20180828_121341.jpg

TGIF, friends! Today I have a review of The Phantom Tree now available from Harlequin/ Graydon House!

My Thoughts

My first book by Nicola Cornick, The Phantom Tree, was highly recommended by my friend, Stephanie, at Stephanie’s Novel Fiction! A genre-spanning work involving historical fiction, romance, light mystery, and time travel/fantasy, Cormick’s lyrical writing had me immersed and charmed from the first chapter. 

Told in two narratives, the first is the present day with Alison. A friend of hers has found a rare portrait of Anne Boleyn, but Alison knows it’s Mary Seymour, the daughter of Queen Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, with her second husband. 

Mary Seymour has always been a mystery of the court because she vanished. What happened to her? And how is she tied to Alison in the present day?

The way the two story lines converge is part of the enchantment of this story. The writing is transportive, and the storyline complex and masterful with layers of coming-of-age, deceit, drama, and a taste of magical elements. 

Overall, I recommend The Phantom Tree to fans of Tudor fiction who are looking for a new twist on history, as well as for Outlander fans or anyone who enjoys light fantasy involving time travel. I was also approved for Nicola Cormick’s next book, The Woman in the Lake, out in February 2019, and I cannot wait to soak up that story! 

Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon House for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis:

“My name is Mary Seymour and I am the daughter of one queen and the niece of another.”

Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait – supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better… The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.

The painting is more than just a beautiful object from Alison’s past – it holds the key to her future, unlocking the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance, and the enigma of Alison’s son.

But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows…

Have you read The Phantom Tree, or any of Nicola Cornick’s other books? Do you enjoy Tudor fiction? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR