A Phoenix Rising
The House of the Red Duke
by Vivienne Brereton
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Pub Date 10 Jul 2019 | Archive Date 5 Dec 2019
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Description
“If I have anything to do with it, we Howards will live forever.”
Thomas Howard Charismatic head of one of the most powerful Houses in Tudor England. An indomitable old man approaching eighty: soldier, courtier, politician, a ‘phoenix’ rising from the ashes. After a calamitous period of disgrace, the Howards, renowned for their good looks and charm, are once more riding high at the court of Henry VIII.
Set against the backdrop of the extraordinary 1520 ‘Field of Cloth of Gold’, it is a tale of ambition, love, and intrigue, with Thomas at the centre of this intricate tapestry
Will Thomas’s bold vow be fulfilled? Danger stalks the corridors of the royal courts of Europe. Uneasy lies the head beneath a crown. Every other ruler - a fickle bedfellow…or sworn enemy.
The action takes place in England, Scotland, and France. On either side of the Narrow Sea, four young lives are interwoven, partly unaware of each other, and certainly oblivious to what Dame Fortune has in store for them.
“Nicolas de La Barre laid his lute to one side, hardly bothering to stifle a yawn of boredom. Nevertheless, he couldn’t escape the fact he’d agreed to take on a new wife….”
Explosive family secrets are concealed behind the ancient walls of castles in three lands. But… “There are no secrets that time does not reveal.”
Advance Praise
Five stars Goodreads *****
"From the moment I picked this book up, I was enthralled and the story was so well written that I simply had to keep reading. Brereton weaves a fascinating story of several famous houses which lived during the Tudor age, including the Howards, Stewarts, Boleyns and of course the famous Tudors. If you are looking for a new fiction series that will draw you in and keep you wanting more than this is certainly the book for you!" - Sarah Bryson, author of 'La Reine Blanche'.
Four stars Goodreads ****
"I really enjoyed it. I sometimes struggle with books written from the point of view of several characters, as this one is, but this one worked quite well because it had to be told from the points of view of different characters because it is spread across several countries - England, France and Scotland. The addition of Tudor recipes was a nice touch, and demonstrated that the writer had really done her research." - Helene Harrison, Tudorblogger
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9782956653110 |
| PRICE | £2.99 (GBP) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Briana J, Reviewer
A Phoenix Rising is an extraordinarily detailed account of the Howard family and the lesser known (some fictional) families surrounding them during the Tudor era in England. Immediately what drew me in was Vivienne Brereton’s ability to make the story grounded. It was easy to get invested in the story as someone who isn’t very familiar with Tudor literature. Another thing that impressed me was Brereton’s knowledge of the subject matter. I could feel how passionate she was about what she was writing and that’s more than enough for me to enjoy a book.
As I said, I’m not familiar with the Tudors in that way. I’m not very passionate about them but this book made me curious to do my own research. The story is enthralling and well written. It took me a few chapters to get interested in it and to become familiar with the book’s expansive structure but once I did, I was able to follow he story with excitement.
I read that this is a debut novel and I think that it’s spectacular because there is a lot of talent here. This is exactly what historical fiction lovers will enjoy and I look forward to the rest of the story because there is clearly so much more to learn and fall in love with.
Amy M, Reviewer
A Phoenix Rising: The House of the Red Duke is a debut novel and it’s fantastic!
The Howard’s were one of the most powerful families in the land during the Tudor period and this delves into their lives.
“If I have anything to do with it, we Howards will live forever.”
The Howard’s met with disgrace but managed to regain their good fortunes under the reign of Henry VIII via Thomas Howard who in this book is elderly but still formidable and regales how he managed to raise his once disgraced family after spending years in the Tower of London.
It’s told from many perspectives which took me a few chapters to get used to but I was enthralled by how I got to know each character, their feelings and the troubles each of them faced. It doesn’t only focus on the Howard’s such as Thomas Howard but also King James of Scotland, French nobles and the Boleyns and their relationship with the Howard’s.
There are many secrets kept by those whose perspectives we enjoy and I was swept along with their storylines right from the beginning!
Brereton has created a captivating debut novel for anyone with an interest in the Tudor period and I am very much looking forward to reading more especially to find out what happens between certain individuals.
This is book one so I am certainly expecting more in this series and can’t wait!
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