Synopses & Reviews
An astonishing debut in historical fiction, hailed as “part
The Da Vinci Code, part
The Other Boleyn Girl,” (
Woman’s Day),
The Crown follows one nun’s dangerous quest to find an ancient relic during Cromwell’s reign of terror.
Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.
While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.
With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.
Review
“Nancy Bilyeau’s polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling. . . . In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford’s desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans.” --Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches
Review
"An amazing first novel, filled with excitement, intrigue, espionage, and set against the background of one of the bloodiest periods of British history; the schism between Church and State. It's an action-packed tale of one nun's dangerous quest to discover the secrets of an ancient relic that dates back to centuries."--Katherine Neville, author of The Eight
Review
“Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical research throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal.” - O, The Oprah Magazine
Review
“Captivating thriller…”--All You magazine
Review
“Strong character development, realistic historical detail, and an atmosphere of pervasive tension coupled to a fast-paced plot make it compulsively readable.”—Booklist
Review
"This fast-paced debut delivers Tudor intrigue and mystical thrills in one satisfying package—and leaves room for a sequel."--Kirkus
Review
"...will appeal to fans of Dan Brown and Philippa Gregory."--Library Journal
Review
“The events of the period come to life in Nancy Bilyeau's dazzling and heart-wrenching novel. The Crown is evocative, provocative, and full of intriguing characters—a gorgeously written novel that has mystery and history, pathos and depth. This is a stunning debut about a woman whose spirit shines through and deeply moves the reader.” - International Bestseller, M.J. Rose
Review
“Part The Da Vinci Code, part The Other Boleyn Girl, it will keep you guessing until the very end!” - Woman’s Day, Book Pick of the Month
Review
“All the ingredients for a thriller: murder, violence, intrigue, sex, and religious fanatics.”--examiner.com
Review
“An engrossing thriller…[the] extensive historical research shines.” - Entertainment Weekly
Review
“[An] inventive thriller…A captivating heroine, Stafford will have you eagerly following every step of her quest.” - Parade
Review
“Bilyeau weaves her breathtaking story though a string of events to a pleasing conclusion while giving the reader a more thorough understanding of a complicated bit of history. Historical fiction as it should be.” - Florida Times-Union
Review
“[A] captivating thriller.” - All You
Review
“The right sort of action to lure fans of historical fiction: righteous nuns, evil bishops, real-world figures and a potential burning at the stake.” - Time Out New York
Review
“When her cousin is condemned to death by King Henry VIII, daring young nun Joanna risks everything to be by her side.” - People Magazine
Review
“History buffs will delight in the details interwoven in the story.” - Times Record News
Review
“I’m loving ‘The Crown.’” - Redbook
Synopsis
The Crown recounts the adventures of a young novice who must find a legendary crown in order to preserve the life she loves from Cromwell's terror.
Synopsis
An astonishing debut in historical fiction, hailed as "part The Da Vinci Code, part The Other Boleyn Girl," (Woman's Day), The Crown follows one nun's dangerous quest to find an ancient relic during Cromwell's reign of terror.
Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.
While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father's life she must find an ancient relic--a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.
With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past.
Synopsis
An astonishing debut in historical fiction, hailed as "part The Da Vinci Code, part The Other Boleyn Girl," (Woman's Day), The Crown follows one nun's dangerous quest to find an ancient relic during Cromwell's reign of terror.Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London. While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father's life she must find an ancient relic--a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation. With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past.
Synopsis
JOANNA STAFFORD, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousins side. Arrested for interfering with the kings justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.
While Joanna is in the Tower, the ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her fathers life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.
With Cromwells troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in Englands past.
About the Author
Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown and The Chalice, is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She is currently the executive editor of Du Jour magazine. A native of the Midwest, she lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Visit her website at NancyBilyeau.com.