Tag Archives: King Henry VIII

Book review: Last Child

Terry TylerTudor lovers will love this sequel to the popular Kings and Queens saga by Terry Tyler about construction magnate Harry Lanchester [Henry VIII] and his six wives. Now, Harry is dead. The King is dead, long live the king. In this case, his only son.

This book follows the tale of the three orphans and, like their Tudor namesakes – Isabella/Mary, Jaz/Edward and Erin/Elizabeth – they make a history of the 21st century kind. Adultery, boardroom betrayal, sibling arguments, sexual chemistry, this book is full of it. Business here takes the place of royalty, creating quite apt parallels as the themes transfer across the centuries: truth, compromise, pragmatism and bravery.

It helps to have read Kings and Queens before you start this, but not essential. The first narrator is Hannah, who was nanny in the first book to the three young Lanchester children, and is now back on the scene to pick up the pieces. Jaz, Harry’s heir, is 13, his father’s friends surround him as he prepares to take the helm of the family construction when he is 16. But Jaz, like his father, is a rebel and things do not go to plan. If you know your Tudor history, you can guess what happens next. And this is where Terry Tyler is so clever, she sticks to the broad historical brushstrokes but is inventive in the modern-day scenarios she creates for Harry’s three children.

I loved this pair of books, particularly the very last section ‘Ten Minutes Before’. So Tudor!

For Terry Tyler’s blog, click here.
To read my review of Kings and Queens, click here.
If you like ‘Last Child’, try:-
‘The Little House’ by Philippa Gregory
‘Elizabeth is Missing’ by Emma Healey
‘The Betrayal’ by Laura Elliot

‘Last Child’ by Terry Tyler [UK: Terry Tyler] Buy now

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
Tudor lovers will love this: LAST CHILD by @TerryTyler4 #bookreview via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p5gEM4-1Hd

Book review: Kings and Queens

Terry TylerThis is the first novel by Terry Tyler that I have read. It is the rollicking story of property developer Harry Lanchester. A property developer you may think, hardly your usual hero type? But he is not just any Harry, he is King Henry VIII updated to modern times. I started reading this after a heavyweight novel and being in need of light refreshment, and had already started then discarded one book on my Kindle after two pages.  This provided the page-turner my weary brain required, the story race along and is an ideal read for holidays, a long train or plane journey, or just when you want to cosset yourself.

If you like Tudor-set novels, you will have fun with this. It is easy to work out that that Cathy is Catherine of Aragon and Annette Hever is Anne Boleyn, but I enjoyed recalling my Tudor history – and reading of Philippa Gregory novels – to work out the Tudor equivalent of the modern characters. Of course, as we know the story of Henry and his wives, we can work out what happens to Harry and his, though Tyler puts a modern twist on each story that draws you in. I found myself comparing her writing style to the ultimate page-turner Jilly Cooper. I wonder if Ms Tyler has written about polo?

Just one small criticism: I found the beginning a bit underwhelming and almost stopped reading, I am glad I didn’t.

For Terry Tyler’s blog, click here… or to follow her on Twitter click here.

If you like ‘Kings and Queens’, try:-
‘Dark Aemilia’ by Sally O’Reilly
‘The Other Eden’ by Sarah Bryant
‘The Fair Fight’ by Anna Freeman

‘Kings and Queens’ by Terry Tyler [UK: Terry Tyler] Buy now

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn, today: KINGS AND QUEENS by @TerryTyler4 #bookreview via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p5gEM4-1yT

Great opening paragraph…16

The Other Boleyn Girl - OP
“Spring 1521. I could hear a roll of muffled drums. But I could see nothing but the lacing on the bodice of the lady standing in front of me, blocking my view of the scaffold. I had been at this court for more than a year and attended hundreds of festivities; but never before one like this.”
‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ by Philippa Gregory