The Queen’s Vow
On sale
21st June 2012
Price: £8.99
‘I am Isabella, Queen of Castile . . .’ Isabella was the notorious warrior-queen who, along with her husband Ferdinand, transformed Spain forever. Popular belief has her as a religious fanatic persuaded into the horrific excesses of the Inquisition by her confessor, Torquemada; but C W Gortner paints a picture of her early life, showing us a headstrong, passionate girl who grew into the most powerful queen Spain ever knew and whose vision and imagination allowed Columbus to discover America. THE QUEEN’S VOW is a lavish and compelling novel which reimagines the early years of one of history’s most notorious queens in all their passion, treachery and bloodshed.
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Reviews
'A marvellous story, and one that is superbly told . . . a fascinating, gripping read'.
A fascinating tale of young Elizabeth in danger at her sister's court. Fast-paced and exciting, with beautifully researched historical details and a most engaging hero, this story is so vivid you feel you are there!
The Tudor Conspiracy weaves a suspenseful, tangled skein of intrigue. It is a vibrant historical mystery and crime-thriller with an A-list cast of characters. Here are Elizabeth Tudor and her Robert Dudley in a light you've seldom seen them.
The story is a rich, sweeping epic, with an expressive, engaging narrative that completely immerses the reader . . . this absorbing novel gives a fresh perspective on historical events by telling the story from an original and very personal point of view.
Gortner has again produced a richly detailed book that is hard to put down.
'Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory fans will devour this smashing fictional biography.'
Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told.
Compelling... a riveting blend of passion, power and betrayal.
Well researched . . . Entirely convincing . . . a fascinating read about Spanish history and this rather controversial queen.
A joy to read . . . I adored this book . . . storytelling at its very best.
Gortner is a master story-teller, weaving superbly written fiction around an extensively researched historical backdrop. You can actually hear Isabella's voice resonate through the centuries . . . I feel this book is one that will become another runaway success, and deservedly so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Gortner's sweeping, sumptuous novel takes his readers from the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of Seville as well as creating the very human story of a woman pitted against the might and machinations of Spain's most powerful men . . . this is historical fiction written with the heart as well as the head, and allows us to view the remarkable Isabella as very much a product of, and exception to, her times.
'This book was a joy to read, it was such a refreshing change to read history from a different point of view . . . This really was a great book and such a surprise for me, it was easily one of my books of the year'.
'Gortner has woven an exquisite tale, fraught with peril . . . There is real edge-of-the-seat stuff here . . . The writing flows so beautifully you could almost believe you're seeing it first hand and will be almost completely immersed in a world of deception, deceit, danger, love, passion, power and politics'.
The Queen's Vow is one of the smoothest, most emotive historical novels I have read in some time.
The Queen's Vow is a captivating book, which has made C.W. Gortner an author whose work I'll definitely keep an eye out for in the future
A compelling and emotionally powerful account of the life of the young Isabella of Castille... Gortner presents a most vivid portrait.
A fantastic portrayal.