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The Failed Apprentice
London 1531.
When blacksmith apprentice Will Patten witnesses his master’s brutal murder and the burning of his master’s house and forge, he returns to his family’s impoverished home in London. With his apprenticeship over and his family unable to feed another mouth, Will is left with few options. As a young man with an education but no backing from the Blacksmith Guild, he is forced to chart his own path.
Unable to find another placement, Will takes up a position at the Sharpened Axe, a seedy brothel in Southwark.
Here Will meets Richard Rich, Thomas Cromwell’s henchman. Desperate for money, Will is caught stealing from Rich. Because of Will’s ability to read, Rich turns this situation to his advantage and blackmails Will into working for him.
Will is thrust into the world of espionage as the winds of the Tudor court shift. He is assigned to help bring down former Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas More - and works as a tutor in More's home. As Thomas More becomes vocal in his opposition to Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, pressure mounts on Will to uncover incriminating evidence and feed it back to his employer..
As the stakes increase for Will, he must negotiate threats of violence and the shifting alliances in Henry VIII’s England. When his sister is threatened, Will knows he must act.
Torn between his own survival and loyalties to those he loves, Will makes a rash decision that endangers not only his family but himself. But at what cost to his family and his conscience?
When blacksmith apprentice Will Patten witnesses his master’s brutal murder and the burning of his master’s house and forge, he returns to his family’s impoverished home in London. With his apprenticeship over and his family unable to feed another mouth, Will is left with few options. As a young man with an education but no backing from the Blacksmith Guild, he is forced to chart his own path.
Unable to find another placement, Will takes up a position at the Sharpened Axe, a seedy brothel in Southwark.
Here Will meets Richard Rich, Thomas Cromwell’s henchman. Desperate for money, Will is caught stealing from Rich. Because of Will’s ability to read, Rich turns this situation to his advantage and blackmails Will into working for him.
Will is thrust into the world of espionage as the winds of the Tudor court shift. He is assigned to help bring down former Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas More - and works as a tutor in More's home. As Thomas More becomes vocal in his opposition to Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, pressure mounts on Will to uncover incriminating evidence and feed it back to his employer..
As the stakes increase for Will, he must negotiate threats of violence and the shifting alliances in Henry VIII’s England. When his sister is threatened, Will knows he must act.
Torn between his own survival and loyalties to those he loves, Will makes a rash decision that endangers not only his family but himself. But at what cost to his family and his conscience?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2022
12 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
W.J. Small
5 books18 followersNew release! THE HAG STONE, set in the tumultuous 14th century, is the story of one woman's resilience as the Bubonic Plague ravages England.
W.J. Small's debut novel, A KNIGHT'S DUTY, follows real-life knight Thomas Gray as he grapples with fighting in the Border Wars and managing a chaotic family life..
WJ Small's second novel, THE FAILED APPRENTICE, is set in Henry VIII's England. It is the story of an unassuming man who becomes embroiled in a plot to take down Sir Thomas More.
TO KILL A QUEEN is the second in the Will Patten series and involves Will Patten's involvement in the plot to take down Queen Anne Boleyn.
The final novel in the Will Patten trilogy, A SHAFT OF LIGHT, was released in January 2024. In this third installment, Will travels to Yorkshire to escape the tentacles of the Tudor court, only to become embroiiled in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a treasonous uprising.
WJ Small splits her time between New York and South Carolina with her husband, son, and Jack Russell terriers. When not writing, she is reading, running, golfing, or simply enjoying a glass of single malt.
W.J. Small's debut novel, A KNIGHT'S DUTY, follows real-life knight Thomas Gray as he grapples with fighting in the Border Wars and managing a chaotic family life..
WJ Small's second novel, THE FAILED APPRENTICE, is set in Henry VIII's England. It is the story of an unassuming man who becomes embroiled in a plot to take down Sir Thomas More.
TO KILL A QUEEN is the second in the Will Patten series and involves Will Patten's involvement in the plot to take down Queen Anne Boleyn.
The final novel in the Will Patten trilogy, A SHAFT OF LIGHT, was released in January 2024. In this third installment, Will travels to Yorkshire to escape the tentacles of the Tudor court, only to become embroiiled in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a treasonous uprising.
WJ Small splits her time between New York and South Carolina with her husband, son, and Jack Russell terriers. When not writing, she is reading, running, golfing, or simply enjoying a glass of single malt.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 13, 2023
This is a great book which I happily recommend. Will is a great character that I didn’t want anything to happen to. !
It’s a well put together story that holds the readers interest and leaves you wanting more. Loved it!!!!!
It’s a well put together story that holds the readers interest and leaves you wanting more. Loved it!!!!!
January 21, 2023
Loved reading every page!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and stayed up way too late reading! The author does a wonderful job developing her fictional characters while intertwining their life stories with historical figures and events. Reading this book made me want to dig deeper and refresh my knowledge of the time period. To me, that’s a sign of an excellent novel! I’m also looking forward to finding out what happens to Will and Phoebe in the next novel!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and stayed up way too late reading! The author does a wonderful job developing her fictional characters while intertwining their life stories with historical figures and events. Reading this book made me want to dig deeper and refresh my knowledge of the time period. To me, that’s a sign of an excellent novel! I’m also looking forward to finding out what happens to Will and Phoebe in the next novel!
March 20, 2023
I’m hooked.
This second novel by rising star WJ Small has a compelling plot that moves briskly. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and WJ does a wonderful job weaving the lives of her imagined characters into the times and lives of the real ones to create a vivid story of events in Tudor England. No idea how many books are planned for the Will Patten series but if they are as much fun as The Failed Apprentice I look forward to reading the series for the next several years!
This second novel by rising star WJ Small has a compelling plot that moves briskly. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and WJ does a wonderful job weaving the lives of her imagined characters into the times and lives of the real ones to create a vivid story of events in Tudor England. No idea how many books are planned for the Will Patten series but if they are as much fun as The Failed Apprentice I look forward to reading the series for the next several years!
February 3, 2023
it’s a fascinating read
I was totally absorbed in the plight of Will. Great historical fiction. Can’t wait to read the next sequel. Highly recommend.
I was totally absorbed in the plight of Will. Great historical fiction. Can’t wait to read the next sequel. Highly recommend.
February 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading The Failed Apprentice. I loved the characters. It was well written and the plot kept me interested.
October 22, 2023
A captivating read I already love the main character Will Patten
November 18, 2023
Excellent read
I have met Rich before in other books but this is the first time as one of the main characters.
Will Patten is a good hero and I look forward to hearing more about his adventures.
Well researched. I want more!
I have met Rich before in other books but this is the first time as one of the main characters.
Will Patten is a good hero and I look forward to hearing more about his adventures.
Well researched. I want more!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews