Tag: The Coffee Pot Book Club

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

On By hmalagisiIn guest postLeave a comment

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  

 

 

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

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

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 

 

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

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

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

Guest Post: Spotlight for “The Dragon Tree” by Julia Ibbotson

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Julia Ibbotson to my blog today to share a spotlight for her novel, “The Dragon Tree.” I want to thank Julia Ibbotson and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour. 

Blurb: 

A haunting medieval time-slip (#2 in the Dr. DuLac series, the sequel to A Shape on the Air, but can be read as a stand-alone) 

Echoes of the past resonate through time and disturb medievalist Dr Viv DuLac as she struggles with misfortune in the present. She and Rev Rory have escaped to the island of Madeira on secondment from their posts, yet they are not to find peace – until they can solve the mystery of the shard of azulejo and the ancient ammonite. Viv’s search brings her into contact with two troubled women: a noblewoman shipwrecked on the island in the 14th century and a rebellious nun at the island convent in the 16th century. As Viv reaches out across the centuries, their lives become intertwined, and she must uncover the secrets of the ominous Dragon Tree in order to locate lost artifacts that can shape the future. 

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. 

“The idea of being able to ‘feel’ what happened in the past is enticing … The sense of the island is wonderful … Julia brings it to life evocatively.”
~ Joanna Barnden 

 “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense.”
~ book tour reviewer 

“… an engaging and original time-slip novel that keeps the reader turning the pages…the characters are authentic and the mystery is neatly woven between the centuries … seamless time transitions …”
~ Melissa Morgan  

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

 

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

Author Bio: 

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched, and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specializing in medieval language/literature/history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. 

After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, and then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. 

Her work in progress is a new series of Anglo-Saxon mystery romances, beginning with Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful storytelling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’, and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com  

Twitter:   https://x.com/JuliaIbbotson  

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

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julia-ibbotson-62a5401a/  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julia.ibbotson  

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-ibbotson  

Amazon Author Page:  https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor  

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson  

Guest Post: “Excerpt from ‘ Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Love’” by Constance Briones

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Constance Briones to my blog today to share an excerpt from her novel, “Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Love.” I would like to thank Constance Briones and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

Excerpt:

On a brisk September morn in the ninth year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, I arrived at the Bramwell House, the London estate of Lady Bramwell, a widowed baroness and my new mistress. The fiery hue of the red brick facade made the house seem indestructible as it stood bold and vibrant in the late morning sunlight on the bank of the Thames. I counted eight chimney stacks and forty mullioned windows with diamond-shaped glass and mused whether I would find friend or foe within. 

 

As I gazed at the gables and corner turrets, my sisters’ sweet laughter reverberated in the cool breeze that swept across my cheeks. How they twirled and giggled with delight when my mother promised that, like me, when they reach the age of eighteen, they too will venture from home to work for a grand lady, acquiring superior housewifery skills that would help them snag a well-bred gentleman. 

 

Blurb: 

What if Taylor Swift found herself penning songs about love in Elizabethan England when women were required to be chaste, obedient, and silent? 

Isabella Whitney, an ambitious and daring eighteen-year-old maidservant turned poet, sets out to do just that. Having risked reputation and virtue by allowing her passions for her employer’s aristocratic nephew to get the better of her, Isabella Whitney enters the fray of the pamphlet wars, a scurrilous debate on the merits of women. 

 

She’s determined to make her mark by becoming the first woman to write a poem defending women in love, highlighting the deceptive practices of the men who woo them. Her journey to publication is fraught with challenges as she navigates through the male-dominated literary world and the harsh realities of life in sixteenth-century London for a single woman. 

Loosely based on the life of Elizabethan poet Isabella Whitney, this is a compelling tale of a young woman’s resilience and determination to challenge the status quo and leave her mark in a world that was not ready for her. 

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3Jly0J  

Author Bio: 

Constance Briones has a Master’s in Woman’s History, which informs her writing. 

She first learned about the subject of her debut historical fiction novel, the sixteenth-century English poet Isabella Whitney, while doing research for her thesis on literacy and women in Tudor England. Isabella Whitney’s gusty personality to defy the conventions of her day, both in her thinking and actions, impressed Constance enough to imagine that she would make a very engaging literary heroine. 

As a writer, Constance is interested in highlighting the little-known stories of women in history. She is a contributing writer to Historical Times, an online magazine. When not writing, she lends her time as an educational docent for her town’s historical society. 

She contently lives in Connecticut with her husband and Maine coon sibling cats, Thor and Percy. 

Author Links: 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/constancebrionesauthor  

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/constance-briones-a55a9168 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/constancebrionesauthor  

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CPX8T7CB/about 

Guest Post: “King Matyas- The Raven King of Hungary” by Katerina Dunne

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

Today, I am pleased to welcome Katerina Dunne to my blog to share a bit of her research for her latest novel, “Return to the Eyrie.” I want to thank Katerina Dunne and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

The history of medieval Hungary is fascinating, yet few in the English-speaking world know much about it. From nomadic tribes raiding across Europe in the 9th-10th century, the Hungarian conquerors settled in the Carpathian basin, converted to Christianity, and, together with the peoples they found already living there, created a powerful multi-ethnic and multi-lingual kingdom, which at its peak stretched from Southern Poland to the Adriatic Sea and from lower Austria to Central Romania as the below map demonstrates:

15th-century Europe map copied from
https://www.gifex.com/detail-en/2009-09-17-811/Europe-during-the-15th-Century.html

Return to the Eyrie (released in April 2024) is set during the second half of the 15th century (1470 to 1480) mostly in Transylvania and Belgrade, which were part of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. The main characters are fictional, but they interact with real historical figures of the time and participate in real historical events. I have presented the heroine as a (fictional) member of two powerful baronial clans from Transylvania and Eastern Hungary.

The 15th century was a turbulent time for the Kingdom of Hungary due to internal conflict as well as the expansionist efforts of the Ottoman Empire towards the west and north. After the Ottoman conquest of Serbia and Bosnia, and the submission of Wallachia to the Sultan as a vassal state, Hungary became the last frontier holding back the Ottoman advance towards Central Europe.

The years between 1458 and 1490 were dominated by the figure of Mátyás (Matthias) Hunyadi, who became king aged fifteen in January 1458. His father was the formidable János Hunyadi, a lesser nobleman whose meteoric rise to power in the 1440s and early 1450s made him the most powerful baron in the kingdom. However, after his death, his enemies accused his eldest son, László, of treason. Under the influence of several barons who opposed the Hunyadi family, the King (also called László) arrested both Hunyadi’s sons in the spring of 1457. While he had László executed, he imprisoned fourteen-year-old Mátyás and many of their supporters.

When the King died in 1457 without an heir, the vacant throne was filled by Mátyás, following his mother’s and his uncle’s relentless campaign of negotiations, promises, bribes, and intimidation. The legend has it that the Royal Council deliberated in Buda Castle and made the public announcement while the crowds of lesser nobles stood literally on the river Danube, the waters of which had frozen solid.

But Mátyás was still held captive by the Bohemian king and Hussite leader, George of Podebrady. It took a large ransom to release Mátyás to his family, and the teenager was finally enthroned in February 1458. He could not be crowned though because the Hungarian Holy Crown was in the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick III. How the crown had ended up there is another story—one of the most fascinating episodes in late medieval Hungarian history—which deserves separate attention. It took another four years and the astronomical sum of 80,000 gold florins to recover the crown. Mátyás was finally crowned with all the appropriate ceremony on 29 March 1464.

He became known as Mátyás Corvinus (nicknamed The Raven King because of the Hunyadi coat of arms, which depicted a raven with a golden ring in its beak) One of the most important rulers in 15th century Europe, he brought the Italian Renaissance and Humanism to Hungary, upgraded the royal palace in Buda, established the famous Corvina Library and was the patron of many scholars and artists. Due to the fact that he was a member of the nobility rather than of royal blood, he faced strong opposition both from inside Hungary and from abroad (Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia, and Poland) and he had to fight several wars to secure his grip on the throne. He kept a defensive stance towards the Ottomans, with relative success, and competed with them in his efforts to influence politics in neighboring Wallachia, Moldavia, and Bosnia.

Mátyás is well-known for keeping Prince Vlad III of Wallachia (Vlad the Impaler) imprisoned for several years before finally releasing him in 1475 to place him on the Wallachian throne as an ally.

Mátyás conquered Vienna in 1485 and was negotiating his possible future designation as Holy Roman Emperor when he died in April 1490.

He has since become the subject of many legends not only in Hungary but also in several neighboring Central European countries.

Statue of King Mátyás Hunyadi in Heroes’ Square Budapest (my photo)

King Mátyás plays a small but pivotal role in my novel, Return to the Eyrie. The heroine, Margit, is distantly related to him as her father (fictional character) was a third cousin of the king’s mother, Erzsébet Szilágyi.

Margit needs the King’s support to reclaim her inheritance, which was violently taken when she was a child by her close relatives.

Apart from being a historical adventure, the novel also addresses the issue of female inheritance. Despite her noble status, Margit could not inherit landed property from her father due to the strict inheritance laws in the Kingdom of Hungary. Noble daughters were only entitled to a monetary dowry when they married unless their husband was a commoner, in which case—ironically—they could inherit part of the land. So, according to the law, Margit’s land would pass to her closest male relative (her first cousin in this case).

However, a nobleman could invoke the custom of Prefection (Fiúsítás in Hungarian or praefectio in filium in Latin), whereby he could petition the King to “promote” his daughter to a son and therefore, allow her to inherit landed property. This would usually happen when there were no close male relatives, or in other exceptional cases. Margit’s father had sent such a petition to King Mátyás, but his relatives plotted against him. With an evil trick, they presented him as a traitor to the King’s eyes, had him murdered, and took over his land while Margit barely escaped with her life thanks to her father’s most loyal friend.

Blurb:
Honour, revenge, and the quest for justice.
Belgrade, Kingdom of Hungary, 1470:

Raised in exile, adolescent noblewoman Margit Szilágyi dreams of returning to her homeland of Transylvania to avenge her father’s murder and reclaim her stolen legacy. To achieve this, she must break the constraints of her gender and social status and secretly train in combat.
When the king offers her a chance at justice, she seizes it—even if it means disguising herself as a man to infiltrate the vultures’ nest that now occupies her ancestral ‘eyrie’.

Plagued by childhood trauma and torn between two passionate loves, Margit faces brutal battles, her murderous kin’s traps, and inner demons on her quest for vengeance. Only by confronting the past can she reclaim her honour—if she can survive long enough to see it through.

Return to the Eyrie is an epic coming-of-age tale of a young woman’s unwavering pursuit of justice and destiny in 15th-century Hungary.

Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bz8gJL

Author Bio:

Katerina Dunne is the pen name of Katerina Vavoulidou. Originally from Athens, Greece, Katerina has been living in Ireland since 1999. She has a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens, an MA in Film Studies from University College Dublin, and an MPhil in Medieval History from Trinity College Dublin.

Katerina is passionate about history, especially medieval history, and her main area of interest is 13th to 15th-century Hungary. Although the main characters of her stories are fictional, Katerina uses real events and personalities as part of her narrative to bring to life the fascinating history of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, a location and period not so well-known to English-speaking readers.

Return to the Eyrie (published April 2024) is the second book in the Medieval Hungary series, a sequel to Lord of the Eyrie (published in February 2022).

Author Links:

Website (publisher): https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/hp-authors/katerina-dunne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076818802721
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katerina-vavoulidou-07962a85/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katerina-Dunne/author/B09R4P733K
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22196953.Katerina_Dunne

Guest Post: “Excerpt from ‘The Agincourt King’ by Mercedes Rochelle”

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

PWIzRwyKI am pleased to welcome Mercedes Rochelle back to my blog to share an excerpt from her novel, “The Agincourt King.” I would like to thank Mercedes Rochelle and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

THE CABOCHIEN REVOLT IN PARIS 

There was no doubt that France was in turmoil. King Henry IV of England wasn’t even cold in his grave at Canterbury Cathedral when a fierce rebellion broke out in Paris. As usual, King Charles VI had sunk into insensibility and the city simmered uneasily, agitated by John the Fearless, the Duke of Burgundy. Private and public accusations were aimed against the king’s ministers, and the most threatened among them started to leave town for the safety of the provinces. But another consideration had arisen to complicate matters. Louis the Dauphin had reached his sixteenth year and was poised to take on the regency while his father was incapacitated. Already he was chafing under Burgundy’s authority… 

Although today Burgundy was in charge, he was concerned about Louis the Dauphin. To control the heir to the throne, he had arranged a marriage between Louis and his daughter Margaret. Unfortunately, the union was not working out. The lad showed a disturbing independence and tended to reject his wife whenever possible. It was time to teach him a good lesson.  

It didn’t take long to devise a plan. Duke John secretly conversed with Governor Jacqueville (who happened to be the chamberlain) and others of his household. As he conveniently withdrew, the citizens worked themselves into another frenzy under the urging of their governor. Jacqueville mounted a platform and held up his hands for attention. 

“I have a list of traitors the Dauphin harbours under his protection,” he shouted. “They seek to strip you of your rights and privileges. We must take them prisoner! See here, the Duke of Bar is your enemy, and the Dauphin’s chancellor Jehan de Vailly. We must arrest the queen’s brother Duke Louis of Bavaria, members of her household, and her ladies in waiting. I have the list here!”  

Jacqueville waved a paper over his head. He was about to say more when a burly citizen mounted the platform. The crowd cheered and he recognized this man, a well-known mischief-maker who was popular with the people. He was dressed as a common workman, with a swarthy face and hair that stuck up like a brush. He strutted across the platform like he owned the place. 

“I am Simon Caboche, to those who do not know me,” the newcomer called out to much laughter. “I am a skinner of the Paris Boucherie and leader of our butcher’s guild. Follow me to the Hôtel de Guyenne, where we will have a parley with the Dauphin.” He pulled out a white hood—chaperon—from under his belt. “All those who are with me, here is our badge!” And to the governor’s amazement, most of the Parisians had a white hood, too. Who was playing into whose hand?   

Giving Jacqueville a meaningful look, Caboche took charge and led a shouting mob to the Dauphin’s hôtel. By the time they reached the Rue St. Antoine, they were six thousand strong and growing. The men guarding the door didn’t even try to interfere. While the Parisians surrounded the hôtel, the leaders pushed their way inside.  

“Where is he?” bellowed Caboche at the first servant he saw. The man backed against the wall. “Where is the Dauphin?” 

The poor servant blubbered in terror, and Caboche growled at him before continuing down the hall. Two old women carrying linens were just coming out a door when the butcher pointed at them. “Take us to the Dauphin!” he demanded. Looking at each other, the servants froze. 

“Come, friends,” he said more gently. “We won’t hurt you. We need to speak to the Dauphin.” 

One of the women pursed her lips and then gave her bundle to her companion. Jerking her head, she led the intruders to the Dauphin’s private apartment. Nodding his thanks, Caboche shoved open the door with a slam, surprising Louis while he was conversing with the Duke of Bar. 

Louis sprang awkwardly to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?” he cried in an unsteady voice. Unfortunately, the Dauphin did not inspire confidence and he knew it. His short frame was overweight, heavy, and slow. He was already known for keeping late hours and general laziness. Fond of excessive jewellery and rich clothing, he relied on the trappings of royalty to sustain his fragile dignity.  

Caboche stepped forward, flanked by his closest associates. He did not remove his white hood. “Our most redoubted lord,” he said, his voice barely respectful, “I have come with my fellow Parisians, who require, for your welfare and your father’s, that you deliver up certain traitors who are now in your hôtel.”  

Recovering his nerve, the Dauphin was filled with anger. “This is absurd. What you demand is impossible. There are no traitors in this hôtel.”  

“That is not true. I see them right before me.” Caboche nodded toward his victims and some of his men leapt across the room, grabbing the Duke of Bar by the arm; others seized the Dauphin’s chancellor. While Louis turned around in apprehension, his wife screamed. She had thrown her arm around one of his valets, trying to hold him back from two of the butchers who yanked him loose. Another servant was thrown to the floor.  

“Stop this!” cried Louis.  

Caboche gave him a sideways grin. “If you are willing to give them up,” he said, “well and good. Otherwise, we will take them right before your face and punish them as they deserve.” 

“I command you to let them go!” shouted the Dauphin. “My affairs are none of yours.” 

Jacqueville stepped up beside the butcher. “Monseigneur, this is very much our business. You have been badly misled, and your behaviour is that of a spoiled young man. You are sorely in need of correction.” 

“Get out of my sight!” cried the Dauphin. “Guards, help me! Guards!” 

Alerted by the shouting, several of the Dauphin’s men rushed into the room and threw themselves onto the intruders, who enthusiastically fought back. But no sooner had the scuffle begun when the Duke of Burgundy pushed his way into the room, shouting for order. His own men bore halberds and quickly interceded, pushing the antagonists apart. The Cabochiens, as they already called themselves, grouped together, still hanging onto their prisoners.  

Louis whirled around, pointing at his father-in-law. “This is your doing,” he growled. “These are your men. One day you will regret this. I won’t always be under your thumb.” 

LgQJ75mEBlurb:  

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father’s usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III’s footsteps, and recover lost territory in France. 

Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn’t manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him. 

By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought. Little did they reckon on Henry’s leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn’t matter when God was on their side. 

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mq70Ze  

0S8YcxEYAuthor Bio:  

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II.  

She also writes a blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! 

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/  

Blog:  https://historicalbritainblog.com/  

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

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle  

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle  

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘Courage of the Conquered’ by Anna Chant”

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

MvNt5SsqI am pleased to welcome Anna Chant to my blog today to share a spotlight for her novel, “Courage of the Conquered.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Anna Chant for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

-sR48dJ6Blurb:  

All the wonders of the Mediterranean have not prepared the English for the splendors of Constantinople. As Siward of Gloucester settles into the city, he is grateful to have finally found what he was looking for A fine, god-fearing lord he is proud to serve and a safe place where he and Oswyth can await the birth of their child. 

But as the months pass, doubts creep in. Emperor Michael proves to be a weak ruler, continually threatened with rebellion. Determined to keep the English army close, his promises of reward grow increasingly vague. 

With tension in the city rising, Siward and his friends are caught up in the power struggle. While Bridwin maintains his loyalty to the emperor and Siward continues to trust in the friendship of the cunning Alexios Komnenos, Frebern grows close to John Bryennios, a man whose ambitions may include the imperial throne itself. With the friends drawn in different directions, Siward fears they could find themselves fighting on opposing sides. 

Desperate to escape, he renews his efforts to find the home the English have so long craved. But the beauty of Constantinople conceals dangers that go far beyond Siward’s fears as sordid secrets and ruthless betrayals stalk the lives of those he holds dear. 

As the English prepare for battle yet again, will Siward’s quest for New England end in a heart-breaking tragedy? 

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

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

UO_6RN6wAuthor Bio: 

Anna Chant grew up in Essex, with her first home a tiny medieval cottage. Aged 18 she moved to Yorkshire to study history at the University of Sheffield. In 2015, inspired by her love of medieval history and her Scottish ancestry, Anna started writing her first book with Kenneth’s Queen, the tale of the unknown wife of Kenneth Mac Alpin, published the following year. Taking inspiration from both history and legend, she particularly enjoys bringing to life the lesser-known people, events, and folklore of the past. When not writing, Anna enjoys walking the coast and countryside of Devon where she lives with her husband, three sons (if they’re home), and a rather cheeky bearded dragon. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://darkagevoices.wordpress.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anna_chant 

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-c-b60690182/ 

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

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@annachant_writer 

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Anna-Chant/author/B01E46V162 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15188873.Anna_Chant 

 

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘The Virgins of Venice’ by Gina Buonaguro

On By hmalagisiIn guest postLeave a comment

wDuEG-OMI am pleased to welcome Gina Buonaguro to blog today to share a blurb from her novel, “The Virgins of Venice.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Gina Buonaguro for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

Blurb:

In sixteenth-century Venice, one young noblewoman dares to resist the choices made for her

Venice in 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is a continuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in the countryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopes to make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes are dashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in a strategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in the tradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protect his family. It’s well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners and the most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure is closing in.

After arriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of the nuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at San Zaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent find their own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandals breach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates for her than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

Desperate to protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. She finds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that may save or ruin them all.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:
https://books2read.com/u/49O7NW

The Virgins of Venice

sGD3hzD8Author Bio:

Gina Buonaguro is the co-author of The Wolves of St. Peters, Ciao Bella , and The Sidewalk Artist, as well as several romance titles under the name Meadow Taylor. The Virgins of Venice is her first solo novel.

She has a BA in English from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and earned an MA in English from the University of British Columbia while on a Fulbright Scholarship. Born in New Jersey, Gina Buonaguro lives in Toronto.

Author Links:

Website: https://ginabu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaBuWriter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-buonaguro-35318934/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gina-buonaguro
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gina-Buonaguro/author/B002LAAF9I
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/219059.Gina_Buonaguro

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘Trouble in Assisi’ by Heidi Eljarbo”

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

CJ1ceKcYI am pleased to welcome Heidi Eljarbo to my blog today to share a spotlight on her latest novel, “Trouble in Assisi.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Heidi Eljarbo for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

kCaxzjR0Blurb

Assisi, 1973

On art historian Fabiola Bennett’s first day in Assisi, a local gentleman takes her aside to ask for advice about a painting that has wondrously appeared in the basilica’s bell tower. 

So much for enjoying relaxing days filled with dining on pasta and gelato. 

Soon, Fabiola and her besties, Pippa and Cary, are thrown into a shrouded mystery and caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, theft, lies, and attempted murder, all of which overshadows the postcard-like charm of the small, historic town. 

Rome, 1511

Life is going well for Teodoro Nicoletti. Since he was a young man in Florence, he has worked and learned alongside the most favored artist Raphael. 

When Pope Julius II commissions Raphael to paint several frescos in the reception rooms of the Vatican Palace, Teodoro follows his master to Rome and discovers firsthand the admiration and rivalry between Raphael and two other reigning artists: Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. 

But the prickliest thorn in Teodoro’s side is his beloved Elisabetta’s father. The old man is determined to keep his youngest daughter from becoming Teodoro’s wife. 

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4N5ZE6  

GyBUk4hoAuthor Bio: 

Heidi Eljarbo grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries. 

Heidi now calls Norway home after living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria. She lives with her husband on a charming island, enjoys walking in any weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. 

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter. 

 

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/ 

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

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

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

Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/heidieljarbo/ 

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heidi-eljarbo 

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/heidieljarbo 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16984270.Heidi_Eljarbo 

Newsletter: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/newsletter