Mistress of Constancy (The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford #1) by G. Lawrence: A Book Review

 

Mistress of Constancy (The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford #1)

Author: G. Lawrence 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Publisher: G. Lawrence 

Book Release Date: 2021

Pages: 309

Source: Borrowed 

Synopsis: Lady of the Tudor Court, servant of queens, courtier, wife, spy... and constant heart. This is the story of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.

       In death she would become infamous, yet in life passed often unseen. Jane Parker, daughter of the scholar Lord Morley, leaves her home at a tender age, embarking on a career in the dangerous Tudor Court. From the halls of her father's house to the palaces of London, from England to Calais and the Field of the Cloth of Gold Jane will travel, seeing much of this world, and others.

     Promised in marriage to George Boleyn, Jane is drawn into the future of his family and their advancement... and as Anne Boleyn catches the eye of the King, Jane becomes part of the tempest about to be unleashed upon England.

       Mistress Constancy is Book One of The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford by G. Lawrence.

      My Review: Mistress of Constancy is a biographical novel of Lady Jane Boleyn, the Viscountess of Rochford. She was Queen Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law. She was executed for acting as a go-between for Queen Katherine Howard’s adulterous love affair with Thomas Culpepper. Jane Boleyn was also seen as a jealous wife whose jealousy helped kill her husband, George Boleyn, and her sister Queen Anne. This novel focuses on the early years of Jane Boleyn.

      Jane Boleyn is one of the most controversial figures of the Tudor era. I was curious to read Ms. Lawrence’s portrayal of Jane Boleyn. In this novel, Jane is a background figure. She always lurks in the shadows watching the events unfold around her. She is never given any attention, not even from her husband. She is madly in love with George, but he doesn’t love her back. Instead, he ignores and neglects her. I felt sorry for Jane because she was such an unloved figure, who was belittled by everyone she knew. Therefore, I empathized with her and wished her story could have been different.

       Overall, this novel is about unrequited love, loyalty, and ambition. I thought that all of the characters were true to their historical counterparts. I did wish for there to be more scenes between Jane and George. However, I found it to be a very well-written novel, and the author did an excellent job of making the Tudor era come alive! Mistress of Constancy reads like a soap opera! There was a lot of courtly intrigue, drama, and scandal to keep turning the pages! It had some paranormal elements sprinkled into the book! I found it to be a very enthralling and entertaining read! Mistress of Constancy is a perfect read for Tudor fans! I recommend this book for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and Amy License!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars