Book Review: “Elizabeth of York and the Birth of the Tudor Dynasty: Uniting the Roses” by Beverley Adams

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Throughout English history, some of the most famous queens have been associated with the Tudor dynasty. We have the six wives of Henry VIII (Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr), Queen Mary I, and Queen Elizabeth I. However, one Tudor queen is often overlooked for her daughters-in-law and granddaughters, the first Tudor queen, Elizabeth of York. So who was Elizabeth of York and what role did she play in the transition between the Plantagenet dynasty and the Tudor dynasty? Beverley Adams hopes to enlighten readers about this remarkable queen in her latest book, “Elizabeth of York and the Birth of the Tudor Dynasty: Uniting the Roses.”

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. While I know quite a bit about Elizabeth of York, the Wars of the Roses, and the origins of the Tudor dynasty, I wanted to see how Adams would portray these topics for beginners. 

To begin with, Adams lays out the origins of the conflict that we know today as the Wars of the Roses with Edward III and his sons, John of Gaunt 1st Duke of Lancaster, and Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York. This led to a clash between King Henry VI and Richard Duke of York. Elizabeth of York’s father, the future King Edward IV, was the son of Richard Duke of York and he had to fight for his throne. Adams explores Elizabeth’s childhood as the eldest child of Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville during this tumultuous period of English history, which would form the foundation of what kind of queen she would be in the future.

Everything changed when Edward IV died suddenly, which meant that Elizabeth’s younger brother became Edward V and left Richard Duke of Gloucester as Lord Protector. For some reason, Richard Duke of Gloucester decided to take matters into his own hands, took control of the country, declared the children of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville illegitimate (including Elizabeth of York), and was crowned King Richard III in a matter of months. Some resisted the new king including the son of Margaret Beaufort and Edmund Tudor, Henry Tudor. Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth Woodville arranged a marriage between Henry and Elizabeth that would occur if Henry was able to defeat Richard III and become King of England, which he did at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The rest of this book is dedicated to showing how Elizabeth of York was as a wife, queen, and mother as she dealt with death, treachery from Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck, and triumphs as she was able to see the start of the Tudor dynasty.

I think Adams does a decent job with a book that is an introduction to Elizabeth of York, the Wars of the Roses, and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. There are some myths that she repeats to debunk, but I feel like, in some places, Elizabeth of York was not the main focus, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, if you want a solid introductory book to the life and times of the first Tudor queen, I would recommend you read, “Elizabeth of York and the Birth of the Tudor Dynasty: Uniting the Roses” by Beverley Adams.

Book Review: “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn” by Estelle Paranque

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A young woman catches the attention of a king already married to a princess from a faraway kingdom. The king desires the young lady and divorces his wife to marry her. However, there is a catch. The young lady spent some time in the French court of Francis I and Claude of France, whereas the king’s wife was the daughter of the Spanish King and Queen as well as the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor. The Great Matter of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine of Aragon is considered one of the messiest divorces in English history and rightfully so when you consider the diplomatic consequences that this divorce would have across Europe. Estelle Paranque highlights the connection between Anne Boleyn and the French court in her latest book, “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn.”

I want to thank Hachette Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I heard that Estelle Paranque was writing a new book about the 16th century, but when I heard that it dealt with Anne Boleyn’s connections with the French court, I jumped at the chance to read it. While I do know quite a bit about the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, it is her connection with the French court that I have never really explored in depth.

Paranque begins her book by examining the meeting between King Henry VIII and King Francis I with Anne Boleyn at Calais between October 25th and 27th, 1532. This was a significant meeting as it was right before Henry and Anne married in secret and they desired that Francis would support their side in the Great Matter. But how did they get to this meeting in Calais? This is where this book shines as Paranque takes the time to show her audience what life was like for Anne in the French court and the connections that she forged with women like Louise of Savoy, Claude of France, and Marguerite of Angouleme Queen of Navarre. It was fascinating to see how the Boleyns were able to use their connections to forge alliances with the French court that would prove useful in the future.

Possibly my favorite part of this book was seeing how the diplomatic channels across Europe interacted with one another during the Great Matter, the queenship of Anne Boleyn, and the fall of the Boleyns. I think we so often overlook that there were diplomats who were working on the sidelines to convey messages between kings and emperors to form or strengthen alliances. While many might consider the way Paranque wrote the correspondence and dialogue between diplomats and the monarchy as hard to get used to because she does insert emotions, I believe it adds depth to the story because they were human beings not in a vacuum. They had feelings about what was happening around them, passionate feelings in fact, and that should be displayed to readers.

While the actual events of this book were not new to me, the way that Paranque was able to present the information and show the men behind the scenes was fascinating. It presents the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in a different more complex light. If you want a different angle to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, I recommend you read, “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn” by Estelle Paranque.

Book Review: “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain” by Heather R. Darsie

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English royal history is filled with fantastic stories of triumphs and tribulations, grand romances, and divorces that shook the foundations of the monarchy. It is also filled with struggles over religion, wars both inside England and with foreign nations, and heartbreaking child losses. We often think about the spouses of the Plantagenets and the Tudors when we think about royal romances, but we shouldn’t forget about the dynasties that came after, like the Stuarts. So how did the Stuart dynasty come to be and how did the unions between monarchs and their significant others affect the dynasty and England? Heather R. Darsie explores this often-overlooked dynasty and the stories of their marriages and romances in her latest book, “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain.”

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I didn’t know much about the Stuarts before reading this book, except for those associated with the Plantagenets and the Tudors. I wanted to learn more about the Stuarts because I tend to stop after the death of Elizabeth I, so when I heard that Darsie was writing a book about the consorts of the Stuart dynasty, it was intriguing to me.

Darsie begins by explaining that she will be exploring the entirety of the Stuart dynasty, starting with its patriarch Walter Fitzalan, Stewart of Scotland for David I of Scotland in the 1100s. It is a fascinating story of how the family went from serving the monarchy to being the rulers of Scotland, all the way up to 1406 when James I became King of Scotland. The first royal consort that Darsie discusses might be familiar to anyone who knows about the origins of the Tudors, Joan Beaufort. We then track the Scottish story of the Stuarts through the death of Mary Queen of Scots through their significant others such as Mary of Guelders, Margaret of Denmark, Margaret Tudor, Madeleine of Valois, Marie de Guise, Francis II of France, Henry Stewart Lord Darnley, and James Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell.

It was under James VI of Scotland that things changed drastically for both England and Scotland as James became King James I of England with the death of Elizabeth I, and so James’ wife Anna of Denmark became the first Stuart Queen of England. This is the segment that I thoroughly enjoyed because they were new stories for me. We have Henriette Marie of France, a Catholic queen who married Charles I who was a Protestant, which did not have a happy ending as we get to see the English Civil War play out and the execution of Charles I on January 30, 1649. Darsie also includes the stories of the women who married Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell, both Lord Protectors of England when the monarchy was not popular. Eventually, the Stuarts returned to their place on the English throne with Charles II and his queen Catherine of Braganza; followed by the women who married James Stewart Duke of York, Anne Hyde and Mary of Modena. James would become James II before the Glorious Revolution led by William of Orange, which led to the co-rulers William III and Mary II. Finally, we reach the tragic tale of Queen Anne of Great Britain and her Prince Consort George of Denmark.

I was so impressed with the amount of stories over centuries that Darsie was able to cover in this book. It was a fantastic introduction to Scottish Stuart history, how the dynasty survived, and created international relationships that allowed England to thrive. There were tales of tragedies, but there were also alliances that created stronger bonds, religious rifts, and romances. This was another triumph for Darsie and it is a book that made me interested in reading more about the Stuarts. If you are like me and you want a book that is a fantastic introduction to the Stuart monarchs and their consorts, I highly recommend you read, “Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain” by Heather R. Darsie.

Guest Post: “A Turbulent Time of Secrets, Spies, and Hidden Treaties” by Elizabeth St. John

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I am pleased to welcome Elizabeth St John to my blog to share a guest post about her latest novel, The King’s Intelligencer. I want to thank Elizabeth St John and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

The inspiration for The King’s Intelligencer arose from my research for The Godmother’s Secret, centered on the mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. During this time, I visited Westminster Abbey, specifically the Chapel of the Innocents, where Sir Christopher Wren’s marble urn—commissioned by Charles II in 1675—allegedly contains the bones of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York. The inscription claims the princes were murdered by their “perfidious uncle Richard the Usurper” and secretly buried in the Tower for 191 years. Standing near the urn, close to where my seventeenth-century character Franny Apsley’s parents, Sir Allen and Frances Apsley, are buried, I began to question the authenticity of this narrative. 

I turned to further research to find out more. Helen Maurer’s paper Bones in the Tower: A Discussion of Time, Place and Circumstance and Annette Carson’s article The Bones in the Urn cast doubt on the identity of the remains. What if these bones weren’t the princes’ at all, but a politically convenient discovery designed to bolster Charles II’s claim to the throne during a period of intense religious and political tension? 

This idea gains significance when we consider the political climate of the late 17th century. Charles II ruled during a time of deep religious divides between Protestants and Catholics. Though Charles outwardly professed Protestantism, he secretly favored Catholicism and converted on his deathbed. His brother, James II, was openly Catholic, which led to his eventual overthrow during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The discovery of the princes’ bones in 1674 provided Charles II with an opportunity to legitimize his reign, portraying himself as a restorer of justice for the murdered princes, and distancing himself from his brother’s Catholic sympathies. 

The timing of the discovery raised questions about whether the bones were used to manipulate public opinion and strengthen Charles’s position. Further research revealed more secrets. I explored the details of the Secret Treaty of Dover, a clandestine agreement between Charles II and Louis XIV of France. In this treaty, Charles promised to declare himself a Catholic in exchange for financial support. This hidden agreement, uncovered years later, underscores the precarious balance of power in 17th-century England and allowed me to link national concerns to my family history.

 

In this climate of political maneuvering, espionage became crucial. Intelligencers gathered information covertly, often operating unofficially, and reported back to their patrons the news and gossip that was circulating. This secretive world provided the perfect backdrop for my protagonist, Franny Apsley, who navigates the hidden loyalties, treaties, and espionage of 17th-century England. A friend remarked that these intelligencers hung around coffee shops and eavesdropped on other people…which sounded just the kind of thing Franny would have done.  

Franny’s family was deeply involved in real-life espionage. In the third book of The Lydiard Chronicles, Written in Their Stars, we follow her parents, Sir Allen, and Frances Apsley, along with her cousin Nan Wilmot, Countess of Rochester, who were all engaged in covert activities during the English Civil War. Nan cleverly deceived Oliver Cromwell to protect her Royalist family and later negotiated her Parliamentarian relative’s release at the Restoration. Meanwhile, Franny’s brother, Peter Apsley, worked as an intelligencer for Charles II and James II, receiving substantial payments for his covert work. This family history inspired the espionage elements of The King’s Intelligencer, imagining Franny following in their footsteps. 

And what about the bones? Even if the present monarch permits DNA testing, the remains may have deteriorated too much to provide conclusive results. If the bones are proven to belong to the princes, we would still lack crucial details—like the cause of death or the identity of their murderer. The mystery of the bones remains unsolved, leaving historians and novelists alike to speculate. 

The King’s Intelligencer blends historical fact with fiction, following Franny Apsley as she embarks on a dangerous quest for truth. Uncovering hidden secrets and navigating espionage, Franny’s journey ultimately reveals how personal and national histories intersect. This novel is a companion to The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, continuing to explore the secrets buried in the past. 

Blurb: 

London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.  

 

Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realizes the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot,  Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbors secrets of his own. 

Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak. 

In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety? 

 

A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life. 

 

 

Buy Links: 

 

This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited. 

 

Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer  

Author Bio: 

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times. 

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story. 

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel. 

 

Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness. 

 

 

Author Links: 

 

Website:

https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/  

Twitter:

https://x.com/ElizStJohn      

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/  

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/  

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/  

Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@elizabethjstjohn  

Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethstjohn.bsky.social  

Book Bub:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john  

Amazon Author Page:

https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn  

Goodreads:

https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn  

 

 

Book Review: “Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King” by Dan Jones

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English history is filled with kings who had to fight for their crown, both at home and away in foreign lands. Men like William the Conqueror, Henry II, Henry IV, Edward IV, and Henry VII can be considered warrior kings, but one stands above them all. He only ruled for a little over nine years, but he proved his worth time and time again, especially against his French adversaries, and secured the crown of France for his young son. He was the son of Henry Bolingbroke, King Henry IV, and the grandson of John of Gaunt. He was Henry V and his story is one of the most remarkable tales in English medieval history, told masterfully in Dan Jones’ latest book, “Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King.”

I have been a fan of Dan Jones and his books for a few years now and always jump at the chance to read his latest book. When I heard that he was writing a biography about Henry V, it was an instant pre-order for me because it is Dan Jones’ first biography and I did not know much about Henry V minus the main points about his life and reign.

It was a miracle that Henry V became King of England. Henry was the son of Henry Bolingbroke and Mary de Bohun, the grandson of John of Gaunt, and cousin to King Richard II. He was the son of an Appellant lord who was banished from England for opposing Richard II, so the likelihood that he would even be the next Duke of Lancaster was significantly small. Jones shows his audience what Henry’s childhood was like before his father was banished and after he returned and took the throne from Richard II. It was a dramatic change for the young man as it meant that he had to adapt to life as the Prince of Wales, which meant that he had to fight for English control of Wales and against those who also claimed his title, primarily Owain Glyndwr and the Percy family (including Henry Hotspur Percy). The fight for Wales culminated in the Battle of Shrewsbury where Henry Percy died and the army of Henry IV was victorious. Henry V was shot in the face with an arrow and almost died, but Doctor John Bradmore saved his life.

After the arrow incident, we see a different side of the young Prince as he is more mindful of religious matters. When his father Henry IV falls ill, we also see Prince Henry take more of a leading role in politics as part of a council meant to help the king rule England. When Henry IV died on March 20, 1413, the young King Henry V was ready to rule. He believes that to be a strong ruler, he must show it by facing the English’s mortal enemies, primarily France, in battle. He led England to great victories against the French, including the Battle of Agincourt, which was marked as one of the greatest victories for the English during the Wars of the Roses. Henry V was a competent ruler who made England a powerhouse in European history. He was able to secure the French throne for his young son Henry VI, the only child of Henry V and his wife Catherine of Valois before the great warrior king died on August 30, 1422.

I was thoroughly impressed with this biography and I am surprised that it took Dan Jones this long to write a biography. You can tell his passion for the life of Henry V through every page. I hope Jones will write another biography soon. If you are a Dan Jones fan, a medievalist, or just a fan of fantastic biographies, I highly suggest you read, “Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King” by Dan Jones.

Book Review: “The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV” by Helen Castor

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The story of the Plantagenets is filled with high triumphs and devastating tragedies. It is a story of families torn apart for a crown and the desire to either rule with an iron fist for the glory of England or live a life of luxury at the expense of their citizens. The story explored in this particular book is the tale of two cousins born months apart, Richard of Bordeaux and Henry Bolingbroke. Richard and Henry were not born to become King of England, but Fortune’s Wheel had a different plan for the cousins. So how did these cousins become kings and how did their tale turn to tragedy not only for their relationship but for all of England? Helen Castor tells the tale of these two Plantagenet kings in her latest book, “The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV.”

I want to thank Avid Reader Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have seen this book on social media and ever since it was announced, I knew I wanted to read it. I have enjoyed Castor’s posts online as well as her documentary on the She-Wolves, based on her book of the same name, so when I heard about this one, it was an intriguing premise and so I jumped at the chance to read it. 

The fact that Richard of Bordeaux and Henry Bolingbroke became King Richard II and King Henry IV respectively is quite the story. Richard was the son of Edward The Black Prince and Henry was the son of John of Gaunt; both of their fathers were sons of Edward III and so the idea was that one of his sons would inherit the throne. However, Edward III had different plans after the death of Edward The Black Prince. It was announced that the young Richard of Bordeaux would be crowned King of England. This should have been the first red flag for England because it means that a Regency council must be formed. There are fights for power and fights over finances that culminate in the Peasants’ Revolt. Richard II doesn’t have much desire to fight for his country on the battlefield against the French or the Scottish, but he does care about favoring his favorites, even if it means turning the government against him. One such group, the Appellant Lords, will prove an extremely dangerous challenge for Richard II, and it will include his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. While many of the Appellant Lords will end up dead, Henry Bolingbroke is merely exiled, which in the long run, was not the best decision for Richard II. 

In 1400, John of Gaunt died and the title as well as the lands of the Duke of Lancaster were turned over to Richard II while Henry Bolingbroke was in exile in France. This marks the turning point for Henry as he decides to invade England while Richard is away dealing with problems in Ireland. It will end with Richard’s abdication and the coronation of Henry Bolingbroke as King Henry IV. However, things are not all sunshine and rainbows for Henry IV, the 1st Lancastrian King of England, as he finds out that it is not easy being a king. 

I must applaud Castor for writing a dual biography that is both balanced and utterly brilliant. It did take me a while to read this book because I was taking so many notes while I was reading and it gave me a better understanding of this tumultuous time. I would suggest that if you do read this book, take your time so that you can understand the complex nature of the conflict between these two cousins. If you are a fan of the Plantagenet dynasty, I highly recommend you read, “The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV” by Helen Castor.

Guest Post: “Three Myths about the Conquest of the Incan Empire” by Dirk Strasser

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I am pleased to welcome Dirk Strasser to my blog to share a guest article about his latest novel, “Conquist”. I want to thank Dirk Strasser and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

The capture of Atahualpa by Pizarro in Cajamarca (Juan Lepiani)

History isn’t as clear-cut as it’s often portrayed, particularly when it comes to conflict. There’s no doubt that victors usually get to write the narrative. Historians strive for an accurate reconstruction of our past by looking at sources from different sides of a conflict. But what happens when the sources from one side are few and far between because the losing culture has been comprehensively overwhelmed? Often myths abound about the innate superiority of the victors, and it takes a historian to pick them apart. As I was writing my historical fantasy novel Conquist, I did my best to ensure that I didn’t perpetuate these three myths about the Spanish conquest of the Incan Empire. 

Myth 1: Fransisco Pizarro conquered an empire of several million with fewer than two hundred men. 

The Incan Empire was the largest nation in the world when the conquistadors invaded. It was estimated to have a population of 10 million and an imperial army of 80,000 soldiers. Fransisco Pizarro had 168 men under his command: 106 on foot and 62 on horseback. These numbers are misleading. 

Relatively recent archaeological examinations of human remains excavated from Incan cemeteries near conquistador Incan battlegrounds have shown a large percentage of injuries were from Indigenous weapons. Around 150,000 indigenous Andean peoples have been estimated to have fought on the side of the Spanish invaders. The conquistadors had the support of large numbers of Incan subjects like the Huancas and Chankas who seized the chance to escape Incan rule and rise against their oppressors. Also, just before the conquistadors invaded, the Incan Empire was undergoing a brutal civil war between two half-brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, which Atahualpa won, so it was easy for the Spaniards to enlist Huáscar’s allies such as the Cañaris and Chachapoyas. A significant portion of the population of the Incan Empire would have sided with the conquistadors. 

So, the combatant numbers were far more even than those usually quoted. In addition to the conquistadors’ indigenous allies, over 3000 Spanish reinforcements arrived at various stages of the invasion. Plus the Spanish encouraged support amongst the Incans by installing puppet emperors—the most notable being Manco Inca, who is central to the plot of Conquist during the period after he had escaped and was fighting against the Spaniards. 

Myth 2: Guns gave the conquistadors a crucial advantage over the Incas in battle. 

The type of gun used by the conquistadors, the harquebus, was a heavy and slow-to-reload low-velocity rifle. Harquebuses were unwieldy, unpredictable, and not terribly accurate. The Spanish used them as a support weapon rather than the mainstay of their army. 

The conquistadors did have significant advantages over the Incas in battle, but it wasn’t their guns. Arguably the biggest of these advantages was their horses. Not only did horses provide fast transportation across different terrains, but they could also pull heavy cannons. The Inca had no equivalent riding animal and couldn’t match the speed and mobility of the Spanish cavalry, which could break up tight battle formations, quickly flank an enemy, or attack from the rear. 

Conquistadors rode their horses in what’s known as the jimeta style, using bent knees to grip the sides of their mounts. This gave considerable maneuverability and control to the rider, and with only one hand on the reins, the other hand was free for the Spanish to use their swords to cut down the Inca soldiers from a height.  

The Spanish perro de guerra or war dogs also gave the conquistadors a huge advantage over the Inca. They were huge breeds such as mastiffs and molossus dogs, many of them weighing over 100 kilograms and up to a meter tall. They often wore spiked armor and were specifically trained to chase, dismember, and kill people in battle. 

Swords, crossbows, and steel armor were superior to the Incan slings, clubs, and cotton armor, but the conquistadors also had a tactical advantage. Incan warfare was inflexible and highly ritualized, tactics weren’t changed mid-battle, and Inca soldiers retreated if their leaders fell in battle. Most of all, ambush and deceit were not used in warfare, so the Inca were unprepared for the Spanish using these techniques. Crucially, the capture of the unsuspecting Incan emperor Atahualpa was achieved through subterfuge. In Conquist Cristóbal de Varga intentionally follows the battle plans and tactics of Pizarro, but it doesn’t work out quite the same way for him because the Inca have learned not to trust the Spanish. 

Myth 3: All conquistadors were white. 

There were a number of African conquistadors. They were an integral part of Spanish conquest campaigns in the Americas and fought alongside the Spanish against the Inca. The freed African slave in Conquist Lieutenant Héctor Valiente was inspired by the black conquistador Juan Valiente, who was born around 1505 in Northwest Africa where he was enslaved and transported to Mexico. 

In 1533, Juan Valiente signed an agreement with his master Alonso Valiente, which allowed him to become a conquistador and return in four years with profits he could use to buy his freedom. He joined Pedro de Almagro’s expedition to Peru in 1534 as a soldier, where he was one of around 200 Africans. While most of the members of that expedition died in the Andes, Juan survived, and by 1540 he had been promoted to the rank of captain. Six years later he helped found the city of Santiago and as a reward he received an estate. 

While he lived as a free and wealthy man in Chile, he was strictly speaking still a slave. Despite Juan’s attempts to pay his debt, Alonso Valiente claimed the payment hadn’t been received. Juan Valiente died fighting in the Andes at the Battle of Tucapel in 1553 and was never legally free, although his son did inherit his estate. 

Blurb: 

Capitán Cristóbal de Varga’s drive for glory and gold in 1538 Peru led him and his army of conquistadors into a New World that refused to be conquered. He is a man torn by life-long obsessions and knows this is his last campaign. 

What he doesn’t know is that his Incan allies led by princess Sarpay have their furtive plans to make sure he never finds the golden city of Vilcabamba. He also doesn’t know that Héctor Valiente, the freed African slave he appointed as his lieutenant, has found a portal that will lead them all into a world that will challenge his deepest beliefs. And what he can’t possibly know is that this world will trap him in a war between two eternal enemies, leading him to question everything he has devoted his life to – his command, his Incan princess, his honor, his God.  

In the end, he faces the ultimate dilemma: how is it possible to battle your obsessions . . . to conquer yourself? 

Buy Links: 

Universal Amazon Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AM52K  

Publisher’s Conquist page: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-books/our-books/conquist-novel 

Author Bio: 

Dirk Strasser’s epic fantasy trilogy The Books of Ascension—Zenith, Equinox, and Eclipse—was published in German and English, and his short stories have been translated into several European languages. “The Doppelgänger Effect” appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down Under. He is the co-editor of Australia’s premier science-fiction and fantasy magazine, Aurealis. 

Dirk was born in Germany but has lived most of his life in Australia. He has written a series of best-selling school textbooks, trekked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, and studied Renaissance history. “Conquist” was first published as a short story in the anthology Dreaming Again (HarperCollins). The serialized version of Conquist was a finalist in the Aurealis Awards Best Fantasy Novel category. Dirk’s screenplay version of Conquist won the Wildsound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Best Scene Reading Award and was a featured finalist in the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the Creative World Awards. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkStrasser 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054955883297 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-strasser-1249a949/  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B00CWMHGHO  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203225407-conquist 

Dirk’s blog: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/dirks-blog 

 

Book Review: “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America” by Maria Vetrano

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Have you ever read about a historical figure and wondered what it would be like to interact with them in the present day? How would they deal with modern problems and technology? Could they function in the 21st century or would they become overwhelmed? And even if they could come to the 21st century, how would it affect their timeline and history? This intriguing premise plays out in Maria Vetrano’s novel, “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America,” which sees Queen Elizabeth I coming forward about 400 years in time to become the President of the United States in the 2028 election.

I want to thank Maria Vetrano for sending me a copy of her novel. When I read the description of this novel, it was an intriguing concept to me. I do enjoy a modern tale from time to time and I was interested to see how Queen Elizabeth I of England could become a US President and how she would adjust to life in the modern world.

We begin our adventure with Dakota Wynfred, a self-made billionaire in the cybersecurity field, whose only desire is to go back in time to see her mother one more time and potentially bring her mother back to the year 2027. As Dakota and her mother are discussing matters, she tells her mother that the political environment is a mess thanks to President Robert Vlaskas, who Dakota cannot stand. Dakota believes that there is no one capable in modern time to defeat Vlaskas so a plan is formulated to use Dakota’s time travel machine to go back in time even further to get a leader who she believes can defeat Vlaskas. She has chosen Gloriana herself, Queen Elizabeth I from 1588. While transporting the queen from the Tudor era is easy, acclimating her to the ways of the 21st century proves a challenge, especially knowing that they have a limited window to make sure Elizabeth is ready to run for president.

While I thought the concept of this book was unique, the execution for me is what let this book down. I’ll start with the time travel element. As someone who watched Star Trek and the Librarians, I know there are some rules of time travel like not telling the people in the period of the past you are visiting you are from the future (or giving them a biography about their life), and you don’t bring anyone into the future from the past as there could be consequences to history in general. I wanted to see more of how Elizabeth being in the 21st century would affect the 16th century and the idea of technology not working in the 16th century as it was not invented during that time, but that is not what I got as a reader. When Elizabeth did arrive in the year 2027, we see her getting used to the world of technology, fashion, and popular culture, which did not seem to help with running a political campaign and Elizabeth’s accent in this book bothered me quite a bit. I feel like Vetrano should have done more research into the 16th century and Elizabeth’s reign to make this version of Elizabeth I more believable. Finally, I think the ending is rushed and left me questioning this book and what the point of this novel truly was.

Overall, this was a frustrating read for me as I saw the potential for a cool book, but it stumbled so many times. It felt like the Tudor/historical elements were sprinkled in a modern sci-fi/political fantasy novel, which just did not work well for me as a reader. This may not have been the book for me, but if you want a different take on the Tudors, a time travel novel with modern political elements, “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America” by Maria Vetrano might be a book for you.

Book Review: “Queen Macbeth” by Val McDermid

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When we think of the name Macbeth, we often imagine the play by William Shakespeare of a power-hungry man and his equally vicious wife willing to do whatever it took to become King and Queen of Scotland. It is a play about revenge and murder, but Shakespeare did not pull these characters out of thin air. He took these characters from the annals of history, such as a man named Macbeth and his wife, a Lady Macbeth named Gruoch. However, the names are about as much as Shakespeare gets right regarding the story of one of the first Kings of Scotland. Val McDermid tells her version of Macbeth and Gruoch’s story in her latest novel, “Queen Macbeth.”

I want to thank Atlantic Monthly Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. It has been a minute since I read the Shakespearean play of Macbeth, but I did know that it was a story based on history. When I saw that this was specifically about Macbeth’s wife, it was intriguing to me and I knew I wanted to give it a try.

We begin with a sense of panic and dread. Reports have reached Gruoch that her husband Macbeth was slain at the Battle of Lumphanan and now Gruoch is on the run from his enemy Malcolm. Their son, Lulach, is on his way to be crowned King of Scotland while Gruoch, her ladies (Ligach, Aife, and Eithne), and Macbeth’s man Angus wait for the opportune moment to escape the monastery they are staying in before Malcolm catches up to them.

Sprinkled in between events in the modern day, McDermid included flashbacks to how Macbeth and Gruoch met and fell in love. At the time of their first meeting, Gruoch was the wife of Gille Coemgain, the Mormaer of Moray. Macbeth believes that Gille was responsible for the death of his father, Findlaich, and Gruoch fears that Macbeth is only visiting Gille to seek his revenge. However, this unexpected encounter between Macbeth and Gruoch turns into love and they have a child while Gruoch is still married to Gille. A rather awkward situation, but eventually, Macbeth and Gruoch are united to become King and Queen of Scotland.

As someone who is not familiar with the historical story of Macbeth and Gruoch, I found this novella engrossing and thrilling. This version of Macbeth and his Lady Macbeth was much more believable with danger around every corner and I did not know where the story was heading. It did not feel like a novella and I did not want it to end. If you are a Shakespeare fan or someone who loves a good medieval tale, I highly recommend you read, “Queen Macbeth” by Val McDermid.

Guest Post: Spotlight for “The Pirate’s Physician” by Amy Maroney

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I am pleased to welcome Amy Maroney back to my blog to share a spotlight for her latest novel, “The Pirate’s Physician.” I want to thank Amy Maroney and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Blurb:  

When her world shatters, she dares to trust a pirate. Will she survive what comes next? 

The Pirate’s Physician is the story of Giuliana Rinaldi, a student at Salerno’s famed medieval medical school, whose lifelong dream of becoming a physician crumbles when her uncle and mentor dies suddenly.  

Faced with an unwanted marriage to a ruthless merchant, Giuliana enlists the help of a Basque pirate and flees home for the dangers of the open sea.  

Will she make it to Genoa, where her only remaining relative awaits? Or will this impulsive decision seal her own doom? 

A delightful seafaring adventure packed with romance and intrigue, The Pirate’s Physician is a companion novella to the award-winning Sea and Stone Chronicles series of historical novels by Amy Maroney: Island of Gold, Sea of Shadows, and The Queen’s Scribe. 

Buy Link: 

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

Author Bio:  

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. 

Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trial. Amy’s new series, Sea and Stone Chronicles, features strong, talented women seeking their fortunes in the medieval Mediterranean.  

To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy Maroney’s readers’ group at http://www.amymaroney.com.  

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/wilaroney 

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

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

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

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-maroney 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Maroney/author/B01LYHPXEO 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney