The Vatican Princess by C.W. Gortner

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: March 1, 2016

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias became Italy’s most ruthless and powerful family, electrifying and terrorizing their 15th-century Renaissance world. To this day, Lucrezia Borgia is known as one of history’s most notorious villainesses, accused of incest and luring men to doom with her arsenal of poison. International bestselling author C.W. Gortner’s new novel delves beyond the myth to depict Lucrezia in her own voice, from her pampered childhood in the palaces of Rome to her ill-fated, scandalous arranged marriages and complex relationship with her adored father and her rival brothers—brutal Juan and enigmatic Cesare. This is the dramatic, untold story of a papal princess who came of age in an era of savage intrigue and unparalleled splendor, and whose courage led her to overcome the fate imposed on her by her Borgia blood.

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I didn’t set out to read C.W. Gortner’s The Vatican Princess because I love the Borgias. I appreciate their role in politics, but I’ve never been particularly enamored with their legendary drama. Truth be told, my interest in the novel was inspired by the author who penned it. Gortner’s books hold a treasured place in my personal library and I couldn’t resist adding another of his volumes to my collection.

Historically speaking, I’m accustomed to seeing Lucretia painted as a cold and calculating temptress, but the vulnerable and vibrant woman Gortner created within these pages bears little resemblance to traditional interpretation. She is introduced as a naïve innocent and I found the development of her personal and political awareness refreshingly thought-provoking. To the outside world she is an integral part of a frighteningly powerful family, but behind the scenes she is considered little more than a pawn to be bought, sold, traded, and used in her family’s ambitious and deadly machinations. As a reader, I sympathized with her character, fell in love with her tenacity, and adored the juxtaposition in how she ultimately wielded her own brand Borgia determination and strength against her oppressors. 

Speaking of antagonists, I was thoroughly impressed with Gortner’s range. Too often authors paint good and evil in simple opposition, but Lucretia’s adversaries are a diverse collection of serpents that challenge her both emotionally and physically. Gortner doesn’t hold back in his descriptions of Borgia brutality and I felt the approach, while graphic, created a necessary intensity in the fabric of the narrative. The material is shocking and uncomfortable, but the author’s handling of the subject matter produces a tangible tension and unsettling sense of menace in the minds of his audience. 

Gortner utilizes the lurid myths surrounding the family to his advantage, but historically speaking, he takes relatively few liberties. There are embellishments here and there, but I’ve no complaint regarding his deviations. He blend of fact and fiction is seamless and the changes he incorporated into the narrative only enhance the telling. 

A sympathetic portrait steeped in passionate political intrigue, The Vatican Princess stands as testament to both Gortner’s talent and vision. In redefining Lucretia his novel challenges long-standing standing perceptions and bring new dimension to the life she lived.

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“There can be no other reason. Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia”

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The Confession of Richard Plantagenet by Dora Greenwell McChesney

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: January 5, 2016

England, 1471. The War of the Roses is raging and Richard Plantagenet must stand fast to support for the Yorkist throne. In pursuit of crushing of the Duke of Warwick’s rebellion, Edward IV and Richard stand side by side with their brother George once more, despite his earlier switch in allegiance. Following Warwick’s defeat, Richard meets his daughter, Anne, but as his standing increases and their relationship blossoms, his own family begins to falter. George’s dance with treachery resurfaces, and Edward grows frail with illness; Richard ends up in a position he did not expect, nor wish, to be in. Although made Lord Protector for his nephews, forces outside Richard’s control threaten to throw everything into jeopardy, and battle lines begin to be drawn as intrigues take over. Will Richard survive this turbulent time? Will he be able to make his own decisions or will those around him force his hand? Written in Plantagenet blood and rich with period detail, this is an arresting and complex tale of family and friendship, politics and betrayal, and love and loss. Traditionally portrayed as one of the great villains of British history, ‘The Confession of Richard Plantagenet’ is a sympathetic novel of the last king of the House of York. Set against the tumultuous second half of the Wars of the Roses, fact is seamlessly woven with fiction as the heroic Richard III is revealed. 

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Richard III

I haven’t read many novels featuring Richard III, but Dora Greenwell McChesney’s The Confession of Richard Plantagenet is the only sympathetic interpretation I’ve laid my hands on. Deserved or not, his legacy has been much maligned and few authors have sought to paint him in a sympathetic light which is why I was so captivated by the sensitivity and compassion set forth in the novel’s description. 

The book was originally published in 1913, but was re-released by Albion Press in late 2015. Does age matter? Well, that depends on what you are looking for. In terms of content, historic fiction is dated by definition, but McChesney’s style and prose is very different from what we see in mainstream publishing today. It isn’t bad by any means, but her language is distinctly formal and while I recognize the tone may be difficult for some, I personally felt her prose added to my experience of her work.

Historically speaking, my knowledge base is limited to the basics so I can’t say much in regard to how accurately the novel is written, but I can say that I found McChesney’s themes and her characterizations quite fascinating. She made me think about the material I liked how her book prompted deeper consideration even when I didn’t necessarily agree with the direction and/or angle she chose. 

The Confession of Richard Plantagenet is heavier historic fiction, but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone with an open mind and/or an appreciation for the Plantagenets. 

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‘Old friend and true servant,’ he said gravely, ‘thou didst know Richard of Gloucester well, and though he be dead and gone, somewhat of him liveth yet in Richard of England. Wilt thou take my pledged word that never by deed or word did I wittingly devise my nephews’ death?’ 

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Love's Intrigue by June Francis

Rating: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: December 15, 2015

1419, the coast of France. In the troubled times of Henry V’s attempts to take the throne of France, Louise Saulnier and her fellow Frenchmen are forced into wild living by the English. Stripped of the protection of her family’s wealth, Louise survives under the guise of a young boy, Louis, to escape the atrocities towards women that she has witnessed. But danger never wanders far and soon it is her own sister Marguerite who is taken by the foreign men. With only the face of the abductor etched into her memory, Louise risks everything to rescue her sister. When it appears that this very man and his brother is the only key to her success, Louise faces a terrible choice: give in to the Englishmen and betray her beloved Northern France, or lose Marguerite. Flitting between her two identities, Louise crosses boundaries both of land and sea and of the heart. She ventures into new territories and is not only swept up into the clash of the two countries, but also of the two brothers… 

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I requested June Francis' Love's Intrigue on a whim. The cover caught my eye and the plot looked vaguely interesting. I'd no experience with the author, but I liked the period and was generally optimistic when I began reading the narrative. Unfortunately the reality of the novel's execution left me regretting my spur of the moment impulse and I ultimately feel the time I spent with this piece well and truly wasted. 

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I would like to note to that Endeavour Press billed Love's Intrigue as Women's Fiction when calling for reviews on Netgalley. I've no idea how the publishing house defines the term, but I can say their definition differs dramatically from my own. I expected a novel that explored the feminine psyche and perspective, but found instead swollen breasts, hardened nipples, and fevered fondling. Needless to say, I wasn't amused. 

I was also frustrated that the situational drama of the book just didn't make sense. Take the scene in the woods when Louise finds John laying wounded, naked and alone. She helps him up, but it is late and cold. Wolves are about and the two are forced to seek shelter and safety on the branch of a tree. It's a tad dramatic and somewhat clichéd, but what happened pushed me over the edge. I didn't need to be treated a gag inducing description of wandering fingers that brought warmth to chilled loins, but more importantly it made not sense in the context of the scene! 

Structurally I was disappointed that so much of Louise’s journey takes place before the story begins. The reader understands she witnessed the horror of her home being sacked by invaders, but the audience doesn’t experience it alongside her. The circumstances that force her to live as a boy are described, but the discovery of her gender takes place in chapter one and the angle has little import thereafter.  

Historically speaking, Love's Intrigue has little to offer. It's a trade piece with shallow references and no depth. I found Francis' plot both fluffy and predictable, her characters canned, and the drama inconsistent with the ideas she attempted to illustrate. Bottom line is that nothing about this book worked for me and I’m quite happy to be done with it.  

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"It is of no consequence to me who rules France. All I care about is that Henry’s conquests have made the seas safer for English ships — which is better for trade. I have no stomach for the crazy dreams of the Plantagenets. For years they have wasted good money pursuing a war that in the end they must lose if both countries are to survive."

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The Lady Bornekova by Sara R. Turnquist

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Personal Kindle Library

Read: July 28, 2015

The red-headed Karin is strong-willed and determined, something she inherited from her father. She tries to keep her true nature a secret to avoid being deemed a traitor by those loyal to the king. Karin and her father butt heads over her duty to her family and the Czech Crown. She is then sequestered to the Royal Viscount’s hunting lodge. Not aware of everything that is happening, she becomes the target of an individual with murderous intent. Her heart soon becomes entangled though her father intends to wed her to another. The turmoil inside Karin deepens and reflects the turmoil of her homeland, on the brink of the Hussite Wars.

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I began Sara R. Turnquist’s The Lady Bornekova with absolutely no knowledge of the Hussite Wars. My imaginings were shaped by the author’s descriptions and the atmosphere she created within the narrative. I found the initial chapters vague in terms of plot, the author’s deliberate attempts to manufacture intrigue lacked polish, but I felt reasonably confident in my understanding of Karin’s situation and the period in which her story took place. That is, until I googled the Council of Constance. 

I didn’t have an exact date of reference, but my rough estimate is that the story began in late October 1414. To put this in perspective, Joan of Arc is two and the battle of Agincourt is barely a year away. Neither of these facts have anything to do with Turnquist’s story, but they do add a certain perspective for those with any knowledge of the age. Most, if not all, of Turnquist’s descriptions of social custom, fashion, architecture, and interior design were appropriate to a Victorian romance. She mentions wallpaper, empire waists, settees, drapes, a breakfast buffet and a four poster carriage, none of which are a characteristic of life in the early 1400s. 

Taking a few deep breaths, I steeled my nerves, and set about finishing the book, but my enjoyment dissipated as I noticed more and more historical anachronisms. I believe the book was reviewed in terms of grammar and spelling, but what Turnquist needed here was a content editor. The number of factual errors and period contradictions in this piece had me dumbfounded and while I give the author a lot of credit for tackling a lesser known event in a rarely seen locale, I admit the research that went into this piece left me disappointed. 

My issues, however, are not limited to historical accuracy. Turnquist employs multiple narrators in this piece, but she often draws on characters of limited importance. Maybe I’m alone in this, but I’d have appreciated the story much more if the author had exercised more restraint and limited herself to two or three well-rounded and defined POVs. 

The characters themselves didn’t leave much of an impression on me and I didn’t find the politics particularly interesting. The dialogue didn’t strike me as authentic and I couldn’t have cared less for the romance. The book is readable and ambitious in terms of the material it covers, but I didn’t enjoy the time I spent with it and would have a hard time recommending it to fellow readers.  

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Lord, help me to remember You are in control and that vengeance is Yours.

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Sinful Folk by Ned Hayes

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: October 19, 2014

A terrible loss. A desperate journey. A mother seeks the truth. In December of the year 1377, five children were burned to death in a suspicious house fire. A small band of villagers traveled 200 miles across England in midwinter to demand justice for their children’s deaths. Sinful Folk is the story of this treacherous journey as seen by Mear, a former nun who has lived for a decade disguised as a mute man, raising her son quietly in this isolated village. For years, she has concealed herself and all her secrets. But in this journey, she will find the strength to claim the promise of her past and find a new future. Mear begins her journey in terror and heartache, and ends in triumph and redemption.

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Author Ned Hayes was entirely unfamiliar to me when Sinful Folk arrived in my mailbox and I'll be honest, I didn't really know what to expect from the book when I cracked it open. All I know for certain is that I was pretty ticked by the time I finished chapter eight. 

Now before you jump down my throat, realize context is everything. I began reading Sinful Folk in August when I'd landed an excerpt of the novel in nationwide contest. An excerpt that only included chapters one through eight. Do you see what I'm getting at? If not, allow me to spell it out for you. I was hooked on this piece from page one and wasn't exactly thrilled at only having part of the novel at my immediate disposal. 

For two months the story hovered on the edge of my imagination, but thankfully, Sinful Folk turned out to be worth waiting for. I actually reread the opening chapters and finished the entire novel in two days, but that's neither here nor there. What matters is that the delay and anticipation didn't outweigh my ultimate admiration for Hayes narrative.

First and foremost, I liked the tone of the piece. It's dark, heavy and desperate. Everything I'd imagine life in the fourteenth century to be. A lot of authors have a tendency to romanticize the era and I really appreciated the edginess of Hayes' prose especially when you consider the material he covers over the course of the story. There's a lot more in these pages than the jacket suggests - suspicion, anti-semitism, revenge, etc. - and here again, I think the layers and subplots bring a very authentic level of drama to the story. 

Mear is also worth noting. Her situation and lifestyle allow her to be a somewhat androgynous narrator. At times she feels masculine, at others feminine and I thought it really interesting to see that voice develop as she came into her own. It's not unusual to see a character evolve, but it isn't every day that an author is so creative in illustrating that transition. 

Sinful Folk is heavy reading and covers a substantial amount of historic material. There were a couple moments that I found almost overwhelming, but even so, I consider the time the time I gave this piece well spent and look forward to reading Hayes again in the future.  

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The good, the bad, the virgin, and the harlot: no one is spared, all go rose-spattered with plague lesions. I see no sense, no judgment before doom strikes. Death takes us all with the black malady or the sweating sickness, or the white blindness or the winter croup, or the crops failing or bitter water in our mouths.

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Check Out All the Stops on Ned Hayes' Sinful Folk Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 20
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, October 21
Review at Historical Novel Review

Wednesday, October 22
Spotlight at What is That Book About
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, October 23
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Guest Post at Books and Benches

Monday, October 27
Review at Just One More Chapter
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Tuesday, October 28
Interview at Layered Pages

Wednesday, October 29
Review at Back Porchervations

Thursday, October 30
Interview at Back Porchervations

Friday, October 31
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Monday, November 3
Interview at Triclinium
Spotlight at Boom Baby Reviews

Tuesday, November 4
Spotlight at Historical Tapestry

Wednesday, November 5
Review at Deal Sharing Aunt

Thursday, November 6
Review at bookramblings

Saturday, November 8
Review at Book Nerd

Monday, November 10
Review at Book Babe

Tuesday, November 11
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Friday, November 14
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Tuesday, November 18
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review & Giveaway at Beth’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, November 19
Review at Books in the Burbs
Review at Bookworm Babblings

Thursday, November 20
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Friday, November 21
Review at Library Educated

Fire and Sword by Louise Turner

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: May 1, 2014

On the 11th of June in 1488, two armies meet in battle at Sauchieburn, near Stirling. One fights for King James the Third of Scotland, the other is loyal to his eldest son, Prince James, Duke of Rothesay. Soon, James the Third is dead, murdered as he flees the field. His army is routed. Among the dead is Sir Thomas Sempill of Ellestoun, Sheriff of Renfrew, whose son and heir, John, escapes with his life. Once John's career as knight and courtier seemed assured. But with the death of his king, his situation is fragile. He's the only surviving son of the Sempill line and he's unmarried. If he hopes to survive, John must try and win favour with the new king. And deal with the ruthless and powerful Lord Montgomerie...

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Lord Sempill's Tomb,
Castle Semple Collegiate Church
Image by Philip Halling

Louise Turner's Fire and Sword was a natural choice for me. I've an innate affinity for Scottish history and though it is a work a fiction, I welcomed the opportunity to indulge that interest through Turner's debut. 

John Sempill is a rather obscure personality even to those familiar with his story, but Turner used the void to her advantage and filled the gaps with a wealth of fact-based detail. Brilliantly recreating the hierarchy of the sixteenth century elite, her novel gave me a real sense of the politics that dominated the period, as well as the complex social structure that characterized the age. 

As a comprehensive whole I found Turner's cast intriguing and genuinely appreciated the balance she struck between the masculine and feminine elements of the story. Individually, some of the characters, John and Mary for example, were too straightforward for my liking, but I greatly enjoyed the ambiguity I found in individuals such as Helen and Hugh.

Though not what I'd call fast-paced, Turner's plot moves at steady clip that culminates in a satisfying and enjoyable finale. Illuminating and informative, I am pleased with the time I spent reading this piece and while I feel Turner has room to grow, I'd certainly recommend her work to anyone with an interest in medieval fiction. 

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It’s wrong to kill, the priest said at last. You know that. It’s true that to enjoy the spilling of another’s blood makes the sin a thousand times worse. But the workings of this world mean that Man, sometimes against his better nature, is forced to sin. You’ve had the courage to admit your failings. God will look kindly on that.

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Check out all the stops on Louise Turner's Fire and Sword virtual book tour schedule!

Monday, May 5
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, May 6
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Monday, May 12
Interview at The Mad Reviewer

Tuesday, May 20
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, May 21
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Obsession

Monday, May 26
Review at The Most Happy Reader

Tuesday, May 27
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise (with Kathy Fischer-Brown and Juliet Waldron)

Monday, June 2
Review at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, June 5
Interview at Caroline Wilson Writes

Tuesday, June 10
Review at Princess of Eboli

Thursday, June 12
Review at bookramblings

Monday, June 16
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews

Monday, June 23
Review at Book Nerd

Monday, June 30
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

A King Ensnared by J.R. Tomlin

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: March 17, 2014

On the dangerous stage of medieval Scotland, one man--in an English dungeon--stands between the Scots and anarchy. Robert III, King of the Scots, is dead, and Scotland in 1406 is balanced on a knife’s edge. As he eyes the throne, King Robert’s ruthless half-brother, the Duke of Albany, has already murdered one prince and readies to kill young James Stewart, prince and heir to the crown. James flees Scotland and his murderous uncle. Captured and imprisoned by the English, he grows to be a man of contradictions, a lover yet a knight, a dreamer yet fiercely driven. Hardened by his years in the Tower of London and haunted by his brother’s brutal murder, James is determined to recover his crown and end his uncle's misrule. But the only way may be to betray Scotland and everything he believes in.

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I didn't have many expectations going into J.R. Tomlin's A King Ensnared. This being my first experience with her work, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but looking back on the book I can I honestly say I was somewhat surprised by this piece. 

First off, and I'm grateful for this since it's a pet peeve of mine, Tomlin doesn't overwhelm her readers with an overabundance of political exposition. Those familiar with the facts don't have to wade through exaggerated accounts and those new to the material won’t feel like they're drowning in facts. She struck a really nice balance which is something I really appreciated considering the turmoil against which the story takes place

James himself is an interesting character. Not to put too fine a point on it or make comparison to a grossly inaccurate movie, but he's something of a warrior poet. There is an intensity about him, a drive to obtain both his freedom and his crown, but there is another side to him as well, softer endearing qualities that really round out his personality and endear him to the reader.

The romantic story line was not expected but again, I think it played well within the narrative. To be fair I've been reading a bit of heavy romance of late so the observation isn't entirely unbiased, but I really liked how Tomlin developed the emotional attachment between James and Joan. 

Well-researched and pleasantly entertaining, I enjoyed the time I spent with this piece and look forward to future installments. 

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"Sanctus Michael Archangelus te vigilet, et te custodiet ab omni perculo, et inimicos tuos ponet scabellum pedum tuorum." The hand fell on Jame's shoulder and squeezed. "Go wi' God, my prince. The saint protect and shield you whilst you and gone from us."

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Check out all the stops on J.R. Tomlin's A King Ensnared VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR

Monday, March 24
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight & Giveaway at HF Book Muse-News

Tuesday, March 25
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, March 26
Review at Historical Tapestry
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, March 27
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Friday, March 28
Interview at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: February 14, 2014

A sweeping story of 1492 Spain, exploring how what we know about the world shapes our map of life Valencia, 1492. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella issue an order expelling all Jews who refuse to convert to Christianity. Amalia Cresques, daughter of a Jewish mapmaker whose services were so valuable that his faith had been ignored, can no longer evade the throne. She must leave her beloved atlas, her house, her country, forever. As Amalia remembers her past, living as a converso, hiding her faith, she must decide whether to risk the wrath of the Inquisition or relinquish what's left of her true life. A mesmerizing saga about faith, family and Jewish identity.

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I first noticed Laurel Corona's The Mapmaker's Daughter when it was added to the Historical Fiction 2014 book list on Goodreads. The buzz caught my attention and by the time the title appeared on Netgalley, I was positively giddy at the prospect of reading it. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short lived.

Corona relies heavily on macro level ideas and motifs, offering her audience very little substance with which to relate on the micro level of the narrative. Concept heavy and exceedingly complex, I found Amalia's journey impossible to get into and while I greatly appreciated the author's illustration of faith, I felt her thesis overwhelmed her fiction and dragged the pacing to a pitifully painful crawl.

Focal character Amalia Cresques lacks both purpose and dimension. Ever a spectator, she doesn't actually do much of anything over the course of the story. Honestly, she spends ninety-five percent of the narrative sitting on her hands, a mere witness to the upheaval caused by the political and religious conflict of the period. Had she been properly developed, an active participant, or portrayed as a confidant and loyal friend to one of the key players, I might feel differently, but as it stands I felt her position as casual acquaintance of the noteworthy and powerful made exceedingly dull reading.

While I'm on the subject, I was incredibly disappointed with Corona's treatment of the historical cast. Individuals like Jehuda Cresques, Henry the Navigator, Isabella of Portugal, Muhammed IX, Isabella I of Castile, and Isaac Abrabanel. Corona doesn't explore their personalities or give them a function in Amalia's story. Treating them as stock characters, they wander in and out of the narrative at random, flat impersonations with intangible identities, objectives and motivations.

A slow and impersonal read, The Mapmaker's Daughter a chore to get through. Thematically interesting, but otherwise unremarkable. 

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Jews may take no more from Spain than they can carry. Take something useful, my daughter has told me. A little more clothing, or a piece of leather for new soles for our shoes. Sell the atlas and sew into my hem the few coins it will bring. I see the pain behind her resolve. The book is as much a part of her as it is of me, no easier to leave behind than an arm or a leg.

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The Forbidden Queen by Anne O'Brien

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: December 30, 2013

1415. The Battle of Agincourt is over, and the young princess Katherine de Valois is the prize to be offered to Henry V of England. The innocent Katherine is smitten with Henry, but soon understands that her sole purpose is to produce an heir to unite England and France. When Henry leaves her a widow at the age of 21, Katherine is forced to resign herself to a quiet life as the Dowager Queen; her duty is to raise her son, the young King of England, and little more. But Katherine is still young and passionate. Many desire her, and her hand in marriage is worth a kingdom. Setting aside those driven by ambition, Katherine falls in love with her servant Owen Tudor, and glimpses the happiness that love can bring. But their enemies are circling, all battling for power and determined to prevent their marriage. Katherine will have to fight to control her own destiny... In this compelling and beautifully written book, Anne O’Brien tells the story of the innocent young princess, Katherine de Valois, a pawn in a ruthless political game between England and France, and the woman who founded the most famous royal dynasty of all – the Tudors.

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Henry V weds Catherine of Valois

Katherine de Valois is a tantalizingly enigmatic historic figure. The daughter of Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria, Katherine married Henry V in June 1420 and was crowned Queen of England the following year. She welcomed a son in December 1421 and became a widow in August 1422. Still young and marriageable, the queen dowager planned to wed Edmund Beaufort, but intervention by Parliament quashed all hope of a possible marriage. Forced to live in her son's household, Katherine found happiness in the arms of one of her staff, a Welshman by the name of Owen Tudor. The facts of their relationship are rather sketchy, but the union resulted in the birth of at least three children if not more. The eldest of these was Edmund Tudor, father of Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty.

Already fond of the story, I was eager to read Anne O'Brien's The Forbidden Queen, but my enthusiasm was unfortunately short-lived.  

The Queen's Room State room at Leeds Castle
Image by Richard Croft

For one, there is little atmospheric detail and no timetable by which the reader might make reference. Births, deaths, and various battles are occasionally mentioned, but the narrative is marked by the distinct absence of both physical and political ambiance. 

The lack of authenticity also bothered me. Take for example Katherine's life after she is ordered to reside in her son's household. Am I truly to believe that outside the question of marriage, the queen dowager was allowed to live virtually free of Parliament, that she could uproot the royal youngster on a whim or that the child king wouldn't be surrounded by subordinates acting in the interest of the Lord Protector? I'm sorry, but I don't see it. Not during the intense power struggles of the Middle Ages. 

O'Brien's attempt to explore Katherine as someone who suffered confidence issues showed promise, but the context made it difficult for me to see her as someone of independent strength. Her courage and spirit ebbs and flows exclusively on the romantic attentions of men, making her appear codependent rather than capable. 

A difficult read, the only bits I truly enjoyed were the scenes in which Katherine questions her sanity. The allusion created a nice bridge between her father, Charles VI, and her eldest son, Henry VI, both of whom suffered some form of mental instability. 

Historically speaking, it is an interesting piece, but I think O'Brien could have done a lot more with it.

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What an inheritance for a young girl to shoulder. Madness on one side, wanton lewdness on the other. The lurid rumours filled my young mind. Would I become like Charles and Isabeau? Would I inherit my parents’ natures, as I had inherited my mother’s fair hair?

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The Queen's Vow by C.W. Gortner

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley/Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: June 19, 2013

No one believed I was destined for greatness. So begins Isabella’s story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a New World. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner envisages the turbulent early years of a woman whose mythic rise to power would go on to transform a monarchy, a nation, and the world. Young Isabella is barely a teenager when she and her brother are taken from their mother’s home to live under the watchful eye of their half-brother, King Enrique, and his sultry, conniving queen. There, Isabella is thrust into danger when she becomes an unwitting pawn in a plot to dethrone Enrique. Suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, torn between loyalties, until at age seventeen she suddenly finds herself heiress of Castile, the largest kingdom in Spain. Plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man she loves yet who is forbidden to her—Fernando, prince of Aragon. As they unite their two realms under “one crown, one country, one faith,” Isabella and Fernando face an impoverished Spain beset by enemies. With the future of her throne at stake, Isabella resists the zealous demands of the inquisitor Torquemada even as she is seduced by the dreams of an enigmatic navigator named Columbus. But when the Moors of the southern domain of Granada declare war, a violent, treacherous battle against an ancient adversary erupts, one that will test all of Isabella’s resolve, her courage, and her tenacious belief in her destiny. From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile.

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I consider myself a historic fiction reader. It is my primary stomping ground and the genre I feel I am most competent reviewing and yet, for some inexplicable reason it took me nine years to pick up and read anything by C.W. Gortner. How did I manage such as oversight you ask? I have not the slightest idea, but I will say, having read both The Queen's Vow and The Tudor Conspiracy within weeks of one another, that Gortner has quickly become one of my all time favorite authors and a staple of my personal library. 

Now despite my having written and released my reviews in the reverse order, I actually read The Queen's Vow before The Tudor Conspiracy, a chance decision that gave me what is apparently a unique view of Gortner's work. Older fans seem to have mixed feelings about this piece and while I completely respect their opinions, I think they might be selling Gortner just a bit short. Yes, the pacing of this novel does not rival his other works and there is an incredible amount of detail within these pages, but from what I understand the scope of those stories depend on movement and tension while that of this book is much more subtle, the incredible detail necessary to the telling.  Perhaps it is just me, but I believe comparing the two is rather like debating apples and oranges. 

The Queen's Vow is at its core a fictional exploration of a woman who has been defined by the unfortunate results of her political policies. Scholars tend to judge Isabella of Castile in hindsight, recognizing and often reviling her for those decisions that led to the persecution of thousands under the Spanish Inquisition as well as the decimation of native populations in both North and South America. What Gortner is asking his readers in The Queen's Vow is if this assessment is fair? Should we really judge this woman by the outcome of her declarations or should we consider instead the intent and context in which they were made. On the surface it makes for less intense reading, but I personally believe there is much to be said for a book that makes you reconsider the way you think of and view history. 

Those who appreciate Tudor lit will find additional merit in this piece as it gives readers insight into the much maligned Catherine of Aragon. Her faithful devotion to Catholicism is legendary, as is the love she bore her husband and the passion with which she fought for the recognition of her rights as England's Queen and those of her daughter Mary as heir to her father's throne. Admittedly this is the only fiction I've read on Catherine's mother, but I really liked the parallels, intentional or otherwise, emphasized in Gortner's work. By illustrating Isabella's journey, the hurdles she overcame to take her crown and rule in her own right, to marry a man of her own choosing for love rather than political gain, to ensure the stability of her realm through the sincere veneration of the Catholic faith... one would have to be blind not see how such conviction, ambition and determination might mold a daughter born to the woman Gortner paints in The Queen's Vow. 

Tantalizingly provocative and thought-provoking, I found The Queen's Vow an intensely enjoyable read. An eloquent, if fictional, testament to the legacy of one of history's most controversial queens. 

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I had never forgotten the palpable fear I'd felt that night of my father's death; the long ride across dark fields ad forests, avoiding the main roads in case Enrique sent guards in our pursuit. The memory was branded in me, an indelible lesson that life's changes whether or not we were prepared for them...

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Check out all the stops on C.W. Gortner's Virtual Book tour of The Queen's Vow

Tuesday, July 2
Review at The Book Barista

Wednesday, July 3
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, July 4
Review at Sweet Tidbits
Interview at Unabridged Chick

Friday, July 5
Review at Twisting the Lens
Review at Geri, the History Lady

Monday, July 8
Review at nomadreader

Tuesday, July 9
Review at Babies, Books, and Beyond
Guest Post at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Wednesday, July 10
Review at From L.A. to LA

Thursday, July 11
Review at Peppermint, Ph.D.

Monday, July 15
Review at The Bluestocking Society
Review at Paperback Princess

Tuesday, July 16
Review at Book Nerds
Review at WTF Are you Reading?

Wednesday, July 17
Review at Book Addict Katie
Review at Always with a Book

Thursday, July 18
Review at Alternate Readality
Interview at WTF Are you Reading?

Friday, July 19
Review at A Book Geek

Monday, July 22
Review at Jo Jo Loves to Read

Tuesday, July 23
Review at Lost in Books
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook

Thursday, July 25
Review at Booktalk & More
Guest Post at Lost in Books

Friday, July 26
Review at The Relentless Reader

Tuesday, July 30
Review at Long Ago Love
Review at The Life & Times of a Book Addict

Wednesday, July 31
Review at Legacy of a Writer

Thursday, August 1
Review at vvb32 Reads
Review at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Interview at My Reading Room

Friday, August 2
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Amused by Books

Monday, August 5
Review at Reader Girls
Review at Review From Here

Tuesday, August 6
Review at Layered Pages
Guest Post at Review From Here