Earlier this summer I read the first in this series about what would have happened if Anne Boleyn's son had lived, The Boleyn Inheritance, giving it 3/5 stars. This go-around I knew more what to expect, and so liked it better. Rest assured, this time we are free of the significant time spent in the first book around the creepy Giles as his part was sufficiently ended at the finish of the first book. Plot from the first book does carry over, most importantly Minuette's interest in Alyce's death. The plot threads between the two books tie together very nicely, and I do not miss the problematic rapey undertones of the first book. 
 The characters can still be problematically flat. William is the king. Dominic is loyal to a fault. Minuette is beautiful, and a little too curious for her own good sometimes, but can also be lacking in anything that convincingly lets her into the driver's seat of this series. Elizabeth is unsurprisingly the most charismatic character, and her relationship with Robert Dudley is just as captivating in this imagining. It as if Andersen is not completely comfortable making them her own. However, The Boleyn Deceit witnesses growth and change from these characters. While I think it could have gone even further, especially with Dominic's relationship watching his best friend develop into an absolute monarch, it was still incredibly refreshing. 
 I did miss some of the group dynamics between William, Dominic, Elizabeth and Minuette. Their friendship was fun. While they started to grow apart in the first installment, The Boleyn Deceit witnessed further gulfs appearing between characters. Secrets were prominent, foremost the secret that Dominic and Minuette are in love even as William courts her. Although a twist in this relationship drama at the end prompted a "What made you think that was a good idea" reaction from me. Still, these characters are growing up. It is somewhat sad to watch the inevitable politics pushing in between the friendship. But it also refreshing to see this explored. I am not sure the friendship will survive in tact to the end of the series, and interested to see how this works out. This go around also had some hinted foreshadowing that I am intrigued by, but will leave shrouded in mystery to avoid spoiling anything. 
 This time I went in knowing what to expect and enjoying the ride. It's fun playing the game of how one changed detail would impact history. It's also fun to see how this might impact certain favorites, and I'm excited to see how everything will wrap up.