The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date:  March 5, 2013
Touchstone Publishing
Hardcover; 512pISBN-10: 1476708657

In the next novel from Nancy Bilyeau after her acclaimed debut The Crown, novice Joanna Stafford plunges into an even more dangerous conspiracy as she comes up against some of the most powerful men of her era. 
In 1538, England is in the midst of bloody power struggles between crown and cross that threaten to tear the country apart. Joanna Stafford has seen what lies inside the king’s torture rooms and risks imprisonment again, when she is caught up in a shadowy international plot targeting the King. As the power plays turn vicious, Joanna understands she may have to assume her role in a prophecy foretold by three different seers, each more omniscient than the last.
Joanna realizes the life of Henry VIII as well as the future of Christendom are in her hands—hands that must someday hold the chalice that lays at the center of these deadly prophecies…

My Review: This is another great suspenseful book from Nancy. The story continues with Joanna Stafford. If you have not read The Crown yet, what are you waiting for, just kidding. You can go back and pick that book up later and read this book as a stand alone. I strongly suggest reading both books though as you will not be disappointed. 

Just as she did in her last book Nancy fills this book such great historical detail that you will be able to picture everything the mentions as if you were there. 

It is 1558  and there are major power struggles between the crown and the cross so you can imagine the turmoil the country is in at the moment. Joanna that the future will be in her hands and she is not sure what to do, she learns this from a person who can see the future. One thing I really liked about this book is how Nancy interweaves the fictional characters with the real life historical characters to make a great story line that you can follow right along with without any trouble. I also enjoy this view of Tudor England that is provided by the author, most books are just told of Henry and his wives and this is a story of less important (fictional) person of the time period. Come along for the journey to see what was predicted for Joanna and to find out if the prophecies come true. 

This book is a real page turner and will not disappoint you one bit. It will have you staying up late into the night to find out what happens next. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown, is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. Her latest position is features editor of Du Jour magazine. A native of the Midwest, she graduated from the University of Michigan. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

For more information, please visit Nancy Bilyeau's website.  You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. 

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