The Last Queen…5.26.09

In this stunning novel, C.W. Gortner brings to life Juana of Castile, the third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, who would become the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne.  Along the way, Gortner takes the reader from the somber majesty of Spain to the glittering and lethal courts of Flanders, France, and Tudor England.

Born amid her parents’ ruthless struggle to unify and strengthen their kingdom, Juana, at the age of sixteen, is sent to wed Philip, heir to the Habsburg Empire.  Juana finds unexpected love and passion with her dashing young husband, and at first she is content with her children and her married life.  But when tragedy strikes and she becomes heir to the Spanish throne, Juana finds herself plunged into a battle for power against her husband that grows to involve the major monarchs of Europe.  Besieged by foes on all sides, Juana vows to secure her crown and save Spain from ruin, even if it costs her everything.  – FROM THE BOOK BACK

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…This is definitely a great historical fiction book I plan to keep on my shelf and perhaps even read again.  I was hooked from the start with Juana and quite impressed that C.W. Gortner did an excellent job in telling the story from her eyes.  Not only do I get a bit of a history lesson within the pages but I also get passion, betrayal, and can feel the power wars within.  Do I think Juana was as “mad” as history rumored her to be? I don’t think so, she was faced with a lot from the perspective of family, marriage, politics, and it didn’t help having rumors spread about her.

You can visit C.W. Gortner at http://www.cwgortner.com/ and http://historicalboys.blogspot.com/.

Related posts:

1. Pat McDermott, A Band of Roses: Author Guest Post 7.06.09 A Band of Roses is an alternate history adventure set...
2. Wild Blue Under, Judi Fennell – Review Rod Tritone, heir to the throne of the undersea world,...
3. Your Wicked Ways…3.26.09 “Helene, the Countess Godwin, knows there is nothing more unbearably...
4. The White Queen, Philippa Gregory: Trip to London Contest I have some great news regarding The White Queen...
5. The White Queen, Philippa Gregory: Book Giveaway 8.18.09 Philippa Gregory, “the queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Presents...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.