This book was just not for me. Normally, I love a historical novel but the writing in this novel was just not for me.

As a huge fan of the first book, I was so excited to read the sequel.
It was a fascinating story and enjoyed the retelling.
Hope there is more in the series.

Having read The Lady of the Ravens I was looking forward to where Lady Joan Guildford's journey would go next.

You don't have to have read the first to enjoy this but I'd recommend it as both are fantastic.

I thoroughly enjoyed joining Joan on the next part of her life's journey. The Queen's Lady has everything you could want from a Tudor novel, love, hate, intrigue, joy and sadness and it is all told with impeccable detail.

There's some pretty big events covered in this one including the Field of Cloth of Gold and it was wonderful reading about Tudor life from another perspective.

As my own current work in progress focuses on someone close to Joan I loved reading a portrayal of their relationship and Hickson's character creations for them.

This has to be one of the most enjoyable historical fiction novels I have read this year. Joanna Hickson writes beautifully and in no time at all you are taken back in time to sixteenth century England, immersed in details about buildings, clothing and events.
Of course the Ravens are included, I'd have been disappointed if they were not and without spoiling anything what a fabulous gift from her husband!

If you're looking for some wonderful historical fiction I'd definitely recommend Lady of the Ravens followed by The Queen's Lady. After having enjoyed these so much I will be picking up another, The Agincourt Bride.

I thought The Queen’s Lady was another well-written and thrilling historical-fiction from Joanna Hickson, which kept me turning the pages rapidly with the drama of it all and my love for Joan as a character. I also loved where Hickson chose to end her story, because I do love a happy ending! I really enjoyed the first book but I enjoyed this second book even more!

‘The Queen's Lady’ by Joanna Hickson is a delightful read about a key woman behind the scenes of the Tudor crown, trusted and loved by two queens. Second in the ‘Queens of the Tower’ series, it follows Lady Joan Guildford nee Vaux who we first met in ‘The Lady of the Ravens.’ Joan is now lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII and mother of Prince Arthur and Prince Henry.
It is 1502 and the story starts as Arthur, Prince of Wales, marries Princess Katherine of Aragon. There are worries for Arthur’s health and when a messenger knocks on the door late one night, he brings a request that ‘Mother Guildford’ should rush to the side of the Queen. Loyalties change overnight and friendships disappear. The storyline of the Tudors is well-known but this book shows the history from the point of view of courtiers, the way the court worked and the fragility of such positions in the gift of the king. After Arthur’s death, followed quickly by that of his queen, Henry VII becomes insular and paranoid, he listens to new advisors and fears those closest to him are treacherous. Joan’s husband Richard is accused of fraud and, despite Joan’s history as governess to countless princes and princesses, the family lose their position at court.
When reading some historical novels, I find myself questioning the history and noticing the heavy use of historical fact. Hickson’s writing is a delight, she conjures the period with a light touch. Joan is present at a series of critical events of the period – the meeting with the French king at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, the coronation of Henry VIII and marriage to Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary’s journey to Scotland and marriage to King James, and the journey to France with Princess Margaret to marry Louis XII.
There is romance, hardship, fear, grief and new love. The ravens are still there but are not central to this story, as they were the first. It’s not clear if this is simply the sequel to the first Joan Vaux book, or whether Hickson will continue with a third.
Joan Guildford died in 1538 at the age of 75, eighteen years after the ending of this novel. So plenty more years for Hickson to imagine the life of this fascinating woman.
Don’t miss it.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

This is a follow up book to The Lady of the Ravens. I believe that both books are easily read as standalone but you obviously get a little more if you have read book 1.

I do love an obviously well researched book and this is no different. We are again in Tudor times and Lady Guildford is at court, helping the new Queen Katherine, widow of Arthur and wife of King Henry VIII.

I loved the Lady of the Ravens and this too. The timeline is a bit different too as it begins slightly earlier in the Tudor dynasty and so is automatically (tome) more interesting. The author writes in a convincing and style evocative of the period.

A thoroughly engrossing and realistic Tudor story. Lady Guildford must tread carefully around royalty and also be true to her own hopes and dreams.
This book is a gem to read.. I couldn't put it down.

The Queens Lady is the second in the Queens of the Tower series, and picks up the Joan Vaux story where it left off in the last book. She’s now Lady Joan Guildford, and is Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the wife of Henry VII. It’s a privileged position and means that Joan is at Court when Prince Arthur dies and Prince Henry is named as heir. Joan acts as something of a go between with the King and Queen, but King Henry is a serious, dour man - and this isn’t improved when the Queen dies shortly after her son.

Joan no longer has a place at court, and her husband falls out of favour when his enemies gain considerable influence with the King.

It was really interesting to learn about the inner workings of the English court and the precarious line that courtiers had to tread. Joan also gave some insight into some significant historical events: the Field of the Cloth of Gold in France, Princess Margaret’s marriage to King James, the arrival of Catherine of Aragon, and accompanying Princess Mary to Paris when she marries King Louis.

I’m an absolute sucker for historical fiction, and I loved the details and the very human, realistic style this book was written in. And I really liked Joan.

The ravens are a constant - after all, Joan is the Lady of the Ravens. Bu they’re not as central to the storyline this time.

I don’t know whether this will just be a duology, or if there’s more to come, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended.

This wonderfully research sequel to The Lady of the Ravens which begins in 1502 when Prince Arthur who has married Katherine of Aragon has died and how Joan Guildford,, who is an attendant to Queen Elizabeth the wife wof Henry VII copes with supporting her mistress and also the royal princes and princesses. Joan is torn between the Royal Court and her Manor and she tries to tread the line between loyalty and speaking out. In this fantastically researched novel the Tudor Court comes alive. a Joan nee Vaux, came from a wealthy family and her mother was a friend of the King's mother, and at times she finds it difficult not to express her real feelings. She is much loved by all the Royal children as a tutor and governess but when she expresses some unheeded words it leads to her husband being charged with treason and her banished from Court. The Tudor Court is full of conspiracies, but through Joan's life as a loyal servant one learns how she is reinstated. There are lovely little touches when she schools Princess Katherine in English and how madly in love Prince Henry was with his wife. Joanna Hickson has brought alive these royal characters and underlined the fragility of life in those times. A great novel !!

This was a captivating piece of historical fiction. I was hooked from the beginning, It certainly felt as though it was well researched which made for a great read. As a fan of the Tudor period I thoroughly enjoyed it.

didn't realise it was the second in a series so don't feel like i can comprehensively review this book

When I began to read this book I almost stopped because I knew what was coming next. The reason of course is that it is a sequel to My Lady of the Ravens which features the same backdrop, the same characters albeit a few years down the line. The plot was thin and the delivery was like a diary rather than a story that could be developed. It would make a good episode in a series on TV because it follows the same era inn history that has been written about and fictionalised so much that we all think we know the characters. I don't like being harsh but there is so much to read out there and so little time that I think one should flag up duds. Sorry Joanna I really feel bad but this is the truth.

Joan is a wonderful warm character who is one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies until she dies. Joan and her husband soon fall out of favour at court as Henry looks for financial scapegoats as he tries to find financial security for the crown because he no longer has two heirs. Princess Catherine needs an English tutor and so Joan helps her while she waits to hear of her fate. Then Henry dies and the new king Henry brings her family back into favour. The life of a royal courtier is not an easy one with intrigue and ambition to contend with. Joan also has her own family life to balance as well as service to the new queen. Full of history and painting a lovely picture of what it could have been like tolive through

Another amazing book to add to my Tudor Historical FIction obsession!. Read this! Its amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another wonderful book a sequel to Lady f the ravens.So well written so entertaining .Looking forward to the next in the series,#netgalley#thequeen’slady

This is a very vivid & immersive take on the Tudor life of Joan Guildford, lady-in-waiting and confidante to Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII. Joan is calm, intelligent, measured, and wise to the intricacies and politics of court life. As such her veracity and carefully constructed and nuanced discourse is graciously respected by a great many people. Some look on with an enviable eye, but as she is true to herself, this also makes her difficult to unseat.
Joan is incredibly likeable and kind. She has a sense of mischief and fun that also make her an attractive personality in addition to her physical attributes. In this second book in the Queens of the Towers series, Joan faces her own personal strife after the death of her husband Richard, which risks her financial standing. With a new heir to the throne comes a change of allegiances and she is distanced from the court. It is a time of great instability, which Joan faces with humility.
Aside the evident careful research, the discourse is entertaining. The descriptors take you to a historical time that feels tangible and authentic. There is a mix of laughter, tension, betrayal, strife and new beginnings. The life of a lady in waiting role and its impact on family life is deftly captured. The impact and risk of crossing an opaque line always a lived threat.
This like the initial book, the Lady of the Raven’s, carries the spirit of the time well. It works well as a standalone book so reading the 1st book is not really needed. There were a few patches where things seemed a little drawn out in the book, and the ending wrapped up pretty quickly, but the denouement was nonetheless enjoyable, triggering questions about life from this point forward. Ergo leaving a pleasant reading afterburn

I loved the first book in this series, and I’m adoring this next one. Joan Guildford is such a well written character, and I feel like I’ve grown to know her well over the two books, and she takes me along on her journey - both her personal life and in trying to keep a place in royal favour and in court.

These books are such an excellent read, they really are!

My thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the copy in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely loved the second part of the serie The Queens of the Tower. it provide you a deep and insightful dive into the history of the kingdom of England with Henry VIII. I love the main character Joan Guilford her going through all the intrigues and up and down of the royal court.

It’s 1502 and we follow Lady Joan Guildford as she remains a steadfast friend of the royal Tudor household, and follow her as the events of Tudor history unfold.

As much as this book had history that I recognised with the death of Arthur, the wedding of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, and the events which follow from there, I much preferred the first one. This book was so slow!

Although the chapters are very short I really struggled to get through the book when I first started it and had to push through it, when I started knowing where in History I was that did help me enjoy it much more.

I didn’t like Joan as much in this one, she was older but I felt that her voice hadn’t really changed and the way she described her appearance bugged me. Why does it matter if she’s 40 but has no lines. It felt really out of character and made it feel less real.

It’s a good story and I like that it’s a retelling of a woman in history who isn’t really known about. I definitely know more about her than I did before.

2.5/3
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story line in this one. The ravens and the tower in book 1 definitely grabbed me more.