The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry

Joan's mother is Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most beautiful woman in the world. Her father is Henry II, the king of England and a renowned military leader. She loves them both--so what is she to do when she's forced to choose between them? As her parents' arguments grow ever more vicious, Joan begins to feel like a political pawn.
When her parents marry her off to the king of Sicily, Joan finds herself stuck with a man ten years her senior. She doesn't love her husband, and she can't quite forget her childhood crush, the handsome Lord Raymond.
As Joan grows up, she begins to understand that her parents' worldview is warped by their political ambitions, and hers, in turn, has been warped by theirs. Is it too late to figure out whom to trust? And, more importantly, whom to love?


Goodreads Summary

Looking for a good historical fiction novel?  Joan wasn't born to make her own decisions, much of her life had already been mapped out.  When she has to marry a much older man, Joan remains resilient.  Her childhood may be behind her, but she is loathe to forget about her first infatuation.  The reader will enjoy following Joan from when she is very young all the way through to her thirties.  The reader will find that Joan is an easy character to connect to and sympathize with.  Joan has her flaws, but she is also brave, compassionate, and strong. 

When Joan married her husband, she technically left her family behind.  She has a hard time choosing between her husband's and family's little arguments, there really isn't any correct choice.  Joan is one of those rare strong female characters.  She does try to stand up for what she believes is right, even in a time where it was difficult for females to do so.  Her husband is rigid and unyielding in many situations, but the reader will hope he appreciates his unique wife at least a little.  Joan's family restrains her and prefers her to act like a lady and let them make all of the decisions.  The reader will enjoy getting to know all of the characters, however, and placing them within the historical timeline he/she knows. 

The author remains as true to history as possible.  The reader should appreciate the realistic way the events, thoughts, and actions of the people of that time were portrayed.  The events were mostly cohesive, the reader should not have a hard time following the plot and knowing who is who.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars

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