cover image Rivals in the Tudor Court

Rivals in the Tudor Court

D.L. Bogdan. Kensington, $15 trade paper (384p) ISBN 978-0-7582-4200-6

Bogdan follows Secrets of the Tudor Court with a stilted prequel exploring the%C2%A0life of Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk, a coldly%C2%A0manipulative man whose desire for power and wealth keep him%C2%A0close to the throne for decades. Raised in an abusive and authoritarian household, Thomas manages a relatively happy marriage despite%C2%A0near-constant familial tragedies. Brokenhearted when%C2%A0his beloved wife dies, he remarries teenage Elizabeth for convenience and%C2%A0connections and later takes a mistress, the very young Bess, only to discover Elizabeth has no tolerance for such behaviors. Told%C2%A0from the points of view of Thomas, Elizabeth, and Bess, Bogdan's%C2%A0version of history is weighed down with wooden dialogue and%C2%A0uninspired characters, though genre fans may enjoy the time spent with pivotal yet%C2%A0lesser-known players in the orbit of Henry VIII, and, despite the flat-feeling narrative, there is a certain car wreck fascination quality to the goings-on. (May)