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The Crown [Paperback]

Nancy Bilyeau (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 2 Feb 2012

*Shortlisted for the 2012 CWA Ellis Peters Award*

London, May 1537: When Joanna Stafford, a young novice, learns her cousin is about to be burned at the stake for rebelling against Henry VIII, she makes a decision that will change not only her life but quite possibly, the fate of a nation. Joanna breaks the sacred rule of enclosure and runs away from Dartford Priory.

But when Joanna and her father are arrested and sent to the Tower of London, she finds herself a pawn in a deadly power struggle. Those closest to the throne are locked in a fierce fight against those desperate to save England's monasteries from destruction

Charged with a mission to find a hidden relic believed to possess a mystical power that has slain three Englishmen of royal blood in the last 300 years, Joanna and a troubled young friar, Brother Edmund, must seek answers across England.

Once she learns the true secret of her quest, one that traces all the way back to Golgotha and the Relics of the Passion, Joanna must finally determine who to trust and how far she is willing to go to protect her life, her family and everything she holds dear.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Orion (2 Feb 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1409133079
  • ISBN-13: 978-1409133070
  • Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 3 x 23.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 457,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

Fabulous debut thriller (inStyle UK 20120202)

A gripping treasure-hunt-like romp through one of the bloodiest periods in British history. (GOOD HOUSEKEEPING )

Bilyeau's novel is a gripping debut and the perfect accompaniement to a cold, winter's night. (unlikelybookworm.wordpress.com )

Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy and betrayal. (O, The Oprah Magazine )

Strong character development, realistic historical detail, and an atmosphere of pervasive tension coupled to a fast-placed plot make it compulsively readable. (Booklist )

This fast-paced debut delivers Tudor intrigue and mystical thrills in one satisfying package - and leaves room for a sequel. (KIRKUS )

Will appeal to fans of Dan Brown and Philippa Gregory (Library Journal )

Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling...In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who us prepared to risk her life to save what she must most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans (Deborah Harkness, Author Of A Discovery Of Witches )

The events of the period come to life in Nancy Bilyeau's dazzling and heart-wrenching novel. The Crown is is evocative, provocative, and full of intriguing characters - a gorgeously written novel that has mystery and history, pathos and depth. This is a stunning debut about a woman whose spirit shines through and deeply moves the reader (MJ Rose, international bestseller )

With a strong protagonist and some well-drawn characters, there are political intrigues, power struggles and deadly encounters in this novel of mystery and suspense. (CHOICE MAGAZINE )

A Historical Fiction title that not only brought together the elements of the historical beautifully but also wove a mystery within that kept me glued from start to finish...a cracking read. (Falcata Times )

Book Description

For secrets this deadly, blood will dye the throne of a nation...
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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking good story 31 Jan 2012
By Debs TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I really enjoyed this one. Although it is set in the time of Henry VIII (one of my favourite settings for novels) it is not a historical novel per se; it does not focus much on the actual history of the period, but more on the plot which revolves around the search for a mysterious relic said to have enormous power. But there is also a very human element to the novel; the protagonist, Sister Joanna, is a novice nun, who has an array of experiences beyond that of most nuns of the period - a stint in the infamous Tower of London, witness to the torture of her father and the burning of her cousin, an unlikely alliance with two friars, and even a taste of rather worldly, yet chaste, love.

Imagine if Dan Brown and Victoria Holt collaborated to make a novel and consulted Philippa Gregory on the historical issues, and you may have some idea of what this book has in store for you. The historical element is there - during the course of the story we meet Thomas Howard, Catherine Howard, Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, Bishop Gardiner, Princess Mary, Anne and George Boleyn, and we visit the Tower of London and the apartments of both Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, and the novel is set during the period of the dissolution of the abbeys and monasteries, so the historical background is undeniably there. However, it is just that - the background. It provides the setting for the story rather than being the story itself. The mystical element is there too (hence my Dan Brown reference) - various characters in the story are searching for a relic that supposedly imbues its possessor with a certain power, and there is a race to be the first to lay hands on it. And then there is the human element of love, fear and a range of emotions, a coming of age for the protagonist and an air of suspense that one might be familiar with from the works of Victoria Holt.

All in all, this is a fast paced read and one that I would have no hesitation in recommending.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery and Intrigue in Tudor England 21 Feb 2012
By Mrs. Angela H. Smith
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I am not sure if this is Nancy Bilyeau's first book, but I would like to read more stories by her. The book was a real page turner from the beginning.

The heroine of the story is Sister Joanna Stafford, a novice at Stafford Priory, in the times when the monasteries and religious houses of the old faith were being dissolved. Joanna Stafford, of noble birth leaves the priory in the middle of the night to attend the execution of her beloved cousin Margaret who is to be burned for treason.

Events occur that put her in the company of a young constable Geoffrey Scoville who comes to her aid at the execution when things go awry and as a result, Joanna finds herself imprisoned in the tower of London.

Her father is also arrested and tortured. These events throw her in the path of Bishop Stephen Gardiner who will only release her and allow her to return to her Priory if she does something for him. With her father still imprisoned Joanna had no choice but to comply.

The story has a little of every thing, even a touch of romance considering it is about a novice nun, lol. It is a rich portrayal of a people trying to hold on to a dying way of life and best serve their beliefs with legends and superstitions uncovered along the way.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Historical Thriller 10 Feb 2012
By Doug Solter
Format:Paperback
First off, I loved the strong heroine Sister Joanna. She drives the story forward while struggling between her vows and doing whatever she has to in order to save her father's life. How such a devoted nun deals with this internal struggle adds a deeper layer that slips the reader into Joanne's point-of-view and thus re-enforces the empathy we feel for her.

THE CROWN moves at a fast pace like a good thriller should. I would almost compare it to the concise pace of young adult novel. (Which is meant as a compliment.) The pace keeps you turning pages and never lags.

The historical setting of Tudor England feels so authentic on the pages and helps to ground the reader into the time period. Ms. Bilyeau does a nice job of sprinkling details here and there, using it to spice up the chapters rather than making them bland under a mountain of endless historical detail that would slow a novel down to a crawl.

The characters are strong and diverse. Not one is wasted or overlooked. Each character has a specific purpose in the story and are used to great effect, thus making THE CROWN a very well-balanced book. Setting. Pace. Character. Plot. Story. It's all here. In fact, I think this book will turn some non-history readers into Tudor-England fanatics. Or at least curious enough to google some English history websites.

I look forward to reading more of Ms. Bilyeau's work.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Found Myself Completely Swept Away
I have had the paperback for several months waiting to be read. However, it wasn't until I bought myself a Kindle and purchased the Kindle version that I let myself get swept away... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Josephine Robin
5.0 out of 5 stars The Crown by Nncy Bilyeau
Wow! What a fantastic debut!! Really loved it his book. Our protagonist novice nun, Joanna Stafford, finds herself embroiled with the politicos and danger during the reign of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sue
5.0 out of 5 stars a great historical read
I really enjoyed reading this book, it grabbed my attention early on and became a book I couldn't put down! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ms. T. J. Thomas
3.0 out of 5 stars The Crown
The author is a journalist, and this is her first novel. This book tells a tale of London, 1537. Joanna Stafford, descended from the Stafford Dukes of Buckingham, escapes from... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Keen Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars The Crown
The Crown is Nancy Bilyeau's debut historical fiction novel. The Crown is the story of Dominican Nun, Joanna Stafford, caught in political maneuverings during the reign of Henry... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Darlene Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent historical novel
There are so many new novels set in Tudor times nowadays that it is tempting to pass them by. Although Nancy Bilyeau is a new novelist she is by no means a new writer, having been... Read more
Published 4 months ago by John M R Males
5.0 out of 5 stars Sir Read-A-Lot's Review
Stories surrounding King Henry VIII, his wives and the Reformation are plentiful but what makes Nancy Bilyeau's debut novel so different, is that it is just that - different! Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sir Read-A-Lot
5.0 out of 5 stars Move over C J Sansom - make room for Ms Bilyeau.
The Crown tells the story of Joanna, a novice at Dartford Priory during a turbulent time in history. Read more
Published 11 months ago by P. Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Super Sister Act!
This is a very good read. The historical context is genuine: the Dissolution happened and the many viable, decent monasteries and religious houses (which formed the basis of a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by EleanorB
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic historical thriller
This book gripped me from the start, but then it got better and better and culminated in a couple of twists that I would never ever have expected. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Charlie Watson
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