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A review by sams84
Sovereign by C.J. Sansom
5.0
Started this right after finishing Dark Fire and yet again Sansom did not disappoint. This book takes place only one year after the second book and sees Shardlake being sent to York to meet up with the King's Progress and be part of the legal team addressing the many issues that have arisen in the North. In doing so he is also tasked with looking after the welfare of a prisoner who is due to be sent to the Tower for questioning on the conspiracy against the King of that spring as well as having to deal with his father's death and getting embroiled in the death of a glazier, complete with many twists and turns in a conspiracy that reachese far into the Royal household.
All of this is set against the backdrop of Henry's fifth marriage to the young Catherine Howard and some backpeddling in religious reforms that follows the Howards rise to power, the sense of confusion and conspiracy is rife throughout the book adding to the mystery and ultimate surprise at the identity of those involved. For those who know their history the end for some of the characters is none too surprising but the finale of the main story is tense, shocking and absolutely gob-smacking (my jaw hit the floor when I read it). Once again a very, very good fast paced read that shows Sansom talent for weaving a damn good story with historical fact.
All of this is set against the backdrop of Henry's fifth marriage to the young Catherine Howard and some backpeddling in religious reforms that follows the Howards rise to power, the sense of confusion and conspiracy is rife throughout the book adding to the mystery and ultimate surprise at the identity of those involved. For those who know their history the end for some of the characters is none too surprising but the finale of the main story is tense, shocking and absolutely gob-smacking (my jaw hit the floor when I read it). Once again a very, very good fast paced read that shows Sansom talent for weaving a damn good story with historical fact.