Barnhill, Anne Clinard

Once again, the author draws on her own family history to write about lesser-known figures at the Tudor court. Unfortunately, the plot takes too long to get going and, once under way, falls short of enthralling. Lovers of historical fiction will be underwhelmed. [Library marketing; for libraries that prefer hardcover editions, the publisher is issuing a limited-run two-volume hardcover version, ISBN 9781250043795.—Ed.]