In the past, I read so many historical fiction books that I got tired of them. Since I am getting older, I have been working my way through the last books on my bookshelf before getting some from the library or buying any new ones.

The story is straightforward and held my interest, there were no surprises and I was already familiar with the historical characters. It would be a good and not painful introduction to the times. ( )

Great page turner! Never a boring moment in this book, and the characters are engaging. ( )

C.W. Gortner's 'The Tudor Secret' was the first book that I have read about this time period and it was a page turner. I had a difficult time putting it down. Every chapter leaves you guessing who is Brendan Prescott's friend or foe and what sort of trouble his next mission will get him into. Every time Brendan falls into what looks like a hopeless situation, you are wondering how he could possibly find a way out of the trouble and who will show up to help him out. This is an excellent book in the historical fiction genre.
I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads. ( )

Well, several secrets actually – including that of the hero who was a foundling with a mysterious birthmark, raised by the powerful Dudley family, during the reign of Henry VIII and the pitifully short one of his son Edward. For all that Henry VIII did to assure himself of a male heir – including the judicial murder of two wives and the humiliating divorce of two more, plus wrenching England out of the mainstream Catholic orbit of nations, and into the Protestant one . . . for all of that, his longed-for and much cherished son died after a reign of only six years . . . under circumstances which were historically and in this adventure were as mysterious as they were turbulent. For the last six months of his life and reign, the young king was kept more or less sequestered by his regents, who included the Dudleys, and treated, by the usual ineffectual means available at the time for tuberculosis and/or acute bronchopneumonia. That the outcome would be fatal to the young king was a foregone conclusion, and all of which Henry VIII hoped for from his male heir would come undone, but be knitted up by the reign of his youngest daughter. So – irony rules.

Anyway, into the snake-pit of ambition and treachery that was the royal court at this particular time comes a relatively naïve young man, Brendan Prescott, who has been raised in the Dudley household. He is intended to be the squire – or attendant on the Dudley’s sons, all of whom have a place at court. Brendan, at a very brisk pace – considering that his initial immersion in treachery and intrigue takes place over a bare two weeks of real time – swiftly becomes the confidant of royalty and a relatively trusted spy of the dying king’s sister, Princess Elizabeth. A cynical reader can see certain developments in Brendan Prescott’s story coming from several blocks away. He is a relatively undeveloped and inconsistent character – really, could the country bumpkin servant lad turn so readily into a Tudor-era James Bond? His part of the plot depends on some amazingly fortuitous coincidences and swift friendships with conveniently skilled characters, but against this is the characterization of a gallery of secondary characters, many of whom were real. Princess Elizabeth, shrewd and head-strong, magnetic, politically adept and sorcerously charming, is very well-drawn, as is the character of the luckless and parentally-plagued Robert Dudley. Also well-done and with a convincing air of malice, are several viciously conniving villains – at least one of which the reader does not see coming. The background of the court of Edward’s time, and the physical descriptions of the various palaces where the action takes place are skillfully and beautifully drawn – yes, the writer convinces us that London did indeed look, feel and smell like this, inside the royal precincts and outside as well. The writer can really ‘do’ villains and historical characters – but the ostensible hero is kind of a cipher, and an unconvincing one at that.
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3.5 stars

Brendan was abandoned as a baby and a servant in Robert Dudley's household took him in to raise and take care of him. He is now 20, and has been brought to Edward VI's court to serve Robert. While there, he becomes a spy for a number of people, while at the same time, he longs to find out who he is.

It was good. It took a while for me to really get into it, and I found the second half a little more intriguing, as Brendan learned more and more. Often, at the start, I kept picturing Brendan as much younger than her was - that could be due to his innocence regarding the royal court. I am happy it picked up in the second half, but I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not. ( )