Helpful Score: 3
The Crown by author Nancy Bilyeau literally took my breath away as a piece of literary brilliance. I am not huge on historical fiction books that also fit into the genre of thrillers and or mysteries; I usually prefer historical fiction novels that are more centered around the person and their life, the period in which they lived, with a little romance popped in. With this book my forgone conclusion about what I prefer went out the window.
The novel takes the reader into the world and times of King Henry the eighth and some of the events that lead to a young novice named Joanna and her struggle to fight for the preservation of her way of life as a young postulate nun living under the rules of enclosure; Joanna must do this under blackmail from a Bishop who uses her Father as leeway holding him hostage until Joanna finds an artifact that the bishop believes will change the course of actions that are ripping what he considers to be England's true faith into pieces.
Every detail and conversation between characters was written beautifully and made me feel as if I was there with this young nun; The scenery was described beautifully and the characters development through out the book made me relate with the characters and literally made this book an addiction as I got deeper into each chapter. I'd recommend this book highly to anyone who likes historical fiction; Especially Tudor Era genres.
The novel takes the reader into the world and times of King Henry the eighth and some of the events that lead to a young novice named Joanna and her struggle to fight for the preservation of her way of life as a young postulate nun living under the rules of enclosure; Joanna must do this under blackmail from a Bishop who uses her Father as leeway holding him hostage until Joanna finds an artifact that the bishop believes will change the course of actions that are ripping what he considers to be England's true faith into pieces.
Every detail and conversation between characters was written beautifully and made me feel as if I was there with this young nun; The scenery was described beautifully and the characters development through out the book made me relate with the characters and literally made this book an addiction as I got deeper into each chapter. I'd recommend this book highly to anyone who likes historical fiction; Especially Tudor Era genres.
Joanna Stafford, a Dominican Novice Nun, serves at Dartford Priory during the reign of King Henry VIII. She is taken to the Tower of London after seeing her cousin Margaret burned for treason. In order to save herself and her father, she must find a magical crown. The story then follows her as she tries to uncover the crown's whereabouts. She is aided by two Friars and a local constabular, Geoffrey Scovill. This is the first in a three-part series.
