Courting Dragons

 

Courting Dragons
Jeri Westerson
Publication date: January 3, 2023 by Severn House
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Rating: 4 👢👢👢👢

Summary: Introducing Will Somers, the king's jester but nobody's fool in this exuberant, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining mystery set in Tudor England – the first in a new series from the author of the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series.

1529, London. Jester Will Somers enjoys an enviable position at the court of Henry VIII. As the king's entertainer, chief gossip-monger, spy and loyal adviser, he knows all of the king's secrets – and almost everyone else's within the walls of Greenwich Palace.

But when Will discovers the body of Spanish count Don Gonzalo while walking his trusted sidekick Nosewise in the courtyard gardens, and a blackmail note arrives soon after demanding information about the king, is one of his own closely guarded secrets about to be exposed? Trouble is afoot at the palace. Are the king's enemies plotting a move against him? Will must draw on all his wit and ingenuity to get to the bottom of the treacherous and deadly goings-on at the court before further tragedy strikes . . .

My thoughts: This book was a wonderful new way to explore the Tudor court. Westerson created a delightful story starring the ever present jester in King Henry VIII's court, Will Sommers. The author took what was known about Will and wove in period elements to create an utterly entertaining new twist. Readers get to explore an interpretation of what Will's life was like when he wasn't performing. Westerson gave Will a saucy and witty conversational tone as well as colorful and dangerous relationships. With all the wit and knowledge from entertaining at court Will methodically worked through the layers of deceit to uproot the plotters before it was to late. Westerson took note to describe the opulence at court and the "grave issue" of the king's marriage. The book was never weighed down as Will was always ready to lighten the mood by either action or wit. A remarkably entertaining story that adds new life to the redundant tales of the Tudor court. 

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. 

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