Book Tour: Fool by Mary Lawrence
fool
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.
"One of the most vibrant characters I've encountered in years."--Goodreads Ecostell
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.
Praise for Fool:
'Fool is a masterclass in immersive storytelling'
~ Tony Riches, bestselling author of The Tudor Trilogy
'Fool brings the Tudor world to life through an exciting narrative voice, placing real historical figures--Henry VIII, Katherine Howard, and Archbishop Cranmer--at the heart of the drama. Its unforgettable narrator, Kronos, the king's sharp-witted court fool, survives on intelligence and observations rather than power, moving invisibly through corridors of influence. Vividly written and grounded in scrupulous research, the novel captures both the dark comedy and lethal danger of Henry VIII's court.'
~ Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown, The Chalice, and The Tapestry
'A thoughtful and unsparing Tudor novel that reframes the court jester not as comic ornament but as a precarious witness to power.'
~ Megan Parker, for IndieReader
London, October, 1541
A man of my stature must have twice the wits if he is to survive amongst men twice his height. That is not to say that I have had fewer opportunities afforded me. Nay, decidedly not. My shortcomings have merely coloured the cards of fate that I have been dealt. And while others may have folded, I have played on.
So where must my tale begin—this one of courts, and queens, dissemblers, and fools? Should I bore you with tales of my youth? Of being raked out of a dung heap as a babe at Thetford Priory? The monks raised me and taught me to read and write, then tossed me out after I was discovered with a farmer’s daughter behind a wheel of Wensleydale.
Instead, I shall take you to Whitehall where our sovereign, King Henry, fat as a stuffed boar and about as lively, delights in his new child bride, Katherine Howard.
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