Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. I had heard of Berengaria but knew little about her. The little I have read about Richard the Lionheart was a fairly romantic view of a hero. This book shows him in a more realistic light as someone who was a hardened campaigner who neglected Berengaria and his kingdom. This book is very readable and brings this period of history to life. Berengaria was a strong woman who made the best of her circumstances and stood up to Richard when he was prepared to marry off his sister for his own purposes. On reading further I was pleased to see Berengaria led a long life. Well researched and written.

I’ve read quite a few books by Carol McGrath now and I’m never disappointed. If you love historical fiction and you’re looking to move on from the Tudors and Stuarts, I’d recommend picking up any of her books. This one is no exception.

The novel covers the little known history of Queen Berengaria who was the wife of Richard the Lionheart. We see life from her point of view and the view of her court which is a little different as normally we see things from Richard’s point of view or the view of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

As you might expect, if you’re a fan of HF or have read any of Carol McGrath’s books before, the plot is detailed, characters well rounded and the prose/dialogue engaging. I enjoyed reading this in just a couple of sittings. If you are looking to branch out in your HF timelines then I’d definitely pick this up.

Thank you to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review.

I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I have to confess I’ve not heard Queen Berengaria, wife of Richard the Lionheart, so I was curious to find out more.
This detail in this book is impressive, from the descriptions of markets, camps , food and clothes and I loved the authors writing.
The book covers a period that isn’t typically written about- although there are books about the crusades, I don’t think I’ve read a book from the point of view of the women who have joined the crusades.
Berengaria, journey from a young Princess to a confident consort is well described and Avelina’s story adds a perspective from a non-Royal. As expected, there is intrigue, war and conflict. Even though this is Garia’s story, Eleanor of Aquitaine steals the scene at the start of the book.
The pace was a little slow for me in the middle but on the whole I did enjoy this book.
Perfect for Fans of
Who would like to read non-Tudor historical fiction

I loved this novel as I do all the author's books! I enjoyed it because of the excellent historical research (Carol is a historian) which she weaved into a very interesting and fascinating tale. I was quickly immersed in the storyline. The novel is told through two women's eyes, a queen Berengaria of Navarre, and a lady (fictional character). Both meet on their way to a crusade and become fast friends. Because of this feminine point of view, I learned a lot about what it meant to be a married woman, its dangers and its expectations waiting for a husband gone to war... Romance plays a role but only as a support to show women's role in the Medieval Ages. A great read which I highly recommend.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.