| Title The Forbidden Queen Author Anne O’Brien Publisher Harlequin ISBN 9781848452152 Pub Date Dec 6 2012 Category Fiction, Historical, Romance |
1415, The jewel in the French crown, Katherine de Valois, is waiting under lock and key for King Henry V. While he’s been slaughtering her kinsmen in Agincourt, Katherine has been praying for marriage to save her from her misery. But the brutal King is one of war. It is her crown he wants not her innocent love.For Katherine, a pawn in a ruthless political game, England is a lion’s den of greed, avarice and mistrust. And when the magnificent King leaves her widowed at twenty-one she is a prize ripe for the taking. Her heart is on her sleeve, her young son the future monarch, and her hand in marriage worth a kingdom.This is a deadly game; one the Dowager Queen must learn fast. The players – Duke of Gloucester, Edmund Beaufort and Owen Tudor – are circling. Who will have her? Who will stop her? Who will ruin her? This is the story of Katherine de Valois. England’s most coveted prize. The forbidden queen who launched the most famous dynasty of all time…
My Thoughts:I just love the historical fiction books like this, especially when they take place in Europe. I just gobble books like this up, and this one was no exception. This is Princess Katherine of Frances’ story from her childhood to her marriage to King Henry V his death and the raising of their son King Henry VI. Katherine did not have an easy life, her early years were spent in a very dysfunctional family where she seemed to be forgotten. Because her father was loosing his mind and her mother was very self absorbed, and Katherine had many elder siblings. Her life is then completely turned around when she marries the English King Henry V. Its not a love match for him, so Katherine is often alone and in fact is a widow after barely 2 years (1420-1422). Then she has to deal with raising her son and not letting all of King Henry Vs advisors take him away from her. This really is the story of how Katherine finds herself, while having to adhere to what current role she has to fulfill, like Princess of France, Queen of England, mother to the King of England. This book is a long one, but I found myself so engrossed in it that once I started could not put it down. I felt so many emotions fo Katherine during this book, and kept wishing that she would be free to just be herself and not have to worry about how her actions would affect others. If you like historical fiction and the stories of the royalty of England than this book is for you, you will not be disappointed.Over All Rating: 5/5 Stars
Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley. The rating, review, and all opinions are my own