Litsy

Sovereign | C. J. Sansom

pick

The third book in the Matthew Shardlake series (#SeriesLove2024) takes us to York to meet a Royal Progress. This is the first time in the series that Henry VIII is a featured in the series, and he does not come across well. I am continuing to enjoy this series and love the Barak‘s development in this book. Looking forward to more as the series continues. #ShardlakeSeriesBR

Andrew65, TheSpineView, dabbe

TheSpineView Fantastic! 2w

Andrew65 This was my favourite one in the series, possibly because of the inclusion of Henry VIII. Well done 👏👏👏 2w

Mollyanna @TheSpineView @Andrew65 thank you ☺️ 2w

dabbe Loved this one, too! 💙❄️💙 2w

Mollyanna @dabbe This series, so far, is phenomenal. Thank you for finally making me bump up it up to the top of my TBR. 2w

29 likes5 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#20in4Readathon
@Andrew65

Managed to finish SOVEREIGN in time for the #ShardlakeSeriesBR discussion on 11/30! 😅 Also started STILL LIFE and TWELVE DAYS and continued THE RETURN OF SH. Overall: 12.5 hours.

Thanks for hosting, Andrew! 🤩

#wintergames2024 @StayCurious @Liseworks #holidaybookdragons
+20 (10 for photo, 5 for post, 5 for being book-related)

Andrew65 That‘s brilliant, thanks for playing along and look forward to seeing you for the end of year special #20in4. 👏👏👏📚🙌😍🎄🎅🏼 3w

46 likes1 comment

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#weeklyfavorites @Read4life

Yep. Those books above are the ONLY books I read in Nov. Three of the books I have read before. I need to stop rereading books to tackle that TBR! My reading was so dismal that the ND book was the ONLY book read during that week, and it was #bleh!

Here's hoping #wintergames2024 motivates me to do better. 🎄

curiouserandcurioser @dabbe are we reading book 4 in December/January? 3w

dabbe @curiouserandcurioser Thanks for reminding me! I just posted about it and tagged you! 😘 REVELATION: Chs. 1-23 for discussion on 12/30; the rest of the book for discussion on 1/31. 3w

curiouserandcurioser @dabbe Thanks, Denise! Excited to read:)💜 3w

Read4life Here‘s hoping you read some great books in December!! 💙❄️💙 3w

dabbe @Read4life 😘 3w

44 likes5 comments

AnneCecilie

Sovereign | C. J. Sansom

pick

The 3rd in the Shardlake series.

In this, Shardlake is summoned to Cranmer who wants Shardlake to follow along the King‘s travel to York in his capacity as a barrister. And by the way can he make sure that a rebel is kept alive until they reach London and The Tower?

And before Shardlake knows, he‘s entangled in so much more.

#ShardlakeBR

dabbe

AnneCecilie I have read the entire series before, and there‘s two scenes that have stuck with me. The first is when Shardlake meets the King. I actually thought it happened much later on in this book. The second scene is the torture scene in The Tower. The thing is that I thought they happened in different books and was a little shocked to find out they happened in the same book. 3w

dabbe @AnneCecilie Lots of brutality in this one. What a horrific period in which to live--yet I'm fascinated with it! 🤩 3w

48 likes2 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

pick

The 3rd installment of this brilliant series takes Matthew Shardlake to York to be part of Henry VIII's brutal suppression of Northern England known as the Progress. Shardlake finally gets to meet dear old Henry, and it does not go well. Add to that a mystery that involves possible proof of Henry's illegitimacy and multiple attempts on Shardlake's life, and you are in for a wild Tudor ride! #ShardlakeSeriesBR

59 likes

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks I have the next book ready to start for Dec. Wonder what adventures and deceptions for Shardlake. Who is he going to work for this time around 3w

dabbe Rich has now been at the center of Shardlake's woes in two books; I see him more in the future, unfortunately. I was surprise to have felt sympathy for Radwinter at the end of it all. Tamasin is an interesting addition, too. She'll give Barak and Shardlake a run for their money and keep things interesting. 🤩 3w

kwmg40 I'm looking forward to seeing how the addition of Tamasin to the cast will play out. 3w

See All 8 Comments

dabbe @kwmg40 She's going to add some spark, I think! 🤩 3w

AnneCecilie I think that apart for some characters that didn‘t make it and some that was very of this book, I think we will meet the others again, Richard Rich, Cranmer and Tamasin 3w

dabbe @AnneCecilie 🎯!!! 3w

Deblovestoread We haven‘t seen the last of Rich I don‘t think although I HATE that guy. Think Tamasin will definitely make things lively. 3w

dabbe @Deblovestoread As Barak would say, he's an a-one “arse“! 😂 3w

37 likes8 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

Daisey, PurpleyPumpkin, Texreader, AnneCecilie, Gissy, Centique, OutsmartYourShelf, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, Chrissyreadit, kwmg40, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, dabbe, Fr3NcHtOaSt, RaeLovesToRead, bthegood, lil1inblue, PageShifter, LiseWorks, The_Book_Ninja, Karisimo, Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes, BookWrym

LiseWorks I would have done the same thing. This protects himself and everyone around him. This tudor world is crazy enough without him rocking the boat. 3w

OutsmartYourShelf I think it's easy for us to say it wasn't ethical, but in those times men & women paid with their lives (after facing torture) for their decisions, sometimes at the mere whim of a monarch. Shardlake has seen a conspiracy bring down Anne Boleyn because Henry was tired of her, & then his benefactor Cromwell when he fell out of favour. Can we blame him for protecting himself? 3w

dabbe @Liseworks @OutsmartYourShelf Agree 💯. I'm concurrently reading the canon of Sherlock Holmes, and there are many times where Holmes either A. lets the bad guy go free for ethical reasons or B. does not for the same reasons. Shardlake's situation is even more dire than late 1800s England, so he destroys the papers, allowing Henry to remain king. Even though Henry's a tyrant, better the one you know than the one you don't I guess. 3w

See All 10 Comments

lil1inblue Given all Shardlake went through up to that point, his choices make so much sense. I think facing torture really impacted him. He was done with the intrigue of the court. Releasing those papers would only have created chaos, and there was no guarantee how things would unfold, or how it would put him in danger. 3w

dabbe @lil1inblue I agree. Re: King Henry, better the devil you know than the devil you don't. England was in such a precarious position in Europe at that time, too. Shardlake impresses me more and more with his willingness to do the right thing for the good of all--even if it's a personal sacrifice. 3w

kwmg40 Shardlake does seem to be able to look at the bigger picture. At the end, he just seemed to want peace in his life. 3w

AnneCecilie I guess I can understand the wish to protect yourself. 3w

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes Nothing good can come of those papers going public. The only sure thing is a blood bath, which really won‘t be over legitimate blood lines, but of Catholic vs Protestants. Shardlake knows what he‘s done will haunt him. He had to choose between two evils, so he chose the one that kept the (precarious) peace. He has no guarantee what he‘s done won‘t be discovered in the future, so that threat will always haunt him. 3w

dabbe @Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes Excellent observations. 3w

Deblovestoread His self preservation is strong! And releasing those papers would have created chaos and likely ended in his death….Henry wouldn‘t have allowed him to live. 3w

30 likes10 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

OutsmartYourShelf Being an outsider in Tudor society, due to his physical disability, has probably made him susceptible to those who seem to show him genuine friendship. Shardlake also worries about losing Barak's friendship even though he is supposed to be an employee. 3w

LiseWorks I think he has such a soft heart that he believes the good in everyone. That probably makes him a good lawyer for the little guy. And yes, he seems hungry for friendship 3w

Karisimo And recently losing his father and the regrets he had in that relationship made him vulnerable 3w

See All 13 Comments

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf @LiseWorks @Karisimo 🎯!!! As the books continue, my heart goes out more and more to him. He wants to much to love and be loved, and I think he feels left out now that Barak has Tamasin. I want him to find someone, dammit! 🤩 3w

lil1inblue I think the timing of his father's death deeply impacted his judgment of Wrenne. It seems he hadn't yet finished grieving, and then finds a father figure who is understanding of the choices that he feels guilt over. And one who seemingly made similar choices.
As the books progress, it does seem that Shardlake has a hard time understanding women. I think it is because of his history, and his self-consciousness over his disability. 3w

dabbe @lil1inblue Agree 💯! 3w

kwmg40 It does seem like a vulnerable time in Shardlake's life, with the loneliness making him more eager to trust. 3w

AnneCecilie I completely agree with you @lil1inblue when it comes to Wrenne. When it comes to Jennet Marlin, didn‘t she remind him of a childhood friend and had him think about what could have been? (edited) 3w

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes I think Shardlake finds in Wynne the father he wished he‘d had because they have more in common than Shardlake ever had with his own father. Also, his own father was embarrassed by Shardlake‘s hunchback and disappointed he wanted nothing to do with the family farm. Wynne is everything Shardlake‘s own father was not. (edited) 3w

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes As to females-they are a mystery he can‘t crack. Probably because he grew up without any female influence. If I remember right, his mother died when he was young? He didn‘t have any sisters, so there‘s no experience in dealing with women. I also think societal expectations came into play. Women were deceitful, but not murderers. 3w

dabbe @Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes Plus he's extremely conscious of his back, so that makes him even more vulnerable. 3w

lil1inblue @AnneCecilie Yes, she did! I hadn't even thought about that part. 3w

Deblovestoread I agree with all. He is someone who wants to love, wants connection beyond the superficial. I want it for him,too. 3w

25 likes13 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks No. Shardlake does what he is told, yet he has morals, so he will not go that far. 3w

dabbe @LiseWorks Agree 💯. He strikes me as an extremely reasonable man who won't be taken in my any religious fervor anymore after all that he's been through. 3w

lil1inblue I don't think that Shardlake ultimately would make the same choices as Wrenne, despite the circumstances. I think that Shardlake's ultimate refusal to join Wrenne showed that there was something more to his character. He seemed more able to see beyond his personal grievances and see the bigger picture. But Wrenne was so focused on his mission he couldn't pull back and see the larger consequences. 3w

See All 11 Comments

dabbe @lil1inblue It's interesting to see how some people can turn into zealots about a cause and others are able to “see the bigger picture“ as you so aptly put it. 3w

kwmg40 I'd like to think that Shardlake would not make the same choices. He seems more thoughtful and empathetic. 3w

dabbe @kwmg40 Agree 💯! 3w

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes I don‘t think so. Shardlake, because of his deformity, knows what it is like to be on the receiving end of bullying, to be despised, treated with suspicion etc. I don‘t think he has it in him to do the same to others. 3w

dabbe @Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes 🎯!!! 3w

AnneCecilie Like everyone else, I don‘t think he would. But at the same time, a Shadlake before the first book, who really believed in something, you never know. 3w

dabbe @AnneCecilie #truth 3w

Deblovestoread I think there is a moral backbone that would make it hard for him but he serves at the pleasure of someone with power so outright refusal would be difficult or life ending. 3w

25 likes11 comments

dabbe

Sovereign. C.J. Sansom (Revised) | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks I liked this one. I'm seeing the king in a whole new light. 3w

Librarybelle I‘m so behind! Can we make an eighth day of the week for just reading??? 😂 3w

PurpleyPumpkin Ditto what @Librarybelle said! But I‘m enjoying the series and still maintain hope at catching up. We‘ll get there Jess!😅 3w

See All 17 Comments

Librarybelle Yes we will, @PurpleyPumpkin ! 3w

dabbe No worries @PurpleyPumpkin and @Librarybelle. Read when you can! I'm glad you're liking the series! 🤩🤗🤩 3w

dabbe @LiseWorks He was terrifying and disgusting all at the same time. I think what made him even more repulsive (besides the oozing leg 🤢) was his high-pitched voice. 😱 3w

lil1inblue I liked the complexity of this one. There were so many threads to to follow. While it felt darker than the first two books, it was a riveting read. I was also intrigued by the Cecily Neville bit and how it was woven into the story. 3w

dabbe @lil1inblue I need to find a really good book on the Lancasters vs. the Yorks. It's so confusing! 😂 3w

kwmg40 I really liked this one. I thought that the setting during the Progress was an interesting one and the characters continue to develop in interesting ways. 3w

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes This is a great continuation of the series. The cast of characters can be a bit overwhelming at times. I also like the complexity of multiple storylines. I also find I‘m always looking things up as I read. What also strikes me is the brutality of the time. The Tower. Burnings. 3w

dabbe @Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes So much brutality, especially with the animals! And seeing Shardlake in the Tower! 😱 3w

AnneCecilie Another winner. We get to know Shardlake and Barak more, and I love getting to know characters better and better as a series continue. Also learning more about the Tudor time. 3w

dabbe @AnneCecilie Yay! 💙❄️💙 3w

lil1inblue @dabbe Right! If you find one, let me know! 3w

Deblovestoread This one had a lot going on but it kept me interested. I'm always fascinated to learn more about this period and think Samson does a good job of describing time and place and gives fleshed out characters 3w

dabbe @Deblovestoread Even though the brutality was beyond horrific in this one, WOW! does he write it like it was. I used to want to live in those times so I could wear those long pretty dresses (because I'd be of nobility, of course). I should have had to walk around with the word “NAIVE“ on my forehead until at least my 20s. 😂 3w

Deblovestoread @dabbe Same! I think my first introduction to the time period seemed all glamorous, further reading made me come to my senses. 3w

28 likes17 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books