Borgia Mistress

Third book in a series by Sara Poole, The Borgia Mistress follows the main character Francesca Giordano and her role as the poisoner of the Borgia family.  Employed by Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, and lover to his son Cesare, Francesca is enmeshed in the court drama.  She is a very conflicted character, trying to avenge her father's murder (who was a poisoner before her) while trying to extinguish the darkness in her that seems to want to take over.  When she has to kill to protect the Pope and his family, it threatens to consume her and she enjoys the kill.  She also has goodness in her and yearns for a normal life.  In this book, the court moves from Rome to avoid plague and ends up in Viterbo.  Word reaches her that a Cathar assassin is on his/her way to kill Herrera, the Spanish envoy visiting.  As mysterious and seemingly random deaths occur of kitchen servants and the like, she is anxious to find this assassin before it is too late.  It is her job to protect His Holiness and his family, so she has to find time to inspect all foods and drinks entering the palace besides other duties.  Francesca also has to practice her poisons in any free time, making her own poisons that would be undetectable and easy to kill someone.  Hers is an important and also despised job.  Many fear her and she is almost reclusive except for a few friendships and her employers.

Borgia is trying to keep an alliance with King Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and a man named Herrera a Spanish envoy is at court.  He seems to despise Francesca and even tries to have her killed.  She now finds out she has to protect him, even though she does not like him, so the Pope can keep good relations with Spain.  Another complication to her already complicated life and job.  In Viterbo, she is contacted by an abbess claiming to know of her mother's death.  Francesca had always been told her mother died from childbirth.  As she visits this abbess she gains the truth and is forced to face old demons.  Wrestling with this new knowledge, she is almost too late to save Herrera as she is caught up in her own drama and even poisoned.   Cathar heretics seem to be at the root of this evil and Francesca is caught up in the middle of it.  It all leads to a dramatic and exciting ending. 

My Thoughts:  Dramatic, riveting and exciting to read.  I like the dynamics of Francesca's job and character.  It was also exciting seeing events unfold in her life while this assassin is at large.  I have been a fan of her books so I would recommend.

Her Highness the Traitor

Book overview:  This book is written in two different point of views.  That of Frances Grey and her husband Harry, and Jane Dudley and her husband John.  Frances Grey was the niece of Henry VIII's and so had some royal blood.  Her mother Mary was the King's sister and had been married to Charles Brandon, a close friend of the late King's.  Frances had three daughters that survived, one of which was Jane Grey, a key figure in the book.  When Frances's two brothers passed away, the title Duke of Suffolk was given to her husband as a gift.  Frances was also good friends with the Lady Mary, Henry VIII's oldest child.  The second point of view is from Jane Dudley, also known as the Lady of Warwick and later the Duchess of Northumberland.  She was married to a ward of her parents, a John Dudley.  It was a love match and they married when she was 16 and had 13 children.

 This book is set during the time of King Edward VI, after King Henry VIII has passed away.  Edward rules while his uncle Edward Seymour, the Duke of Somerset, is Protector until he comes of age.  As is usual after the death of a monarch, chaos soon ensues as those with power fight to keep or gain it.  Somerset was regarded well, but his brother Thomas Seymour didn't seem particularly happy with the arrangement.  Seymour married the dowager queen Catherine Parr who was married to Henry VIII, and in their keeping were the ladies Elizabeth and Jane Grey.  Seymour was found embracing the princess Elizabeth, Edward's half sister and found to be embezzling as well.  He wanted the young king to throw off his Protector and schemed.  His wife Catherine Parr the Queen, passed away shortly after giving birth to a daughter.  With all the schemes afoot, Seymour was eventually beheaded.  During this time Somerset and his wife Anne the Duchess of Somerset lived as if they were indeed king and queen.  The Duchess wore the royal jewels and was not very popular.  Soon the downfall of Somerset came because of social unrest in England and the blame was laid before him.  Many said he also made himself Protector when that was not actually in Henry VIII's will.  He was imprisoned for some time, as was his Duchess, and later beheaded.  

During Edward's reign, John Dudley became a successful politician.  He served closely with him from 1550 to 1553 and some later said he helped to poison the King to death.  He was there when the young King was dying, and was informed of his will.  He was going to put aside his sisters as they had both been declared bastards at some point and so their legitimacy was questionable, and also because he feared Mary's devotion to Mass and the Catholic religion.  They had argued over religion at several times.  It is said that Northumberland not only tried to poison the young King but also helped with his will.  King Henry VIII had stated that his daughter Mary were to rule if Edward died without issue, but Edward takes her out and places the succession with the Protestant Jane Grey.  I failed to mention during this time, that Jane Grey was married to Guildford Dudley, the son of Jane and John Dudley.  This meant that Northumberland's daughter in law would be queen.  As he was loyal to the King and wished to carry out his will, the two sets of parents set their children on the throne of England.

Frances Grey and her husband Harry seemed reluctant at putting their daughter on the throne as she had had no training or upbringing for such a role, although she was incredibly smart and learned.  Probably realizing this action would upset her close friend and cousin, the lady Mary, Frances did it anyway.   Likely at the coercion of the Northumberlands.  Three days after the young king passed away at age 15 from consumption, Jane was pronounced to be Queen.  They were lodged in the Tower until their coronation.  Jane did not name Guildford as King and co-regent but made him Duke of Clarence instead.  To rally troops to their cause, Northumberland set out with his troops.  The lady Mary had fled when she heard she was put aside in the succession, and was rallying her own troops.  During Northumberland's absence, Jane and her husband Guildford along with his mother Jane and her mother Frances stayed in the Tower.  During this time, The Privy Council switched their allegiance from Jane to Mary and proclaimed her Queen, where she finally entered London on August 3. Jane, Queen of just 9 days, was imprisoned separate from her husband.

On August 22nd Northumberland was executed, recanting his faith, and in September Jane was declared a usurper of the crown.  Upon the death of Northumberland, his widow Jane Dudley mourns the loss of her beloved husband and is extremely agitated as her sons are all still imprisoned.  Guildford and Jane were both executed on February 12th and were buried at St Peter ad Vincula where many others had also been buried.  Jane had denied Guildford a last meeting before their deaths.  Queen Mary was unsuccessful in getting the two to convert to Catholicism before meeting their end.  Jane Dudley, the Duchess of Northumberland, worked tirelessly to have the rest of her boys released.  Her son Robert Dudley, who would be imprisoned for quite some time, would later be a close friend and favorite to Elizabeth when she becomes Queen.  The Duchess uses her friendship with one of the Spanish ladies that have come over, because Queen Mary has married King Phillip of Spain, to help release her boys from the Tower.  Her friend is successful and the four boys are all released just in time for her to pass away.  She was a devoted mother and loved her husband very much. 

Frances Grey used her friendship with the Queen Mary as far as she could, and her daughter Jane was protected as well as her husband Harry.  Then the uprising of Wyatt began, many said to place Elizabeth on the throne instead of her half sister because of the hated Spanish marriage and her rigid religion.  Harry joined the uprising and was soon caught, and because of his actions he was executed.  That is probably also why Jane was no longer protected by the Queen and kept alive, because of her father's foolish actions.  Poor Frances Grey had to lose her daughter, who had just been a pawn all along in the actions of her elders, and her foolish husband who just couldn't lie low.  Frances later remarried her Master of Horse Adrian Stokes and they had three children together.  It seemed hers was not a love match with Harry and certainly the death of their daughter and his actions in the uprisings left a mark upon her.  Queen Mary kept her at her side at court with favor, but kept a close watch on her all the same.  Frances seems to have wed low so as not to even be considered competition to the throne.  She knew what being too close to the throne could mean, and the price was not worth it.

My Thoughts:  This book had obviously a lot of information as well as titles that can make it confusing.  It took me some time to get to know who Jane Dudley was and Frances Grey.  Once I had a firm grasp on their characters the book unfolded easily for me.  As I have quite an extensive background in the Tudor period I was familiar with many of the back stories.  I knew a little of Edward's reign and that he didn't want his sister Mary to rule, I knew of Jane then taking the throne, unwillingly it seemed, for 9 ill fated days.  I knew also of Tom Seymour's marriage to Catherine Parr and his disreputable actions towards the lady Elizabeth.  There are so many characters in this book to be utterly fascinating- I could just talk about each of them for days.  The main point of this book though was what happened after King Edward IV passed away.  Many characters have been construed in different ways over time.  The author Susan Higginbotham seems to portary Northumberland as a loyal servant to his king and nothing more.  It is thrown about that he may have poisoned the king and worked the will to his advantage, but no one really knows.  Guildford was also known to have been cruel to Jane, but the author doesn't portray him that way.  In fact, Jane seems almost more heartless for not meeting with her husband before their execution and for not making him co-regent.  She seems to have been quite strong headed. 

Jane's parents were also said to be cruel and unusually demanding, but it seems in those times parents usually were.  The author portrayed them as loving; Harry her father being most in tune with Jane in spiritual matters and intellect.  Frances seems not to have been too close to Jane, mostly because of their religious views and their different intellect.  There are just so many dimensions to look and wonder at.  I do admit I seem to have liked the Duchess of Northumberland more, Jane Dudley, and the love she and her husband had towards each other.  It is unfortunate that by following the King's will that he would be executed along with his son Guildford, but such were the times.  I was happy to read her boys were released after she tried for so long and so hard to have them so.  It seems the Queen Mary finally took sympathy on her as a mother.  I was happy to read that after Harry's death, that Frances Grey was able to remarry for love it seems, and have more children.  She has been said to be cruel and lascivious, but again it is probably not true.  Time seems to temper most opinions.  Just a little note on Queen Mary- she does marry King Phillip of Spain and the Inquisition leads to many being burned because of their faith.  She supposes herself to be pregnant twice and isn't either time.  She becomes known as Bloody Mary.  Later, Queen Elizabeth's age will be golden, and Northumberland's son Robert Dudley will be a key figure.  I recommend this book, excellent and exciting.  Rich in details and information.

The Virgin Widow

Anne O'Brien wrote The Virgin Widow, set in 1462 in England.  The War of the Roses divided York and Lancaster against each other.  King Edward and his wife Elizabeth Woodville rule, with the help of the Earl of Warwick.  He is called the Kingmaker and helped Edward to the throne.  This book follows Anne Neville, Warwick's second daughter, as her father's amibitions change her life.  When King Edward married the Woodville woman, many were not pleased.  Particularly Warwick.  The Woodville family was numerous and began getting positions at Court that made him unhappy.  Warwick felt he was owed more loyalty since he had helped put Edward on the throne.  Warwick's descent had some royalty in it as well- from John of Gaunt, King Edward III's third son.  When the Woodvilles replaced the Nevilles, Warwick became displeased.  With much wealth he was able to do much.  His wife, the Countess, was immensely patient with him, as he was often away.  Anne was raised at Middleham with her sister Isabella, and one of the wards that was brought there to stay was Richard of Gloucester.  He was brother to the King.  They were arranged to be married at one point but that was put aside when a rift developed between Warwick and the King.  When Richard was a bit older he was sent back to Court.  Anne knew then their friendship would be unlikely as they were on different sides.

Warwick decides to pin his hopes on the King's brother Clarence, and has him marry Isabella his eldest daughter.  His plan is to depose the King and put Clarence and his daughter on the throne.  The family is forced to leave England when Warwick has so displeased the King and even rejected his offer of a truce, and they set out to sea with Isabella ready to go into labor.  They are at the mercy of the King of France, Louis.  Exiles, waiting for their fates to be decided.  Her father, the Earl, decides with King Louis to wed Anne to Margaret of Anjou's son Edward.  King Louis works to persuade Margaret to help them in their cause.  They had decided against putting Clarence on the throne, as he isn't as popular as they would need to win against the King, and so they strive now to put Edward on the throne with Anne at his side.  Drama ensues in the family as Isabella is jealous of her sister for now possibly being Queen instead of her, as the Earl's ambitions consume the family with Anne as the central pawn figure.  Anne is forced to marry Edward, knowing that his mother despises her and her family.  Her father, the Earl, had once humiliated her and she would never forget it.  An unlikely alliance, they are all thrown into it together.  Clarence ends up turning his coat in the battle and rejoins his brother, the King, because Warwick was not putting him on the throne.  This leaves him on the side with the King and Isabella against the rest of the family.  The Earl of Warwick is cut down in battle and slewn.  The Countess enters a convent to protect herself.  Isabella and Clarence are in the King's good graces because he had turned his coat.  Anne is left alone, with a mean husband and a wretched mother in law.

The unhappy couple is not able to consummate their marriage, so Margaret could annul it if needed because of lack of consummation.  But Edward, the Prince of Wales, is also killed in battle.  By none other than Anne's once betrothed, Richard.  After the unhappy marriage and almost imprisonment, after the loss of her father and her mother shut away, Anne is put into the keeping of Clarence and her sister Isabella.  Seeing Richard again at Court, Anne begins to love him again.  He seems much changed and she isn't sure where his mind lies.  Because her mother is shut away and their father dead, the Neville inheritance would be divided between the two daughters.  Clarence and Isabella try to persuade Anne to enter a convent, and when she refuses, they hide her in their kitchens as a slave where she can never be found.  She can never remarry and so gain her half of the inheritance.  Richard, the King's brother, has always loved her and eventually he finds her.  With the King's help and his own contrivings, and after much trial they are wed.  Even when wed, Clarence still tries to work against her and his own brother.  The King is caught in the middle of the fued between both brothers.  He tries to divide up the inheritance evenly to make both parties happy.  Richard helps to free Anne's mother, where she rejoins her.  Isabella had changed sides before the big battle, even knowing it would mean her own father's demise.  She had used her sister horribly and never tried to help her own mother. 

My Thoughts:  I tried to be brief in my review which is always hard with so much information.  I liked the love story that kind of tied it all together.  I was rooting the whole way through that Anne would end up with Richard.  I was appalled at her sister Isabella's treatment of her and the greed of Clarence.  I despised Edward of Wales and his mother Margaret of Anjou (who were said to be incestuous).  I couldn't believe the patience of Anne and her mother the Countess.  It is too bad that the Earl's ambitions led to such sadness and tore the family apart.  The War of The Roses pit family against family.  I find it interesting that Anne called her parents the Countess and the Earl, not by their first names.  A certain disconnect but also respect there I imagine.  I liked the book becaues I didn't know much of Anne Neville.  I knew she was married to Richard III, who becomes King after his brother passes away.  I knew of his rivarly with his brother Clarence.  I also knew of Warwick as the Kingmaker, so it was great to learn more of his daughter.  I love the way Anne O'Brien writes, it just flows so smoothly and is easy and addicting to read.  She is very tasteful with her love scenes by not elaborating.  I recommend the book to the history lovers.  A background in the War of the Roses would help before reading this.

Hugh and Bess

I finished this book by Susan Higginbotham and I've had some trouble getting to blog about this.  With two kids, one who is disabled and one an infant, I don't often find the time to sit down and write.  Also I was reading a few other books but never finished because they just didn't capture my attention.  I have noticed an influx of Tudor novels and I used to devour them all as soon as I got my hands on one.  Now it is starting to feel like everyone has written about it, and the same person by multiple authors.  I am trying to branch out a little more and cover other time periods so I hope to gain more of an audience or following. 

Overview:  Bess de Montacute is the daughter of The earl of Salisbury, William de Montacute.  He was a friend of the second King Edward and was disgraced to see the Queen Isabella and her lover Mortimer ruling the kingdom and killing many.  Along with other men, William helped to put Mortimer in jail and later he was hanged.  For being loyal to the King and his son, William became an earl and his wife a countess.  Also intertwined in this story is Hugh le Despenser.  His grandfather and father had served King Edward faithfully; his father was thought to be the very close companion to the King.  Because of her hatred towards her husband and his relationship, Queen Isabella could no longer tolerate it and took revenge on the barons.  Now, King Edward had had another favorite before the younger Hugh but Piers Gaveston was killed.  After seeing another favorite that is what seemed to break the Queen.  After finding Mortimer, the two lovers conspired to oust Edward and the Despensers from the throne.  Queen Isabella was able to depose Edward her husband from the throne and became regent for her son Edward III.  Some believe she was responsible for planning the murder of the King as well.  In 1330 her son had his vengeance, and took his throne and killed his mother's lover Mortimer.  That is where Bess's dad helped and was rewarded.  Queen Isabella was not killed but imprisoned and ended her days away from Court.  During the time that the King was killed, so also was his favorite Hugh.  His son Hugh le Despenser was also in danger following his father's death, but held out at Caerphilly castle.  Over the next few months Queen Isabel and Mortimer tried to entice him out or capture him.  When he was offered that his own life be spared, he finally left the castle and surrendered.  Over the next four years he would be imprisoned. 

Because of their new standings, Bess's father arranges her marriage to Hugh le Despenser.  When she first hears of it she is not pleased.  He is the son and grandson of disgraced traitors.  For him this is an advantageous marriage, a chance to reestablish his family's good name.  Hugh and Bess marry when she is just 13 and over time and his good treatment of her, they fall in love.  Part of the book goes over the history of Bess's family and then a lot of Hugh's as well as his imprisonment and prior years.  The plague threatens them and many perish, including Hugh.  The book ends with Bess finding another husband to marry after she has grieved.  Another character to take note of is Joan of Kent; she was married to Bess's brother William Montacute, for a time.  She is also later the mother of Richard II and many other monarchs.

My Thoughts:  The book was somewhat interesting at first because I had already heard about Isabella and Mortimer and wanted to see what the son of the traitor was like.  The love story was also sweet in a way, but the age difference between the two made it seem a little implausible.  I was not happy about Hugh's mistress getting in the way and later becoming a close friend of Bess's.  Seemed strange that any woman would embrace her husband's mistress of many years as a friend and confidante.  The book overall was not engrossing enough, quick paced or enough narrative for me.  I didn't fall in love with the characters or become invested in them.  I preferred the author's other book The Stolen Crown.

The King's Concubine

Anne O'Brien is the author of The King's Concubine A Novel of Alice Perrers. 
Summary of book:
Alice Perrers was born in the year of 1345 when plague was rampant in England.  Not much was known of her actual beginnings or parentage, but in the book she lives in a convent St Mary's.  She was constantly reminded how lucky she was to have been taken in when she had no parents to speak of.  While there, she came into contact with the beautiful widowed Countess Joan.  Alice found an opportunity and took the chance at helping serve as tiring maid for the Countess while there at the abbey.  She found her quite fascinating how she bathed and spoke, even though she did seem cruel.  When she left, Alice dared to ask her to take her with her and the Countess just smirked.  Some time later another royal visitor came to the abbey.  The Queen of England!  Queen Phillipa came with her daughter Isabella and looked quite ill.  She was suffering from dropsy, swelling of the body.  The Queen almost tripped when walking down the aisle and Alice took the opportunity to help her when no one else did.  She was rewarded with a rosary but could not accept it because of her vow of poverty.  The Queen took notice of her and asked for her as well to help her. 

Alice came to know the kindly Queen and her not as kind daughter Isabella.  Alice had become aware at this point through the Countess Joan's help that she was not beautiful.  She was quite plain and the princess noted it.  This seems to be the time that Alice's ambitions started growing and she wanted out of the convent.  Once the Queen left, Alice was sad and once again felt enclosed.  But there was another surprise in store for her- a local pawnbroker had paid the abbess for her services.  So Alice joined the household of Janyn Perrers at the age of 15 and helped around the house, but soon he asked for her hand in marriage.  Since he was so old she was more there to keep his hounding sister from pushing him towards a more advantageous marriage.  Janyn was kindly to her and taught her numbers and accounting.  He was soon struck down with the plague and she tended him to his dying day.  Left with nothing because of his evil sister, she was soon with no choice but to return to the convent.  Greseley approached her, he had worked for Janyn as well.  He helped Alice buy some property with her wedding money and from that day forth became her broker and agent.  Now not totally without anything, she returned to the convent again to await a better opportunity.  A courier named Wykeham came to her at the convent with a rosary from the Queen and said her services had been asked for.  Alice gladly went with him to the palace Havering-atte-Bower. 

Her beginnings at court were not easy- the princess Isabella contrived to have her work in the kitchens instead of where she was supposed to, with the Queen.  Weeks later and some of the kitchen workers discovered she had a rosary of the Queen's on her.  They accused her of stealing even when she told them the story, and she was brought before Wykeham and the princess.  Fortunately, the King and Queen were nearby and the Queen saved her.  She promptly brought her into her services as one of her damsels.  The princess did not agree but there Alice was- her own bed, freshly washed with new clothes of her own.  The Queen was very kind to her and took her under her wing.  Soon the Queen disclosed to Alice her real reason for bringing her to Court- she was ailing and needed a companion for the King.  She was no longer able to be touched without extreme pain and would rather have him a lover of her own choosing than some other ambitious or conniving woman.  Alice was shocked at the suggestion and the obvious pain it caused the Queen.  Alice could not deny the Queen and so did what she asked.  The King had noticed her through the court events and hunts and her sharp tongue.  Although not beautiful, he grew to like her sound advice and wisdom.  They became lovers in secret long before the court knew.  Wykeham, her first friend at court, was quite angry with her for betraying the Queen like that.  He was a priest and builder for the King.  Poor Alice had to keep it a secret that the Queen desired this of her, and so many thought ill of her.

At age 17 Alice was the mistress of the King, and was for over 13 years.  She bore him four children- two boys and two girls.  Upon the death of Queen Phillipa she became recognized as the King's Concubine.  She was able to travel back and forth to her children and buy more manors.  Many she bought with her own money, but some with the crown's that she paid back.  Alice understood all along that while she was his mistress she should take full advantage, even if it made her look worse, and secure means for her future and her children's security.  She was well aware of the enemies all around her, especially once the Queen died, and knew that once the King passed as well she would be left to the wolves.  One of the King's sons John of Gaunt was somewhat of an ally at some point because he needed her help when the King was desolate over the Queen's death.  Alice was the only one able to bring him back.  Alice also met a diplomat William Windsor that helped the King and his son in Ireland.  They became unlikely friends and he warned her to be careful.  The King slowly and painfully declined over eight years after his wife's death, and Alice prepared herself.  She married Will Windsor for protection and because he proposed to her.  When the court found out they issued a warrant for her banishment.  The King was too out of it to protect or defend her and so she left court.  Awhile later John of Gaunt sent a letter stating she could come back.  So many twists and turns at the end- her enemies conspiring against her for fraud, treason, even witchcraft.  When the King died she was barely able to be at his bedside and was not allowed to his funeral.  The Countess Joan of course ordered her to leave, as her son Richard II was heir to the throne.

Through stripping of her lands and manors, properties and belongings she was almost left with nothing.  Through Windsor's cunning and smarts he was able, as Alice's husband, to get most of her properties back and the order of banishment once again lifted.  He told John of Gaunt he would serve them in Ireland if they did this.  Alice at one point owned over 50 manors or properties, which would have made her an earl if she were a man.  She lived out the rest of her days in the country at Upminster with her husband and daughters.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book, it was thoroughly engrossing from the beginning to end.  The writing was smooth and so easy to read.  I wasn't stuck in facts and details but rather the characters.  I admire Alice Perrers for all that she went through and her rise.  While many tried to bring her down, in the end they couldn't.  I am glad she had Windsor there to support and marry her and protect her.  I admire her courage, her pluck and ambition.  Many hated her for having the king's ear, and even the Queen's jewels after her death.  She was there to care for the King, not just as a lover but his nurse.  She protected him and cared for him and ordered the household. She bore him four children, the eldest which was knighted.  Alice was obviously a smart businesswoman and very patient.  There is no record how she came to the attention of the Queen, and the novelist did a beautiful job of filling in the gaps.  I am sure it was hard for Alice in many ways, with no female companionship, basically alone at court and mocked and ridiculed for her actions.  Ambition was mistaken for greed and her duty to the Queen was taken for a whore.  I am sure to see the King, her lover, so in love with his wife was hard also.  Queen Phillipa always came first in the King's mind.  I would highly recommend this book, it was absolutely a wonderful read.

The Second Empress A Novel of Napoleon's Court

Michelle Moran's fifth published novel was about the second wife of Emperor Napoleon.  Following the deaths of Marie Antoinette and the bloody revolution comes Napoleon, a young general from Corsica.  He puts aside his first wife Josephine, also known as Rose de Beauharnais, who has been unfaithful to him and not provided an heir.  He requests for the hand of 18 year old Marie-Lucia, daughter of the king of Austria and great niece to Marie Antoinette.  Marie knows she really doesn't have a choice- to deny him would be to plunge their countries into civil war.  He is known to be short, demanding of his wives by changing their names and requesting their specific items of clothing.  Not at all excited at the prospect of being empress with Napoleon, she leaves behind her lover Adam and her beloved father and stepmother and embarks on the journey.  She meets his sister Caroline along the way, and they all meet at Fontainebleau Palace.  She is forced to leave behind her puppy Sigi (seems reminiscent of Marie Antoinette having to leave behind her puppy too when she wed the dauphin).

Immediately you are plunged into meeting this horrific, little ambitious man.  Napoleon is cruel and demanding of her and changes her name to Marie-Louise.  She meets the equally horrid second sister Pauline and her man servant Paul, a Haitian man she took to France with her.  Through the perspectives of these three people you get the choppy and short version of events.  Napoleon marched in with 40,000 soldiers into Egypt about 11 years prior to take control of the Indian Empire.  He wanted to be another Alexander the Great and wanted it all for glory.  He cared not for deaths or money but just simply the glory.  The Hapsburg-Lorraines had ruled for almost 800 years and here came along Napoleon and his Bonaparte family with his ambitions.  His sister Pauline is the Princess of Borghese, her second husband gave her the name, and she is obsessed with all things Egypt.  She has more lovers than she can remember and cares nothing for slavery or anything besides her own complexion.  When Napoleon marries Marie-Louise and puts aside Josephine, Pauline is not at all happy.  When you read her point of view she wishes to be like the old rulers of Egypt and rule beside her brother.  It was said they were incestuous together and their love as siblings was abnormal.  She suffers throughout the book with a venereal disease from all her escapades.

You will also read from the point of view of Paul Moreau, Pauline's servant and good friend.  He has a complicated relationship with Pauline- they met in Haiti and he followed her to France.  Never a lover but a companion and friend, he serves her faithfully amidst her cruelty to others.  Marie-Louise does not seem a strong character to me and just talks about her son who she has named Franz.  She has accomplished in one year what the first empress Josephine has not.  Scattered throughout the book are also letters from Napoleon and Josephine, his first wife.  He obviously still had feelings for her and loved her very much.  The Napoleonic wars involving every major European power took place.  He soon had a dominant position in central Europe.  With the invasion of Russia hundreds of thousands died and so much money was spent in waste.  Instead of spending money for good he used it for his wars.  The following year the Coalition invaded France and forced Napoleon in exile to the island of Elba.  With the help of Pauline his sister, who sold much of her jewels and collections for his return, helped him escape and return to power.  But he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and was sent to Saint Helena with his mother and sister. Six years later he died of stomach cancer.  His sister Pauline also died of stomach cancer.

Napoleon was a military genius, taking a country devastated by war and built an empire.  He was known for the Napoleonic code which dealt with the civil system.  But he was known for being harsh to women and not respectful.  Marie-Louise is able to escape with her son during his adbidcation and returns to her home of Austria and her lover Adam.  Upon the death of Napoleon they wed and had children together.  Paul Moreau returned to Haiti, finally abandoning Pauline to her selfishness.  I personally did not like this book for a few reasons.  I did not like the characters- Napoleon because of his bloodthirsty ambition and cruelty to women, Pauline for her selfishness and treatment of people and her relationship with her brother, and Marie-Louise because she seemed weak.  I think I liked Michelle Moran's other books better because the women seemed in control, powerful and memorable.  It seemed a little short; the three different view points were hard to switch between, and the random love letters from Napoleon to Josephine seemed to disrupt the dialogue.  Also I am curious why the two Marie's (the empress and her stepmother) are on the front cover when Napoleon and his sister Pauline were more key figures in this book.  Not my favorite so far, but it was still an entertaining read.

The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile

C.W. Gortner is a friend of mine on Facebook and I was pleased to make his acquaintance.  I have already reviewed The Last Queen and The Tudor Secret.  He also wrote The Confessions of Catherine de Medici which is also fabulous.  It has been a little bit since my last entry, I was re reading Madame Tussuad by Michelle Moran.  This book is a novel about Isabella of Castile; I was first familiar with her because of her daughter Catelina who married Arthur and then King Henry VIII.  Since I am quite familiar with The Tudor period I first heard of her and Fernando of Aragon.  My first impression of her was a warrior queen, which isn't far off. 

The book starts out with the death of her father, King John II of Castile.  Her mother, the Queen Isabella of Portugal, takes her two children Isabella and Alfonso with her to Arevalo.  They live there in seclusion and peace while their half brother Enrique is king.  They know one day their peace will be shattered and he will come for them.  Their mother has to be cared for as she is prone to despair and depression and often goes into a deep melancholy that only Isabella can get her out of.  Archbishop Carrillo of Toledo helped her mother escape with the children and has worked for them tirelessly.  Isabella's friend and lady in waiting Beatriz is with her all the time.  Soon a letter comes announcing the birth of a daughter to King Enrique and his wife Queen Juana.  They were invited without their mother to be at the babe's baptism.  While at court, Isabella quickly realizes how her whole world has changed.  She was used to just one woman waiting on her and the privacy and seclusion of her old home.  There she runs into Fernando from Aragon.  Both families shared Trastamara blood, but as enemies Castile and Aragon waged war against one another.  The hope was one day to put an Aragonese prince on Castile's throne.

Enrique is painfully obvious that he is not as good a king as his father was, and soon rumors are spread about that his sole child is illegitimate.  Soon Castile is involved in civil war between her brother Alfonso who has disappeared, and her half brother Enrique.  Isabella is watched closely while the war goes on.  Queen Juana is so hateful towards her believing she knew about this and was helping her brother.  Carrillo had gone with Alfonso, and Isabella had no doubt he put him up to this.  Forced to grow up fast, Isabella realizes during these times that she will have to take her destiny into her own hands.  Enrique is being poisoned by those around him and she worries for her brother's life should he be found and her own.  They try marrying her off to Queen Juana's brother King Afonso to get her out of the way and basically deserted.  Her father had put in his will that her marriage had to be approved by the Cortes before her marriage, and this is what saved her momentarily.  A proposed alliance between the heir Joanna and Alfonso fell apart, while Alfonso's supporters seized numerous provinces.  The King didn't have much left; the land was devastated and the people suffering.  Alfonso's army is spotted  and he is victorious.  They return to Arevalo to see their mother first before doing anything else.  On their way back to Segovia, Alfonso dies they believe from poisoning.

Isabella is now the heir to the throne.  She hides in a convent to process everything that is going on while the grandees wait to approach her.  She wishes for peace and desires for her half brother Enrique to still rule and would be content to be named his heir until his death.  Then she would be queen of Castile.  In the meantime she had been in correspondence with Fernando and set in motions their betrothal.  This way she could unite the two countries and claim her right to Castile.  It is not long before Enrique tries to betray her again and goes against his word.  Isabella is taken to Ocana where she is armed with 200 men to keep her from escaping.  She gave her word to Enrique that she wouldn't.  With the help of Beatriz, Carrillo among others she is able to escape to Valladolid.  While waiting for Fernando to come Isabella tried to keep her wits about her.  Their dispensation arrives from the pope just in time for them to wed as they are second cousins.  After giving birth to a daughter, Enrique disinherits her.  The people everywhere were in an uproar.  By 1472 more than half of Castile's fourteen major townships were in their grasp, thanks to Fernando; by now most the grandees were in support of Isabella and Fernando.  Isabel is four years old when she finally meets with Enrique again.

The king's lover had passed away and it looked like he wasn't faring too well himself.  Not long after their meeting he dies of a stomach pain.  Isabella still has to contend with the dead king's latest lover, who was also the son of Villena.  Joanna she will also have to contend with as well one day, the child still believed she was her father's true daughter.  Juana was put in a convent with another bastard child where she could no longer wreak her havoc.  Together Isabella and Fernando rule and are best known for helping the cause of Christopher Columbus.  Isabella was known for being deeply religious and believing she did the work of God.  As Christians, she tried to purge Spain of conversos that weren't true to the faith.  A converso is one that pretended obedience to Christianity when they really were Jews. The Spanish Inquisition came and many were killed.  She was also responsible for expelling the Jews unless they converted.  Her goal was to expel the infidels and bring Spain under one crown, one country and one faith.  They were at war for over 10 years and finally captured Granada.

Queen Isabella had five children- Isabel, much later her only son Juan, Joanna, then Maria and Catelina or Catherine.  In Castile she made her husband Fernando equal to her; they just recognized her as queen and him as consort.  It would haunt her husband after her death that he was not equal to his wife, if you read The Last Queen.  They were very much in love and together made a kind of Renaissance state.  She believed in education even of women; female scholars in Spain were allowed to teach.  When she came to the throne, which was not expected being the third child, it was impoverished and divided.  Some of her actions such as expelling the Jews she is widely criticized for having done so.  It is said she didn't attend a single burning of a heretic.  Being so religious no doubt led her to her actions, believing she was God's annointed and therefore owed him her very best.

As usual it is hard for me to review a book with so much depth and information.  I think the author did a good job but it almost seemed to fall short or end too quickly.  When I don't personally feel like I like the main character it can also be hard to get really into it.  I wasn't particularly drawn to this character because of her religious beliefs and how she persecuted so many because of it.  The book did show her trying to go back and forth so it makes you wonder if she made those decisions lightly or was persuaded to.  Her daughter 'Juana the Mad' can be read about in The Last Queen.  I recommend if you are a fan of the author and/or this time period.

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