The Blackened Heart by Alison Weir

The Blackened Heart by foremost and beloved historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece that bridges the first two novels in the Six Tudor Queens series, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick will delight in this mysterious tale, drawn together from fragments of history - and a good dose of speculation. Or is it...?

Margery Otwell, a self-made gentleman's young daughter, gets her first taste of courtly life when she takes up a position as chamberer to Lady Peche of Lullingstone Castle. Dances, music, feasting - and a seduction - follow, and Margery learns the rules of courtly love the hard way.

Saved from disgrace by the kindly Sir John Peche, Margery finds herself at court waiting on Queen Katherine. Little does Margery know that she is already a pawn in a game of power, irrevocably bound to the fall of the lady she will come to love as her mistress, Queen and friend.

Kindle Edition, 45 pages

Published March 9, 2017 

by Review

3.5/5 stars

As I continue my reading through Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queen Series, I have been reading some of her short stories that are scattered throughout this series.  Available only through Amazon UK, a pity since I would like to read them all.

This is book 1.5, during the time of Katherine of Aragon, wife #1.  Coming in at 45 pages it was a relatively quick read.  As a teen Margery Otwell enters into service for the queen and is a life long companion through all the drama.  A story of mystery, drama and romance.

My copy through kindle - it pays to take kindle while traveling, in addition to reading but also to grab through editions not available in my location.