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The Last Queen
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
10 posts | 18 read | 29 to read
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from C. W. Gortner's The Queen's Vow. Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her countrys throne, has been for centuries an enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the bereft widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C. W. Gortner challenges the myths about Queen Juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand. The third child of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, Juana is born amid her parents ruthless struggle to unify their kingdom, bearing witness to the fall of Granada and Columbus s discoveries. At the age of sixteen, she is sent to wed Philip, the archduke of Flanders, as part of her parents strategy to strengthen Spain, just as her youngest sister, Catherine of Aragon, is sent to England to become the first wife of Henry VIII. Juana finds unexpected love and passion with her handsome young husband, the sole heir to the Habsburg Empire. At first she is content with her children and her life in Flanders. But when tragedy strikes and she inherits the Spanish throne, Juana finds herself plunged into a battle for power against her husband that grows to involve the major monarchs of Europe. Besieged by foes on all sides, her intelligence and pride used as weapons against her, Juana vows to secure her crown and save Spain from ruin, even if it could cost her everything. With brilliant, lyrical prose, novelist and historian C. W. Gortner conjures Juana through her own words, taking the reader from the somber majesty of Spain to the glittering and lethal courts of Flanders, France, and Tudor England. The Last Queen brings to life all the grandeur and drama of an incomparable era, and the singular humanity of this courageous, passionate princess whose fight to claim her birthright captivated the world.
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Princess-Kingofkings
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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Plenty of #LitsyLove for a Monday 💌 Best welcome back advice from Debra is “It‘s all about joy not stress!” Tagged book is one of her current reads.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 2d
21 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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The Spanish film Mad Love was not based on this particular book but it is about Juana de Loca the last Queen of Castile so I‘m going with it. This is also my #BookSpin book for April.

@CBee @TheAromaofBooks

CBee Sounds like a good plan to me 😊 (edited) 1w
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1w
48 likes2 comments
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Deblovestoread
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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Pickpick

#BookedinTime #SpanishInquistion

Juana was not raised to be a monarch but the untimely deaths of her elder sister and her nephew made her next in line to the throne upon her mother Queen Isabella‘s death. Gortner portrays a passionate woman who wants to do right by her country but kept in place as “mad” by her husband until his death and then her father. The Spanish Inquisition is mentioned but is not a main feature of this novel. 4 🌟

LeeRHarry I enjoyed this one.😊 1w
dabbe On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1w
56 likes2 comments
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Deblovestoread
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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1) Today I‘m going to make my second ever loaf of sourdough. My first wasn‘t a complete failure but was too dense. And I‘ll be in and out of work as we wrap up tax season.
2) After my 2 cups of coffee in the AM I always have water beside me. Trying not to snack.
3) Bookmark
4) Will finish the tagged today and then finish 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster.

#MotivationalMonday

Tagging everyone…

@Cupcake12

Cupcake12 Great answers. Thanks for joining in. Have a good week x 1w
36 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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I feel like I‘m 100% back in my normal reading groove so it‘s time to make plans. The tagged book is for #BookedinTime. I‘m actually going to finish it in the right month. 8 Lives is feeling lighter than the other WP books although I think the subject matter will be hard….so far they‘ve all been hard. Zorrie is for #SundayBuddyRead and I‘ll let my mood decide my next audio book.

review
TrishB
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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Pickpick

I haven‘t cut her head off honest! That‘s where the cover stops.
Great historical fiction. What a life this woman had, mainly in a bad way. Because I don‘t really know anything about her I didn‘t annoy myself with fact checking whilst reading.
Will definitely read others by this author.
Thanks @Caroline2

LeeRHarry I read this a while ago but remember really enjoying it 😊 3y
TrishB @LeeRHarry I did too 👍🏻 3y
Cathythoughts Sounds really good ✨ 3y
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Caroline2 Oh good. 😀 I‘m so glad you liked it. Yeah, I knew nothing going in and it makes it a fascinating read doesn‘t it. And a sad one. 😔 I‘ve read the Borgias by him, which was good but yeah, I want to read more by him too. 👍 (edited) 3y
TrishB @Caroline2 definitely be having a look 👍🏻 3y
TrishB @Cathythoughts good stuff 👍🏻 3y
ValerieAndBooks I read this many years ago and liked it! Oh....that headless woman cover style 😂 3y
TrishB @ValerieAndBooks it‘s a real thing 😂 3y
95 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Caroline2
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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Pickpick

I loved this book!! I knew nothing of Juana, “the mad” Queen of Spain (sister of Catherine of Aragon) and this book blew me away! It‘s is so well written for a historical novel and what happened to this woman....defies belief!! I love books about strong, fierce women in history and this is the best I‘ve read for a long time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

squirrelbrain Sounds great - stacked! 5y
TrishB I was with you til Alison Weir! Not one of my favs!! 5y
Caroline2 @TrishB no way!!! She‘s one of my favs! 😆 Ok, he‘s up there with Elizabeth Chadwick! I really like her books too! Don‘t let my comparison put you off tho! Such an amazing book!! 5y
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Caroline2 @squirrelbrain you know it makes sense! 😉 5y
AlaMich This is on my list!! 5y
Melissa_J I loved this one, too! @TrishB I‘m not a Weir fan and think this book is excellent. All of Gortner‘s books are - you‘d like him 😊 5y
Deblovestoread Sounds right up my alley. Stacked! 5y
TrishB @Caroline2 @Melissa_J will have a little look then 👍🏻 5y
Caroline2 @TrishB yay! 👏 I‘ve just ordered two more of his books!! 😁 5y
100 likes8 stack adds9 comments
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Butterfinger
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner

Learned so much about Juauna, sister to Catherine (Henry VIII's first wife). She was abandoned by everyone she loved and was separated from her children. Such an interesting creature. After reading Gortner, I'm left wondering, was she truly insane?

I also finished The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (E) and The Royal Mistress (2 word title). Started The Goldfinch (Chunkster, movie in 19).

#PopSugar2019 19/50
#AtoZLitsy2019 13/26
Chunkster 3/10

23 likes1 stack add
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JGadz11
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
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Devouring this book in the miraculous setting of Bali. Feeling like a queen whilst reading about one = a winning situation. 👑

Itchyfeetreader How beautiful enjoy your trip 6y
6 likes2 comments
review
Emily92Bibliophile
The Last Queen: A Novel | C. W. Gortner
Pickpick

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A well- written and gripping tale of a forgotten queen who is surrounded by myth, but is brought to life by the brilliant CW Gortner. I couldn't put this book down! Gortner weaves a intricate tale of the intelligent Juana of Castile, or "Juana la Loca" , and her part in taking back her kingdom of Castile. I can't wait to pick up Gortner's other novels !