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A review by joabroda
The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C.W. Gortner
adventurous
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
A HF biography of Isabella that satisfied my Historical Fiction bug, and ignited my History nerd for more.
The story takes us from toddler to Columbus embarking on his first historic journey. I wish the story of Columbus had started earlier, but understandably the book was about Isabella so I regress.
It was my first Gortner. His writing is good, his storytelling got me caught up in the book. It appears his research was done. I liked his author notes in the back of the book. He stated what he changed things for brevities sake (some dates are off by a year or two), and he stays neutral on Isabella as a ruler and a person.
I have pretty well covered English Royal History (but not saying I won't read more) and now have the itch to find out more about the Spain's. Isabella and Ferdinand's youngest Catalina (aka Catherine of Aragon) was the first wife of Henry VIII and the small amount I have read about her parents is only from books that are about other matters.
Others may not have rounded up, but this is all personal opinion-a better than average HF novel in my opinion.
The story takes us from toddler to Columbus embarking on his first historic journey. I wish the story of Columbus had started earlier, but understandably the book was about Isabella so I regress.
It was my first Gortner. His writing is good, his storytelling got me caught up in the book. It appears his research was done. I liked his author notes in the back of the book. He stated what he changed things for brevities sake (some dates are off by a year or two), and he stays neutral on Isabella as a ruler and a person.
I have pretty well covered English Royal History (but not saying I won't read more) and now have the itch to find out more about the Spain's. Isabella and Ferdinand's youngest Catalina (aka Catherine of Aragon) was the first wife of Henry VIII and the small amount I have read about her parents is only from books that are about other matters.
Others may not have rounded up, but this is all personal opinion-a better than average HF novel in my opinion.