This is the fictionalised account of Queen Allenor.
This is a period of history that I don’t know much about so it was good to read a book set in this era
This book will keep you enthralled

I’m a great fan of historical fiction so was really looking forward to reading this book. I got into it straight away and became absorbed in the story of Ailenor Of Provence and her marriage to Henry III, There were two other female characters In the story who helped make it eminently readable, Nell (another Eleanor), Henry’s sister, who married Simon de Montfort and an imaginary character, Rosalind, an embroiderer who eventually married one of Simon de Montfort’s squires. However, about three quarters of the way through I felt the story stalled a little and it became less absorbing and this seemed to coincide with there being less in the story about Nell and Rosalind. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and as it’s the first in a trilogy, look forward to reading the others.

I was captivated by this story from chapter one. It was so interesting and the author has certainly done her research. I have always been interested in the Plantagenets and this did not disappoint. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series as this was so interesting.

Any fan of Alison Weir and Phillipa Gregory will love this. Set in the reign of Henry 3rd It tell the story of his marriage to Ailenor of Provence through eyes. She turns out to be one of the strong Plantagenet queens using all her wits to keep Henry happy but when this backfired she finds herself separated from her children. A really engrossing read.

This is the first book I have read by Carol McGrath and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. This first book in the series is the story of Ailenor of Provence who married Henry III at the age of 13 and focuses on her learning to become a queen. The story covers all aspects of their reign and their growing family. They have many difficulties to deal with such as the influence of both their families,money problems and struggles with other important nobles.

I have previously read books on this period of history so was aware of the historical events covered. The author has researched the history and the book is well written. I enjoyed the addition of Rosalind story as it added another side to the story. I will definitely be recommending the author to other readers of historical fiction.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy to review.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
I found this book interesting and I enjoyed learning more about this period of history. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and I learned quickly to check whose POV was in each chapter but this was easy enough to follow.
There was a lot of detail and it felt a bit rushed at times.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
This is very much my genre and I got totally immersed in this quickly

Can't wait to read more

The beautiful front cover of this book is what caught my attention first. I then requested this book after reading that it was recommended for fans of Phillippa Gregory and Alison Weir, two of my favourite authors. I am a huge historical fiction fan and am especially interested in the tudor era. This book is set in the 13th century at the court of King Henry III and his queen Alienor of Provence so it was a completely new period of history for me. However I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is so well written and described. The author's writing makes you feel that you are present at the King's Court. It was totally absorbing and very atmospheric.
In addition this book has a strong minded female character at its heart, Queen Alienor of Provence who even from a very young age knows what she wants and how to get it. I admired her strength of character and the way she was able to influence her husband the 'weak' King into thinking that her ideas were his own as well as ensuring her friends and relatives were very well looked after much to the disdain of the English bishops and barons resulting in Alienor being given the label of a 'she-wolf.' I liked the fact that even back in the 13th century there were women who were not completely subservient to their husbands.
This book is fast paced and brings to life this period of history engaging all of the reader's senses through descriptions of the smells of the herbs, the sweet tastes of barley sugar and March pane and the exquisite tapestries and wall hangings.
I know this is the first book in a series and I shall be eagerly looking out for Carol McGraths next book. Thank you for accepting me to read and review this book. It was a pleasure.

The Silken Rose follows the wife of Henry III. It is interesting and informative and obviously well researched. It is a period of history which I have not learnt anything about since I was at school. I enjoyed reading about this era and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

<i>The Silken Rose</i> is the first in a trilogy of novels focussing on powerful medieval queens who may have been unfairly documented in history. The viewpoint shifts between Ailenor, brought to England from Provence at thirteen years old to marry Henry III; Henry’s sister, Eleanor (Nell); and a fictional embroideress called Rosalind, who is sponsored by Ailenor and becomes relatively powerful herself. Throughout court dramas, secrets, and threats to the throne, the three characters develop a close friendship, and there is real love and respected between them (though they are often on opposing sides of conflict due to their marriages). The connection between these characters really adds to the tension during the frequent times of conflict.

I especially enjoyed Rosalind’s story. She is a fictional character, but brings depth to the overall narrative, and a perspective of the merchant class which would otherwise be missing. Perhaps because there was more freedom to explore her character and life events, I connected with Rosalind more than Ailenor or Nell, and found her story the most engaging. All three characters are well placed to give a different perspective of the major events of the time.

This book made me want to read more about the subject. I didn’t know much about this period of history, but <i>The Silken Rose</i> really brought me into the time setting. The specific historical details—sights, smells, colours and small details—are amazing. The setting is so believable without taking centre stage or distracting from the natural drama of the time and characters. There is a lot of detail, but the text flows and it did not take long to read. There is a good balance between excitement, historical detail, and emotions, for my own reading preferences.

The story spans about a thirty year time period, but still manages to feel personal and urgent in the right moments. It is sweeping, but there is some progression in Ailenor over the years, from young princess just arrived in England to marry a king twice her age who she’s never met, to middle aged mother who can balance aiding her husband in important political decisions, holding court, and maintaining relationships. The timeline jumps forwards to the most important years, and you watch as Ailenor adjusts into her life in a powerful position, and learns to navigate political turmoils while making her husband think he’s the one who’s come up with the solution.

Ailenor was an unpopular Queen, chosen for her arranged marriage as many were to provide a strategic advantage. Documented as a ‘she-wolf’, Ailenor was accused of nepotism, and disliked by many. She needed to be cunning, brave, and ruthless to survive, support her husband, and maintain their rule. In order to rebuild Westminster Abbey, organise a crusade, fund an unpopular war to protect Gascony (the last English held territory in France), bribe barons, and maintain an image of success, Henry repeatedly increased taxes. Henry’s popularity with his barons and his people was turbulent.

I love how the story gives voice to Ailenor (Eleanor of Provence), rather than Henry III. Not only is this an interesting period of history to learn more about, but it is imagined from the point of view of historical figures who may usually be overlooked or remembered unfairly. The next two books in the trilogy will focus on the next two queens of England, who were also generally disliked. I’m excited to see how the author fleshes out these stories around the many events of their time.

<i>The Silken Rose</i> ends soon before another interesting period of conflict, the Second Barons’ War, and this is where the next book in the trilogy will pick up. I was disappointed that this was not covered in book 1, as it will be a high period of tension for Ailenor and Henry, and their relationship with Nell, who was married to Simon de Montfort (the man who led the uprising). It’s a shame that this conflict probably won’t be told from the viewpoints of Ailenor and Nell.

Overall, I recommend this book for someone who likes to be immersed in a historical setting, enjoys royal drama, and wants to know more about the lives and histories of powerful medieval queens. I enjoyed this book, and will definitely keep books two and three in mind when they are released.

Thank you to Headline Accent Press and NetGalley for an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my unbiased opinion.

I knew very little about the reign of Henry the third and his wife Ailenor. History does not seem to have treated her kindly but she was an intelligent ,resourceful woman who seemed to try her best to keep Henry on the right path. The son of King John , he was a weak and indecisive king with a revengeful nature,spending fortunes on wars the country could not afford. Ailenor was a loving wife to him but by pushing forward her French relatives who Henry willingly promoted into high office she would not endear herself to the English court. The story is told around her love of needlework and the fictional seamstress Rosalind. A well researched and written book. Great read for lovers of historical fiction

The Silken Rose by Carol McGrath - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you so much to @accentpressbooks & @netgalley for my advanced copy! The Silken Rose is available now on Kindle, and out as a paperback on July 23rd.

The Silken Rose - following Ailenor of Provence, Queen of England and wife of Henry III from when she arrives ages 13 in England to marry the King - is a historical novel very much in the vein of Elizabeth Chadwick, Jean Plaidy, and Anne O’Brien and the first in a new trilogy. It’s a pure historical narrative (so you might not enjoy it as much I if you already know a lot about the 1200’s) but the writing is bright and engaging, making for a really enjoyable read. There is romance, politics, plots, scheming, the Royal Court and lots of beautiful embroidery and English gardens, perfect to escape into for a few hours.

What I think was also excellent about the book is that it laced the narratives of another woman - Rosalind - the Queen’s embroideress embroidered (if you will!) with Ailenor’s, providing a bit of narrative and suspense for a character whose fate you don’t already know.

It's telling that the non historical character in this story, Rosalind, is an embroideress because as the events of The Silken Rose unfold much attention is paid to medieval courtly attire. For me this did occasionally become distracting as many terms were oft repeated seemingly meaninglessly without adding much to moving the story along.
I admire that the author makes much of the women in this period who are strong and clever in their own right, traits perhaps frowned on in the period. This take on Queen Ailenor is almost modern as she deftly steers her sometimes bumbling husband the king into more intelligent decisions while still attending her duties as wife. Coming as she did to England at such a tender age it is a marvel the amount of power that she consolidated in time. I was pleased to learn that this is a planned first in a new trilogy and look forward to maybe learning more about often overlooked queens.

The Silken Rose is the first in a planned trilogy of novels hoping to rehabilitate the reputations of three medieval queens all disparaged as “She Wolves”. This tale introduces us to 13 year old Ailenor (Eleanor of Provence) as she travels to England and the court of Henry III. The young bride comes to the realm without a dowry but she is determined to be a successful queen and fruitful wife.

Carol McGrath is a new author to me but I enjoyed her writing style and appreciated her obvious affection for the time period. The thirteenth century is effortlessly brought to life as the author recounts the pivotal moments of the royal couples’ first two decades of married life; both personal and political. We also get a glimpse at the life of a normal subject when talented young craftswoman Rosalind is invited to court. Through her skilled fingers the theme of embroidery is stitched into the fabric of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.