Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Duckworth Books, November 12th 2020

Format: ebook

Pages: 343

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A young woman forced to fight for her beliefs. A chaplain with a secret that could determine the fate of a kingdom.

England, 1452. Under the reign of King Henry VI the country is on the brink of civil war after the Hundred Years’ War.

Young mystic Lady Isabelle d’Albret Courteault’s family is forced to flee the Duchy of English Gascony for a new and unforeseeable life in England. While they become established in the courts, Lady Isabelle discovers dark secrets about their chaplain and tutor. As their growing relationship places her in harm’s way, can she remain steadfast in her promises to uphold the monarchy and her faith?

Set amidst a period of grave uncertainty, this is the story of a woman learning to stand up for her beliefs in a patriarchal world – a beautifully crafted narrative of faith, love and grace.

My Review:

Thank you, Duckworth and Netgalley for the copy of this book.
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CW: violence and sexual assault.
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This book follows Isabelle as she matures into a young woman during a dangerous time in history. The War of the Roses is about to start, there is tension between England and France, and Isabelle’s family safety and religion seem threatened. Her family moves from Gascony to England in fear of the French army, since her father has pledged loyalty to the English king rather than the French, which sends the family on a dangerous adventure.
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I loved Isabelle as a protagonist. She was very smart and encouraged to read and write, something that was not usually encouraged with women during this time period. She is also interesting because she appears to have visions and believes that she has a purpose to fulfil for Jesus. She is living during a time when the Catholic Church begins to be scrutinized for corruption, and she fears that there will be a split with the church. We learn a lot by reading Isabelle’s journey, including the role that noblewomen were expected to play, the region of Gascony and it’s the role in the tension between England and France, as well as the drama leading up to the War of the Roses. I love reading about this time period in history and I enjoyed some of the mystery elements to the book as well!