''You lay hands on a princess of the realm? It is treason.''
''But this princess disobeys her King. Treason indeed.''
''Fascinating . . . Brings to life one of the most determinedand remarkable queens of the medieval world'' K. J. MAITLAND, author of The Drowned City
''Completely engrossed me from the start . . . A wonderful read'' NICOLA CORNICK, author of The Forgotten Sister
1266. Eleanor of Castile, adored wife of the Crown Prince of England, is still only a princess when she is held hostage in the brutal Baron''s Rebellion, and her baby daughter dies. Scarred by privation, a bitter Eleanor swears revenge on those who would harm her family - and vows never to let herself be vulnerable again.
As she rises to become Queen, Eleanor keeps Olwen - a trusted herbalist, who tried to save her daughter - by her side. But it is dangerous to be friendless in a royal household, and as the court sets out on crusade, Olwen and Eleanor discover that the true battle for Europe may not be a matter of swords and lances, but one fanned by whispers and spies . . .
''Vibrant, enticing and with fascinating detail. . . . It held me gripped from beginning to end'' ALEXANDRA WALSH, author of The Marquess House Trilogy
''Excels at sweeping the reader away on an engrossing journey . . . Great storytelling and superb research'' JANE JOHNSON, author of Court of Lions
''Shines a true light on the gripping tale of Eleanor of Castile, the love of Edward I''s life'' SARA COCKERILL, author of Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France and England, Mother of Empires
''Pulls from the pages of history Eleanor of Castile: queen, business woman and true partner to one of England''s mostforcefulkings'' CRYSSA BAZOS, author of Severed Knot
<p>Carol McGrath is the author of the acclaimed <i>She-Wolves Trilogy</i>, which began with the hugely successful <i>The Silken Rose</i> and continues with the brand new <i>The Damask Rose</i>. Born in Northern Ireland, she fell in love with historical fiction at a young age, when exploring local castles, such as Carrickfergus, and nearby archaeological digs - and discovering some ancient bones herself. While completing a degree in history, she became fascinated by the strong women who were silenced in record, and was inspired to start exploring their lives. Her first novel, <i>The Handfasted Wife</i>, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, and <i>Mistress Cromwell</i> was widely praised as a timely feminist retelling of Tudor court life. Her novels are known for their intricacy, depth of research and powerful stories.<br><br>For more news, exclusive content and competitions, sign up to Carol's newsletter at: www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk<br><br>Follow her on Facebook: /CarolMcGrathAuthor1 <br>And Twitter: @CarolMcGrath</p>