The King's Witch

Frances Gorges serves as a healer at Queen Elizabeth's court before being forced into service for the new King James I and his young daughter Princess Elizabeth. Her skills with herbal remedies put her in a dangerous position as James launches his crusade against witchcraft in England. While navigating life in the royal court, Frances forms connections with fellow courtiers and encounters historical figures like Sir Walter Raleigh and Guy Fawkes. The mounting witch hunts and religious tensions of early Jacobean England create an atmosphere of suspicion and betrayal around her. The novel tracks Frances's attempts to protect herself and maintain her integrity in a court filled with spies, schemes, and shifting alliances. Her medical knowledge and independent spirit make her both valued and vulnerable as accusations of witchcraft spread. This historical thriller explores themes of power, superstition, and the precarious position of women with unconventional knowledge in early 17th century England. Through Frances's story, the novel examines how personal convictions conflict with survival in a changing political landscape.

Readers report strong historical accuracy and period details, particularly around herbal medicine and daily Tudor life. Many note Borman's academic background adds authenticity to the fictional elements. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of James I's court - Well-researched portrayal of witch hunts - Complex female protagonist - Balance of history and romance Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third - Too much internal monologue - Romance feels forced - Some historical exposition feels textbook-like One reader noted: "The herbal medicine details were fascinating but the plot took too long to get moving." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (850+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 (120+ ratings) Most readers who rated it 3 stars or lower cited pacing issues but still praised the historical elements. Higher ratings frequently mentioned the strong ending and authentic period atmosphere.

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🔹 Tracy Borman serves as Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and has written extensively about the Tudor period, bringing deep historical expertise to her first venture into fiction with The King's Witch. 🔹 The novel's protagonist, Frances Gorges, is based on a real historical figure who served as a gentlewoman to Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I. 🔹 Herbal medicine, a central theme in the book, was widely practiced in Jacobean England but became increasingly dangerous to practice as King James I's obsession with witch-hunting grew. 🔹 The 1605 Gunpowder Plot, featured prominently in the novel, was one of the most significant assassination attempts in English history, with conspirators attempting to blow up Parliament and King James I. 🔹 The book is the first installment in a trilogy that follows Frances Gorges through the turbulent early years of the Stuart monarchy, culminating in the death of James I in 1625.