(British Book Awards 2026)

This novel reimagines the life of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, one of the most controversial women of the Tudor court. Long remembered as the woman whose testimony contributed to the downfall of two queens, Jane is portrayed here as a complex survivor navigating a dangerous world of secrets, court intrigue, and royal power.

At the court of King Henry VIII, Jane must wear many masks—wife, sister, confidante, and spy—to survive. As rumours and accusations swirl around her, the novel asks whether she was truly a traitor or simply a woman trying to stay alive in a court where a single whisper could mean death.