Author: C. W. Gortner
Publisher: Random House
Date of publication: June 2012
So begins Isabella’s story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a New World.
I'm not normally a reader of historical fiction that involves a real person. I normally shy away because there is no way anyone would know what a person was thinking so many years ago. But, I am always up for trying something new. The Queen's Vow is the story of Queen Isabella of Castille and is told from her point of view. I knew nothing about this queen going into the story. I only knew that she financed the Columbus's trip to the Americas.
The author did a great job of capturing the feel of the time period. Isabella did not live a charmed life as one would think a future queen might. Instead it was hard and filled with danger. She seemed to be a brave woman with very strong religious convictions. Together with her husband, they were able to take back Spain and become powerful rulers. I liked their love story and can only hope that their relationship was as happy in real life. I thought the book was well written and interesting. There were a few times that I thought the book dragged a bit. Overall, I think anyone who likes this genre will enjoy the book. One thing I did enjoy was the afterward by the author. It give some more insight into the queen and her history. It's worth checking it out!
Thanks for your great review. I'm delighted to be here as part of my virtual tour and really hope your readers enjoy THE QUEEN'S VOW.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one too, Kari. It's always a treat getting to read another blogger's thoughts on a book you've read.
ReplyDelete