Check out my review, author’s guest post and enter giveaway!
Under These Restless Skies by Lissa Bryan
Genre: Historical Romance
Purchase: Amazon / B&N
Synopsis:
Will Somers has always thought himself unlovable. When he encounters a creature of myth and magic, he seizes the chance to finally have a wife and family of his own. Emma is a selkie—one of the immortal fae-folk of the sea—bound to Will by the magic of her kind, and eager to learn about life on land. She has to learn to adapt quickly to human customs, because Will is headed for the court of Henry VIII, to serve as the king’s fool. It’s a glittering, dangerous world, where a careless word can lead to the scaffold and the smallest of gestures is loaded with political implications. Anne Boleyn is charmed by Emma’s naïveté and soothing selkie magic and wants Emma for her own fool. Can Will protect his newfound love from the dangers that lurk in every shadow? Circa regna tonat: around the throne, the thunder rolls.
My Will and Emma:
*4 STARS* Review:
When presented with chance of having kind and beautiful wife, lonely Will doesn’t hesitate. Even if it means binding a supernatural selkie wife to himself. But when summoned to court to entertain king, will Will be able to protect their out of ordinary newfound relationship during dangerous times of rule of Henry VIII?
"Emma was the kind of woman he could never have dreamed of having. She was not only willing, but eager. Happy to let him learn his way around giving a woman pleasure, she tutored him with her gasps and sighs."
I absolutely loved setting of this book - Tudor English court. It’s probably my favourite part of English history and this novel does not disappoint in presenting its politics, religion or background court affairs. With added supernatural feature, author created charming and thought-provoking historical novel.
"I knew when I first saw you, you would take me on a grand adventure. But I never realized how grand it could be."
Will is not powerful or confident man. But what he lacks in wealth and social position, he balances with his witt and kind pure heart. I really liked his character a lot!
"I would not risk you, Emma. Not for any man’s favour, even the kings’s."
People might feel offended when authors bend historical facts so it fits their stories. I, on the other hand, found it fascinating to read about king Henry VIII, Anne Boylen and other historical figures without being bored with facts. But even though author took some creative liberties when writing this book, it was visible that she spent huge amount of time doing her research when it comes to Tudor England. Writing style and used expressions were fitting to the historical period. I really liked it and it helped to feel more immersed into the story.
Author’s Guest Post:
Anne Boleyn was arrested on May 2, 1536, accused of incest and adultery. She was sent to the Tower of London, where she waited for two agonizing weeks to find out what her fate would be.
In the meantime, her husband, King Henry VIII, partied with his new love, Jane Seymour. Even those who had hated Anne Boleyn thought Henry’s behavior was callous. He showed not a trace of remorse or grief over the fact his wife would die in a few days’ time, the woman he had once loved enough to defy the crowned heads of Europe and sever a thousand years of religious tradition.
Night after night, Henry sailed down the Thames on a barge filled with musicians and laughing courtiers. Did he spare a thought for the woman imprisoned behind the gray stone walls of the Tower as they rowed by to meet with the woman who would replace her? It seems unlikely. Henry never said Anne Boleyn’s name again. Her portraits, and the records of her trial, were all destroyed. Her initials were chiseled off the palace walls and replaced with Jane’s.
There was never a chance Anne would be found not guilty. The swordsman who beheaded her was summoned before her trial, and the jury was bribed by dividing up the property of the accused among them. Even five hundred years later, we can prove the specific allegations false, but no one was really interested in the evidence. Anne was found guilty and executed a few days later.
Anne Boleyn was never a popular queen, but the people of England grumbled at the shallow ruse used to dispose of her. Henry announced he had no intention of marrying again, unless the people asked him to— for the good of the kingdom, of course. The council obliged and requested he remarry. Henry magnanimously agreed and mentioned he happened to know a young lady who might be suitable, Jane Seymour.
Eleven days after Anne Boleyn was executed, England had a new queen.
