This is the second in a loose series where the connection between this and the first book is the existence of a character, Tom Prideaux. He isn't literally the same person, as this is set centuries later than the first, in the reign of Henry VIII. This version of Prideaux is of the lower orders and becomes the confidential servant and messenger of Anne Boleyn, using his travels to research his own background. As a baby, he was given to a woman of the village to bring up, but she revealed that she was not his mother. His only clue to his true parentage is his surname and a distinctively shaped locket.

The story, however, begins with Anne as a young teenager at the French court and her friendship with three boys. One is soon killed after taking revenge for abuse inflicted on another by a churchman, and the three survivors of the group swear a blood oath at Anne's instigation to use their position as adults to reform the church. For Anne, this means marrying well to a powerful man whom she can influence to bring about the desired changes.

The rest is history, as with any novel about such a well-known historical character, but the writer has used some interesting theories about Holbein's painting, The Ambassadors, to explain its significance and the title of the novel. There are also speculative passages where Anne is more influential than given credit by history, in the events that unfold and that result in the breaking away of England from the Catholic Church. I wasn't always convinced by her 'getting away with' the way she spoke to Henry, especially at the start of their relationship over a game of chess (and wouldn't backgammon have been a more likely board game?)

The author has an explanation for the uncertainty about Anne's birthdate and age, although I thought it wasn't necessary to make her parentage incestual. And some of the scenes showing how Anne kept Henry VIII interested through their long 'engagement' were a little too graphic. I also thought the described 'method' would have exposed Anne to the danger of being overpowered and that what he referred to as her 'pretty dugs' would have formed a safer focus.

On the whole, the story sticks to history although at one point has Anne pretending to have the plague and retreating to the country to cause Henry great anxiety for her safety and keep him enthralled. The historical record says Anne really did catch an illness called 'the sweating sickness' which was responsible for many deaths during the period: its identity has not been pinned down but it is possible this was the first appearance of influenza in England. Similarly, the author follows the later invention of Anne having a sixth finger which was disproved when her skeletal remains were uncovered in 1876.

I found the earlier part of the story more effective, with Anne's growing up at the French court and her return to England. Her intelligence, charm and ability to captivate men is well described. Once things move on to better-known historical events, her character starts to harden, something the author attributes to her frustration at not being able to marry the king and bear children, especially as she was a few years older than officially stated. The story doesn't cover Anne's downfall, but finishes at the point where she has just disappointed Henry by having a female child. There is an implausible scene where Anne has a premonition of how important that child will be in the future, but I suppose it makes the tragedy of her ultimate fate a little easier to bear. Altogether I would rate the story at 3 stars. ( )