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A review by shivvyslibrary
The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
5.0
I first discovered this book on Amazon when I was looking for Tudor books to read, but for some reason, I looked at the front cover and was baffled why it was classed as a Tudor book and for months I ignored the book until one day, I decided to have a look at this book and see what it is all about. NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!
It was such an interesting and exciting book to read, as it had all the makings of historical fiction, but it added thriller and mystery. I have never read a book like this and this is an amazing book to read! We are introduced to Alison Bannister, who stumbles into a Anne Boleyn portrait, however, she knows that it's not Anne's portrait and easily recognises the sitter in the portrait; Mary Seymour, the daughter of Catherine Parr (Dowager Queen of Henry VIII) and Thomas Seymour (the brother of Edward Seymour and Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife).
There are occult/thriller/mystery themes running through the book which is marvellous as it makes the book stand out from the normal historical fiction. It changes history slightly as Mary, the daughter of Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour was presumed to have died very young, but the author changes it so that Mary lived and stayed with distant cousins. The chapters are dictated by the two female protagonists, Alison in the present day and Mary in the past, in the 1500's. It explores Alison looking to return back into the 1500's, as she has left her whole entire life behind including her son, who she is desperate to get back too!
I could not put this book down, I managed to actually read this book within less than a week, which is highly unusual for me! There was so many twists and turns at every point. As the reader you enter the lives of Mary and Alison and their see their love/hate relationship, but also learn how Alison came to be in the present day. You feel sympathetic for these two women who had endure some much, the struggles they had to put up with; they both were orphans, had to live with double standards (where men were able to have affairs and illegitimate children, but the same could not be said for women) but poor Alison had her baby taken away, but the father of her child. However, Mary leaves clues to the whereabouts and safety of Alison's child, but sadly there is a happy ending for Alison, but not for Mary.
The author explores the idea that anyone who was deemed in the Tudor era to be abnormal, is a witch (mainly women) and Mary Seymour, sadly was no different, as from when she was younger, she had 'visions' but may around her would stay clear from her, but her visions end up becoming reality as the story progresses.
The book was fast paced and had loads of drama within the chapters, but yet it was still easy to follow which was very much appreciated! The author Nicola is able to give insight into the Tudor Era and brings the Era to life. I like how the author chose a figuratively unknown historical figure such as Mary to base her story around and also to show that the Tudor Era wasn't always glitz and glamour, but there were a lot of children who were orphans due to their parents dying or for other reasons. The book also explores how they were usually dumped onto distant family relatives, who maybe they knew or in some cases, they didn't know the family members.
This is such a brilliant book to read! I would definitely recommend this book to absolutely EVERYBODY! It has something for everyone; romance, occult, mystery, thriller and of course, it is historical fiction, but the best type of historical fiction! This is also a good read for anyone who likes the Tudor Era! Nicola Cornick has written an amazing novel and I cannot praise it enough!
It was such an interesting and exciting book to read, as it had all the makings of historical fiction, but it added thriller and mystery. I have never read a book like this and this is an amazing book to read! We are introduced to Alison Bannister, who stumbles into a Anne Boleyn portrait, however, she knows that it's not Anne's portrait and easily recognises the sitter in the portrait; Mary Seymour, the daughter of Catherine Parr (Dowager Queen of Henry VIII) and Thomas Seymour (the brother of Edward Seymour and Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife).
There are occult/thriller/mystery themes running through the book which is marvellous as it makes the book stand out from the normal historical fiction. It changes history slightly as Mary, the daughter of Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour was presumed to have died very young, but the author changes it so that Mary lived and stayed with distant cousins. The chapters are dictated by the two female protagonists, Alison in the present day and Mary in the past, in the 1500's. It explores Alison looking to return back into the 1500's, as she has left her whole entire life behind including her son, who she is desperate to get back too!
I could not put this book down, I managed to actually read this book within less than a week, which is highly unusual for me! There was so many twists and turns at every point. As the reader you enter the lives of Mary and Alison and their see their love/hate relationship, but also learn how Alison came to be in the present day. You feel sympathetic for these two women who had endure some much, the struggles they had to put up with; they both were orphans, had to live with double standards (where men were able to have affairs and illegitimate children, but the same could not be said for women) but poor Alison had her baby taken away, but the father of her child. However, Mary leaves clues to the whereabouts and safety of Alison's child, but sadly there is a happy ending for Alison, but not for Mary.
The author explores the idea that anyone who was deemed in the Tudor era to be abnormal, is a witch (mainly women) and Mary Seymour, sadly was no different, as from when she was younger, she had 'visions' but may around her would stay clear from her, but her visions end up becoming reality as the story progresses.
The book was fast paced and had loads of drama within the chapters, but yet it was still easy to follow which was very much appreciated! The author Nicola is able to give insight into the Tudor Era and brings the Era to life. I like how the author chose a figuratively unknown historical figure such as Mary to base her story around and also to show that the Tudor Era wasn't always glitz and glamour, but there were a lot of children who were orphans due to their parents dying or for other reasons. The book also explores how they were usually dumped onto distant family relatives, who maybe they knew or in some cases, they didn't know the family members.
This is such a brilliant book to read! I would definitely recommend this book to absolutely EVERYBODY! It has something for everyone; romance, occult, mystery, thriller and of course, it is historical fiction, but the best type of historical fiction! This is also a good read for anyone who likes the Tudor Era! Nicola Cornick has written an amazing novel and I cannot praise it enough!