The Stolen Crown

'A powerful tale . . . compelling and brilliant' - ALISON WEIR In March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, lies dying at Richmond Palace. The queen's ministers cluster round her bedside, urging her to name her successor - something she has stubbornly resisted throughout her reign. Almost with her last breath she whispers that James VI of Scotland should succeed her. She dies shortly afterwards and the throne of England passes peacefully from Tudor to Stuart. Or so we've been led to believe . . . But, as enthralling new research shows, this is not what happened. In the years that followed, history was literally re-written on the orders of James VI to hide the truth: Elizabeth went to her grave without formally naming an heir. The notion of an approved succession from Tudors to Stuarts is little more than an elaborately constructed fiction. And so James's rule in England began with a lie - a lie that went on to have devastating consequences. The Stuart regime rapidly descended into turbulence and uncertainty, conspiracy and persecution, witchcraft and gunpowder - culminating in the destruction of the monarchy in the English Civil War. With a combination of rigorous research and brilliant story-telling, Tracy Borman's revealing new book shows that truth and monarchy have always been strange bedfellows . . .

'A powerful tale . . . compelling and brilliant' - ALISON WEIR In March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, lies dying at Richmond Palace. The queen's ministers cluster round her bedside, urging her to name her successor - something she has stubbornly resisted throughout her reign. Almost with her last breath she whispers that James VI of Scotland should succeed her. She dies shortly afterwards and the throne of England passes peacefully from Tudor to Stuart. Or so we've been led to believe . . . But, as enthralling new research shows, this is not what happened. In the years that followed, history was literally re-written on the orders of James VI to hide the truth: Elizabeth went to her grave without formally naming an heir. The notion of an approved succession from Tudors to Stuarts is little more than an elaborately constructed fiction. And so James's rule in England began with a lie - a lie that went on to have devastating consequences. The Stuart regime rapidly descended into turbulence and uncertainty, conspiracy and persecution, witchcraft and gunpowder - culminating in the destruction of the monarchy in the English Civil War. With a combination of rigorous research and brilliant story-telling, Tracy Borman's revealing new book shows that truth and monarchy have always been strange bedfellows . . .

Love and duty are thrown to the treacherous deep sea in the next Ever Seas book from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation LJ Andrews. . . PRE-ORDER the fourth instalment of the Ever Seas series NOW. ‘Why are L.J. Andrews’ books my favourite things to exist ever??' 5 Reader Review -- He can hold a grudge. She can charm even the most stoic of people. Tait Heartwalker may be the cousin of the Ever King, but royally good company he is not. He’s ill-tempered and unapproachable, sharpened by life and loyalty. But to the dismay of Mira Sekundär, princess of the glamour fae, he’s also downright intoxicating. Mira has given up trying to uncover why the broody fae seems to detest her most of all. Despite doing their best to avoid each other, fate has other plans when an otherworldly storm shipwrecks Tait and Mira far beyond the boundaries of the Ever Kingdom. They are forced to break through the thorny barriers between them, and work together to find their way home. Yet as their feelings deepen, a new threat rises. One that could seal their new passion. . . or snap the fragile bonds of peace between the fae of the sea and earth for good. Tropes: grumpy/sunshine forced proximity fae royalty moody pirates Norse mythology Praise for L.J Andrews: ' LJ Andrew’s [manages] to captivate the reader and draw you into this tale so you literally race through the pages to see what happens next ' 5 Reader Review ' Thank you LJ Andrews for finally getting me out of my book slump! ' 5 Reader Review ' LJ Andrew's writing is simply effortless to read. A beautiful balance of world-building and action, making it so fluid ' 5 Reader Review ' I can't get enough of her writing! ' 5 Reader Review