Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I thought I'd accumulated quite a bit of the lore surrounding Anne Boleyn. She's one of my favourite subjects around the Tudor Dynasty, and certainly the female queen who I am most interested in. I've read, listened, invested in podcasts (The Anne Boleyn Collection: The Real Truth About the Tudors by Claire Ridgeway. I'd highly recommend this) since I was gifted The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser. There are various authors this has opened up to me, but I hadn't known of Caroline Augus.

I'm extremely glad that taking a chance on a book on Net Galley has given me such good rewards. I found this book to be filled with information I didn't know. I felt as though I was next to Anne Boleyn through every paragraph, every page, etc. Her feelings, her thoughts, were pounding in my head and causing me to tense. I sympathised with her, even though she isn't always the most sympathetic character. What she did was clearly explained, and how it was true to her character to act like she did.

And I didn't feel as if the author was trying to blind side me. She showed Anne Boleyn as a full character, with all of her flaws, faults and aggressive behaviour. Yet, at the same time, I 'liked' Anne Boleyn. I've read other books, either portraying Anne Boleyn as a woman who had no control over her life, or, a conniving, evil woman who wanted to be queen and would threaten/kill anyone who got in her way. This book on the other hand, was even-handed. Caroline Augus didn't omit information that made Anne Boleyn looked bad, and she didn't white-wash anything Anne Boleyn said or did either. This is one of the most comprehensive biographies I've read on Anne Boleyn.

I'd highly recommend this biography. This one is right up there, along with Hunting the Falcon by John Guy & Julia Fox, and, The Fall of Anne Boleyn, by Claire Ridgeway. From the latter's book alone, I have been listening to her podcast.

NetGalley, Kat Corish

We all know how Anne Boleyn died, but do you know how she got to that stage? Well, I do now - thanks to this cool book.

Planning the murder of Anne Boleyn was no small feat, yet it was more a conjecture of events that led to it: her sour relationship with Cromwell, Henry VIII desperately wanting a son, the lack of support from her family, but also, the ever-changing factions at the Tudor court.
As Caroline Angus explains in this extremely researched book, uncovering the truth about the plans to murder the Queen lies in figuring out what is missing - letters, records, official documents - rather than looking at the little evidence that still remain. It is about finding out who was where and who was not, to see what was going on.

NetGalley, Manon Palmer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. As a long time fan of Tudor history and particularly the C J Sansom books, this was a great resource for the real story behind the fall of Anne Boleyn. The narrative was engaging and easy to read and digest. A good insight to the politics and personalities of the time. The legend of Anne Boleyn has endured for nearly 500 years.

NetGalley, Carol Standish-Leigh

The author draws the background of the events perfectly, even for a person who has never been interested in this subject before, the book will be an excellent compendium of knowledge.

NetGalley, Karolina Bajek

Surprise, surprise! I read another Tudor-related book! And - surprise, surprise again! - I really enjoyed reading it. Maybe you’re asking yourself, why on earth would she read the umpteenth book about Anne Boleyn and still not be bored? Well, first of all, that’s what the word “obsession” entails. And secondly, it’s always delightful to learn something new about a topic or time period you think you already know quite well.

In Caroline Angus’ book, for instance, I love the way the author manages to present the facts of Anne Boleyn’s downfall and still make it read a like a thriller - I know how it ends, and yet I still found myself on the edge of my seat. I love how the book really puts into focus the complicated relationship between Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, how religious reform came into play here, and how detailed the “trial” (if you can even call it that) is described. I love that there are only so many historical sources one can find and use as reference - and the rest is up to us. There’s a lot of speculation about Anne Boleyn’s final days, and since the written evidence from that time was mostly destroyed, we’ll never know for sure what happened. But I’m so grateful to every author/historian that provides their own version on what could have happened.

As the author writes in her thank you notes: “Finally, to all Anne Boleyn lovers (for she has no haters), while myths and misunderstandings continue to persist even after five centuries, there are plenty of us still researching, still advocating, still reading, and still educating on the realities of 1530s England. No matter how we approach the topic, we all strive for the same thing.” Please, I say, never stop!

NetGalley, Katrin Figge

I've learned and debunked so many things about Anne Boleyn's fall from grace that this book has readily become one of my favourites on the issue. It's astonishing how well researched this has been and how many theories, facts and texts the author has brought up.

Loved it.

NetGalley, Eloise Falcone

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I never imagined a complete book could be filled with just the final days of Anne Boleyn. The author blew my mind by how fantastically everything was laid out here. Henry convinced himself he needed to be rid of her and he made sure that it happened. She was innocent on all accounts. Her downfall was all Henry. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves Tudor history.

NetGalley, Stephanie Peterson

A very in depth account of the people and events surrounding the death of Anne Boleyn. I was actually very surprised by the sheer amount of details this did contain. It seemed well thought out and researched and I loved the final thought in the book... I would recommend for someone just interested in Anne's tragic ending.

NetGalley, Leslie Hall

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A very close up look at the end of Anne Boleyn's life and (high praise to Caroline Angus for calling it what it was) murder.

Angus carefully combs through all available evidence about the last few months of Anne Boleyn's life - while also pointing out the parts missing from the record due to deliberate destruction - and makes it clear that this was ALL Henry's idea - he wanted her gone, so Cromwell got her gone. Cromwell may have done all the grunt work, but it was very much at henry's bidding. Also, Anne was 100% innocent, and at the time everyone, even her enemies, said so.

NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Angus meticulously delves into the intricate plot to assassinate Anne Boleyn, shedding light on the political machinations and personal rivalries of Tudor England. The book combines detailed historical research with a gripping narrative, offering readers both a compelling story and insightful analysis. Angus's engaging writing and thorough investigation make this a fascinating read for anyone interested in the darker corners of history and the dramatic power struggles of the era.

NetGalley, Elizabeth Schmit

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The author did a great job and brought up some interesting points and did a great job with her research. Highly recommend for all Tudor history lovers.

NetGalley, Heather Michael

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

For most of us who like the history about the Tudor era, and thought they knew about Anne Boleyn 's downfall, think again and read this book.
A brilliant, and thoroughly researched book on the final months of her life and those that brought her demise... thanks to the author, many unanswered questions have answered thanks to the authors vast knowledge on the subject.

NetGalley, Angela Thompson