I generally enjoy learning about new time periods, so since I don’t know a whole lot about the Tudor era, I thought this would be an interesting approach. It probably could have been had the prose not felt stilted, sometimes to the point where it read almost like a history book. Not to knock history books, but it wasn’t quite was I was looking for here in a novel. I’m not sure I’d call it a bad book, per se, but it just didn’t end up being for me.

Alison Weir has brilliantly delivered another novel, this time about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

The Plantagenet and Tudor world has captivated me for years and this novel was a massive success for me.

From humble beginnings to the ascent into Holy power, we see the curtains fall and the intimate life of Wolsey is revealed.

At one point the right hand man to King Henry VIII of England, Wolsey was warm, loving, and a true confidant of the King.
Then everything turned sour quickly and downfall ensues.

Alison Weir weaves a beautiful tapestry of Tudor era tales that delight her readers.
For fans of Tracy Borman, Philippa Gregory, and Hilary Mantel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power by Alison Weir.

I adore Alison Weir and have read many of her previous books, both fiction and nonfiction alike, so I was very excited to receive this ARC for review.

While I love reading about the Tudor court, Cardinal Wolsey is often not much m0re than a background character to the charismatic Henry VIII and his tragic wives. However this book changes that narrative by putting Thomas Wolsey front and center! It follows him from his boyhood studying at Oxford, through multiple professional patrons, until he finds himself employed at the royal court, first by Henry VII and then by his son, Henry VIII. Wolsey's ambition is apparent throughout the novel but the story also showcases his feelings through his love for his mistress and the respect and fatherly feelings he held towards Henry VIII. If you are a fan of Tudor history and would like a slightly different perspective I would recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

As much as I found this book very interesting and informative, to me, it was too wordy. I got mired down with Henry VIII and his wanting the annulment. It dragged on and on and I suppose in real life it DID drag on. Cardinal Wolsey was an educated man with many diverse roles to fill and he was the king’s faithful man in waiting. One might say tho he did a lot of it for personal gain, wanting all the finer things in life.
Highly researched and very well written, I’d recommend The Cardinal to all British Royalty history readers.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my digital ARC.

Binged this book in two days! I am a huge fan of both Alison Weir's fiction and non-fiction - in fact almost all I know about the Tudor period (and I know a great deal) I've learned from her. The Cardinal did not disappoint. As in all her books it is both well written and well researched. Most of what I'd previously read on Cardinal Wosley was never very flattering. Dr. Weir's approach is much more balanced and at times it's even sympathetic. Despite that I had a much greater understanding of just how wealthy and powerful the Church had become. There was definitely a need for reform though it was done with the Tudor equivalent of Elon Musk's chain saw. Heartily recommend this book for Tudor buffs, especially if all you know about Wosley series is from the TV series The Tudors:, Read The Cardinal instead!

The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power by Alison Weir is a reimagining of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's story.

Alison Wier is one of my favorite authors and with this edition she di not disappoint. She can easily take characters from this time period and make us love them. Her amazing ability to immerse us into the culture and intrigue of Tudor England never ceases to amaze me and always keeps me coming back for more.

I had the great fortune of being able to listen to the ALC and read the ARC for this book simultaneously, and was glad I had the opportunity to do so. The writing was amazing but the narration by Rosalyn Landor fell a little flat for me, and I found myself going back to the book to read instead of listen.

Thank you RB Media and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Book Rating: 5 Stars
Audiobook Rating: 3 Stars

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Wonderful, detailed fictional biography of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII’s chief advisor until the king accused him of treason in the lead up to his break with the Church. This is probably more detailed than I would have liked, with the Cardinal’s final months taking far too long in the narrative. (I love Alison Weir’s books, but I always find myself muttering “Die already!” In the final chapters.) But she manages to make Wolsey appear both sympathetic and arrogant. I cared enough about him to finish the novel—mainly to see if he would die naturally before being put to death.

This is one of her better Tudor “biographies,” and I highly recommend it to her fans and lovers of detailed historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am very interested in this period and find this historical novel very revealing about the time and characters. However, I found it too slow pacedyand can't totally recommend it. So, I won't be posting my review elsewhere. Thank you for letting me read it.

I have read several books by Alison Weir and always enjoyed her descriptive writing style about the Tudor's and how she pulls the reader into the environment, culture and the political intrigue of the era.
In The Cardinal she does the same, providing a more intimate look into the life of Thomas Wolsey, from his very humble origins as a son of a tradesman, to his rise in the Tudor court of starting with King Henry the VII and especially throughout the reign of Henry VIII.
It opens with Thomas at Oxford at a very young age, thanks to his uncles sponsorship, it changed the trajectory of his life.
The book is dense (over 400 pages),with 6 parts to it, covering his lifespan. I learned a lot from Henry VIII's concern for his son, Thomas's "fatherly" regard for Henry VIII, his rapid rise and tragic ambition for more power, his illicit and risky relationship with Joan, his children, and his relationships with Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn.
Parts 1 & 2 for me, surprisingly, read intermittently more Ike a biography and was as a result a bit drier to read through. This is why it is a 4 star vs 5 star for me.
Parts 3-6 were much more engaging, with the increasing demands of Henry regarding France, Thomas's diplomatic skills resulting in a meteoritic rise as well as increasing enemies among the nobility. Several historical events and people are woven into the story seamlessly amid the rising tension, intrigue, betrayal, religious chaos and ultimate fall of Thomas, which results in a more likable version focused on serving others.
There is some historical violence, not graphic, sexual intimacy again, not graphic and language that is reflective of the era.
Overall, I highly recommend The Cardinal as it is a very interesting and fresh perspective of the Tudor history seen through the eyes of an ambitious, highly intelligent, flawed character whose fall from grace was a tragic betrayal from someone he cared for.
A deep note of gratitude to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the privilege of the ARC, it was a privilege. All opinions expressed are my own.

I didn't have much knowledge of Cardinal Wolsey except his name. Since he was associated with Henry VIII, I didn't have high hopes of him being a sympathetic character. I'm happy to say that the author made him human. The man chose power at every turn, but he was not happy. I felt sorry for him and his mistress Joan and their children. He probably had enough money by that time, I just wanted to say, choose Joan and the kids!!! A cautionary tale.
Thank you to Random House for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was a young boy whose family thought he was destined for the church and grew up to be a powerful cardinal whose demise happened after he underestimated Anne Boleyn who spent years bringing his downfall and ended up disgraced and lost everything because of greed and his need for power and influence. Thomas saw Henry the eighth as a son and did everything to keep him close and enjoyed being the power behind the throne until Anne Boleyn came into the picture and showed that she had more power and influence than Wolsey who saw Henry start to doubt him. Thomas becomes greedy and starts to become to comfortable in his position which gives others the opportunity to start to undermine his influence. With this book we see Thomas in a different light than the one we’ve seen in tv adaptations. I very much enjoyed this book and will be purchasing this book once it’s available.

I really wanted to love The Cardinal—the premise had so much potential. However, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The pacing felt uneven, and the characters didn't resonate with me as I'd hoped. After several attempts to get into the story, I decided to set it aside. While this book wasn't for me, I appreciate the author's creativity and encourage others to give it a try if the synopsis appeals to them.

This is a fascinating and sweeping portrayal of the life of Thomas Wolsey. He advanced in the church hierarchy in the sixteenth century to ultimately become a cardinal, confident, and friend to Kings. The talented and expert author of the lives of kings and queens, Alison Weir, brings to life the dramatic saga of Wolsey's rise and fall while serving King Henry VIII. As a fan of royal historical fiction, I found this to be a compelling and richly woven story. I was quickly immersed within the time and place of the setting and gripped by the unforgettable characters.

Readers who enjoyed the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel or the Plantagenet and Tudor novels by Philippa Gregory or previous novels by Alison Weir are sure to love this book. I would also recommend this to readers who love historical fiction surrounding Henry VIII.

The story transported me back to this time period. I became quite engrossed. This book was well researched. The characters came alive once again in this story. The author has such a gift engulfing the reader from the first pages. The characters were well defined and quite memorable. I look forward to more by this author.

I was blessed with an ARC. My review is unbiased and all thoughts are my own. Highly recommend.

Alison Weir's new novel, "The Cardinal", tells the story of Thomas Wolsey - one of the closest advisors of Henry VIII. An exceptionally clever boy and a butcher's son he takes the one path to prosperity open to him - the Church. His erudition, efforts and talent for negotiation don't go unnoticed by the king and Tom becomes a key figure dictating England's role in European politics at the time. But as the his power and wealth grow over the years, so does the number of sacrifices and enemies he makes...

I particularly liked the idea of the author to present a well-known period in history (coming from a reader who didn't like history in school and still has heard of Henry VIII and the Boleyns) from a different perspective. Even though I sometimes felt a bit lost in the names, titles, hierarchy and traditions of the nobility, I enjoyed and recommend the novel and would like to thank Penguin Random House for sending me this advanced reader copy.

I did not know a lot about Thomas Wolsey except for what I watched on the miniseries The Tudors but I was intrigued. Thank you Ballentine and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy.

Allison Weir writes about the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey. There was a lot of detail in the book about his relationship with King Henry VIII in addition to his role in the King’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon and ultimately Anne Bolyn.

I really enjoyed this book despite the fact that there was perhaps too much detail in certain parts and it was long but if you love historical fiction especially during this Tudor time period; this is a must read! Enjoy!

During the reign of King Henry VIII, the king would elevate well-qualified men to positions of power and prestige. We all know the story of Thomas Cromwell, but it is his mentor, Sir Thomas Wolsey, whose story shows how one can rise from humble beginnings, but whose fate is ultimately tied to the mood of the monarch. The son of a butcher turned scholar who became a priest, a lover, a father, and the closest advisor to the king. His life, his loves, his successes, and his struggles are told in Alison Weir’s latest novel, “The Cardinal.”

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I am a fan of Weir’s novel, so when I saw her writing a new one about Sir Thomas Wolsey, I knew I wanted to read it. Wolsey is someone who tends to be a side character, so to have a novel dedicated to his life was an exciting idea.

Weir begins her story with Thomas (known in this novel as Tom) at the age of 11, going to school. His father, Robert Wolsey, is a butcher from Ipswich who wants his son to climb the social ladder in the church. Tom will eventually rise to the level of becoming King Henry VII’s chaplain and will begin working with King Henry VIII. Life for Tom is thrilling with the twists and turns of court life, but the one thing that is missing in his life is someone to share it with. Since he is a member of the church, he cannot marry or have his own family, but things change for Tom when he meets Joan Larke. Their love for each other is genuine, even though it is taboo in the eyes of the church and King Henry VIII, which comes across as quite hypocritical.

It was under King Henry VIII that Tom’s star rose to remarkable heights. He became a Cardinal, was the King’s right-hand man and best friend, and was able to create the architectural marvel of Hampton Court Palace. But his rise in prominence came with a cost. Tom must help the king navigate not only international affairs, such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, but also more personal matters, such as the divorce of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, which would become known as The Great Matter. Tom would have many enemies at court, including Anne Boleyn, the future wife of King Henry VIII, who would ultimately lead to Tom’s fall from grace.

This is such an engrossing novel about one of the most complex figures of the Tudor dynasty. Thomas Wolsey’s story shows the struggle of fighting for those you love over the ambitions and prestige of the glittering court life. If you want an excellent novel about one of Henry VIII’s closest advisors and his life, I would highly recommend you read “The Cardinal” by Alison Weir.

I love Historical Fiction and history of the British Monarchy so this was a "no-brainer" for me. Alison Weir's The Cardinal refers to the rise and fall of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey - one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisor. While I knew most of the history, I was completely shocked by Wolsey's relationship with Joan Larke. While I found the story very information, other than the affair and subsequent children Wolsey fathered, there was nothing new revealed and the story seemed very long for no reason - it was.a lot of repetitive thoughts about how Wolsey was so loyal and just wanted to best for everyone, while doing whatever he wanted regardless of rules.

For whatever reason, I’ve been obsessed with the Tudor era for years and years. I’m so fascinated with everything King Henry VIII and love reading all of the historical fictions that are out there with POVs of everyone around him during that time.

I’ve found Alison Weir’s novels to be particularly well written and as she’s a historian, I feel hers are probably closest to being accurate so whenever a new Tudor book of hers comes out, I have to read it as soon as I can.

In The Cardinal, Weir tells the story from Thomas Wolsey’s POV and I found it absolutely enthralling and couldn’t get enough.

Everything I’ve ever seen of Wolsey is from his time at Henry’s side, but I had no idea how he rose to such power or what his humble beginnings were like.

Also within The Cardinal, Weir tells Wolsey’s love story with his beloved Joan, who he had a couple of children with.

I’ll definitely be waiting for whatever Tudor novel Weir comes out with next.

*Thank you so much to partner Random House Ballantine and to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*

Thomas Wolsey is hardly a sympathetic character and yet Alison Weir once again got me feeling a bit sorry for him. I'd never really read anything about his rise to power as most history books and other historical fiction are focused on his involvement in getting Henry's marriage annulled (which this obviously went through as well), but it was unique to experience a retelling of what his life may have been like.

I found the first half of the book to be more interesting in that respect because once we get to the Great Matter it's just so much stalling! In Weir's defense, it would be hard to make the Pope's repeated deflections particularly engaging. I was left wondering by the end of the book how things might have been different for Wolsey if he had stepped away from court earlier in his career and sought quietude instead of power.

I was also saddened to read in the afterword that this was written during a difficult time for Alison Weir after losing her partner. I've read her books for nearly the past 20 years and it's hard to fathom how much has probably changed for her in this time. I hope that she is able to find peace and continue to care for herself.