Guest Post: “Snippet from ‘Fool’ by Mary Lawrence”

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I am pleased to welcome Mary Lawrence to my blog today to share a snippet from her latest novel, “Fool.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Mary Lawrence for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

Snippet

I expected to be an object of curiosity—what dwarf leading a costumed goat into town wouldn’t be? Plenty of townsfolk stopped in their steps to gawp. Women stared, kept a wide berth, while children laughed and pointed. Men, however… 

As if my size were a challenge to their manhood. But as I thought more on it later, I believe I was a challenge to their sense of convention. Most had probably never seen a smidge of a human. I think some considered me an insult, a queeb, Satan’s fart. I led Hazel to the conduit and stood by while she drank. One child was attracted to Hazel’s colourful harness and approached to stroke her back. 

“She likes to be scratched here,” I said, showing him the spot between her shoulder blades.  

“I like your goat,” he said. He concentrated on rubbing Hazel, then looked at me and tilted his head. “You look strange,” he said.  

“I am a dwarf,” I answered. “I’m not strange, I’m just built differently from you.”  

Blurb:  

Betrayal. Power. Perception. The most dangerous mind at court belongs to a fool.  

From the author of The Alchemist’s Daughter comes a dark tale of ambition and survival. 

“One of the most vibrant characters I’ve encountered in years.“–Goodreads Ecostell 

Kronos is a fool–mocked for his dwarfism, prized for his juggling, and underestimated by everyone who matters. But in a court ruled by paranoia and whispers, invisibility is its own kind of power. 

When Kronos overhears a secret that could destroy Queen Katherine Howard, he becomes a liability the crown cannot afford. Silenced, mutilated, and left for dead, he survives–barely. 

Rescued by an ambitious apothecary, Kronos soon realizes he has not escaped danger–he has merely changed masters. His secret is worth a fortune…and powerful men are willing to kill to control it. 

But Kronos has spent his life being overlooked, and he’s ready to use that to his advantage. 

As rival factions circle and scheme, Kronos sets a plan in motion–one that could topple the mighty, rewrite his fate, and force his foes to reconsider which of them is truly…the fool. 

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Philippa Gregory 

 

Praise for Fool: 

“Vividly written and grounded in scrupulous research, Fool captures both the dark comedy and lethal danger of Henry VIII’s court.” 

~ Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown and The Blue 

“A masterclass in immersive storytelling.” 

~ Tony Riches, author of the best-selling Tudor Trilogy 

 

“A thoughtful and unsparing Tudor novel that reframes the court jester not as comic ornament but as a precarious witness to power.” 

~ Megan Parker for IndieReader 

Buy Links: 

Author’s Universal Buy Link: https://www.marylawrencebooks.com/linktree  

Amazon Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/479KQ8  

Author Bio: 

Mary Lawrence is the author of the Bianca Goddard mysteries, a 5-book series that takes place in the slums of Tudor London, featuring the daughter of an infamous alchemist. Suspense Magazine named The Alchemist’s Daughter and The Alchemist of Lost Souls best historical mysteries of 2015 and 2017. 

Her writing has been published in several journals, including The Daily Beast. When she is not writing, she tends a small berry farm in Maine with her husband and creates artisanal jams for sale at market. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.marylawrencebooks.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marylawrence.author/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marylawrence.author  

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marylawrence.bsky.social  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mel59lawrence  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-lawrence  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-Lawrence/author/B00N7JSO5Y  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/84420.Mary_Lawrence  

 

Book Review: “Henry V: The Scourge of God” by Desmond Seward

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In English history, there have been some legendary warrior kings, but none have captured the imagination of the general public quite like Henry V. He was the King who won a great victory at Agincourt, almost captured France, but died young and never got to see his son become king of both England and France, albeit for a short time. For the English, Henry V was seen as a hero to the nation, but is his legacy much darker? Desmond Seward dives into the archives to find a much more ruthless king for his biography, “Henry V: The Scourge of God.”

I found this book in a used bookstore after I read the most recent biography of Henry V by Dan Jones. I have heard of Desmond Seward, but I have only read one of his books before this one. I decided to see how a biography that’s almost 40 years old stands up today and how it compares to the narrative-driven biographies that are being published right now.

As Seward states in his introduction, many historians who have come before him have only focused on English sources. What Seward tries to do is show a different, darker side of the titular king, the side that the French saw when he was attacking them relentlessly. To begin with, Seward looks into how Henry of Bolingbroke, Henry’s father, became Henry IV. Since his father was a usurper, his control over the throne hung by a thread, so paranoia passed on from father to son. Henry V learned how to become a military leader through his expeditions in Wales to face off against Owain Glyndwr.

When his father died, Henry V became King of England, and he immediately set his sights on France. During this period of medieval history, the Hundred Years’ War was in full swing, and Henry V wanted to do whatever it took to destroy the French. He is most known for his victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt, but he also took cities like Caen, Rouen, Paris, and Meaux. Henry V would be named the heir of King Charles VI of France, as well as gain a bride named Catherine of Valois, through the Treaty of Troyes. Henry V’s legacy seemed secure, but alas, he died young, and his dream of a united kingdom of France and England failed to prosper under his son, Henry VI.

While I do think that it is important to read older biographies to understand how our perceptions about historical figures have changed over time, I found this one a bit dry and overtly negative. It wasn’t as balanced as I hoped it would be. I think if you want to attempt reading this, take what Seward is saying with a grain of salt and balance it with a more contemporary biography to get a better picture of who the true King Henry V was. If you want to study more about Henry V, you might want to give “Henry V: The Scourge of God” by Desmond Seward a try.

Book Review: “Fool” by Mary Lawrence

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Being a fool in any royal court can be dangerous, but being a fool in the court in King Henry VIII’s court could be deadly. While you could enjoy performing for royalty, you could also learn secrets about those close to the throne, secrets that have deadly consequences. Kronos knows this all too well. Born disabled, Kronos must navigate his way through prejudice to find his place in society. How did Kronos become the fool to King Henry VIII, and what secret threatens his life? Mary Lawrence explores what life must have been like for a fool in the tumultuous court of Henry VIII in her novel, “Fool.”

I would like to thank Red Puddle Print and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have read a few novels that have featured Henry VIII’s most famous fool, Will Somers, so when I saw the premise for this novel, it intrigued me. I like looking at the court of Henry VIII through the eyes of those who might have worked behind the scenes.

Kronos was not an actual fool of Henry VIII’s court, but his story reflects how real fools like Will Somers, Patch, and Jane the Fool must have felt dealing with prejudices at court. Kronos was born with dwarfism and was dropped off at Thetford Priory, where the brothers raised him. At the Priory, he learns medicine from Brother Ulric. Kronos also picks up the skill of juggling, which will become his skill when he becomes a fool. He is satisfied with not becoming a novice for a while, and then he meets Bess Holland, a young noblewoman whom he helps heal from an illness. Kronos becomes infatuated with the young noblewoman, which was a little weird to read at times.

After an incident at the Priory with a maid, Kronos leaves the Priory and begins to look for his own place in the world. He joins a travelling circus troupe, where he becomes a better juggler. He gains a reputation that lands him in the court of Henry VIII, but it is not all glitz and glam. Kronos soon learns that keeping a secret will have deadly consequences. Kronos is maimed, on the brink of death, but although he is brought to an apothecary, he soon learns that his rescuers may have darker plans for the fool.

Overall, I thought this was a decent novel. There was something about Kronos that made it hard for me to connect with him. I think the novel was well written and understood the Tudor world pretty well. If you want a darker look at what life was like for a fool in the court of King Henry VIII, I think you should check out “Fool” by Mary Lawrence.

Book Review: “Babylonia” by Costanza Casati

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When we think about powerful queens, we tend to think about medieval and early modern rulers. However, there were queens from ancient times who rose to power and gained reputations that lasted for centuries. In ancient Babylon, there was one woman who began life as an orphan but fought her way to become the Queen of Assyria. She was known as both Semiramis and later Sammuramat, the wife of Ninus, who was known by his royal name Shamshi-Adad V. How did Semiramis become the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire? Her story and the stories of the two men she fell in love with are told in Costanza Casati’s latest novel, “Babylonia.”

To say this book is out of my comfort zone would be an understatement. I know nothing about Assyrian history or culture, except for the brief lessons in high school and college, so I was going in completely blind. I know I am not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is what got me to give this book a shot, as well as the description. I wanted to expand to ancient history books, and what better way than to begin that journey than by reading a historical novel set in ancient Assyria.

Semiramis’ story begins with how her mother died after giving birth to her when the man she loved rejected her child, and she killed him. We then time jump to 823 BC, when Semiramis was a young woman living with her adopted family in a village. She is a thief who dreams of being someone important. When a new governor, Onnes, comes to the village, Semiramis decides to take a chance and offer to marry Onnes. He agrees and whisks Semiramis to the capital and her new home.

It is there she is introduced to Ninus, the King of Assyria, and Onnes’s best friend. Semiramis soon realizes that there is more to Ninus and Onnes’ relationship than just friendship. Semiramis learns a different way to survive, through fighting like a soldier and understanding politics like a diplomat. Eventually, secrets are revealed and a romance blossoms between Ninus and Semiramis, even though Semiramis is married to Onnes. Semiramis would eventually climb high and become the only female ruler of the Assyrian empire.

There was something so foreign yet relatable about Semiramis’s story. The experiences and the culture may have been foreign to me, but the way she fought to protect her throne and her kingdom reminds me of queens and female rulers who came after her. I respect the amount of research Casati did as she weaved myth with historical fact to make a thrilling and engaging novel. If you want a novel that explores a completely different time period with a strong woman ruler, I highly recommend you read “Babylonia” by Costanza Casati.

Book Review: “The Queen’s Granddaughter” by Diane Zahler

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When a medieval princess married, most of the time, she had to take an arduous journey to their new country. For many of these royal ladies, they had an idea that this would be their fate at a young age, but for others, it would come as a complete surprise. Take, for example, Blanca (Blanche) of Castile. She was the granddaughter of the indomitable Eleanor of Aquitaine. When it is time to create a marriage alliance between Castile and France, Blanca believes that her sister Urraca will be the one who will become Queen of France. However, Eleanor has other plans. How will the journey change Blanca and get her ready to rule a nation? Diane Zahler tells the tale of Blanca’s journey to the throne in her middle grade novel, “The Queen’s Granddaughter.”

I would like to thank Roaring Brook Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I tend to read books tailored towards young adults and adults, but I wanted to see how middle grade books handle historical figures. My love of history started with a middle grade book, so I wanted to see how middle grade books are for the next generation of history nerds.

We are introduced to Blanca of Castile when she was twelve years old. As the daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England, Blanca realizes that she will have to marry one day, but she wants to stay with her family in Castile. With the arrival of her grandmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, from England to discuss a match between Castile and the French dauphin Louis. Blanca believes that the intended bride will be her elder sister Urraca, but she doesn’t want her sister to leave. Grandmother Eleanor has a different plan and says that the bride to be is Blanca.

To say Blanca is shocked will be an understatement, but after spending time with her best friend Suna and her family, who are Almohads, Blanca decides that she will go to France. Suna, grandmother Eleanor, and Sir William Marshal join Blanca in her journey over the Pyrenees Mountains to France. The journey is arduous as they encounter a snow storm that lands the party in a cave while grandmother Eleanor recovers from an illness. They also face off against Hugh de Lusignan, a man who is seeking vengeance. Throughout the journey, Blanca learns that a queen must make difficult decisions and say the hardest goodbyes for the good of her new kingdom.

This was a great novel to get younger future history nerds interested in history. It was well researched and even gives Zahler’s readers mini biographies about the main characters so that they can begin their own journey into medieval European history. If you want a book for a young history lover in your life that focuses on medieval Castile and France, I recommend you check out “The Queen’s Granddaughter” by Diane Zahler.

Book Review: “The Boleyn Curse” by Alexandra Walsh

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The court of Henry VIII was a treacherous place for anyone, but especially for the Boleyn family. We all know the stories of Anne, Mary, George, and Thomas, but one figure from this illustrious family does not get enough attention: Elizabeth Boleyn, the mother of Anne, Mary, and George. What was her relationship like with her family, her husband, and most importantly, King Henry VIII? And what does a Chaucer manuscript recently discovered at Cerensthorpe Abbey have to do with Elizabeth and the Boleyns? Alxandra Walsh explores the life of Elizabeth Boleyn and the mystery of the missing Chaucer in her latest dual-timeline novel, “The Boleyn Curse.”

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoy a good dual-timeline novel, and when I saw that this one also featured Elizabeth Boleyn as the main character, I was intrigued. Elizabeth Boleyn has not been the focus of novels of the Boleyn family that I have read, so I was interested to see how her story would translate into historical fiction.

Since this is a dual timeline novel, there are two main timelines. We get to explore the Tudor period with Elizabeth Boleyn and the modern day with Tabitha Mundy, the archivist of Cerensthorpe Abbey. We begin with the modern storyline and Tabitha, who is employed by the owner of Cerensthorpe Abbey, Edith Swanne, to archive the entire estate. Tabitha is dealing with the death of her husband, Blake, when she meets Edith’s nephew and heir to the estate, Gulliver. Edith gives Tabitha the task of finding a missing Chaucer manuscript by decoding clues left behind in a journal from the 1900s. The journey to the missing manuscript holds a connection to Elizabeth Boleyn and the curse upon the family.

We also jump back to the life of Elizabeth Boleyn, who was Elizabeth Howard when the audience is introduced to her in 1485. Her father was arrested by the new King Henry VII for supporting King Richard III, but eventually the family rebuilt their reputation. Elizabeth falls in love with Thomas Boleyn and joins the glittery court of King Henry VIII, where she catches the eye of Henry VIII himself. Elizabeth fights for her family and the love of her husband, even if it means making an enemy of the crown itself.

I think this was a decent novel, even though it explored my least favorite rumor about the Boleyn family. I also thought the diary entries were a bit distracting from the rest of the narratives, a case of too many stories going on at once. Overall, I did enjoy this book. If you want a novel that is a dual timeline or a novel that features Elizabeth Boleyn, you should check out “The Boleyn Curse” by Alexandra Walsh.

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘The Queen’s Maid/ The Anne Boleyn Chronicles’ by Rozsa Gaston”

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Today, I am pleased to welcome Rozsa Gaston to my blog to share a spotlight for her book series “The Anne Boleyn Chronicles” and her latest novel, “The Queen’s Maid.” I would like to thank Rozsa Gaston and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

 

Blurb:  

The Tudor series continues! For fans of Philippa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick, Carol McGrath, and Anne O’Brien.

A new adventure begins for Anne…

France, 1514

After an enlightening period of training as a lady’s maid at Margaret of Austria’s court, Anne Boleyn has been sent to France.

She arrives at the Palace of Tournelles, home of ageing King Louis and his new English wife, Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII. As Anne speaks French, her main role is to serve as translator for Queen Mary.

Anne’s sister Mary is also at the French court, and Anne soon learns that not everyone is pleased about the union between the French king and his young queen.

The king’s cousin-in-law, Louise of Savoy, is desperate for Queen Mary not to fall pregnant, so that her son, Francis, will ascend the throne.

And with Louise and the English queen pulling Anne in two different directions, it will not be possible to appease everyone.

Can Anne successfully navigate the familial politics at the French royal court? Will she make her mark as one of the queen’s maids?

Or could her divided loyalties prove to be her undoing…?

THE QUEEN’S MAID is a thoroughly researched, fascinating historical novel set during the 16th century in Europe. It is the second book in the Anne Boleyn Chronicles series.

‘Wonderfully detailed and entirely enjoyable. This is a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.’ – Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens.

THE ANNE BOLEYN CHRONICLES SERIES:
Book One: Maid of Honour
Book Two: The Queen’s Maid
Book Three: Queen of Diamonds 

Buy Links: 

Universal Buy Links: 

Book 1: https://getbook.at/MaidOfHonour  

Book 2: https://getbook.at/TheQueensMaid 

Book 3: https://getbook.at/QueenOfDiamondsAB  

Series Buy Links: 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNQHK66N  

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQHK66N  

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio: 

Rozsa Gaston is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.  

She is the author of Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria’s Court, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, The Queen’s Maid: Anne Boleyn in France, Queen of Diamonds: The French Royal Court, Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction. 

Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, and Budapest Romance. 

Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor, WR Capital, and as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian before becoming a novelist.  

She is currently working on Book Four of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, covering Anne Boleyn’s time at the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. She lives in Bronxville, New York, with her family. 

Her motto? History matters. 

Author Links: 

Website: www.rozsagaston.com  

Twitter / X: https://x.com/RozsaGaston  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozsa.gaston/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozsagastonauthor/  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rozsa-gaston  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rozsagastonbooks  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rozsa-Gaston/author/B0084F8MJE  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5391292.Rozsa_Gaston  

 

 

 

Book Review: “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey

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Have you ever stared at a portrait of a historical figure and wondered if that’s what they really looked like? Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous queens in all of English history. Her image of a woman with dark hair, wearing a dark gown with a French hood, and a B initial necklace. For many people, this is what Anne Boleyn looked like, but is that accurate? What did Anne Boleyn look like, and why does it matter? The most recent exhibit at Hever Castle explores these questions, and the book that accompanies this exhibit goes deeper into the research behind this exhibit. The book shares the same name as the exhibit, “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey.

I would like to thank Owen Emmerson for sending me a copy of this book. I have been interested in this exhibit ever since it was announced that Dr. Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey were researching portraits of Anne Boleyn. Since I could not visit the exhibit in person, I really wanted a copy of this companion book as a way to support the research that is ongoing at Hever Castle.

So how can we possibly understand what a woman who lived over 500 years ago looked like? Well, to begin with, we need to examine how her daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, brought her mother’s name and figure out of obscurity to solidify her own legitimacy as Queen of England. We get an exploration of corridor portraits and the famous Chequers Ring to show how the Elizabethans remembered Anne Boleyn. The book then moves to the term damnatio memoriae, which was a Roman practice to eliminate someone’s name and images from history. In the case of Anne Boleyn, her image and name were not eliminated, and in fact, we do have a few artifacts that survived to the modern day, including some that were recently discovered, and her personal books.

Now, we come to the main topic of the exhibition, what Anne Boleyn looked like. We get to examine physical descriptions of Anne, including her hair color, which might surprise people. We also get a glimpse of how Anne’s European education shaped her time as queen consort. Finally, Emmerson and McCaffrey give their readers a deep dive into contemporary portraits of Anne, what messages the portraits tell, and how the image of Anne transformed over the centuries through different media. This includes an in-depth analysis of the Hever Rose portrait, which is one of the most famous portraits of Anne Boleyn, that recently underwent more scientific research.

I loved this book so much. I learned a great deal from this book, and I am sure the exhibit is fabulous in person. The amount of research that went into this exhibit and this book was extraordinary, and I applaud the respect that they gave to those historians who came before in this field of research. If you are a Tudor nerd or an Anne Boleyn fan, the new exhibit at Hever Castle is a must-see exhibit, and “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey is a book you must read.

Book Review: “Joan of Arc: A History” by Helen Castor

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We all believe we know the story of Joan of Arc, one of the patron Saints of France. A young peasant woman who God called to lead the dauphin to the altar to be crowned King Charles VII of France in a time of civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as the continuation of the war between England and France. It was a political quagmire, but somehow, as the story goes, Joan of Arc resolved the civil war and gave France a fighting chance against the English. But what did Joan of Arc actually accomplish during her short life? Helen Castor examines the life of this extraordinary young woman in her book “Joan of Arc: A History.”

 

I have been following Helen Castor for a few years now, and I have heard about this book, but I have not read it until now. Since I have started studying medieval history, I have read a few accounts of Joan of Arc, but I have never read a full biography about the Maid herself, so I was excited to learn more. 

 

To understand the reason why a single young woman who donned armor and led an army to victory, we must go back to the beginning of the conflict between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as how the English had the advantage over the French at this time in the Hundred Years’ War. France had a relatively weak King Charles VI, who suffered from mental illness. Two potential leaders emerged from the chaos: the king’s son, the dauphin, Charles VII, for the Armagnacs, and John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, for the Burgundians. The Burgundians were a commanding force; the Armagnacs needed a miracle, or in this case, a maiden sent by God.

 

Joan was seen as just a peasant girl from Domremy who heard voices. This may not seem extremely extraordinary in an age where many men and women claimed to have heard voices from God. However, what separated Joan from others before her was the fact that she donned armor and led the Armagnac army during the Orleans campaign. She was victorious and was able to have the dauphin crowned King Charles VII of France. However, her luck shortly ran out when she was captured by the English, placed on trial, and declared guilty of heresy before she was burned at the stake. Finally, Castor examines the trial to redeem Joan’s legacy and how a mere girl became a patron saint of an entire country.

 

I found this a very engaging and informative biography about Joan of Arc. Castor not only tells her audience the story of a girl who became an icon, but also the story of how France was broken and became whole again. If you are a fan of medieval history, you will enjoy “Joan of Arc: A History” by Helen Castor. 

Book Review: “The Lost Diary of Lucrezia Borgia” by Johnny Teague

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Have you ever wondered what it might be like to discover a long-lost diary of a historical figure by accident? Archaeologist Giuseppe Campise has already found a diary of Mary Magdalene. Now, the Vatican wants Giuseppe to uncover the tomb of Alexander the Great. However, while on the search for the tomb, Giuseppe finds something even more precious, the diary of Lucrezia Borgia. What secrets does the diary hold? Johnny Teague tells the tale of Lucrezia Borgia through her diary in his latest novel, “The Lost Diary of Lucrezia Borgia.”

I would like to thank Histria Fiction and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been interested in Lucrezia Borgia’s story since reading “Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia” by Samantha Morris, so I wanted to see how her story would translate into a historical fiction novel.

Since this book is actually a novella, I will try to keep this review short. We begin with Giuseppe Campise as he begins his search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. Along the way, he gets lost and finds the tomb of Pope Leo X. By the tomb, he finds a diary that was written by Lucrezia Borgia, so he begins to read.

Lucrezia’s diary begins with her reflecting on her life as she is ill with her final pregnancy. This diary is really her autobiography, beginning in her childhood, when her father was Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, before he became Pope Alexander VI. We also get to see how close Lucrezia was to her brother Cesare and how it changes over time. Since they are the illegitimate children of a Pope, they are expected to make alliances through marriages and military might. Lucrezia was married three times. Her first marriage was to Giovanni Sforza, but it was quickly dissolved by her father, Pope Alexander VI. Her second marriage, to Alfonso of Aragon, resulted in a son, Rodrigo, before Alfonso died young. Lucrezia’s final husband was Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. We get to see how Lucrezia’s life was changed through the chaotic politics of the Italian states, the constant wars, and the schemes of her father and her brother Cesare. Lucrezia was not just a one-dimensional character, but is well developed, and you feel sympathy for what she is going through.

Personally, I think this was a decent novella, but the subplot with Giuseppe did not feel necessary for me. The story of Lucrezia Borgia could stand on its own without the modern bits cutting in. Overall, I enjoyed this novella. If you enjoy reading about Lucrezia Borgia, her life and times, you might enjoy “The Lost Diary of Lucrezia Borgia” by Johnny Teague.