Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Release Date: October 14, 2025
Pages: 496
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Philippa Gregory returns with a dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal, and survival in the court of Henry VIII.
Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens.
For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.
Philippa Gregory masterfully shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost. Perfect for fans of thrilling historical drama and readers captivated by the intrigue of the Tudor period, Boleyn Traitor is a must-read.
My Review: Jane Boleyn, the Viscountess Rochford, was the sister-in-law of Queen Anne Boleyn. She is famous for being the go-between in the love affair between Queen Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper. Because of her involvement in the queen's adultery, Jane Boleyn was executed. This historical novel shows that Jane Boleyn was a spy of the royal Tudor court. She had secret ambitions to be very powerful and wealthy by manipulating the queens of England.
I was very excited that there was another Tudor novel by Philippa Gregory out! Philippa is one of my favorite authors! I was curious to read a novel about Jane Rochford. I have always thought that Jane Rochford was not one of the brightest people in the Tudor court. I always thought she had never intervened in the affair between Queen Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper. In this novel, my thoughts about Jane Rochford still remain the same. Throughout the novel, Jane is very clueless. She is often manipulated and used by others, especially Thomas Cromwell and Queen Catherine Howard. She fails at being a manipulator. She makes many reckless and impulsive mistakes. I did not see a cunning and intelligent courtier who was trained as a spy. Instead, she is not a very smart pawn. I did not feel any sympathy for her and I could not connect with her. I found her to be very unlikable.
Overall, this book is about ambition, secrets, and loyalty. I thought all of the characters were well-rounded and dynamic. I also love how Philippa Gregory has portrayed the Tudor court. She portrays the court as puppets with the king being the puppet master. I did think that the middle was very slow-paced at times. Nevertheless, I found Boleyn Traitor to be a very engrossing and entertaining novel! I loved revisiting Philippa Gregory’s version of the Tudor court! I hope that there will be more Plantagenet and Tudor novels in the future! Boleyn Traitor is a must-read for fans of both Philippa Gregory and the Tudors! I recommend it for fans of Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen, The Unfaithful Queen, and Fatal Throne!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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