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Janet Wertman - Nothing Proved - Regina 1
Finalist, 2025 Chaucer Award for pre-1750s historical fiction
Bronze Medal, 2025 Global Book Awards

Nothing Proved - Regina 1

Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback, Hardback

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.

Reviews

"A compelling period piece which brings to life the early days of one of history's greatest monarchs" and "A pleasing tapestry of history, character, and great storytelling"

Kirkus Reviews

"Wertman's prose is sharp and deliberate, capturing the unease of a girl who must measure every word, every glance, knowing one misstep could cost her life."

Historical Novel Society