The Boleyn King

April 1, 2013
A debut novel that considers what might have happened if Anne Boleyn had been able to give Henry VIII the male heir he required. In real life, Anne Boleyn miscarried. In this re-imagined history, she gives birth to a son, William. William is 10 when his father, Henry, dies and he becomes king. Among the extended family are youngsters who are raised with William, including Dominic and the girl they call Minuette, who keeps a diary. The three become good friends, and later, the two young men both fall in love with Minuette. William's half sister Mary (of Bloody Mary fame) maintains a staunch Catholicism while the rest of the family supports the Protestant faith. Mary is seen as a threat who could possibly lead a Catholic rebellion, tearing England apart. Peace comes, and war is waged against foreign nations based on whether those nations are predominantly Catholic or Protestant. There is fighting and spying and a conspiracy around a rumored written affidavit that states William is not Henry's son after all. An entertaining book for Tudor history buffs that's grounded in acute psychological and political insight.

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Starred review from May 1, 2013

Andersen's imaginative debut, the first in a planned trilogy, poses a simple but history-shattering question: What if Anne Boleyn had given Henry VIII a healthy son who had lived? The novel focuses on the increasingly tense atmosphere at court as that son, William, nears his 18th birthday and the end of his uncle's regency. When William discovers that pro-Catholic forces are plotting to take the crown from him and to bestow it on his older sister, Mary, he turns to his three closest friends (including his sister Elizabeth) to help him uncover the conspirators. Romantic entanglements, battlefield drama, and Anne Boleyn's enduring power and legacy all further complicate matters for the dashing young king and his supporters. VERDICT Once the basics of her alternate-history universe have been established, Andersen focuses on creating an exciting, action-driven plot containing strong doses of both intrigue and romance. Tudor-era historical fiction fans who are willing to accept the unusual premise will be rewarded with an original and entertaining read that's reminiscent of the best of Philippa Gregory.--Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

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Starred review from May 15, 2013
High-court intrigue, romantic passions, and danger surround the four central characters of Andersen's gripping first novel. Imagining that Anne Boleyn bears a live son to King Henry VIII in 1536, thereby saving her life, Andersen delves into an alternative Tudor England geared to rivet period fans and newcomers alike. Will's story begins just before his eighteenth birthday and assumption of the crown. He manages to stay grounded because of his friendships with his close friend and advisor, Dominic; his intelligent and strong-willed sister, Elizabeth; and her sweet childhood friend and now servant, Minuette. Their support helps him manage to handle everything from watching over his mother's well-being (of great importance to Will in a kingdom that still favors her predecessor as Henry's queen, Catherine of Aragon) to deciding whom he should marry to impending war to ugly questions about the legitimacy of his birthright. Although the love triangle seems just a bit forced, the overall story plays out very well. Told mainly from Minuette's viewpoint and her journal entries, this first entry in a planned trilogy highly entertains with its fine pacing, plot, and detail. Perfect for Philippa Gregory fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)