Courting Dragons starts the King’s Fool mystery series. It’s set in the court of Henry VIII and takes place in the early sixteenth century. The main character, King’s fool Will Sommers, is based on a real jester there.

This was a fairly good book with a lot going on. The author weaved historical events and people into the mix, in this case the courtship of Henry and Anne Boleyn, which served as a background and occasionally took over from the murder mystery. The mystery itself was interesting, even if the solution and motivations were rater lame, after promises of spies and intrigue.

Historical facts were well researched, and there were a lot of them, which made for a heavy reading, especially in the beginning. However, I had trouble immersing myself in the historical world. Mostly, I think, because of the first-person narrative that constantly pulled me back to the present. The language was a bit too contrived as well in its attempt to sound historical.

Will was an interesting character. He could go about as he pleased, had the ear of important persons, and could talk himself out of all kinds of situations. His jests weren’t terribly funny though. His personal life was colourful with many lovers, men and women alike, even if he only loved his Marion. He wasn’t much of a sleuth, however, even though he got there in the end, but if you like historical mysteries, give this a try.

A great start to a new series…

Fans of Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest “Medieval Noir” series will also enjoy the first book in her new King’s Fool series, Courting Dragons. This series features Will Somers, Henry VIII’s court jester, as the protagonist, and to be sure, there’s less noir, but all the key elements are still there: Westerson still drops an engaging fictional puzzle into a well-researched and finely-drawn historical background, to come up with a book that’s hard to put down. And in place of the noir, Will, who as a jester is able to go almost anywhere, listen in on almost anything, and make fun of almost anyone, turns out to have the makings of a fine detective.

Set during the time when Henry has not yet broken with the Catholic church, but is definitely trying to figure out how to divorce Queen Catherine in favor of the younger, and (hopefully) more fertile Anne, there are plenty of political machinations going on. So when Don Gonzalo de Yscar, a member of the Spanish Embassy to Henry’s court, is murdered, Will (who happened to have slept with him the night before) tries to figure out whether the motive is political? Or personal? Or did Don Gonzalo simply have some enemy from the past? Will’s recently acquired dog, Nosewise, and main romantic interest, Marion, help him along the way. But you’ll have to read the book to find out!

Along with the mystery, it was fascinating to watch Will navigate his betwixt-and-between status (not nobility, but with almost unequalled access to Henry, highly-regarded, and well compensated), and grow up a bit as his investigations became more serious. In a similar line, it was also interesting to watch the way illegitimate, but openly acknowledged, children were part of the court. And it was possible to see the beginnings of Will’s long tenure as court jester in the way he manages to visit and stay on good terms with Queen Catherine and Princess Mary, while also somehow developing a rapport with Anne Boleyn. (Per Westerson’s excellent historical note at the end, the real Will Somers was the court jester all the way from Henry’s reign into that of Queen Elizabeth I.)

Hopefully, Will’s long tenure will provide Westerson with plenty of opportunities to write more Will Somers books, because on a personal level, I, for one, will be looking forward to the next one. Which is, apparently, already in the works. Yay! And to more of Nosewise and Marion. And finally, my thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

Generally speaking, this book was standard Jeri Westerson fare - extremely readable and not too taxing, with inoffensive, likeable characters. The story wasn't exactly a rollercoaster ride and the plot evolved at a stead, even pace, however, while it bobbed along quite nicely, there were a few discordant notes, Firstly, the Americanisms that peppered the text gave away the author's transatlantic origins, and such terms as 'leash' instead of lead and 'will you watch Nosewise for me' instead of 'will you look after Nosewise for me' were somewhat jarring, when one considers the Tudor setting. Also, the behaviour, views and mores of the protagonists was distinctly 21st century at times. While we are given the distinct impression that it very much mattered who married whom, we are also led to believe in the ready acceptance of male/male relations by certain characters. No doubt this did occur in Tudor times as in any other, but such ready acceptance by a gently born young Tudor lady, however illegitimate, is highly unlikely. This is indeed a work of fiction, but some accuracy as regards the author's chosen period setting would be nice. Other than these relatively minor points, the book was enjoyable and I look forward to reading further exploits of Will Sommers, should there be any, not to mention the delightful Nosewise.

Historical fiction with a mystery to be solved. A very happy reader. Set in the time of Henry VIII and we are introduced to Will Somers, he is twenty years old and he is the kings jester or fool. He has the ear of the king but that is not always a good thing. The court is full of intrigue and most have their own adgenda and Will must be very careful in who he can trust and more importantly can he save the king?
Richly descriptive and beautifully written and the start of a new series. All in all a very entertaining read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

1529, Greenwich Palace, London, at the court of King Henry VIII. Will Somers is the king’s jester – and the king’s source of gossip and advice, possibly the only person in the court to be honest with the temperamental monarch. And these are difficult times for Henry, as he is tiring of his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and a young woman called Anne has caught his eye.

The Spanish court are less keen on Henry abandoning Catherine, and an group of Spanish nobles are also present at Greenwich. When Will finds one of them dead in the Palace gardens, he knows that trouble has arrived. Not just the fact that someone from a foreign power has been killed, but also that Will spent the previous night in bed with the man. And a blackmail note has just arrived…

I was rather intrigued when I saw this one pop up on NetGalley, as I’ve read one book by Jeri Westerson, and while I enjoyed it, I felt that, having crashed into the middle of a long-running series, I was missing out on the backstory of the main character. So having said that, seeing this was the start of a series, I thought I’d get in on the ground floor.

Will is an interesting character, for the most part – see the caveat below – and the idea of a character being overlooked by most people while searching for the truth isn’t exactly new, using the role of the fool in that role works well. The book seems well-researched and the both the descriptions and mechanics of court life run true. The relationship between Henry and Will seems very convincing and the machinations of various bodies around the court work well to build up the suspicion that danger lurks around every corner. Add in Will’s determination to be taken seriously by his true love’s father while needing to play the fool when anyone is watching, and you’ve a story with plenty of moving parts.

There are a couple of caveats. One is pretty minor, namely that the surprise about the motive won’t come as a surprise to people who have read a few mystery novels. The other… well, maybe this is me, but I don’t understand how someone can have a true love that he wants to marry and spend the rest of his life with, but also need to have sex with a handful of various men around the court as well. That’s not how love works for me but there are plenty of things I don’t understand in the world. The fact that if Will’s bisexuality is discovered, he’d be executed, yet he seems to have a number of lovers around the palace, at least one of them being rather indiscreet about the whole thing, however…

All in all though, I enjoyed this historical mystery. It’s got a nice number of suspects and motives, a mostly convincing lead character and a convincing picture of life in the Tudor court. I look forward to book two.

Courting Dragons is out from Severn House in the UK in hardback and ebook on 3rd January 2023 – yeah, this review is a bit early. Oops. Many thanks for the review e-copy.

Jeri Westerson, author of the Crispin Guest medieval noir mysteries, kicks off a new historical mystery series with Courting Dragons. Will Somers actually was the jester to Henry VIII through his reign, then jester to all of Henry’s children, including Elizabeth I. This book is the first King’s Fool mystery, featuring a character who had access to all of the court, knew their secrets, and is the perfect amateur sleuth.

“A jester walked a fine line between distraction and destruction.” By 1529, Will Somers had been the jester for Henry VIII for four years. He’s young, only twenty-four, and a favorite of the king, with his own seat just below Henry’s at the table, and allowed even into the king’s bedchamber. He’s a subtle advisor to the king, putting gossip and ideas into ridiculous song and rhyme. But, there’s an atmosphere of fear in the court in 1529, as Henry waits to see if the Pope will allow him to divorce his first wife, Catherine, in order to marry his current love, Nan Bullen. The Spanish ambassador and his retinue are waiting, supporting Catherine of Aragon, but having to be adept in their dealings with the English court. Will constantly juggles his admiration for the queen and her daughter, Mary, with his love and allegiance to the king.

But, Will’s personal affections are easily swayed. He beds Don Gonzalo de Yscar, an aide to the Spanish ambassador. The next day, Will’s dog, Nosewise, finds Gonzalo’s body in the gardens. Then Will receives a blackmail note, threatening to reveal his romantic actions unless Will spies on the king. Will turns to his lover, Marion, for advice. She knows him well; knows his duty to the king as well as his fickleness in flitting from man to woman in his romantic life. Marion loves Will, and she’s willing to help him in his plans to uncover a blackmailer.

As threats, attacks, and murders occur, though, Will is soon looking for a killer. His life as the king’s fool is already a dangerous, political one, always at the beck and call of Henry, assuring the king, while also acting as his conscience at times. Now, Will adds a role as an amateur detective, searching for a killer at court.

Westerson’s books are never easy to read. Her books are filled with the details of English history of the time, with all of the religious and political turmoil. Courting Dragons is fascinating for someone who appreciates the intrigue, politics, and history of the Tudor court. With the promise of future books, it’s easy to see that Will will be caught up in all of the political maneuvering and marriage issues that took place in Henry VIII’s lifetime. As an actual historical figure who managed to survive all those years in the court, it’s obvious that Will Somers grows to be a shrewd, political creature. We meet the king’s fool as a young romantic figure tiptoeing through minefields in this book. People who want to read a fictional account of Henry VIII’s court, set in a mystery with the perfect amateur sleuth, should be ready for in-depth historical details in Courting Dragons.

It's the time of the Tudors in England and Will Smith, King's Fool, is thrown into a mystery to solve and perhaps save the king. Will Smith is charming, smart and sly and if anyone can solve this one it is Will...but not without a possible cost including revealing one of Will's long kept secrets. Ms Westerson's gives us the first in an upcoming series featuring Smith the Fool and she tells a lively and engaging story from beginning to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC. Will Somers is King Henry VIII's fool, his jester. He hails from Shropshire and came to court at age 20 in the year 1525. Not much is known about him but he was around clear until Queen Elizabeth I. This first in the mystery series starring Will is about the time of The Great Matter. King Henry VIII is trying to end his 20 plus year marriage to Queen Catherine. Queen Catherine was married to his older brother Arthur for a short time until Arthur died. There was even a special dispensation that allowed King Henry VIII to marry Queen Catherine, on the grounds that her marriage to his brother Arthur hadn't been consummated.

King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine only had one living child, a girl. The King desired, nay, needed a male heir. It was on this basis and some scripture that he was seeking a divorce. The Court was divided on the topic but knew which way things were going. Queen Catherine and her daughter Princess Mary were all but abandoned. Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's intended, was now the center of the Court. This is where we find ourselves in this book.

As the jester, Will is granted license to say things across the line, be a close companion to the King, and be privy to much gossip. What better person to stumble upon a murder? Will is blackmailed for personal reasons and seeks revenge for the victim he found and was briefly acquainted with. Will is funny, clever, daring and a great insight into daily Court life. I enjoyed the characters, both fictional and real. I love all things Tudor so of course I had to read this. The ending was a little surprising but not as interesting as I hoped. Nonetheless, engaging read and a series I will be watching!

I liked the concept of this book much more than the actual story. I'm a fan of historical mysteries, and the idea of a court jester solving a murder was too good to pass up. Will Somers (a real historical figure) is a jester in the court of Henry VIII, the King known best for having 6 wives, many of whom he killed or divorced in his quest for a male heir. The story takes place at a divisive time in his court: while still married to his first wife Catherine, Henry is seeking a way to divorce her to marry Anne. When a Spanish ambassador ends up dead (one whom Will was close to), Will takes it upon himself to investigate, assuming it's a political move surrounding the impending divorce. A great set up, but I found the narrative lacking, Will seems to bumble into things and not really do a great job of investigating, which makes sense in a way, but did get annoying after a while. The way people talk and the narration was worded got confusing, I know it was to mimic how people spoke in Tudor England, but the word order was sometimes so strange I couldn't tell if it was an error or not. The characters were mostly historical figures, but were rather flat and not interesting to see on the page. I hope the series gets better with time, but at this point I'm not sure I'll read any of the other books.

Courting Dragons is the first novel in the ‘A King’s Fool’ series. Following the adventures of Will Somers, Henry 8ths Jester. Being allowed to speak his mind on the escapades of others in court greatly aids in keeping his own secrets hidden, until Will Somers has relations with the wrong man; Don Gonzalo, who he finds dead not long after.

I had a great time reading this book as it blends genres that I thoroughly enjoy; Historical Fiction and Murder/Mystery. A classic who-dun-it wrapped up in a Tudor English setting, right at the heart of the sovereign court. The characters are engaging and relateable, Will Somers is a flawed character in many ways which makes him entertaining and realistic. His vices are counter-productive to every-day living within his setting, but he has them all the same. His relationships with those around him are spectacularly written and captivating. But, it is his fears and reactions to the events unfolding around him, how they personally impact him, that drive the story onwards.

As the story unfolds and each of the clues are revealed, the reader is drawn further into the intricacies of royal court and the unique relationship that Will has with King Henry are endearing. His worries over his families and a rather pressing matter troubling Henry 8th offer a refreshing insight into what was at stake in the royal court – Henry 8th at this point is struggling to produce an heir with his current wife and seeking to find a way to annul his marriage; anyone with a basic understanding of English history knows the final outcome of these events, but the details within offer some clue as to how the people involved would have felt. This is also a part of the plot line, as tensions between England and Spain run rampant, only to be made worse by the discovery of a Spanish ambassadors body.

I felt for Will as he was thrust into the events unfolding around him and following his journey of discovery was intriguing. A Fool isn’t the sort of character you expect to be a detective, but in the setting and story-telling he makes perfect sense; able to go places, say things and witness events in a way that others couldn’t.

As the story reaches its conclusion all the threads are wrapped up nicely and make viable sense. Always a good thing in a murder/mystery novel. I truly adored my time with this book, the plot and the characters within. I felt a sense of dread when Will Somers put himself in dangers way and I was worried at times that his secrets would be uncovered. I felt my heart in my mouth when the fate of his lover was uncertain.

I wish to express a little bit of love for the wonderful character Nosewise, Will Somers trusty side-kick. He is a fantastic little dog that really lifts the characters he surrounds, making them feel much more complete. Also, the level of believability written into Somers job, the addition of his fools-tools, make him feel completely realistic and is a credit to Jeri Westerson’s research before writing. The authors note at the end of the book was fantastic, it was brilliant to read that Will Somers was a real person. I am captivated and eagerly await more in the new series and to know what Will, will get up to next!

1529 will Somers is Henry VIII's court jester. When he discovers his lover murdered he decides to investigate. But because the court is surrounded by intrigue he must be careful for can he always be confident of the trust given to him by the king. But soon there will be another death.
Being ambivalent about the main character does distract from the story for me.
Overall an enjoyable and well-written historical mystery. A good start to this new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been making a concerted effort to read more first-person novels. It hasn't always worked though. In this case, it did. An interesting mystery set in the court of Henry VIII, told from the viewpoint of Wil Somers, court jester to the king. The mystery was good...what struck me was the somewhat open acceptance of Somers' sexuality. I've read a great deal about the Tudors, and never read anything about Somers that would match how that aspect of him was portrayed in this book. Poetic license is a cool thing though...it allows a completely different side of a particular person/character to emerge. Kudos to the author on exploring this in the space of Tudor history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this advanced review copy, which I voluntarily read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.