The Queen's Lady is a brilliant follow up to The Lady of the Ravens.
Lady Joan Guildford is a fascinating character and Joanna Hickson brings her to life so vivdly.

A must read for fans of historical fiction.

I was given a copy of The Queen's Lady by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

The Queen’s Lady by Joanna Hickson carries on the story of Joan Vaux, the Lady of the Ravens. I loved picking up Joan’s life story again, and quickly got engrossed in the well-developed personalities around her in the midst of the vagaries of court life with the two Tudor kings. I did miss the ravens in this book and wasn’t a big fan of sections where there was too much detail which, in my opinion, slowed the story down. Joanna is very skilful, however, in capturing the progression of Henry VII’s increasing paranoia after the death of the Queen. It’s also fascinating to get an insight into Henry VIII’s increasingly indulgent personality. An excellent journey into the world of the Tudors and all of the associated political alliances and misogyny Four stars

Joanna Hickson’s new novel is a sequel to 2020’s The Lady of the Ravens and continues the story of Joan Vaux, lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII. The ravens that formed such an important part of the first book appear less often here, but Joan still has a strong affinity for them and still believes firmly in the legend that should the ravens ever abandon the Tower of London, the kingdom will fall.

Joan’s position at court means that she witnesses – and is sometimes personally involved in – some of the key events of this period of history. The novel begins in 1502 with the death of Prince Arthur shortly after his marriage to Katharine of Aragon and it is up to Joan to try to comfort his grieving mother, Queen Elizabeth. When Elizabeth herself dies just a year later, Joan’s place at the Tudor court becomes more insecure, particularly when her husband Sir Richard Guildford is imprisoned on suspicion of treason. Eventually, with a new king on the throne – the young Henry VIII – Joan and her family begin to rise to royal favour again, but there’s more drama ahead both for Joan and for the Tudors.

I enjoyed The Lady of the Ravens, but I think this is the stronger of the two books. Although Joan was a real person, she’s one that I knew absolutely nothing about before reading these two novels and I found it fascinating to read about familiar events and people from a completely new perspective. I was particularly interested in the sections where Joan accompanies the two Tudor princesses – Margaret and Mary – to their respective marriages with the King of Scotland and King of France. The fact that Joan is chosen to carry out these important duties is proof of her high standing with the royal family and yet, at various times throughout the novel, we see how quickly this can change and how the King and Queen hold the fates of everyone around them in their hands.

As well as retelling the story of the end of Henry VII’s reign and the beginning of Henry VIII’s, the novel also explores Joan’s personal life: her marriage to Sir Richard Guildford and how she copes during the period of his imprisonment; her often difficult relationship with her son, Hal, who has been raised as a companion to Henry VIII; and her feelings for Anthony Poyntz, a much younger man who had once been like a son to her but is now becoming something more. As Joan is not a well-known historical figure, I had no idea how her story would play out, so was able to enjoy watching it unfold without knowing what was going to happen next.

I think this is my favourite of Joanna Hickson’s books (I’ve read them all apart from one, The Tudor Bride, the second of her two novels about Catherine of Valois). I’ll be interested to see which historical woman she chooses to write about next.

Hickson once again proves that there are still stories to tell from Tudor era England without rehashing the thoroughly canvassed tales of Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. I loved the Lady of Ravens, and in my opinion this book is every bit as good, following lady-in-waiting Joan Guildford as she witnesses some of the most tumultuous events of early Tudor rule, including the premature death of Prince Arthur. This was meticulously researched and hit all the beats I wanted in a historical novel.

The next chapter in the life of Joan Guildford! Yet again a fascinating historical tale told from the perspective of this wise and loyal woman. This story continues from The Lady of the Ravens still in the reign of Henry VII. As Henry VII begins to lose his reasoning and Lady Joan's husband Richard is sent to Fleet Prison their circumstances change dramatically.
The tale continues through the beginning of Henry VIII's reign and his marriage to Katherine.
Yet again well researched and very readable.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Joanna Hickson/Harper Collins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

It was so good to be able to discover what happened to Joan, lady of the ravens was a great book and this is just as good. I love the way Joanna Hicksons takes you back into history.
Really looking forward to reading more like this.
Thank you netgalley

Raven-haired and fiercely independent, Joan Guildford has always remained true to herself. As lady-in-waiting and confidante to Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII, Joan understands royal patronage is vital if she and her husband, Sir Richard, are to thrive in the volatile atmosphere of court life.But Tudor England is in mourning following the death of the Prince of Wales, and within a year, the queen herself. With Prince Henry now heir to the throne, the court murmurs with the sound of conspiracy. Is the entire Tudor project now at stake or can young Henry secure the dynasty? Drawn into the heart of the crisis, Joan’s own life is in turmoil, and her future far from secure. She faces a stark choice – be true to her heart and risk everything, or play the dutiful servant and watch her dreams wither and die. For Joan, and for Henry’s Kingdom, everything is at stake.

This was off to a good start before I already began as it is set in my favourite historical period. Coincidentally, I have read a lot set in the same period recently which only furthered my enjoyment of this. I was not disappointed. Hickson expertly captures the atmosphere of the time and the people are brought vividly to life. I was completely immersed in this read.

The book is quite long, perhaps a little too long, I found my interest waning a bit in the latter stages of the book. The end events are incredibly rushed, Hickson does explain her reasoning afterwards but it jarred with the flow of the rest of the book which was a shame.

Overall 'The Queen's Lady' is a highly enjoyable and interesting historical read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

The Queen's Lady is the follow up to Lady of the Ravens, where we were first introduced to Joan Vaux. She was lady-in-waiting for Elizabeth of York in real life and I love the way Joanna Hickson melds historical fact with fiction.

As you can guess from the title, Joan is still lady-in-waiting for Elizabeth, who is now the Queen consort of King Henry VII and Lady Governess to their children. This book spans the reign and death of Henry VII and Henry VIII's ascension to the throne and brings the Tudor court to life with plenty of intrigue, pageantry and historical detail, beautifully illustrating how thoroughly Joanna Hickson researched the period.

Although this can be read as a stand-alone book, I'd highly recommend that you read Lady of the Ravens first, simply because it is a brilliant book and will only increase your enjoyment of The Queen's Lady. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Interesting second book about the life of Joan Guildford in the court of Henry VII . With the deaths of the Prince of Wales and his mother Joan’s life becomes more complicated and dangerous . Life at court is shown to be precarious depending on who you are connected to and whether or not they have the kings ear . Joan finds herself torn between her son and her husband at times treading a dangerous line . Fascinating insight into the Tudor court from a women’s perspective . Great read ,thoroughly enjoyed it

As lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, and a trusted member of Henry VII's court, Lady Jane Guildford has privileged access to the events which occur in April 1502. With the royal court in mourning following the untimely death of Prince Arthur Joan has to be both a comforter and supporter to the royal couple but with their devastating grief comes anger and despair, and Joan soon finds, to her cost, that her time at court is far from settled. I have enjoyed spending time with Joan, getting to know more about her independent nature and her thoughtfulness towards those in her care. Her life in this book is far from easy with many personal challenges to overcome before she can find a sense of contentment, and dare I say it, happiness.

Spanning the momentous years between 1502 to 1520 there is much to discover about the Tudor court and the way that the Tudor dynasty started to take shape under both Henry VII and Henry VIII. With impeccable research and a fine eye for even the smallest historical detail the early Tudor court comes to life making it easy to imagine the intrigue, danger and unease which lingers in shadowy corners, especially as Henry VII becomes more and more paranoid as he grows increasingly frail towards the end of his reign.

Whilst The Queen's Lady follows on from the first book in the series it is possible to pick up the story without having read first the The Lady of the Ravens, however, to get a better insight into Joan's independent character, and to enjoy the way that this talented author brings Tudor England alive, I would recommend starting with the first book.

What a wonderful thing to return to a beloved friend and I truly feel Joan and her family are friends after “The Lady of the Ravens” . The same attention to the sense of period we expect from Ms Hickson is clear here and the story of the early Tudor court and the beginnings of the reign of Henry VIII is fascinating. There is plenty of intrigue, a liberal sprinkling of romance and much power struggling to contend with as Joan steps gingerly around the egos of King, Queens and Princes and strikes up a new friendship with the alluring young Lawyer trying to save her Husband’s reputation.

Fabulous reading on these dreary winter nights!

The Queen’s Lady, Joanna Hickson

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance

Its hard to believe its been so long since I read the first book, it still feels really fresh in my mind. I enjoyed this book, but it didn't have the magic of the first one for me, its still a really good read but not the magic five stars.
As before the historical detail is fabulous, and it allowed me to feel very much in the time period. I love details like clothes, fabrics, food, day to day minutiae, they make a read special for me and this book was full of it.
It was good to see former characters in their older guise, and they tied to two stories together well.
Joan is as independent as ever, very much her own person, something very difficult in a time when women were subject to fathers, brothers, husbands wishes, with few rights. Somehow she managed to tread the line, becoming respected for her intelligence and her ability to be discreet.
It was interesting seeing Henry V111 as Prince, seeing him come to the throne after the tragic death of his older brother Prince Arthur, and with a steel will even at such an early age. As always Joan and her husband need to tread lightly, Henry's wishes change quickly, those who seek to take favour slide into favoured positions. Joan and Richard had always had reputations as honest and straightforward, but they're being edged out by those who tell the king what he want to hear. Sad isn't it, but things like that happen now too, early politics hasn't progressed very much, with a clique always surrounding whoever holds the most power.
Its an interesting read, I was saddened at what happened to Richard, how an honest and good man can be held scapegoat, treated abominably after years of loyal service and become so changed. I didn't know about Antony Poynz, hurrah for Joan. Now if only I can find a kind, handsome, rich younger man ;-)

Stars: four, a great read, but the slowness which made the first book so special, one to savour, seemed a little too dragged out here. Just me I guess? Maybe anther read would have me feeling differently. The day to day historical details are excellent, very real and lifted the story.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Queen’s Lady’ by Joanna Hickson in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 2 in her ‘Queens of the Tower’ series of historical novels set during the Tudor period.

I had read ‘The Lady of the Ravens’ in 202O and found it a solid work of historical fiction. At the time I wasn’t aware that its lead and narrator, Joan Vaux (later Lady Guildford), had been a historical figure.

Here the author continues her fictional autobiography as Joan experiences events at the Court of Henry VII, where she serves as Lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth (of York) and as Lady Governess to the Tudor princesses.

Later historical events are recounted including the deaths of Prince Arthur, Henry VII and Elizabeth, followed by the early years of Henry VIII’s reign and his marriage to the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon and the marriage of Princess Mary to Louis XII of France. There is also an account of the extravagant Field of the Cloth of Gold summit held in France.

Joanna Hickson has clearly undertaken a great deal of research and this combined with her descriptive writing created a satisfying, immersive experience.

These major events play out against the day-to-day concerns of Joan as a wife and mother running a household as well as navigating the politics of court life. There was also elements of courtly love that were well integrated into the narrative.

I enjoyed this very much and found it an engaging work of historical fiction. I was pleased that the ravens did make an appearance.

The novel concludes in 1520 and Joan lived another eighteen years and even played a small part in the King’s Great Matter. Still, whether or not Hickson returns to continue this fascinating story, is to be seen. She has written a number of historical novels set during this period that I am interested in reading as well as awaiting news of her future projects.

Definitely recommended.

I had really high hopes for The Queen's Lady and it started out great. I thought the beginning really created a sense of doom. However, I really struggled as I felt a little lost without having read the prequel to this, The Lady of the Ravens. I also felt like the character voices were a bit too modern for me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish the book.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for the copy, in exchange for an honest review.

#historicalfiction

Having immensely enjoyed The Lady of the Ravens I was delighted to receive an e-arc of The Queens Lady by Joanna Hickson. Lady Joan Guildford is a lady in waiting and confidante of Queen Elizabeth wife of King Henry V11. She is also governess to the royal children. Her husband Lord Robert Guildford is a trusted servant of the King and holds high office at court. Her son Hal is a close friend and companion of Prince Henry second son of King Henry. It’s April 1502 and Joan has to break the news to the Queen of the death of her beloved son Prince Arthur at Ludlow Castle where he had moved with his wife Princess Katherine of Aragon. The King and Queen are devastated and Prince Henry, the future Henry V111 is now heir to the throne. Elizabeth vows to have another child to ensure continuity of the Tudor dynasty. She sadly dies shortly after giving birth to a daughter. Joan fulfilled her promise to the Queen that she would accompany 13 year old Princess Margaret to Scotland for her marriage to King James 1v. On her return she finds King Henry has greatly changed and trusts no one. The death of the Queen has deeply affected him. He has been persuaded that Joan’s husband is guilty of treason and Robert is imprisoned at the Fleet and Joan falls from favour at court. After spending much needed time at her Frensham manor home Joan slowly returns to court to help Katherine Princess of Aragon to improve her English. After the death of Henry V11 and accession of Henry V111 she joins the household of Katherine following her marriage to the new King.
Joan is a fascinating, strong character and I thoroughly enjoyed this second book following her story. The author describes the life of Tudor times so vividly and accurately I almost felt like I were there! A must read for history lovers. Highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley and Emma Pickard, HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review

The Queen’s Lady continues the story of Joan Vaux, now Lady Joan Guildford, lady-in-waiting to the wife of Henry VII, Queen Elizabeth. Her position in the Tudor court gives her an insight into many of the significant events of the period: the death of Prince Arthur and the replacement of Prince Henry (the future Henry VIII) as heir to the throne, and the attempts of Queen Elizabeth to produce another son. The reader also witnesses the effect of Henry VII’s increasing paranoia, the growing factional infighting and general air of distrust which eventually has personal consequences for Joan’s family, especially her husband, Sir Richard Guildford.

As well as providing an ‘insider’s view’ of historical events, such as the marriage of Henry VII’s daughter Margaret to King James IV of Scotland, Joan’s experiences shed light on many social issues such as the dangers of childbirth, the frequent death of children in infancy, the plight of the poor and women’s diminished position in society. It also demonstrates that political intrigue and a system based on preferment and patronage has been with us for centuries!

I liked the sections of the book that focused on Joan’s personal life even if, sadly, her beloved ravens are not as much in evidence as in the previous book. Although a life not without tragedy, later in life Joan is rewarded with love, companionship and a degree of independence. The Queen’s Lady is a must-read for those who like their historical fiction rich in detail and full of period atmosphere, from the lavish apartments of royal residences to the squalor of London’s Fleet prison.

Joan Guildford is a close confidant of Queen Elizabeth and her husband rides high as a trusted servant of King Henry VII but fate is about to intercede. First the heir Prince Arthur dies and then his mother, Henry goes into decline and political powers try to bring down Lord Guildford. Suddenly Joan is about to lose everything she has worked for but fate can also bring about other changes too.
This is Hickson's second book about Giovanna Vaux, a woman at the heart of the early Tudor court and that makes the book a great setting as it focuses on the latter reign of Henry VII. The viciousness of the court factions is displayed here and the political machinations explained in simple terms for the reader. The story itself is couched at the romantic end of historical fiction so can feel a little too schmalzy at times but the sense of time and place are excellent and Hickson knows how to write a gripping narrative when needed.

I enjoyed reading Joanne Hickson’s first book in her Queens of the Tower series, The Lady of the Ravens (my review), so I was keen to read the sequel, The Queen’s Lady, continuing the story of Joan Vaux, Lady Guildford. She was a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the wife of Henry VII and had became a good friend and confidante of Elizabeth. Her son Henry, known as Hal, had also became a good friend to the young Prince Henry.

It begins one evening at the Tower of London in April 1502. There’s strange atmosphere, as the ravens sit hunched in silence in the trees around the White Tower, Joan thought, as if awaiting some sad event, sensing death. One of the things I had particularly enjoyed in The Lady of the Ravens was Joan’s fascination for and care of the ravens of the Tower of London firmly believing in the legend that should the ravens leave the Tower for good then the crown would fall and ruin would return to the nation.

1502 had begun with pageantry and the New Year celebrations for the wedding of Prince Arthur, the heir to the throne, and Katharine of Aragon. It looks as if the ravens had indeed sensed death because in April he became seriously ill and died. It was Joan who had to break the news to Elizabeth and help console her in her grief. His death left Prince Henry as the heir to the throne.

In addition King Henry’s agents had uncovered a new Yorkist plot against the throne. Joan’s husband, Sir Richard Guildford is a Privy Councillor and loyal to Henry, but Henry is persuaded that he could be guilty of treason and he is imprisoned. Joan’s life is suddenly turned upside down. What happens next is fascinating to read covering Joan’s involvement in both national affairs and in her personal life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is beautifully written, grounded in its historical context, full of colour and life. At the end of the book there’s a Glossary of words and terms that are not commonly in use today, which I wish I’d realised was there earlier. Intriguingly, Joanna Hickson promises in her Author’s Note that she has ‘more fascinating fifteenth century lives in sight’. I’m looking forward to see what she writes next.

I would like to thank netgalley and HarperCollins for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Intriguing and well written.

I loved the Lady of the Ravens and love this book. Joan is a great characters and I was glad to catch with her and the Tudor court.
There's a lot going on: court intrigues, historical event, betrayals. We meet a lot of historical characters and I appreciated how the author mixes historical facts and fiction.
A well researched and compelling historical fiction.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine