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14 days and 23:49:21
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Henry Tudor Must Die
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Expected 21 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 23:49:21
20 copies available
U.S. only
One queen exiled. Another headed for the gallows. Both hungry for revenge. England’s most infamous queens set out to reclaim their story and unite in vengeance against Henry VIII.
Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne.
Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive…and using their particular skills to advance womankind.
Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court, recruiting the new queens in Henry’s orbit, and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target…
And they want his head.
Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne.
Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive…and using their particular skills to advance womankind.
Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court, recruiting the new queens in Henry’s orbit, and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target…
And they want his head.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
4 people are currently reading
3597 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Laine
1 book22 followersJillian Laine is an author and journalist. She has written multiple children’s books and has worked as an acquisitions editor, book festival director, and literary award judge. She and her husband live with their pride of cats in the Great Lakes State. Henry Tudor Must Die is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 12, 2026
It’s like “Six” but if it was a play and had witch craft.
I enjoyed the multiple queen POV.
Loved the Hellebore sisterhood and how they all worked together. I liked how Jillian weaved their various lives and timelines to cross over, grow and age together. Tudor Woman - and the injustice of it all - is my Roman Empire.
Whilst Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were usually my fave, in this it was Anna Von Kleave. She was cleaver, witty, resourceful, adaptable, resilient and very aware of her circumstance/power (or lack thereof).
The relationships, friendships and support that was built in the story was lovely to see. But to also see that there could have been circumstances that these queens would have got on, if allowed.
I enjoyed the multiple queen POV.
Loved the Hellebore sisterhood and how they all worked together. I liked how Jillian weaved their various lives and timelines to cross over, grow and age together. Tudor Woman - and the injustice of it all - is my Roman Empire.
Whilst Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were usually my fave, in this it was Anna Von Kleave. She was cleaver, witty, resourceful, adaptable, resilient and very aware of her circumstance/power (or lack thereof).
The relationships, friendships and support that was built in the story was lovely to see. But to also see that there could have been circumstances that these queens would have got on, if allowed.
January 5, 2026
I loved this book and couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed reading about this time period from the queens’ perspectives. Badass women, a bit of magic, and a revenge plot? Yes, please!
Want to read
January 30, 2026Um, I NEED this book. Alt-history taking down serial killer (yes, he was, let's call a spade a spade) Henry Tudor? YES FREAKING PLEASE.
2026
February 10, 2026📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
February 8, 2026
History… but make it witchy, rebellious, and ridiculously addictive 👑🔥
I absolutely LOVED Henry Tudor Must Die. Give me historical fiction ANY day… but add witchcraft, powerful women, revenge energy, and a bit of Tudor drama? I’m SOLD 😍
This felt fresh and bold, like history finally letting the women grab the quill (and maybe a spell book 😉)
Anne Boleyn with attitude, magic woven into real events, and that constant tension of what if history had gone differently? Chef’s kiss.
It’s clever, atmospheric, slightly dark, and honestly so satisfying watching these women take control of their narrative. I flew through it way faster than expected because I just needed to know how it would all unfold.
If you love:
✨ Historical fiction with a twist
✨ Strong female characters
✨ A touch of witchcraft/magic
✨ Tudor intrigue & revenge plots
…this needs to be on your TBR immediately.
Historical fiction + witchy vibes = my perfect combo. More like this please 🙌📚
Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC 😊
#HenryTudorMustDie
I absolutely LOVED Henry Tudor Must Die. Give me historical fiction ANY day… but add witchcraft, powerful women, revenge energy, and a bit of Tudor drama? I’m SOLD 😍
This felt fresh and bold, like history finally letting the women grab the quill (and maybe a spell book 😉)
Anne Boleyn with attitude, magic woven into real events, and that constant tension of what if history had gone differently? Chef’s kiss.
It’s clever, atmospheric, slightly dark, and honestly so satisfying watching these women take control of their narrative. I flew through it way faster than expected because I just needed to know how it would all unfold.
If you love:
✨ Historical fiction with a twist
✨ Strong female characters
✨ A touch of witchcraft/magic
✨ Tudor intrigue & revenge plots
…this needs to be on your TBR immediately.
Historical fiction + witchy vibes = my perfect combo. More like this please 🙌📚
Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC 😊
#HenryTudorMustDie
Review of advance copy received from Author
What do you get when you take a pre-bedtime conversation about the injustices suffered by the wives of Henry VIII and add a mention of Quentin Tarantino’s masterful World War II retelling Inglourious Basterds? When you have a wife as talented as Jillian, you get Henry Tudor Must Die.
I love a story that rights a historical wrong, and I loved the idea for this book from the moment, at the end of that aforementioned conversation, when Jillian told me she was going to write it. A lot of years and a lot of drafts followed, but the core idea of the story – a group of women finding sisterhood and strength in the face of a cruel abuser/oppressor – remained both badass and beautiful every step of the way.
The finished novel is fierce, fun, and full of unforgettable characters. And yes, the titular menace getting his ultimate comeuppance is a cathartic moment for the ages. But it’s the getting there that makes this book (in my completely-not-biased opinion!) a must-read. I’m so glad it’s finally seeing the light of day for others to enjoy.
(I am also happy to inform that the sequel kicks butt.)
I love a story that rights a historical wrong, and I loved the idea for this book from the moment, at the end of that aforementioned conversation, when Jillian told me she was going to write it. A lot of years and a lot of drafts followed, but the core idea of the story – a group of women finding sisterhood and strength in the face of a cruel abuser/oppressor – remained both badass and beautiful every step of the way.
The finished novel is fierce, fun, and full of unforgettable characters. And yes, the titular menace getting his ultimate comeuppance is a cathartic moment for the ages. But it’s the getting there that makes this book (in my completely-not-biased opinion!) a must-read. I’m so glad it’s finally seeing the light of day for others to enjoy.
(I am also happy to inform that the sequel kicks butt.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you’re looking for a fantasy read that’s fresh, fun, and a little witchy, Henry Tudor Must Die is it! I laughed out loud on page two and knew I was in for a treat. Honestly, I’d been feeling burnt out on fantasy lately, but this book single-handedly restored my faith in the genre.
The author takes the story of Henry VIII and gives it a magical twist that feels clever and original without being over-the-top. The humor is sharp, the pacing is spot-on, and the characters strike the perfect balance between historical and fantastical. For a debut, this is seriously impressive—I never re-read books, but I’ll be diving into this one again.
If you love historical fantasy with a side of sass and spells, read this book immediately!
The author takes the story of Henry VIII and gives it a magical twist that feels clever and original without being over-the-top. The humor is sharp, the pacing is spot-on, and the characters strike the perfect balance between historical and fantastical. For a debut, this is seriously impressive—I never re-read books, but I’ll be diving into this one again.
If you love historical fantasy with a side of sass and spells, read this book immediately!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really interesting take on the her-story of the wives of Henry VIII with masses of feminism and magick. The story starts with Lina (Catherine of Aragon) rescuing Anne Boleyn at the time of her execution. The story is heavily focused on sisterhood, the power of women and badass magickal plans. I love Six The Musical and couldn’t help thinking of these characters all the way through the book. With the climax of the book you will not be able to stop humming “Sorry Not Sorry”!
4.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
4.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Off with his head!"
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews