Henry VIII: Wolfman

by A.E. Moorat, Andrew Holmes (Writing as)

HENRY WOLFMANDIVORCED. BEHEADED. DIED. MAULED. SAVAGED. SURVIVED?Henry VIII was the best and bloodiest King ever to have sat on the throne of England. This fast-paced, exciting, gory, inventive and just plain gross retelling of his reign will bring to light the real man behind the myth.When it came to his size, Henry VIII was known for being larger-than-life, with a fearsome temper and bloodthirsty reputation to match; more beast than human, some might say...Be dragged kicking and screaming back 500 years into Tudor England...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Werewolves, Fiction, Paranormal, Supernatural

407 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2010

About the author

A. E. Moorat is the pseudonym of author Andrew Holmes whose first novel, Sleb , was shortlisted for the 2002 WHSmith New Talent Award in the UK. His other novels are All Fur Coat, 64 Clarke, and Rain Dogs and Love Cats, all of them dark, funny thrillers which were critically well received in the UK, earning him comparisons with Martin Amis and Elmore Leonard, among others. His nonfiction work has been of a collaborative nature and most recently he has worked with New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook on Peter's book The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club.

Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter marks his return to fiction and his debut in a genre he loves: horror, and currently he is working on a follow-up, provisionally titled Henry VIII, Wolfman, a companion piece insofar as it is set in the same world and features the same mythology. He lives in the English countryside with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[☽•☾-Grimalkin-☽•☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I am in love!
The title does not do this book justice what so ever. Henry VIII: Wolfman is hilarious! I couldn't stop laughing at the funny characters and satirical one liners.
This book had everything I wanted in it, gore, sex, witch hunters, torture, humour and historical reference.
The Hoblets are the best part of this book and Agatha is my power woman!
"Agatha, for god's sake, must it always be death" :D
If you want something really funny and well written then PLEASE read Henry VIII: Wolfman, you won't be disappointed.
5/5

[Eric Orchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, outrageous tale of an alternate 16th Century England where royalty and the Vatican negotiate treaties with demonkind and all sorts of nasty creatures scheme and lurk in the shadows. I think there a lot of great things about this book, though I think you will be disappointed if you're expecting some sort of enlightenment about the Tudors or that part of history, the monsters seem to be the point.

I think the thing that drags the book down a bit is the bad jokes, black humour that, for me, really misses the mark. More likely to raise an eyebrow or cause an eye-roll than to get an actual laugh.

[Tina Rath · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title pretty well says it all. As does the back cover: "Wolf Hall, with bite." I enjoyed Moorat's Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter, I loved Henry VIII: Wolfman (as my husband said, on glimpsing the cover "Well, that would explain a lot.") It is very clever and very funny. In Moorat's vision of Tudor England demons are real and dangerous, but they have signed a treaty - at the Field of the Cloth of Gold - with humanity. This is disturbed by the ambition of the wolfen, Arcadians, the lowest rank of demonkind, put-upon by everyone, who are beginning to resent their position and to attempt to do something about it. Unfortunately this involves eating Henry's much longed-for baby son, and biting Henry himself with the result that he finds himself turning into a monster every full moon, a process he does not find at all unpleasant, especially when he is joined by the transformed Anne Boleyn. Add to the mixture the witchfinders Hob and Agatha Hoblet, (who, interestingly for a couple who have built a lucrative career on sadism are actually involved in episodes of healing and rescue) Cardinal Wolsey (desperately wondering if - when - the King is going to announce to his Privy Council "Hey everyone, I'm a werewolf"), Jane Seymour, member of the Protektorate, Graham the Wolfman, Sir Thomas More, and more and you have something even funnier than The Tudors.
There are episodes of torture, hideous deaths, and bad language. But then this is Tudor England.

[Misfit]

Just spotted this up at Net Galley. I am passing...

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The real issue here is not about the church or Anne, it's about you, Henry Tudor, being a werewolf” (Pg 308)

I love to read, but don’t take myself too seriously and will read a book just because it looks ridiculous--those are fun read---enter my latest read Henry VIII: Wolfman and yup its about my favorite king turning into a werewolf without any of his kingdom knowing and it was everything LOL...So this one is extremely playful yet serious in its delivery on the state of the kingdom, the Protektors who shield the kingdom from foes of the unnatural kind, scheming cardinals and reports of a rampant wolfen killings..This book goes into the beginning of King Henry’s life when he is still married and somewhat enamored with his wife Catherine of Aragon though he is getting weary and concerned with her inability to bear him a son and the amount of miscarriages and stillborns she has produced--loved this bit of writing on her bravery---

“Henry would think of how he and his men talked of valour and in sport. But the truth was, they knew nothing of bravery. That his lady could bear the pain with such fortitude, that it might end in nothing but heartbreak yet still she submitted to her duty, time and time again. That, he knew, was true bravery.” (Pg. 67)

So as Henry and Catherine welcome their latest child they are struck with an unspeakable horror as wolf children storm the castle and murder the king’s long awaited heir...With both the King and Queen deep in grief and grow further apart and something horrible has happened to the king..he was bitten by the wolf and now is slave to the moon as he becomes a werewolf…
Werewolf in the kingdom have not always been a problem but one that the two fearsome duo of Master and Mistress Hoblet can extinguish for a small fee...I adored these characters and would gladly read a whole book about them as Mistress Agatha was a savage and I loved it!
“Now you look here, she called to Strode, ‘you want to have another go, you just have to try it but I don’t go down easy, I go down hard, and if and when I do, people will want to know why, because this here is Master Hoblet, Witchfinder General, commissioned by His Majesy.” (Pg 260)
So while King Henry is inflicted with lycanthropy and subject to werewolf transformations every full moon and the Hoblets roam the countryside burning witches and now werewolves their paths seem destined to cross though King Henry is enjoying his freedom a little too much as a wolf--
Interestingly and with a great deal of wit this book dodges around time and makes the wolf thing fit in with King Henry’s change in politics and romance--

“Though of course it made perfect sense now he recalled the events of the night, the King’s subsequent behaviour. Yes. His temperament. All this talk of splitting from Rome. Certainly he’d developed a rather feral instinct of late.” (Pg. 298)

“Thomas..said Henry, his feelings a riot of indecision and torn loyalties. He felt the presence of the wolf inside and it pulled him to Anne; meanwhile, his humanity called for Thomas.” (Pg. 324)

This one was better than I thought it would be, I am a fan of this genre mashup and this was witty and engaging and so much fun I stopped and savored and like I said really got into the Hoblets..So glad I got into this one as its not for everyone but was perfect for me--so fun and gory!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this ARC via Netgalley.

When Henry VIII's first son by his wife Katherine is eaten by young werewolves and Henry himself is attacked, he begins to undergo some changes. While England battles against the Protektorate, headed by the werewolf Malchek, Henry battles his sudden lust for red meat. And when he meets the Lady Anne Boleyn, it's werewolf love at first sight. Cardinal Wolsey is determined to find a cure, while Thomas More is imprisoned under false conception that he is also a werewolf by two well-known witch hunters.

You know the story of Henry the 8th, or hopefully you've at least watched "The Tudors." The story follows close to history. Except the conniving Anne Boleyn is made more conniving by being a wolf herself, and Henry's rotund appearance is a side effect of lycanthropy. Wolsey's potty mouth (his favorite word seems to be the f-bomb) has nothing to do with werewolves. The whole thing is a fun spin on history.

I would have liked to see Henry eat his way through his 6 wives. And while I'm a fan of gore, some of the torture methods are very gruesome.

[Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another mash-up of history/literature and demons. This one was written so quickly it has a lot of little errors of history and a fair number of typos, but it must be said that it moves along fast and is perfect for airplanes or trains or the beach. I found the gore and bodies being torn apart a bit much, but we're dealing with werewolves, after all. The characterizations of familiar historical figures are always witty and in some cases really clever: Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas More make very memorable appearances. Henry VIII himself is a little ponderous, but then, I suppose he was in real life, too. Very well set up for a sequel, which should, by the way this is written, be available tomorrow or the next day!

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting take on henry's reign, despite the fantastical alternative, I quite enjoyed the concept and idea of demons hiding in history!

[Kevin Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, blood-soaked romp through British (alterna) history. Just one thing marred this for me. The torture and death of one of the two gay characters was given extra attention to detail and seemingly a slight joy was taken with it. Yes, there is much blood and torture and murder in the book, but the author seemed to take extra joy and go into more graphic depictions of this torture/murder. It set me off for the rest of the book.

[Jennie Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Historical fiction and I have to say, I never thought I'd read anything quite like this. I thought the werewolf aspect of the story was genius, and Henry was quite likeable. I enjoyed the internal struggle he went through, as did many of the other characters. The gore did get a bit much for me, especially what happened to poor Godfrey. That is my only complaint though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't stop thinking about it when I was doing other things.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather then just an addition of werewolves to the plot, they're ours an interweaving is them into history. In this alternate reality, the wolfan are real and trying to overtake England. With various other characters being drawn into the plot, this tale is the Van Helsing of the wulfen world.

[Pamela Luton]

Not nearly as good as his other book about Queen Elizabeth the Zombie Hunter.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Mary Davinroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda gore and silly/scary

[Wicked ♥ (Wickedly Bookish Reviews) aka Bat-Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Wickedly Bookish Reviews
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/

2.5 stars

Henry VIII is at the height of his reign and he's hungry like the wolf...

King Henry VIII is infamous for his ability to go through wives like dirty underwear with his fickle attentions and desire for a male heir. This book tells a tale untold until now.Henry's Europe is characterized as a land balancing precariously between human and demon kind. The Vatican acknowledges the existence of demons and even promotes their existence because, "..frightened people are more likely to attend church." Seriously, that's what they're going with. The Protektorate is an organization overseen by the Vatican that attempts to keep the demons in check to an extent, but in all honesty is pretty useless. Henry contracts lycanthropy and spends most of the book loping through England at night tearing into peasants with his great big teeth and hiding random body parts in his closet.

The title says it all, really I think readers will find an enormous lack of direction and misplaced humor. There are definitely some funny parts, but there are fairly few truly laughable moments. It is easy to see where the author tries to get a twisted laugh out of his reader and fails completely leading to much head shaking and exasperated sighing. I am a huge fan of dark humor, horror, and novel ideas. However in this case I just didn't like it. I think it is mostly because I have been incredibly spoiled by Christopher Moore and his fantastic books that mix dark humor, horror, and quirkiness superbly while still offering the reader an emotionally charged plot. His stories make you question just how fucked up your sense of humor actually is one minute and then show you that no matter how dark it gets, there is always heart at the center of it. I guess what I'm trying to say is there is a method to Mr. Moore's madness, whereas Henry VIII: Wolfman is just mad.

The pages of this book are soaked with blood and guts. I can get into that for zombies and the like, but when it comes to cracking jokes during the graphic slaughtering of children, I tend to be revolted. At one point, wolfman Henry digs up the grave of a recently deceased child, pulls of its head and limbs, and buries his snout in the gaping neck hole to feast. This is all after sinking his teeth into the ample breasts of the dead child's mother and ripping them off of her while she screams in agony. I am in no way debating morals here, I have read and enjoyed many a blood fest with novels like Z.A. Recht's Plague of the Dead and darkly humorous tales like Christopher Moore's A Dirty Job. If you can write your gore and humor with a satisfying storyline I commend you, it just doesn't happen here.

I won't lie though, the reading experience wasn't entirely unenjoyable. The text is well written and for all its sillyness keeps your reading at a brisk pace. I was brought to tears laughing at two different parts because of how absolutely ridiculous they were. That was honestly the thing that kept me reading, the twisted desire to see what crazy thing the author would come up with next. After all my criticisms for this book I did have the pleasure of reading the best irreverent death scene ever. I almost feel like bearing with the rest of the book is worth it just to read the death by fat ass scene. Don't have a cushion to smother your poor suffering patient with? Have the fattest man in the room sit on his face. Genius. I honestly mean that.

So Wicked reader, are you confused? Are you wondering right now "Did she like it or not?" The only answer I can give you is this. I didn't enjoy the story so much as I enjoyed the way it fucked with my head. I'm giving it 2.5 stars because of the butt death scene and because this book made me really think about what I liked in a book and how far someone can mess with historical accuracy before I stop taking it seriously. And that brings me to my final advice about this book. Don't take it seriously, enjoy the insane, twisted ride it takes you on. If you are not into the darker side of fiction, this is probably not the book for you. However if you enjoy a good mind fuck now and then, I suggest you give Henry VIII: Wolfman a read. And then tell me what you thought because I am dying to discuss this book with someone.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing, grisly and sometimes witty romp into the genre of revisionist historical paranormal fiction. 'The Tudors' meets 'True Blood.'

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a better book and I would like to have read it. As it is, I'll have to give it points for ingenuity, but deduct some stars for its flaws. A simplified summary might run thus:Henry the carefree lover of wine, women and song, leaves the real work of ruling his realm to Cardinal Wolsey, who weaseled his wiles into a treaty between France, the Papacy, England and the Demons at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. (Minus the demons,this is very close to what happened in the real world.)
Wolsey miscalculates and orders an attack on a rebel wolfen. In retaliation, the wolfen attack the palace. The king's new-born son is killed and Henry himself is bitten. Henry vows vengeance on the wolfen, but also blames Wolsey. When Henry turns furry and fangy, he is both terrified and exhilarated. His wolf self loves the hunt, the kill, the blood and raw human flesh. His human self is less enthused, but increasingly irritable and impulsive. Against the backdrop of politicking and back-stabbing, rebellion and the sweating sickness, Henry meets Anne Boleyn and bites her. Much running in the moonlight ensues. Anne is a catastrophe in silk slippers for Wolsey, again, not too different from the history we know. Henry declares himself head of the Church of England and marries Anne. He is mad about her in wolf form, but soon tires of her as his wife. His roving eye settles on Jane Seymour who is a Papal agent. What the?!? Yes, you read it and I wrote it. In this book, Jane Seymour, the mild, demure, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth gentle maiden, is a feisty, spunky, energetic Amazon with a sword. Oh yeah! Not so much like the real world, no, no, no! This is about where I got off the bus. I lost my will to believe at that point. This is really sorta sad because there is promise in some of the plot. Henry VIII truly did display a change in his demeanor and behavior in early middle age. He did pull the reins of power into his own hands. He did become nasty mean and pig stubborn. Unfortunately the wheels are falling off now. I mean, St. Thomas More as a werewolf? Oh puhlease!
Aside from some ridiculous miscasting of characters,(such as Jane and St. Tom) there are also some irritating writing habits. Sophomoric jokes and puns litter the pages, in a truly tiresome way. I became so annoyed by the writing style that ---SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!---I was happy when he ate the queen.

[Pяiscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

After England's King Henry VIII is bitten while attempting to save his newborn son from a werewolf attack, he starts to have vivid dreams of being a wolf. Never particularly good at controlling his impulses, the king immediately embarks upon a double life of eating the peasantry, which he finds unfortunately fattening. Anne Boleyn turns into a gloriously happy werewolf even more ravenous than her new husband; Sir Thomas Moore is unjustly accused of lycanthropy; a pair of dangerously incompetent witchfinders careen across the landscape; and Jane Seymour is secretly a werewolf hunter for the Catholic Church.

King Henry VIII is infamous for his ability to go through wives like dirty underwear with his fickle attentions and desire for a male heir. This book tells a tale untold until now. Humor mixes with horror as Moorat gorily describes babies being devoured and Henry's literal lady-killing.
The text is well written and keeps you reading at a brisk pace. I had to laugh out loud at different parts because of how absolutely ridiculous they were. That was honestly what kept me reading, the twisted desire to see what crazy thing the author would come up with next.

I liked it. I didn't like it. It made me question how much someone can mess with historical accuracy before you have to close the book. My advice is to not take this book seriously, just enjoy the insane, twisted ride it takes you on.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only really decided to read this for a break between more 'serious' novels (and I got it on Amazon for like 1p, bargain!).You know what? Shockingly, this isn't that bad. It's actually quite fun and somewhat clever in ways. Indeed it is imaginative, one of those 'twisted classics' like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies that took us by storm around 2009 and onwards.

There is definitely more of a story to it than I first thought there would be, including the deeds of a rather sadistic Witchfinder General's wife and the attempting cumulation of a werewolf army. Henry is also a little more likeable than the tyrant history likes to remember but I suppose when you can blame your behaviour on the 'wolf' then that is quite convenient.

I would say if you can't handle blood and gore this isn't a book for you – it can get very descriptive on that front. I wasn't really expecting the profanity either, not that it bothers me in any way. It was just something quick and fun to pass the time, a decent read.

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My faith in mash ups had already been restored after reading 'I Am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmas'. Was this book going to disappoint or make me laugh? It was the latter :) This book is silly. Really silly. But thats all part of it's charm. The only Tudors book where I've liked Wolsey, mainly becuase of the colourful language A.E Moorat had him use. I also liked Jane Seymour, she was made out to be a cute little blonde pixie (she wouldn't like me saying that!) who kicked some wolf arse. As for how Henry VIII was portrayed, it seemed fairly standard. Maybe this book is not so historically inaccurate? Henry VIII being a Wolfman would have explained alot of his behavior during his life. Now there is something to think about.....

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I've read quite a bit about Henry VIII in the past and am fascinated by his wives. Obviously the author takes some huge liberties with the history (besides the werewolf stuff), and he admits that much in the historical note at the end. However, those liberties helped speed the story along and keep me interested. If you enjoy mash-ups, give this a try. They're not my favorite thing, so my three star rating is only because it's not my type of story. I could easily understand why someone who enjoys mash-ups would rate this higher.

[Thalia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently my funny bone is broken...or this book is absolute rubbish. Any self respecting Tudorphile will cringe from start to finish reading this. Perhaps fans of paranormal would have a better go of it. I think if the author could have somewhat represented the timeframe he set out to capture with ANY sort of compitance it might have upped the rating...might....maybe not, I don't think anything could save this. It was ridiculous, un-funny and boring...did I mention ridiculous?

[Irishbookmammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very graphic tale and when I mean graphic it was stomach churning. I love these supernatural takes on a classic but this was probably one of the weakest I have read. I liked the take on Anne Boleyn and why her relationship with Henry began but felt there was a big gap as there was no explanation of what happened to Katherine. Too many unanswered questions.Not as clever as Queen Victoria Demon Hunter.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have seen these books out for awhile and i finally decided to read one. Basically it is the story of Henry the 8th but with mythical creatures. The author did a superb job of weaving the mythical creatures into Henry's well known life. The only thing i didn't like was the language. I didn't mind the gory scenes, and i normally don't mind swearing in books but the way it was put in this book made it seem like the author was trying too hard. Otherwise, it was a great book.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Colossally cheesy. An imaginative conceit (might actually qualify as "secret history" rather than "alternate history". History not as horrible as I expected from the first few pages, but god knows, not great. Modern language throughout the book put in for humor rather annoying - for a really good example of anachronistic language done well for comedic effect, read Fraser's The Pyrates.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat entertaining alternate history where King Henry VIII is a werewolf. Nothing super special, the writing was alright and the plot was alright. I didn't really like all the dark humor that was in the story, it took away from the actual story. Another thing that threw me was the history takes place over a very short period of time, so it was hard to keep track of when things were happening. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars, an imaginative take but was ultimately only a mediocre book.

[Tiffany K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly think this book deserves so much more credit than its been given. From the first few pages I was already hooked and pulled into the story. Not sure if gore is really my thing but in this book, I was literally on the edge of my seat at some parts and I loved how each and every character was written. This book is funny and candid at times which I really liked against the "darker" themes of the story and it was well written. I really liked this one.

[Nerine Dorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book loses focus very early on due to its over-large cast of characters and omniscient third person point of view. Gore-splattered pages offer readers a black, humorous alternative history. My overall feeling is that this is the kind of novel you'll take on holiday with you or give to your teen brother for a birthday present.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun mash-up read. It might help to understand the characters better if you are familiar with the story of the Tudors (which I was not) but not necessary. There was not so much detail as to lull the reader into a historical slumber and there was plenty of action. Though I enjoyed this book Queen Elizabeth: Demon Hunter, in my opinion, was better.

[Charity · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm up for anything, so I thought I'd give this a read. I quit a chapter in a half in, after reading the grisly details of Henry dismembering and eating animals and then gruesomely chomping down on his wife and skimming other portions of the book. Disgusting. Unless you like wanton descriptions of gore, stay away.