The Irish Princess

The Irish Princess is a welcome return to the world of William the Marshall and Queen Alienor. Yes, they might not appear in the book for any great length of time, if at all, but the reader knows that they are 'off' in the background, living their own lives, while young Aoife is trying to do the same.
The setting of Ireland for much of the book provides a new arena for readers of Elizabeth Chadwick, and it's enjoyable. Events in Ireland can be complicated, and the author makes the reader aware of what's happening without providing too much detail so that it never becomes too complicated.
Aoife is an intriguing character - fiercely proud of her heritage, she is also determined to hold onto her birthright, whatever it takes, and if I would have liked to know more about Aoife, and her Irish family by the end of the novel, then that is a good thing.
I don't know if this is a standalone novel, or if it will have a sequel, and if it doesn't, I imagine many of my questions could be answered by forcing myself to reread The Scarlet Lion (if I must! - I can't imagine it'll be any form of hardship).
A thoroughly enjoyable read - it took me only three days to complete the book - and recommended for all fans of Elizabeth Chadwick, and those with an interest in the Empire of Henry II.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Excellent!
Absorbing and immersive.
Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my all time favourite authors.

Review will be on my blog scheduled for publication date.

As an Irish person I can say that this is a well written book. It’s descriptive nature and story will have you totally emerged in the book. If you are a fan of Philippa Gregory, you should really enjoy this book as well!

Another masterpiece from Elizabeth Chadwick. I just love her books.
The Irish Princess is a story set at the times of William the Marshall and Queen Alienor. In this one, we follow Aoife, who is a very likeable, interesting, strong character. I loved the Ireland setting.
Chadwick's writing is so addictive and enchanting. I couldn't put it down.
I recommend her to anyone who loves historical fiction.
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for my early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant book by Elizabeth Chadwick this one centres on Aoife the daughter of an Irish king. She marries Richard de Clare and this is the story of their life. It is chock full of atmosphere you can really immerse yourself in the story. If you like historical fiction make sure you read this book it is really makes the 12th century come alive. It also has a link to Elizabeth's other books about William Marshal as Aoifes daughter is his wife Isabelle.

Set during the 1100's King Stephen has just died and King Henry II now sits on the throne.
Richard de Clare had fought for King Stephen so was not welcomed to court by the new king. He kept his earldom but was stripped of Pembroke Castle.
Feeling like he needed a chance to prove himself he was given an opportunity to venture to Ireland where the kings of Ireland were fighting each other.

The King of Lenister, Diarmait MacMurchada recently exiled makes a deal with de Clare. If he comes to Ireland and fights with him to win back his land he will give him his most prized possession his daughter Aoife's hand in marriage.

There are set backs, heartbreak and successful moments. There are lovable characters especially Diarmit and Raymond.

Due to rebellion their lives are never easy and this book is jam packed with great storylines.

I am unsure how we are meant to feel about Aoife but for me I didn't like her at all I found her to be manipulative and untrustworthy and found myself cheering for her enemies towards the end but that didn't stop me enjoying the book.

I do hope there is a sequel so I can read more about Raymond and Basilia and their lives following this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
This is yet another awesome book by Elizabeth Chadwick. Her attention to detail is fantastic and her descriptions help you feel as though you are in the book with the characters.
I advise anyone who enjoys historical novels and/or Irish history to read this book.

I received this book in return for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley for linking me up with the publisher!

A fabulous tour-de-force of a historical novel. If you enjoy the likes of Phillipa Gregory, follow this author immediately.
The rich setting, amazing writing, vivid characters. I REALLY loved this book, and I will be talking about it more on my own blog later in the month. Historical fiction gives us a chance to glimpse a possible, but that possible seems very real and very tangible in this case. Almost perfectly so in fact.

I love Elixabeth Chadwick books and I think she's a great writer of historical fiction.
This was an excellent read, well written and engrossing.
I liked the historical background, the fleshed cast of characters, and the great plot.
I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Irish Princess is one of the most anticipated historical fiction novels of the year. I was lucky enough to receive and advance copy from NetGalley – and it more than lives up to expectation. Telling the story of the marriage of Richard de Clare (Strongbow) and his Irish princess, Aoife MacMurchada, against the backdrop of the Norman invasion of Ireland it seamlessly weaves together the various strands to make an engaging and utterly engrossing story.

Aoife is a proud and precocious princess who has grown up amid the brutality of the power struggles of the Irish clans. She has seen brothers maimed and murdered, the heads of her father’s enemies decorating her home and had to flee into exile, all before she had left what should have been the innocence of childhood. Her marriage to Richard de Clare, Earl of Striguil, is a political necessity in the strategies of her father, to recover his lost kingdom of Leinster.

Richard de Clare, on the other hand, is a man on the outside; not trusted or employed by King Henry II, he sees helping Aoife’s father as an opportunity to gain a wife and heirs, lands and influence. He still has to play the courtier, however, and has to walk a fine line with Henry, deferring to the king whilst protecting his own interests – not an easy path to walk.

Elizabeth Chadwick wonderfully combines the history of the conflict with the private lives and experiences of her leading characters. The personal stories are what make this book truly a incredible read. I wasn’t keen on Aoife at first, but she grows on you as she grows up and is a courageous heroine, who has to use all her attributes as a woman in order to survive and prosper. No shrinking violet and no meek, biddable child, she is well versed in the politics of Ireland and England, but knows her place as a woman of the times; advising and steering policy in private and charming the English king to gain his protection.

From Aoife herself, to her sister-in-law Basilia, from Richard de Clare to King Henry, it is the characters in The Irish Princess that serve as the backbone of the novel. They drive the direction of the story and the empathy and engagement of the reader, even more so than the action and intrigue of the times.

Elizabeth Chadwick, as always, has done extensive research and the historical story comes across in each page, even as she weaves in the recreated words and emotions of the characters, adding a sense of having a fly-on-the-wall view of events as they happened. The sweeping landscapes of Ireland, the bloody battlefields, the warmth and comfort of the lord’s hall and the intimacy of the lady’s private quarters are beautifully recreated and woven into the story to draw the reader into the world of Ireland at the time of the Norman invasion.

And to top it all, a cameo appearance by … (not saying, I don’t want to spoil the surprise!)

Fans of Elizabeth Chadwick – old and new – will not be disappointed by this wonderful novel. The author has lived up to every expectation in this wonderful novel. The story and characters are beautifully crafted to bring the reader an epic tale of love, war betrayal … and family.

The Irish Princess, Her father's only daughter. Her country's only hope, Elizabeth Chadwick

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Sometimes I just want to immerse myself in times past, and Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my “go to” authors. She can make me feel as if I'm there with the characters, living life like an unseen part of the cast.
I know only what I've read in fiction of this period in UK history. I hated history at school, shame it wasn't taught this way, I'd have got far more from it. Plus it tended to be prehistoric times or the Tudor period and there's so much more to read than those two eras.

Its a tough time to be alive, wars are constantly being fought over land and titles, a new king often means they're removed and given to a favourite or bargained away for the king's benefit. Into that scene comes Aoife, born a daughter of an Irish King, the traditionally weaker sex when kings wanted sons. Aoife is strong and soon carves her own place into her fathers heart, and does what she can to shape her own destiny. Tough, when ladies were married off at men's whims, money, position, for political expediency. Fortunately the husband Diamait wants for her is Richard de Claire. Richard is a strong ally to have. One Diamait needs, with the men and arms he controls being a valuable asset much needed after recent losses. If Diamait is to secure his ambitions he needs them, but he's wily and puts all sorts of constraints on the marriage to ensure he gets what he wants.
Back in England Henry ll has been helping the family ( at a cost of course, nothing ever comes for free in this time), exiled after losing their lands. Henry admires Aoife, and that time spent together forges a bond between then. Henry's a King and always conscious of that he works ceaselessly to bolster his strength, courting men and always with an eye as to what benefits him and his heritage. He plays a tricky game in Diamait's plans for Aoife and Richard. There's never any real rest, the threat of wars are constant, and security is fleeting. Aoife grows up seeing that first hand, and determines that she may be a woman and ultimately not in charge of her own destiny, but she also has her own skills and she works hard using them to secure whatever she can for the benefit of herself and her family.

I loved Aoife, a strong lady, intelligent and able to plan for her family, something much needed in these times when life can change daily, when one can be landed gentry one day and have nothing the next. She shows just how ridiculous this notion of men as the only ones capable of planning, organising etc, and we see just how much work she's doing in her clever way, to get what she wants but in such a way as the giver doesn't realise its not their own idea. Its a dangerous path, but Aoife is determined to protect her family, and fortunately in Richard she has a husband who values her brain. It takes a strong man to have a successful, happy marriage with a woman like Aoife, but they each value the others intelligence, and the love and respect between them is deep.

There are so many great characters here, so many battles, times when its all changed by another loss or win, and we can see just how hard life was, not just for those at the lower end, but for those who rule too. They have problems too, different to those of the common people but harsh non the less.

There are many surprises in this story, a look at a period in UK history which was red with blood from never ending battles. I really enjoyed reading about the characters – must admit I skimmed the battle details, I wanted to see the result and what happens after, not the actual battle. That's a personal issue, and for others those battle scenes are important. Its interesting reading the author notes about the story v what actually happened, how closely she has stuck to known facts whilst weaving an enthralling story.
Close to the end I was very emotional, things happened that were heartbreaking, but for the times all too common.
I really enjoyed Aoife's machinations, her sharp brain always planning for the “what if” scenario. I loved Richard, a man loyal to his wife when few were at those times. What he and Aoife had was special, and I think something Henry envied. He may have been King, with sons, with land, riches, whatever woman he wanted ( though Aoife cleverly avoided getting caught in that trap) but he didn't have the love, the closeness, the respect Aoife and Richard had for each other.

Stars: Five, a fascinating read, bringing life and reality to a period of history I know only vaguely from stilted texts until now.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

This is an incredible book. It’s so well researched and is exceptionally moving
This may even be my book of the year. I absolutely loved it