The Secret Diaries of Juan Luis Vives: A Novel by Tim Darcy Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Juan Vives is a renowned academic who in 1522 fled to the Netherlands after the Spanish inquisition sets their sights on him. Fleeing yet again, nowhere seems safe until Juan is offered a role of tutor for the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Pulled into separate court intrigues headed up by both the king and the queen, Juan must also navigate religious divides as well. Juan will need all his negotiation and logic skills in order to survive all the plotting and keep himself and his family safe.
Even though the book is base don the life of the real Juan Luis Vives, much of the story is fiction, however, it is enjoyable fiction and I really enjoyed reading the story. It was easy to get caught up in the court intrigues and sometimes I was left wondering who was an agent for whom? Great depictions and worldbuilding.


View all my reviews