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*Editorial Book Review*
Publisher: Sapere Books
Page Length: 295
Genre: Historical Fiction
Can Anne guard her heart against those determined to take it…?
France, 1515
With the departure of her mistress, Mary Tudor, back to England, Anne Boleyn now finds herself in the service of Queen Claude of France.
Claude assigns Anne the role of companion to her younger sister, Princess Renée, and Anne soon discovers Renée is a handful — wilful and supremely aware of rank. Together, they visit King Francis’s artist-in-residence, Leonardo da Vinci, whose unconventional wisdom inspires them both.
Anne is drawn to the captivating lady-in-waiting Diane de Poitiers, who coaches her in the art of mystery and poise.
The elegant Frenchwoman is in stark contrast to Anne’s sister Mary, whose obvious coquettish ways are earning her an unsavoury reputation.
As Anne grows in confidence, she finds herself noticed by the opposite sex. However, she is aiming high, and will not succumb to a prince’s entreaties without a marriage offer.
Anne is determined to take the lead, but with the French courtiers viewing the queen’s maids as their personal playthings, will she be able to retain her honour…?
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS is a thoroughly researched, fascinating historical novel set during the 16th century in Europe. It is the third book in the Anne Boleyn Chronicles series.
Historical fiction has returned to Anne Boleyn countless times over the years, often focusing on the turbulent years of her marriage to Henry VIII and the political and religious upheaval that followed. Yet before Anne became queen, before she became the most talked-about woman in England, she was a young noblewoman whose years in France shaped the intellect, confidence and resilience that would later define her. In Queen of Diamonds, the third instalment of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, Rozsa Gaston turns her attention to those formative years, offering readers not simply another Tudor novel, but a thoughtful exploration of the experiences that moulded one of history's most fascinating women.
What immediately struck me was Gaston's decision to allow Anne's development to unfold gradually. There are no dramatic transformations or moments where Anne suddenly becomes the woman history remembers. Instead, she grows through observation, conversation and experience. By placing Anne at the heart of Renaissance France, Gaston allows her to learn from some of the greatest minds and personalities of the age. Margaret of Austria has already provided the foundations of diplomacy and political awareness, but it is in France that Anne's education truly flourishes. Leonardo da Vinci encourages curiosity and the courage to embrace uncertainty, Marguerite d'Angoulême nurtures Anne's independent thinking, Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples opens her mind to new religious ideas, while Anne de Graville demonstrates the influence that learned women can wield through literature. Each encounter adds another layer to Anne's character, gradually shaping the intelligent, ambitious young woman history remembers.
Among the many memorable figures who populate the novel, Diane de Poitiers almost steals the show. Wise, elegant and endlessly perceptive, she becomes far more than Anne's mentor. Diane teaches Anne that true strength lies not in beauty or birth, but in discipline, self-control and understanding the motives of those around her. Some of my favourite moments in the novel are simply conversations between these two women, as Diane gently guides Anne through the complexities of court life while encouraging her to think beyond the expectations placed upon her. What makes their relationship so compelling is that Diane never attempts to mould Anne into another version of herself. Instead, she continually urges Anne to discover who she is and what she truly wants, allowing Anne's own character to emerge naturally.
One of Rozsa Gaston's greatest strengths is her ability to use conversation as a vehicle for both character development and historical exploration. Much of the novel unfolds through intelligent, engaging dialogue rather than dramatic action, allowing readers to discover Renaissance politics, philosophy, art and court etiquette alongside Anne herself. At first, Anne listens more than she speaks, absorbing lessons from remarkable figures such as Diane de Poitiers, Leonardo da Vinci, Marguerite d'Angoulême and Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples. As the novel progresses, however, those conversations subtly change. Anne begins to question, challenge and form opinions of her own, transforming from an eager pupil into a thoughtful participant in the sophisticated world of the French court. Although the novel is undeniably dialogue-driven, the conversations rarely feel repetitive because each one reveals something new about Anne, the people around her, or the extraordinary world they inhabit.
Rather than relying on battles or political intrigue to propel the narrative, Gaston allows ideas themselves to become the driving force of the story. Anne's greatest adventures during these years are intellectual, and that gives the novel a distinctive voice among Tudor fiction. It is an approach that suits both the setting and the character perfectly, as Anne's most important victories are not won on a battlefield but through observation, reflection and an ever-growing confidence in her own judgement.
The historical research throughout the novel is exceptional. Gaston has an impressive ability to weave historical detail seamlessly into the narrative without ever making it feel like a history lesson. Whether exploring the legacy of Anne of Brittany, introducing readers to the intellectual salons of Marguerite d'Angoulême, bringing Leonardo da Vinci's final years in France vividly to life, or explaining the architectural brilliance behind Chambord, every detail serves the story rather than distracting from it. I particularly enjoyed the way real historical personalities are allowed to become fully realised characters rather than simply making brief appearances to remind readers of the period in which the novel is set. Queen Claude emerges as a quietly dignified presence, Princess Renée provides warmth, humour and surprising insight, while Leonardo is portrayed not as an untouchable genius, but as an endlessly curious man whose imagination never ceased to race ahead of everyone around him.
Another aspect I greatly admired was the subtlety of the foreshadowing. Readers familiar with Anne Boleyn's later life will undoubtedly recognise the significance of conversations surrounding Louis XII's annulment, Henry VIII's desperate longing for a male heir and the growing calls for reform within the Church. Anne herself, however, remains entirely unaware of how profoundly these discussions will one day affect her own life. Rather than feeling forced or overly obvious, the foreshadowing emerges naturally from the historical context. Anne's genuine curiosity about how Louis XII obtained his annulment, for example, feels entirely appropriate within the conversation, yet readers cannot help but smile knowingly at the irony. Likewise, the growing influence of Martin Luther's ideas and Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples' discussions of Scripture quietly prepare both Anne and the reader for the religious changes that will soon reshape Europe.
What also sets Queen of Diamonds apart is its portrayal of the Renaissance itself. This is not merely a Tudor novel set in France. Gaston captures the excitement of an age in which artists, poets, scholars and theologians questioned accepted wisdom and pushed the boundaries of knowledge. Anne stands at the centre of this intellectual awakening, absorbing everything around her with an insatiable curiosity. It is fascinating to watch her evolve from someone who eagerly listens to others into a woman confident enough to question, analyse and ultimately trust her own judgement.
One of the things I appreciated most was that Gaston never loses sight of the fact that Anne is still a young woman finding her place in the world. She makes mistakes, questions her own judgement and occasionally allows her emotions to cloud her thinking, but these moments only make her eventual confidence feel more authentic. Rather than presenting Anne as the fully formed figure history remembers, Gaston allows readers to witness the woman she eventually becomes, making her triumphs feel genuinely earned.
Perhaps what I admired most about this novel is its restraint. Gaston never rushes Anne's development or gives her knowledge she could not possibly possess. Instead, Anne grows naturally through every friendship, conversation and challenge she encounters. The closing pages feel completely earned because Anne finally stops measuring herself against Diane de Poitiers, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Anne of Brittany, choosing instead to embrace her own identity.
There are many novels about Anne Boleyn the Queen. Queen of Diamonds is about Anne Boleyn the woman. Rich in historical detail, populated by memorable real-life personalities and filled with thoughtful conversations that illuminate both the Renaissance and Anne's developing character, it offers a fresh and intelligent perspective on one of history's most enduring women. By the time Anne quietly declares, "I am Lady Anne," readers understand that this has never been a story about a crown. It has always been a story about identity. Having accompanied Anne through these formative years, I closed the book eager to follow her into the next chapter of her extraordinary life.
The Coffee Pot Book Club
ROZSA GASTON is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.
She is the author of Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's Court, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, The Queen's Maid: Anne Boleyn in France, Queen of Diamonds: The French Royal Court, Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction.
Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, Black is Not a Color, Budapest Romance, Running from Love, and Dog Sitters.
Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her Master's degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor magazine, then as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian.
She is currently working on Book Four of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, covering Anne Boleyn's time at at the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.
Her motto? History matters.
Connect with Rozsa:
Website • Twitter / X • Facebook • Instagram • TikTok • BookBub
Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
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