The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty
by Tracy Borman is an awesome nonfiction that places us directly into the drama of the infamous transition.

I just adore Ms Boreman, am most certainly a huge fan, and have read several of her books. Obviously, I couldnt wait to read her new one.

This account takes us directly into the thick of the events surrounding the transition of the monarchy from the last of the Tudor dynasty to the first of the Stuart line.

The research, presentation, pace, and passion were right up my alley and spot on with my hopes and expectations for this book. It kept my interest, was thorough, and did not disappoint.

I highly recommend this gem!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/4/25.

I was particularly fascinated to learn that the transition of power from Queen Elizabeth I to James I was not as straightforward as it often appears in historical accounts. The author presented some compelling new interpretations of historical documents, such as letters, which offered a fresh perspective on this period. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher for an Advanced e-book copy of The Stolen Crown.
After the golden age of Elizabeth I came the Jacobean era, which was the beginning of the end of the English monarchy - at least for a time. The Stolen crown details the running question of the successor to Elizabeth. To us now, it seems less complicated than it was. In this book, Borman navigates all of the controversy and complexity around this issue, and shows that the ascension of James to the English throne was not easy, and at any given moment it seemed as if England as on the brink of a violent power struggle.

Borman places us squarely in the centre of the drama, and her writing is clear and understandable, skilfully breaking down the sometimes ostentatious language of Elizabethan English. As someone who enjoys history, each page felt like reading an interesting Wikipedia page (this is probably one of the highest compliments I can give). I was never bored, even when objectively the subject matter isn’t necessarily exciting.

My main criticism is that the title and pitch doesn’t really do much justice to the work - I dont think it’s necessarily to try and sell this book as some sort of conspiracy theory, but it is a prevalent theme in history writing, so I suppose I can’t begrudge that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this narrative.

Tracy Borman is one of my favourite historians, so I was absolutely thrilled to get early access to this book. I've enjoyed everything she’s written, especially her book on witches—which also features James I—so I had high expectations for this one, and it did not disappoint.

Borman has a real talent for writing non-fiction that is both accessible and engaging. Her books are clear, readable, and never weighed down by dense academic jargon or excessive footnotes. That’s not to say her work lacks scholarly merit— it’s grounded in solid research and primary sources—but she presents it in a way that’s easy to follow and enjoyable to read, especially for those who can find more academic texts a bit daunting.

The transitional period between Elizabeth I and James I has always fascinated me, particularly given the complex relationship between Elizabeth and James’s mother, Mary Queen of Scots. The idea of James becoming king of England was far from straightforward, and Borman explores this in great detail. I usually associate James with his Daemonologie, the King James Bible, and his efforts to unite England and Scotland, so it was refreshing to get a more nuanced view of who he was during this pivotal time.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Tudor and Stuart history. Once again, Borman has delivered a captivating and thoroughly researched read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this in advance.

The gift that Tracy Borman has that sets her apart from other authors of this genre, is her ability to take biographical facts and keep them from being dry reading. Even being well versed in a subject you will find out there is always more to learn. I tore through this book in one day it was that captivating. Having a grandmother directly from Scotland who knew her Scottish and English history backwards and forwards, I know even she would have loved this book. Thank you to the author, Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This is not my first Tracey Borman book and as usual she makes history very accessible and interesting . Enjoyed the book a lot however did think it was going to be more about King James’s story and less about Elizabeth but that is only a small niggle.

Recommended to anyone interested in the Tudor/Stuart period of our history

Tracy Borman never disappoints. She is an accomplished historian. Indeed, even if you know a lot about what she writes about, you still learn some facts. This book clearly shows how Elizabeth I was seen by her people, and how much her reign actually brought them, particularly after her death.... I found it fascinating to read about the ascension of James I to the throne of England. What truths, deceits , secrets surrounding the decision made for his wearing the crown of England. Was he legitimate enough? Were others more appropriate? The reader also can get a feeling of the man he was, well illustrating that you might become a king, but do you deserve to rule?? Very interesting and brings to much reflection. Excellent read.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.