Alison Bannister is caught off guard when she sees a small painting claiming to be a new portrait of Anne Boleyn. She is positive it is of Mary Seymour, daughter of Henry VIII's widow Katherine Parr, long believed to have died in infancy. Alison knows it is Mary because she once lived with Mary at Wolf Hall before she traveled through centuries from the 1600s to the present day. What Alison eventually realizes is that Mary has left her a message in this painting, one that will reveal mysteries Alison never believed could be solved...

Mary Seymour, daughter of a queen and niece of another, has led a tenuous life. Her father, Thomas Seymour and convicted traitor, left her with barely any money or dowry to speak of, so she has been passed to various relatives on both sides of her family. Additionally, Mary has visions that eventually come true, and whispers of witchcraft follow her no matter how much she tries to keep her gift a secret. Her vivacious cousin Alison has always intrigued and frustrated her, but when Alison decides to take control over her own fate, Mary wishes she has the courage to do the same. And then she meets a man who not only gives her hope but shows her what it means to be loved and valued...

Told through three perspectives, Alison in the present day, Alison in the past, and Mary in the past, THE PHANTOM TREE by Nicola Cornick is a beautiful, intriguing, and mysterious historical fiction novel! Time travel, psychic visions, and star-crossed love all play major parts in this book, and they all come together in surprising ways. Alison, both in the past and present, is a character that comes across as a bit brisk at first, but under her tough exterior is a vulnerable woman, trying to figure out her life. Mary begins as a naive girl but quickly grows into a strong young lady as she experiences setbacks and true love in her life. The way that Cornick is able to bring both Alison and Mary fully to life is inspiring, as well as leading readers to a devastating and yet hopeful conclusion. Recommended to fans of Susanna Kearsley and Diana Gabaldon.

Book Summary

Browsing an antiques shop in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait—identified as the doomed Tudor queen, Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better. The subject is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr, who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 and presumed dead after going missing as a child. And Alison knows this because she, too, lived at Wolf Hall and knew Mary...more than four hundred years ago.

The painting of Mary is more than just a beautiful object for Alison—it holds the key to her past life, the unlocking of the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance and how Alison can get back to her own time. To when she and Mary were childhood enemies yet shared a pact that now, finally, must be fulfilled, no matter the cost.

Bestselling author of House of Shadows Nicola Cornick offers a provocative alternate history of rivals, secrets and danger, set in a time when a woman’s destiny was determined by the politics of men and luck of birth. A spellbinding tale for fans of Kate Morton, Philippa Gregory and Barbara Erskine.