England 1536.
Anne Boleyn’s blood is still warm on the scaffold when Will Patten - a former spy in the households of Thomas More and Anne Boleyn - flees London.
Patten has become the victim of Thomas Cromwell and his treacherous associate, Richard Rich, who has blackmailed Will into his schemes through threats against Will and his loved ones.
Will and his partner Clemence - a midwife and healer - head north, where Will hopes to connect with his brother, Peter. But upon arrival in York, Will is met with the news that his brother is dead.
Aimless and in need of sanctuary, Will and Clemence seek refuge in Yorkshire’s Jervaulx Abbey. Will takes on the role of an accountant, while Clemence uses her healing skills to aid the community. Yet, their newfound peace is soon shattered by the eruption of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a widespread religious rebellion against the crown.
As the uprising unfolds, Will becomes invested in the Pilgrimage and smuggles valuable documents throughout the north. He also reconnects with his brother Osman, a monk who is also fighting against the dissolution of the abbeys.
Will soon becomes immersed in a battle not only against the government, but against Cromwell. However, amidst the rebellion, Will receives news that his sister Amy is mortally ill. Rushing back to the capital, he is imprisoned in the Tower of London for his ties to the uprising.
Amongst the threat of torture and death, Will is faced with an untenable choice: save himself by giving Cromwell and Rich the names of those involved in the Pilgrimage, or sacrifice his life.
His decision will not only decide his fate but the fate of the future of England.
W. J. Small is an avid historian, focusing on late medieval Britain. She is also the author of A Knight's Duty.
Genre: Historical
Anne Boleyn’s blood is still warm on the scaffold when Will Patten - a former spy in the households of Thomas More and Anne Boleyn - flees London.
Patten has become the victim of Thomas Cromwell and his treacherous associate, Richard Rich, who has blackmailed Will into his schemes through threats against Will and his loved ones.
Will and his partner Clemence - a midwife and healer - head north, where Will hopes to connect with his brother, Peter. But upon arrival in York, Will is met with the news that his brother is dead.
Aimless and in need of sanctuary, Will and Clemence seek refuge in Yorkshire’s Jervaulx Abbey. Will takes on the role of an accountant, while Clemence uses her healing skills to aid the community. Yet, their newfound peace is soon shattered by the eruption of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a widespread religious rebellion against the crown.
As the uprising unfolds, Will becomes invested in the Pilgrimage and smuggles valuable documents throughout the north. He also reconnects with his brother Osman, a monk who is also fighting against the dissolution of the abbeys.
Will soon becomes immersed in a battle not only against the government, but against Cromwell. However, amidst the rebellion, Will receives news that his sister Amy is mortally ill. Rushing back to the capital, he is imprisoned in the Tower of London for his ties to the uprising.
Amongst the threat of torture and death, Will is faced with an untenable choice: save himself by giving Cromwell and Rich the names of those involved in the Pilgrimage, or sacrifice his life.
His decision will not only decide his fate but the fate of the future of England.
W. J. Small is an avid historian, focusing on late medieval Britain. She is also the author of A Knight's Duty.
Genre: Historical
Used availability for W J Small's A Shaft of Light