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Had The Queen Lived:
This fictional what if thriller is the first in a series by author Raven A. Nuckols that examines the life and times of Queen Anne Boleyn, her heirs and explores what might have happened had she not been executed in May 1536. Anne was the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, serving from 1533-1536 until she was beheaded on false charges of treason, adultery, and incest with her brother, as she was accused by Thomas Cromwell, the Lord Privy Seal. Prior to her tragic downfall, Anne was the main catalyst for England's break with the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. Henry's intense passion for her, fed by her refusals, ignited a fire that tore the country apart. This book evaluates the history of how different England might have been had factors leading up to her execution not have happened. Would Anne have continued her passion for religious reforms? Would she eventually have made enemies of Cromwell? What would have become of her friends and enemies? Would she have given Henry the longed-for male heir? What would have become of Elizabeth? All of these questions and more are answered!
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 22, 2015
It's been a few years since I read this, but I remember reading a scene in which Anne Boleyn shared a cup of tea with Cromwell. Also Anne gave her maids pay checks. Hmm.
September 22, 2016
Raven A. Nuckols' alternate history Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn is a most interesting conceit. Written in the form of a history rather than a fiction, it puts forward an imagined Tudor history in which Anne Boleyn was not tried and executed for adultery and treason, but instead lived to be Henry VIII's consort throughout his reign.
Nuckols takes as her point of divergence the fateful tournament held during Anne's pregnancy, in which Henry and his brother-in-law Charles Brandon faced each other in a friendly joust gone seriously awry. In 'our' history, Henry was injured and rendered unconscious - in fact, was initially thought to be dead. It is generally held that the shock of being told this was a major cause of her miscarriage of what appeared to be a healthy male fetus. Losing Henry's desperately wanted male heir left Anne vulnerable to both Henry's fears that this marriage too was cursed, and the political machinations that ultimately led to her trial and execution.
In Nuckols' alternate history, it is Brandon who suffers the near-fatal injury. Anne goes on to bear a healthy son and thus retains her position as Henry's wife and her influence over the governance of the kingdom.
The conceit is interesting, as are the ways in which Nuckols imagines Anne's continued influence would have changed the events of Henry's reign. As a thought experiment, it was enjoyable reading. One might not agree with the path Nuckols imagines for Henry and Anne during the course of a long and tempestuous marriage in which Anne actively sought to influence policy, but the effort involved in researching the possibilities is impressive.
Unfortunately, Nuckols is not the best of prose stylists - to put it mildly - and the book sadly lacks a good proofreader. The text is riddled with grammatical and typographic errors, incomplete sentences, and other issues that make reading a bit of a chore. But I persevered and was not unhappy to have done so.
Nuckols takes as her point of divergence the fateful tournament held during Anne's pregnancy, in which Henry and his brother-in-law Charles Brandon faced each other in a friendly joust gone seriously awry. In 'our' history, Henry was injured and rendered unconscious - in fact, was initially thought to be dead. It is generally held that the shock of being told this was a major cause of her miscarriage of what appeared to be a healthy male fetus. Losing Henry's desperately wanted male heir left Anne vulnerable to both Henry's fears that this marriage too was cursed, and the political machinations that ultimately led to her trial and execution.
In Nuckols' alternate history, it is Brandon who suffers the near-fatal injury. Anne goes on to bear a healthy son and thus retains her position as Henry's wife and her influence over the governance of the kingdom.
The conceit is interesting, as are the ways in which Nuckols imagines Anne's continued influence would have changed the events of Henry's reign. As a thought experiment, it was enjoyable reading. One might not agree with the path Nuckols imagines for Henry and Anne during the course of a long and tempestuous marriage in which Anne actively sought to influence policy, but the effort involved in researching the possibilities is impressive.
Unfortunately, Nuckols is not the best of prose stylists - to put it mildly - and the book sadly lacks a good proofreader. The text is riddled with grammatical and typographic errors, incomplete sentences, and other issues that make reading a bit of a chore. But I persevered and was not unhappy to have done so.
January 14, 2020
Great read
Very imaginative although I think real history books wouldn’t have been so certain about so many events. Particularly in instances where Anne’s influence was supposed to be more hidden
Very imaginative although I think real history books wouldn’t have been so certain about so many events. Particularly in instances where Anne’s influence was supposed to be more hidden
September 18, 2024
I loved this book. It is an interesting twist on what if—how history could have been so different. I devoured it when it came out. I don't think I even still have it, but I would totally purchase it again now that I am in a huge reading phase and read it again!
December 15, 2020
Interesting, but slightly disappointing. I didn't think going into it that it would actually be written like a historical biography. I was hoping for something a little more fiction-y. Ah well.
March 7, 2015
This book had a lot going for it tackling one of the biggest 'What Ifs' in Tudor History, this time being if Anne Boleyn had not miscarried her son. The writer opted to treat this as though it was an actual historical fact. I do not mind reading a fictional-meta story like this, but unfortunately 'Had the Queen Lived' is simply poorly written.
The divergence in this book was that rather than Henry suffering from a jousting accident (which historically had been attributed as one of the main cause of Anne's final miscarriage), was that his friend, Charles Brandon who was injured instead. From there the book wrote about how this accident brought the royal couple together and thus led to Anne carrying her pregnancy to term and gave birth to the longed for son.
The story however plodded and stumbled. The writing repeats itself (take a drink every time the sentence: "Anne was livid" is used, you'd be plastered before the book is finished), and the structure jumps from one story to another. It's as if Nuckols wanted to tell so many stories about how Anne's survival, affected the whole of Europe but can't decide if she wanted to be an actual faux-historical book or a historical fiction novel. This create such a clash of tones that leaves you frustrated.
We have Anne the angry, righteous Reformer, Henry, who is as flawed as ever, and new characters who are propped as just another obstacle for the couple to overcome. It reads like a terrible romance novel, with a heart-sick Mistress who doesn't want Henry, to a devout Catholic man who only serves to make Henry's Reformation look good and spends so little on how Anne's survival affects England. It treads on familiar grounds (like the Pilgrimage of Grace) but doesn't seem to want to actually go beyond its comfort zone. If it gets in the way of Anne's children being the perfect pair, you'd get killed. The fact that Lady Mary is removed in such a hackneyed manner (a young girl who made a foolish decision that does not reflect how this girl would be in real life) speaks volumes.
It reads, like a subpar "Anne Lives!" fanfiction that's given publication and it was simply a very disappointing read. I would not recommend this book unless you're looking for something to satiate "Anne Boleyn Lives!" thirst and even then, I'd suggest you look for other (free, even) stories elsewhere.
The divergence in this book was that rather than Henry suffering from a jousting accident (which historically had been attributed as one of the main cause of Anne's final miscarriage), was that his friend, Charles Brandon who was injured instead. From there the book wrote about how this accident brought the royal couple together and thus led to Anne carrying her pregnancy to term and gave birth to the longed for son.
The story however plodded and stumbled. The writing repeats itself (take a drink every time the sentence: "Anne was livid" is used, you'd be plastered before the book is finished), and the structure jumps from one story to another. It's as if Nuckols wanted to tell so many stories about how Anne's survival, affected the whole of Europe but can't decide if she wanted to be an actual faux-historical book or a historical fiction novel. This create such a clash of tones that leaves you frustrated.
We have Anne the angry, righteous Reformer, Henry, who is as flawed as ever, and new characters who are propped as just another obstacle for the couple to overcome. It reads like a terrible romance novel, with a heart-sick Mistress who doesn't want Henry, to a devout Catholic man who only serves to make Henry's Reformation look good and spends so little on how Anne's survival affects England. It treads on familiar grounds (like the Pilgrimage of Grace) but doesn't seem to want to actually go beyond its comfort zone. If it gets in the way of Anne's children being the perfect pair, you'd get killed. The fact that Lady Mary is removed in such a hackneyed manner (a young girl who made a foolish decision that does not reflect how this girl would be in real life) speaks volumes.
It reads, like a subpar "Anne Lives!" fanfiction that's given publication and it was simply a very disappointing read. I would not recommend this book unless you're looking for something to satiate "Anne Boleyn Lives!" thirst and even then, I'd suggest you look for other (free, even) stories elsewhere.
December 6, 2011
A fascinating alternate history of one of the most controversial queens of England. When I first heard about this story, I was thrilled since Anne has always been one of my favorite English queens. I can never get enough books about her.
December 25, 2015
Anne Boleyn has always had a special place in my heart as the figure that lead me to pursue history in earnest. So to say that I was excited to delve into this book was an understatement. It seemed like the ultimate fix-it story and having it structured as a non-fiction actual historical book seemed to add to its uniqueness.
The writing veered towards simplistic at times, but it made the story flow easily enough that I was willing to overlook it. What was harder to overlook was that the whole novel was written as one great, big Anne Boleyn apologist text. Anne's notorious temper and sharp tongue are featured, at the very least, but the downfalls of her enemies are often exaggerated beyond belief.
And, but of course, Jane Boleyn isn't mentioned unless it's to fashion her the horrible wife again with George being the homosexual again. I love queer representation, it's a major feature in my own writing, but so many disproven facts were dragged through this retelling that there were moments where I had to skip through pages altogether.
The writing veered towards simplistic at times, but it made the story flow easily enough that I was willing to overlook it. What was harder to overlook was that the whole novel was written as one great, big Anne Boleyn apologist text. Anne's notorious temper and sharp tongue are featured, at the very least, but the downfalls of her enemies are often exaggerated beyond belief.
And, but of course, Jane Boleyn isn't mentioned unless it's to fashion her the horrible wife again with George being the homosexual again. I love queer representation, it's a major feature in my own writing, but so many disproven facts were dragged through this retelling that there were moments where I had to skip through pages altogether.
May 8, 2015
Reading this book for the second time now. I read this book for the first time about two years ago. I’m going to be honest: I myself didn’t buy your novel because my mother gave it to me for reading (both mother and I are obsessed with the Tudor period and Anne Boleyn in particular), so my mother bought it.
I think this novel is a fascinating view on Anne Boleyn’s fate. Anne Boleyn doesn’t die in May 1536 and she gives birth to King Henry VIII’s son. Raven A. Nuckols has a fabulous way of keeping a keen reader of the Tudor biographies entertained and hooked even if at times you may think that you’re reading something more like a fundamental historical manuscript, but these parts are necessary and prove that the author made a deep research into the English Reformation and the history of the Tudor period. The novel is extremely well-researched, which I always value very much in historical fiction.
I’m glad that I read this book and learnt what could have happened if Anne had survived and had given birth to Henry’s son. This is a good book for numerous fans of Anne Boleyn.
I think this novel is a fascinating view on Anne Boleyn’s fate. Anne Boleyn doesn’t die in May 1536 and she gives birth to King Henry VIII’s son. Raven A. Nuckols has a fabulous way of keeping a keen reader of the Tudor biographies entertained and hooked even if at times you may think that you’re reading something more like a fundamental historical manuscript, but these parts are necessary and prove that the author made a deep research into the English Reformation and the history of the Tudor period. The novel is extremely well-researched, which I always value very much in historical fiction.
I’m glad that I read this book and learnt what could have happened if Anne had survived and had given birth to Henry’s son. This is a good book for numerous fans of Anne Boleyn.
August 13, 2015
I love Anne Boleyn and I had high hopes for this book, especially considering the subject matter. If Anne Boleyn had lived, what might her contributions to English life have been?
Unfortunately, however, this book was like an obstacle course littered with bad grammar, sentence structure and even spelling. (In two back to back sentences, the writer can't seem to decide if one man's name is Dacre or Darce, as both spellings are given. This same example shows up again just a few paragraphs later. )
As if those issues alone weren't enough, this book rambles... and badly at that. I kept getting caught up in wondering if this "author" was simply fangiring or if this was an attempt at seriousness. After Web searching Ms. Nuckols, I'm honestly still not sure.
In all honesty, I made it to the 48% mark and just gave up, and I rarely do that and never with anything Tudor related. I'm sorry to say that I don't think that true fans of Anne Boleyn or Tudor history will enjoy this. I know I didn't.
Unfortunately, however, this book was like an obstacle course littered with bad grammar, sentence structure and even spelling. (In two back to back sentences, the writer can't seem to decide if one man's name is Dacre or Darce, as both spellings are given. This same example shows up again just a few paragraphs later. )
As if those issues alone weren't enough, this book rambles... and badly at that. I kept getting caught up in wondering if this "author" was simply fangiring or if this was an attempt at seriousness. After Web searching Ms. Nuckols, I'm honestly still not sure.
In all honesty, I made it to the 48% mark and just gave up, and I rarely do that and never with anything Tudor related. I'm sorry to say that I don't think that true fans of Anne Boleyn or Tudor history will enjoy this. I know I didn't.
January 28, 2012
This is a fantastic book for a first-time author. Ms Nuckols makes the characters come alive with a very readable writing style. It is obvious that she has done her research - I studied Elizabethan history in college and cannot find any flaws - and is actually excited about her topics, which is a far cry from what you get from some historian who merely bangs out a book to bring in a dollar or two.
The story is entirely plausible, and although I may have questioned what happens in the end (not going to spoil it for those of you who buy the book!), I can now see that given the times that this was set in, it may well have happened "Had the Queen Lived".
Buy this book if you are a (both real or alternative) history fan, or just enjoy a good read! For the romantics among us, this also reads as a love story for the ages ...
The story is entirely plausible, and although I may have questioned what happens in the end (not going to spoil it for those of you who buy the book!), I can now see that given the times that this was set in, it may well have happened "Had the Queen Lived".
Buy this book if you are a (both real or alternative) history fan, or just enjoy a good read! For the romantics among us, this also reads as a love story for the ages ...
September 23, 2013
I love to imagine what if Anne Boleyn gave birth to a son and when I found this book that is the alternative universe, I immediately read this. It was off a good start and the storyline declined after she gave birth to a son. I'm a fan of Princess Mary (Bloody Mary) so it was difficult to read the scene when After that, I felt Anne became a villain, rather than ambition. I liked how Anne reformed some of the ideas that lead to today as I'd imagine she would if she survived. Another thing that bothered me is the actions feels irrelevant to the era. Besides of typos and grammar errors, this book is pretty good for casual reading. I'd recommend this book to Anne fan and dislike Mary.
April 16, 2012
I was quite impressed with this. The author obviously did her homework on the history of the period. The ending seemed a little hurried in telling what happened to Anne and Henry's children, but since this book concerned itself with Anne Boleyn's life, and the Author's Note states that she is planning to continue her version of Tudor history with another book, I didn't mind it too much. I would have liked to have seen some of the other historical queens from Henry's life appear, but I can understand keeping them out, since it would likely have muddied the story too much and distracted from what we were meant to focus on - what Anne might have accomplished had she lived.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Looking forward to more from this author.
December 6, 2011
I can't deny I would have loved History to end up like this...I'm too much of an Anne fan for anything else...
March 31, 2012
Absolutely amazing!!!
October 11, 2013
I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, the writing is just terrible. There are grammatical errors galore and a lot of odd repetition. It reads like a rough draft. Disappointed
March 11, 2014
Did not enjoy the alternative story. Not sure what was real and what names and events actually occurred after the point of when she didn't get executed. Plus I think she was a horrid person.
March 14, 2014
Really bad fanfiction.
May 6, 2015
I sm obsessed with Anne Boleyn. This book takes you on the journey of her life if she had not been beheaded. A believable account of how her life might have been.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews