Author: hmalagisi

Book Review: “Devil’s Gambit” by Jeri Westerson

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The year is 1540, and King Henry VIII is looking for a wife. He has been a widower for over three years, and his councilor Thomas Cromwell believes that a foreign alliance will be the best path forward for England, so he arranges a marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves. In theory, it should be a good match, but it falls apart quickly. To top it all off, one of Anne of Cleves’ Maid of Honour brought her own drama to court that ended with a murder. Can Will Somers, the King’s Fool, navigate the drama at court while dealing with his own love life, or will the mystery of the missing body prove too much for him to handle? This is the premise of the next book in the King’s Fool Mysteries series called “Devil’s Gambit.”

I would like to thank Old London Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoyed the previous books in this series that I have read, so I wanted to see what would happen next for Will Somers.

We begin with the disastrous first meeting between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves before their wedding. Since Anne did not understand English or English customs, she was confused. Henry wanted to send her away immediately, but Will convinced Henry to become friends with Anne. At the same time, Will is introduced to Anne’s Maid of Honour, Margaret Loy, a German woman who has fallen in love with an English gentleman. However, the gentleman’s father does not approve of the match.

Things take a drastic turn when Lord Humphrey, the gentleman’s father, is found dead in Margaret’s chamber. The only person for the case is, of course, Henry’s jester Will Somers, but as soon as he starts the case, the body goes missing. To top it all off, Will is dealing with his relationships with his wife Marion and his lover Sir Nicholas Pachett Lord Hammond. Sir Nicholas has recently gotten married and is now asking Will for help in his marriage. Talk about an awkward situation. Will must choose who he truly loves, while giving relationship advice to the King, helping Anne navigate the English court, and solving a murder mystery.

While I did think the relationship exploits of Will Somers did take up a bit too much of this book and took away from the mystery itself, I think it was a decent novel. If you are a fan of the previous novels in the King’s Fool Mysteries, you will enjoy “Devil’s Gambit” by Jeri Westerson.

Book Review: “The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens” by Nicola Clark

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When we think about queens of the Tudor dynasties, we often think about films and dramas that show the queen with a gaggle of girls following behind, gossiping, and just being best friends with their queen. However, things on TV and on the screen are not always truthful. The ladies-in-waiting during the Tudor dynasty lived on a tightrope on whether to live their truths or to stay neutral and silent. For centuries, these women tended to be in the shadows of those whom they served, until now. Nicola Clark, in her debut book, “The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens,” tells the stories of these hidden figures of Tudor history.

I have been following Nicola Clark on social media and her research. When I heard that she was writing a book about the ladies-in-waiting for the Tudor queens, I was intrigued. I wanted to see what new information Clark could provide to the study of the Tudor court.

Clark has decided to focus on the ladies-in-waiting during the reign of the six wives of Henry VIII. While there were numerous ladies-in-waiting during Henry’s 36-year reign, Clark has made a conscious decision to focus on a select few of the women who served. She has chosen seven women to highlight: Maria de Salinas, Lady Willoughby, Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk, Mary Howard, Duchess of Richmond, Gertrude Blount, Marchioness of Exeter, Jane Parker, Viscountess Rochford, Anne Basset, and Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk. Some of these figures, such as Maria de Salinas, Jane Parker, and Katherine Willoughby, are relatively familiar to average Tudor fans; however, including other women from different levels of service, from novices to more experienced ladies, adds depth to this area of study.

Clark shows us as readers what life was like for a lady-in-waiting, what they would deal with daily at court, and how, after they got married, home life was like. We get to see how they navigated an ever-changing world, from switching between queens quickly to figuring out what they were willing to sacrifice for their position and their families, as well as discovering whether their faith was strong enough to survive the dynasty. It was all a matter of time and patience.

 I found this an enjoyable read with stories about women who were often on the sidelines. Clark shed light on more obscure Tudors, and I think it gave more dimension to the tumultuous Tudor court. I am curious what Clark will write about next. If you want to learn more about the ladies-in-waiting for the wives of Henry VIII, I recommend you read “The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens” by Nicola Clark.

Book Review: “‘If Any Person Will Meddle of My Cause’: The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn” by Heather R. Darsie

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We all know the story of Anne Boleyn. The story of the English noblewoman who caught the eye of King Henry VIII, who decided to divorce his first wife, Katharine of Aragon, to marry Anne. He broke away from Rome and created the Church of England to do it, but marital bliss did not last long, as a few years later, Anne would leave their three-year-old daughter Elizabeth behind when she was executed by Henry over charges of adultery. We know this version of the story, but what if we look at Anne’s story from a continental European perspective? How does her story change when we view her life through a religious lens? Heather R. Darsie hopes to show her audience a different side of Anne Boleyn in her latest book, “‘If Any Person Will Meddle of My Cause’: The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn.”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed Darsie’s previous books because she adds depth to the Tudor dynasty by exploring European sources that are not prevalent in other nonfiction books about the Tudors. When I heard that she was writing a book about the fall of Anne Boleyn, I was curious to see what new information her continental sources would provide to Anne’s story.

So, how do you add something new to Anne Boleyn’s story when it is one of the most discussed topics when it comes to studying the Tudors? Darsie explains that her book is not a typical book about Anne Boleyn, as it focuses briefly on Anne’s life and examines the legal, religious, and international contexts surrounding her life. Each chapter of this book begins with part of a poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt, which is a nice touch as he was an admirer of Anne Boleyn. The first part of the book was a bit of an overview of Anne’s life, but Darsie did not go into much depth about Anne’s fall. Instead, she shows the relationships between England and continental Europe with the different political powerhouses. I found the information about the relationship between England and the German princes particularly interesting. It is these relationships that would prove pivotal in Anne’s life, reign, and fall from grace.

It is truly part two where Darsie shines. It is here that she focuses on the religious aspects of Anne’s fall. We all know that Anne was a bit more radical when it came to her religious views, but Darsie takes it a step further. She shows how England was trying to break from Rome centuries before Henry came along. Then, we get to see the religious reformers of England and of Europe who impacted Anne’s religious leanings. There is also an incident in Munster with the Anabaptists that freaked out Henry VIII very badly. Once you put the pieces together that Darsie lays out, it is quite astounding. 

As someone who reads a lot about Anne Boleyn, I am always looking for a new approach to her life. This is exactly what I wanted. By the end, I was speechless, and it brought new life to Anne’s fall and ultimate death. If you are a Tudor nerd and want a new angle to Anne Boleyn’s story, I highly recommend you read “‘If Any Person Will Meddle of My Cause’: The Judicial Murder of Anne Boleyn” by Heather R. Darsie.

Book Review: “Queens at War: England’s Medieval Queens” by Alison Weir

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The fifteenth century in England was a time of war. Between a usurper king, fighting with France, and fighting amongst themselves, an English king must be prepared to go into battle at any moment, and his queen must be ready to support him in any way. During this period, there were five kings and queens, and while the kings get a lot of attention, it is the queens who should get their flowers for what they did in times of distress. Alison Weir explores the lives of the final five Plantagenet queens in her final book in the England’s Medieval Queens series, entitled “Queens at War.”

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I am a big fan of Weir’s books, and I have thoroughly enjoyed her England’s Medieval Queens series. I wanted to see which queens Weir would focus on in this book and how she would approach their lives.

The years covered in this last book are 1399-1485, covering the reigns of Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Edward IV, and Richard III. The queens featured in this book are Joan of Navarre, Katherine of Valois, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Woodville (spelled Widville in this book), and Anne Neville. While I am familiar with the stories of Katherine, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Anne, Joan is a less well-known figure to me. Weir gives her readers a bit of background information about how Joan of Navarre was Henry IV’s second wife after his first wife, Mary de Bohun, died. Joan was married previously as well, to John IV de Montfort, Duke of Brittany. While she did have children with John, she never had royal children with Henry IV. Weir shows how Joan was treated as the stepmother to King Henry V after he married Katherine of Valois.

Weir explores Katherine of Valois’ relationships with both Henry V, the warrior king, and Owen Tudor, the man she fell in love with after the death of Henry V. We get to see how Katherine’s son, Henry VI, and his wife, Margaret of Anjou, dealt with the rising Yorkist faction. With her husband taking ill, it was Margaret of Anjou who was the figurehead for the Lancastrian cause in a conflict that would be known as the Wars of the Roses. Eventually, a young man named Edward IV would become King of England, and he shook the English court by marrying an English woman, Elizabeth Widville (Woodville). Finally, Weir explores the downfall of the Plantagenet dynasty and the end of the young Yorkist regime with Richard III and his wife Anne Neville.

Overall, I found this an informative and easy-to-follow book. It was a bit of a review for me as I am familiar with this period, but I found myself learning new information in this book, which was exciting. I think if you want to learn about 15th-century queens or if you are a fan of England’s Medieval Queens series, I recommend you read “Queens at War” by Alison Weir.

Book Review: “Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe” by Janina Ramirez

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When we think of famous medieval European women, we often think of figures like Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile. They are seen as women who broke the mold and challenged traditional stereotypes by becoming leaders in traditionally male-dominated fields. These women would be used to craft the identities of their respective nations, but they would help shape the identities of other women from the 18th and 19th centuries. We think we know the stories about these medieval women and their lives, but what new information can we learn from their lives when we examine their lives from their eras? Janina Ramirez takes the stories of seven medieval women and their contemporaries to show how their legacies have been transformed in her latest book, “Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe.”

This is the third book that I have read by Janina Ramirez, as I have read her book “Femina” and her biography on Julian of Norwich, which I loved. So when I saw that she was writing a new book about medieval women, I knew it was an instant buy for me.

While there have been centuries worth of amazing women from all over the world, Ramirez is focusing on seven countries/areas of interest: France, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, the Low Countries, Germany, Italy, and Britain. In each chapter, Ramirez focuses on two women or groups of women, one from the medieval era and one from either the 18th or the 19th century. For the medieval period, she has selected: Joan of Arc, Isabella of Castile, Anna Komene, Marie of Oignies and the Beguines, Empress Adelaide of Bavaria, Catherine of Siena, and Lady Godiva. For the more modern women, Ramirez focuses on Charlotte Corday, Agustina Raimunda Maria Saragossa, Laskarina Bouboulina, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Lola Montez, Anna ‘Nina’ Morisi, and Queen Victoria. 

What is truly inspiring about this book is seeing these stories removed from the glossy veneer used to promote nationalism, to show that these women were real and they made a difference by being themselves. We get to see warriors, writers, queens, empresses, revolutionaries, and religious women. However, we also get to see them as daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers. These women did not live in a vacuum. They lived and were more than just symbols for their nations. They fought in their own ways for what they believed was right, whether it was to protect their families or their nations, or following the path set forward by their faith. These women were real, and they were not myths; they were human. 

This is another sensational book by Ramirez. While I did know a few of the medieval women featured in this book, I knew nothing about the 18th and 19th-century women, which was thrilling to see how Ramirez weaved these tales together. I loved this book so much, and I am excited to see what she will write next. If you love medieval women’s history and learning more about their legacies, I highly recommend you read  “Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe” by Janina Ramirez.

Book Review: “Canticle” by Janet Rich Edwards

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Have you ever believed in something or someone so much that you were willing to do anything to be with them? What if it meant isolating yourself from everyone and everything you loved? Aleys knows this all too well. Born near Bruges during the 13th century, Aleys believes that she is destined for great things and has religious visions. Can this young woman survive both religious and political challenges to make her aspirations of being closer to God a reality, or will she fly too close to the sun and lose everything? Janet Rich Edwards tells Alleys’ tale in her debut novel, “Canticle.”

I would like to thank Spiegel & Grau and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I am always looking for a fresh approach to the past, so when I read the premise of this novel, it sparked an interest in me. As it is a debut featuring a religious group of women that I was not familiar with, the beguines, I wanted to see how Edwards’s writing style would bring something new to medieval historical fiction.

“Canticle” is a novel that follows three main narrators: Aleys, the young woman who longs to have a deeper relationship with God; Friar Lukas, who wants to grow his monastery; and Jaan Smet, Bishop of Tournai, who wants to get closer to the pope and power. We begin with Aleys as a young woman. She lives with her mother, father, brothers, and sister. Her mother died during childbirth, leaving the family broken. Aleys’s father decides to marry her off to a rich merchant, but Aleys decides that she wants to live a religious life, so she runs away. It is here she meets Friar Lukas, a Franciscan, and she wants to become a Franciscan, but Lukas convinces her to join the community of beguines.

It is in the community of beguines that Aleys discovers her true self and a series of translations that will send shockwaves all the way to Rome. The Bishop wanted to take down this community so that he could earn the respect of Rome and possibly become a cardinal. However, it was Aleys who was about to change with a miracle that sent the town into a frenzy. It was Friar Lukas who convinced Aleys to take the ultimate step and become an anchoress. It was when Aleys became an anchoress that Edwards truly shines because she shows the isolation that an anchoress might feel in her cell. But life has a way of reaching even an isolated cell, and Aleys must choose whether to save herself or her beloved beguines.

I found this a delightfully evocative novel about medieval religious life. It made me feel sympathy for the beguines and the anchoresses who were willing to risk it all to get closer to God. I really enjoyed Edwards’ writing style, and I can’t wait to see what she will write about next. If you want something medieval that focuses on religious life, I would recommend you read “Canticle” by Janet Rich Edwards.

Book Review: “The Thistle and The Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor” by Linda Porter

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The Tudors have been an area of fascination for historians and history nerds alike for centuries. The attention tends to focus on either Henry VIII and his six wives or his daughter, Elizabeth I, but we need to remember that they were not the only Tudors. In fact, we should remember that Henry VIII had siblings, Arthur, Margaret, and Mary. While Arthur and Mary tend to get more attention due to their proximity to Henry VIII and his marital life, Margaret Tudor had her own eventful life as Queen of Scotland and the mother of King James V. Linda Porter tells Margaret’s story in her latest biography, “The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor.”

I had heard that Porter was writing a new biography about Margaret Tudor, so I knew I wanted to read it. I have read a few books about Margaret Tudor, but they have been relatively short, so I wanted to see what new information Porter would include in this book.

Margaret Tudor was the second child of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York. As such, she was destined to marry a foreign prince and create a strong alliance for the brand-new Tudor dynasty. Since her brother Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, Margaret’s parents chose a match with Scotland and King James IV, who was twice the age of Margaret. As Queen of Scotland, Margaret did her best to bridge the gap between England and Scotland, deal with her husband’s mistresses and illegitimate children, and be a mother to her son, King James V.

Everything changed when James IV died at the Battle of Flodden. Margaret was now a widow and regent for the young King James V. To protect her family, Margaret decided to marry Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, which turned out to be a trainwreck. Although Archibald did give Margaret her daughter, Margaret Douglas, he was stealing from Margaret’s own properties, which was a jerk move. Margaret wanted a divorce, but her dear brother Henry VIII was against the idea. A bit hypocritical, especially since he would divorce Catherine of Aragon a few years later. Eventually, Margaret would divorce Archibald and marry a third time to Henry Stewart, Lord Methven.

Throughout history, Margaret Tudor has been viewed negatively because she married Archibald so quickly, but Porter showed that Margaret should be applauded for how she survived during difficult circumstances. She fought for herself and her children, even if it meant that she was at odds with her husbands or her brother. Through her letters, we see how Margaret was a diplomat trying to make peace between England and Scotland.

Porter does an excellent job telling Margaret’s story in a respectful manner. This book is extremely well researched and easy to read. If you are a Tudor fan and you want to learn more about Henry VIII’s sister Margaret Tudor, I highly recommend you read “The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor” by Linda Porter.

Guest Post: “Researching ‘The Traitor’s Son’” by Wendy Johnson

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I am pleased to welcome Wendy Johnson to my blog today to share information about her research for her novel, “The Traitor’s Son.” I would like to thank Wendy Johnson and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

I’ve been fascinated by the period known retrospectively as the Wars of the Roses since childhood, so when I came to write ‘The Traitor’s Son’ I already had a grounding in the history. Over the years, I’ve amassed a number of secondary sources: biographies of the principal figures, battlefield histories, political commentaries, and so on, and these have proved invaluable in forming the backbone of the novel. These days, a great deal of primary sources are digitally transcribed, and can be a valuable means of verifying details which would be more difficult to access. 

My intention was always to underpin my fiction with fact. I didn’t want to invent things for the sake of the story—for me, the events of the fifteenth century are in themselves dramatic and exciting enough without the need for fabrication. But of course, the duty of a historical novelist is to add flesh to the bones, to bring the past to life, and this is essential as the reader has to be able to empathise with the characters and understand their motivation. So, how did I go about researching the lives of Edward IV, Richard Neville, earl of Warwick— and of course, my protagonist, young Richard Plantagenet, the future Richard III? 

I do feel as though I’ve grown up with these figures—the first castle I ever visited as a child was Raby Castle, in County Durham, home to the dynamic Neville family, and a fascination for this remarkable dynasty was formed. My lifelong interest in Richard III himself was kindled during a visit to Middleham Castle, Yorkshire, at the age of eight and has remained with me ever since. I’ve always had a sense of what I feel my characters were really like, but of course, that wasn’t enough: to write a believable novel, I needed to fully research their lives and the events which formed them, before I could consider recreating them on paper. Biographies proved extremely helpful, most providing a clear background to the lives of each individual and helping to form a realistic picture of that particular person, what their personalities may have been, and, in particular, who and what may have influenced them. This was significantly important when it came to Richard himself. 

The frustrating thing about the study of the fifteenth century is that, although some primary sources do survive, they are fewer in number than those of the following century, and those that do survive are mostly official documents. It would be wonderful if we could consult, for example, a greater number of personal letters from those concerned. We do have some, but once again, these tend to be letters composed in an official capacity. Those which remain, however, can help cast small rays of light on the people as individuals, for example, the letter sent by a youthful Edward IV, and his brother Edmund, to the Duke of York, thanking him for the gowns he has sent them and requesting him to deal with ‘the odious rule’ of Richard Croft and his brother, fellow trainee knights, who appear to have been bullying them. Although my novel does not cover this earlier period, the letter is illustrative of the comfortable relationship the sons of York had with their father. Likewise, Richard’s letter to his mother, written as king and signed ‘your most humble son’, requesting her ‘daly blessing to my synguler comfort’ offers a small insight into the affection and respect he bore for her. Although such correspondence is rare, many documents having been destroyed in the following century, letters like these do provide a glimpse of both Edward and Richard’s closeness to their parents. 

The relationships of the York family, one to another, are the focus of ‘The Traitor’s Son’. Rather than a sweeping saga, I very much wanted to keep the action close, concentrating on Richard and his brothers, Edward IV and George, duke of Clarence, their sister, Margaret, mother, Cecily—and the man, whom I believe played a huge part in young Richard’s upbringing, his cousin and mentor, Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. Research into the life of Richard III indicates a deep reverence for the memory of his father, the Duke of York. York’s death in battle, when Richard was only eight years old, and the danger in which the family was placed thereafter, must have had a devastating effect on the boy. According to the Centre for Male Psychology…research shows the father-child relationship is an important one. In fact, it can be more influential than the mother-child relationship. This is especially true for the 8-12 year old child as they try to make sense of the outside world…’ i This observation helped confirm my theory that following the death of the Duke of York, it would have been natural for Richard to have searched for a father figure in his life, and that this figure could well have been his cousin, Warwick. 

Regarding locations, I found I could call on personal experience for some, but had to research others. Having grown up close to Middleham, I know the castle inside and out, so it was very easy to imagine the scenes set within its walls. The city of York, which was very familiar to Richard, remains in part unchanged, and again, it was an easy matter to reimagine his time there. Warwick Castle is another fortress I’ve visited in person, although naturally there have been additions since the days of Richard Neville. London needed to be researched carefully, as very little remains from the medieval period. I found an amazing resource on the Internet entitled the Agas Map of Early Modern London, which uses the Civitas Londinium, a detailed woodcut created in 1561. This incredible, interactive tool allows the user to search for particular streets, churches, parishes, gates, and so on. Highlighting these on the map, it becomes possible to visualise the city at a time not too distant from the period in which my novel is set. For Richard’s exile in the Low Countries, both at the age of eight and again at eighteen, I had to rely on published histories and on images and information I found online. A visual recreation of the Bishop’s Palace at Utrecht (where Richard and his brother, George, resided following their father’s defeat) was extremely useful, as was a delightful video I found of the adjacent tower, the Dom Toren, which actually featured the sound of its bells—so different in their melody from the chimes which would have been a constant accompaniment to life in London. 

My favourite element of the writing process will always be the creative part—seeing the characters in my mind’s eye, imagining their emotions and bringing them to life—but my greatest desire with the novel was to create an authentic narrative, and that meant remaining true to the facts and to the people who populate its pages. These were, after all, real people, and I felt I had a duty to portray them with respect and in the most accurate way I could. Therefore, research and facts remain twin components of ‘The Traitor’s Son’. 

Blurb:   

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose… 

1461: Richard, Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place. 

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and anointed king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections. 

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.  

In “The Traitor’s Son”, Wendy Johnson weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits.   

Perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel, Annie Garthwaite, and Sharon K. Penman.

Praise for The Traitor’s Son: 

“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.” 

~ Philippa Langley, MBE 

 

“Sometimes the perfect use of the written word takes my breath away. Not very often, but this book is it. A wonderful story written so beautifully that I shall not forget it for a long time. Everything to my mind is perfect. The language, the story, the pacing. Just wonderful.” 

~ Kindle Customer, 5* Amazon Review 

 

“Wonderfully woven story of a young Richard III. Woven with a sure knowledge of the history and a realistic telling of a story about a young boy finding his way through tragedy and triumph, uncertainty, and a legacy he cannot escape.
Brilliant debut which promises more and more.” 

~ Cris, 5* Amazon Review 

 

“I loved this novel, it was beautifully written, extremely atmospheric, the characters’ personalities came through perfectly, can’t wait for the next instalment.” 

~ Linda Hayward, 5* Amazon Review 

 

“Really enjoyed this book. Holds the reader enthralled from the first paragraph to the last. The next volume can’t be released soon enough.” 

~ J.M. Henderson, 5* Amazon Review 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link:    https://books2read.com/u/mdJqL5  

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

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Author Bio:    

Wendy Johnson has a lifelong passion for medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives that immerse the reader in the past and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies and was a runner-up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008. 

Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Account of Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019 received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.   

THE TRAITOR’S SON, volume one in a Richard III trilogy, is Wendy’s debut novel, and she is currently working on the sequel. 

Author Links: 

Author’s Page on Publisher’s Website: https://madeglobal.com/authors/wendy-johnson/  

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/p/Wendy-Johnson-Author-61558759768505/ 

Book Bub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/wendy-johnson-cf3f97f7-3a8e-46d9-8394-c5a08caa594d  

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0D14SQJP3  

Goodreads:               https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208871994-the-traitor-s-son 

 

Book Review: “Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth” by Michele Schindler

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Throughout history, many aspects of life have changed drastically, but one thing has remained the same: the different stages of life—birth, youth, adolescence, adulthood, old age, and death. It is the first stage of life, birth, that tends to get the least amount of attention when it comes to historical research. In recent years, it has been gaining more and more attention, especially when it comes to royal births, which have the most amount of written records. Michele Schindler has chosen to focus on the aspects of medieval childbirth in her latest book, “Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed the previous book that I have read by Michele Schindler, and so when I saw that she had a new book about the medieval period out, I was excited to read it. I have read a few books that featured childbirth, primarily in the Tudor period, but never when it comes to the medieval period, so I wanted to learn more.

Schindler has decided to divide her book into sections, each part focusing on a different stage of childbirth: conception, pregnancy, birth, baptism, infant care, and how society as a whole understood childbirth as part of a woman’s life. Each section has sub-sections that explore aspects like miscarriages, twins, confinement, stillbirths, wet nurses, and deaths during infancy. These are very heavy topics, but they are discussed in a respectful manner.

To give context to the topics discussed, Schindler uses examples from multiple centuries to show how royal and noblewomen dealt with childbirth and its struggles. Some of the women featured in this book include Margaret Beaufort, Margaret of Anjou, Eleanor Cobham, Isabella of Castile, Alice Chaucer, Anne Neville, and Elizabeth of York. She also compared these lives and how they experienced childbirth to the common people to show the difference in status and the importance of ceremonies like confinement to the nobility.

Overall, I found this book to be really well researched, as well as being pretty easy to follow along with. I found a deeper appreciation for medieval women and what they had to go through to have a child. If you want to learn more about medieval childbirth practices pertaining to the higher echelons of society, I would recommend you read “Royal Childbirth in the Middle Ages: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth” by Michele Schindler.

Guest Post: “A Medieval Hospital, Ruined Roman Baths and Magnificent Apartments – Locations in ‘The Cameo Keeper’” by Deborah Swift

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Deborah Swift back to my blog today to share information about the real-life locations for her latest novel, “The Cameo Keeper.” I would like to thank Deborah Swift and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Santo Spirito Hospital 

One of my characters, Jacopo Vanelli, is a surgeon, so he spends his time at the Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome. The ‘Holy Spirit’ hospital was founded in the Middle Ages and was recognised as one of Europe’s oldest and most advanced hospitals. Its remit included not only tending to the sick and the poor, but also taking in unwanted babies, abandoned children, and travellers who fell ill within the bustling heart of Rome. 

Within its grand Renaissance walls, was a museum, an apothecary shop, a public operating theatre and an orphanage run by nuns. The operating theatre became an influential centre for medical education — hosting lectures, dissections, and practical training sessions that drew aspiring doctors from across Italy and Europe.  

Here is the octagonal tower of the main building, below.  

 

The architecture of the hospital was striking, with vast wards, airy cloisters, and a famous spiral staircase designed to allow for the swift transfer of patients. Ornate chapels and frescoes adorned the interior, along with stained glass windows. It was seen as an extension of the Church, in what was considered the holiest city in the Western world. 

The Ruined Roman Baths  

By the 17th century, the once-magnificent Roman baths of the city stood as haunting reminders of Rome’s imperial past. Structures such as the Baths of Caracalla and the Baths of Diocletian, though partially collapsed and overgrown, continued to inspire awe with their towering arches and crumbling mosaics. Locals and visitors alike wandered amidst these grand ruins, imagining the bustling social life and sophisticated engineering that had filled these halls centuries before. 

This was an ideal place for lovers to meet, and two of my characters meet at the Baths of Caracalla. Mostly in decay, the stone was pillaged to build new buildings, but there was also a market in trinkets and souvenirs that went on there amongst the ruins. Artists and antiquarians flocked to the baths, sketching their weathered columns and broken statues, and imagining the naked bathers of centuries before. 

The Vatican Apartments 

One of my characters is the Pope’s sister-in-law, Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, a powerful and wealthy woman who dominated Roman life. Many of my scenes take place in the Vatican Apartments, which represent the heart of papal authority and splendour. These lavish chambers were home to the Pope and his closest advisors, serving as both living quarters but also the centre of Rome’s governance. The apartments showcased the best artistry of Renaissance and Baroque craftsmen. Daily life within the Vatican Apartments was a blend of solemn ritual and political intrigue, with cardinals, diplomats, and foreign dignitaries as regular visitors. 

The most celebrated rooms, such as the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel—already famed for Michelangelo’s ceiling—were objects of wonder and inspiration for all who visited. The Vatican Apartments thus stood not only as the spiritual and administrative core of the Catholic world, but also as a testament to Rome’s enduring patronage of the arts and its pivotal role in shaping the cultural legacy of the 17th century. 

Rome is a fabulous place to set a novel with many beautiful and atmospheric locations, and I hope I’ve used them all to advantage in The Cameo Keeper. 

Blurb: 

Rome 1644: A Novel of Love, Power, and Poison 

 

Remember tonight… for it is the beginning of always ― Dante Alighieri 

 

In the heart of Rome, the conclave is choosing a new Pope, and whoever wins will determine the fate of the Eternal City. 

 

Astrologer Mia and her fiancé Jacopo, a physician at the Santo Spirito Hospital, plan to marry, but the election result is a shock and changes everything. 

As Pope Innocent X takes the throne, he brings along his sister-in-law, the formidable Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, known as La Papessa – the female Pope. When Mia is offered a position as her personal astrologer, she and Jacopo find themselves on opposite sides of the most powerful family in Rome. 

Mia is determined to protect her mother, Giulia Tofana, a renowned poisoner. But with La Papessa obsessed with bringing Giulia to justice, Mia and Jacopo’s love is put to the ultimate test. 

As the new dawn of Renaissance medicine emerges, Mia must navigate the dangerous political landscape of Rome while trying to protect her family and her heart. Will she be able to save her mother, or will she lose everything she holds dear? 

For fans of “The Borgias” and “The Crown,” this gripping tale of love, power, and poison will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. 

Praise: 

‘historical fiction that is brisk, fresh and bristling with intrigue’ 
~ Bookmarked Reviews ★★★★★ 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/CameoKeeper  

Author Bio: 

Deborah Swift is the author of twenty novels of historical fiction.  

Her Renaissance novel in this series, The Poison Keeper, was recently voted Best Book of the Decade by the Wishing Shelf Readers Award. Her WW2 novel Past Encounters was the winner of the BookViral Millennium Award, and is one of seven books set in the WW2 era. 

Deborah lives in the North of England close to the mountains and the sea. 

Author Links: 

Website: www.deborahswift.com  

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

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/swiftstory 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/ 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/