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    The Tudor Secret: A Novel
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    The Tudor Secret: A Novel
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    The Tudor Secret: A Novel
    Ebook363 pages5 hours

    The Tudor Secret: A Novel

    By C. W. Gortner

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    The era of the Tudors was one of danger, intrigue, conspiracy, and, above all, spies.

    Summer 1553: A time of danger and deceit. Brendan Prescott, an orphan, is reared in the household of the powerful Dudley family. Brought to court, Prescott finds himself sent on an illicit mission to the king's brilliant but enigmatic sister, Princess Elizabeth. But Brendan is soon compelled to work as a double agent by Elizabeth's protector, William Cecil, who promises in exchange to help him unravel the secret of his own mysterious past.

    A dark plot swirls around Elizabeth's quest to unravel the truth about the ominous disappearance of her seriously ill brother, King Edward VI. With only a bold stable boy and an audacious lady-in-waiting at his side, Brendan plunges into a ruthless gambit of half-truths, lies, and murder. Filled with the intrigue and pageantry of Tudor England, C. W. Gortner's The Tudor Secret is the first book in The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateFeb 1, 2011
    ISBN9781429993180
    Unavailable
    The Tudor Secret: A Novel
    Author

    C. W. Gortner

    C. W. Gortner is the author of many bestselling historical novels—including Mademoiselle Chanel—which have been published in more than twenty countries. He lives in San Francisco.

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    Reviews for The Tudor Secret

    3.5/5

    173 ratings35 reviews

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    • 4/5
      3.5 starsBrendan 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.
    • 3/5
      Fairly ridiculous and somewhat disappointing, although amusing enough if you're willing to go along with it. I wish there were a few more twists and things didn't work out so easily for the protagonist.
    • 3/5
      This one is far more fiction than the others. I was expecting a book from Elizabeth's perspective and not an unknown completely fictional character. I enjoyed the book, but was hoping for something more true to history.

    • 2/5
      This was an "ok" read. The beginning was really slow and it took quite a while before I was pulled into the story line and into caring about the main character. Still, even though technically, this is a historical fiction novel, Gortner took many liberties with actual history to the point where his main character was fictional. I have a hard time getting behind a "historical" fiction novel when the history is secondary, especially when the dialogue was...awkward at times, and I found the main story line dragging through half the book.

      That being said, I would still recommend this novel to someone who enjoys time period fiction but not to someone who really wants to immerse themselves in the Tudor era. I had a hard time doing so myself because I was nit-picking the inconsistencies. It's a "light" read. ;)
    • 4/5
      Brendan Prescott was abandoned as a baby and he was brought up in the Dudley family. Living with the Dudley boys isn’t always easy and they makes sure that Brendan knows he’s just a foundling. When he’s 20 he is brought to court to be squire to Robert Dudley. Soon an errand for Robert takes Brendan to meet Princess Elizabeth. She makes quite an impression and soon Brendan finds that making Elizabeth safe doesn’t go well with serving the Dudleys. It doesn’t take long for him to come to the attention of William Cecil and finds himself to be a spy in exchange to learn who he is.

      I truly enjoyed this and almost read it in a day. I adored Brendan and I loved watching how he grows from the quite innocent boy to more mature and intelligent young man. Living in the court isn’t always easy and you find yourself growing tougher.

      I also loved Peregrin and it was great that Brendan found someone to watch he’s back.Robert was vain, short tempered and kind of a bully but it was refreshing to see that side of him. He certainly had ambition. I loved how Elizabeth was portrayed and how she came through as a person and friend.

      While the book takes certain liberties and I admit having a thing for historical accurancies, I didn’t have problems with this one. It’s mystery and not straight historical novel and it’s stated in the author's notes.

      Great book and it seems you can never go wrong with Gortner and I can’t wait for the next book in the serie!
    • 1/5
      Hereditary birthmark!!!!!! In the same shape!!!! Come on! Birthmarks are not inherited. They are caused by the position of the baby in the womb.
    • 4/5
      Most people who know anything about the Tudor court are aware that it was rife with intrigue and spies or intelligenciers. Gortner has added another spy to William Cecil's group, Brendon Prescott an orphan and dependent in the Dudley household. He proves to be a very likable personality with an unlikely secret. I enjoyed the book very much and finished reading it in only two days. I liked Gortner's slight twist on some historical characters and his ability to make the reader feel as if he is part of the Tudor court. However, I believe that Brendon's secret added very little to the story and could have been dispensed with without any harm to the plot. Recommended.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this a great deal. It is the story of a foundling, Brendan, who was taken in by the Dudley family & raised as a family retainer. He’s sent to court with Robert Dudley around the time King Edward is dying. Brendan ends up working as a spy for William Cecil in the service of Lady Elizabeth during the upheaval following Edward’s death.The Dudleys are a bit overdone as the bad guys in general, but Robert himself is well drawn & believable. Brendan is likeable & manages to come across as intelligent but not yet wise (like many young men) . There is lots of action, the plot is fast paced with intrigue & espionage. The setting is well developed but doesn’t overwhelm the plot or characters.I highly recommend this one if you like spy stories or historic thrillers.
    • 4/5
      I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the beginning sentences to the very end. The characters were very well developed, especially that of the main character Brendan Prescott (a foundling turned squire for the Dudley family, who meets up with his destiny to become a spy). The setting is that of the tumultuous time of succession – Edward VI to Jane Grey to Mary Tudor, and then finally to Elizabeth. Prescott uncovers plots to harm the royals, and also that of his own heritage. The plot follows that of a mystery novel, where it leaves the reader guessing who orchestrates the massive conspiracies.I commend Gortner for his work – apparently it will be a series – one of which I can see myself continuing to read.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book. It was pretty fast paced with enough adventure and intrigue to keep the interest of the reader. I read a lot of historical fiction and keep my wikipedia handy so I can look up the actual facts when something seems too crazy to be true. As with much of Tudor history, the more outlandish, the more likely it is to be true. In this book, the main character and his story is fiction, however, the basic happenings of why and how Jane Grey was queen for 9 days was based on actual history. I can honestly say I learned a lot about the people, characters and history of that particular time. I can also say that this book brought me back to elementary school, when reading chapter books was new and exciting. I remember as a child, every adventure seemed so vivid I could almost picture myself there. In those books, there were not as many harsh realities of some the elements in life either. The Tudor Secret, though it touched on some of the less pleasant aspects of the times, for the most part kept things clean and quick. The author relied more on mystery and character development to keep the reader hooked. It made for a very pleasant read that also taught about another crazy time in Tudor England. Nice job, Gortner!
    • 3/5
      I love historical fiction but am not a big fan of mysteries, so I wasn't sure how well I would like The Tudor Secret. Overall, it was a fast and fun read, but the novel has many flaws that make it less enjoyable than it might otherwise be. The pacing was uneven, the narrative often repetitious, and Brendan's quick admittance into high circles was unbelievable. For example, the same day he arrives at court, having just been raised from his position as stable boy to valet, he strolls the garden alone with Princess Elizabeth. It just wouldn't happen. I also found the love affair weak: once minute Kate treats Brendan like a foolish boy and the next they are romping in bed. Worst of all for me was the two-layered "secret" as to why Brendan's parentage had been hidden. I know that it's fiction, but even fiction has to seem like it could be true. Neither what Cecil tells Brendan nor what he intuits for himself could ever have happened. (I can't say why without giving away the plot, but trust me, a scholar of the period: it just wouldn't have happened.) This wasn't a terrible book, just nothing I'd recommend to anyone who knows a bit about the period.
    • 4/5
      I received this book through LT Early Reviewers, and I was excited when I did, because I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. The thing that I love the most about it is that you can get the blanks filled in between what the historical record says happened and what people are really like. It's fascinating to see the "what if" conversations and get a glimpse into time like that. A talented historical fiction author (like Diana Gabaldon) teaches you something while she does that; you walk away from those books feeling like you learned not only about the historical events described in the book but that you learned about humanity and the basic natures of people as well.****Mild Spoilers****I'm not sure that Gortner left me with that feeling. I knew what was going to happen with Mary being proclaimed queen and the death of Edward, having studied the time period before. I don't really feel that he added much to the historical facts in that respect. I didn't feel the suspense of whether or not this was going to happen. However, I did enjoy the story of Brendan and the revelations of his birth. I thought that the plot line about Alice could be seen coming from a million miles away, but the twist about his birth mom was fun and exciting. I also enjoyed the intrigue about the steward, that was a surprise as well.I've noticed that a few of the other reviewers commented about the romance and it's random appearance in the tale - I agree. Talk about coming out of left field. One minute she is talking to him like he's a stupid five-year-old and the next they are in bed. If you can get past that, it's a cute story. Also, I had to keep checking to see if the book I was reading was young adult or adult fiction. The book lacked a certain level of maturity and depth in a way that made me think it was supposed to be directed at young adult readers. Not that I'm knocking YA fiction - I love it and read it regularly; I think I mean that there were darkness or sexuality in people that were glossed over to make them 'less bad' in way that you would for younger readers, almost like you were looking at it through a vernier. Finally, I was irked that this book took place in a time span of something like 11 days. On day 1, Brendan is new to London and doesn't know which end is up; on day 11, he is this worldly, accomplished spy (though one who has some difficulty grasping the obvious). I feel like it would have been stronger if he would have come to court already knowing something, anything at all, about spying.Final Verdict: Overall, a good tale. I wouldn't read it if you're very versed with the Tudor family saga, as it just doesn't add much to the period. Philippa Gregory does this time period better. If, however, you're new to the Tudors, I would start with this book; I see it as a gateway book to the Tudor historical fiction world because it's not as heavy or intense as some of the others out there. I would read a sequel just to find out what happens with Brendan's character, not because of my curiosity about the royals.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this historical thriller set in Tudor England. Brendan Prescott, an orphan raised by the Dudleys, discovers secrets about his own past while caught up in the court intrigue surrounding Edward VI's death and the short reign of Lady Jane Grey. Filled with action and adventure, The Tudor Secret remains a compelling story filled with Elizabethan characters and historical figures. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in the Tudor era and I eagerly await the next book, as the author has stated this is the first in a series. *I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.*
    • 3/5
      Welcome back to the Tudor court (one of my favorite places to read about). King Edward is sick and rumored to be dieing. The kingdom is in an uproar, and the regent prepares to put Jane Grey on the throne, usurping both Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth.Enter Brendan Prescott, an orphan raised by the Dudley family at their country estate, sent to court to serve their son Robert. But as everyone in the Tudor era seems to, they have an ulterior motive. Brendan finds himself sucked into a web of intrigue revolving around a plot to imprison and possibly execute the Princesses.Overall, a very interesting story. The author admits to taking liberty with some of her characters and expanding on rumors that were very vague in the time. I had two big complaints. One, that there were a few contradictions in the story. People were said to have one point of view or opinion only to have it miraculously flip a couple of chapters later without any explanation. Two, the romance in the story seems to spring out of nowhere. I was very much blindsided by it. Once I paused and went back, just accepting it and moving on, it was a nice part of the overall story.The characters grew and developed, but it was all very abrupt and made things a bit choppy. If there is a second in the series, I will probably give it a try and give the author another chance to smooth out the flow of her story.2.5/5
    • 4/5
      The Tudor Secret is my first Gortner novel thanks to LT’s early reviewer program. As the first in a series, this book held my interest, but I would have liked to see much more than it offered. The Tudor Secret did hit the ground running and kept that pace throughout. This is definitely, however, Tudor-lite. For those not familiar with the historical Tudor family and their courts or who prefer little history in their fiction, Gortner does the trick. The Tudor Secret is a simplified story with black, white and gray characters. Dudley’s are bad, Princess Elizabeth, Brendan and servants are good and you’re simply not sure yet about Cecil and Walsingham. Tudor-lite perfect for the beach.Unfortunately, historical fiction fans will find it’s a fun fast read but lacking in depth, atmosphere and history. The novel’s historical premise - that this is a 'back-story' of intrigue leading to "Bloody" Mary’s reign as well as the ‘mystery’ of Brendan’s parentage will hold your interest but it could have been so much more. This is area little covered but some of the most intriguing characters, like Northumberland, come and go so quickly you’ll wonder what was edited out. You will also find the romance between Brendan, the hero, and Princess Elizabeth’s servant, so jarring (if you’re not paying attention which I apparently wasn’t) that it seemed to be deliberately thrown in. The unfortunate choice of cover led me to believe I was about to venture into a historical romance, which I didn’t recall choosing. Lately I’ve found some of my favorite historical fiction novels being re-released with covers obviously targeted to the Romance audience. That’s a huge audience, granted, but I would have passed on The Tudor Secret without reading the back cover if I saw it in a book store (yeah I know, you can't tell a book by it's cover...). Having introduced the characters in this novel, Gortner has a lot of potential material for numerous installments to this series which could really be interesting. I expect book 2 to be an improvement and the series to be successful. I’m not asking for a Sharon Kaye Penman tome – just a little more.
    • 4/5
      C.W. Gortner’s “The Tudor Secret” provides one more take on that most fascinating of English families. Set in 1553, as young King Edward VI, lies dying, the story centers on Brendan Prescott, who has been sent to London to serve as squire to Robert Dudley. Brendan’s naiveté provides Gortner the needed opportunity to recount the social/political history of the period in a non-intrusive manner.And as the reader probably already is aware, Robert Dudley, though married, is secretly courting young Elizabeth Tudor, while his father is acting as regent for Edward and attempting to somehow secure continued power for his family. Brendan is therefore thrust directly into the action when Robert sends him to Elizabeth with a token of his love.And Brendan brings his own mysteries to the plot. An orphan reared by the powerful Dudley family as a servant, his parentage becomes an issue. And his access to almost all the important personages of the time make him the one person that each faction seems to want to recruit as a spy.With all this said, I personally did not find Gortner’s offering to be especially riveting; it’s not an unpleasant book to read, but it’s an all too easy book to walk away from. The style just isn’t all that interesting.The bottom line? For those who need their Tudor Fix, this may do it. Otherwise, take it along for that next long flight and doze as you read.
    • 3/5
      In 1553 England, Brendan Prescott is sent to serve the Dudley family and act as squire to Robert Dudley. Nearly as soon as he arrives in London, he is swept into a swirl of politics and intrigue in a royal court whose young monarch, the fading Edward VI, lies on his deathbed. Vying for the throne are Jane Grey and the two Tudor daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, and each of them have supporters and enemies. Brendan is first asked to spy for Robert, and then to double-spy for William Cecil, a powerful name at court and an ally of Elizabeth's. I had resolved just a few weeks ago to take a break from Tudor England, since I feel the topic has been more than exhausted in today's popular historical fiction. But, when I saw this one on the Early Reviewer's page, I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the idea of spies and secret identities and double-crossing. It sounds marvelous, but unfortunately the best thing about this book was the cover.Not that it was entirely awful, but I can't think of anything in particular that was good about it.I couldn't bring myself to be all that interested in any of the characters, especially the main character Brendan. The author wastes no time getting to the action - skipping any chance we had of getting even a good introduction. Brendan seemed silly to me - he's the type who will rustle bushes loudly while "spying," (and he does - more than once). He boldly confronts powerful nobility and royalty in some scenes, but in others, is terrified to even speak to someone in a position of power. Robert Dudley is cast as "bad," and the author makes no attempt to explore his character. I personally think him a very interesting historical figure, but the author tells us all about how Robert used to beat up Brendan when they were kids, and apparently he has still remained the cruel, more or less stupid bully.I thought it was suspiciously convenient that Brendan is able to meet with such high nobility in only the first few nights he is at court, and how as soon as Robert asks him to deliver something to Princess Elizabeth, he finds her at once. He then walks alone with her at night - I don't think that a Princess fearing for her life would just agree (or be allowed by her guards) to just stroll off with some unknown man.Some other things were thrown into the mix that seemed very staged and hurried through.There was a background romance between Brendan and a lady-in-waiting, which was at first a surprise because from the way Brendan described this woman before, I had thought that she was an old lady. He seems to develop feelings for her overnight, and it never seemed all that convincing to me.A woman from Brendan's past, who raised him in place of the mother he never had, comes into the story, but only for a matter of minutes. It was just so very pointless and strange.The third would be Brendan's mysterious identity. It's an overused plot tactic, but one that I normally love if it's well written. But here, it remains just an overused plot tactic. Brendan is a foundling, meaning that his anonymous mother abandoned him when he was a baby and that he was "found" by someone else, who raised him as a servant. He bashes us over the head with this fact repeatedly in the beginning of the book, and for the rest of it, never lets us forget it. Practically by page 2 I knew for certain that he was going to find out something about his heritage, or meet his parents, or something like that. I just wasn't interested in this book. Even though the action happens fairly quickly, it wasn't exciting because I just didn't care about the characters. Not all that good, and I will most likely not be reading the next installment in the series.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book, but I loved the first two by the author. Seems that I liked his women characters more than men...
    • 4/5
      C.W. Gortner's The Tudor Secret is the first novel in the new Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles. The book tells the story of Brendan Prescott a young man who was raised in the Dudley household after being abandoned as a baby. Prescott is brought as a squire to the court of the ailing King Edward VI. Immediately caught up in the intrigue and drama surrounding the nobles who seek the throne for themselves and others, Prescott is drawn to the charismatic and commanding Princess Elizabeth and soon finds himself working as a double agent for her and the Dudley family. This book was really interesting and well constructed. The fictional hero fit in seamlessly with the setting and players of the Tudor court and the novel provided an imaginative look at the final days of Edward VI. Where as many historical fiction works focus on King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn or on the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, this book was unique for portraying a younger Elizabeth and the turmoil in London surrounding the task of crowning a rightful heir.The Tudor Secret was a fast and entertaining read. I enjoyed Gortner's writing and am excited to see further drama and mystery unfold in future books in the series.
    • 3/5
      Originally published as The Secret Lion, The Tudor Secret is the first in what will be a series featuring Brendan Prescott, an orphan foundling who was raised in the household of the Dudley family. In 1553, King Edward is on his deathbed, and William Cecil gives a secret mission Brendan. Soon he finds himself working as a double agent, as he attempts to discover the secret of his own birth.There ‘s a lot to like in this novel, mainly in the historical details that the author weaves into the story. He knows Tudor history like the back of his hand, and it definitely shows in this book. Because it was his first novel, however, there are some rough patches. There were a couple of plot holes that I had trouble navigating around—primarily, why would a secretive man such as Cecil entrust a seemingly nobody with this kind of secret mission? Brendan himself is a changeable character; at one point he’s amazingly perceptive, at others, he has to have basic current events (that anyone of the time period would have been aware of) explained to him. However, because this is the first book in a series, I expect that we’ll see a lot of character growth from Brendan. The other thing I didn’t quite believe was his relationship with Kate—at one moment, she’s a lady-in-waiting who happens to end up as Brendan’s sidekick; the next minute, Brendan is passionately in love with her. And Brendan’s access to the members of the royal family was too loose to be believable.Still, as I’ve said, there’s a lot to like in this novel. I enjoyed how he managed to interweave historical facts with fiction, and I especially loved his descriptions of sixteenth-century London. I enjoyed the fictional Brendan’s interactions with the Dudley clan, too. The real “mystery” here is about Brendan’s birth, and its revelation didn’t disappoint me!
    • 5/5
      Christopher has done it again! the Tudor Secret is a fascinating look in the to the Tudor Court with a fresh pair of eyes if you will. Brendan Precott is a orpahn raised in the house hold of the Dudleys He finds his sellf sent ona misson to Princess Elizabeth and ends up becoming her protector. But then The King dissapears and Elizabeth is determined to the uncover the truth behind it puts Brendan in the middle of it all. A wonderful book ful of mystery and the intrigue of the Tudor court its one of those books you must read this year. Many thanks to Library thing for the chance to review this book/
    • 5/5
      I could not put this book down. I love historical fiction but sometimes feel it is just a cover for romance which I do not enjoy. This book had well developed characters, intriguing plot, and well paced action. This is one of those "just one more page" books. I finished this book in record time and now intend on looking for other books by the author. If you like mysteries and historical fiction I highly recommend this book.
    • 5/5
      I love the Tudors!! What can I say? This is a period in history that is so intriqing to me. The politics, the machinations of the court, King Henry and all those wives, his children ,Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth. The Tudor Secret by C.W. Gortner, is the first book in the trilogy 'The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles'. It starts when sickly King Edward is on the throne and Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth are hidden away for their protection from the Dudley family. Enter Brendan Prescott , an orphan reared in the Dudley family, as a stable boy who has grown up with the Dudley sons. The elder Dudleys decide to send Brendan along with Lord Robert Dudley to court as his squire. No sooner does Brendan arrive at court, he is sent on an errand for Lord Robert. Thus starts Brendan's adventure into the world of the Tudor Court and the corrupt Dudley family as a spy. As a side story Brendan is an orphan and would like to know who his parents were, but he finds that his birth is part of the mystery that the Dudley's perpetuated. Mr. Gortner wrote this book with a twist, the 'what if' premise. He showed us what could have happened with circumstances different . Don't want to give anything away here, so you will have to get the book and read it yourself. I will tell you though that there are lots of villians in this tale. I have now read three of Mr.Gortner's books, The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and now The Tudor Secret and really enjoyed them. The author seems to have a passion for this historical era and it shows in his detailed writing, but this one is a bit different in that it has an element of suspense and even murder. I do look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
    • 4/5
      Here we are with yet another novel on the Tudors. This does present a different point of view than most. The storyline centers on a young man and not the other Tudors characters that we know so well from other books and history. And, for me that was an important plus. Although I found the book rewarding and read it in no time at all, there is something about the writing that left me wanting. The plot is complicated and intriguing, the setting invokes the Elizabethan era with great descriptions of architecture and the River Thames, and most characters are sufficiently developed. So I can't explain my longing. I see from other LT reviews that some report that C.W.Gortner's other novels more closely hit the mark. So, I will make sure to put them on my wish list. And, I encourage anyone with an interest in historical fiction, to read this book. You will receive a first hand account of the extraordinary ruthless character of the court and those who stop at nothing in an attempt to get their way. All told in a new light. Yes!
    • 4/5
      I have a thing where I love any historical fiction that has a lot of intrigue and mystery. I also love the politics behind the court. I’m fascinated by it. This book has everything you want. Intrigue, mystery, twists and turns, some action, a bit of romance, it’s a mixture of everything! however it’s so well written and well done that it doesn’t feel like it’s been put together sloppily.The plot flows and the pace is even. What I liked the most is the point of view of the character. Most historical fiction novels take place in the viewpoint of someone who’s Royalty, and almost always it’s a female character. So, seeing the story from Brendan’s eyes is definitely something different and I would say, refreshing. It’s about time we see it from a guy’s point of view! and a ‘nobody’ at that!. I’d have to say I liked him from the start. He’s easily likable and his development throughout the novel was from a young man with an almost childlike naivete to someone who’s well versed in how to behave and act in court, and who’s about to become a double agent (so to speak). I thought the change was very well done. Brendan matured throughout the novel and the transition was smooth.I’m a huge fan of political intrigue, and this book has a lot of it. I loved the double crossing, the secrets revealed, and the deeds done in the past that are coming back to haunt certain individuals in the book. The Dudleys are as scheming and ruthlessly ambitious as ever (and I still have a strong dislike for Robert Dudley. Always have. Always will). Frances Brandon follows close behind on my hate list. It’s amazing how ambition and greed takes precedence over everything else and brings out the worst in people. It might be a challenge to keep track of all the intrigue however once you get all the characters straightened out, everything does fall into place.Besides Brendan, I’ve taken a liking to Cecil. Although he’s also a sneaky sly character who uses Brendan, and others to his own purposes and agenda, I like how he underhandedly talks himself out of a tense situation and manages to turn it around. He remains unharmed and still in a powerful position as Elizabeth’s advisor. He’s a very ‘quiet’ character, yet his behind the scenes actions make the plot interesting and makes it move forward with Brendan’s help.I think it might have helped to have a little family tree chart handy, or at least a list of characters for those that might not be familiar with Tudor history it does get slightly confusing towards the end it takes a bit to straighten out Brendan’s connections and ties with other families. However, those well versed in the history, will have no problem. Other than that, there is no other issue I can think of with this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and as this is the first book in the Spymaster Chronicles, I am waiting for the next one! I loved the intrigue. Absolutely loved it. I definitely recommend this for historical fiction lovers of Tudor history.
    • 4/5
      Summary:Brendan Prescott is a 20 year old orphan who was raised by a servant of the Dudley family in Tudor England. He’s been sent to court to serve a man who he loathes, Robert Dudley. The country is in a perilous time. The king, Edward VI, hasn’t been seen by the public, or even the nobles at court, for some time. Dudley’s father, the Duke of Northumberland, rules the country in Edward’s stead. It’s clear that he has a nefarious plan, but no one is quite sure what it is. Brendan is thrown into this political quagmire and finds himself in over his head before he even realizes it.Review:The Tudor Secret is an engaging look at a fascinating period in British history. The death of Henry VIII left a real political vacuum in the country. His son Edward was only nine years old when he was crowned, and was controlled by the Seymour family, his uncles on his mother’s side. After their downfall, the Dudleys stepped in and took over control. The book takes place when Edward VI is around sixteen years old. There’s an air of mystery surrounding court, as no one knows exactly what is going on.Brendan Prescott is something of an enigma. He has no clue to the origin of his birth, but from the time he arrives at court, it’s clear that there is a puzzle behind it. He is smart and resourceful, and the spymaster William Cecil notices that from the beginning. It’s no surprised when Cecil approaches him, and it only thrusts Brendan deeper into court intrigue, where he must fight in order to survive and protect those he cares about. The novel itself is a quick, easy read. Gortner has a way of writing historical fiction that makes the most mundane events seem completely gripping. I knew exactly what was going on behind much of The Tudor Secret specifically relating to the Duke of Northumberland’s plot; anyone with a knowledge of this period in history does. You would think that would take away from reading the book, that I would find myself bored, but it didn’t at all. Gortner managed to make the novel suspenseful, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen plot-wise. (It helped that the mystery behind Brendan’s origins wasn’t clear to me.) I was very impressed with this, as it’s not an easy thing to do and shows how great of an author Gortner really is.There were aspects of The Tudor Secret I didn’t love, though. The main romance seemed very strange to me. I understood why Brendan was interested in the woman, just not why it was mutual as they didn’t seem to have much interaction. Also, it seemed very rushed to me. Additionally, Brendan wasn’t a consistent character when it came to knowledge and intellect. It was clear from the beginning he was very smart, yet sometimes he needed the simplest aspects of history explained to him, things he probably should have known. I realize this is because the author needed a way to explain what was going on to the reader, but it didn’t sit well with me. The novel is also not as firmly rooted in history as Gortner’s previous works. To be honest, this didn’t really bother me because I knew what was historically accurate, but if you’re looking for fiction without real leaps of faith, this book probably isn’t for you.Despite that, though, I really enjoyed The Tudor Secret. I do hope it’s the first book in a series, as I enjoyed getting to know Brendan and would love to continue with his adventures. As mentioned previously, this is a fascinating time in history, and there is a lot more that Gortner can do with it.
    • 5/5
      I was so excited about this book! I have read all of C.W. Gortner's books and I just love his writing style. This was his first attempt at a Tudor style book. I have to say that once again Gortner has impressed me.This story is told by a male narrator and normally I don't go for books like this, but Gortner's writing style made me fall in love with the main characters and the plot line almost immediately. I read this book in one day! There are secrets and twists throughout the book and you cannot stop reading because you are dying to figure out what is going to happen next.Set in the times of the Tudors and the constant challenges they faced in relation to the throne and court intrigue. This book by C.W. Gortner does not fail to deliver. A must read for all fans of Tudor historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      A few years back, I overdosed on Tudor fiction but in the last few months I’ve been craving the drama, court intrigue, and ever present bedroom battles that come along with Henry VIII and his wives. What I liked about The Tudor Secret was that it wasn’t told from the perspective of the royal household, but from a 20 year-old with a blank past who is unceremoniously thrown into court life with the intent of letting it devour him.Brendan Prescott knows nothing of his past other than he was abandoned as a baby and Mistress Alice, a woman who worked as a maid for the wealthy Dudley household, raised him. A child with no background or family, he knows only too well his lowly place in the household and society at-large. His hopes rise no higher than someday being a squire or a steward and even those positions don’t hold much interest for him. He would rather spend his days in the barn with the horses. When he is called to court by Lady Dudley to be a squire to her oldest son, Robert, his hopes of a peaceful life among horses are forgotten.Knowing nothing of court life and with no one willing to teach him, he’s left alone among the court sharks looking to use him for their own gain, his Master Robert included. Robert promptly engages Brendan in court escapades that involve setting up a liaison with the Princess Elizabeth with whom he is in love. Brendan manages to find the Princess and deliver the message but he slowly begins to understand that nothing about court life is ever secret. Pulled unwillingly into a spy ring, Brendan becomes privy to the lives of his masters in ways he never imagined and ends up a double agent working not only for Master Robert but also to keep Princess Elizabeth safe and help her sister, Mary, to become Queen.It is Brendan’s past though that keeps him involved long after he wants nothing more than to walk away. He wants to know who abandoned him that night so long ago but his real concern is for the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. They are targets of people who want nothing more than to overthrow Mary and Elizabeth and convince their brother Edward that neither are true heirs to the throne. Court intrigue and espionage are always terms that are mandatory when talking about the Tudors. The spying, backstabbing, and face-to-face pleasantries while secretly whispering lies behind a person’s back are well-known traits of this family and the court they created. It’s also what makes them all so much fun to read about. The fodder they have provided for future generations is enormous and I think that’s why, while I might need a break to recover from the tension of crown politics, I never entirely tire of the Tudors. Gortner zeroes in on this tension and the moment that Brendan arrives at court, he starts to ramp it up making you turn pages wanting to desperately know what comes next. Telling the story from an outsider’s point of view also makes the character of Elizabeth much more interesting. She’s well-known but an enigma to Brendan which adds freshness to a character that can feel stiff and sometimes a little standoffish.Covering about two weeks worth of time, the story does feel a bit forced in places though and in particular Brendan who while understanding nothing of the Tudor court, manages to become involved and an integral part of a spy ring. He blunders too much in the beginning and to see him mature so quickly and in a mere matter of days, feels unlikely. But, he’s somehow still very likable and that’s what makes it work. He doesn’t immediately grasp the implications of every move made at court and that sets him apart from the others and you can’t help but side with him. If you’re looking for a book that will pull you back into the Tudor’s, this one’s a good choice.
    • 5/5
      I have not read anything about this period of history in England nor do I remember much about the Tudors from history or literature classes in high school. So The Tudor Secret was a very interesting novel to me. I am familiar with Queen Elizabeth and know how highly regarded she was so it was interesting to see how it all came about.That being said, I don't know how close to history, The Tudor Secret is. The author states in the afterward that he proposes a what-if into the time frame and therefore the story is fiction, but it is built around what is known of the time. Thus the genre of historical fiction. I know I enjoyed the book and this look into Elizabeth and the fascinating fictional character of Brendan Prescott. I also loved that this book is told from a male point-of-view. I am so use to reading books from the female point-of-view that this was very refreshing to me. Suspense books from male point-of-view, yes, but historical fiction books, not so much, at least the ones I have read. I really liked Brendan as a character. He had a strong character and a desire to do what was right. He wasn't perfect but he tried.The suspense plot that runs through The Tudor Secret was well-constructed. I found myself trying to guess what might happen next but almost always getting it wrong. The book held me spellbound and I was really sorry that work got in the way of me reading it this week. I think if I had started it on a weekend it would have been like These Things Hidden and I would not be able to put it down. Which is a rare quality in historical fiction for me personally. I know a lot of you are lovers of the genre, but I am fairly new to it and I am not often enamored by historical fiction books. Michele Moran always captivates me and now I think I will be sure and check out C. W. Gortner's other novels.This is the first in a series of books and I look forward to reading the upcoming books, and learning more about the world of Brendan, Elizabeth, Kate and Peregrine. The Tudor Secret did a great job of getting me into the time period, creating characters I cared about and captivating my attention from beginning to end. That makes a great novel for me and I am sure I won't forget this one for awhile.
    • 5/5
      Incredible. Fabulous. Page turning suspense. I absolutely fell in love with this book instantly! C.W. Gortner writes his novels in such a way that his readers become the story. That's what happened to me with this awesome first installment to Gortner's Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles.Reading Brendan Prescott's story and his life as a spy, so to speak, in exchange for finding out about his past and who he really is, was thrilling. The treason that takes place amongst this story, is indescribable as it lends the action to the story. It fascinated me to turn each page and see a new twist each time. At times, I found my heart racing as I waited to see what would have to Brendan, as he sets forth to protect Elizabeth. To read these kinds of novels about real people mixed with fictional characters in a fictional setting, is outstanding.I could go on and on about this thrilling, suspenseful treason filled novel, but if I do, I fear that I'll give away spoilers, and I don't do that, so I will stop here.But, I will tell you this: you MUST give this series start a try. Words and 5 star praises aren't enough to do this author's work justice. His research is outstanding, and his stories instantly capture the reader. If you love History, the Tudor era and fantastic writing, DO NOT MISS Gortner's 5 star novel. I can't wait until the second installment to this incredible spymaster series, as well as going back and reading his novel, The Last Queen!