A fictionalised account of the lives of John and Isabel Seymour, ancestors of Henry VIII's wife Jane Seymour. Well-researched and filled with historical details, but overall bland with a repetitive writing style, extremely slow and uneventful plot, and very surface level engagement with the characters. Not one for me.

Really interesting to read about the 15th c and the Seymour family that was Jane Seymour’s ancestry. Some strong women and power wrangling, not too much different to now.

Two very different women’s lives and travails. The story alternates between shepherdess Jess (with her faithful Dog Star) living on the South Downs and Wolf Hall doyenne Isabel Seymour, married to John. It’s set in the sixteenth century, when Henry VI is a child, England is ruled by a regent and there are constant wars with France. This is a superstitious age, when unconventional women could be charged with witchcraft and lives were often short and brutal. There’s a strong sense of time and place and good descriptions of the two women’s homes, journeys and the towns and countryside they live in. Well-written and engrossing with a useful glossary at the end.

The House of Seymour by Joanna Hickson

Really enjoyed this . We obviously know the connection between these 2 families but this time we are a generation before and I liked the fact we find out more those around the family as well .

When Isabel Williams is betrothed to John Seymour, Lord of Wolf Hall Manor, she hopes that love and respect will come, despite his cold streak of ruthless ambition.
Jess the shepherdess tends her flock on the wild spaces of Avebury close by, dismissing those who believe it is work for men. Forced to flee after falling under suspicion for the disappearance of a young man, Isabel’s offer of life with the growing Seymour family is the only refuge available to her.

Great characters,and,a lovely to immerse yourself in plot , I could,almost imagine myself as a bystander looking in , so a great accolade to the author.

Wolf Hall was in Burbage which is very near to Marlborough in Wiltshire and Avebury is 12/15 miles away , so at least a 5/6 hour walk so not sure how some of the characters would have the interactions they did , but I still very much enjoyed reading it .

This was a really good piece of historical fiction with strong storyline, interesting and realistic characters and strong female characters
The pacing was nice and even and the writing was very good. Recommended for historical fiction lovers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc