An enjoyable book that takes us through the early life of the boy/man that went on to become Henry V111 told by a very long serving Lady of the Court, Joan Guildford. Well put together with a vibrant telling of tales as Mother Guildford fell in and out of favour with the Royal Court. The detail was sufficient to make me happy not to have lived in the 16th Century. Never mind the Court politics, the politics of day to day life were a nightmare, especially for women. Couple that with those same Court politics and survival rested on the whims of your "betters". It follows on very well from the first book, The Lady of Ravens, and reinforces Joan as a truly three-dimensional person.

If you have not already done so, read The Lady of Ravens which covers the start of the Tudor monarchy with Henry V11 and then treat yourself to The Queen’s Lady which ends shortly after Henry V111 ascends to the throne. Both are very good examples of how to combine historical fact with fiction.

I had really enjoyed The Lady of the Ravens, so when I got the chance to read the sequel I siezed it.
It's just as good as the first. Mother Joan is now older and no longer a girl. She is not, however, always wiser.
She's kind to her royal charges and helps her queen too.
Life as a senior lady in waiting shows the petty, childish show of various monarchs and puts a different slant on the Field of Gold that Henry VIII jointly hosted. The pageantry and splendour of sumptuous costumes, gold decorated horses and armour glinting in the sun - and a muddy quagmire to navigate to cramped, damp sleeping quarters or the latrines worse than Glastonbury !
It seems the fault line in the second in line to the throne, which we have present in two generations now was also active with the then affable Prince Hal, a laughing carefree youth cum despot with a harsh father and absentee mother (not by choice) stressing how inadequate he was.
It seems the only way to exist at court is to have a real life lived elsewhere also.
This is a gripping story and although one knows some royal outcomes, Mother Joan 's life and times are enthralling.

I was surprised to see it’s over 2 years since I read the first in this series by Joanna Hickson, The Lady of the Ravens; it seems much more recent than that and I still have a sense of its atmosphere and characters. Some time has passed between books; now, Joan and her family are faced with an unexpected crisis. As ever, her life as a courtier is subject to the demands of the royal family, having precious little say in what she does or where she goes. The events fit with what I’ve read about Henry VII in his later life, notably his treatment of Catherine of Aragon after the death of Prince Arthur.
Despite the relatively large cast, it’s easy to keep track of who’s who as they’re so well drawn. I get very attached to characters in historical novels which can sometime cause conflicting emotions. For example, the Henry Wyatt of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy is a gentleman; the same cannot be said of the nasty piece of work here.
The Queen’s Lady meets the same high standard as The Lady of the Ravens. Towards the end, though, the timeline felt a little sped up to me, with one momentous event in Tudor history coming close on the heels of another. I’d have appreciated more of the slower pace which provided an opportunity to get to know the characters, preferring the parts that focus on Joan’s life and relationships. A remarkable lady indeed.

Sequel to the brilliant 'The Lady of the Ravens', the story continues of Joan Vaux, Tudor lady in waiting who has access to the household of Henry VII, and then the new king Henry VIII.

Joan is an intriguing and fascinating character to lead the narrative, her own relationships are tricky to manage in the world of the royal household. Due to her intimacy with the court, we can also see the emergence of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.

Another fascinating portrait of the Tudor royals.

The Queen's Lady by Joanna Hickson is the follow up to the wonderful Lady of the Ravens, where we were first introduced to Joan, a wonderfully warm and wise woman trying to live her life in a Tudor Court governed by rigid protocols and filled with intrigue and scandal. As Lady in Waiting to Elizabeth of York, wife of King Henry VII, she was right at the heart of the action.
This book opens in the Tower of London in 1502, and once again Joan is on hand to serve the Queen, this time to break the dreadful news of the death of Prince Arthur, and console the Queen in her grief. Some ill timed words cause Joan to fall from favour , and when her husband is accused of treason and imprisoned it seems that the family fortunes are at a low ebb. Only her close relationship with the Queen's mother and the love of the other royal children including the new Prince of Wales, Henry, can save the family from ruin.
Once again Joanna Hickson managed to completely sweep me away to another time and place, and it felt like I was revisiting an old friend in Joan. The book is filled with rich historical detail, from descriptions of gowns and jewels to depictions of feasts and banquets to make the mouth water, all woven seamlessly into the story with the consummate skill I expected having read the previous book.
Set in a dramatic and turbulent time in history, with characters that you cannot help but love, this one is a real treat for historical fiction fans, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The follow up from The Lady of the Ravens, this continues the story of the early Tudor Court, as seen through the eyes of Lady Joan Guildford, previously known as Vaux, a lady- in - waiting to the Queen, and governess to the Royal children.
There were not so many ravens in this novel, but the story still gallops along, and we are still confronted by all the machinations of court life.
Prince Arthur has married Princess Katherine of Aragon, and they have moved to Ludlow castle on the Welsh borders. Henry the 7th is the King and desperately wants to see his Kingdom settled with another generation of male heirs before he dies. Prince Arthur is sickly, and dies soon after the wedding, which leaves his younger brother, Henry, as heir to the throne.
Joan spends more time at Frensham, her estate in Kent in this book, especially after becoming a widow, and then remarrying a younger man, much to the disgust of her son. It’s fascinating to read history being imagined through the eyes and actions of a forward looking lady of those times. Joan was privileged and had money, power and a title, but also knew the dread and uncertainty of being in the Tudor Court, where one wrong word or accusation could send a person to the block or the Tower for torture. Throughout all her tribulations, she seems to have held onto decent, honest values.
Joan came from a grand Northamptonshire family, the Vaux family. Her mother was a friend and confidant of Lady Margaret Beaufort, so was used to being in Royal circles. Lady Beaufort lived at Collyweston ( modern day spelling) Palace, and I lived in the grounds of Apethorpe Palace, so know this area very well. I have dragged my poor husband around Northamptonshire many times, seeking any traces of this building, but we found nothing but hints of many old buildings that have stones that look suspiciously ‘ Castle Sized ‘ in their construction!!
I have seen the Vaux family estate at Harrowden, with vast acres of land, and I believe that Joan would have enjoyed the more intimate Frensham estate, as a welcome diversion from court life and intrigues.
I have really soaked up the atmosphere of both books, travelled many miles and done a great deal of historical research of my own, which means, I have to rate this as a five star read!! It is interesting to read about Tudor history, that doesn’t plunge straight into Henry the eighth and Queen Elizabeth the first. It is also a great read about a strong, capable and forward thinking woman, when most history is seen from a male perspective.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers HarperCollinsUK, for my digital copy, in exchange for my honest, unsolicited review. I will leave a review to Goodreads and other outlets later.

I read the author's earlier book, The Lady of the Ravens, and really enjoyed it, so I jumped at the chance to read the sequel. This story covers the reigns of Henry VII and his son Henry VIII. The history we know a little dryly from school is energised by being seen through the eyes of Joan, Lady Guildford. She is helpless against the political potting and conniving that goes on behind the scenes, and her fortunes follow those of her husband in his fall from favour. It’s a gripping story and really brings to life a period in history that we know through the eyes of men. I loved the first book and this, in my opinion, is as good a read if not better.

I’m contributing my enjoyment of Tudor Court-based historical fiction told in a unique way, not treading the same old path with a sequel to The Lady of the Ravens, a brilliant book by a new author I discovered last year by way of my regular trawl of the Kindle 99p section!

The Queen’s Lady by Joanna Hickson - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thanks so much to @harperfiction & @netgalley for my advanced copy!

Both these excellent books retell the trials and tribulations of the Tudor Court through the eyes of a unique character, based on a lesser known historical figure, in this case Lady Joan, now lady-in-waiting to the Queen, and who is married to a Privy Councillor (and that’s all I can say without massively spoiling the first book!) The storytelling is engaging, Hickson balances emotion beautifully in a way that is often missing in so many first person female historical reads, and her world building is vivid and real - both detailing historical locations as well as the fictional ones and their cast of characters she’s created for the plot.

The Queen’s Lady is very much a genre read which you’ll automatically love if you enjoy Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Tracy Borman and similar, and one of the better reads of the bunch at that - Hickson’s managed to create surprises in these two books even for those of us who already know what is about to happen.

If you’ve not already done so, so take the time to read The Lady of the Ravens before The Queen’s Lady is published in January 20th!

Althought this was a follow up to the Lady of the Ravens which I loved, this can still be read as a stand alone book. It is full of many historical facts and titbits that enriched the story of the life of Joan Vaux and the early tudor period. It was a period full of conspiracy, intrigue and trying to manage to stay alive by staying in favour.
The characters are all so well described and the research done by Joanna Hickson was very evident.
A great read that I highly recommend to readers that enjoy this dynasty and this wonderful author.

I love the Tudor period and this book was right up my alley. I loved the descriptions and the characters and was thouroughly engaged in the story. Highly recommended.

Wonderful sequel to 'The Lady of the Ravens'. Further adventures of Joan Vaux in and around the Tudor Royal Court of Henry VII and early Henry VIII. I shall definitely be searching this author again. Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley.

A brilliant, delightful book. This is the second book about Joan, 'Mother Guildford' set in the reigns of Henry VII and the beginning of Henry VIII. Joan, a remarkable lady, was governess and tutor to many royal children and despite all the royal intrigue managed to maintain their love and respect. Although a fictionalised account of her life, I believe all key facts are accurate thanks to the intensive research by the author. Hickson really brings the period to life. I eagerly look forward to her next book.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

Once again I’ve experienced life in the Tudor times. Have thoroughly enjoyed following mother Joan and her life in 16th Century Britain. How hard life must have been then. How did they cope with having to visit a barber for a tooth extraction? I shivered at that thought. Despite that, life in those times is portrayed in this book as really colourful and exciting with the festivals, jousting and other ways they made merry.
One of the aspects of the story I really enjoyed was seeing the future Henry VIII as a child and a young man eventually taking on the mantle of King.
A truly enjoyable book and one I would highly recommend.

A excellent follow-up to The Lady of the Ravens. This engrossing and well-researched novel takes Joan, Lady Guildford from the new king Henry VIII's court to rural Kent, Edinburgh and the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold in northern France. Her position at court involves helping the new Queen Katherine of Aragon improve her English and negotiate her way through court rituals. Joan is clearly a much-loved lady, known to her younger relatives and others as Mother Joan for her kind and helpful nature and her good advice. A fascinating story, well-told.

Proper historical fiction that gives a real feel for the period, in this case Henry VII, no gimmicks but a good story and strong characters. I enjoyed the story of Joan and the ravens in the tower in The lady of the ravens and this continues her tale and is just as enjoyable.

Joanna Hickson is a fine historical novelist who brings the period to life. As a sequel to the Lady of the Ravens this book is well researched and very entertaining. Books about the Tudor period often centre around Henry the eighth or Elizabeth. These books are about the reign of Henry the seventh and this one starts with the tragic death of Prince Arthur told through the eyes of Joan, Lady Guildford. Highly recommended.

A follow up to "The Lady of the Ravens" but worry not you can read it as a standalone but why when both books are so good.

As may be obvious from above this follows on from book 1 and continues the story of Lady Guildford and those around the Crown as Henry VIII becomes King and the old order begin to die of around her Lady Guildford life encounters several changes. I won't spoil things by telling you about them but follow the clues and somethings will be expected but beware of twists and the odd red herring.

Many of the characters of the 1st book are here but you'd expect that it's part 2. This is based around the true facts and people of the time which Joanna brings to life in this wonderful novel. The research seems to be very well done from my point of view

There is action, love so hence adventure and things change at a pace that let's you escape from reality into a time long ago. Just like today things that will be written about in history are taking place like the beginning of the King's reign. More entertaining than Covid but the changing shape of Europe continues. But don't worry it's the story behind the events lives that carry on behind the recorded history not the well known story but the one that matters. Well it matters if you fall in love with this novel and not the history, but it's ok to love the history it can add a little extra.

5 Stars for a well written and researched novel that will take you to another time and a favourite place that's only available in fiction. From my experience you will love this read and enjoy sometime away from the trials of this time to those faced by our Hero (Heroine if you prefer) of the time that help to create the history that makes the more boring history books of my long ago in school.

The queen’s lady by Joanna Hickson is book two in the Queens in the tower series. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and couldn’t wait to dive into this.
The is the tale of Joan who is the lady-in waiting and confidante to queen Elizabeth the wife to Henry VII. Joan understands Royal patronage with is essential for her husband Richard to thrive at court life.
But this it the time when Prince of Wales died and the Queen soon after and the whole country is in mourning. When Prince Henry takes the throne there are conspiracies running rife and Joan’s husband Richard becomes a victim and ends up in prison. Which hinders Joan’s status and life at court.
The story is reaped in history of the times in Tudor history before Henry the VIII reign. It is a fascinating story of what happened in them times and the high and lows of royalty and people in court. I really enjoyed this retelling of Tudor England. 4 stars from me.

I loved the first book about Joan and was pleased to be offered an e-ARC by NetGalley and the publishers to read and review this second book about her life. She was a very interesting character and Joanna Hickson has written another very entertaining book which is full of Tudor intrigue and some great characters. Good sense of time and place and some interesting historical detail too. Recommended.

Queens of the Tower Book 2

It’s April 1502 and the ravens at the Tower of London are unsettled as is Joan Guildford, what do they sense or portend? Through the eyes of Joan, Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth of York married to Henry VII we witness some of the most tumultuous and important times in the Tudor dynasty starting with the news of the untimely death of Prince Arthur and taking us through to just beyond the Field of the Cloth of Gold in France, 1520. Joan travels widely in service to the crown, such as to Scotland with Princess Margaret to marry King James, to Durham to Catherine of Aragon and to Paris with Princess Mary to marry a much older King Louis.

There is much to praise in this meticulously researched novel which is firmly set in its historical context and strikes exactly the right tone in the way it’s written. Joan is a fascinating character and it’s so enjoyable to see her become drawn into all the turbulence and machinations of the court but it’s clear that her position and that of husband Richard depends and is reliant on Royal patronage. They walk a tight rope through the dynamics of the court jealousies and enmities which is portrayed very well. There’s a good insight into court roles, the customs of the day as well as superstition and beliefs. The characterisation is very good and they spring to life before your eyes especially the future Henry VIII. There are some vibrant descriptions of a number of events such as Joan’s journey north to Scotland. Some of the most interesting sections provide portraits of the various marriages as women of high birth become political pawns and there are several examples of that. Joan has much to contend with in this one from grief to love but she’s there right at the heart of some extremely grand and lavish events – after Henry VII dies obviously! I like the ending which takes us back full circle to the ravens that start of this journey. However, I do think at times it becomes overdetailed and I find those sections a bit laborious. Sometimes less is more!

Overall though this is another worthy addition to the series and ones that are fans of historical fiction and especially of the Tudor period will find appealing.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.