for this series—at least five more books with the five other wives. Even though names are familiar and their successes and failures are well documented, there is no prerequisite knowledge needed to enjoy Westerson’s tale. The book reads easy as an old-fashioned murder mystery relying on intrigue, hidden agendas, plots, secrets, and even some sexual liaisons that are tastefully portrayed. As Will seeks answers, he runs into some perilous situations which only keeps me turning the pages to discover who will be targeted next.
Westerson’s writing has sensory-laden description using the cadence and vernacular that best fits the medieval era. The hierarchy is well portrayed from the king to clerics, from courtiers to servants, from women to men no matter their place in society. The dynamic between King Henry and his “fool” was fascinating, and may actually have some accuracy since Will Somers was actually Henry’s jester. I thought I had the solution at a few points in the story, but I had been cleverly manipulated by Westerson as Will had been by the real killer. The final answers were realistic, nothing out of left field, with just the right amount of justice. No cliffhangers to fuss over, although the historical events are still being sorted, but still I can’t wait for the next adventure.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Severn House thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
October 28, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
I liked the concept of this book much more than the actual story. I'm a fan of historical mysteries, and the idea of a court jester solving a murder was too good to pass up. Will Somers (a real historical figure) is a jester in the court of Henry VIII, the King known best for having 6 wives, many of whom he killed or divorced in his quest for a male heir. The story takes place at a divisive time in his court: while still married to his first wife Catherine, Henry is seeking a way to divorce her to marry Anne. When a Spanish ambassador ends up dead (one whom Will was close to), Will takes it upon himself to investigate, assuming it's a political move surrounding the impending divorce. A great set up, but I found the narrative lacking, Will seems to bumble into things and not really do a great job of investigating, which makes sense in a way, but did get annoying after a while. The way people talk and the narration was worded got confusing, I know it was to mimic how people spoke in Tudor England, but the word order was sometimes so strange I couldn't tell if it was an error or not. The characters were mostly historical figures, but were rather flat and not interesting to see on the page. I hope the series gets better with time, but at this point i'm not sure i'll read any of the other books.
I liked the concept of this book much more than the actual story. I'm a fan of historical mysteries, and the idea of a court jester solving a murder was too good to pass up. Will Somers (a real historical figure) is a jester in the court of Henry VIII, the King known best for having 6 wives, many of whom he killed or divorced in his quest for a male heir. The story takes place at a divisive time in his court: while still married to his first wife Catherine, Henry is seeking a way to divorce her to marry Anne. When a Spanish ambassador ends up dead (one whom Will was close to), Will takes it upon himself to investigate, assuming it's a political move surrounding the impending divorce. A great set up, but I found the narrative lacking, Will seems to bumble into things and not really do a great job of investigating, which makes sense in a way, but did get annoying after a while. The way people talk and the narration was worded got confusing, I know it was to mimic how people spoke in Tudor England, but the word order was sometimes so strange I couldn't tell if it was an error or not. The characters were mostly historical figures, but were rather flat and not interesting to see on the page. I hope the series gets better with time, but at this point i'm not sure i'll read any of the other books.
December 28, 2022
A mystery set in the time of Henry VIII of England - in this instance, the amateur detective is none other that Henry's own Fool, Will Somers.
Having become familiar with the character of Will Somers via my reading of all things Tudor, I was looking forward to how Jeri would make use of this personage in the role of sleuth. She does do a fair job of it, however, I didn't really feel myself engaged in either story nor characters in this instance. It is the first in a new series, so there are bound to be some background laying and character building in the original instance before things develop over time.
Plenty will love this new series - however, I am unsure as to whether I will be pursuing this series further or not.
Having become familiar with the character of Will Somers via my reading of all things Tudor, I was looking forward to how Jeri would make use of this personage in the role of sleuth. She does do a fair job of it, however, I didn't really feel myself engaged in either story nor characters in this instance. It is the first in a new series, so there are bound to be some background laying and character building in the original instance before things develop over time.
Plenty will love this new series - however, I am unsure as to whether I will be pursuing this series further or not.
August 11, 2023
A little too much "bro-mance" and not enough "writing" for this reader.
November 22, 2024
It's interesting to see a book set amid the drama of Henry VIII's [first] divorce that isn't actually *about* the divorce, or any of the main historical matters, which are all more or less in the background, and where the protagonist is devoted to the King - not in the manner of the assiduous service of Thomas Cromwell (who also features in the background), but with genuine human affection. England's long love affair with Elizabeth I and the cautionary tale of the Six Wives of Henry the Eighth has tended to obscure the fact that the King was in fact very admired and popular in his day, and the King's Fool, able to say anything and pass anywhere, holds an almost uniquely intimate relationship with royalty. I'm not sure I quite swallow the plot, or that there could have been quite so many murders in high places with so little effect on posterity, but the setting is convincing, and it's certainly unusual to see a book where the protagonist simply doesn't take sides in the Anne Boleyn/Catherine of Aragon contest; he ends up with sympathy for both, and a fatalistic shrug for the vagaries of the King who, being elevated above other mortals, can be expected to do as he likes. I think that was one thing I specifically enjoyed about the book; it didn't feel as if we were looking at the characters though modern eyes (although Will's priapic escapades almost beggar belief, as does the complete acceptance of his love-interest!)
I'm not sure I'll be eagerly seeking out further books in the series, and the detective/thriller aspect feels like perhaps the weakest point in the novel, but it's an absorbing glimpse into the Tudor court from the perspective of the lower ranks. And the jester's patter is off pat, as it were - even if he makes a point of losing the ubiquitous bells right at the start!
I'm not sure I'll be eagerly seeking out further books in the series, and the detective/thriller aspect feels like perhaps the weakest point in the novel, but it's an absorbing glimpse into the Tudor court from the perspective of the lower ranks. And the jester's patter is off pat, as it were - even if he makes a point of losing the ubiquitous bells right at the start!
December 22, 2022
Will Sommers is King Henry’s fool but he is no fool in reality. Will generally navigates swirling intrigues of court by using his wits and his special relationship with the king to avoid getting swept up in deadly dramas. But, Will is torn by his love for his king and his loyalty to Queen Catherine whom Henry wants to divorce. Will must also hide his romantic relationships with men due to the views of the time. But when a member of the Spanish ambassador’s entourage sweeps Will into a whirlwind romance and then turns up murdered, Will vows to find the murderer of his friend, even at risk to his own life. Well plotted, well researched and touching. A great read and I can’t wait for more in the series.
October 16, 2025
The court jester narrates as Henry VIII tries to negotiate his way out of marriage with first wife Katherine of Aragon. Anne Boleyn is being feted in the palace while the dignified queen is keeping her daughter to herself. A Spanish emissary is speaking with Henry's men of affairs, when he catches the eye of the entertainer.
Making the jester bisexual and bawdy is one matter, but the Spaniard being gay seems all wrong as the man faced appalling consequences if discovered. Then the jester sleeps happily with women in the palace too, particularly a sewing mistress. He can be found in her bed, but not in a man's bed. So when the Spaniard is killed it looks bad for quite a few people.
I admire what the author is trying to show, but as the law and religion didn't actually stop the jester doing what he wanted to do, it seems to miss the mark. I didn't take to this aspect at all, mainly on behalf of the sewing mistress, who deserved much better and ran the risk of all kinds of diseases from a promiscuous partner. (Same goes for Anne Boleyn. I also thought Jean Plaidy was a lot more sympathetic to this historical character. She may have looked moneygrabbing, but women were not allowed to say no to the king, and she did try to refuse him.)
With several famous names, this is a reasonable portrait of the times. And an intriguing murder mystery. I just didn't take to the narrator.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
Making the jester bisexual and bawdy is one matter, but the Spaniard being gay seems all wrong as the man faced appalling consequences if discovered. Then the jester sleeps happily with women in the palace too, particularly a sewing mistress. He can be found in her bed, but not in a man's bed. So when the Spaniard is killed it looks bad for quite a few people.
I admire what the author is trying to show, but as the law and religion didn't actually stop the jester doing what he wanted to do, it seems to miss the mark. I didn't take to this aspect at all, mainly on behalf of the sewing mistress, who deserved much better and ran the risk of all kinds of diseases from a promiscuous partner. (Same goes for Anne Boleyn. I also thought Jean Plaidy was a lot more sympathetic to this historical character. She may have looked moneygrabbing, but women were not allowed to say no to the king, and she did try to refuse him.)
With several famous names, this is a reasonable portrait of the times. And an intriguing murder mystery. I just didn't take to the narrator.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
January 6, 2023
Henry VIII was always a towering, larger-than-life figure, even before he became the obese caricature of himself that has become the popular image of him. Just as he loomed large over the life of his court and everyone in it, so too he dominates this historical mystery told from, not Henry’s point of view, but through the eyes of his fool, or court jester, William Somers.
Who was every bit as real a person – whether or not he resembles the character in this story – as the king he served.
If you remember the old doggerel, “Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived” as a way of tracking Henry VIII’s six wives, this story takes place in 1529, in the midst of the long and ultimately futile negotiations between Henry and Pope Clement VII in regards to that first divorce, sometimes referred to as the King’s Great Matter.
Which it most certainly was.
So the court is in ferment, divided between the rapidly waning star of the old queen, Catherine of Aragon, and the woman who will be the next queen, Anne Boleyn. Tension is everywhere among the usual cutthroat jockeying for favor and position that was always an integral part of serving in the King’s court.
Will Somers, the king’s fool, has been among Henry’s closest companions since he had arrived in court several years before. Somers was the one person who could, by the very nature of his position, go anywhere, talk to anyone, walk in and out of the King’s apartments, and generally do as he pleased as long as he was always available when the King called for him.
Somers is perfectly placed to find himself in the role of amateur detective when that metaphorically cutthroat jockeying results in the actual cut throat of one of the Spanish ambassador’s attendants.
That the bisexual Somers had spent the previous night with the dead man only adds to his distress. Someone he genuinely cared for is dead, and a thorough investigation could discover Will’s own clandestine behavior. He wants justice – and he needs to protect himself.
In the midst of the King’s Great Matter, with the Spanish on one side and his King on the other, the crime could also have political implications. Somers will have to tread carefully, but still poke his, or his dog’s, nose into every nook and cranny to find the killer – even while that killer is stalking him and those he holds dear.
Escape Rating A-: Hybrid genres like historical mystery have to achieve a balance between the two genres being blended. In the case of historical mystery that means that the historical setting has to feel authentic and the mystery has to be puzzling and fit the conventions for solving the crime that has taken place.
Courting Dragons is one of those historical mysteries where the reader is dropped right into the historical period from the first page, and where the history that wraps around it is integral to the plot – even though it can’t change any of the known historical facts. (For anyone who remembers the movie or the play, Anne of the Thousand Days, Courting Dragons read a LOT like returning to that setting and characters.)
So one of the reasons that I loved Courting Dragons was because I saw that movie in 1969 – I was twelve – and fell in love with the entire Tudor Period, warts and all. Going back was a delight. Howsomever, I read a lot in the period after I saw the movie and was familiar with the historical background.
Courting Dragons read like that balance between the history and the mystery was weighted towards the history, to the point where unless you are either familiar with the period, or enjoy learning a surprising amount of detail about a period with which you are not well acquainted, you need to be aware that the historical setting and tensions of Courting Dragons dominate the mystery. As I said, I loved it but your reading mileage may vary.
It does take a while for the mystery to get itself going, because there is just so much to learn and explore about life at court and Will’s circumstances within it. Which are fascinating but may not be what you read mysteries for.
There was one bit of the story that niggled more than a bit. It doesn’t feel inaccurate, but it was jarring to a 21st century reader all the same. And that involves Will’s relationship with the king. On the one hand, Will is utterly financially dependent on his work. He has a relatively high place for someone of low birth, but it can be snatched away at any time – and so can his life. He is the one person who can tell the king “No” and not get killed for it. He can needle the king about matters, such as his divorce, that the king doesn’t want to hear contradicted in any way. But he has to be careful of how much and how far he goes all the time. Very much on the other hand, in the book it is clear that Will is the king’s man through and through, and actually loves him in a way that seems a lot like the way that Sam Gamgee looked up to Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. Or the way that slavery proponents claimed that slaves felt about their slavemasters. It may be the way things actually were, but it still disconcerts.
So, if you like your historical mystery to dive deeply into the historical milieu in which it is set – or if you are just plain fascinated with the Tudors, Courting Dragons is a terrific mix of royal history and rotten murder. Will Somers, and his master Henry VIII, will be back in The Lioness Stumbles, hopefully this time next year!
Originally published at Reading Reality
Who was every bit as real a person – whether or not he resembles the character in this story – as the king he served.
If you remember the old doggerel, “Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived” as a way of tracking Henry VIII’s six wives, this story takes place in 1529, in the midst of the long and ultimately futile negotiations between Henry and Pope Clement VII in regards to that first divorce, sometimes referred to as the King’s Great Matter.
Which it most certainly was.
So the court is in ferment, divided between the rapidly waning star of the old queen, Catherine of Aragon, and the woman who will be the next queen, Anne Boleyn. Tension is everywhere among the usual cutthroat jockeying for favor and position that was always an integral part of serving in the King’s court.
Will Somers, the king’s fool, has been among Henry’s closest companions since he had arrived in court several years before. Somers was the one person who could, by the very nature of his position, go anywhere, talk to anyone, walk in and out of the King’s apartments, and generally do as he pleased as long as he was always available when the King called for him.
Somers is perfectly placed to find himself in the role of amateur detective when that metaphorically cutthroat jockeying results in the actual cut throat of one of the Spanish ambassador’s attendants.
That the bisexual Somers had spent the previous night with the dead man only adds to his distress. Someone he genuinely cared for is dead, and a thorough investigation could discover Will’s own clandestine behavior. He wants justice – and he needs to protect himself.
In the midst of the King’s Great Matter, with the Spanish on one side and his King on the other, the crime could also have political implications. Somers will have to tread carefully, but still poke his, or his dog’s, nose into every nook and cranny to find the killer – even while that killer is stalking him and those he holds dear.
Escape Rating A-: Hybrid genres like historical mystery have to achieve a balance between the two genres being blended. In the case of historical mystery that means that the historical setting has to feel authentic and the mystery has to be puzzling and fit the conventions for solving the crime that has taken place.
Courting Dragons is one of those historical mysteries where the reader is dropped right into the historical period from the first page, and where the history that wraps around it is integral to the plot – even though it can’t change any of the known historical facts. (For anyone who remembers the movie or the play, Anne of the Thousand Days, Courting Dragons read a LOT like returning to that setting and characters.)
So one of the reasons that I loved Courting Dragons was because I saw that movie in 1969 – I was twelve – and fell in love with the entire Tudor Period, warts and all. Going back was a delight. Howsomever, I read a lot in the period after I saw the movie and was familiar with the historical background.
Courting Dragons read like that balance between the history and the mystery was weighted towards the history, to the point where unless you are either familiar with the period, or enjoy learning a surprising amount of detail about a period with which you are not well acquainted, you need to be aware that the historical setting and tensions of Courting Dragons dominate the mystery. As I said, I loved it but your reading mileage may vary.
It does take a while for the mystery to get itself going, because there is just so much to learn and explore about life at court and Will’s circumstances within it. Which are fascinating but may not be what you read mysteries for.
There was one bit of the story that niggled more than a bit. It doesn’t feel inaccurate, but it was jarring to a 21st century reader all the same. And that involves Will’s relationship with the king. On the one hand, Will is utterly financially dependent on his work. He has a relatively high place for someone of low birth, but it can be snatched away at any time – and so can his life. He is the one person who can tell the king “No” and not get killed for it. He can needle the king about matters, such as his divorce, that the king doesn’t want to hear contradicted in any way. But he has to be careful of how much and how far he goes all the time. Very much on the other hand, in the book it is clear that Will is the king’s man through and through, and actually loves him in a way that seems a lot like the way that Sam Gamgee looked up to Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. Or the way that slavery proponents claimed that slaves felt about their slavemasters. It may be the way things actually were, but it still disconcerts.
So, if you like your historical mystery to dive deeply into the historical milieu in which it is set – or if you are just plain fascinated with the Tudors, Courting Dragons is a terrific mix of royal history and rotten murder. Will Somers, and his master Henry VIII, will be back in The Lioness Stumbles, hopefully this time next year!
Originally published at Reading Reality
December 10, 2022
A great start to a new series…
Fans of Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest “Medieval Noir” series will also enjoy the first book in her new King’s Fool series, Courting Dragons. This series features Will Somers, Henry VIII’s court jester, as the protagonist, and to be sure, there’s less noir, but all the key elements are still there: Westerson still drops an engaging fictional puzzle into a well-researched and finely-drawn historical background, to come up with a book that’s hard to put down. And in place of the noir, Will, who as a jester is able to go almost anywhere, listen in on almost anything, and make fun of almost anyone, turns out to have the makings of a fine detective.
Set during the time when Henry has not yet broken with the Catholic church, but is definitely trying to figure out how to divorce Queen Catherine in favor of the younger, and (hopefully) more fertile Anne, there are plenty of political machinations going on. So when Don Gonzalo de Yscar, a member of the Spanish Embassy to Henry’s court, is murdered, Will (who happened to have slept with him the night before) tries to figure out whether the motive is political? Or personal? Or did Don Gonzalo simply have some enemy from the past? Will’s recently acquired dog, Nosewise, and main romantic interest, Marion, help him along the way. But you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Along with the mystery, it was fascinating to watch Will navigate his betwixt-and-between status (not nobility, but with almost unequalled access to Henry, highly-regarded, and well compensated), and grow up a bit as his investigations became more serious. In a similar line, it was also interesting to watch the way illegitimate, but openly acknowledged, children were part of the court. And it was possible to see the beginnings of Will’s long tenure as court jester in the way he manages to visit and stay on good terms with Queen Catherine and Princess Mary, while also somehow developing a rapport with Anne Boleyn. (Per Westerson’s excellent historical note at the end, the real Will Somers was the court jester all the way from Henry’s reign into that of Queen Elizabeth I.)
Hopefully, Will’s long tenure will provide Westerson with plenty of opportunities to write more Will Somers books, because on a personal level, I, for one, will be looking forward to the next one. Which is, apparently, already in the works. Yay! And to more of Nosewise and Marion. And finally, my thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
Fans of Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest “Medieval Noir” series will also enjoy the first book in her new King’s Fool series, Courting Dragons. This series features Will Somers, Henry VIII’s court jester, as the protagonist, and to be sure, there’s less noir, but all the key elements are still there: Westerson still drops an engaging fictional puzzle into a well-researched and finely-drawn historical background, to come up with a book that’s hard to put down. And in place of the noir, Will, who as a jester is able to go almost anywhere, listen in on almost anything, and make fun of almost anyone, turns out to have the makings of a fine detective.
Set during the time when Henry has not yet broken with the Catholic church, but is definitely trying to figure out how to divorce Queen Catherine in favor of the younger, and (hopefully) more fertile Anne, there are plenty of political machinations going on. So when Don Gonzalo de Yscar, a member of the Spanish Embassy to Henry’s court, is murdered, Will (who happened to have slept with him the night before) tries to figure out whether the motive is political? Or personal? Or did Don Gonzalo simply have some enemy from the past? Will’s recently acquired dog, Nosewise, and main romantic interest, Marion, help him along the way. But you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Along with the mystery, it was fascinating to watch Will navigate his betwixt-and-between status (not nobility, but with almost unequalled access to Henry, highly-regarded, and well compensated), and grow up a bit as his investigations became more serious. In a similar line, it was also interesting to watch the way illegitimate, but openly acknowledged, children were part of the court. And it was possible to see the beginnings of Will’s long tenure as court jester in the way he manages to visit and stay on good terms with Queen Catherine and Princess Mary, while also somehow developing a rapport with Anne Boleyn. (Per Westerson’s excellent historical note at the end, the real Will Somers was the court jester all the way from Henry’s reign into that of Queen Elizabeth I.)
Hopefully, Will’s long tenure will provide Westerson with plenty of opportunities to write more Will Somers books, because on a personal level, I, for one, will be looking forward to the next one. Which is, apparently, already in the works. Yay! And to more of Nosewise and Marion. And finally, my thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the advance review copy.
February 4, 2023
Will is a fascinating protagonist, based on a real character who was a fool in Henry’s court and held this unique place there throughout the tumultuous Tudor dynasty. Westerson convincingly brings him to life in first-person viewpoint (I), so we get a ringside seat to his movement through the social shark tank that is life at court – and his interesting and often moving relationship with Henry, who he loves very much.
He is a big character with clearly loads of personal charm – and a hearty appetite for sexual encounters with both men and women. I’m not innately drawn to characters who demonstrate promiscuous behaviour, so it’s a tribute to Westerson’s writing that this didn’t get in the way of my bonding with Will. While the murder mystery was well plotted, with a plentiful cast of those with strong motivations for doing the foul deed – my overall focus wasn’t actually on the crime.
Westerson does a masterful job of depicting the court at a time of political turmoil. Henry has put aside Catherine of Aragon and is in the throes of trying to dissolve his marriage to her in order to make way for his new favourite – Anne Boleyn. Or Nan Bullen, as Will insultingly calls her. His loyalties, particularly at the start of the book, are firmly with Catherine and twelve-year-old Mary, who have been banished to a wing of the palace and placed under guard. In happier times, he would play for Catherine and was a firm favourite with both mother and daughter and his loyalties are torn emotionally, as he is pledged to Henry and talks to him in a way that no one else dares, calling him Harry to his face – and sometimes telling him baldly unpleasant truths that his courtiers and advisors don’t confront. This aspect of his relationship is based on historical fact, apparently, and I found it fascinating.
This happens to be a period of English history that I know a fair bit about. So the intricacies of the political and religious manoeuvring surrounding the Great Question, as Henry’s divorce came to be labelled, are familiar. But seeing them from the viewpoint of the court jester is both refreshing and thought provoking. I’m delighted to note that this is the first book in a series – and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next one. Will Somers is a new favourite. Highly recommended for fans of well written and researched historical murder mysteries. While I obtained an audiobook arc of Courting Dragons from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
He is a big character with clearly loads of personal charm – and a hearty appetite for sexual encounters with both men and women. I’m not innately drawn to characters who demonstrate promiscuous behaviour, so it’s a tribute to Westerson’s writing that this didn’t get in the way of my bonding with Will. While the murder mystery was well plotted, with a plentiful cast of those with strong motivations for doing the foul deed – my overall focus wasn’t actually on the crime.
Westerson does a masterful job of depicting the court at a time of political turmoil. Henry has put aside Catherine of Aragon and is in the throes of trying to dissolve his marriage to her in order to make way for his new favourite – Anne Boleyn. Or Nan Bullen, as Will insultingly calls her. His loyalties, particularly at the start of the book, are firmly with Catherine and twelve-year-old Mary, who have been banished to a wing of the palace and placed under guard. In happier times, he would play for Catherine and was a firm favourite with both mother and daughter and his loyalties are torn emotionally, as he is pledged to Henry and talks to him in a way that no one else dares, calling him Harry to his face – and sometimes telling him baldly unpleasant truths that his courtiers and advisors don’t confront. This aspect of his relationship is based on historical fact, apparently, and I found it fascinating.
This happens to be a period of English history that I know a fair bit about. So the intricacies of the political and religious manoeuvring surrounding the Great Question, as Henry’s divorce came to be labelled, are familiar. But seeing them from the viewpoint of the court jester is both refreshing and thought provoking. I’m delighted to note that this is the first book in a series – and I’m very much looking forward to reading the next one. Will Somers is a new favourite. Highly recommended for fans of well written and researched historical murder mysteries. While I obtained an audiobook arc of Courting Dragons from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
January 2, 2023
Will Somers was Henry VIII’s court jester but he was no fool. While his jests sometimes brought a warning scowl or a physical slap from Henry, there is a friendship between the two that often allows Somers to call the king Henry or refer to him as uncle. Will is in love with Marion, the daughter of Lord Heyward, but his eye sometimes strays to the young men at court. After a night with Don Gonzalo, a Spanish diplomat, he later finds Gonzalo’s body in the garden. He considered him a friend and vows to find his killer. Gonzalo was involved with negotiations in the Great Matter, Henry’s attempt to divorce his wife Catherine so that he could marry Anne.
Somers travels freely through the halls and gardens of the palace. He is threatened by Wolsey in their encounters, but it is a time that Wolsey is losing favor with the king. Thomas Cromwell, however, sees Somers as an astute observer and a sometime ally, although there is little trust between them. Befriending Anne gives him access to her quarters and the ladies who are willing to share court gossip. When one of the ladies is murdered, Somers begins to wonder if the murders are tied to the Great Matter or if the motive lies elsewhere. Lady Jane was rumored to have ties to the king and Somers fears that there may be a threat to the king’s safety.
I have been a fan of Jeri Westerson’s historical fiction for some time. When she ended her previous series with the retirement of the Tracker of London, I looked forward to what would come next. Her new series is based on Henry VIII’s actual court jester. His moments with Somers provide a picture of Henry that you rarely see, a man who acquired the throne after the death of his brother. Her mystery is filled with misdirections and humor as Somers makes his way through the palace and it gives you a clear picture of life in Henry’s court. Westerson’s Afterward introduces you to what little is known about the real Somers and offers hints regarding his next adventure, something that I am definitely looking forward to. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for providing this book for my review.
Somers travels freely through the halls and gardens of the palace. He is threatened by Wolsey in their encounters, but it is a time that Wolsey is losing favor with the king. Thomas Cromwell, however, sees Somers as an astute observer and a sometime ally, although there is little trust between them. Befriending Anne gives him access to her quarters and the ladies who are willing to share court gossip. When one of the ladies is murdered, Somers begins to wonder if the murders are tied to the Great Matter or if the motive lies elsewhere. Lady Jane was rumored to have ties to the king and Somers fears that there may be a threat to the king’s safety.
I have been a fan of Jeri Westerson’s historical fiction for some time. When she ended her previous series with the retirement of the Tracker of London, I looked forward to what would come next. Her new series is based on Henry VIII’s actual court jester. His moments with Somers provide a picture of Henry that you rarely see, a man who acquired the throne after the death of his brother. Her mystery is filled with misdirections and humor as Somers makes his way through the palace and it gives you a clear picture of life in Henry’s court. Westerson’s Afterward introduces you to what little is known about the real Somers and offers hints regarding his next adventure, something that I am definitely looking forward to. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for providing this book for my review.
January 2, 2023
Will Somers was Henry VIII’s court jester but he was no fool. While his jests sometimes brought a warning scowl or a physical slap from Henry, there is a friendship between the two that often allows Somers to call the king Henry or refer to him as uncle. Will is in love with Marion, the daughter of Lord Heyward, but his eye sometimes strays to the young men at court. After a night with Don Gonzalo, a Spanish diplomat, he later finds Gonzalo’s body in the garden. He considered him a friend and vows to find his killer. Gonzalo was involved with negotiations in the Great Matter, Henry’s attempt to divorce his wife Catherine so that he could marry Anne.
Somers travels freely through the halls and gardens of the palace. He is threatened by Wolsey in their encounters, but it is a time that Wolsey is losing favor with the king. Thomas Cromwell, however, sees Somers as an astute observer and a sometime ally, although there is little trust between them. Befriending Anne gives him access to her quarters and the ladies who are willing to share court gossip. When one of the ladies is murdered, Somers begins to wonder if the murders are tied to the Great Matter or if the motive lies elsewhere. Lady Jane was rumored to have ties to the king and Somers fears that there may be a threat to the king’s safety.
I have been a fan of Jeri Westerson’s historical fiction for some time. When she ended her previous series with the retirement of the Tracker of London, I looked forward to what would come next. Her new series is based on Henry VIII’s actual court jester. His moments with Somers provide a picture of Henry that you rarely see, a man who acquired the throne after the death of his brother. Her mystery is filled with misdirections and humor as Somers makes his way through the palace and it gives you a clear picture of life in Henry’s court. Westerson’s Afterward introduces you to what little is known about the real Somers and offers hints regarding his next adventure, something that I am definitely looking forward to. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for providing this book for my review.
Somers travels freely through the halls and gardens of the palace. He is threatened by Wolsey in their encounters, but it is a time that Wolsey is losing favor with the king. Thomas Cromwell, however, sees Somers as an astute observer and a sometime ally, although there is little trust between them. Befriending Anne gives him access to her quarters and the ladies who are willing to share court gossip. When one of the ladies is murdered, Somers begins to wonder if the murders are tied to the Great Matter or if the motive lies elsewhere. Lady Jane was rumored to have ties to the king and Somers fears that there may be a threat to the king’s safety.
I have been a fan of Jeri Westerson’s historical fiction for some time. When she ended her previous series with the retirement of the Tracker of London, I looked forward to what would come next. Her new series is based on Henry VIII’s actual court jester. His moments with Somers provide a picture of Henry that you rarely see, a man who acquired the throne after the death of his brother. Her mystery is filled with misdirections and humor as Somers makes his way through the palace and it gives you a clear picture of life in Henry’s court. Westerson’s Afterward introduces you to what little is known about the real Somers and offers hints regarding his next adventure, something that I am definitely looking forward to. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for providing this book for my review.
October 29, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC. Will Somers is King Henry VIII's fool, his jester. He hails from Shropshire and came to court at age 20 in the year 1525. Not much is known about him but he was around clear until Queen Elizabeth I. This first in the mystery series starring Will is about the time of The Great Matter. King Henry VIII is trying to end his 20 plus year marriage to Queen Catherine. Queen Catherine was married to his older brother Arthur for a short time until Arthur died. There was even a special dispensation that allowed King Henry VIII to marry Queen Catherine, on the grounds that their marriage hadn't been consummated.
King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine only had one living child, a girl. The King desired, nay, needed a male heir. It was on this basis and some scripture that he was seeking a divorce. The Court was divided on the topic but knew which way things were going. Queen Catherine and her daughter Princess Mary were all but abandoned. Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's intended, was now the center of the Court. This is where we find ourselves in this book.
As the jester, Will is granted license to say things across the line, be a close companion to the King, and be privy to much gossip. What better person to stumble upon a murder? Will is blackmailed and seeks revenge for the victim he found and was briefly acquainted with. Will is funny, clever, daring and a great insight into daily Court life. I enjoyed the characters, both fictional and real. I love all things Tudor so of course I had to read this. The ending was a little surprising but not as interesting as I hoped. Nonetheless, engaging read and a series I will be watching!
King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine only had one living child, a girl. The King desired, nay, needed a male heir. It was on this basis and some scripture that he was seeking a divorce. The Court was divided on the topic but knew which way things were going. Queen Catherine and her daughter Princess Mary were all but abandoned. Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's intended, was now the center of the Court. This is where we find ourselves in this book.
As the jester, Will is granted license to say things across the line, be a close companion to the King, and be privy to much gossip. What better person to stumble upon a murder? Will is blackmailed and seeks revenge for the victim he found and was briefly acquainted with. Will is funny, clever, daring and a great insight into daily Court life. I enjoyed the characters, both fictional and real. I love all things Tudor so of course I had to read this. The ending was a little surprising but not as interesting as I hoped. Nonetheless, engaging read and a series I will be watching!
December 13, 2022
Courting Dragons starts the King’s Fool mystery series. It’s set in the court of Henry VIII and takes place in the early sixteenth century. The main character, King’s fool Will Sommers, is based on a real jester there.
This was a fairly good book with a lot going on. The author weaved historical events and people into the mix, in this case the courtship of Henry and Anne Boleyn, which served as a background and occasionally took over from the murder mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, even if the solution and motivations were rater lame, after promises of spies and intrigue.
Historical facts were well researched, and there were a lot of them, which made for a heavy reading, especially in the beginning. However, I had trouble immersing myself in the historical world. Mostly, I think, because of the first-person narrative that constantly pulled me back to the present. The language was a bit too contrived as well in its attempt to sound historical.
Will was an interesting character. He could go about as he pleased, had the ear of important persons, and could talk himself out of all kinds of situations. His jests weren’t terribly funny though. His personal life was colourful with many lovers, men and women alike, even if he only loved his Marion. He wasn’t much of a sleuth, however, even though he got there in the end, but if you like historical mysteries, give this a try.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fairly good book with a lot going on. The author weaved historical events and people into the mix, in this case the courtship of Henry and Anne Boleyn, which served as a background and occasionally took over from the murder mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, even if the solution and motivations were rater lame, after promises of spies and intrigue.
Historical facts were well researched, and there were a lot of them, which made for a heavy reading, especially in the beginning. However, I had trouble immersing myself in the historical world. Mostly, I think, because of the first-person narrative that constantly pulled me back to the present. The language was a bit too contrived as well in its attempt to sound historical.
Will was an interesting character. He could go about as he pleased, had the ear of important persons, and could talk himself out of all kinds of situations. His jests weren’t terribly funny though. His personal life was colourful with many lovers, men and women alike, even if he only loved his Marion. He wasn’t much of a sleuth, however, even though he got there in the end, but if you like historical mysteries, give this a try.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2023
A genial court jester named Will Somers (a character based on the real William Sommers, the best known court jester of the Tudor era) is the main protagonist in this delightful new series set at the court of Henry VIII in the late 1520's.
Will is an endearing man. He loves to spy, to gossip and to make fun of the court environment while trying to keep his head above the fray while navigating the treacherous waters surrounding his master's throne at Greenwich Palace.
Will is also bisexual and he loves to flirt with danger. But when a winsome Spanish diplomat with whom he had a one night stand is found murdered the following day in the palace's gardens, our resourceful court jester will find himself duly entangled within the vast and dangerous spiderweb of intrigues surrounding Henry's marital headaches....
A superb fictional tapestry of court life under one of England’s most charismatic monarchs, superbly plotted with lots of twists and turns, sparkling dialogues and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters, Courting dragons is a fascinating piece of historical fiction and a highly entertaining whodunit. I simply can't wait for the next installment!
A Highly recommended read that deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this fabulous ARC!
Will is an endearing man. He loves to spy, to gossip and to make fun of the court environment while trying to keep his head above the fray while navigating the treacherous waters surrounding his master's throne at Greenwich Palace.
Will is also bisexual and he loves to flirt with danger. But when a winsome Spanish diplomat with whom he had a one night stand is found murdered the following day in the palace's gardens, our resourceful court jester will find himself duly entangled within the vast and dangerous spiderweb of intrigues surrounding Henry's marital headaches....
A superb fictional tapestry of court life under one of England’s most charismatic monarchs, superbly plotted with lots of twists and turns, sparkling dialogues and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters, Courting dragons is a fascinating piece of historical fiction and a highly entertaining whodunit. I simply can't wait for the next installment!
A Highly recommended read that deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this fabulous ARC!
January 2, 2023
Will Somers is King Henry VIII's court jester. He is a Shropshire lad, raised on farm, but possessing a crooked back, he makes his way with foolishness and the ability to turn a phrase and poke fun at all the courtiers. Henry is trying to get a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, whom he married after her first husband, Henry's older brother, Arthur, died. She has been unable to give him sons. Will loves Catherine and her daughter, the Princess Mary, who are good Catholics and resist Henry's blandishments to divorce him. Henry is fighting with courtiers and Spaniards over "The Great Question," of divorce. Suddenly, the head of the Spanish legation is murdered and Will is incensed and decides to investigate. He is in great favor with Henry and is able to go places other courtiers might not be able to. Nan Bullen (Anne Boleyn) is also at court and Henry is in pursuit of her. Will capers among her ladies-in-waiting and is present when one of them is also murdered. Will sees a priest running from the scene with a crossbow, so he knows who the murderer is. Now, all he has to go is piece together the puzzle and present it to Henry. Very well-researched book with some interesting insights into the Tudor court. This is Henry at his greatest.
January 5, 2023
Courting Dragons
by Jeri Westerson
Pub Date: 03 Jan 2023
1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.
But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .
by Jeri Westerson
Pub Date: 03 Jan 2023
1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.
But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .
January 15, 2023
This is the first book in a new series that features Will Somers, the jester to Henry VIII. This is a historical mystery and like all of her books, the characters are richly developed, complex and the absolute heart of the story. If I feel like I can't connect to the characters, or if they are flat and static, it pulls me right out of enjoying a book, no matter how good of a plot. I think that's why I always love Jeri's books, no character is ever static or flat, and the characters are so fully built up that by the end of the book, you feel as if you know them. Not only do you know them, but they are so well-written that you feel invested in their story.
The story and mystery unfolds in a way that feels organic and well-paced. Nothing feels rushed or skimmed over. I am excited to read more in the series, Will may just be my favorite character to date.
The story and mystery unfolds in a way that feels organic and well-paced. Nothing feels rushed or skimmed over. I am excited to read more in the series, Will may just be my favorite character to date.
April 10, 2023
A reluctant 4, because I don't know if I want to follow Will through more sex-with-anything-with-a-pulse. He even gets excited sitting between two women. Such cocksmen probably existed, and perhaps the real Will was one, but maybe future books can dial it down a bit. Be clear, my only beef with it is that it's too much a part of the plot.
Will gets away with a lot, even allowing for what fools could get away with, but without that there's no story, so that's OK. Henry seemed plausible, a nice guy 90% of the time but watch yourself.
The court ladies are mostly interchangeable, but that may have been how it was in those days. One villain is much too bwah-hah-hah, but the Wolsey-Cromwell parts are handled well.
Will future books have the what-about-Marion plot device? I hope not. It's fine once.
Will gets away with a lot, even allowing for what fools could get away with, but without that there's no story, so that's OK. Henry seemed plausible, a nice guy 90% of the time but watch yourself.
The court ladies are mostly interchangeable, but that may have been how it was in those days. One villain is much too bwah-hah-hah, but the Wolsey-Cromwell parts are handled well.
Will future books have the what-about-Marion plot device? I hope not. It's fine once.
July 6, 2023
I was sure I would love a mystery in which the detective was a court jester, and I did enjoy Will's point of view and his insistence that 'jester' is his profession while most people insist on seeing it as his identity. On the other hand, the mystery wasn't compelling, and the characters were cartoonish. (This is not entirely the author's fault - almost anyone writing about Henry VIII's court after Hilary Mantel is going to seem inferior.) I would say I enjoyed this book more in anticipation and in retrospect than I did reading it, which is odd and leaves me a bit nonplussed. I think I would read the next one.
July 30, 2024
在市立圖書館的電子書目錄亂逛，莫名其妙被沒什麼特別之處的書名與封面吸引，甚至沒看故事簡介就決定要開始看這本書，可以說是完全靠緣分開始這本書的，真玄。
這本書是以一個宮廷裡的弄臣作為第一人稱主角，從他的觀點開啟宮廷內發生的懸疑劇情，內容多為主角對於各個角色的觀察與互動，並透過主角的好奇心逐步發現謎團、揭露真相。
我覺得這本書有趣之處在於人物的關係的描寫：雖然本書是第一人稱的敘事方法，每個角色的刻劃因而被主角的觀點所侷限，但主角為了發現真相，找許多人進行對談，過程中主角會對案件進行剖析，因此可以清晰的建立各個角色之間的關係。
以一本懸疑劇情的書而言，這本書的人物關係相當溫暖，讀起來很宜人，大部分的人對於主角都非常照顧，所以儘管我邊讀邊猜誰在說謊、誰是壞人，但多數劇情仍是寫出許多互相照顧的一面。我特別喜歡的是主角與亨利八世的關係，非常喜歡他們之間的信賴關係，以及亨利八世像照顧兒子一般照顧主角、像朋友一般向主角掏心掏肺，有一段是亨利八世帶主角去打獵、互相聊心事，從他們的談話內容可以感受出亨利八世身為國王的身不由己與無奈，那段真的很touching。
懸疑劇情的部分我覺得偏普普，比較像是以宮廷為背景的日常系推理類型，結局不到令人大吃驚的程度，但整體過程也不扣分，就是還不錯啦。
是說看到後記才知道原來不只時代有考究歷史，連主角都是歷史上真有其人！本來還以為這個角色是架空的虛構人物耶，太酷了，趁機學歷史XD
這本書是以一個宮廷裡的弄臣作為第一人稱主角，從他的觀點開啟宮廷內發生的懸疑劇情，內容多為主角對於各個角色的觀察與互動，並透過主角的好奇心逐步發現謎團、揭露真相。
我覺得這本書有趣之處在於人物的關係的描寫：雖然本書是第一人稱的敘事方法，每個角色的刻劃因而被主角的觀點所侷限，但主角為了發現真相，找許多人進行對談，過程中主角會對案件進行剖析，因此可以清晰的建立各個角色之間的關係。
以一本懸疑劇情的書而言，這本書的人物關係相當溫暖，讀起來很宜人，大部分的人對於主角都非常照顧，所以儘管我邊讀邊猜誰在說謊、誰是壞人，但多數劇情仍是寫出許多互相照顧的一面。我特別喜歡的是主角與亨利八世的關係，非常喜歡他們之間的信賴關係，以及亨利八世像照顧兒子一般照顧主角、像朋友一般向主角掏心掏肺，有一段是亨利八世帶主角去打獵、互相聊心事，從他們的談話內容可以感受出亨利八世身為國王的身不由己與無奈，那段真的很touching。
懸疑劇情的部分我覺得偏普普，比較像是以宮廷為背景的日常系推理類型，結局不到令人大吃驚的程度，但整體過程也不扣分，就是還不錯啦。
是說看到後記才知道原來不只時代有考究歷史，連主角都是歷史上真有其人！本來還以為這個角色是架空的虛構人物耶，太酷了，趁機學歷史XD
December 27, 2022
Jeri Westerson has a knack for delivering historical mystery that are entertaining and informative. This new series, featuring Will Somers the joker as MC, is set during Henry VIII reign.
Will Somers, like Crisping Guest, is a character who's neither-her-nor-there. He's not a courtesan but he's got access to the king.
This situation helps him to access info, to listen to people, and to remain alive plus solving mysteries.
There's a lot of potential in this first in a series full of promises.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Will Somers, like Crisping Guest, is a character who's neither-her-nor-there. He's not a courtesan but he's got access to the king.
This situation helps him to access info, to listen to people, and to remain alive plus solving mysteries.
There's a lot of potential in this first in a series full of promises.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
January 19, 2023
I really love the idea of Will Sommers as a kind of Tudor period Hercule Poirot. At times I felt that the story was a bit all over the place, the plot felt muddled and I kept forgetting that it was murder mystery. I found myself much more intrigued by the relationship between Will and Henry VIII. I did enjoy reading a story set in this period from such a unique point of view. I believe that Jeri Westeron has inspired a very original cast of characters for a murder mystery series and I hope that she will continue on with it!
May 24, 2023
3.5 stars. When a member of the Spanish legation is found murdered by Will Somers, the King's Fool, Will decides to undertake an investigation, and discover whodunnit. Since very little is know about Somers, historically, the author has decided to portray him as bisexual, and his escapades take a prominent place in the story, something I could have done without. However, as a fool, he could go just about anywhere in the court, which helped him sniff out secrets. Well plotted and hard to put down.
September 1, 2023
Four and a half pleasantly surprised stars for this one— Henry the eighth’s court is a different time period for me, but the character of the court jester as amateur detective was a truly enjoyable one. I liked spending time in his company, which is to me one of the true measures of a good book. The mystery itself was fairly strong—though maybe not super compelling to the emotions—and I’d also say that, except for the jester and the king, the other characters could use some more depth or rounding out.
February 19, 2024
With so much great fiction written about this era (look up Margaret George or the John Dee novels of Oliver Clements), and so much fantastic history being published (check out the works of Alison Weir), it's hard to justify the effort of reading shallow work like this: speaking down to the reader, the main character takes time to tell us he's wearing a doublet--and then defines for us what a doublet is! I found that condescending and unbelievable--he's a narrator, in our time, not a character in his. The result is too much show-and-tell and not enough real world-building.
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