Title: Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain
Author: Margaret Irwin
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1402229985
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

First published in 1946, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain continues the “vivid, psychologically brilliant” (Times Literary Supplement) journey begun in Young Bess and Elizabeth, Captive Princess. Philip, Prince of Spain, the unwilling bridegroom of Queen Mary, has been warned about the young Elizabeth. According to all reports, she is a heretic, a rebel, and a potential enemy—but she’s also alluring. Accused of treachery by Mary, Elizabeth finds herself teetering between Mary’s vengeance and Philip’s uneasy ardor, with her life in the balance.

My Review:

Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin is the third and final book in her Elizabeth I Trilogy, and while I did read and review Young Bess, I missed the second book Elizabeth, Captive Princess, so I am unable to let the readers know how well Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain flows from the second book, however I believe it can indeed be read as a stand alone book. With that said, Irwin captures the sound, look, and tempo of the time period so well I cannot imagine readers wanting to miss one of the books. In Irwin’s stunning conclusion, the reader is drawn into Elizabeth’s continuously tumultuous life, as Prince Philip is to wed Queen Mary, who is no friend to Elizabeth and even accuses her of treason. Philip has very strong feelings for Elizabeth and to further complicate matters, there is the disparity of religion. Robert Dudley enters the scene, much to my happiness, as he is a person in history who has always intrigued me. Elizabeth works to clear her father’s name and to prepare for what history will prove to be a brilliant legacy. Irwin’s writing is impeccable, impassioned and well informed. The readers are immediately whisked back to the sixteenth century and the characters spring to life under the skillful hand of Irwin. My only complaints, which are not the fault of the author, are two-fold. I failed to read the second book, how I missed it I do not know and secondly, the trilogy has ended and I yearn for more. I highly recommend not only Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, but also the previous two books in the Elizabeth I trilogy, Young Bess and Elizabeth, Captive Princess.

About the Author:

Margaret Irwin (1889-1969) was a master of historical fiction, blending meticulous research with real storytelling flair to create some of England’s best-loved and most widely acclaimed novels, including Young Bess, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, The Gay Galliard, and the Stranger Prince.

I received a complimentary ARC Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: I Am the Chosen King
Author: Helen Hollick
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Paperback: 592 pages
ISBN: 978-1402240669
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

England, 1044. Harold Godwineson, a young, respected Earl, falls in love with an ordinary but beautiful woman. He marries Edyth despite her lack of pedigree, pitting him against his turbulent family and his selfish King, Edward. In France, William, the bastard son of a duke, falls in love with power. Brutal and dangerously smart, William sets his sights on England, finding ambition a difficult lust to conquer.

In 1066, with the old King Edward dying, England falls vulnerable to the winds of fate—and the stubborn will of these two powerful men. In this beautifully crafted tale, Helen Hollick sets aside the propaganda of the Norman Conquest and brings to life the English version of the story of the last Saxon King, revealing his tender love, determination, and proud loyalty, all shattered by the unforgiving needs of a Kingdom. Forced to give up his wife and risk his life for England, the chosen King led his army into the great Battle of Hastings in October 1066 with all the honor and dignity that history remembers of its fallen heroes.

My Review:

I Am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick has finally been released in the United States, the UK title is Harold the King and is a powerful fictionalised historical account of the events leading up to the Norman Conquests of 1066 as told through the voice of the last Saxon King, King Harold. I Am the Chosen King fits chronologically right after Hollick’s book The Forever Queen, where the reader is introduced to Queen Emma and is reunited with her in I Am the Chosen King. While both books can indeed be read independent of the other, I believe once one reads I Am the Chosen King the reader will want to read Hollick’s other works. Hollick effortlessly takes the reader back to the first half of the eleventh century and makes every character, battle scene, and place vividly come to life. It is quite evident that Hollick has painstakingly researched this time period and in so doing makes the reader feel as though they are right there in the thick of the story. One does not need to be a history buff, nor a fan of history to follow along; Hollick is an expert guide as she painstakingly describes each scene down to the smallest detail. Shut off the phones, order takeaway, and have beverages at hand because once begun, this book is close to impossible to set down. I adored I Am the Chosen King and highly recommend it to all readers, do not be put off by the size of this book for in the end I fancy the reader will have wished it longer.

About the Author:

Helen Hollick lives in northeast London with her husband, daughter and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats, and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy—the early eighteenth century.

For further information about the author or her books, please visit her website and/or follow her on Twitter.

I received a complimentary copy of I Am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.