What do readers think of The Tudor Secret by C. W. Gortner? Write your own review.

I really enjoyed this book. From the first few pages all the way to the end, I was deeply engrossed in the story. From the fate of Jane Grey to the secret behind the narrator's birthright, the author created a nice mix of historical figures and facts with fictional figures and a heavy dose of imagination. C.W. Gortner kept my interest and I will definitely read future books from The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles.

King Edward, Elizabeth I, the Dudleys, a host of great characters. This was a great historical fiction - This book was full of intrigue, spies, who is working for who? The story about Brendan, an orphan, wanting to find out the secret of his past, meeting up with William Cecil and Elizabeth I. Great read. Can’t wait for the next installment of this series. Would certainly recommend it.

Offers a slightly different perspective - young man raised as a servant is sent to court and is immediately involved in intrigues of all sorts and has to quickly figure out where his loyalties lie and where to place his trust. Lots of action kept my interest. There is more surface than depth to the characters and plot, but overall I enjoyed the book. Nice phrasing and writing style, would probably read other books by this author.

I really enjoy reading about this time period, and I'm always excited when a new piece is published about the Tudor family. I found parts of this mystery entertaining, but not necessarily interesting. The plot felt both stale and rushed, and by Chapter 17 I had it figured out. His book about Catherine de Medici was much better!

The Tudor Secret by C.W. Gortner is a fun read but not a great read. As a historical novel it has a good bit of fact and enough fiction to keep the reader interested. However, the fiction is predictable and about mid-way through the book I found myself skimming pages to find a twist or “aha moment.” The basic premise lends itself to suspense and intrigue but the novel fails to produce what could have been a unique experience.

There is so much historical fiction written about the reign of Henry VIII and that of his daughter Elizabeth I. It was refreshing and informative to read of the intrigue and power plays at court in the time between these two monarchs. I was fairly ignorant of this period of English history. Basically the plot kept the reader's interest and the characters and their connections were fascinating. At times I think the author could have been more subtle with both plot and characters.
There was a "and then this happened next" quality that could have been smoother and I like my characters with more shades of gray. The good guys were perfect and the bad ones pure evil. Overall a good fun read but not outstanding.

This is not my favorite genre or period, but I enjoyed the book and think the author did a good job trying to tell an old story from a fresh perspective. The plot advanced well, the chapters were a manageable length, and the history and dialogue seemed sound. Readers who love historical fiction and the Tudor period should really enjoy this book.

Although fast-paced and interesting, this book was lacking in depth and character development. I did enjoy learning more about the historical figures of the period, particularly about William Cecil. It was written in the first person from the viewpoint of a young man, aged 20, and for this reason I recommend it for that age group.