A rather curious "what-if" involving long forgotten Mary Parr, daughter of Henry's VIII's widowed-queen, Katherine Parr.

For those with a knowledge of Tudor history, Mary Parr disappears from the annals of history quite early in her life. Here, Nicola Cornick fleshes out a possible scenario. However, instead of our heroine going back in time to investigate - its rather the reverse when present day Allison Bannister stumbles across a recently discovered portrait purporting to be Anne Boylen. Allison has a secret - she knows the true identity of sitter - and its not Anne Bolyen!

The narrative is two stories: Allison's in the present day, and Mary Parr's in 1557. The key to Mary's fate may solve a mystery that has been haunting Allison her entire life.

Nicole Cornick weaves a rather interesting story - you want to know the fate of Mary, who want to know Allison's secret, and who want to know how it is all resolved. In fact, you just keep reading, finding yourself immersed in two worlds.

I don't often go straight for this genre (time-slip / time travel), but the character of Mary Parr held too much of a fascination - what spin could the author give to Mary's story that would not only keep the reader entertained but also questioning her past.

This is an unusual time-travel story in that the characters advance forward in time, rather than backwards. There are two stories - that of Mary Seymour, an actual figure believed to have died as a child, but here with an alternate history, and of Alison Bannister, her childhood compatriot, who moves from Tudor times to the present. The history and relationship are complex and intriguing. Alison discovers how she can move forward in time and attempts to create a safe place to bring the son taken from her, but finds herself trapped in the future and dependent on a promise by Mary to find her son and somehow send her clues. Mary, burdened by second sight, is banished to a distant relative's estate where she continues to try to keep her promise while somehow create a life for herself. As I said, the story is fairly complex. Their story is also one of trust, trust in each other, in themselves, and whether or not to trust the man they have fallen in love with. There is romance, but the emphasis is on history, the mystery of Alison's son, and overcoming the vast limitations for women in Tudor times.
The novel was fascinating, with a very vivid rendering of everyday life in the 16th century. The present-day sections concentrate of Alison's search for some clue left for her by Mary and make for a splendid mystery to keep the plot humming along. The characters are extremely well-done - the two women are quite different and mature over time. Mary is a quiet girl who develops greater strength with adversity whereas Alison begins as the strong one with very sharp edges, yet softens with time and trust.
This was not your usual romance. Great characters, circuitous plot with plenty of depth, and extremely well-handled paranormal elements. I highly recommend it.

The Phantom Tree is one of those books that will stay with you for a long time. There’s something about the two timelines, the stories of Alison and Mary that still echoes in my mind days after reading the novel.

Alison Banestre was born in the mid 1500s but she is now living her life out in the present day as she searched for any clue as to what happened to her son and what happened to Mary that she disappeared from history with the snap of the fingers. A portrait of Mary that had been mistaken for Anne Boleyn is what pushes Alison to find the truth of the past.

Both of their stories are told in altering sections. The more Alison learns about the portrait, the more we learn about Mary. In the process they both learn their individual truths and what they want out of life. Mary flourishes into a beautiful woman and Alison learns to trust.
I think what made this novel stay with me is the emotion that both women experienced and how much they were willing to fight for themselves in order to find their happiness. There was something magical about the way Cornick wrote Wolf Hall, Middlecote and the modern day equivalent. There were times I felt like I was there, standing in the hallways of Wolf Hall and out in the courtyard near the Phantom Tree.

I loved this book and was glad to have gotten the chance to read something so beautifully written. I would definitely recommend this to any one of my friends.

*I received a copy of The Phantom Tree via NetGalley for an honest review*

While passing an antiques shop, Alison spots a painting in the window that immediately grabs her attention. The painting is thought to be of Anne Boleyn, but Alison knows that the painting is of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr, who was the sixth and final wife of the infamous King Henry VIII. Mary was sent to Wolf Hall in 1557, an unwanted orphan. Many presume that she died as Mary seemed to drop off the map and there’s no official historical record of her after the age of two, only hearsay and circumstantial information. Alison, however, knows for a fact that Mart was at Wolf Hall in 1557...because she was there too. To Alison, the painting of Mary is the key to her past and how she can find her way back to her own time, and finally get the answers to questions that have haunted her for centuries.

I finished reading The Phantom Tree earlier this evening and my first impression was just “WOW!” It’s so incredibly well written and drew my attention from the first paragraph and never let go until the very end. It switches back and forth between both Alison’s and Mary’s points of view, as well as between the Tudor period and present day seamlessly. While this is obviously an “alternative history”, and creative license was definitely utilized, it’s also quite obvious that Nicola Cornick spent a lot of time researching the era and people of the day. I truly enjoyed stepping into the past, especially since this is a period that I’ve always been particularly fascinated with. I really felt that all of the characters were dynamic and interesting, even the ones I didn’t particularly like, because they were truly horrid, as far as personalities. It made me sad the way that both Alison and Mary were just shuffled off to be forgotten and treated as though they were merely burdens to be tolerated until they could inherit and be married off but I loved watching both of them “come into their own”, so to speak. It was amazing watching Alison transform from a somewhat surly and rebellious young girl into a confident lady who knows she can handle what life throws her way. Mary, also, has an inspirational transformation as she progresses from the shy, naive child into a young lady who’s willing to stand up for herself and seek her own happiness. Honestly, I find myself hoping that Cornick writes more in this vein, about some of the other characters like Thomas Fenner and Reginald De Morven because I honestly cannot wait to read more of her work.

I requested this book via NetGalley because of the previous book of the author that I had read (House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick). I may not have enjoyed the previous book as I did this one, but the storytelling made me look forward to the possibility of this book being different. 
I realized I liked the concept of 'time slip' before even knowing that such a term existed   (for reference: A time slip is a plot device used in fantasy and science fiction in which a person, or group of people, seem to travel through time by unknown means for a period of time).This book features a person out of time, and trying to work out something that has haunted her for years. Alison is an interesting adult, a mean girl and a lost waif at different periods of time. Relationships forged, trusts both broken and formed all between different people. The person at the other end to balance Alison out is Mary. Mary has some qualities that Alison does not, and others she wishes she did possess to see her way in the life she has been fated to lead. Fate, intertwined by the will of the people involved with a dash of fantasy, paints an imposing image of these people bound together by events not under their control.

I am definitely ear marking this author for future and other earlier books which I might be interested in.

I have a great affection for a well-done time travel book. I have an even greater affection for a good re-imagining. Take these two things and blend characters from the Tudor Era?

The biggest win-win EVER.

Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour had a child, named Mary. There is no mention of Mary in history past her second birthday, so she is presumed to have died young. The fact remains, however, that we just don't know what her fate was; whether she died young, or lived into old age. The what-if's are endless and are impossibly fascinating to mull over. Nicola Cornick took the what-if's of Mary Seymour, and turned them into a breathtaking novel.

Alison (a fictional character) and Mary meet at Wolf Hall; both are orphans, and both have a tense relationship with the other. Alison becomes pregnant, is sent away and has her son taken from her. Which leads to her discovering a way into the future, where she can start a new life with her son. However, after finding herself stuck in our present, a discovery of a painting could change everything for Alison...and for Mary, back in the past.

I couldn't put this book down. I literally could not put it down. And when I had no choice but to stop reading for a bit, I couldn't get the story out of my mind. Excellent writing, beautiful settings and raw characters has turned this reader in a Nicola Cornick fan for life.

4 stars--I really liked it.

Ever since discovering Mariana, I've adored time slip/past life novels. I started seeking them out: Green Darkness, the Outlander books, etc. So when I saw this on Netgalley, I jumped to request it. And I wasn't disappointed.

This is the first book I've read that has someone going forward in time, and that was a nice twist. Alison, the main character (and time traveler), is prickly and determined, and I liked her for that. No spoilers, but I found the plot bittersweet, with a satisfying ending. Good characters, nice historical touches, and all-around enjoyable.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

You often read time travel books where you travel to the past. Is it possible to travel to the future from the distant past?

Alison Banestre is an orphan from the 1500's and belongs to a noble family. She is brought to Wolf Hall where she meets one of her relatives, Mary Seymour, also an orphan of royal blood. Although not the best of friends, they agree to help each other in a way that no one else can. Two alternating storylines formed the basis for this novel, first by Alison and then by Mary.

I love to read about time travel and The Phantom Tree fulfilled all my expectations. I was curious to see how the author would explain how someone from 1500's could successfully live in future and bit by bit Alison's story is fleshed out as we continue reading. The author keeps you hanging without revealing everything at the beginning and that is where you are hooked. There is plenty of intrigue, romance and history in this book. I literally could not put it down.

Cornick tells the story of two different women, centuries apart, at least for now. Alison Bannister spots a painting of a woman who has been identified as Anne Boleyn, but Alison recognizes the woman as Mary Seymour, Katherine Parr’s daughter. Alison knows this for sure because she knew Mary, they were both at Wolf Hall in the 16th century. Alison wants to know what ultimately happened to Mary, and to learn more about her own past life, but gaining that knowledge will prove to be very dangerous. Told in Mary’s voice in the 16th century and Alison’s in the present this is an engrossing story that fans of Susanna Kearsley and Katherine Webb will love