"The affairs and treachery of Henry the VIII’s court as told from the perspective of a court entertainer."
Kronos, born with dwarfism, abandoned by his mother and raised in a monastery, dreams of performing for Kings. After leaving the priesthood to join a band of entertainers, he seizes the opportunity to be a court juggler, indulging in the luxuries of court, and dabbling in debauchery with the women there. When one such tryst is interrupted as he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, his life as he knows it changed and his life in danger.
Fool offers a unique perspective to a Tudor storyline. By following Kronos we are given insight into behind the scenes of the court, with the more known figures cast as side characters. This provides an interesting twist to the storyline and something fresh for historical fiction readers who enjoy books set in this period. We see a variety of iterations and reactions that are centred around Kronos' Dwarfism, at times he is able to use them to his advantage: playing up to the jester role in performances, being well positioned to eavesdrop as well as using his stature to discreetly be intimate with some of the women he encounters. Other interactions are less positive and highlight the suspicions had at the time towards difference and the uphill battle Kronos faced from the very beginning. Kronos is a complex main character that I’m not quite so sure I ever really got the measure of. The plotline switching from the incident that leaves him nearly dead back to his time at the Priory, briefly his time with the minstrels and the recovery from his injuries helps to destabilize the reader. Fool explores the prejudice of the era, the suspicions towards difference and the struggle Kronos faces between both to try to prove them wrong and simultaneously embracing their preconceptions and use them to his advantage.
The historical elements of this story are detailed and well-written. You can tell a lot of research has gone into the life and politics of Tudor England as the setting comes to life in a way that feels seamless and engaging. Fool in an interesting character-driven historical fiction from an intriguing perspective for fans of plotlines based in Tudor England.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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Betrayal. Power. Perception. The most dangerous mind at court belongs to a fool.
From the author of The Alchemist's Daughter comes a dark tale of ambition and survival.
Kronos is a fool--mocked for his dwarfism, prized for his juggling, and underestimated by everyone who matters. But in a court ruled by paranoia and whispers, invisibility is its own kind of power.
When Kronos overhears a secret that could destroy Queen Katherine Howard, he becomes a liability the crown cannot afford. Silenced, mutilated, and left for dead, he survives--barely.
Rescued by an ambitious apothecary, Kronos soon realizes he has not escaped danger--he has merely changed masters. His secret is worth a fortune...and powerful men are willing to kill to control it.
But Kronos has spent his life being overlooked and he's ready to use that to his advantage.
As rival factions circle and scheme, Kronos sets a plan in motion--one that could topple the mighty, rewrite his fate, and force his foes to reconsider which of them is truly...the fool.
Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Philippa Gregory
Fool features in the following genres: Indie Author Books, Indie Books We Love, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, 1485–1603 (Tudor period)
Fool is available in Paperback
Fool was written by Mary Lawrence and published by Red Puddle Print
