A very good book for new and old Tudor fans alike. Well researched and detailed without being dry. Each chapter can be read as a stand alone as every unfortunate soul has their own. However, there is some repetition as it relates from one person to another i.e., Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. This in no way distracts from the story. I think this would make an excellent edition to anyone's Tudor collection. Contains pictures which is always a bonus for me. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tutor Executions, from nobility to the Block by Helena Harris The one thing I learned from this book is that just by saying something against the king or queen or believing in a different religion did the nobility is not just a bad day but could be your last day. An even worse scenario is,your best friend is the leader of the country and you wake up to find their rival is now the leader. now just because you were friends you are now charged with treason. So many different reasons and so many different stories and a lot of them are in this book royal executions and those who were victimized by it. From bloody married to king Henry those who ordered executions were cruel but in some cases were loved by the people this is a great thought and one I definitely recommend I love these books about tutor history and cannot get enough of them I want to thank pen and sword press for my free arc copy. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Tudor period was a time of treachery and treason. So many nobles were constantly vying for power and privilege but allegiance to the monarchy was a tenuous game and many paid the ultimate price; their life after being found guilty of treason. I hadn't realised that at the start of the Stuart period, there were no dukes left. Helene Harrison has a particular interest in this era and writes with authority in an easy accessible style. Her research appears impeccable which an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources, a comprehensive index and a fascinating selection of illustrative plates.. Each chapter also has detailed footnotes throughout.

I really like the way she has approached this fascinating topic. She outlines those who lost their life and helpfully includes a definition of treason. It’s broader than just an act against the monarch and Henry VIII even managed to change the law allowing him to execute mad people. In one way, it wasn’t unusual that so many lost their life as a result of the treason allegation. This was a period of constant duplicity and all the nobles were interlinked, often by marriage. They all sought royal favour in one way or another and would stop at nothing to gain status. Their games often resulted in their downfall and this book provides fascinating insight into these bloody times and struggles for power. The narrative is arranged in such a way that each chapter may be read as a standalone ( with one exception). So it’s a great book to dip into. There are extensive family trees at the beginning which show familial links. Best of all is that Ms Harrison really gets behind the individuals and brings them to life. They become people rather than just titles and she explores motivations in an accessible and fascinating way for the lay reader. I’ve really enjoyed this book which delves into a completely different aspect of Tudor society. Original, informed and so readable. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

I loved the format, writing,research and the ease of reading this.Each person is given their own chapter with their family history,their place in the Tudor court and their charges and reasons for their execution.It was very detailed with occasional new to me information which in my opinion is difficult to do due to my wide reading over the years on the Tudors themselves.Very much recommend to new and old fans alike.

This was such a an interesting read. I think a lot of people are fascinated with the British royal family and this shows another side we don't really see. I would definitely recommend to anyone

Really enjoyable stories of how some of the elite in Tudor times got to where they did. It doesn't revel in the macabre but instead is fantastically educational, telling the stories of the people and not just how they died.

This was an interesting read about Tudor life, and well, death. Each chapter gives a quite detailed picture of the person leading up to their execution. Something I’m taking with me is how interwoven the royal and noble families in Tudor time were. That was very interesting.

A great read about the bloody tutor reign,

Helene Harrison creates an enticing and easy to read non fiction for all Tudor enthusiasts.

We all know the old rhyme “divorced, beheaded, died…” when we think of Henry VIII and his wives. This is not that book, though is does feature Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. But they are not the main talking points of this book, which Was honestly rather refreshing. While these two women’s executions are well known,( and for good reason) they were far from the only victims.
The book begins with Henry VII, who I think is often overlooked because of his son. Henry VII, had his fair share of executions during his reign, most famously perkin Warbeck the pretender. So when they say Tudor executions in the title, it is true. It doesn’t only cover Henry VIII and his children.

Helene goes in depth, dedicating chapters of varying lengths for each person so even someone brand new to history can read. While I’m very familiar with all people discussed I found this entertaining and enlightening despite having previous knowledge. It didn’t feel weighed down with academic textbook language either. Her writing style is what I would consider conversational. If you’re familiar at all with Essayists on YouTube the writing is like that. Informative, but far from boring.

While the text can be critical at times, it’s not void of sympathy either. However, because it does feel like the author is sat with you, at times the text can start to feel repetitive. Certain words and phrases are used throughout and that began to stand out to me early on. This didn’t bother me, but it was a tad distracting. That doesn’t mean Tudor Executions was a monotonous read. I’d say that is simply the nature of the beast.

I’d say this is geared more towards beginner Tudor enthusiasts, but I think it’s a fantastic resource.
The research is cited well, and overall I think it’s a great read.