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    Sisters of Treason: A Novel
    Sisters of Treason: A Novel
    Sisters of Treason: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    Sisters of Treason: A Novel

    Written by Elizabeth Fremantle

    Narrated by Georgina Sutton, Teresa Gallagher and Rachel Bavidge

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    From the author People called “a must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a “terrifically entertaining” (The Sunday Times, London) novel about two sisters who must survive life in the Tudor court after the execution of their sister Lady Jane Grey who was queen for just nine days.

    Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal death of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Fremantle brings these young women and their perilous times to vivid life.

    Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous career at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth Tudor, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.

    “An enthralling story of love and tyranny, Sisters of Treason brings the Tudor Courts to life again, in all their romance and horror” (Leanda de Lisle).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJul 8, 2014
    ISBN9781442377264
    Author

    Elizabeth Fremantle

    Elizabeth Fremantle is the acclaimed author of Sisters of Treason, Queen’s Gambit, and Watch the Lady, and she has contributed to Vogue, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, and the Sunday Times (London). She lives in London.

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    Reviews for Sisters of Treason

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    • 5/5
      WOW! Wonderfully told. Such a life these Sisters were to lead and it was brought to life by a very Talented Author.
    • 3/5
      What aspect of the Tudor Dynasty could possibly be left to explore in the historical fiction genre? Elizabeth Fremantle has answered this with her new novel, Sisters of Treason, which depicts the Grey branch of the Tudor line. The story begins when Lady Jane Grey, after ruling England for exactly 9 days, is executed in the Tower of London by her cousin Queen Mary. The rest of the novel is told through the eyes of Jane’s two sisters, Lady Katherine Grey and Lady Mary Grey, as well as Levina Teerlinc, an artist is who is a friend of the Grey family. Katherine and Mary are in constant fear for their lives due to the fact that they have Tudor blood running through them and have a rightful claim to the throne of England. They must show their loyalty to Queen Mary and pretend to be devout followers of Catholicism. However, when Mary dies and her sister, Elizabeth I ascends to the throne, their lives are still in danger.The author does a fantastic job of taking what we know about these historical figures and imagining in depth characters for them. Katherine is portrayed as very passionate and she follows her heart to be with the man she loves, even it if means she will risk her life by defying Queen Elizabeth. Her sister Mary is disabled and has a crooked spine and is very small in stature. Fremantle gives the reader a realistic view of what it must have been for someone to be disabled during the 16th Century. In an age when marrying and producing a male heir is the ultimate goal of royal born women, Mary deals with the fact that she cannot carry a child with stoic grace and dignity. To me, Mary was the most endearing and introspective character in the novel. As far as the plot is concerned, the second half of the book was definitely stronger than the first with more happening in the lives of the 3 main characters. In SISTERS OF TREASON, Elizabeth Fremantle does a great job of allowing the reader to view Elizabeth I from a very different perspective, through the eyes of her cousins who each come to a sad an tragic end. Be forewarned: there are no happy endings in this book!
    • 4/5

      Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you all to the successor to Phillipa Gregory's historical fiction throne. Elizabeth Fremantle has an eloquence in her writing that few authors are able to capture, yet is so very important for a book of this specific nature. It's beautiful, descriptive, intelligently written, and the amount of research that went into this novel is quite impressive.


      Sisters of Treason is written out of three perspectives: Katharine Grey, the middle Grey sister who's always getting herself into some sort of trouble, Mary Grey, the youngest Grey sister who's clever and witty due to her crooked back, and then Levina Teerlinc, the Tudor court's limner artist who'd become close friends with the Grey family. As a result, with three different perspectives, we get to see not only court life in fine detail, but we follow these very different women on their journey through their own lives, where fear and jealousy is accompanied with silk dresses and banquets. It's an exciting book and, unlike most historical fiction, doesn't paint Queen Elizabeth I as a Joan of Arc character. Instead, Elizabeth Fremantle makes the reader feel far more sympathetic towards the Grey girls, who - in my own opinion - got dealt some shoddy cards. Nevertheless, there are times when even Fremantle couldn't be too unsympathetic towards Elizabeth I and her lot in life either, which makes this a well-rounded and quite intriguing read.


      It was a time when Europe and Britain was ruled by women, we have Mary Queen of Scots playing her hand with France and Scotland (and laying a claim to England's throne as well), we have Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Tudor battling to keep the people from uprising (Reformists vs Catholics), Catherine de Medici trying to keep France from falling, and then we have the various disputed claims like Lady Jane Grey being beheaded due to the blood flowing through their veins. In other words, it's an exciting read that'll make you want to Google and study up on all these women once you're finished.


      I loved the novel, and I can't wait to see what else Elizabeth Fremantle has in store for readers. My only criticism is, although it's not quite a criticism, more like a request to the author herself, that the sex scenes could use a bit more sex. I'm well-aware that sometimes it is not necessary to be vulgar in books, but with a creature such as Katharine Grey, who seemed to be a bit more promiscuous, it might've helped to be more revealing in her exploits. At one point, I thought that perhaps Fremantle was scared to divulge this information to the public, but with historical fiction (and the Tudor court in particular), a bit more wouldn't have  hurt. Other than that, I had no complaints, and I look forward to the next novel.


      Readers who have a love for historical fiction will find a lot of pleasure with this novel. Fans of TV shows like Reign, Tudor, and The White Queen will also enjoy it. Oh, and Phillipa Gregory or Conn Iggulden fans will also want to get their hands on this book.

    • 4/5
      I have read 'The Queens Gambit' which I really enjoyed so I was quite excited about this book. It tells the story of the two Grey sisters, Katherine and Mary after Jane's execution.My first thoughts about this story was about Frances, the mother of the three sisters. In other accounts that I have read she has come across as not a very nice person and even to whip Jane. In this account Frances came across as a very loving mother and wanting to protect her remaing girls. To be far the story was told after Janes death so there was very little mentioned about her life.Katherine I find quite fascinating and I enjoyed reading about her life. I did feel that although the book was about both sisters and their friend Levina, who was an painter and a real person, the book was all Katherine. To be honest it was katherine who held my interest all the way through the book.For me the book was overlong and in places dragged. I would have preferred for the book just to focus on Katherine and Mary and really not to have included chapters for Levina. There were plenty of sections in this book that really not a lot happened. Alison Weir has wrote a similar book, 'A Dangerous Inheritance' which is also about Katherine Grey and I have to say I feek that it was a slightly more enjoyable read.This book was ok and will appeal to history fans and I will seek more books by this author when they are released in the future.
    • 5/5
      Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Freemantle was an epic historical fiction novel that through the telling of the story of the Grey sisters, Jane, Katherine and Mary, also paints a vivid picture of Tudor England and the machinations behind the succession to the English Throne. Opening with the beheading of Jane Grey and continuing on through the years of Mary Tudor and her half-sister, Elizabeth, this book is chock-full of court intrigue, gossip and scandal as the lives of the two remaining Grey sisters, play out. The author does an excellent job with blending history and fiction seamlessly, obviously well researched, she brings her characters to full life. I’ve grown a little weary of reading about the Tudors but found this book interesting dealing as it does with some lesser known individuals. I have previously read of Jane Grey but this was the first time I have read of her two surviving sisters and the difficult, complicated lives that they led.Although I feel headfirst into this story and was totally absorbed, some might find this book a little long. I would however definitely recommend Sisters of Treason to any fans of historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      Most of us know a little about Lady Jane Grey, her short tenure as Queen of England and her subsequent beheading. What is not so well known is the story of her younger sisters. Katherine is a flighty and beautiful girl, Mary is, in her words in the book, a midget with a crooked back. The Grey family are dangerously close to the throne and so pose a threat to first Queen Mary and then Queen Elizabeth. As a result, their lives are barely their own and any attempt at freedom is quickly curtailed.I don't read much historical fiction but I do enjoy some now and again and this book was a good choice. It was a bit slow to get going but when it did I found myself getting engrossed in the story. Mary was my favourite character as she's feisty, honest and quite fascinating. It's clear the author has done a lot of research into the period and the Grey family, but has also woven an intricate fictional story into the facts that are known. I quite fancy reading more by her now.
    • 5/5
      I was lucky enough to receive this as a firstreads by Goodreads Having read The Queen's Gambit i had high expectations....This book did not disappoint i am not one for a rambling review ill get straight to the point if you like historical fiction if you like the tudors & want to read something about the little known Grey sisters or the painter of tudor court Mistress Teerlinc you will love this book you will pick it up & struggle to put it down. It will be a book i will return to time & time again.
    • 5/5
      It’s good to be queen, but what happens when you’re in the precarious position of being next in line, and a threat to her crown? SISTERS OF TREASON tells the fateful story of the Grey sisters, Catherine and Mary, younger cousins of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. After the execution of their older sister, Lady Jane Grey, and their father, the two girls were eyed suspiciously, having come from a family of traitors. With their cursed Tudor blood, life at court was fraught with peril, especially under Elizabeth’s rule.The story is told from the point of view of Lady Catherine, Lady Mary, and Levina Teerlinc, the royal portrait painter. Levina was a loyal friend of the girls’ mother, and she promised to watch over them while at court. Catherine was a sweet and frivolous girl whose love-struck heart got her into deep trouble with Elizabeth. My favorite character was Mary, the youngest Grey sister. Mary was small with a crooked spine, but what she lacked in physical stature, she more than made up for in intelligence, cleverness, and kindness.SISTERS OF TREASON on audio was a joy to listen to. It was narrated by Teresa Gallagher, Georgina Sutton, and Rachel Bavidge, and they all gave brilliant performances.Elizabeth Fremantle is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I loved her debut novel, QUEEN’S GAMBIT, and SISTERS OF TREASON is just as wonderful. She has an enjoyable writing style, and her words are gorgeous and descriptive. One of the characters described words she was saying as being “like a fat toad plopping out on the planks.” I just loved that!SISTERS OF TREASON is a compelling blend of fact and fiction about two of the lesser know Tudors who deserve to have their stories told. I also enjoyed learning about the Flemish artist, Levina Teerlinc, and what her life was like as a female painter supporting her family during the Renaissance. This was a very enjoyable book, and I’m on pins and needles waiting on Ms. Fremantle’s third book in her Tudor trilogy.Disclosure: I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      A great fictional account of the lives of the 16th-century sisters Katherine and Mary Grey, who had the misfortune of being close relations to Queen Elizabeth I. After the execution of their elder (most famous) sister Lady Jane Grey, Katherine and Mary struggle to navigate the dangerous Tudor court and both make missteps when it comes to love. A good read, highly recommended for those who enjoy Tudor-era historical fiction.
    • 5/5
      If you happened to catch author Liz Fremantle's debut effort last year (Queen's Gambit) then you likely already know why historical fiction fans were thrilled to welcome her fresh voice into the genre. Sharp, witty, and full of ironic observations, Fremantle proved she was most assuredly a far cut above the standard, ho-hum historical fiction fare usually bogging down the bookstore shelves today.So her when her follow up effort, SISTERS OF TREASON, recently arrived in stores, it generated buzz. Sisters of Treason returns to the Tudor era, a period one might legitimately question whether there was anything left worth writing about following the excruciating Tudor-mania that swept the genre over the past decade. Once again, Fremantle is full of delightful surprise. She alights upon the tragic Grey sisters.Refresher: On July 10, 1553, following the death of England's young and sickly King Edward VI (the only son of Henry VIII), a teenaged Lady Jane Grey was unwittingly raised to the throne via the machinations of her father and father-in-law in an ill-advised power grab. It didn't work out too well. Henry VIII's eldest daughter Mary promptly marched into London, deposed her young cousin Jane, and later lopped off her head. Mary would become known to history as Bloody Mary for her tendency to burn those who didn't toe her Catholic line. End refresher.So that was the end of poor Jane Grey and many historical fiction novels have been written this tragic figure who lost her head piously clutching her Protestant Bible to the very end. And yet.....did you know that our sweet Jane happened to have two younger sisters? And if you're analytic mind is fast at work, it's already figured out that if tragic Jane Grey had a legitimate claim to the throne of merry ol' England, so too did her younger sisters Katherine and Mary Grey. And this is the fascinating Tudor story that cunning Fremantle presents in Sisters of Treason.Welcome to a most un-glamorous royal court. Mary reigns with a paranoid suspicious eye trained directly on the two sisters Jane Grey left behind. Keeping her friends close but her enemies closer, the sisters are kept in the Queen's court where the smallest misstep or misinterpretation of a word meant treason. As the years of Mary's reign continued, her suspicions grew with her along with her failed marriage and lack of a royal heir ("...royal blood and a functioning womb is all most care about in a princess"). The Grey sister's relationship with Mary's successor, the legendary Queen Elizabeth I, fared little better.Fremantle chooses to tell the sister's tale using three viewpoints: Katherine, Mary, and a female court painter, Levina Teerlinc (an interesting choice given that historically, little is known about this fascinating woman other than she is known to have painted a surviving portrait of Katherine Grey) who acts as a surrogate mother to the girls at court. Paying strict homage to historical documents and making interpretations only where she is free to do so, Fremantle presents a vivid portrait of two sisters with Tudor blood running through their veins only to spend their entire life being horribly punished for it.Ultimately, both Katherine and Mary lived short, unhappy lives, making this well-written story something of a tragedy. Fremantle admirably tries to discover moments of joy they might found in an otherwise bleak existence through no fault of their own, but the reality is that both girls only lived long enough to become women who never experienced a normal life: the events that populate or mark a normal woman's life were - for both of the Grey sisters - so marred with hatred from the reigning Queen that any experience of normal happiness would have proved impossible. In an era when noble birth was the only way a person might experience comfort or luxury, the Grey sisters, I suspect, might have happily traded places with the lowliest of servants in the castle.Well-written, well-researched historical fiction. Recommended for historical fiction aficionados.
    • 4/5
      In this story, we get a glimpse into life at the English royal court as viewed through Mary and Katherine Grey, the younger sisters of Jane Grey. Instead of merely focusing on the kings and queens, we get to see the lives of two sisters and the way they may have felt as they attempted to survive, both threats to the throne in their own rights. Katherine through her beauty and potential to produce heirs. Mary through her blood, although not considered by those around her. As the story opens Frances and Levina are going to attend Janes' execution and by chance get a few moments alone with her. Jane Grey is calm, ready for her execution. She has a faith in the face of death those around her struggle to understand. Jane tells Frances to give her Bible to Katherine. In it she has written the last advice she will give her. For Frances, she has written a letter. The openning draws you into the story and you realise the horror of what is happening as if you are there. All the characters are well written and you can't help but get a glimpse into life at royal court. However, the glimpse for me was that of the fear and pain involved for everyone. How you give up your privacy with only your thoughts to be your own. It shows the daily betrayal by those closest to you. How the life you live not always belongs to you, but those around you. How even your parents will use and betray you. How everyone sees almost everything and then attempts to figure out how their knowledge can benefit them most. The story tells us of two sisters and how life was lived in a way history does not with it's monotonous recitation of dates, times, places and events.We can see Katherine as the real threat to the throne, though perhaps not the brightest person. She is beautiful and tends to have fun, causing problems at times. Both queens view her as a threat to the throne, while Mary on the other hand is smart. She has the bloodlines, but because of the hunched back, she is swept aside as a threat in that era. For one queen she is treated as a kind of pet, while the other treats her as a kind of confidant and sees her for who she is. Her deformed equal. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should definitely give this story a try.
    • 5/5
      I found this to be another great Tudor novel!! There was love, scandal and a little sex. While I am familiar with the story of the Grey sisters, I liked the addition of Levina the artist. I also enjoyed that the story was told from the viewpoints of the sisters. I felt like I was taking part in the story not just reading it. That is a difficult task for a writer to accomplish. That gives you an idea of this writer’s talent. It was well written, easy to read and understand and I breezed through it. A good look at day-to-day life of the Grey sisters as they are caught up in the life of the court, sex, scandal, religion and opulence. We get a taste of it all. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.