Emma Campion is a writer who knows how to weave a great story – part fact and part fiction.
The story starts with Joan of Kent as a young girl, who happens to be the prince’s cousin. As per usual in those days and times, children were manipulated by their families, royals, other families, and basically all of the adults around them. As a young girl, however, Joan doesn’t realize that she is being used as a pawn. She does the unthinkable and marries for love (how dare she?!?) and they are forcibly kept apart for years. She is forced to marry someone else, but continues trying to get the king and pope to give their blessing and validate the marriage she entered into for love.
And then there’s the Black Prince, her cousin, who thinks that she should be all his. He’s a bit of an odd duck; he treats her like royalty on the one hand, but then plots against her or anyone she loves the next minute.
I really enjoyed the historical nature of this book. It portrays very well the intrigue surrounding the royals and the upper class of the period, and how in many cases, you simply weren’t allowed your own choices.
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