The Crown

Smart, suspenseful historical fiction!

The Crown
Nancy Bilyeau
Touchstone, January 2012
416 pages
(thanks to Touchstone for sending me a review copy!)

The Crown is excellent historical fiction, and a satisfyingly suspenseful mystery, set during the reign of Henry VIII. Joanna Stafford, a young nun, learns that her favorite cousin is about to be burned at the stake. Disobeying the Dominican sisters’ vow of enclosure away from the world, she leaves Dartford Priory to support her cousin.

Joanna and her father are captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London, charged with obstructing the King’s justice. That is where Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester, finds her and makes his proposition. In exchange for her freedom and her father’s life, Joanna is to return to Dartford Priory. There, she must search for Athelstan’s crown, a relic so powerful it might grant eternal life, or brutal, cursed death. If found, it could end the Reformation.

The Crown is just about everything I could want from well-written and well-researched historical fiction. Sister Joanna’s perspective gives an excellent sense of time and place. Sister Joanna is devout and certain in her faith, and finds purpose in the rituals of the Dominican order. Supporting characters are equally well-drawn. Their ideas and beliefs feel properly anchored in their time period, rather than 21st century imitations mouthing lines and wearing costumes.

As Joanna begins to search the priory in secret, the level of detailed description means I can almost see what she is seeing: the shadowed passages of the priory, half-finished tapestries, leeches in the infirmary. Once things get more suspenseful, there is a distinct whiff of supernatural chill, to go along with the increasingly complex turns of history and conspiracy. Forced to leave her priory more than once as she searches for the missing relic, Sister Joanna has to make choices about her faith and her allegiances, as the conspiracy leaves her questioning who she can trust.

I’ve already seen a few reviews comparing The Crown to The DaVinci Code. Maybe it’s an inevitable comparison, given elements of Church lore, a gory murder tinged with the supernatural, and a main character trying to untangle conspiracy. I hope the comparison boosts Bilyeau’s sales of her debut novel. I also think it’s a lazy comparison that shortchanges The Crown. If Dan Brown’s fans are led to this novel, they’ll read Bilyeau’s nuanced characters, and well crafted descriptions, and see what they’ve been missing.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

It was apparent immediately that I had the makings of a time-dri

It was apparent immediately that I had the makings of a time-drifting adventure ahead of me when I opened the pages of "The Crown." Do you know what I mean when I talk about a writer's voice? Well, Nancy Bilyeau's voice rings out in storytelling definition from her first sentences, just listen:

" When a burning is announced, the taverns off Smithfield order extra barrels of ale, but when the person to be executed is a woman and one of noble birth, the ale comes by the cartload. I would ride in one of those carts on Friday of Whitsun week, the twenty-eighth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, to offer prayers for the soul of the condemned traitor, Lady Margaret Bulmer."

I could hear the lisp of the narrator's English accent, the conspiratorial tone of her voice as she revealed the secret story's beginning, and I settled down in my chair for the reading. I'm mad for a book and an author who can not only write an interesting historically referenced book, but one that can transport me in time and give me characters to love and cheer for along the way. This is the strength and beauty of "The Crown" and Nancy Bilyeau.

This book has some of the elements that originally brought me to reading historical fiction in the first place. It has the secretive qualities of a Daphne du Maurier novel (and I know the poor woman's name has been tossed about too much lately, so I don't use that reference lightly), and it has substance.

I think "The Crown" will be noted on all the best lists this year. It will appeal to many on several levels. And, I personally can't wait to get my hands on the sequel, "The Chalice." I also have a feeling this won't be the last we hear of Nancy Bilyeau by a longshot. I predict she will become one of the major historical fiction writers of this decade.

Highly recommended with a 5 star review

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read!

I absolutely adored this book! As a fan of historical fiction, I loved the setting: the raid and destruction of the abbeys and monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII, as he broke with the Catholic Church. The period details where richly painted by the immensely talented Nancy Bilyeau -- from the terror of the Tower of London, to the bloodthirsty crowds at the barbaric executions, to the beauty and serenity of the abbeys and monasteries. But it was the mystery of the Crown that riveted me, hidden for years and years, only a few knowing its true location. Does it posses unimaginable power? Has it played a role in who will rule as King of England?

The courageous heroine, Joanna Stafford, is truly a remarkable character. Born to a wealthy aristocratic family that suffered a frightening and unjustified fall from grace, Joanna is unwaveringly loyal to those she loves, risking torture and death to save them. As I travelled along with Joanna in her quest, I was quickly swept up in the suspense and intrigue. The characters are all multi-faceted, especially Johanna. She must rely on her wit, intuition and conviction to solve the puzzle.

Fans of historical fiction will love The Crown, but so will those who enjoy mystery and suspense. Read The Crown, you won’t be disappointed!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a great story!!!!

The Crown is a wonderful historical fiction set in Tudor England. What a story! It was unequivocally entertaining and a must read for historical fiction lovers. Care was given to maintain historical accuracy while artfully crafting a captivating tale. The Crown is packed with fast paced action, absorbing visuals and a fascinating array of characters; foremost is Joanna, the heroine of the tale. I liked her from the beginning. She is a sweet novice yet courageous and savvy heroine. This is a nice contrast in a character. I can’t recommend this book enough. It is just a great read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

You should read this one.

I had a very hard time putting it down. It was very well written. I hadn't read anything from this author so it was a surprise. I'll be sure to look for more of her books.

Wonderful research

This author put me right in the middle of the fears which circulated during the rule of King Henry VIII. An impressive amount of research was done to create a novel that is both entertaining and educational.

If you liked The Da Vinci Code you will enjoy this book

A nun, two friars, and a constable must find the crown of the ancient Saxon king Aethelstan. The crown is rumoured to be a source of great power and peril. One king was said to have used its power to unite all of England. However, a prince and two kings were said to have perished from merely wearing the artifact.

This novel has all the great ingredients of mystery, adventure, and historical fiction. It has you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Glad I picked it up!

I heard about this book in a write-up in the Parade insert in the Sunday paper. I am not even halfway finished and I can't put it down!

Kritters Ramblings

Have you ever wanted to be swept up into a mystery from another time? Pick up this book. From the beginning, the reader is taken to a different time and place to experience England after the demise of Anne Boylen. But the special nuance of this book is that you don't spend your time reading about the magical times at court, instead you are in a nunnery with a girl who came from a family of stature who has decided that a calling from God will take her in a different direction.

As I don't read a ton of historical fiction, I am always swept away by a book that can easily take me to another time and place and I fall in love with characters no matter what time it is. A mystery with murder and intrigue with the backdrop of the fight between the church with nuns and monks and the kings and dukes was a page turner from beginning to end. The twists and turns made for a deep story that could be read twice and be enjoyed again and again.

Normally, I don't compare one book to another or say if you like this then you should read this, but this book is a perfect companion to The Other Boylen. As this story takes place after Anne Boylen has taken the heart of Henry the Eighth, this story continues the history of England and the battle between church and state.

Good reading

Great book.I loved it!

Suspensful read

Horribly disappointing ending!!! The fate of young Arthur, Joanna and Geoffrey Scovill left hanging.... the only redemption to this unfair conclusion is a sequel!!!!

Love it!

I started this book while traveling and I couldn't put it down. The writing has an easy flow and the characters are interesting. It's easy to see where the story is going, but it's not a mystery so that didn't bother me too much.

five stars for historical thriller debut

Five Stars for Historical Mystery Debut
I’ve never been much on historical of any kind – thriller, mystery, romance. Oh, I’ll read non-fiction on the Tudor family and Henry the VIII, but that’s about as far as my interest goes. After reading Nancy Bilyeau’s THE CROWN, however, I feel as if all that might change. Ms. Bilyeau has given this reader a new appreciation for the historical thriller – no easy feat, I assure you.
It’s May 1537 and Joanna Stafford, a young Dominican novice, has just learned her beloved cousin is condemned to burn at the stake for treason. Breaking her orders rules of enclosure, she travels to London to offer comfort to her cousin, only to tumble into a situation loaded with intrigue and mystical thrills.
THE CROWN is a classy thrill ride from start to finish, marked by Bilyeau’s strong sense of character development and historical detail. Reading it almost made me feel as if I were on the quest with Joanna, back in 1537…and believe me, that’s quite a feat. History buffs will appreciate the painstaking detail, while mystery fans will enjoy Joanna’s desperate search for a lost religious relic. Highly recommended by this hard to satisfy reviewer. – Rocco LoTempio, Night Owl Reviews

Great Tudor Fiction

Sister Joanna Stafford thought she was only going to go be by her cousin's side as she was being executed. She never imagined she would become embroiled in a cat and mouse chase to find the Athelstan crown that is reported to be hidden in her abbey. Having chosen to live the religious life, she never wanted to be part of the deceitful world of the Tudor court. Having no choice but to do what Bishop Gardiner tasks her to do, Joanna heads back to Dartford with her fellow friars to began her search. Each are given a secret task that they must do but in order to free her father, Joanna must discover what the friars are also hiding.

Joanna's character is unique in that even though she wants to lead the religious life, she also wants to know the truth and knows that not all things can be the work of the Lord. She is very intelligent and able to piece all the clues together. The back story of King Athelstan and history of the crown adds to an unique aspect to the Tudor thriller.

A few things that for me didn't work was the forced romance that was scattered throughout. I felt it didn't really add anything unless Bilyeau would have expanded a bit more. The ending also left me wondering what the future holds for Joanna and her sister nuns...it just kind of ended.

But besides that, I enjoyed Bilyeau's writing. She made you feel that you were riding on that cart, heading towards Smithfield and feeling that trepidation knowing that you will see your cousin execution. The descriptions were vivid and you can tell that there was a lot of research put into this book. Great for anyone that loves Tudor era historical fiction.

Outstanding Historical Suspense

When THE CROWN begins, young Dominican novice, Joanna Stafford, has just broken the strict rule of enclosure of her priory to attend the public burning of her beloved cousin, Lady Margaret, for treason against King Henry VIII. Determined to provide comfort and prayer to her cousin, even if just from afar, Joanna embarks on a journey that she is ill-prepared for in all aspects.

The unexpected intervention of Joanna’s father leads to their arrest, and they are sent to the Tower of London to await their fate. When the scheming Bishop of Winchester hears of Joanna’s imprisonment and station at Dartford Priory, she suddenly becomes of use to him. He threatens to torture her father to death unless she helps him find the ancient crown of Athelstan that he tells her will change the political landscape of the country and save the monasteries from Cromwell’s destruction.

Upon Joanna’s return to Dartford, she becomes a pawn in a game played by powerful, greedy men. When secrets, schemes, and murder taint the priory, Joanna is forced to confront her beliefs and make difficult choices in order to save her father and her way of life.

THE CROWN is every bit as exciting and suspenseful as the jacket copy and descriptions promised. Bilyeau kept me turning pages and second guessing my predictions late into the three nights it took me to devour it. Joanna is an incredibly endearing character. Her internal struggles to maintain obedience while satisfying her curiosity and doing what she thinks is right make for excellent tension and story development. The supporting cast of monks, novices, detectives, and politicians is every bit as fascinating as Joanna, and their personal stories and contributions to the plot provide many layers of intrigue. In addition to the masterfully drawn plot and interesting characters, the prose is compulsively readable and stylish, and will satisfy the spectrum of readers who love history, suspense, and literature.

If you enjoy books by Philippa Gregory and Ken Follett, I highly recommend THE CROWN. It is an outstanding debut by a talented writer, and I was thrilled to find out that Ms. Bilyeau is working on a sequel to the novel.

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