A Matter of Faith Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix (Henrician Chronicles) by Judith Arnopp #AwardWinning #HistoricalFiction #RecommendedReads

A Matter of Faith:

Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix

(The Henrician Chronicle)

by Judith Arnopp

Finally free of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, is now married to Anne Boleyn and eagerly awaiting the birth of his son. In a court still reeling from the royal divorce and growing public resentment against church reform, Henry must negotiate widespread resentment toward Anne. He places all his hopes in a son to cement his Tudor blood line, but his dreams are shattered when Anne is delivered of a daughter.

Burying his disappointment, Henry focuses on getting her with child again, but their marriage is volatile and as Henry faces personal bereavement, and discord at court, Anne’s enemies are gathering. When the queen miscarries of a son, and Henry suffers a life-threatening accident, his need for an heir becomes critical. Waiting in the wings is Jane Seymour, a lady-in-waiting who offers the king comfort and respite from Anne’s fiery passions.

But, when Anne falls foul of her former ally, Thomas Cromwell, and the king is persuaded he has been made a cuckold, Henry strikes out and the queen falls beneath the executioner’s sword, taking key players in Henry’s household with her. 

Jane Seymour, stepping up to replace the fallen queen, quickly becomes pregnant. Delighted with his dull but fertile wife, Henry’s spirits rise even further when the prince is born safely. At last, Henry has all he desires but even as he celebrates, fate is preparing to deliver one more staggering blow. 

Henry, the once perfect Renaissance prince, is now a damaged middle-aged man, disappointed in those around him but most of all in himself. As the king’s optimism diminishes, his intractability increases, and the wounded lion begins to roar.

Praise:

"Superbly inventive insight into the mind of one of our most famous monarchs."
~ Deborah Swift, award winning author of historical fiction

"A Matter of Faith is a roller-coaster of Tudor emotions and intrigues. The setting is exquisite, and meticulously researched. Ms Arnopp is one of the foremost writers of Tudor fiction, with deep knowledge of the era and its main players, and it shows."
~ Cathie Dunn, award-winning author of Love Lost in Time.

"This is not just another account of the Boleyn/Seymour years, but a rare insight into the mind of the man who made it all happen. A round of applause, and I can't wait to read the next instalment!"
~ Terry Tyler, Amazon reviewer

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