The Crown
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Product Description
Review
Fabulous debut thriller (inStyle UK )
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 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 )
Book Description
For secrets this deadly, blood will dye the throne of a nation...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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.
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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.
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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.
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
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 24 days ago by EleanorB
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 26 days ago by Charlie Watson
Historical fiction at its best
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a real page turner from start to finish.
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the book focuses on Sister Joanna Stafford, a novice... Read more
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the book focuses on Sister Joanna Stafford, a novice... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Leckie
Nancy's Crown
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau
If I hadn't been lucky enough to win my copy of Nancy Bilyeau's The Crown in a book giveaway I would have bought myself a copy so I dropped... Read more
If I hadn't been lucky enough to win my copy of Nancy Bilyeau's The Crown in a book giveaway I would have bought myself a copy so I dropped... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Arnopp
A Pure Joy to read
Having recently read a thriller that great disappointed, I was more than satisfied when I picked up a Historical Fiction title that not only brought together the elements of the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Historical fiction at its best...
This fascinating historical novel is set in 1537, during the turbulent middle years of the reign of Henry VIII, when enemies lingered on street corners, and to profess your... Read more
Published 2 months ago by jaffareadstoo
An entertaining historical thriller set in Tudor England
Nancy Bilyeau's first novel, The Crown, is a historical mystery set during the Tudor period, beginning just before the death of Henry VIII's third wife Jane Seymour. Read more
Published 2 months ago by H. Skinner
Historical Novel
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that had me glued to the page from the start, it used accurate historical facts and linked them to the mystery that enfolded. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lover of Books
Not a bad book, could do with picking a genre....
As other reviewers have said, it's a fairly fast-paced run through a Tudor-based murder mystery. I'll leave aside the likelihood of a minor noblewoman in her novitiate being able... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lorna
A new slant on a 'Tudorlit' novel
The Crown is page-turner of a novel. It is set in the reign of Henry VIII and has as the heroine a high born girl who , for reasons we find out through the novel, has taken to the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Perfectbub
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