About the Book:
Nothing Proved by Janet Wertman
A compelling period piece which brings to life the early days of one of history’s greatest monarchs” - Kirkus Reviews
Danger lined her path, but destiny led her to glory...
Elizabeth Tudor learned resilience young. Declared illegitimate after the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn, she bore her precarious position with unshakable grace. But upon the death of her father, King Henry VIII, the vulnerable fourteen-year-old must learn to navigate a world of shifting loyalties, power plays, and betrayal.
After narrowly escaping entanglement in Thomas Seymour’s treason, Elizabeth rebuilds her reputation as the perfect Protestant princess – which puts her in mortal danger when her half-sister Mary becomes Queen and imposes Catholicism on a reluctant land. Elizabeth escapes execution, clawing her way from a Tower cell to exoneration. But even a semblance of favor comes with attempts to exclude her from the throne or steal her rights to it through a forced marriage
Elizabeth must outwit her enemies time and again to prove herself worthy of power. The making of one of history’s most iconic monarchs is a gripping tale of survival, fortune, and triumph.Published 2025 ✧ Janet Wertman ✧ ARC
Thoughts and Reflections:
Janet Wertman's Nothing Proved is a biographical fiction and the first installment of the Regina series. The novel chronicles the decade before Elizabeth I ascended the Tudor throne and explores the events and experiences that shaped her character and the landscape of her court.
Thinking this has been done before? If so, I don't blame you; Gloriana has inspired novelists for ages, but the comparisons end there. Wertman's subtly nuanced portrait of Anne's daughter is unlike any I've read before. She writes Elizabeth as an astute and passionate young woman, but she balances the princess's strengths with a vulnerability that emphasizes her unlikely rise and complex personal convictions.
Wertman's treatment of William Cecil is also noteworthy. The statesman will become an indispensable member of Elizabeth's court, and I liked how this novel explores the foundations of their political relationship. His half of the story feels a little open-ended compared to Elizabeth's, but I'm excited to see where the author takes his arc as the series progresses.
Highly recommended.
