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Quick Review: "The Boleyn Deceit" by Laura Andersen



From Goodreads:  Henry IX, known as William, is the son of Anne Boleyn and now the leader of England, his regency period finally at an end. His newfound power, however, comes with the looming specter of war with the other major powers of Europe, with strategic alliances that must be forged on both the battlefield and in the bedroom, and with a court, severed by religion, rife with plots to take over the throne. Will trusts only three people: his older sister, Elizabeth; his best friend and loyal counselor, Dominic; and Minuette, a young orphan raised as a royal ward by Anne Boleyn. But as the pressure rises alongside the threat to his life, even they William must begin to question-and to fear....

My Thoughts: I really love this trilogy so far!  I haven't read many 'alternate history' books but I think Ms. Andersen has really out done herself. The whole Anne Boleyn/Henry VIII story has been done to death but with this alternate version of history, Andersen breathes new life into it.  It seems that she must have done an extensive amount of research because she does an amazing job of incorporating real historical figures into the story and making them part of her version of history.

All of the main characters are really fascinating.  I love Minuette and Dominic and I think Andersen did a great job of portraying Elizabeth.  I do wish that as a reader, I could get to know William more.  It seems like there is a lot more focus on Minuette, Dominic and Elizabeth than on William and he is seen more through the eyes of other characters. 

There is a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of this book that makes it impossible for me not to read the next one.  I can't wait to see how everything, and everyone one, turns out and am eager to see what else Andersen has up her sleeve in the future.  4 stars.
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