The Cardinal by Alison Weir tells the story of Thomas Wolsey, who became the advisor/confident of King Henry VIII. A well researched book. However, the beginning writing felt choppy and didn’t come together until the middle of the story. The author gives an excellent telling of his life. His humble beginnings, his ambition for power and wealth, his love for Joan. If you’re a fan of this time period, this is a good read. Thanks to NetGalley Review for this ARC book.

Alison Weir “The Cardinal”

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me a copy of this ebook.

The title speaks for itself. Even with minimal dive into The Tudors, anyone will not miss the mighty Thomas Wolsey, the Cardinal and Henry VIII’s trusted advisor. “The butcher’s son” as jealous courtiers called him. The ruler for young Henry VIII, who did not want to be bothered with boring state matters. The builder of Hampton Court, which he gifted to the King. The solver of all issues, except one, the fatal one - marriage annulment for Henry and Katherine of Aragon. And his fall from favor and sad demise....

Love all Alison Weir books, non-fiction and fiction alike. Fictional accounts bring opportunity to explore historical characters behind the known facts. And the book shows us the unknown time - when Tom is 11yo and is studying at Oxford. His fond memories of the parents, of first grammar school, schoolmates and mischiefs peek into the life of young talented boy from low origins. His eagerness and pleasure to study feed his ambitions, though no one could have predicted whom he will become.
His ambitions brought him to the highest point of his career, which envied the nobles and irritated the common people. But was it only ambition and greed?
I learned, that he needed 4-5 hours of sleep and still could be productive for 10-12 hours!
Rather very hardworking person, striving under pressure, eager to solve issues, serve the king and bring peace and prosperity to England.

Enjoyable and informative fictional account of the life of The Cardinal. Highly recommended.

Any time you read Alison Weir you are in for a treat. I felt like I was walking behind the Cardinal and because of that I have a little more understanding of him and why he made the choices he did.

This novel brings Cardinal Wolsey's life into the light. I was unaware of so many things about his private life that are presented here in such detail that it has to be fiction; we can't know what happened behind closed doors 500 years ago. If you think you know the Cardinal because you've read novels about the Tudor kings and queens, think again.

Alison Weir is an expert on Tudor history, which she uses to craft a novel that feels immersive in the time period. It almost feels like you've stepped into the TARDIS and gone back in time.

Recommended for historical fiction fans, especially those that are interested in the Tudor era.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Ballentine Press for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I have read several of Alison Weir's books and have enjoyed them, This is no exception. I really had felt that I had read everything there was to know about Henry the 8th and his attempt to have his marriage to Katherine of Aragon annulled so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. This book, however, brings to life the character of Cardinal Wolsey , as I have never read it before. It is a fully realized story of a man, who was raised well above his station , and his fall from grace. It is also a story of forbidden love, but not of the King and Anne, but of Tom Wolsey and Joan Larke. They loved each other ,and had a life together, in spite of his vows as a priest. They had a family, and love. It is a complex story , of a complex man, in a complex time. I am glad that I read it.

This book is perfect for the Wolf Hall fan who is wanting more! This book is a very thorough and detailed account of the life of Cardinal Wolsey and his relationship with king Henry VIII .

I received this e-book for free in exchange for an honest review. I am a big fan of Alison Weir's novels, and this one did not fall short. It even made me have some sympathy towards Cardinal Wolsey, something I would not necessarily have expected. Weir largely remained true to known facts, and did not romanticize the extent to which the quest for power drove Wolsey's choices, however, she did include details that humanize him (somewhat). I have read a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction, regarding the Tudor era, and was familiar with the broad outlines of Wolsey's life, yet I learned new facts about him with this story. A worthwhile read for those with an interest in the era and/or the man.

There’s a fine line between drowning in details and moving the plot forward that some authors struggle with in historical fiction. The history Weir presents about Cardinal Wolsey and his rise and subsequent fall from grace is too much the former - it is very thorough, and, at times, unfortunately dull. I almost feel like she wanted to write this as a biography, but too little was known about some aspects (his relationship with Joan, his private conversations with Henry VIII, etc.,) that fiction was the more enchanting route for her. I’m glad I read this book, but wish the writing had been more engaging and less repetitive and stagnant.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this work.

Read this book in just a few sittings. I love historical fiction, and have a fondness for stories of Henry VIII England. The plot was well crafted and the characters well drawn. Overall, a great book.

I was “all in” for 3/4 of this book. Then…. It became a task. It took too much time, in my opinion, for Woolsey, who was in favor with the King, then not so sure he was in favor, then not in favor, then back in favor and on and on and on! This book was so well researched and interesting but too long. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for granting this book for review. All opinions are my own. #TheCardinal, #NetGalley

"In this "immersive tale of Tudor intrigue" (Publishers Weekly), the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII's chief adviser - until the king accused him of treason.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIII's ascension to the throne in 1509. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state.

Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly well until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn - the woman whom Wolsey would one day call "the night crow" - and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of "the Divorce," Wolsey, who had successfully given his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation. As he drew the ire of the future queen, the cardinal found his privileged life and his relationship with Henry crumbling around him.

Alison Weir's poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man - his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendor and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey's private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him - and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together and the forces that drove them apart."

If you're like me and still suffering from Wolf Hall withdrawal, this is the book for you.

This is an amazingly researched historical novel based on Thomas Wolsey (the right hand of King Henry VIII). The writing is superb and I just fell in love with this story.

Most of us have heard of his demise but I learned so much about Wolsey's rise to power. The book is so detailed and engaging. In this story, I can hear his voice as he marches his way from his humble beginnings to the man behind the King's power.

His character is so detailed from his own thoughts and feelings, the acknowledgment of his weaknesses and his strengths. It's a man who seeks power at the cost of happiness. I loved the depth of his feelings as well as his presence and thoughts through some of the most notable times during the reign of Henry VIII.

It's a look back into history and the author has peeled back the veil.

Excellent book. Stunning.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

What a fascinating account of the relationship between King HenryVIII and Thomas Wolsey. Alison Weir has written a well-researched account of Wolsey’s rise to power second only to the King and also his fall from grace. She has humanized great historical figures who are known by modern readers by their historical facts. Fleshing out the details of Henry, Thomas, and Katherine, she allows the reader to sympathize with the situation they found themselves in. She does not romanticize any of the characters or the time in which they lived, but allows the readers to sees the flaws and humanity of each. This is a 5-star read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this fine novel.

Interesting book and definitely more detailed than another I've read on the topic. (That one cut off just as Wolsey was becoming cardinal. Too soon, in my opinion!) Most of all, I appreciate the return of his mind again and again to his lover Joan and the wish that things could've gone differently between them. It's been a few years since I've read the other book, but it seems like that one gave Joan short shrift.

Thoroughly enjoyed this; I am a fan of anything-Tudor and Wolsey is such an enigmatic figure in many ways. Weir's book told entirely from Wolsey's perspective is a fresh take on a well-trod topic and it was fresh and interesting. I particularly enjoyed the early chapters that started with Wolsey's childhood and family life. It was well-researched and moved a comfortable pace; it was never boring or bogged down.

This is the first Alison Weir book that I have read and received and ARC through NetGalley. I enjoyed this book more and more as I read further in the book. There is a lot of history and names that are a little hard to keep track of. I enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more of Weir's books.

As an avowed Tutor fan I try to consume all things Tutor… including books, movies, theater, and TV.
I have read the Allison Weir series on the Tutor Queens and so I was excited to read a book focusing on Thomas Wolsey …the Cardinal who helped create both Henry the VIII and Thomas Cromwell . Maybe part of the issues I may have had with this book is that the Cromwell Wolf Hall trilogy is one of my favorites of all the Tutor series… the writing and story telling is unmatched.
Therefore I felt the writing in The Cardinal was plodding. As a character, Wolsey comes off as needy, greedy, selfish, ambitious and dare I say whiney? The romance aspect became redundant … and if Joan referred to Wolsey as Thomas Wolsey … when she was talking to him one more time!
The tone reflected the precarious position one has when living in the shadow of Henry. Wolsey referring to Anne Boleyn as the night crow was enjoyable. Other than that the writing was without any humor or wit.
Since Weir writes both fiction and nonfiction about the tutor era … the writing skews closer to nonfiction than fiction.
I rate this book as a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.
Thanks you to net galley for the opportunity to provide me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Had high hopes for this one but was just boring and reads like a textbook not a novel
Thanks for letting me review this book Netgalley

Alison Weir always delivers first-rate works of historical fiction. The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power, her exploration of Thomas Wolsey’s rise to and fall from grace during the reign of Henry VIII, is another case in point.
This fascinating novel drew me in from the start, beautifully weaving known facts with plausible possibilities to flesh out the story of this intriguing man who became a close friend and chief adviser of the king. It examines the complex inner workings of the Tudor court and Cardinal Wolsey’s controversial private life, as well as the power-seeking political forces that ultimately took him down.
I always look forward to new books by Weir and highly recommend this one to anyone who is interested in British history and historical fiction.

464 pages

5 stars

Ms. Weir has crafted a comprehensive and well written telling about the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

Thomas rose from relatively obscure origins to become not only a Cardinal in the Catholic Church, the the person whose hands ostensibly controlled the very pulse of England by 1515. He became very close to the then King Henry VIII who left the affairs of State to Thomas. Henry was not interested in statecraft. His ambitions lied closer to sports, music and the like. Henry was content to let Thomas handle all facets of state issues. At the same time, Thomas became fabulously wealthy. He also fell in love.

Joan was very important in Thomas’ life and she had children with him. Henry, however, did not like the situation and ordered Joan to marry another man and leave Thomas.

There was grumbling amongst the nobles who resented Thomas’ humble beginnings, but nothing that he could not handle.

However, that all changed when Thomas ran headlong into conflict with the woman whom Henry decided to pursue. Henry wanted to separate from his longtime wife, Katherine of Aragon in favor of Anne Boleyn. Anne disliked Thomas immensely and set about to destroy him, both personally and politically. She has a great deal of influence over Henry and as his seemingly unsolvable “Great Matter’ went on for nearly seven years, the situation became explosive.

Thomas’ downfall came soon after his “failure” in resolving the Great Matter. The Pope, the political situation and other obstacles fell in the way of its resolution. Primarily, it was Anne and her cronies.

Thomas did his best to do what he felt was right - perhaps with the exception of his relationship with Joan. He was set against Henry's suggestion that England should split with the Catholic Church.

Thomas’ end was very sad - at least to me. I’ve never been a Wolsey fan based on the documentaries and television series I’ve watched, but this book gave me a new perspective on him. For that, I am grateful to Ms. Weir.

She writes a very human story of Thomas Wolsey. The writing is excellent and moves along quickly. It hits all the high points of Thomas’ life. It is a moving well-told story of a man who was caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.