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The House of Boleyn
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26“Historical fiction at its absolute best.”—Alison Weir
Acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII
When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten. His daughters Mary and Anne were young then, and though he was ambitious for his family to prosper, he could not imagine what would transpire in the two decades to come.
Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family’s three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life. Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colorful tableau in which familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne’s ever-loyal attendant Esther Frideswide and Thomas Boleyn’s perfidious steward Robert Cranwell are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of the royal court. Henry VIII pursues Anne relentlessly, showering her with gifts as the Boleyns are catapulted to political prominence. But when she can’t give him the son and heir he desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible and bloody fate. With lavish and compelling historical detail, Tracy Borman displays her keen gift for storytelling in this resonant novel of family, fate, and intrigue.
Acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII
When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten. His daughters Mary and Anne were young then, and though he was ambitious for his family to prosper, he could not imagine what would transpire in the two decades to come.
Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family’s three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life. Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colorful tableau in which familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne’s ever-loyal attendant Esther Frideswide and Thomas Boleyn’s perfidious steward Robert Cranwell are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of the royal court. Henry VIII pursues Anne relentlessly, showering her with gifts as the Boleyns are catapulted to political prominence. But when she can’t give him the son and heir he desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible and bloody fate. With lavish and compelling historical detail, Tracy Borman displays her keen gift for storytelling in this resonant novel of family, fate, and intrigue.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Tracy Borman
28 books963 followersTracy Borman, PhD, FRHistS, FSA is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth's Women.
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 7, 2026
4.5⭐️
I just love reading about this time in history and, even though I am very familiar with Anne’s story, I always look forward to reading different interpretations of it.
I found this such a fascinating narrative as it takes a look at the whole of the Boleyn family - including Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret. Little is known of the servants who waited on the Boleyn family at Hever Castle, but it was very interesting to see the author’s interpretation of what their life would have been like too.
The story begins in 1512, with a young Anne, and each chapter moves forward in time - sometimes within the same month, and sometimes a few years. It did take me a while to become familiar with all the names and relationships again and, if you’re not familiar with the Boleyn family tree, it would be better reading this book with a family tree in front of you.
The narrative is raw, gritty and sometimes brutal; combined with beautifully written descriptions of place and setting. It offers a slightly different insight into some of the characters we almost we feel like we know after reading so much about them. Both Anne Boleyn and Jane Rochford, her sister-in-law, are portrayed from a new angle; based on Tracy’s exhaustive research.
I never cease to be intrigued by the shifting loyalties at this time, with so many people only looking out for themselves. It’s a time when gossip and scandal are rampant, and the author has done an exceptional job of bringing this to life.
I’m so glad I had the pleasure of listening to @tracyborman talk about this book, at one of her events, and reading this brought it all back. There’s a comprehensive ‘Author’s Notes’ section at the back of the book, where you can see some of the research and information that Tracy has based this book on. She also lets you know where she has used her imagination.
I absolutely loved reading this one, and can’t recommend it enough for historical fiction fans or readers new to Anne’s story. ❤️❤️
I just love reading about this time in history and, even though I am very familiar with Anne’s story, I always look forward to reading different interpretations of it.
I found this such a fascinating narrative as it takes a look at the whole of the Boleyn family - including Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret. Little is known of the servants who waited on the Boleyn family at Hever Castle, but it was very interesting to see the author’s interpretation of what their life would have been like too.
The story begins in 1512, with a young Anne, and each chapter moves forward in time - sometimes within the same month, and sometimes a few years. It did take me a while to become familiar with all the names and relationships again and, if you’re not familiar with the Boleyn family tree, it would be better reading this book with a family tree in front of you.
The narrative is raw, gritty and sometimes brutal; combined with beautifully written descriptions of place and setting. It offers a slightly different insight into some of the characters we almost we feel like we know after reading so much about them. Both Anne Boleyn and Jane Rochford, her sister-in-law, are portrayed from a new angle; based on Tracy’s exhaustive research.
I never cease to be intrigued by the shifting loyalties at this time, with so many people only looking out for themselves. It’s a time when gossip and scandal are rampant, and the author has done an exceptional job of bringing this to life.
I’m so glad I had the pleasure of listening to @tracyborman talk about this book, at one of her events, and reading this brought it all back. There’s a comprehensive ‘Author’s Notes’ section at the back of the book, where you can see some of the research and information that Tracy has based this book on. She also lets you know where she has used her imagination.
I absolutely loved reading this one, and can’t recommend it enough for historical fiction fans or readers new to Anne’s story. ❤️❤️
May 13, 2026
I feel like it’s been ages since this was announced and I was dying to get my hands on a copy! I’m so glad I’ve finished it now, before my trip to Hever Castle next week. Borman’s research, as always, is meticulous, and I always love a detailed Author’s Note at the end with historical fiction, explaining what has been changed and why, what is known and what is fiction. I think for those less familiar with the period, it draws clean lines.
I loved how it had a Downton Abbey feel with an upstairs / downstairs thing, though it did take me a while to get used to the changing points of view from chapter to chapter, but once I did, I raced through it. I think I read the last two-thirds in a single sitting! Of course, the cover is gorgeous, with the red ivy which adorns Hever Castle in the autumn, with the B necklace and the falcon. You can tell that Borman has spent a lot of time at Hever and talking to those who know the castle well, as it really comes to life in her writing. It’s almost a character in itself in the novel.
The meld of characters we know from history with those who were fictionalised or based on a real character but with a fictionalised personality, worked really well, and often it was difficult to tell the real from the made-up, which is a mark of a great historical fiction writer. Borman immerses you in Tudor England through the characters. We see the vulnerability of Anne Boleyn, her uncertainty, and fear. Jane Boleyn is often portrayed as a villain, but we see a softer and more sympathetic portrayal of her here. Thomas Boleyn is often shown to be grasping and ambitious, pushing his daughters at the king, but we know he wasn’t happy about Anne’s marriage to the king, and we see his fears here. It was also good to see more of Margaret Boleyn, Thomas’ father, who doesn’t often seem to appear in the history books.
Of the fictionalised characters, I adored Esther and her devotion to Anne, and the Boleyn family more generally. Towards the end I enjoyed seeing Esther’s burgeoning relationship with Jane Boleyn. Cranwell, the steward, we know was real, but we know very little, and Borman has made him into the villain of the piece, working against the Boleyns. We see the divisions in the Boleyn household through their servants, which works really well.
Overall, I loved it. Tracy Borman is honestly a genius with this book, giving us a view of the Boleyn family which is new. The focus is often on the court itself in Tudor novels, but setting the entire book at Hever Castle allows opinions to spread and distort, the waiting for news to build tension, even when we know the history, and us to see the characters in a more relaxed home space, the private rather than the public, and imagine what might really have been said and done behind the walls of Hever Castle when the Boleyns were in residence.
I loved how it had a Downton Abbey feel with an upstairs / downstairs thing, though it did take me a while to get used to the changing points of view from chapter to chapter, but once I did, I raced through it. I think I read the last two-thirds in a single sitting! Of course, the cover is gorgeous, with the red ivy which adorns Hever Castle in the autumn, with the B necklace and the falcon. You can tell that Borman has spent a lot of time at Hever and talking to those who know the castle well, as it really comes to life in her writing. It’s almost a character in itself in the novel.
The meld of characters we know from history with those who were fictionalised or based on a real character but with a fictionalised personality, worked really well, and often it was difficult to tell the real from the made-up, which is a mark of a great historical fiction writer. Borman immerses you in Tudor England through the characters. We see the vulnerability of Anne Boleyn, her uncertainty, and fear. Jane Boleyn is often portrayed as a villain, but we see a softer and more sympathetic portrayal of her here. Thomas Boleyn is often shown to be grasping and ambitious, pushing his daughters at the king, but we know he wasn’t happy about Anne’s marriage to the king, and we see his fears here. It was also good to see more of Margaret Boleyn, Thomas’ father, who doesn’t often seem to appear in the history books.
Of the fictionalised characters, I adored Esther and her devotion to Anne, and the Boleyn family more generally. Towards the end I enjoyed seeing Esther’s burgeoning relationship with Jane Boleyn. Cranwell, the steward, we know was real, but we know very little, and Borman has made him into the villain of the piece, working against the Boleyns. We see the divisions in the Boleyn household through their servants, which works really well.
Overall, I loved it. Tracy Borman is honestly a genius with this book, giving us a view of the Boleyn family which is new. The focus is often on the court itself in Tudor novels, but setting the entire book at Hever Castle allows opinions to spread and distort, the waiting for news to build tension, even when we know the history, and us to see the characters in a more relaxed home space, the private rather than the public, and imagine what might really have been said and done behind the walls of Hever Castle when the Boleyns were in residence.
March 13, 2026
The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman is a great historical fiction that revisits the infamous family.
I just love Ms Borman, and I always enjoy her writing. Normally I read her nonfiction, but interspersed are true gems of fiction.
I enjoyed this visit back to Tudor England and the infamous family that were at the center of it all during those turbulent and pivotal times.
The author keeps things new and fresh, and weaves a story with multiple points of view to give a more rounded effect for the reader and also adds a bit of her own personal flare to the historical story lines.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone that enjoys Tudor-era history.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/4/26.
I just love Ms Borman, and I always enjoy her writing. Normally I read her nonfiction, but interspersed are true gems of fiction.
I enjoyed this visit back to Tudor England and the infamous family that were at the center of it all during those turbulent and pivotal times.
The author keeps things new and fresh, and weaves a story with multiple points of view to give a more rounded effect for the reader and also adds a bit of her own personal flare to the historical story lines.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone that enjoys Tudor-era history.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/4/26.
May 23, 2026
THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN is new historical fiction from British historian and author Tracy Borman, whose name you may recognize as the host of assorted educational documentaries produced by British television and airing on PBS and various streaming services. Awarded three stars but I could go as high as 3.5.
In THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN Borman presents the story of the entire Boleyn clan (briefly covering their origins) but beginning in earnest when infamous Tudor King, Henry VIII's (1491-1547) second wife, Anne Boleyn (1507-1536) is just a child. Anne's unusual intelligence helps her family secure her positions in the Hapsburg regency court of Margaret of Austria (1480-1530) and later, in the French courts of Louis XII (1462-1515) and Francois I (1494-1547). But it's not until she returns to England (after these "internships" )that she captures the attention of Henry VIII.
Having read an embarrassing number of Tudor novels - what strikes me as unique in this story is the author introducing some new motivations, plot twists, relationships, and romances -- which as far as I know are purely conjecture. Borman explains much of where these ideas originated in her Author's Note at the end of the book.
Borman's imaginings DO reframe the Boleyn family story in interesting ways:
• This Anne Boleyn, for example, is deeply attached to a secret true love. Yet she remains practical about her growing position of power, and eager for her family to benefit.
• In this novel, her father, Thomas, primarily wants to protect his much loved daughter, instead of the customary portrayal of a man so determined to advance his own ambition, he doesn't hesitate to sacrifice his family.
• Thomas's son George who is wildly ambitious and hedonistic.
• Anne's mother Elizabeth, sister to the powerful Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554), is often elsewhere nursing her migraines.
• Anne's sister Mary, a former lover of King Henry VIII, remains a minor character.
• And in George's wife, Jane Parker, Borman offers the biggest surprise of all.
Despite enjoying Borman's new and different takes on what motivated each Boleyn, I found this book felt long (368 pages) and the pace slow. Particularly the first half which seemed to last at least as long as Henry's courtship of Anne.
For me THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN reads more like non-fiction than fiction. In other words, a bit dry. But I suppose that might be expected when a novel is written by an historian. I do recommend the novel, particularly to those steeped in Tudor lore. Borman's unique take will give you much to think about.
In THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN Borman presents the story of the entire Boleyn clan (briefly covering their origins) but beginning in earnest when infamous Tudor King, Henry VIII's (1491-1547) second wife, Anne Boleyn (1507-1536) is just a child. Anne's unusual intelligence helps her family secure her positions in the Hapsburg regency court of Margaret of Austria (1480-1530) and later, in the French courts of Louis XII (1462-1515) and Francois I (1494-1547). But it's not until she returns to England (after these "internships" )that she captures the attention of Henry VIII.
Having read an embarrassing number of Tudor novels - what strikes me as unique in this story is the author introducing some new motivations, plot twists, relationships, and romances -- which as far as I know are purely conjecture. Borman explains much of where these ideas originated in her Author's Note at the end of the book.
Borman's imaginings DO reframe the Boleyn family story in interesting ways:
• This Anne Boleyn, for example, is deeply attached to a secret true love. Yet she remains practical about her growing position of power, and eager for her family to benefit.
• In this novel, her father, Thomas, primarily wants to protect his much loved daughter, instead of the customary portrayal of a man so determined to advance his own ambition, he doesn't hesitate to sacrifice his family.
• Thomas's son George who is wildly ambitious and hedonistic.
• Anne's mother Elizabeth, sister to the powerful Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554), is often elsewhere nursing her migraines.
• Anne's sister Mary, a former lover of King Henry VIII, remains a minor character.
• And in George's wife, Jane Parker, Borman offers the biggest surprise of all.
Despite enjoying Borman's new and different takes on what motivated each Boleyn, I found this book felt long (368 pages) and the pace slow. Particularly the first half which seemed to last at least as long as Henry's courtship of Anne.
For me THE HOUSE OF BOLEYN reads more like non-fiction than fiction. In other words, a bit dry. But I suppose that might be expected when a novel is written by an historian. I do recommend the novel, particularly to those steeped in Tudor lore. Borman's unique take will give you much to think about.
February 26, 2026
(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)
When a story has been retold as many times as that of Anne Boleyn, it’s hard to imagine that a fresh take is possible. Yet, historian and writer Tracy Borman has done just that with her novel of the lives of people, real and imagined, who lived, loved, and served at Hever, the Boleyn family home.
Tracing the rise of the family from the childhoods of the three infamous children of Thomas Boleyn, this historical fiction imagines not just the interplay between the members of the Boleyn family but also of those who lived with them at Hever: the trusted (or not) servants of the family.
Borman paints a realistic portrait of a family torn between love for each other and the dangerous allure of power dangled over them by fickle King Henry VIII. Seeing characters who have often been portrayed as distasteful revised into complex and sympathetic humans made me rethink some of the assumptions I’ve made based only on Hollywood retelling of this period of British royal history. I worried and wept with Esther and Jane; I felt the heartbreak of a husband and father discovering he has no power over his life or family; I silently begged Anne to hold her tongue and see the looming threats around her.
An old story retold well, Borman’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to recognize and feel the human element of figures who have been made larger-than-life by their roles in history.
When a story has been retold as many times as that of Anne Boleyn, it’s hard to imagine that a fresh take is possible. Yet, historian and writer Tracy Borman has done just that with her novel of the lives of people, real and imagined, who lived, loved, and served at Hever, the Boleyn family home.
Tracing the rise of the family from the childhoods of the three infamous children of Thomas Boleyn, this historical fiction imagines not just the interplay between the members of the Boleyn family but also of those who lived with them at Hever: the trusted (or not) servants of the family.
Borman paints a realistic portrait of a family torn between love for each other and the dangerous allure of power dangled over them by fickle King Henry VIII. Seeing characters who have often been portrayed as distasteful revised into complex and sympathetic humans made me rethink some of the assumptions I’ve made based only on Hollywood retelling of this period of British royal history. I worried and wept with Esther and Jane; I felt the heartbreak of a husband and father discovering he has no power over his life or family; I silently begged Anne to hold her tongue and see the looming threats around her.
An old story retold well, Borman’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to recognize and feel the human element of figures who have been made larger-than-life by their roles in history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Borman means for you to very much take the title literally, as 'House of Boleyn' is all about events that take place at Hever Castle during the Boleyn ownership period. Its very Downtown Abbey - the huge changes of a time period as observed by the upstairs/downstairs members of a specific place.
Borman takes all the facts - the birth, wedding, death dates, the letters and contracts, the memorial stones and castle upgrades, the medicine and food of the era, etc., and then fills in the gaps with the most soap opera angle possible every time. Every known event is given the most salacious motivation possible, almost to the point of ridiculousness, but it certainly makes for an entertaining read as it refuses almost every time to take a well worn path.
My biggest grip is it gives a VERY misogynist treatment to Mary Boleyn, ignoring all the latest research into what was a more likely situation, but it certainly fits the theme of all things Hever and Boleyn being involved in scandal one way or another.
July 2, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5, but rounded up for good writing style.
This book gave an interesting perspective to events that I know really well. It was very well-written and, of course, well-researched (Borman being one of the chief curators at Hampton Court Palace - listening to her narrate parts of the audioguide tour of HCP while reading this book was doubly fun!). She did insert some fictional characters, as she acknowledges at the end of the book, which I never mind. I didn't love her interpretation of the servant Cranwell's involvement, though, simply because his name is too similar to two other major players at the Tudor court: Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell. Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorite Tudor books.
3.5, but rounded up for good writing style.
This book gave an interesting perspective to events that I know really well. It was very well-written and, of course, well-researched (Borman being one of the chief curators at Hampton Court Palace - listening to her narrate parts of the audioguide tour of HCP while reading this book was doubly fun!). She did insert some fictional characters, as she acknowledges at the end of the book, which I never mind. I didn't love her interpretation of the servant Cranwell's involvement, though, simply because his name is too similar to two other major players at the Tudor court: Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell. Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorite Tudor books.
July 4, 2026
This book was a really refreshing take on the story of the Boleyns' rise and fall during the reign of Henry VIII.
Having read so much about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, I wanted to go into this with no expectations other than the meticulous research for which Tracy Borman is renowned. I've not read any of her other fiction, so I had no basis for comparison, and I was careful not to read any other reviews beforehand.
There are some things we will never know as fact, and that is an author's playground. I liked that themes of sexuality and motive are explored differently from how they have been portrayed before. Thomas Boleyn may not have been the scheming, ambition-without-conscience courtier he is often depicted as, and Lady Jane Rochford may never have spoken openly against her husband or hidden a son or daughter from the fallout that engulfed the family.
I particularly enjoyed that many of our insights into the family come from the servants' perspective. They had just as much to lose from the family's fall from grace and would have formed close connections through their daily service, whether those feelings were of loyalty, affection, or even dislike. Ester's story seemed to bind together the threads of the female leads, and I especially enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Robert Cranwell was written so well that I was left with a lingering sense of dislike for him, and his dismissal at the end of the book felt like a measure of justice amid so many tragic events.
I actually read this book while visiting Hever Castle, and both the castle and its surrounding grounds truly came to life through the story.
I would very much recommend this book, particularly to readers looking for a different perspective on the Boleyn family and their place in Tudor history.
Having read so much about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, I wanted to go into this with no expectations other than the meticulous research for which Tracy Borman is renowned. I've not read any of her other fiction, so I had no basis for comparison, and I was careful not to read any other reviews beforehand.
There are some things we will never know as fact, and that is an author's playground. I liked that themes of sexuality and motive are explored differently from how they have been portrayed before. Thomas Boleyn may not have been the scheming, ambition-without-conscience courtier he is often depicted as, and Lady Jane Rochford may never have spoken openly against her husband or hidden a son or daughter from the fallout that engulfed the family.
I particularly enjoyed that many of our insights into the family come from the servants' perspective. They had just as much to lose from the family's fall from grace and would have formed close connections through their daily service, whether those feelings were of loyalty, affection, or even dislike. Ester's story seemed to bind together the threads of the female leads, and I especially enjoyed reading from her perspective.
Robert Cranwell was written so well that I was left with a lingering sense of dislike for him, and his dismissal at the end of the book felt like a measure of justice amid so many tragic events.
I actually read this book while visiting Hever Castle, and both the castle and its surrounding grounds truly came to life through the story.
I would very much recommend this book, particularly to readers looking for a different perspective on the Boleyn family and their place in Tudor history.
June 25, 2026
Once again Tracy Borman proves to be the Queen of Boleyn history while being a fabulous storyteller, both in fiction and non-fiction.
I enjoyed this take on the Boleyn family history, not just focusing on Anne herself, but those in her family and the household staff.
I enjoyed this take on the Boleyn family history, not just focusing on Anne herself, but those in her family and the household staff.
July 15, 2026
Familiar story, but a different take from the usual
June 30, 2026
Loved this book and especially the parts about Jane Boleyn - always felt she had some ‘bad press’, intriguing notion to think she may have had a son.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After seeing that Janet Wertman had read this book (and reading the description), I thought, "Ooo! That sounds interesting! Let me request this on NetGalley!"
I hesitated when I saw the author was Tracy Borman, but I thought, "Eh, it was just one book. Let me give this a shot."
I honestly need to learn to do better research on my reading, because I've tried more of Tracy's work than I thought.
(Warning: a quote from every one I've tried ahead.)
Eesh. Sorry to the folks at Grove Atlantic who allowed me to have this via NetGalley a few months in advance. I guess I shouldn't have tried reading this. (I almost wasn't going to rate this book as an apology, but there's an issue that I'd rather not ignore.)
~*~
And now for my usual nitpicks and general opinions:
I always find myself checking things when they set off little red flags in my mind. Not that I consider myself a Tudor scholar by any stretch; more that I have an eye for when something doesn’t ring true. The first successful flag was early on in this book: Mary having an abortion in 1513. Having read more Tudor books than I can possibly count in the last 20+ years (I don’t think I even have them all recorded here), you’d think someone would’ve brought it up before this. The only thing I can figure is that Tracy took a little creative license to explain why Thomas Boleyn suddenly pushed for Mary to go to Europe the following year, and also laying the foundation for her reputation as a loose woman at the French court—despite other authors’ insistence that Francis raped her and ruined her reputation.
John de Cobham didn’t build Hever. According to the castle’s website, he only put crenellations on it. It was actually passed down through the de Cobham family for several generations.
The amount of time spent on the sex life of the inhabitants of Hever is annoying. I don’t care who’s bonking who. I wanted to read about the Boleyn family, not the Real Housewives of Hever! (I’m skipping the Cranwell sections from now on. It doesn’t add to the story whatever and he's a giant asshole.)
Apparently the idea that Tom Boleyn probably died of the sweating sickness was too boring for the author, so that's why she made up the thing about Buckingham’s son killing him. I realize if the cause of death is uncertain, you can take liberties like that; but don’t you think that a nobly born boy would know better to push another kid into the river over a simple argument? If he had a reputation of misbehaving that badly, you’d think that the tutor would go out after them to herd them back into the classroom. In the other books I’ve read, tutors of that era didn't brook any bullshit.
I find it interesting that the author invented a whole side story with Margaret Butler’s memory issues, but completely glossed over a major event like the Field of Cloth of Gold. I know Elizabeth Boleyn has never gotten much of a mention in any of the books I’ve read that deal with Anne and her life, but you’d think if there was even a nugget of historical evidence that Elizabeth was a total bitch, someone would’ve seized on it! (Sounds like a total Pippa move, actually!)
There is no way on Goddess's green earth that Anne was simply leading Henry Percy on simply to keep James Butler at bay. If Thomas and Elizabeth were set on Anne marrying James, no amount of dallying with other men would've thrown them off. While it's true that other authors have depicted them meeting at court and had James acting possessive, their betrothal wasn't James's idea, so what would he care if she was making googly eyes at another man?
Although Tracy hinted at it in a previous chapter, twelve is where she finally spelled it out: Jane (Parker) Boleyn is a lesbian.
Not only that, but she got involved with a woman who ended up being sent to be a maid in some faraway place, and rather than Having a Talk with her, the Parkers ignored the whole thing, leaving Jane free to lust after (and get bizarrely attached to) her sister-in-law.
WHAT?!
So she couldn't have helped her in-laws just to get her philandering husband to pay attention to her, and to make sure she got in good with the future queen (I'm sure being chief lady-in-waiting was the most lucrative position possible), she had to be a lesbian?
That's exactly why this is a DNF for me.
And I thought inventing an entire trilogy about a historical figure being accused of witchcraft when she never was was bad!
I hesitated when I saw the author was Tracy Borman, but I thought, "Eh, it was just one book. Let me give this a shot."
I honestly need to learn to do better research on my reading, because I've tried more of Tracy's work than I thought.
(Warning: a quote from every one I've tried ahead.)
...I was under the impression that this book (or rather the trilogy, since I got them as an omnibus) would tell a story of how Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar decided to travel together...Nope. The primary driver of this one is one of three pieces of a staff that Moses once owned, and Gaspar is barely mentioned...(Star of Wonder)
I wanted to hang on until Cato saw Ariella battle, but after six chapters, I gave up. This book just didn't have the same hook as Petra: City of Stone and that's what lost me.(City on Fire)
Isn’t it a little too convenient that just when Cassia is seemingly on death’s doorstep, she has a vision of Jesus and suddenly converts? Just like the final chapter ends a hair too tidily when the love interest’s brother converts!(Petra)
Two people died in the same chapter and I still didn't find it exciting enough!(Isle of Shadows)
First and foremost: FRANCES GORGES WAS NEVER ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT!(The King's Witch)
Are we supposed to think that [Sir] Walter [Raleigh] believes that because Frances was brought up on charges of being a witch, that she is a witch, despite being exonerated? If that's the case, why is he even working with her?(The Devil's Slave)
When writing a book, the author needs to ensure that the reader has a reason to continue, and anyone who has successfully managed to get out of their emo/goth stage will surely not want to continue this dreadful trilogy.(The Fallen Angel)
Eesh. Sorry to the folks at Grove Atlantic who allowed me to have this via NetGalley a few months in advance. I guess I shouldn't have tried reading this. (I almost wasn't going to rate this book as an apology, but there's an issue that I'd rather not ignore.)
~*~
And now for my usual nitpicks and general opinions:
I always find myself checking things when they set off little red flags in my mind. Not that I consider myself a Tudor scholar by any stretch; more that I have an eye for when something doesn’t ring true. The first successful flag was early on in this book: Mary having an abortion in 1513. Having read more Tudor books than I can possibly count in the last 20+ years (I don’t think I even have them all recorded here), you’d think someone would’ve brought it up before this. The only thing I can figure is that Tracy took a little creative license to explain why Thomas Boleyn suddenly pushed for Mary to go to Europe the following year, and also laying the foundation for her reputation as a loose woman at the French court—despite other authors’ insistence that Francis raped her and ruined her reputation.
John de Cobham didn’t build Hever. According to the castle’s website, he only put crenellations on it. It was actually passed down through the de Cobham family for several generations.
The amount of time spent on the sex life of the inhabitants of Hever is annoying. I don’t care who’s bonking who. I wanted to read about the Boleyn family, not the Real Housewives of Hever! (I’m skipping the Cranwell sections from now on. It doesn’t add to the story whatever and he's a giant asshole.)
Apparently the idea that Tom Boleyn probably died of the sweating sickness was too boring for the author, so that's why she made up the thing about Buckingham’s son killing him. I realize if the cause of death is uncertain, you can take liberties like that; but don’t you think that a nobly born boy would know better to push another kid into the river over a simple argument? If he had a reputation of misbehaving that badly, you’d think that the tutor would go out after them to herd them back into the classroom. In the other books I’ve read, tutors of that era didn't brook any bullshit.
I find it interesting that the author invented a whole side story with Margaret Butler’s memory issues, but completely glossed over a major event like the Field of Cloth of Gold. I know Elizabeth Boleyn has never gotten much of a mention in any of the books I’ve read that deal with Anne and her life, but you’d think if there was even a nugget of historical evidence that Elizabeth was a total bitch, someone would’ve seized on it! (Sounds like a total Pippa move, actually!)
There is no way on Goddess's green earth that Anne was simply leading Henry Percy on simply to keep James Butler at bay. If Thomas and Elizabeth were set on Anne marrying James, no amount of dallying with other men would've thrown them off. While it's true that other authors have depicted them meeting at court and had James acting possessive, their betrothal wasn't James's idea, so what would he care if she was making googly eyes at another man?
Although Tracy hinted at it in a previous chapter, twelve is where she finally spelled it out: Jane (Parker) Boleyn is a lesbian.
Not only that, but she got involved with a woman who ended up being sent to be a maid in some faraway place, and rather than Having a Talk with her, the Parkers ignored the whole thing, leaving Jane free to lust after (and get bizarrely attached to) her sister-in-law.
WHAT?!
So she couldn't have helped her in-laws just to get her philandering husband to pay attention to her, and to make sure she got in good with the future queen (I'm sure being chief lady-in-waiting was the most lucrative position possible), she had to be a lesbian?
That's exactly why this is a DNF for me.
And I thought inventing an entire trilogy about a historical figure being accused of witchcraft when she never was was bad!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every book that seeks to retell an infamous person or moment in history has to find its own hook, its reason to distinguish itself from the rest that crowd the market.
So it is with 'The House of Boleyn' which makes the choice to have almost all the action take place at Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. This gives us the chance to delve into the lives of the servants who work for the Boleyn's to differing degrees of success. I have to admit, all the maids blended into one character in my mind and while I know one of them went on an adventure, I couldn't tell you how her character was any different to any of the others.
The weakness in this idea becomes apparent in the second half of the book. All the momentous events are happening at court where Henry and Anne are, so not only are we left with secondary characters but we are forced to hear about events at one step removed. There is so much 'telling' over 'showing' because of the choice to anchor the story there. Having two women gossiping over things such as Elizabeth's birth, Catherine's death etc does sort of make it less interesting. The same with Thomas Boleyn (depicted here as a good, well meaning father who doesn't want Anne to marry the King, but merely be happy) reading a letter from Anne about dramatic events.
I have to wonder what was the point in pretending Margaret Butler had memory issues in order to seize her inheritance, only to have her then instantly collapse into really having those issues? Why not just have that to start with? All it does is labour the point that certain characters are evil. And there is enough of that. There is no subtly here, no shades of grey. The villains are truly wicked, black through and through.
There were plenty of odd choices, some desire to stoke up drama at Hever itself perhaps but inventing all manner of murder, betrayal and blackmail. The Boleyn's lives were dramatic enough, yet those events are all but brushed aside because they didn't happen at Hever.
Also Jane Boleyn (nee Parker) was... well few characters in this book bare much resemblance to their historical counterparts but Jane I think was done the worst. There were some major hints about her sexuality that went absolutely nowhere and did nothing for the plot or the character, or even her motivations for anything. She started out well but by the end of it she had done things directly opposite to what we know she did.
These people were messy, they did good and bad, but you wouldn't know that to read this book. In this book all the Boleyn's were completely innocent, good people who were eventually betrayed by people they should have been able to trust except for one who married in and then their loyalties were of course to their own house over the new one, even with children involved.
Some of the scenes were beautifully written, I loved the relationship between Anne and her grandmother, it was great to see her have that support and support someone in return. I also like any book that shows Henry as the horrible man he was, so bonus points there. There is clearly a lot of love of Hever Castle in the writer's heart, as it is so magically conjured up. The epilogue was a nice little touch as well, a vision of a victory and sets the stage for what happens next in these people's lives.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
So it is with 'The House of Boleyn' which makes the choice to have almost all the action take place at Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. This gives us the chance to delve into the lives of the servants who work for the Boleyn's to differing degrees of success. I have to admit, all the maids blended into one character in my mind and while I know one of them went on an adventure, I couldn't tell you how her character was any different to any of the others.
The weakness in this idea becomes apparent in the second half of the book. All the momentous events are happening at court where Henry and Anne are, so not only are we left with secondary characters but we are forced to hear about events at one step removed. There is so much 'telling' over 'showing' because of the choice to anchor the story there. Having two women gossiping over things such as Elizabeth's birth, Catherine's death etc does sort of make it less interesting. The same with Thomas Boleyn (depicted here as a good, well meaning father who doesn't want Anne to marry the King, but merely be happy) reading a letter from Anne about dramatic events.
I have to wonder what was the point in pretending Margaret Butler had memory issues in order to seize her inheritance, only to have her then instantly collapse into really having those issues? Why not just have that to start with? All it does is labour the point that certain characters are evil. And there is enough of that. There is no subtly here, no shades of grey. The villains are truly wicked, black through and through.
There were plenty of odd choices, some desire to stoke up drama at Hever itself perhaps but inventing all manner of murder, betrayal and blackmail. The Boleyn's lives were dramatic enough, yet those events are all but brushed aside because they didn't happen at Hever.
Also Jane Boleyn (nee Parker) was... well few characters in this book bare much resemblance to their historical counterparts but Jane I think was done the worst. There were some major hints about her sexuality that went absolutely nowhere and did nothing for the plot or the character, or even her motivations for anything. She started out well but by the end of it she had done things directly opposite to what we know she did.
These people were messy, they did good and bad, but you wouldn't know that to read this book. In this book all the Boleyn's were completely innocent, good people who were eventually betrayed by people they should have been able to trust except for one who married in and then their loyalties were of course to their own house over the new one, even with children involved.
Some of the scenes were beautifully written, I loved the relationship between Anne and her grandmother, it was great to see her have that support and support someone in return. I also like any book that shows Henry as the horrible man he was, so bonus points there. There is clearly a lot of love of Hever Castle in the writer's heart, as it is so magically conjured up. The epilogue was a nice little touch as well, a vision of a victory and sets the stage for what happens next in these people's lives.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
May 27, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy.
More like 3.5 but rounded to 4
I've read the author's non-fiction works and was therefore looking forward to this novel, I'm aware this is a fictional portrayal of the history, but I was surprised--given the author's credentials--at some of the plot and character choices made. My perspective as someone who's studied and read a lot about the Tudors, including fiction and non-fiction works:
The Positives
(1) I loved the intergenerational approach to the Boleyns and the focus on Hever. That was a nice change in perspective.
(2) Yes to a positive portrayal of Thomas Boleyn. Too often he gets the same negative depiction as the "greedy, corrupt father who forces Anne to Henry," so it was refreshing to portray him as still ambitious but caring for his children, who's aware of the danger being with Henry causes, and actually wants Anne away from Henry.
(3) Lady Maragret and Esther are great characters. I like getting the perspective of the servants in these kinds of stories.
The Negatives
(1) Elizabeth and Mary Boleyn. Sigh. Thomas Boleyn is finally decent but then the author throws Anne's mother under the bus for no reason. It's okay for Anne to have two decent parents. It felt like a narrative copout to replace the evil father with the "evil mother" and on top of that to actually use the salacious gossip about Elizabeth Howard spread by Anne's enemies. Like, why? Similarly, author goes for the same "Mary Boleyn whore" portrayal, even making her "a slut" before France. Again, it was totally unnecessary.
(2) The narrative is choppy. Next chapters can jump a year or two later. I don't mind time skips when done well, but the author wanted to cover too much in too few pages and so events (and people) are given short space. It almost feels like a checklist or highlights approach to the story. I suppose this is the tradeoff of having so many characters. Maybe it would have been better to have less POVs to maintain a tighter narrative.
(3) Anne and Wyatt. I'm so tired of this one, but beyond my personal dislike, the way their consummation happens makes no logical sense based on Anne's character so far. I can maybe see something BEFORE her involvement with Henry, but Anne wasn't stupid. No way would she jeopardize her position by that point in time in the novel to sleep with Wyatt. The reason provided by the author is flimsy (MINOR SPOILER: let's make Henry nearly assault her so she'll decide to lose her virginity to someone else--what???).
(4) Cranwell (not Cromwell, different characters). Felt like a plot device for "villainy." Plenty of other nasty characters could have used the page space and would have been more interesting. Esther could still exist without him. The end for the character was unsatisfying too.
Overall, I read the novel in one go, so that's a plus. I enjoyed the different perspective of Thomas Boleyn and the inclusion of Lady Margaret, but for a novel that's supposed to challenge streotypes, the novel still uses many when it comes to a lot of the female characters, which suprised me.
More like 3.5 but rounded to 4
I've read the author's non-fiction works and was therefore looking forward to this novel, I'm aware this is a fictional portrayal of the history, but I was surprised--given the author's credentials--at some of the plot and character choices made. My perspective as someone who's studied and read a lot about the Tudors, including fiction and non-fiction works:
The Positives
(1) I loved the intergenerational approach to the Boleyns and the focus on Hever. That was a nice change in perspective.
(2) Yes to a positive portrayal of Thomas Boleyn. Too often he gets the same negative depiction as the "greedy, corrupt father who forces Anne to Henry," so it was refreshing to portray him as still ambitious but caring for his children, who's aware of the danger being with Henry causes, and actually wants Anne away from Henry.
(3) Lady Maragret and Esther are great characters. I like getting the perspective of the servants in these kinds of stories.
The Negatives
(1) Elizabeth and Mary Boleyn. Sigh. Thomas Boleyn is finally decent but then the author throws Anne's mother under the bus for no reason. It's okay for Anne to have two decent parents. It felt like a narrative copout to replace the evil father with the "evil mother" and on top of that to actually use the salacious gossip about Elizabeth Howard spread by Anne's enemies. Like, why? Similarly, author goes for the same "Mary Boleyn whore" portrayal, even making her "a slut" before France. Again, it was totally unnecessary.
(2) The narrative is choppy. Next chapters can jump a year or two later. I don't mind time skips when done well, but the author wanted to cover too much in too few pages and so events (and people) are given short space. It almost feels like a checklist or highlights approach to the story. I suppose this is the tradeoff of having so many characters. Maybe it would have been better to have less POVs to maintain a tighter narrative.
(3) Anne and Wyatt. I'm so tired of this one, but beyond my personal dislike, the way their consummation happens makes no logical sense based on Anne's character so far. I can maybe see something BEFORE her involvement with Henry, but Anne wasn't stupid. No way would she jeopardize her position by that point in time in the novel to sleep with Wyatt. The reason provided by the author is flimsy (MINOR SPOILER: let's make Henry nearly assault her so she'll decide to lose her virginity to someone else--what???).
(4) Cranwell (not Cromwell, different characters). Felt like a plot device for "villainy." Plenty of other nasty characters could have used the page space and would have been more interesting. Esther could still exist without him. The end for the character was unsatisfying too.
Overall, I read the novel in one go, so that's a plus. I enjoyed the different perspective of Thomas Boleyn and the inclusion of Lady Margaret, but for a novel that's supposed to challenge streotypes, the novel still uses many when it comes to a lot of the female characters, which suprised me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to firstly thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily read more of Tracy Borman's stories in the future.
One thing that stood of to me in this book was the musings of Lady Elizabeth (Mary and Anne's mother) about Lady Margaret (their grandmother). I found them to be of dark humour and of a great power-struggle fought between the two.
"Elizabeth was sure that out of shire spite she would wait until she had seen her son's wife dead and buried before finally releasing her grip on this world".
The interweaving of all the characters was exceptional. One moment it is from the view (all 3rd person) of Lady Elizabeth, then of Lady Margaret, then Aphra (a housemaid), Jane (George's wife), Thomas (Mary, Anne ans George's father) etc. It made the story interesting and seen from many angles all at once. You feel for characters that would have been more of a side-note in history (as in authors notes: Lady Margaret) and see their story, as much as more well-known figures.
Thomas and Aphra's story was so bittersweet and genuanly brought a tear to my eye. Thomas as a whole has a bittersweet life, from the outside you would think he had everything he wanted but really he wanted a more simpler life and not have to pretend. This story could be perceived as Thomas's story, more than Anne's. The love for his children, especially Anne: "But it didn't stop him thinking of her every moment, creeping up to her bedchamber after the rest of the household had retired amd sitting outside her door, listening to the muffled sound of her weeping'.
Then for his first son:
'He had been avenged from Tom's death but could take little pleasure from it. It was like being dressed in a dead man's clothes'
The amount of detail that Borman writes makes history comes to life on the pages, it is exquisite. You can really feel how they must of felt at the time and can imagine it as it was. These people were real and we all know the history that played out but she makes the reader feel their emotions and not just read the names and the unfolding of events.
Some of the language used, in the period, is sometimes hard to understand and feels a little unnecessary at times. But, it doesn't detract and does enhance the atmosphere of the story, in places. (Authors notes say that some of the wording is actually from letters written of the time, which makes it much more interesting).
Full of twists and court/ household intrigue. Short stories all mingled together, making it an easy and compelling read. The story flows naturally and when there is a chunk of time passing this is done very well, using dates as markers.
The ending, although bittersweet, was written wonderfully. The tragedies that befell the Boelyns, are a well-known history, but the light ending was much needed and a welcome. We started with Thomas grieving in his study and end with smiles from Elizabeth.
From a personal perspective, I love to read names I know so well and places I know fondly. This was most definitely a five-star read.
5⭐️
0🌶
One thing that stood of to me in this book was the musings of Lady Elizabeth (Mary and Anne's mother) about Lady Margaret (their grandmother). I found them to be of dark humour and of a great power-struggle fought between the two.
"Elizabeth was sure that out of shire spite she would wait until she had seen her son's wife dead and buried before finally releasing her grip on this world".
The interweaving of all the characters was exceptional. One moment it is from the view (all 3rd person) of Lady Elizabeth, then of Lady Margaret, then Aphra (a housemaid), Jane (George's wife), Thomas (Mary, Anne ans George's father) etc. It made the story interesting and seen from many angles all at once. You feel for characters that would have been more of a side-note in history (as in authors notes: Lady Margaret) and see their story, as much as more well-known figures.
Thomas and Aphra's story was so bittersweet and genuanly brought a tear to my eye. Thomas as a whole has a bittersweet life, from the outside you would think he had everything he wanted but really he wanted a more simpler life and not have to pretend. This story could be perceived as Thomas's story, more than Anne's. The love for his children, especially Anne: "But it didn't stop him thinking of her every moment, creeping up to her bedchamber after the rest of the household had retired amd sitting outside her door, listening to the muffled sound of her weeping'.
Then for his first son:
'He had been avenged from Tom's death but could take little pleasure from it. It was like being dressed in a dead man's clothes'
The amount of detail that Borman writes makes history comes to life on the pages, it is exquisite. You can really feel how they must of felt at the time and can imagine it as it was. These people were real and we all know the history that played out but she makes the reader feel their emotions and not just read the names and the unfolding of events.
Some of the language used, in the period, is sometimes hard to understand and feels a little unnecessary at times. But, it doesn't detract and does enhance the atmosphere of the story, in places. (Authors notes say that some of the wording is actually from letters written of the time, which makes it much more interesting).
Full of twists and court/ household intrigue. Short stories all mingled together, making it an easy and compelling read. The story flows naturally and when there is a chunk of time passing this is done very well, using dates as markers.
The ending, although bittersweet, was written wonderfully. The tragedies that befell the Boelyns, are a well-known history, but the light ending was much needed and a welcome. We started with Thomas grieving in his study and end with smiles from Elizabeth.
From a personal perspective, I love to read names I know so well and places I know fondly. This was most definitely a five-star read.
5⭐️
0🌶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tracy Borman, The House of Boleyn A Novel, Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press, August 2026.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
Tracy Borman’s novel is a broader reflection on Anne Boleyn’s attitude to her relationship with Henry V111 than usual. This has its pitfalls, as secondary characters whose vital roles were unrecorded must be partially fictionalised; it also has its advantages in that Borman is able to speculate about characters, often suggesting possibilities that question the way in they have been depicted in other historical fiction and non-fiction. The introduction, with Thomas Boleyn returning to Hever Castle, mourning the loss of his two children is an indication of where this novel might lead. It is intriguing, as not only does it provide Thomas Boleyn with a more positive image, it also questions the way in which fathers related to daughters in the period. Their role as unrelenting searchers for self-advantage through their female relatives is undermined by his self-reflection throughout the novel.
The servants in the Boleyn household, are given important positions in the narrative. Their conduct demonstrates that it was not only at court that subordinates could wield destructive power. The court intrigue and the role of public figures about which a great deal is known, together with the intricate weaving of fiction is a valuable contribution to understanding the Tudor world and within it, the Boleyn family. That one or another figure or event might be wholly fiction does not detract from the way in which Borman is able to create a world that is believable.
In this novel, the historian meets the fiction writer in a splendid depiction of the Boleyn family, its servants, its relationship with the court and the monarch, and its relationship with the smaller world within Hever Castle. When Anne places her hand on Henry’s chest and feels the sharp jewels, her fate is foreshadowed – a clever device and use of imagination. Where imagination is used to not only enhance the narrative and fill in plots and characterisation for which there is little or no evidence, but can infer or foreshadow events that are known, a writer of merit is at work.
An epilogue records Thomas Boleyn’s last years and death; Jane Boleyn’s continuing influence after her difficult beginning in the house of Boleyn; and Anne of Cleves’ introduction to the Tudor Court and Elizabeth. In an author’s note Borman explains her interest in retrieving and imagining Anne Boleyn’s early life and that of her siblings as well as that of her similarly less well-known grandmother. She also describes where evidence and imagination meet, including the way in which various servants are depicted and the possibilities she explores at the end of the novel.
Tracy Borman’s creativity and historical knowledge combine tin an engaging narrative, further enriched by her author’s note explaining her use of each element.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
Tracy Borman’s novel is a broader reflection on Anne Boleyn’s attitude to her relationship with Henry V111 than usual. This has its pitfalls, as secondary characters whose vital roles were unrecorded must be partially fictionalised; it also has its advantages in that Borman is able to speculate about characters, often suggesting possibilities that question the way in they have been depicted in other historical fiction and non-fiction. The introduction, with Thomas Boleyn returning to Hever Castle, mourning the loss of his two children is an indication of where this novel might lead. It is intriguing, as not only does it provide Thomas Boleyn with a more positive image, it also questions the way in which fathers related to daughters in the period. Their role as unrelenting searchers for self-advantage through their female relatives is undermined by his self-reflection throughout the novel.
The servants in the Boleyn household, are given important positions in the narrative. Their conduct demonstrates that it was not only at court that subordinates could wield destructive power. The court intrigue and the role of public figures about which a great deal is known, together with the intricate weaving of fiction is a valuable contribution to understanding the Tudor world and within it, the Boleyn family. That one or another figure or event might be wholly fiction does not detract from the way in which Borman is able to create a world that is believable.
In this novel, the historian meets the fiction writer in a splendid depiction of the Boleyn family, its servants, its relationship with the court and the monarch, and its relationship with the smaller world within Hever Castle. When Anne places her hand on Henry’s chest and feels the sharp jewels, her fate is foreshadowed – a clever device and use of imagination. Where imagination is used to not only enhance the narrative and fill in plots and characterisation for which there is little or no evidence, but can infer or foreshadow events that are known, a writer of merit is at work.
An epilogue records Thomas Boleyn’s last years and death; Jane Boleyn’s continuing influence after her difficult beginning in the house of Boleyn; and Anne of Cleves’ introduction to the Tudor Court and Elizabeth. In an author’s note Borman explains her interest in retrieving and imagining Anne Boleyn’s early life and that of her siblings as well as that of her similarly less well-known grandmother. She also describes where evidence and imagination meet, including the way in which various servants are depicted and the possibilities she explores at the end of the novel.
Tracy Borman’s creativity and historical knowledge combine tin an engaging narrative, further enriched by her author’s note explaining her use of each element.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’m picky as hell when it comes to historical fiction. There’s so much bad out there that it just really put me off. But what I’ve found is that historical fiction written by respected historians is – 9 times out of 10 – bloody brilliant. And Tracy Borman didn’t let me down. In short, I adored this book from start to finish.
The House of Boleyn tells the tale of the rise and fall of the Boleyn family – a story that has been told countless times. Anne Boleyn’s story fascinates people so it’s not wonder that so many authors have fictionalised it – many going for the usual lies and rumours that have plagued her for years such as incest. Yes, I’ve read novels where Anne has been portrayed sleeping with her brother. This book though? This book treats those rumours exactly as what they were – rumours. Borman has the story show how such rumours were twisted and twisted until they were ‘believed’ by Henry VIII and he snaps, having her arrested and executed simply because she was unable to provide him with a male heir. Of course certain things in the story have been changed, which is to be expected in historical fiction, but Borman provides a detailed authors note at the end of the book to explain just what and why these things have been changed and added.
The story gallops on at a pace that had me not wanting to put it down – I ended up finishing it in two days which is unheard of for me. Borman is a natural at story telling, making the characters both real and fictionalised feel human. They have flaws. They have emotions. They feel real. I particularly enjoyed how Borman portrayed the fears of Anne in particularly, as well as the fears of her father and the servants. It surprised me that the servants had such a part to play in the story – this is rare in fiction about the Tudors, or the royal family in general. It felt very Downton Abbey, and we were able to get the point of view of those below stairs, how some of them came to become friends with their masters and mistresses and how many of them would have really felt about the fast rising Anne Boleyn. I can imagine that there were those below stairs who believed that Catherine of Aragon was the true Queen of England. It’s such an interesting perspective that I would love to see more of in the future.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and the Tudors. It’s a rare gem in a genre in which you often find books that are just…not good. Borman, a highly respected Tudor historian who knows the history and the locations that the story is set in well (especially Hever), has written something that I would consider close to a masterpiece in the genre. She has given a new perspective on the Boleyn story, showing us just what the private lives of these people might have been like and how even those close to Anne Boleyn were able to have their opinions twisted thanks to the vicious rumours at the time.
5/5
The House of Boleyn tells the tale of the rise and fall of the Boleyn family – a story that has been told countless times. Anne Boleyn’s story fascinates people so it’s not wonder that so many authors have fictionalised it – many going for the usual lies and rumours that have plagued her for years such as incest. Yes, I’ve read novels where Anne has been portrayed sleeping with her brother. This book though? This book treats those rumours exactly as what they were – rumours. Borman has the story show how such rumours were twisted and twisted until they were ‘believed’ by Henry VIII and he snaps, having her arrested and executed simply because she was unable to provide him with a male heir. Of course certain things in the story have been changed, which is to be expected in historical fiction, but Borman provides a detailed authors note at the end of the book to explain just what and why these things have been changed and added.
The story gallops on at a pace that had me not wanting to put it down – I ended up finishing it in two days which is unheard of for me. Borman is a natural at story telling, making the characters both real and fictionalised feel human. They have flaws. They have emotions. They feel real. I particularly enjoyed how Borman portrayed the fears of Anne in particularly, as well as the fears of her father and the servants. It surprised me that the servants had such a part to play in the story – this is rare in fiction about the Tudors, or the royal family in general. It felt very Downton Abbey, and we were able to get the point of view of those below stairs, how some of them came to become friends with their masters and mistresses and how many of them would have really felt about the fast rising Anne Boleyn. I can imagine that there were those below stairs who believed that Catherine of Aragon was the true Queen of England. It’s such an interesting perspective that I would love to see more of in the future.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and the Tudors. It’s a rare gem in a genre in which you often find books that are just…not good. Borman, a highly respected Tudor historian who knows the history and the locations that the story is set in well (especially Hever), has written something that I would consider close to a masterpiece in the genre. She has given a new perspective on the Boleyn story, showing us just what the private lives of these people might have been like and how even those close to Anne Boleyn were able to have their opinions twisted thanks to the vicious rumours at the time.
5/5
Review of advance copy
Tracy Boreman has delivered again with an exciting read that draws well on history but has inventive fiction elements.
Anne is seen as holding Henry off, not to manipulate him but to avoid the fate of her sister Mary. Anne is entering a court that knows her sister’s history and infamy. The so-called "guinee" or "hacquenée d'Angleterre" "a very great whore, the most infamous of all" (Francis 1 King of France) are not names that Anne wants to acquire.
In an interesting aside, Anne and Mary’s grandmother, Lady Margaret Boleyn nee Butler is taunted that she was forced into a lowly Boleyn marriage because her own reputation was sullied.
Anne is offered the prize of Queenship by Henry, except she has to endure an almost rape and his slobbery lovemaking. This is not a love match.
Thomas Boleyn is seen as a protective father rather than how he is normally portrayed as a father who is willing to prostitute out his daughters for advancement. He’s a very sympathetic character, highly intelligent and capable, having to endure his wife’s brother, the offensive Duke of Norfolk who is determined to climb to greater heights off his family’s backs. Thomas withdraws his daughter from court back to Hever Castle, the family seat, but this only serves to make Henry more interested.
One of the most fascinating character readjustments is of Lady Jane Rochford. In the many books I’ve read on her, she is often perceived as calculating and cunning. In this novel, she is presented as having a sapphic interest in Anne. There’s no evidence for this, but Borman has her loyal to Anne and her husband, which is consistent with historical record. There is no historical evidence that Jane betrayed her husband. Instead, she wrote notes to him while he was in prison in the Tower of London saying she will intercede for him.
The author also has Lady Rochford giving birth to a son but having to give him up in order to save him from the predations the Boleyns suffered after Anne’s fall. She is basing this on the rumours about the Dean of Lichfied, George Boleyn, who was rumoured to be their son, though this is to create tension in the story rather than belief.
The viewpoints of Anne’s mother, Elizabeth and Boleyn servants deepen the narrative creating a wider tension. Elizabeth Boleyn leaves Thomas, after the death of her son and daughter. Alison Weir told me personally that Elizabeth went mad. What mother wouldn’t? Elizabeth Boleyn died two years after the deaths of her children. She passed away in the London home of the Abbot of Reading and was buried in the Howard family chapel.
This is a book that will have you crying even though you know what’s going to happen. It’s well written with a few narrative surprises for historical readers.
Anne is seen as holding Henry off, not to manipulate him but to avoid the fate of her sister Mary. Anne is entering a court that knows her sister’s history and infamy. The so-called "guinee" or "hacquenée d'Angleterre" "a very great whore, the most infamous of all" (Francis 1 King of France) are not names that Anne wants to acquire.
In an interesting aside, Anne and Mary’s grandmother, Lady Margaret Boleyn nee Butler is taunted that she was forced into a lowly Boleyn marriage because her own reputation was sullied.
Anne is offered the prize of Queenship by Henry, except she has to endure an almost rape and his slobbery lovemaking. This is not a love match.
Thomas Boleyn is seen as a protective father rather than how he is normally portrayed as a father who is willing to prostitute out his daughters for advancement. He’s a very sympathetic character, highly intelligent and capable, having to endure his wife’s brother, the offensive Duke of Norfolk who is determined to climb to greater heights off his family’s backs. Thomas withdraws his daughter from court back to Hever Castle, the family seat, but this only serves to make Henry more interested.
One of the most fascinating character readjustments is of Lady Jane Rochford. In the many books I’ve read on her, she is often perceived as calculating and cunning. In this novel, she is presented as having a sapphic interest in Anne. There’s no evidence for this, but Borman has her loyal to Anne and her husband, which is consistent with historical record. There is no historical evidence that Jane betrayed her husband. Instead, she wrote notes to him while he was in prison in the Tower of London saying she will intercede for him.
The author also has Lady Rochford giving birth to a son but having to give him up in order to save him from the predations the Boleyns suffered after Anne’s fall. She is basing this on the rumours about the Dean of Lichfied, George Boleyn, who was rumoured to be their son, though this is to create tension in the story rather than belief.
The viewpoints of Anne’s mother, Elizabeth and Boleyn servants deepen the narrative creating a wider tension. Elizabeth Boleyn leaves Thomas, after the death of her son and daughter. Alison Weir told me personally that Elizabeth went mad. What mother wouldn’t? Elizabeth Boleyn died two years after the deaths of her children. She passed away in the London home of the Abbot of Reading and was buried in the Howard family chapel.
This is a book that will have you crying even though you know what’s going to happen. It’s well written with a few narrative surprises for historical readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman with a bit of hesitation. Let’s be honest; the Tudor court is well-trodden ground. I have read so many books on this specific family that I wondered if even a historian of Borman's caliber could offer a fresh pulse. The story follows Thomas Boleyn from his first summons to court in 1509 through the rise and sudden collapse of his daughters, Anne and Mary. It is a solid effort, though for me, the familiarity of the events meant it did not quite hit that emotional peak I hoped for.
Borman stays close to the facts she knows so well. She populates the court with figures like Thomas Cromwell and Cardinal Wolsey, but she also adds fictional voices like the attendant Esther and the steward Robert Cranwell. These additions help ground the high-stakes politics in something more personal. I found the focus on Thomas Boleyn’s perspective interesting; it shifts the weight toward the father’s ambition and how he steered his children toward a throne that eventually became a scaffold. However, because I knew every beat of the tragedy beforehand, the suspense felt a bit thin.
The writing is clean and lacks the heavy, decorative prose that usually bogs down historical fiction. Borman chooses a direct style that favors detail over sentiment. It is an intellectual approach to a story that is usually told with much more melodrama. While I respect the restraint, there were times I wanted the narrative to move me more. It feels like a very well-researched reconstruction where the gears of history turn exactly as they should, but perhaps too predictably for someone who has lived in this period of history for years.
There is a clear link between the Boleyn ambition and our modern obsession with status. The family’s trajectory is a classic study of how fast one can fall when they base their value on the favor of a temperamental power. Borman captures the atmosphere of the court well; it is a place of gifts and political gains that can turn into a bloodbath at a moment's notice. It is a professional, polished work, even if the "newness" of the story was not quite there for me.
If you are new to the Boleyns or want a version that sticks to the historical bones with a bit of imaginative flesh, this is a great choice. It is a reliable, intellectual piece of fiction. For those of us who have read every diary and biography out there, it is a solid, albeit familiar, walk through a very famous ruin. It is worth the time for the accuracy alone; just do not expect it to rewrite what you already know.
Borman stays close to the facts she knows so well. She populates the court with figures like Thomas Cromwell and Cardinal Wolsey, but she also adds fictional voices like the attendant Esther and the steward Robert Cranwell. These additions help ground the high-stakes politics in something more personal. I found the focus on Thomas Boleyn’s perspective interesting; it shifts the weight toward the father’s ambition and how he steered his children toward a throne that eventually became a scaffold. However, because I knew every beat of the tragedy beforehand, the suspense felt a bit thin.
The writing is clean and lacks the heavy, decorative prose that usually bogs down historical fiction. Borman chooses a direct style that favors detail over sentiment. It is an intellectual approach to a story that is usually told with much more melodrama. While I respect the restraint, there were times I wanted the narrative to move me more. It feels like a very well-researched reconstruction where the gears of history turn exactly as they should, but perhaps too predictably for someone who has lived in this period of history for years.
There is a clear link between the Boleyn ambition and our modern obsession with status. The family’s trajectory is a classic study of how fast one can fall when they base their value on the favor of a temperamental power. Borman captures the atmosphere of the court well; it is a place of gifts and political gains that can turn into a bloodbath at a moment's notice. It is a professional, polished work, even if the "newness" of the story was not quite there for me.
If you are new to the Boleyns or want a version that sticks to the historical bones with a bit of imaginative flesh, this is a great choice. It is a reliable, intellectual piece of fiction. For those of us who have read every diary and biography out there, it is a solid, albeit familiar, walk through a very famous ruin. It is worth the time for the accuracy alone; just do not expect it to rewrite what you already know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh but for lack of knowledge of the “y” chromosome Anne Boleyn might not have been beheaded or even had married Henry VIII and history would be so different. But that didn’t happen until 396 years after Anne’s beheading in 1536 where this riveting historical fiction novel begins.
Borman has created such a wonderful story bringing a more palatable Anne Boleyn to life - and I’ve never been a fan of Anne but I felt more sympathetic toward her in the storytelling of this book. While probably untrue as Borman writes in her end notes, making Anne give up the true love of her life, Thomas Wyatt, is a tenderly written moment into the novel. Though Anne retains in the book history’s view of her strategy to stave off Henry’s advances as calculating, after that scene with Wyatt you feel maybe her family’s dynastic desires were more the reason.
The book is centered almost entirely in and around Hever Castle, where Anne grew up and which was later given to Anne of Cleves after her divorce from Henry. The books buzzes with the life of the servants, the interior descriptions and a sense of flavor about Tudor life.
The cast of characters, real and fictitious, add a depth and richness to the story. Esther’s and Robert Cranwell’s story was especially entertaining (she’s fictional but he was real though not much was known about him so Borman took some license to make him into a villain). I liked Esther and Lady Margaret’s maid, Aphra (fictional as well). Thomas Boleyn is made more palatable too than in he is in history. Loved Lady Margaret (her story was true as she was). And happy to see Jane Boleyn less of a villain as she has been made to appear. The characters are one of the strengths of this novel as is their humanness that emerges.
In Anne’s story we see the importance and power of family, the venality of men and power, and what desperation does. The book is accurate to historical events which is important (be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end) I think in assuring that while the storytelling may divert on character building, it does not on plot since it is historical fiction.
Highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for allowing me access to this ARC - and to Blackwell’s from whom I got the British published version of this book.
Borman has created such a wonderful story bringing a more palatable Anne Boleyn to life - and I’ve never been a fan of Anne but I felt more sympathetic toward her in the storytelling of this book. While probably untrue as Borman writes in her end notes, making Anne give up the true love of her life, Thomas Wyatt, is a tenderly written moment into the novel. Though Anne retains in the book history’s view of her strategy to stave off Henry’s advances as calculating, after that scene with Wyatt you feel maybe her family’s dynastic desires were more the reason.
The book is centered almost entirely in and around Hever Castle, where Anne grew up and which was later given to Anne of Cleves after her divorce from Henry. The books buzzes with the life of the servants, the interior descriptions and a sense of flavor about Tudor life.
The cast of characters, real and fictitious, add a depth and richness to the story. Esther’s and Robert Cranwell’s story was especially entertaining (she’s fictional but he was real though not much was known about him so Borman took some license to make him into a villain). I liked Esther and Lady Margaret’s maid, Aphra (fictional as well). Thomas Boleyn is made more palatable too than in he is in history. Loved Lady Margaret (her story was true as she was). And happy to see Jane Boleyn less of a villain as she has been made to appear. The characters are one of the strengths of this novel as is their humanness that emerges.
In Anne’s story we see the importance and power of family, the venality of men and power, and what desperation does. The book is accurate to historical events which is important (be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end) I think in assuring that while the storytelling may divert on character building, it does not on plot since it is historical fiction.
Highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for allowing me access to this ARC - and to Blackwell’s from whom I got the British published version of this book.
April 29, 2026
Although Ann Boleyn’s tragic story has been told many times, there is always room for another interpretation and recounting Anne’s life by using as its focus Hever Castle is an interesting way of bridging the gap between what is fact and what is undoubtedly fiction. The Boleyn family home, nestled in the quiet of the Kent countryside, acts as a foil against the machinations of Tudor life and whilst the meteoric rise of the Boleyns, during the years of Henry’s courtship with Anne, is well documented we can only guess at the overall effect that Henry VIII’s influence had on all those who knew Anne.
There are a few interesting snippets within the story which made me raise my eyebrows but this is historical fiction after all and so there is room for a few unexpected additions. I thought everything worked well together and I enjoyed spending time at Hever, watching as the servants went about their business, quietly keeping the household running smoothly during turbulent times. Observing Anne’s dilemma as Henry’s pursuit of her became more apparent, her indecision, and realisation that her life, as she knew it, would effectively be over once she accepted Henry’s proposal. That all this would be played out in the shadow of the royal court made me realise just how vulnerable Anne became as her relationship with the King soured and the much longed for male heir never arrived.
Cleverly, and imaginatively written, the story has enough historical detail to make the narrative realistic, with some interesting additions. I especially enjoyed learning more about Anne’s wider family, particularly her grandmother, Margaret Butler, of whom I knew very little. In any account of Anne Boleyn I want there to be a happier ending for her however, time stands as it is and the tragedy of her tragically short life inevitably evolves as history dictates.
In The House of Boleyn this respected historian has given us a refreshingly different look at Anne, from her relationship with her family, friends and servants, to Anne’s deep abiding affection for Hever Castle.
There are a few interesting snippets within the story which made me raise my eyebrows but this is historical fiction after all and so there is room for a few unexpected additions. I thought everything worked well together and I enjoyed spending time at Hever, watching as the servants went about their business, quietly keeping the household running smoothly during turbulent times. Observing Anne’s dilemma as Henry’s pursuit of her became more apparent, her indecision, and realisation that her life, as she knew it, would effectively be over once she accepted Henry’s proposal. That all this would be played out in the shadow of the royal court made me realise just how vulnerable Anne became as her relationship with the King soured and the much longed for male heir never arrived.
Cleverly, and imaginatively written, the story has enough historical detail to make the narrative realistic, with some interesting additions. I especially enjoyed learning more about Anne’s wider family, particularly her grandmother, Margaret Butler, of whom I knew very little. In any account of Anne Boleyn I want there to be a happier ending for her however, time stands as it is and the tragedy of her tragically short life inevitably evolves as history dictates.
In The House of Boleyn this respected historian has given us a refreshingly different look at Anne, from her relationship with her family, friends and servants, to Anne’s deep abiding affection for Hever Castle.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I listened to the audio version as well as reading this book. The audio narration by Tania Rodrigues, was excellent.
The book, however, was less successful for my taste.
Instead of the story focusing on the main players- Henry and Anne - Tracy Borman takes on the story through the eyes of Jane, Lady Rochford (George's wife) and Esther, a fictional lady's maid along with other characters such as the devious steward, Cranwell and Afra, the fictional lady's maid of Elizabeth Boleyn (Thomas' mother). Never Castle itself plays the most prominent part and most of the action takes place there or is where news of the Boleyns is disseminated.
So if you take out the main players you have to fill it with something else and Tracy Borman has chosen to use salacious fictional unrequited relationships (usually homosexual) between various members of the household. She spreads these encounters liberally throughout the book and after the first lengthy one I took the decision to skip these parts. They added very little to the narrative except to perhaps make one or two characters a little more likeable.
Another choice was to make Jane Boleyn a sympathetic character. If you have read Wolf Hall Jane was portrayed as devious and jealous of Anne, eventually condemning her own husband with details of his incestuous relation with Anne.
Once these gossipy fictions were dispensed with the book was okay (hence the 3 stars rather than 2). And if you like a more salacious hlstorical fictional then this book is for you.
I prefer my historical fiction a little less "racy". However, since there is little written evidence to most of the main players actions during Henry's courtship and marriage to Anne, it is easy to fill in the gaps with whatever takes your fancy. So if you prefer affairs and intrigue then I would recommend this book.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital review copy.
The book, however, was less successful for my taste.
Instead of the story focusing on the main players- Henry and Anne - Tracy Borman takes on the story through the eyes of Jane, Lady Rochford (George's wife) and Esther, a fictional lady's maid along with other characters such as the devious steward, Cranwell and Afra, the fictional lady's maid of Elizabeth Boleyn (Thomas' mother). Never Castle itself plays the most prominent part and most of the action takes place there or is where news of the Boleyns is disseminated.
So if you take out the main players you have to fill it with something else and Tracy Borman has chosen to use salacious fictional unrequited relationships (usually homosexual) between various members of the household. She spreads these encounters liberally throughout the book and after the first lengthy one I took the decision to skip these parts. They added very little to the narrative except to perhaps make one or two characters a little more likeable.
Another choice was to make Jane Boleyn a sympathetic character. If you have read Wolf Hall Jane was portrayed as devious and jealous of Anne, eventually condemning her own husband with details of his incestuous relation with Anne.
Once these gossipy fictions were dispensed with the book was okay (hence the 3 stars rather than 2). And if you like a more salacious hlstorical fictional then this book is for you.
I prefer my historical fiction a little less "racy". However, since there is little written evidence to most of the main players actions during Henry's courtship and marriage to Anne, it is easy to fill in the gaps with whatever takes your fancy. So if you prefer affairs and intrigue then I would recommend this book.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In The House of Boleyn, we follow a large cast of characters from the members of the family to the servants who worked at Hever.
The novel begins when Anne is around 10 years old, so we get a full picture of her life and events leading up to her fateful marriage to Henry VIII. I learned a lot about the Boleyn’s ancestry through Borman’s latest book and hadn’t realized they descended from Irish nobility! I loved that she gave a voice to Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret, who often goes overlooked in many novels about the Boleyns.
Lots of lush historical details, creating an atmospheric read! Which makes sense given that the author is a Tudor historian-her expertise and research is clearly presented to paint a full picture for us (while also allowing for creative liberty to move the plot forward)!
I loved the juicy court and household politics!! I was living for the gossip and scheming 👀 Defintely gave me the same vibes of The Tudors tv series and a bit of Downton Abbey with the “downstairs” character POVs.
Unlike a lot of stories of Anne Boleyn and her family. Usually it’s that she was a scheming woman intent on marrying Henry or that her father used her as a pawn. But this was a nice change showing a family being put into an impossible position, doing what they can to appease their manchild of a king while maintaining some semblance of agency.
Borman created a vivid and well written cast of complex characters! Although there are a lot of them to keep track of so I wish there was a list or chart to keep track, especially as so many share the same names or get called by multiple names. I struggled at times to remember who was who.
Overall an enjoyable and enticing read for fans of Tudor England and the Boleyn family. Especially recommend if you enjoy a side of drama with lots of historical details cleverly put together by an author that’s very passionate about her subjects!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC!
The novel begins when Anne is around 10 years old, so we get a full picture of her life and events leading up to her fateful marriage to Henry VIII. I learned a lot about the Boleyn’s ancestry through Borman’s latest book and hadn’t realized they descended from Irish nobility! I loved that she gave a voice to Anne’s grandmother, Lady Margaret, who often goes overlooked in many novels about the Boleyns.
Lots of lush historical details, creating an atmospheric read! Which makes sense given that the author is a Tudor historian-her expertise and research is clearly presented to paint a full picture for us (while also allowing for creative liberty to move the plot forward)!
I loved the juicy court and household politics!! I was living for the gossip and scheming 👀 Defintely gave me the same vibes of The Tudors tv series and a bit of Downton Abbey with the “downstairs” character POVs.
Unlike a lot of stories of Anne Boleyn and her family. Usually it’s that she was a scheming woman intent on marrying Henry or that her father used her as a pawn. But this was a nice change showing a family being put into an impossible position, doing what they can to appease their manchild of a king while maintaining some semblance of agency.
Borman created a vivid and well written cast of complex characters! Although there are a lot of them to keep track of so I wish there was a list or chart to keep track, especially as so many share the same names or get called by multiple names. I struggled at times to remember who was who.
Overall an enjoyable and enticing read for fans of Tudor England and the Boleyn family. Especially recommend if you enjoy a side of drama with lots of historical details cleverly put together by an author that’s very passionate about her subjects!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC!
May 2, 2026
Book Review: The House of Boleyn by Tracy Borman
Publication Date: 23 April 2026
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
The House of Boleyn is a captivating and emotionally rich reimagining of one of England’s most iconic and tragic families. Tracy Borman brings the world of the Boleyns vividly to life, blending historical detail with compelling storytelling to create a novel that feels both intimate and grand in scope.
What sets this book apart is its focus on Hever Castle—not just as a setting, but as a living, breathing presence within the story. Through its walls, Borman explores the rise and fall of the Boleyn family with a sense of closeness that draws the reader into their private lives, ambitions, and fears.
Anne Boleyn is portrayed with depth and nuance, capturing both her intelligence and vulnerability. Her relationship with her family, particularly her father Thomas, adds emotional weight to the narrative, highlighting the tension between loyalty, ambition, and survival in a dangerous court.
The pacing carefully mirrors the family’s ascent and inevitable downfall. There is a constant sense of unease beneath the grandeur, as political manoeuvring, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present influence of Henry VIII cast a shadow over every moment. The tension builds steadily, making the outcome feel both inevitable and deeply affecting.
Borman’s background as a historian shines through in the detail, but the writing never feels heavy. Instead, it enhances the realism, immersing the reader in Tudor England with ease. The inclusion of servants and those within the castle adds further layers, giving a broader perspective on the impact of the Boleyns’ rise and fall.
The House of Boleyn is a beautifully written, poignant exploration of ambition, family, and fate. Both gripping and emotional, it offers a fresh and deeply human perspective on a story many think they already know.
Publication Date: 23 April 2026
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
The House of Boleyn is a captivating and emotionally rich reimagining of one of England’s most iconic and tragic families. Tracy Borman brings the world of the Boleyns vividly to life, blending historical detail with compelling storytelling to create a novel that feels both intimate and grand in scope.
What sets this book apart is its focus on Hever Castle—not just as a setting, but as a living, breathing presence within the story. Through its walls, Borman explores the rise and fall of the Boleyn family with a sense of closeness that draws the reader into their private lives, ambitions, and fears.
Anne Boleyn is portrayed with depth and nuance, capturing both her intelligence and vulnerability. Her relationship with her family, particularly her father Thomas, adds emotional weight to the narrative, highlighting the tension between loyalty, ambition, and survival in a dangerous court.
The pacing carefully mirrors the family’s ascent and inevitable downfall. There is a constant sense of unease beneath the grandeur, as political manoeuvring, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present influence of Henry VIII cast a shadow over every moment. The tension builds steadily, making the outcome feel both inevitable and deeply affecting.
Borman’s background as a historian shines through in the detail, but the writing never feels heavy. Instead, it enhances the realism, immersing the reader in Tudor England with ease. The inclusion of servants and those within the castle adds further layers, giving a broader perspective on the impact of the Boleyns’ rise and fall.
The House of Boleyn is a beautifully written, poignant exploration of ambition, family, and fate. Both gripping and emotional, it offers a fresh and deeply human perspective on a story many think they already know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. 4.5 stars. My hearty advice is that anyone who loves Tudor/Anne Boleyn fiction, but thinks they've just been reading the same story over and over again, should run to this book. This is the story of Anne's origins, rise, and fall, but as told only through those on the ground at Hever Castle, whether they be noble or in service, and this device works BRILLIANTLY. While it is fanciful to imagine Anne visiting as Queen, or Jane Boleyn making frequent visits between Court and Hever, this is indeed a work of fiction, and these invented visits effectively build the story. Likewise, much of the exposition of events is done through letters, and this works well too. Ms. Borman has already proved that she's a thorough and apt historian, but she proves in this work that she is also a talented novelist. Her writing and storytelling are both top-notch. I would say this is better than most historical fiction set in the time period, and a large part of this is due to the diverse lot of characters. Most remain closely reflective of their historical counterparts, but Thomas Boleyn and Jane diverge from their traditional narratives, as explained in the author's note. At times, especially Jane's story felt far-fetched, but if the reader can be open-minded about these new versions of two traditionally-thought-of-as villains, I think they will enjoy and appreciate Ms. Boreman's novel characterizations, as I did. Likewise, I thought Ms. Borman did a wonderful job of creating comprehensive characters in both Esther and Aphra, as well as expounding on Lady Margaret's role in Anne's formation. Additionally, I loved the final chapter and epilogue as they satisfactorily wrapped up all narratives presented. I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone is already a fan of Tudor historical fiction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book embodies everything I love about historical fiction. Tracy Borman has an exceptional gift for storytelling, bringing some of the most familiar figures in English history vividly to life. We already know the fate of the Boleyn family, it's a story that has been told and retold for centuries, yet Borman’s skill in capturing each character’s perspective made me deeply invested in their journey. Despite learning about Anne Boleyn’s tragic end when I was only six years old, I still found myself hoping, against all reason and historical fact, that events might somehow unfold differently.
What makes this novel particularly compelling is its fresh approach to Tudor fiction. In a genre that is already rich with stories about Anne Boleyn, Borman broadens the lens to encompass the entire Boleyn family, as well as the servants and individuals whose lives were intertwined with theirs. This wider perspective adds depth and nuance to a well-known story, offering new insights into the ambitions, loyalties, and relationships that shaped the family’s rise and fall.
Because the narrative moves between multiple viewpoints, the story remains engaging throughout, and I never felt there was a lull in the pacing. Each chapter added another layer to the unfolding drama, making it difficult to put the book down.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly readers with an interest in the Tudor period. Even those who are already familiar with Anne Boleyn’s story will find something fresh, immersive, and emotionally resonant in Borman’s retelling.
What makes this novel particularly compelling is its fresh approach to Tudor fiction. In a genre that is already rich with stories about Anne Boleyn, Borman broadens the lens to encompass the entire Boleyn family, as well as the servants and individuals whose lives were intertwined with theirs. This wider perspective adds depth and nuance to a well-known story, offering new insights into the ambitions, loyalties, and relationships that shaped the family’s rise and fall.
Because the narrative moves between multiple viewpoints, the story remains engaging throughout, and I never felt there was a lull in the pacing. Each chapter added another layer to the unfolding drama, making it difficult to put the book down.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly readers with an interest in the Tudor period. Even those who are already familiar with Anne Boleyn’s story will find something fresh, immersive, and emotionally resonant in Borman’s retelling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Reading historical fiction about the Tudors has to be one of my favourite genres and I was very excited to start this book by Borman. I was keen to see what historical insight Borman would bring to the book. I'll start with my one negative, I was not a fan of the sexual aspect of the book, I won't go into details but it did not seem plausible and then wasn't covered in the author's note which I found bizarre.
This aside, I really liked that this was set entirely in one place; Hever Castle. Having visited there many times I was able to envisage where the people possibly were as events were happening. Having the book told in one place does mean some events are skipped over as the "castle" would not know the detail. In a way I liked this but in other ways it was a shame and meant some aspects of the plot felt rushed.
I do think Borman tries to cover too much in this book. Some events are almost skipped over they happen so quickly. I think I would have preferred if a smaller time period had been covered so more detail could be explored.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of people though, especially Anne's sister in law, Jane. Borman really brings them to life and imagines what they might have thought and felt. As with all historical fiction there has to be an element of artistic licence, this was done well, although through this, Borman introduces even more plot threads which perhaps the book could have done without.
Overall this was a fascinating, different insight into the Boleyn family.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.
This aside, I really liked that this was set entirely in one place; Hever Castle. Having visited there many times I was able to envisage where the people possibly were as events were happening. Having the book told in one place does mean some events are skipped over as the "castle" would not know the detail. In a way I liked this but in other ways it was a shame and meant some aspects of the plot felt rushed.
I do think Borman tries to cover too much in this book. Some events are almost skipped over they happen so quickly. I think I would have preferred if a smaller time period had been covered so more detail could be explored.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of people though, especially Anne's sister in law, Jane. Borman really brings them to life and imagines what they might have thought and felt. As with all historical fiction there has to be an element of artistic licence, this was done well, although through this, Borman introduces even more plot threads which perhaps the book could have done without.
Overall this was a fascinating, different insight into the Boleyn family.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The House of Boleyn is a worthy book to add to your Tudor shelf. Its strength lies in the ability to rotate through a large cast of characters without losing its focus on Tudor life.
This story is far more than Anne and Henry's story, even though theirs is obviously included. This book lives up to its title and explores lesser-known historical figures like Lady Margaret (Anne's grandmother) and other courtly figures, such as ladies' maids. If you are a history buff and want a different angle on the Henry VIII story, this book can provide that for you. Some books only build up to Anne's execution, but Borman has struck a better balance by lending a wider view of the people at Henry's court. Instead of appealing to shock and awe, she handles history as honestly as possible, while instilling the sense of foreboding that must have haunted many people in the later days of the Tudor court.
I do wish we had experienced a little bit more of Anne Boleyn in the book. Most of what we learn about her is from other characters, especially in the second half of the book. I appreciated the time the author spent on Anne's childhood, though. It's obvious that Borman knows how much Tudor literature there is in the world, and she strove (successfully) to explore the Boleyn family in ways that they rarely have been.
Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for my e-ARC. Borman's book has all the flair and appeal of a good Tudor read, but it presents a much more grounded approach to understanding the court's history.
This story is far more than Anne and Henry's story, even though theirs is obviously included. This book lives up to its title and explores lesser-known historical figures like Lady Margaret (Anne's grandmother) and other courtly figures, such as ladies' maids. If you are a history buff and want a different angle on the Henry VIII story, this book can provide that for you. Some books only build up to Anne's execution, but Borman has struck a better balance by lending a wider view of the people at Henry's court. Instead of appealing to shock and awe, she handles history as honestly as possible, while instilling the sense of foreboding that must have haunted many people in the later days of the Tudor court.
I do wish we had experienced a little bit more of Anne Boleyn in the book. Most of what we learn about her is from other characters, especially in the second half of the book. I appreciated the time the author spent on Anne's childhood, though. It's obvious that Borman knows how much Tudor literature there is in the world, and she strove (successfully) to explore the Boleyn family in ways that they rarely have been.
Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for my e-ARC. Borman's book has all the flair and appeal of a good Tudor read, but it presents a much more grounded approach to understanding the court's history.
Review of advance copy
I struggle to write a review for this book. I had anticipated reading since i first saw it advertised - any new Tudor book is a must read for me. However having read so many, both fiction and non fiction, it quickly became apparent that great swathes of information have been omitted from this book. Which would have been okay if the author had at least made some mention or reference to them in order for the story as a whole to make sense. However this is not the case and there are gaping voids in the entire narrative that are important to Anne Boleyn’s life story. Why the author would choose to do this is beyond me - i actually had to go back and re-read chapters because i thought i had missed a page somewhere.
The other thing i really dislike about this book is some of the awful characters included and how they just dont fit into the story. There is so much chatter around the staffing of Hever and Penshurst it could have provided a book just about that.
Where is the lavish and colourful characterisation of the Tudor era - King Henry’s court was famously known for being ‘no expenses spared’. There is none of this rich description that brings the characters and the castles alive. The sumptuous dresses, the laden dining tables offset by hundreds of candles, the dazzling tilt-yards and dressed horses, the chivalry and pageantry and courtly display. It just fell flat for me and Hever was made to sound like a damp hovel in some god forsaken back country.
The other thing i really dislike about this book is some of the awful characters included and how they just dont fit into the story. There is so much chatter around the staffing of Hever and Penshurst it could have provided a book just about that.
Where is the lavish and colourful characterisation of the Tudor era - King Henry’s court was famously known for being ‘no expenses spared’. There is none of this rich description that brings the characters and the castles alive. The sumptuous dresses, the laden dining tables offset by hundreds of candles, the dazzling tilt-yards and dressed horses, the chivalry and pageantry and courtly display. It just fell flat for me and Hever was made to sound like a damp hovel in some god forsaken back country.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The House of Boleyn is a historical fiction novel that takes us into the life and family of Anne Bolyen. In fact, most of the book is not from her view point. We have so many books about Anne, that it was refreshing to see her life through the eyes of those closest to her. I've read a lot of novels about the Tudor era, and most of them make villians of Anne's family, especially her father Thomas and sister in law Jane. In this book the Bolyens are a loving family who care about each other. Thomas does his best to protect his daughter and Jane is not the traitor she is typically made out to be.
A good bit of the book is told by the servants of the Boleyns, which is fascinating. I had never thought about what happened to those at Hever castle during and after the fall of the Boleyn family. This book made me think about those "below stairs" and gives them a place in the history they shared with the family they served.
If you like any sort of historical fiction, especially about royalty or the Tudor era, this book is a must read. It introduces the reader to so many people who aren't often spoken about, such as Anne's grandmother. It also gives a new narrative to Jane Boleyn, who is often villainized. It's worth the read just for that fact, but the entire book is full of little gems that were previously hidden.
I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A good bit of the book is told by the servants of the Boleyns, which is fascinating. I had never thought about what happened to those at Hever castle during and after the fall of the Boleyn family. This book made me think about those "below stairs" and gives them a place in the history they shared with the family they served.
If you like any sort of historical fiction, especially about royalty or the Tudor era, this book is a must read. It introduces the reader to so many people who aren't often spoken about, such as Anne's grandmother. It also gives a new narrative to Jane Boleyn, who is often villainized. It's worth the read just for that fact, but the entire book is full of little gems that were previously hidden.
I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
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