What do readers think of Henry Tudor Must Die by Jillian Laine? Write your own review.

If you have ever wondered how things might have turned out if Henry VIII had not had Anne Boleyn executed, this book is for you. What would be different, if by magic, Anne didn't die by being beheaded? Again, this book gives answers to this possibility. Not only does Anne live in this story, but she also becomes best friends with Catherine de Aragon, Henry's first wife who was also supposed to be dead. The two women are members of the Hellebore Society which is an all female organization where women look after each other, as well as all of society. Through the network of the Hellebore Society Anne and Catherine are tasked with looking after Henry's wives that came after them. As you can imagine this is a huge undertaking. Both women want Henry to get what he deserves, Anne wants Henry dead and has made her life's goal to see that her deepest desire comes true.

The women are in constant danger of being found out. They both miss their daughters terribly, but for the daughter's safety as well as their own, Anne and Catherine can't even be around their daughters, nor can they touch or talk to them, This is a heartache that never stops and it only makes them want to stop Henry's trail of heartache and destruction even more. The ladies meet many dangerous situations and make many sacrifices on the road to the end goal.

I read this book without refreshing my memory of King Henry VIII's reign. I highly recommend that be done because it showcases the author's power of storytelling. I can imagine British royalty buffs having spirited discussions over the twists and turns. As a non-history buff, I deeply appreciated the personalities of the queens and admired their courage. Needless to say, Long Live the Sisterhood!

This was a very fun read—I love both historical fiction and fantasy so the concept grabbed me immediately. I particularly liked the characters and that they were very different from the standard historical fiction about the period. The plot was fast paced and had many surprises. I didn't like the ending (but I often don't) but in general it was a great summer read.

I'd classify this book as speculative revisionist historical fiction. Author Jillian Laine posits the following questions: What if, rather than dying, Catherine of Aragon faked her death by hiding behind the death of a friend. What if Anne Boleyn were a witch who managed to fake her own beheading? What if both Catherine and Anne were connected to a community known as the Hellebore Sisterhood, run by a French princess and empowering women with a variety of talents and skills. What if working together these women sought revenge on Henry VIII for his treatment of his wives?

That's where this fascinating and engrossing speculative history begins. Before the book ends, we hear the story from the point of view of each of Henry's wives. The wife characters are well-developed, very much individuals.The narration, directed by the French princess and head of the Sisterhood, is by turns grim and charming, providing lots of dramatic tension. Usually fantasy and witchcraft are not on my reading list, but I have to confess I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Henry Tudor Must Die by Jillian Laine is a book with an original plot, wonderfully developed characters, and a satisfying ending. I particularly enjoyed the character arcs of Anne and Lina, both remained wonderfully relatable and satisfyingly flawed throughout. It was refreshing to find a story centered on older female characters who feel fully realized rather than decorative. Though the plot is fictional, the historical settings are impressively rendered and feel well-researched. The one caveat I'd offer is that the title does the book a disservice because the focus on killing Henry Tudor occupies only the final portion of the story, while the real heart of the book lies in the relationships between its female characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys original historical fiction, female-driven storylines, and strong character development.

I received an advance review copy of this book from Berkley and BookBrowse via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Jillian Laine brings a witchy feminist take on some of England’s most infamous historical figures. Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon are compelling protagonists, and although their circumstances are extraordinary, their motivations—grief, anger, justice, and the desire to reclaim their own stories—feel surprisingly relatable. I also really enjoyed the snarky footnotes, which added humor and personality to the narration.
The historical backdrop is fascinating, and it’s clear the author has a deep appreciation for the Tudor period. Seeing real historical figures and events woven into a fantastical revenge story made for an intriguing premise. When the action picked up, those scenes were exciting and engaging. Ultimately, though, I found myself wanting the story to move more quickly between the action sequences, and I had trouble staying invested enough to continue. I ended up setting this one aside around the halfway point, but I plan to pick it up again when the audiobook is released.

Even so, I think readers who enjoy slower-building historical fantasy, especially those who love the Tudors and the lore of witchcraft, will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Henry Tudor Must Die has a wonderfully audacious premise, and I was immediately drawn in by the idea of Henry VIII's wives forming a secret alliance. The opening—Catherine of Aragon being sent into the Tower to rescue Anne Boleyn—sets expectations for a clever, character-driven story about women supporting one another under impossible circumstances.

The strongest part of the novel is the developing bond between Lina and Anne, and I found myself far more invested in the sisterhood than in the larger plot. While I enjoyed the story overall, the ending felt surprisingly straightforward given the complexity of the relationships that came before it. I finished the book wanting more of the alliance at its heart and wishing the resolution had drawn more fully on what made the novel so engaging in the first place.

Henry Tudor Must Die was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, for I am obsessed with the Tudor dynasty. While the novel itself wasn't quite what I expected (the premise made me think it would be a punchy, modernized twist on the history), it was still a relatively enjoyable read.

Though Laine took considerable liberties with certain aspects about the lives of Henry VIII's wives, she still remained true to the stories we have been told. She also did a remarkable job replicating the tone of the era, especially with respect to the dialogue, the decisions made, as well as the outcome of Anne, Lina, Kat, Anna, and Catherine. I was impressed by the amount of characterization each person was given, considering the consistent changes in point of view and the shifts in the storyline. That said, the first half of the novel dragged quite a bit. I truly didn't understand the trajectory of the plot until well into the second act, particularly since the first act relied heavily on exposition and passive description, rather than active interaction and dialogue. However, once the overarching plan was established, the pace of the novel picked up quite a bit and my interest was renewed.

Laine's writing style was very accessible, though as aforementioned, it focused more on description than action. I didn't quite see the point in making Marguerite the 'author' either, for her role in the story was sporadic at best. So too was I a bit surprised by how quickly and anti-climatically the ending shored up all of the loose ends without providing some sort of lasting impact.

Despite the fact that Henry Tudor Must Die is rich in its reimagining of one of the most well known monarchical reigns, Laine's adult debut unfortunately didn't affect me as much as I wanted it to— but that's purely because my expectations were off the mark. I do believe other readers, including fans of the period, will love it, for at its heart, Henry Tudor Must Die is the tale of female friendships and empowerment.

Thank you to Berkley, BookBrowse, and NetGalley for the privilege to read this ARC!