I really enjoyed this book, from the writing to the characters, everything just stood out to me. Anne Boleyn is one of my favourite historical figures and I felt like she was captured perfectly in this book.

This is a followup to the original book "Of Aragon" tracking an adopted foundling named Kat. In the first book Kat learns some explosive news about her true parentage while working at the Tudor Court during the reign of King Henry VIII. It was a cleverly written piece of historical fiction involving King Henry's first wife, Katharine of Aragon. In this sequel Kat continues to work as a lute player closely shadowing the admired Queen Katharine and her ladies, but also bears witness to King Henry's scandalous affair with Anne Boleyn. Kat's now married to a young man in the employ of royal lawyer Thomas Cromwell, so finds herself torn between alliances to Katharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn as King Henry demands a divorce. Kat is a reliable witness to a wild time in British Royal history as she navigates the politics, palpable fear, and divided loyalties of the court of King Henry VIII, serving Queen Katharine of Aragon, Queen Anne Boleyn, and Queen Jane Seymour.

Although you could read this as a standalone, I feel that the first book was such a rich predicate for this one that the reader would be sold short without reading that one first. While I enjoyed this continuation, the palpable mystery that unfolded of Kat's true familial origins in the first book was a richer experience for me. Even so, I look forward to any future installments that might be forthcoming in this series.

Thank you to the publisher Atmosphere Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Another excellent novel about Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. This is the second book about a common woman at court. It is so very interesting and you get a real feel for the life and times. It is a stand alone story, but reading the preceding book does add to your enjoyment. I am anxious to read anything by this author. She is an interesting writer that is able to really give full development to her characters. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this to read.

A surprisingly refreshing look at the life and times of the Tudors. I can honestly say I enjoyed this book much more than expected. The novel is vaguely epistolary, from a mother to her daughter about her experiences as a musician to two of Henry VII's queens, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour.

Technically, this book is a sequel, but it stands alone quite well.

Thank you, Atmosphere Press, for providing this free book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The book's main premise is intriguing enough: a secret child of King Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon navigating the dangerous waters of the Tudor court.

While the story is certainly unique (if a little farfetched), I struggled to related or even really feel attached to the character. The pacing is uneven, and the characters lack the depth and complexity needed to make the story really interesting. This is particularly disappointing given the fascinating backdrop of Tudor England and the high-stakes premise of a royal secret.

The book is simply written so it was easy enough for me to understand. However, there were very small things in how the dialogue was written that made it confusing for me to keep track who is saying what.

In the end, The Duty of Women is an easy read but not a particularly memorable one. Would I recommend it to someone who loves Tudor-era fiction? Maybe, but only if they’re looking for something light and undemanding.

This book offers a well researched depiction of life at the Tudor Court. The writing style is clear and allows the reader to see this period of history from a woman's perspective in a time dominated by male figures. I would recommend this to all those interested in English history and would be interested in other books by the same author.