In the Shadow of Lions: A Novel of Anne Boleyn [Kindle Edition]

Ginger Garrett (Author)

Book Description

"I am the first writer, The Scribe. My books lie open before the Throne, and someday will be the only witness of your people and their time in this world. The stories are forgotten here, and the Day draws close. I will tell you one of my stories. You will record it."

So begins the narration of one such angel in this sweeping historical tale set during the reign of England's Henry VIII. It is the story of two women, their guardian angels, and a mysterious, subversive book—a book that outrages some, inspires others, and launches the Protestant Reformation.

The devout Anne Boleyn catches the eye of a powerful king and uses her influence to champion an English translation of the Bible—Scriptures the common people could read for themselves. Meanwhile, Rose, a broken, suicidal woman of the streets, is moved to seek God when she witnesses Thomas More's public displays of Christian charity, ignorant of his secret life spent eradicating the same book, persecuting anyone who dares read it.

Historic figures come alive in this thrilling story of heroes and villains, saints and sinners, angels and mortals ... and the sacred book that will inspire you anew.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ginger Garrett is the critically acclaimed author of Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther, which was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA, and Dark Hour. An expert in ancient women's history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women. A frequent media guest and television host, Ginger has been interviewed by The New York Times, NPR, Billy Graham's The Hour of Decision," The Harvest Show, Fox News, and many other outlets.

In 2007, Ginger was nominated for the Georgia Author of the Year Award for her novel Dark Hour. A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in theater, she is passionate about creating art from history. You can learn more about Ginger and her work by visiting www.gingergarrett.com 

Product Details

• File Size: 806 KB
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; 1st edition (January 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005MTBJD6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,891 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars At least the cover's pretty.... September 24, 2009

By Carla Lilie VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Ginger Garrett's "In the Shadow of Lions" tells the story of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in 16th century England. She tells her tale through two main characters. The first, Rose, a fictional creation, is a despairing young woman ready to give up on life. The second is Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry the Eighth. Their stories are dictated by a supernatural being called the Scribe to a dying woman in the present day.

I found this book to be a frustrating, unfulfilling read. A major flaw in the novel is the portrayal of Anne Boleyn. I've read many, many books about Anne over the years, both fiction and non-fiction. Anne Boleyn was a woman who not only fascinated a king, but has also fascinated historians and readers in the centuries since her death. In Garrett's portrayal, she's a rather flat and uninteresting character. I never got a sense of why Henry became so obsessed with her or how she was able to keep his devotion for so long. There was nothing to explain her allure. Henry himself never emerges as a very well defined character.

"In the Shadow of Lions" also contains the most negative portrayal of Sir Thomas More I have ever read. There's no doubt More could be virulently anti-Protestant, but this book takes his actions to the extreme. His daughter, Margaret, is an extremely inconsistent character, one moment treating Rose as an ally and at others treating her more as an enemy. I felt very removed from this book; it was hard to truly feel involved with the story or the characters.

There were many other things about this book that bugged me, but I'll just mention one more. Anne and Henry's daughter, Elizabeth, was born on September 7, 1533. In this book, Anne is two months pregnant shortly before Christmas.... There's no way the timeline would work out for a September birth. Garrett never gives a date for Elizabeth's birth, but she does say she's born in winter. A woman can't be over two months pregnant in late December and give birth in a winter month unless the baby is extremely premature, which was not the case, or the baby is in the womb for over a year. I kept thinking I was missing something but I've read it over twice. It just absolutely makes no sense.

I suppose this book might be more appealing to a reader of Christian fiction than to a reader of historical fiction. The historical oddities, at any rate, might be less off-putting.
I really wanted to like "In the Shadow of Lions." I was looking forward to reading about Anne Boleyn from a different viewpoint, one that explored her role in the Protestant Reformation. Unfortunately, the poorly developed, inconsistent, and often unlikeable characters made this more of an exercise in frustration. One of the first things I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover. It's too bad the contents inside didn't live up to it. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Who'd Have Thought I'd Enjoy Historical Fiction? March 30, 2009

By Kelly Slater

Format:Paperback

This is another first for me. I have read a lot of fiction but never Historical fiction. It isn't that the genre wasn't entertaining, it was just a genre I never looked to for reading enjoyment. Ginger Garrett's Shadow of Lions definitely made me rethink picking up historical fiction.

The book is a tapestry of four stories making one whole. We are lead through very visual language through the rise of Anne Boleyn from Queen Catherine's lady in waiting to King Henry the VIII's strong desire. The story gives us another side to Anne as a devout Christian seeking the Lord's will, and her life being used to be part of a spark that leads to change in the very way people relate to God. This was at first hard for me to swallow, because I, like so many others, have only related to Anne Boleyn as a seductress and manipulator. What a refreshing change!

We also follow Rose on her journey as a fallen woman who has experienced the full force of God's redemptive grace. Watching her life change and grow is touching.

Ginger Garrett has written a magnificent piece. The characters are clearly drawn and become very real to the reader. I loved the way she made the world come alive with descriptive language that was full and rich with even the scents of the city, people, and gardens clearly described. Shadow of Lions is a book that I will definitely want to keep in my library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-imagining Anne Boleyn November 25, 2008

By Jennifer Bogart TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

A jaded, bitter editor is given the task of taking the story of two women by dictation; one a virtuous lady in waiting, the other soiled and desperate. This is no ordinary story and neither is the one recounting it. The Scribe retells the events surrounding the Reformation in England drawing out the stories of Anne Boleyn and Rose (a street woman) through the eyes of one who can see and record all for God's purpose and pleasure.

Breaking the mold on the many "Anne Boleyns" in historical fiction, Ginger Garrett in In the Shadow of Lions (Chronicles of the Scribe, Book 1) casts Anne as a woman striving to stay true to God's commandments. Rather than depicting a manipulative throne snatcher, this Anne is swept away by the power and insistence of King Henry VIII while she strives to protect her virtue. Garrett's reinventing of Anne is based not upon pure conjecture, but has roots in study, research, and a heart for God's revelation of Himself throughout history. The author's extensive afterwords, including notes on the story, a personal note, miscellaneous notes, bibliography, and discussion questions reveal the basis for her conclusions and make for fascinating closing material.

Garret has created a surprisingly gray world in which characters are presented as striving to serve God in irrevocably opposite ways. Thomas More tortures those who read the earliest form of the English Bible in order to protect the Roman Catholic church while his house servant Rose, Anne Boleyn, and his own daughter seek to know God better through the words of this forbidden book. Unlike many authors she leaves the matters of who is right and who is wrong wide open, presenting each flawed individual as striving to serve God in his or her own way.... Her goal is not to provide simple conclusions, but rather to lead readers into contemplation and appreciation of the occurrences that eventually led to the legal printing and distribution of the English Bible.

The emotional tenor is somber as well. The events surrounding the Reformation are dark and violent as many Christians pay with their lives to bring the word of God to light. There is such compromise and weakness in the lives of each character that while realistic, proves heavy reading at times. Towards the end of Anne Boleyn's life Garrett speeds up the timeline - a small blessing considering the heart-rending depictions of Henry's betrayal as his fickle heart turns away from her.

Garrett has a gift for portraying complex and flawed men. Her depictions of Sir Thomas More and King Henry VIII are remarkable. More is both kind, gentle and charitable while enacting sadistic acts of torture on those who oppose him. Henry is a lion of a man, hearty and full of life, with a lust for the flesh and full of self. It is these believable, blended characters who create the haunting uncertainties and lack of clear delineation found in this title.

Adding to the unique character of her books is the inclusion of angels. These fearsome, strange guardians more closely represent the glimpses given in scripture than do the porcelain figurines with long flowing hair. These spiritual creatures serve to connect past and present as our modern day editor types the divinely revealed history and serve as protectors for those they watch over.

Any reader with an interest in British history, the Reformation and the birth of the Bible will appreciate this immersion into those tumultuous times (specifically London, 1526-1536). In the Shadow of Lions is the first in a new series Chronicles of the Scribe. Ginger Garrett will continue to delve into historical fiction; re-imagining the lives of prominent women with an eye for God's purposes and plan woven through history. I look forward to reading more of Garrett's fresh perspective on pivotal events throughout Christian history. Read more ›

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative Alternative September 14, 2008

By Kelly Klepfer VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

In the Shadow of Lions is a story as dictated by a guardian angel to a present day woman who needs to hear it.

Two women without freedom face a reign, battles for power, threats of death and superstition. Beliefs collide to bring an alternative and gripping tale of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Historical fans and those who devour great storytelling should find much to like. If martyrdom and torture themes bother you, look before you leap. I found the novel to be a little challenging as I tried to piece together who was who and how they all intersected. But once I got it, the story rocked and rolled.

More About the Author

Hi friends,
I'm a novelist who occasionally turns my research into a nonfiction book for my readers. I have a special passion for history, with a love of women's history and biblical stories.
I began writing after a devastating car accident which plunged me into darkness, depression and fear. I was told I could never have children and began a journey through infertility and miscarriages. During this time, I could find nothing to comfort me on the bookshelves. I decided to write what I needed to read. One year later, I had an agent and a deal. (The book, Moments for Couples Who Long for Children, is out of print now and available only on my website, gingergarrett.com)
Since then, I have written novels about women in history that have forever touched our modern lives: Ane Boleyn, who fought to give us the right to read(Shadow of Lions), Queen Esther of Persia (Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther), and the women who survived the terror of the Black Death (In the Arms of Immortals) plus the fascinating and powerful ancient beauty secrets of biblical lands (Beauty Secrets of the Bible).
My hope is that when you turn the last page of one of my books, you feel strengthened for the journey ahead and that I have found more than a reader: I hope I've found a friend.