Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole

Plantagenet Embers #2

by Samantha Wilcoxson

Margaret Pole is no stranger to fortune's wheel. From her childhood as firstborn of the heir apparent of England, she was brought low as the daughter of a traitor. After years of turmoil as the Tudor dynasty made its roots, Margaret finds favor with her cousin, King Henry VIII.

Will the remnant of the York dynasty thrive under this tempestuous king or will Margaret discover that there is a price to pay for having an excess of royal blood?


Samantha Wilcoxson is the author of Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen. This retelling of the life of Elizabeth of York has been recognized as an Editors’ Choice by the Historical Novel Society and is an Amazon best seller in biographical fiction.

Step into Tudor England….

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period, Plantagenet, British Literature, Medieval

390 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Writer, history enthusiast, and sufferer of wanderlust, Samantha strives to reveal the deep emotions and motivations of historical figures, enabling readers to connect with them in a unique way. She can frequently be found lakeside with a book in one hand and glass of wine in the other.

New Release: James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution, published by Pen & Sword History

WIP: Wars of the Roses trilogy, published by Sapere Books

Reviews

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Pole was born into one of the most powerful families in England. But power does not always mean safety. Daughter of the Duke of Clarence who was executed for Treason, niece to two kings of England, she is hardly just anyone. When her uncle loses his throne to Henry Tudor, she knows what it is like to feel fear. Living daily with the fear and the past is something that she is able to come to grips with. But she slowly manages to keep her fingers in the political games going on in England. Married off to a knight, she finds love with her husband, and after the birth of several children, she learns that her beloved husband has died.
After the death of Henry Tudor, his son Henry VIII takes the throne. Margaret is a friend of the new queen, and through her manages to begin to rebuild her family fortune. She regains her family title, and is now the Countess of Salisbury. But the wheel of fortune doth quickly turn! With her Plantagenet blood, she is constantly under suspicion, and when one of her sons refuses to bend to the kings will in his great matter, her relationship which was already fraying with the king undergoes further deterioration. When her friend is set aside as queen so that Henry can marry another, the political divides become more apparent at court. But what will the future hold for the Countess of Salisbury?

This book was a great read! I had an extremely hard time putting it down! I had read Hazel Pierce's biography of Margaret Pole prior to reading this one, to make sure that I had the basics of her life down. Samantha Wilcoxson has not disappointed. She brings the reader into the story, and you feel as though you are going through the trials along with the Countess. Her life was one of heartbreak and terror. It is amazing that she managed to live such a long life, considering that her brother was executed merely for being a Plantagenet. It might be that she escaped early detection, simply because she was a woman, however, Henry VIII had different plans. While he could be generous, he was demanding and if he thought there was any chance at all of you being disloyal, your life was in jeopardy. There was nothing disappointing in this read at all! You are hooked from the first page! The entire story is enthralling, but specked with sadness as you read about the trials and heartbreaks that Margaret Pole endured in her lifetime.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent and moving book that appealed to me on many dimensions. I had previously read about Margaret of York in books about the era and one book just about her. I feel this one is very important as it illustrates her life a bit differently which is necessary to understand the history of that time.

An important dimension, in my estimation is how she looks back at her life trying to make sense of events, and her own, as well as God's, participation in it. I am a similar age and think that is a very astute angle for the writer to have pursued.

In that same type of thought, how Margaret's relationship is with her children made me think in context my own four, each one having a unique place in the family. The difference, of course is her ingrained view of what it means to be a peer of them realm, and related to the King and his parents.This family had a long and convoluted history of attacking their cousins and anyone who threatened them.

How different might Margaret's life had been if her mother had lived, had her father not been executed by his brother and had Richard Pole who had stabilized her life not died? The events of her childhood alone were horribly traumatic and left little room for coping skills.

God and her Catholic faith were indeed what she depended on, as did her quite religious children, or at least some of them.

A very fine treatment of a family matriarch who was both progenitor and descendant of the ruling class of this era. 5 Stars ~ I am off to the Elizabeth of York book by Samantha Wilcoxson to take to the beach with me.

[Orsolya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Pole – daughter of the Duke of Clarence- was rich in royal Plantagenet blood which resulted in her ‘frenemy’ status with King Henry VII and King Henry VIII. Margaret lived in a constant state of up-and-down anxiety and drama even though most historical texts portray her as a stern, staunch, uppity woman and diehard Katherine of Aragon activist; giving Margaret sour notes to her countenance. Samantha Wilcoxson aims to show Margaret Pole in a new light and share Margaret’s viewpoint of Tudor history with the second installments of the ‘Plantagenet Embers’ series in, “Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole”.

“Faithful Traitor” picks up the ‘Plantagenet Embers’ narrative where “Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen” finished but it can certainly be read as a standalone novel without too much confusion being that Wilcoxson re-introduces Margaret Pole to readers. In typical Wilcoxson fashion, “Faithful Traitor” dives into a beautifully constructed tapestry of imagery, language and detail even though, similar to the preceding novel: Wilcoxson takes a moment to find her groove.

Wilcoxson goes against the typical, standard Margaret Pole portrait and retells her personality and character offering an alternate view to the readers creating a character study and compelling curiosity. There is, unfortunately, a slight distance blocking the reader from fully engaging with Margaret and truly getting to know her but despite this, the figure is intriguing.

Portions of “Faithful Traitor” feel somewhat uneventful and yet the novel has a strong pace and heartbeat as though Wilcoxson knows a secret she is dying to share. This captures the audience and gives “Faithful Traitor” a moving element and magnetic pull.

“Faithful Traitor” maintains this impact by focusing heavily on history and refusing romantic overtures; driven by Wilcoxson’s outstanding character development of Margaret and the growth of the portrayal of Princess Mary. The two characters bounce off one another with elaborate and succinct choreography adding brilliance to “Faithful Traitor”. Elementary speaking: the novel becomes ‘juicy’ and riveting with an edge-of-your-seat element.

Wilcoxson’s perspective of the King’s “Great Matter” displayed through the viewpoint of Margaret is refreshing and passionately vibrant bringing alternate discourses even to those readers whom have read about the subject thousands of times in both historical and historical fiction texts. “Faithful Traitor” uniquely stands on its own merited threshold.

“Faithful Traitor” maintains its level of suspense to its final pages making for a, “Go out with a bang!” force that continues to highlight both Margaret and the history of events into its final notes. The only negative is the confusion created by Wilcoxson with Margaret not caring for the young girl-wife of Henry VIII (Catherine Howard) but then literally jumping on the next page to a pseudo-friendship between the ladies. What?!

In addition to an Epilogue; Wilcoxson supplements “Faithful Traitor” with an Author’s Notes explaining the historical liberties she took within her narrative (the first novel in the series did not include such a breakdown) alongside a short list of suggested reading materials.

Wilcoxson’s second novel is the ‘Plantagent Embers’ series is noticeably stronger than “Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen” and continues the thesis of bringing “side figures” to the lime light. “Faithful Traitor” offers a unique perspective in a highly riveting way and truly does Margaret Pole justice. “Faithful Traitor” is recommended for all Tudor England readers and can be read as a standalone novel, if preferred.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful Traitor is the second of the Plantagenet Embers series by Samantha Wilcoxson.

As with its predecessor, this novel tells the story of a high-born Plantagenet woman who has outlived the fortunes of her dynasty, but where the first novel followed a princess made queen by blood and fate, this book studies the life of an unwilling Plantagenet rival to the Tudor monarchs.

Margaret Pole was a figure well-placed by history to observe the transition from the Plantagenet era to the Tudor age and Wilcoxson has seized upon the opportunity. Margaret is observant about the change in the wind and quick to understand the danger her own blood poses to herself and her descendents. With most of the male Plantagenet challengers to the Tudor throne dead, imprisoned, bought off or openly showing their true colours against the new regime, the loyalty of the high-blooded Margaret is important to the Tudor kings both for its own sake and in order to help keep Plantagenet sympathizers in check. Margaret is highly-prized at the Tudor court, becoming a confidante of Tudor queens and rising so high in favour that she even becomes a guardian to precious Tudor heirs.

But Margaret never forgets she is charting a course in dangerous waters. The kingdom is still traumatized by the bloody dynastic conflict we remember today as the Wars of the Roses. She lives in an unstable age when not only regimes change but even the faith of the country is in flux. A woman in Margaret's position stands on even shakier ground. Any misstep--a suspicious marriage alliance or an unfashionable religious observance--could prove fatal to her or her children. As the years pass and friends pass away or fall victim to changing fortunes, Margaret and her family face growing danger from a powerful and increasingly erratic Tudor king and not all of her family members are as discreet and wary as Margaret herself.

While Samantha Wilcoxson's novel follows the trials of a highborn family, she presents her characters in a manner that is highly relatable to the modern reader. Margaret has to keep a weather eye open forthe perils of politics, but she's just as watchful over the health and care of her children or the management of her estates and Wilcoxson interweaves Margaret's worries and concerns into the narrative in a manner that makes the character more genuine. This is a real, living, breathing woman from child to mother as familiar to us today as at any time in history, but the author never turns her into an anachronism: Margaret is also firmly entrenched in the political, spiritual and material concerns and attitudes of her own age.

This biographical novel doesn't carry the reader to battlefields or through the byzantine labyrinths of court politics, nor does it drag its main antagonists down into scandal. It's not a thriller, but it has a suspense of its own as you begin to invest yourself in the lives of Margaret and her family and you find yourself growing increasingly concerned for what will befall them next and what resourcefulness and cunning they will find in themselves to secure their own survival. When the worst happens, Margaret herself has a lifetime of understanding and intelligence to draw upon and she faces down her circumstances with incredible and satisfying bravery. Despite some grim events, this is a life-affirming story about courage, faith and family values in times of trial and as such it has a timeless quality.

Samantha Wilcoxson is adept at opening up the hearts of the characters for her readers and I am looking forward to seeing what she does in her next novel where she has set herself another challenge: to humanize the often-feared royal figure of Mary I.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't want to insult this book or its author by saying it is a simple book. Books featuring Henry VIII are never simple. However, there was a simplicity to this book that made it a fantastic read.

It is easy to get lost in the scandal that is the court of Henry VIII. It is easy to focus on the king, his wives, or his mistresses. This book doesn't focus on any of these things and yet manages to be a compelling piece of fiction. Instead of the scandal, the author focuses on people who we maybe don't hear from all that often.

Margaret Pole is a fascinating woman whose only real crime was being born. Her father was the ill fated George, Duke of Clarence (You know? The wine guy?), and her mother, Isabel, who was the daughter of the man they called The Kingmaker (Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick). Because she is only just a girl she is saved from the fate of her brother by being married off as a reward to a man who serves his king without question. It's really not as bad as it sounds. Margaret was fortunate enough to be married to a man who loved her.

Margaret is called on to attend Catherine of Aragon. From there a relationship develops to the point where Catherine entrusts Margaret to be governess to her daughter, Princess Mary. All the while, Margaret is raising a family of her own.

If you are a fan of Tudor fiction because you love the scandal or you love the drama, you may find yourself thinking "I'm going to pass. This sounds a little boring." You're wrong and passing up this book is a mistake. For starters, if you know anything about Margaret Pole and the fate of her family, you know she's not without scandal of her own. This book is an emotional look at how Margaret Pole fought to survive in a world where Henry VIII could do what he wanted without warning or reason.

This book is a must read for fans of Tudor fiction.

[Belinda Curd · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please!!

Absolutely loved this book! Could not put it down. I suffered from a book hangover with this one. All I know to say is WHENS THE NEXT BOOK COMING OUT??? I cannot wait I love reading about the Plantagenets bring it on!!!

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most of us, the Pole family is one of those historical entities always nagging in the background of Tudor history. I couldn’t get my hands around them until luckily Samantha Wilcoxson took their story in hand. Our protagonist Margaret, the dowager who tries to hold her family together, must tread a fine line between the unpredictable Henry VIII and her family’s prominence. Even though the king’s mother was a Yorkist, the rest of the dynasty is a constant threat to his grip on the throne. Margaret is close friends with Queen Catherine of Aragon and she even tutors young Princess Mary, but this connection, too, fails her as Catherine is cast aside. There’s nothing Margaret can do to retain the king’s favor except kowtow to him every time she is summoned to the royal presence. That works for a while. But her best efforts are thwarted by her son Reginald, whose religious stance makes him a constant thorn in the king’s side; we’ll see more of that in the next volume. Margaret is portrayed as a brave and resourceful woman buffeted by the winds of fate. Hers is a sad story but you root for her all the way to the end, hoping against hope that she’ll outlast her enemies. I recommend this well-written story.

[Karen Heenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new point of view

I've read plenty of Tudor fiction and nonfiction, and although Margaret Pole has been mentioned plenty of times, I've never read anything from her point of view, or that of her family generally. As the last of her Plantagenet generation, Margaret's life had more than its share of tragedy, but despite that, this was a story of love and faith and family loyalty.

Also, and this cannot be said too many times, the more you know about Henry VIII, the less you like him.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
"This is a tale that leaves you drawing in breath at the end, wondering, if the fates had been spun differently, what this likeable family of York would have achieved had they been given that chance."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

[Carol Macarthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Well researched!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As few books as there are on Elizabeth of York, there are even fewer on her cousin Margaret Pole, so I was eager to read this second book in the Plantagenet Embers series. The book started when Margaret is around thirty years old, when hears of Elizabeth's death. At first I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see a younger Margaret; I would've liked to have seen how Margaret's parents interacted with her in the short amount of time they lived after she was born. I also would have liked to see the beginning of Margaret's friendship with Catherine of Aragon; they're already good friends at the start. Later on I realized that this book was purposely
picking up right about where Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen left off.

Initially I struggled to retain interest in the story; Margaret leads a relatively quiet life at first, primarily concerning herself with building projects and arranging marriages for her children. The story starts to pick up after "The King's Great Matter", in which Margaret, as Governess to Princess Mary, must choose who to support. Margaret's courage is evident when she supports Mary and Catherine, even plotting to see Catherine in secret (which the author admitted to fabricating, but I found it a great idea). Margaret is still only human, however, as evident when she has to confront Henry VIII face to face. I also really liked the brief glimpse we saw of Catherine Howard. I have read that she provided Margaret with adequate clothing as it states; it was refreshing to see her portrayed as a little bit more than a vapid tart.

The ending to Faithful Traitor was abrupt, but then, so was the real life decision to have Margaret executed, so I am more than okay with it. This story shows how dangerous it was to have royal blood during the time of the Tudors. 4.5 stars, but since Goodreads doesn't allow that, I'll bump it up to five. I can't wait for the third in the series to come out; I'm always game for a novel on Mary Tudor.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different take on the Tudor era

This shows the Plantagenet side the Tudor era. The 2nd in a trilogy, it gives a perspective of just how perilous life was for those in the white rose lineage. Despite being close blood relative, Margaret Pole was still a threat because of her royal blood. Daughter of George, cousin to Henry's mother, she had a claim to throne, as did her children. The author has created an almost diary-like book that makes it feel very personal. I look forward to the last book about Mary Tudor.

[Patricia Wesslink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't very familiar with Margaret Pole and her family's place in the Tudor period but Faithful Traitor filled in the blanks quite thoroughly, and was easy to read and well paced to hold my interest. I couldn't put it down and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This book discusses the tragic life of Margaret Pole who was somewhat outspoken and devoted to Queen Catherine and her daughter, Princess Mary. She was to speak intemperately at times and ran afoul of her cousin, King Henry VIII.

At first, she and Henry had a close relationship. She was restored to her former status as Countess of Salisbury and her finances increased accordingly. But when Henry decided to rid himself of his first wife, Catherine, Margaret spoke up for Catherine and the cracks in her and Henry's friendship began to show. Still, when Mary was forbidden to see her mother Margaret was chosen to be her governess.

Margaret and Mary got along quite well and Margaret was certain that Henry would name her heir to the throne when he passed. However, it was not to be. Mary's refusal to acknowledge Henry's new wife, Anne brought Henry's wrath down upon her. Margaret supported her in this. Mary was ordered to atttend upon her half-sister Elizabeth, bastardized and must now call herself Lady Mary.

While two (actually three, but one died), of Margaret's sons attended Henry at his court, another son, Reginald, could not keep his counsel regarding the divorce and exile of Catherine. The aging and increasingly paranoid and wrathful Henry could not tolerate this. Reginald fled England.

Fate continued to deal Margaret Pole deadly blows.

This book was well written in a linear fashion. One event followed another in a logical progression. I like the way that Ms. Wilcoxson portrayed the women in the story as strong and capable, without needing a man to lean on. The book shows clear evidence of exhaustive research, but the story is told in a less formal manner. It is a compulsive read and I strongly suggest it to anyone who enjoys Tudor history, or just history in general.

I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this informative and instructive book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Rebekah Giese Witherspoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating perspective: the reign of the infamous Henry VIII from the point of view of his cousin, Margaret Pole. She was an insider, yet an outsider. She was part of the royal family by blood and also the best friend of Queen Catherine of Aragon and governess to Catherine’s daughter, Princess Mary. At the same time, she spent most of her life living apart from the royal household, creating her own life with her beloved husband and nurturing her children. So, Margaret’s perspective is composed of firsthand experience with the royal family mixed with the gossip and hearsay that she gleans during her life apart. The novel is compelling, well-written, and clean. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys accurate historical fiction about the English monarchy.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a digital advance review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Karen]

I really like Margaret Pole!!!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of Order

I read this book out of order seeing it is book two in a series. But it works very nicely as a novel on its own. I'm a great fan of historical fiction and enjoyed this novel. The real stories of women are often hidden a nd given to us only with days of birth, marriage, and death. Samantha Wilcoxson provides an entertaining tale of a strong woman who loved her family under the difficult conditions of Tudor England. The only problem I had with Wilcoxson's book was the compacting of years into one or two lines. Other than that, I believe I will now look for Book One to read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole is the second installment from Samantha Wilcoxson‘s Plantagenet Embers series. I enjoyed spending my time with Margaret. I could not imagine the life she had in the lifelong fear she must have endured. The story is so well written that I found myself going to my computer to do searches to see if certain events really did happen.

This is a great read that I highly recommend and I look forward to read book 3 other series.

5+ stars.

I purchased this book directly from the author. Therefore, I was not required to write a review. This review is 100 percent my own honest opinion.

[Paula Lofting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds - will share soon

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful Traitor, Samantha J Wilcoxson

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction

I love this kind of historical fiction, with roots based in what happened, in events of the time, but taken so that the author fills in missing details. Its speculative, its fiction but well researched and very plausible. I loved the first book, featuring Elizabeth of York, mother to Henry VIII, and this book sees Henry as King, and Margaret Pole as lady in waiting and friend to Catherine, his Queen.

I know little of Margaret other than her Plantagenet connection, and its that faint thread of blood that gives her position in society as cousin to the King, yet also makes life for her and her family so dangerous.
I really felt for her, she had a tumultuous childhood, losing her father and other family suddenly due to twisting alliances, and the tenuous hold the Tudors think they have on the throne.
Its always like that in history, Kings rule by fear, ridding themselves of possible threats by harsh means. It difficult to understand from a modern viewpoint, but harsh though it was I can see that there was little else they could do sometimes. Kind of reminds me of lions, when the males win over an opponent and takeover the herd, first action is to kill all male cubs, so that only their blood flows through the herd. There's no politics there, just instinctive action, but the parallels to royal history is there, where ascendants promptly dispose of threats however they can. Even the females weren't exempt.

Margaret wants little more than to live her live in peace, to have her family and ensure their lives successful, but the Plantagenet blood keeps her always in the royal eye and under a threat of suspicion. Of course as Henry ages, discards Catherine and creates his new church fortunes and lives fall on his whims, and Margaret needs to tread a fine line. Play it safe on the earthly life and embrace Henry's new church, or keep her faith with God, her religion, the one she has known all her life and risk her and her families life? What must she do? She tries so hard to keep her faith and yet keep her family safe too.
It makes me think, what would I do? I'm just glad I didn't live in those times... Throw in Henry's lack of a male heir and you can see just how dangerous life was for Margaret and those like her.
I really enjoyed this story, bringing history to live in a readable way through fiction. I really felt there with the families, could mentally see what was happening, and the little things, clothing, buildings, plants even, really brought the period to life. Its those tiny touches that work for me, make the story feel real, I want to feel as if I'm there, a silent onlooker back in time, alongside the characters.

I
Stars: Five, liked the reminder of how Margaret is connected t the last book, I'd forgotten but when events were mentioned it all came back and it really embraced the sense of continuity in history between the two books. I'm keen to read book three now.


Arc via Netgalley and publishers

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Pole is such an amazing woman. Learning about her trials is unstop remarkable. She is definitely a person history should be remembering. Through out her life, she has been careful about how she presented herself and her family. Since the end of the war of roses, her blood became more of a curse than a blessing. Henry Tudor (VII) and his son, Henry VIII's reign became a war zone for her Plantagenet blood, more so when Elizabeth of York (Henry VIII's mother) passes on.

Margaret has been there since the beginning, caring for Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's children. She was very close to Queen Catherine when she married King Arthur and Henry VIII. Margaret later on would become the governor of Henry VIII's daughter Mary.

As the fortune wheel turns, Margaret soon has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen, or to the future queen. Margaret is caught between the old world and the new. You can feel the tension in her decisions and how it looked from her point of view. I enjoyed how the author made each "chapter" a date, stapling the importance as time clips by.

I read another novel The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory about Margaret Pole that made her one of my favorite courtiers. Samantha's novel Faithful Traitor her title is perfect once you know about Margaret's life. She was faithful, but was she really a traitor? I can't wait to read more about this amazing woman. Samantha has once again did a remarkable version on Countess Margaret Pole. I am going to jump into her novella about Margaret's son, Reginald Pole after this.

I first heard about Margaret Pole by being the oldest victim murdered in Henry VIII's reign. When she was told to put her head on the block, for treason to the crown, she resisted and rose three times before her light was snuffed out. After so many of her family members died including past and present, she still fought for her life as the ax continued to end her. I cry whenever I read about her fate. 300 years later, she became a martyr for the Catholic Church.

[Sarah Stirrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly emotional and gripping read. I took a little time to get into the book but once I did I was hooked. I’m interested in Tudor History but I don’t know much of Plantagenet history; and the other side of the story that the biased British Church of England based history I and many others were taught of is in stark contrast to this. This definitely opened my eyes, especially the way Mary I was portrayed. The author definitely succeeded in making the reader sympathetic to the people she was writing about, yet starkly reminded of what is commonly known by of our average population’s mind of that time.

The book had a few spelling mistakes and grammar issues, and a lot of the words used Modern American spelling which was quite jarring as an English reader reading English historical fiction. Obviously, they wrote in a completely different way to us back then, but as a novel it was a bit distracting. I understand the story was told in a way that would make the reader sympathetic to Margaret, but at times it felt a little too ‘modern’. I had to get used into the large gaps of months and even years between chapters but understandably this needed to be done as little is known about the very intimate day to day lives of these noble people (and truth be told it was a repetitious life at times!)

I wish I could give it more than my 3.5 stars but it just didn’t do the 4 star mark for me, however I do want to read the next novel and will be looking forward to when I can get the chance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shardonite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faithful Historical Fiction ~ Faithful Traitor by Samantha J Wilcoxson

Rather than follow the typical route of exploring vibrant and much discussed characters of Elizabeth I and Henry VIII, Wilcoxson demonstrates her historical knowledge by writing a novel through the eyes of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury. Through this character, Wilcoxson continues the intriguing and welcome trend in literature of powerful female characters and feminist retellings without compromising historical accuracy or removing the reader from the drama of court life.

The text echoes the topics and writing styles of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir but avoids becoming dominated by made-up day-to-day drama. Instead, Wilcoxson favours a brisk pace by skipping years where little is known about the events in Margaret Pole’s life and focuses in depth upon key moments and turning points. I found that the characterisation was accurate and complex, especially Margaret’s blind love for her children when the reader can see how some of them have strayed.

Occasionally there were a few syntax errors that made a sentence or two difficult to follow without multiple readings. I would have also appreciated a family tree at the beginning of the novel in order to highlight how Margaret was connected to the king (especially as marriages in the Tudor period where frequent and complicated with men marrying their brother’s wives or young girls being married to older distantly-related men).

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this text and look forward to more from Wilcoxson.

I would like to thank #NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this text in return for an honest review.

[Avis Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being interested in the Tudor times of history, came across this book on the story of Margaret Pole. From her childhood as firstborn of the heir apparent of England, she was brought low as the daughter of a traitor. Tudor England was a dangerous place to live. This story is a work of fiction with some minor changes, such as changing of names to avoid having dozens of Henry’s and Catherine’s. Historical facts were used as an outline and personalities of Margaret’s sons are established to some extent in their statements after arrest. Geoffrey truly did give testimony against anyone he could and then and then attempt suicide more than once in guilt. Geoffrey’s brother Henry, on the other hand, remained firm and unafraid, just like his mother.
It remains unclear why Henry VIII decided to have Margaret executed when he did, other than as part of a heartless cleaning of house.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by Samantha Wilcoxson who is fast becoming my new favorite author! A book about Margaret Pole (daughter of George Duke of Clarence) and her life starting about age 30. I have read other books about Margaret but this, by far, is my favorite.

This woman has been through it all, losing both her parents at a very early age, her cousins, brother, husband and children but she persevered even through her own tragic end.

A great and easy read and the author's notes explain what she took license with and what name changes she made and why. As a reader, I always appreciate that.

Enjoy!

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading about the Tudor age, and have read a lot of books. This was an enjoyable book about Margaret Pole. Obviously I know her history but Ive never seen a book written from her point of view before. It was ok but there were weird gaps in the history as time passes and so much repetition of giving blessings it just seemed weird. I guess maybe I like totally factual books better? Anyway that said it was a good read and seemed pretty accurate with history which I appreciate as so much historical fiction is not.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treacherous Times

This is historical fiction, but the facts of Tudor England are well documented so that history rings true throughout the book series. Another brave York woman, Margaret Pole, lives the joys and deepest sorrows based on her ancestry. The murderous reign of Henry VIII underscores the fears of the nobles. The Pole family is essentially eliminated at his whim. This book is highly emotional, the scenes of Margaret and Queen Catherine, and Margaret with her children pull on your heart. On to another emotional read of Queen Mary I.

[Renee Marski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Pole is one of the most amazing women. And the way Samantha writes her id stunning. She lives through four kings, only losing her life to the last one. She made sacrifices, did everything she could to protect her children and the princess mary. Really enjoyed this telling as Samantha doesnt speculate about any supposed plotting Margaret may have done, instead focusing on who she was as a mother and a peer of the realm.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Margaret Pole, daughter to George, Duke of Clarence, niece of Edward IV and Richard III. Though she eventually found favour within the Tudor court, befriending Catherine of Aragon and later her daughter Mary I. But what of Henry VIII, her fate is in his hands.
An interesting, well-written historical fiction book concerning a person I admit I knew nothing about.
A NetGalley Book