Audiobook: The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

There's nothing quite like losing a couple of hours to an armchair and a good book, but at some point over the last couple of years the wonder of the audiobook has managed to worm its way into my affections too. Listening to an audiobook is a totally different experience to holding a well-read classic, but it's a brilliant incentive to get down the gym and get engrossed in another chapter while you do your worst on the cross trainer.
However, audiobooks not only need a captivating story to hold my attention - they also need an excellent narrator and that's where The Queen's Fool comes into its own. Read by the lovely Emilia Fox, she makes every single character come to life and I soon became lost in the grand tale of Hannah, fool to Queen Mary. On the run from the Spanish Inquisition, Hannah and her father come to London to start a new life, where Hannah is given the opportunity to become a fool to King Edward, the child king. Upon his death she finds herself in service to the new Queen; Mary, and from then on you're thrown into thrilling conspiracies, beheadings, the executions of 'heretics' and the bitter enmity between the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, and Queen Mary.
The tale is told through Hannah's eyes, and demonstrates her struggles to remain loyal to those important to her beautifully - I'm not going to go into any detail here as I don't want to spoil it but lets just say she finds herself in some very compromising and dangerous positions, all while trying to do the right thing. Although at times I wanted to shout at her for her foolish decisions (well, she is a fool after all!) it's because I was completely lost in the story.
Philippa Gregory has the amazing talent of bringing history, along with all of its great characters, to life with a real authenticity - she paints a vivid picture of life at court, with ever-present threats lurking around every corner. Just hearing about the Tower of London and all the various palaces and castles that the royals inhabit made me want to go and visit them once I'd finished the story. 
I really liked the way Gregory finished this one, but was sad when it finished - I could have continued to listen for hours. Well worth a listen (or read!) - if you enjoy historical fiction you won't be disappointed.