Author: Wendy J. Dunn
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 7th September 2014
Pages: 338
ISBN: 098072192X
Book Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Synopsis:
A Queen fights for her life.
A King denies his heart and soul.
A girl faces her true identity.
All things must come to an end—all things but love.
The Light in the Labyrinth, a young adult novel, depicts the lives of women in the patriarchal society of the Tudors, a time when aristocratic families commonly traded them for favour and status. Told from the perspective of a teenage Katherine Carey, niece of Anne Boleyn, this is a story of a girl who becomes a woman in the court of Henry VIII, the bloody tyrant remembered so well by history.
Unhappy at home with her mother, who has remarried, Kate receives permission to go to court to attend her royal aunt. In the past, Kate idolized her aunt from a distance; now given a place amongst her aunt’s trusted women, she becomes an eyewitness to the intrigue and heartache of Anne Boleyn’s final months as queen.
My Thoughts:
Most of you know I'm a huge Tudor fan and having just walked many
of the places I've been reading about in historical fiction for years it gives
a new level of 'feeling' to my reading. I found The Light in the Labyrinth to
be a well written blending of historical fact and imagination and I think the
author's notes clarify that Wendy Dunn's imaginings are indeed plausible.
We follow Catherine (Kate) Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and
niece of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's 2nd wife as she joins her Aunt Nan at court.
Whilst the painting of Anne Boleyn may not be as many of us
view her, I found it quite sweet to see her through Kate's adoring and naive
eyes.
Kate quickly matures as she's confronted with not only the reality
of her birth but her Aunt's fall from favour, as powerful men like Thomas
Cromwell conspire to bring about the Queen's downfall. I love and crave more
detail but remembering the target audience, there's enough political intrigue
and court treachery to satisfy a Tudor enthusiast without overwhelming someone
new to the period.
The Light in the Labyrinth only covers the last few months of Anne
Boleyn's life and not a lot happens as such but I found it a quick, enjoyable
read. What surprised me, given how much Tudor fiction I've read, was the
emotion of the Queen's final days in the tower, accompanied by loyal Kate and
the 'care' of Anne Boleyn following her execution.
About the Author:
Wendy J. Dunn is an Australian writer who has been obsessed by Anne Boleyn and Tudor History since she was ten-years-old. She is the author of two Tudor novels: Dear Heart, How Like You This?, the winner of the 2003 Glyph Fiction Award and 2004 runner up in the Eric Hoffer Award for Commercial Fiction, and The Light in the Labyrinth, her first young adult novel.Born in Melbourne, Australia, Wendy is married and the mother of three sons and one daughter—named after a certain Tudor queen, surprisingly, not Anne.
Wendy tutors at Swinburne University in their Master of Arts (Writing) program. She also works as a literature support teacher at a primary school.
Connect with Wendy J. Dunn
Purchase the Book
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Tour Hashtag: #LightintheLabyrinthBlogTour
Twitter Tags: @hfvbt @wendyjdunn
Giveaway:
I'm thrilled to offer readers the chance to win an eBook copy of THE LIGHT IN THE LABYRINTH. Just leave a comment or question for Wendy. It's International!
Extra Entries:
+2 tweet giveaway and leave a link
Giveaway ends 16th December and winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck everyone!
This sounds wonderful!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to read this one Julie, good luck in the giveaway :)
DeleteMary's child by whom?
ReplyDeleteyou'll have to read it B haha ;)
DeleteTudor England always beckons. I'm looking forward to such a great read.
ReplyDeleteI can never get enough Tudor ... good luck in the giveaway Mary.
DeleteSounds like a really good historical fiction read. And as you say having just visited England all the more "feeling' for books like this. ( Not entering as I don't read a lot of historical fiction from this era.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about this and I would love to read this. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read...I would love to win it ;)
ReplyDeletelynda716@roadrunner.com
I like Tudors too just do not get to read much about them :)
ReplyDeleteI tweeted.6:55 PM - 13 Dec 2014@DeniseDuvall2
ReplyDeleteAnne's story, through the daughter of her niece Katherine Carey, sounds like a different perspective.Thank you for the giveaway
denannduvall(at)gmail(dot)com
Oops through the daughter of her sister, her niece Katherine
Delete