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She-Wolves Trilogy #2
The Damask Rose
'You lay hands on a princess of the realm? It is treason.'' But this princess disobeys her King. Treason indeed.'A beloved wife. A hated queen. A journey to her destiny . . .If you love JOANNA COURTNEY, ELIZABETH CHADWICK and PHILIPPA GREGORY, you'll devour the highly-anticipated second novel in Carol McGrath's ROSE Trilogy !* ' Fascinating . . . Brings to life one of the most determined and 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 Sister1266. 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 Queen of France and England, Mother of Empires* ' Pulls from the pages of history Eleanor of queen, business woman and true partner to one of England's most forceful kings ' CRYSSA BAZOS , author of Severed Knot
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2021
224 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Carol McGrath
20 books255 followersMy first degree is in History and English from Queens University Belfast. I have a postgraduate MA in writing from Queens University and an Mphil in writing from The Royal Holloway ,University of London. My debut novel The Handfasted Wife is the first in a Trilogy The Daughters of Hastings. The first is the story of 1066 and its aftermath from the perspective of the noble women. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister have followed. All have been best sellers. My new novel The Woman in the Shadows tells the tale of Thomas and Elizabeth Cromwell and is the story of an early Tudor marriage. I am now working on a medieval trilogy about 'she wolf' queens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 7, 2021
The second in the she-wolves trilogy and a beautiful depiction of Eleanor of Castile.
McGrath tells the story of Eleanor from Princess to Queen of Edward I and her success as a property holder.
Eleanor led an exceptional life, separated from her husband during the Second Baron's War, went on Crusade and gave birth to approximately sixteen children!
Following her accession to Queen, Eleanor built up an impressive property portfolio including the beautiful Leeds Castle in Kent which I long to visit. McGrath uses her meticulous research to show Eleanor was not a usual Queen by medieval standards, she was highly educated, loved gardens and accompanied her husband as often as she could.
McGrath introduces fictional characters, a herbalist Lady Olwen, apothecary Guillaume and Sir Eugene to add depth to Eleanor's story and I really liked their characters and the narrative they brought to the story of living in the thirteenth-century. It was wonderful to read about the plants introduced by Eleanor from Spain and how gardens became a popular feature for nobility.
Edward I is known for his castle buildings across Wales and it was intriguing to read how this came about, even though this is a work of fiction it's also clearly the result of much research. The story of Edward and Eleanor could very much be told as a fictional love story but they did indeed clearly love each other, evident in Eleanor's refusal to be away from him and Edwards instructions for the building of Eleanor's crosses which end at Charing Cross.
McGrath provides an authors note detailing which parts are based on fiction and a great reading list for those interested in reading more which I'll certainly be doing. Eleanor of Castile is a fascinating individual and I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest.
I am looking forward to the next instalment of the series.
McGrath tells the story of Eleanor from Princess to Queen of Edward I and her success as a property holder.
Eleanor led an exceptional life, separated from her husband during the Second Baron's War, went on Crusade and gave birth to approximately sixteen children!
Following her accession to Queen, Eleanor built up an impressive property portfolio including the beautiful Leeds Castle in Kent which I long to visit. McGrath uses her meticulous research to show Eleanor was not a usual Queen by medieval standards, she was highly educated, loved gardens and accompanied her husband as often as she could.
McGrath introduces fictional characters, a herbalist Lady Olwen, apothecary Guillaume and Sir Eugene to add depth to Eleanor's story and I really liked their characters and the narrative they brought to the story of living in the thirteenth-century. It was wonderful to read about the plants introduced by Eleanor from Spain and how gardens became a popular feature for nobility.
Edward I is known for his castle buildings across Wales and it was intriguing to read how this came about, even though this is a work of fiction it's also clearly the result of much research. The story of Edward and Eleanor could very much be told as a fictional love story but they did indeed clearly love each other, evident in Eleanor's refusal to be away from him and Edwards instructions for the building of Eleanor's crosses which end at Charing Cross.
McGrath provides an authors note detailing which parts are based on fiction and a great reading list for those interested in reading more which I'll certainly be doing. Eleanor of Castile is a fascinating individual and I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest.
I am looking forward to the next instalment of the series.
May 19, 2021
Eleanor of Castile is described through this novel as an ambitious and tenacious woman who strives for independence by acquiring properties in her own name. Love for her husband, Edward I, overrides all other love, including that for her children. Due to the death of many offspring, Eleanor keeps those children who survive at arm’s length to prevent the pain of further loss. I loved the sections told from the viewpoint of Olwen, the herbalist who provides the royal household with advice on plants and who develops healing syrups. The relationship between the two women is steadfast and touching. The Damask Rose is a story full of drama which draws directly from incidents of the period. It’s an absolute treat to read, full of period detail and description which enlivens the narrative.
April 8, 2021
This is the second book in Carol McGrath’s She-Wolves trilogy, telling the story of three medieval queens of England who have all been given the label ‘she-wolf’ at various times. I enjoyed the first novel, The Silken Rose, about Henry III’s wife, Eleanor of Provence, so I was looking forward to this one, which moves on to Eleanor of Castile, the first wife of Edward I.
I’ve read other books set during Edward I’s reign, so presumably I’ve come across Eleanor of Castile before, but I mustn’t have been paying attention as I couldn’t have told you much about her before reading The Damask Rose (except that she was commemorated by the Eleanor Crosses which were erected in several English towns in her memory). It’s always good when you can learn something new from historical fiction and in this case, almost the entire story was new to me.
The novel begins in 1264 when Henry III is still alive and on the throne of England, but only just – he and his son, Prince Edward, have been captured by the forces of Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Lewes. Edward’s wife, Lady Eleanor, is at Windsor Castle awaiting news of her husband when Gilbert de Clare, one of de Montfort’s supporters, arrives to try to force her to relinquish the castle. This traumatic incident instils in Eleanor a lifelong hatred of de Clare as well as a determination that she will never put herself in such a vulnerable position again. Once the threat of Simon de Montfort has been removed at the Battle of Evesham, Edward and Eleanor travel to the Holy Land on crusade. It is during this journey that they learn of the death of Henry III and return to England to take their place as king and queen.
I enjoyed learning more about Eleanor, but although I don’t think she deserved to be described as a ‘she-wolf’ (the term seems to have mainly referred to her unpopular methods of acquiring land and properties, which were seen as greedy and ruthless), she’s not a character I liked or managed to warm to either. It seems that the real Eleanor was also accused of being ‘unmaternal’, which McGrath suggests could be due to the fact that she lost so many children she was afraid to get too close to the ones who survived, but it still irritated me that Eleanor complained constantly about her childrens’ relationships with other adults while at the same time saying she was far too busy to spend time with them herself.
Part of the novel is written from the perspective of Olwen, a herbalist whom Eleanor introduces into the royal household to provide advice on plants and healing. Olwen is a fictional character but her story complements Eleanor’s very well; in fact, I think I preferred her sections of the book as I found her much easier to like and I enjoyed the different point of view she brings to the novel. I cared about Olwen and wanted her to be happy, whereas I felt that some parts of Eleanor’s story, particularly towards the end, became too factual, too concerned with just describing things that had happened rather than providing any real emotional depth.
The third book in the series is going to be about Isabella of France; I am much more familiar with Isabella than with the previous two queens and I think she will be a fascinating subject to bring the trilogy to an end!
I’ve read other books set during Edward I’s reign, so presumably I’ve come across Eleanor of Castile before, but I mustn’t have been paying attention as I couldn’t have told you much about her before reading The Damask Rose (except that she was commemorated by the Eleanor Crosses which were erected in several English towns in her memory). It’s always good when you can learn something new from historical fiction and in this case, almost the entire story was new to me.
The novel begins in 1264 when Henry III is still alive and on the throne of England, but only just – he and his son, Prince Edward, have been captured by the forces of Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Lewes. Edward’s wife, Lady Eleanor, is at Windsor Castle awaiting news of her husband when Gilbert de Clare, one of de Montfort’s supporters, arrives to try to force her to relinquish the castle. This traumatic incident instils in Eleanor a lifelong hatred of de Clare as well as a determination that she will never put herself in such a vulnerable position again. Once the threat of Simon de Montfort has been removed at the Battle of Evesham, Edward and Eleanor travel to the Holy Land on crusade. It is during this journey that they learn of the death of Henry III and return to England to take their place as king and queen.
I enjoyed learning more about Eleanor, but although I don’t think she deserved to be described as a ‘she-wolf’ (the term seems to have mainly referred to her unpopular methods of acquiring land and properties, which were seen as greedy and ruthless), she’s not a character I liked or managed to warm to either. It seems that the real Eleanor was also accused of being ‘unmaternal’, which McGrath suggests could be due to the fact that she lost so many children she was afraid to get too close to the ones who survived, but it still irritated me that Eleanor complained constantly about her childrens’ relationships with other adults while at the same time saying she was far too busy to spend time with them herself.
Part of the novel is written from the perspective of Olwen, a herbalist whom Eleanor introduces into the royal household to provide advice on plants and healing. Olwen is a fictional character but her story complements Eleanor’s very well; in fact, I think I preferred her sections of the book as I found her much easier to like and I enjoyed the different point of view she brings to the novel. I cared about Olwen and wanted her to be happy, whereas I felt that some parts of Eleanor’s story, particularly towards the end, became too factual, too concerned with just describing things that had happened rather than providing any real emotional depth.
The third book in the series is going to be about Isabella of France; I am much more familiar with Isabella than with the previous two queens and I think she will be a fascinating subject to bring the trilogy to an end!
September 2, 2021
The story begins with Eleanor as a Princess being held hostage and with great privations and distress, especially after she lost her baby daughter.
The actual story was fascinating to read. How the Princess Eleanor who was very much loved by her husband became a strong Queen who was shrewd, calculating and persistent with her plans and even with long hidden animosities which were nurtured and acted upon at the opportune moment. Eleanor was the power behind the throne - a much heeded advisor to the King, who never felt shy about her feelings on any subject within the realm. Though very diplomatically as well.
She was the mother of some sixteen children, many of whom died either as still births or in infancy and this made her wary of being overly affectionate or loving as a mother. Her maternal feelings came into play only when the children were very well grown up. She handed over children to her mother in law to bring up, because she always felt that her position was by the side of her husband - whether on Crusade or whether travelling the length and breadth of Britain.
In this story the other character Olwen has a very prominent part to play - from being a herbalist, a doctor's daughter who could not aspire to be an apothecary even being a woman, she was also a designer of gardens. This endeared her to the Queen who had manors and castles all over the country and who wanted gardens in every style imaginable and herbal gardens as well in all her residences. Olwen was faithful and part of the Queen's entourage for years and her story
held great interest in this book.
The book though very full of historical detail was not dull in the least but was a lively account of the Royal Court in the 13th century.
The actual story was fascinating to read. How the Princess Eleanor who was very much loved by her husband became a strong Queen who was shrewd, calculating and persistent with her plans and even with long hidden animosities which were nurtured and acted upon at the opportune moment. Eleanor was the power behind the throne - a much heeded advisor to the King, who never felt shy about her feelings on any subject within the realm. Though very diplomatically as well.
She was the mother of some sixteen children, many of whom died either as still births or in infancy and this made her wary of being overly affectionate or loving as a mother. Her maternal feelings came into play only when the children were very well grown up. She handed over children to her mother in law to bring up, because she always felt that her position was by the side of her husband - whether on Crusade or whether travelling the length and breadth of Britain.
In this story the other character Olwen has a very prominent part to play - from being a herbalist, a doctor's daughter who could not aspire to be an apothecary even being a woman, she was also a designer of gardens. This endeared her to the Queen who had manors and castles all over the country and who wanted gardens in every style imaginable and herbal gardens as well in all her residences. Olwen was faithful and part of the Queen's entourage for years and her story
held great interest in this book.
The book though very full of historical detail was not dull in the least but was a lively account of the Royal Court in the 13th century.
June 18, 2024
I’m enjoying this trilogy of She-Wolves. Really follows on nicely from the previous book. The historical research is excellent and the author has managed to balance it out very well by including the time spent on crusade and between France, Wales and England.
Eleanor of Castile really did have a tough time of losing her babies and young children, so it’s quite heartbreaking to read how she would distance herself from them, so afraid of the grief and loss from losing yet another. But still, she had many babies - of which a large-enough family survived and importantly, one male heir - and was a devoted wife to King Edward I.
I liked the fictional addition of Olwen, Eugene and Guillaume. Olwen was a very likeable character and it was interesting to compare her life to Eleanor’s, one of a lady raised from humble beginnings, versus a Queen.
Olwen was a very grounded character and helped to bring the medieval world of apothecaries, herbalists and available healthcare to the forefront and emphasised just how needed their services were.
Carol McGrath is very adept at bringing the atmosphere of medieval times to life from the evocative smells and colours experienced on Crusade for many years to Christmas spent at court to the brutality of battle.
Eleanor of Castile packed rather a lot into her life and although she did have a hunger for owning land, I think she was was more of a person who protected what she had rather than being a she-wolf grabbing at increasing the number of manors and castles she owned.
An enjoyable read.
Eleanor of Castile really did have a tough time of losing her babies and young children, so it’s quite heartbreaking to read how she would distance herself from them, so afraid of the grief and loss from losing yet another. But still, she had many babies - of which a large-enough family survived and importantly, one male heir - and was a devoted wife to King Edward I.
I liked the fictional addition of Olwen, Eugene and Guillaume. Olwen was a very likeable character and it was interesting to compare her life to Eleanor’s, one of a lady raised from humble beginnings, versus a Queen.
Olwen was a very grounded character and helped to bring the medieval world of apothecaries, herbalists and available healthcare to the forefront and emphasised just how needed their services were.
Carol McGrath is very adept at bringing the atmosphere of medieval times to life from the evocative smells and colours experienced on Crusade for many years to Christmas spent at court to the brutality of battle.
Eleanor of Castile packed rather a lot into her life and although she did have a hunger for owning land, I think she was was more of a person who protected what she had rather than being a she-wolf grabbing at increasing the number of manors and castles she owned.
An enjoyable read.
April 14, 2021
The Damask Rose is a richly detailed work of biographical historical fiction founded on Ms McGrath’s professional historian’s knowledge and written with a born storyteller’s eye for nuance and detail. This is an immersive, complex read, with a lot of characters and at times I found myself wishing I had more background knowledge of the era. That being said, I enjoyed pausing in places to explore outside the realms of the pages, and dive deeper into areas of history that interested me. Ms McGrath introduces Eleanor of Castile as a fascinating character, portrayed with depth and feeling; a great exploration of an extraordinary medieval queen and the challenges she encountered and overcame. There were a couple of times that I found the telling of events and relationships pulled me out of the fictional context, but I enjoy biographies, and so relished the detail. At other times I was completely immersed in the brilliant descriptions of food, clothing, travel and court manners; Ms McGrath achieves the almost impossible balance of giving us every confidence in her research and knowledge while still weaving a fictional world of beauty and emotion that feels as real as the present day. Highly recommend to lovers of biographical historical fiction.
March 19, 2024
I loved this book , I knew nothing about Eleonor of Castile nor about Edward 1 and it was a lovely way to meet them … it made me wanne know more about them
May 28, 2021
Carol McGrath pulls from the pages of history Eleanor of Castile: queen, business woman and true partner to one of England’s most forceful kings. Exquisitely researched, The Damask Rose breathes life into a complex, dynamic woman. Highly recommended for readers of biographical historical fiction.
June 12, 2023
It's not a bad book, but it's incredibly boring.
This is a novel about Leonor de Castilla, wife of Edward I, it is a short story, well written and apparently well researched, but sadly I have to say that it is the most boring book I have ever read.
Lately I have been very interested in the period of reign of Edward I, Henry III and John I. And reading it from the point of view of women is always going to seem great to me, also I just finished the novel "The Reckoning" by Sharon P. Kenman, which covers part of the Reign of Edward I but from the point of view of Wales , this book narrates a bit of the same but clearly from the English point of view, although it really has no comparison, this is a short, direct and basic story, it is not exciting or deep or explicit, but I will start by saying that when I discovered that there was a novel about Leonor, the wife of Eduardo I, I knew I had to read it because she also seems to me one of the most interesting Queens and her life is rarely told in novels, but unfortunately the book is quite disappointing.
Let's start: The novel focuses much of its history on Olwen, a herbalist who serves Leonor, of course Olwen is a fictitious character, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is quite common to find that in historical novels, and as the author explains well it serves to explore situations in which Leonor would not have an inference, the problem in this novel is that the execution is clumsy, the novel is not narrated in the first person but in the third person, but it is rare, you will see, the chapters are interspersed, one focuses in Olwen and another in Leonor, even in the title is the name of who will be the protagonist, ok but why are they interspersed? Why the need to have one or the other? If it is not narrated in the first person? And many times Leonor tells us more about Olwen than about herself, which didn't feel logical, why would a queen with so many children and so many obligations be thinking about her herbalist and her love affairs? . These questions lead me to my next complaint, if Olwen was going to be so important to Leonor and the plot, I think the author should have created a bond between them that was strong but at the same time credible, Yes I got it they have a common love for plants. But what else? What made Leonor appreciate Olwen so much? They rarely have time together and talk almost nothing, they don't have deep conversations or intense experiences, so Olwen's presence is too intrusive and forced, especially at the beginning, you see, she is a lowborn girl who knows about plants, she is doing the queen a favor and from there we see her in political events that are too important for her, by the way Olwen has an understanding of politics that is too strange for my taste, but even if I can ignore that I found her story to be too bland and boring at the beginning, she is a Mary Sue who goes through life saving people's lives and being loved, there really aren't any real or interesting problems, it's until after 50 percent of the book that things get a little better, when Olwen's romantic life becomes exciting , she falls in love with a doctor whose name I couldn't pronounce but I called him Guillermo because it was something like that , but anyway, they can't be together mainly because he has other priorities and she ends up marrying another man, although Guillermo appears again from time to time giving touches to the story of nostalgia and intrigue, unfortunately towards the end the story becomes predictable, she ends up with who she wants, being loved, and rich, there is no more drama, also it does not help that it is so detailed the cure for the diseases of the time, how plants grew, what they were used for, how the garden is planted, and all that, at some point this seemed like a medieval gardening book and that made me force myself to read it I didn't enjoy it very much rather nothing.
As for Leonor, my goodness, what a horror, to start, the story begins with her already living in England 10 years after her wedding, it's true the opening scene is interesting but it lasts almost nothing, and I wanted to read about her falling in love with a total stranger with whom she was forced to marry, of her adapting to another court and to another country, but none of that is narrated here, however one good thing I can say is that she is not an adorable character nor is she a Mary Sue, she is a bad mother, vain, capricious, rebellious, unconscious, selfish but at the same time she is a good wife and a decent lady, it is actually easier to hate her than to love her, I am not complaining about that because it makes the story less predictable, but honestly Is not what I expected, historically she had a loving marriage with Edward I, which is not typical, he took her with him almost everywhere, had a lot of pregnancies, was unpopular with the people, was a distant mother, her life was completely atypical, but here one only reads that she had many lands, and many castles, and an office to manage them,That could be interesting but here it is not, we just read the same thing "my new office" over and over again, nothing is explored about the administration, nor its role as a landowner, the plot is repetitive in that aspect, and the whole book is about of the same thing, and let's not even mention her intrusions in politics, mother of god, she is the genius behind everything, if Edward I wins a battle is somehow Leonor who made it possible, if Edward is successful with a negotiation, she gave him the idea, she is so smart that she fixes everything in so easy way, of course that is not accurate but that's also so stupid that made the book even more annoying, now their marriage is barely explored superficially, there is no reading of romance, passion or interesting fights, just empty and totally incredible conversations, also every conversation ends in the sam: Edward I saying "yes Leonor you are right my warrior queen and I love you more, my beloved" Zzzzzz..... Edward I is the dumbest being in the world, he has no character or personality, she slaps him and he is totally passive, I can't imagine a medieval King being like that and even less him, he really stressed me, saved an occasion he doesn't show character, although I rather think that what happens is that the creation of the character is terribly poorly done, the king does not exist there, Leonor never appears as Queen either, in fact we have lots of pages of her talking to her herbalist Olwen about gardens and plants, and one or two pages of historical events, or domestic events, plus the book is full of absurd moments that made me laugh and not for fun, but because they were so, so ridiculous, like when Leonor gets angry because she thinks that Eduardo has an affair with his cousin "Alix" you see that part could have been so interesting, creating a truly challenge for them as a couple, but NOT here there is not doubt not fight, not anger, just Leonor saying something stupid like: "No!!! that is unnatural, cousin with cousin?????? !!! disgusting ". And I thought. hello??? Leonor was an infanta of Castilla (by the way, the concept of "Spanish" or "Spain" did not exist) the nobility of Castilla married cousins all the time, even more so between uncles- niece and vice versa, they got married, maybe marriages between relatives that were so close, it could disconcert the nobles of England ( although they also married between cousins ) but those of Castile ???? ........ and like that I found many silly moments, the story really It's empty, there are few characters, so Leonor's world seems tiny, and the worst thing is that all of them were perfect and pretty except Gilbert of Gloucester, well, if I can highlight someone apart of Gilbert, who helped me finish the book, it's the daughter of Leonor, Joan who is cynical, rebellious, independent and intelligent but apart from her all are one-dimensional characters, now another great defect is the lack of emotions, the last part that should reflect her illness and death cannot be more dry, she is dying but it doesn't reflect any feelings, Edward doesn't seem very affected either, no one really.
All the flaws could make me hate the book and that's not that bad, but what is unforgivable is that it is so boring, the dialogues are empty, also, as usually happens in historical novels, the story is not shown, it is only told, so I had to force myself to finish the book and I really don't recommend it, of course I'm not going to read the complete saga, not because I'm not interested but because reading this was tortuous and boring, and I don't read to get bored.
This is a novel about Leonor de Castilla, wife of Edward I, it is a short story, well written and apparently well researched, but sadly I have to say that it is the most boring book I have ever read.
Lately I have been very interested in the period of reign of Edward I, Henry III and John I. And reading it from the point of view of women is always going to seem great to me, also I just finished the novel "The Reckoning" by Sharon P. Kenman, which covers part of the Reign of Edward I but from the point of view of Wales , this book narrates a bit of the same but clearly from the English point of view, although it really has no comparison, this is a short, direct and basic story, it is not exciting or deep or explicit, but I will start by saying that when I discovered that there was a novel about Leonor, the wife of Eduardo I, I knew I had to read it because she also seems to me one of the most interesting Queens and her life is rarely told in novels, but unfortunately the book is quite disappointing.
Let's start: The novel focuses much of its history on Olwen, a herbalist who serves Leonor, of course Olwen is a fictitious character, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is quite common to find that in historical novels, and as the author explains well it serves to explore situations in which Leonor would not have an inference, the problem in this novel is that the execution is clumsy, the novel is not narrated in the first person but in the third person, but it is rare, you will see, the chapters are interspersed, one focuses in Olwen and another in Leonor, even in the title is the name of who will be the protagonist, ok but why are they interspersed? Why the need to have one or the other? If it is not narrated in the first person? And many times Leonor tells us more about Olwen than about herself, which didn't feel logical, why would a queen with so many children and so many obligations be thinking about her herbalist and her love affairs? . These questions lead me to my next complaint, if Olwen was going to be so important to Leonor and the plot, I think the author should have created a bond between them that was strong but at the same time credible, Yes I got it they have a common love for plants. But what else? What made Leonor appreciate Olwen so much? They rarely have time together and talk almost nothing, they don't have deep conversations or intense experiences, so Olwen's presence is too intrusive and forced, especially at the beginning, you see, she is a lowborn girl who knows about plants, she is doing the queen a favor and from there we see her in political events that are too important for her, by the way Olwen has an understanding of politics that is too strange for my taste, but even if I can ignore that I found her story to be too bland and boring at the beginning, she is a Mary Sue who goes through life saving people's lives and being loved, there really aren't any real or interesting problems, it's until after 50 percent of the book that things get a little better, when Olwen's romantic life becomes exciting , she falls in love with a doctor whose name I couldn't pronounce but I called him Guillermo because it was something like that , but anyway, they can't be together mainly because he has other priorities and she ends up marrying another man, although Guillermo appears again from time to time giving touches to the story of nostalgia and intrigue, unfortunately towards the end the story becomes predictable, she ends up with who she wants, being loved, and rich, there is no more drama, also it does not help that it is so detailed the cure for the diseases of the time, how plants grew, what they were used for, how the garden is planted, and all that, at some point this seemed like a medieval gardening book and that made me force myself to read it I didn't enjoy it very much rather nothing.
As for Leonor, my goodness, what a horror, to start, the story begins with her already living in England 10 years after her wedding, it's true the opening scene is interesting but it lasts almost nothing, and I wanted to read about her falling in love with a total stranger with whom she was forced to marry, of her adapting to another court and to another country, but none of that is narrated here, however one good thing I can say is that she is not an adorable character nor is she a Mary Sue, she is a bad mother, vain, capricious, rebellious, unconscious, selfish but at the same time she is a good wife and a decent lady, it is actually easier to hate her than to love her, I am not complaining about that because it makes the story less predictable, but honestly Is not what I expected, historically she had a loving marriage with Edward I, which is not typical, he took her with him almost everywhere, had a lot of pregnancies, was unpopular with the people, was a distant mother, her life was completely atypical, but here one only reads that she had many lands, and many castles, and an office to manage them,That could be interesting but here it is not, we just read the same thing "my new office" over and over again, nothing is explored about the administration, nor its role as a landowner, the plot is repetitive in that aspect, and the whole book is about of the same thing, and let's not even mention her intrusions in politics, mother of god, she is the genius behind everything, if Edward I wins a battle is somehow Leonor who made it possible, if Edward is successful with a negotiation, she gave him the idea, she is so smart that she fixes everything in so easy way, of course that is not accurate but that's also so stupid that made the book even more annoying, now their marriage is barely explored superficially, there is no reading of romance, passion or interesting fights, just empty and totally incredible conversations, also every conversation ends in the sam: Edward I saying "yes Leonor you are right my warrior queen and I love you more, my beloved" Zzzzzz..... Edward I is the dumbest being in the world, he has no character or personality, she slaps him and he is totally passive, I can't imagine a medieval King being like that and even less him, he really stressed me, saved an occasion he doesn't show character, although I rather think that what happens is that the creation of the character is terribly poorly done, the king does not exist there, Leonor never appears as Queen either, in fact we have lots of pages of her talking to her herbalist Olwen about gardens and plants, and one or two pages of historical events, or domestic events, plus the book is full of absurd moments that made me laugh and not for fun, but because they were so, so ridiculous, like when Leonor gets angry because she thinks that Eduardo has an affair with his cousin "Alix" you see that part could have been so interesting, creating a truly challenge for them as a couple, but NOT here there is not doubt not fight, not anger, just Leonor saying something stupid like: "No!!! that is unnatural, cousin with cousin?????? !!! disgusting ". And I thought. hello??? Leonor was an infanta of Castilla (by the way, the concept of "Spanish" or "Spain" did not exist) the nobility of Castilla married cousins all the time, even more so between uncles- niece and vice versa, they got married, maybe marriages between relatives that were so close, it could disconcert the nobles of England ( although they also married between cousins ) but those of Castile ???? ........ and like that I found many silly moments, the story really It's empty, there are few characters, so Leonor's world seems tiny, and the worst thing is that all of them were perfect and pretty except Gilbert of Gloucester, well, if I can highlight someone apart of Gilbert, who helped me finish the book, it's the daughter of Leonor, Joan who is cynical, rebellious, independent and intelligent but apart from her all are one-dimensional characters, now another great defect is the lack of emotions, the last part that should reflect her illness and death cannot be more dry, she is dying but it doesn't reflect any feelings, Edward doesn't seem very affected either, no one really.
All the flaws could make me hate the book and that's not that bad, but what is unforgivable is that it is so boring, the dialogues are empty, also, as usually happens in historical novels, the story is not shown, it is only told, so I had to force myself to finish the book and I really don't recommend it, of course I'm not going to read the complete saga, not because I'm not interested but because reading this was tortuous and boring, and I don't read to get bored.
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December 24, 2021A lovely story of Queen Eleanor of Castile
This well written and researched account of the life of one of England's most fascinating queens brings to life a woman whose story has hitherto been overshadowed by the deeds of her husband and the men in her family. The tapestry of medieval society is authentically presented, with the details of what it was like to be alive in the 13th century, richly drawn.
Carol McGrath's tale of the woman, the mother, the lover and the queen, her struggles, her joy and her heartaches, is told as never before, providing the reader with an insight into the machinations of 13thc courtly life. We get deep into the mindset of Eleanor, her deeds and her courage and her sense of honour. Added to this wealth of imagery is the fictional Olwen, the female herbalist, who's own thread wanders through the narrative alongside Eleanor. Olwen's rises to become a favourite of Eleanor's with her skills as a healer, and is a clever device to give the reader a different insight into the persona of Queen Eleanor.
The narrative covers Eleanor's life from her early twenties until her demise aged 49. In the beginning we see the strong, fiery queen come face to face with danger in the first unprecedented attack on the Royals for some time. This talented author describes this scene really well, and I was hooked from the start. We know from here, that we are presented with a woman who was not going to just sit back and be a wall flower or an ornament to adorn her husband's side. As the book progresses, we learn much about royal marriages of the time, and how the women had to endure being allied to a an often much older man for political alliances to be made at such young ages as 12 and 13 and made to breed from that age also. To our modern minds this seems unbelievable, but in those days, under canonical law, the age of consent was said to have been 12. However, in Eleanor's case, the prince who was one day to be King Edward I was only two years older than her. She did, I learn, have her first child at only around 13, whom died shortly afterwards.
The Damask Rose has a cast of interesting characters, most of whom are not fiction but real people. I liked how the author writes into the story the conflict between her and another character and how that character redeems himself. It’s a book that will sweep you into the 13th century and immerse you there till the end. I wholly recommend to those who love this period of medieval times and Women's history.
This well written and researched account of the life of one of England's most fascinating queens brings to life a woman whose story has hitherto been overshadowed by the deeds of her husband and the men in her family. The tapestry of medieval society is authentically presented, with the details of what it was like to be alive in the 13th century, richly drawn.
Carol McGrath's tale of the woman, the mother, the lover and the queen, her struggles, her joy and her heartaches, is told as never before, providing the reader with an insight into the machinations of 13thc courtly life. We get deep into the mindset of Eleanor, her deeds and her courage and her sense of honour. Added to this wealth of imagery is the fictional Olwen, the female herbalist, who's own thread wanders through the narrative alongside Eleanor. Olwen's rises to become a favourite of Eleanor's with her skills as a healer, and is a clever device to give the reader a different insight into the persona of Queen Eleanor.
The narrative covers Eleanor's life from her early twenties until her demise aged 49. In the beginning we see the strong, fiery queen come face to face with danger in the first unprecedented attack on the Royals for some time. This talented author describes this scene really well, and I was hooked from the start. We know from here, that we are presented with a woman who was not going to just sit back and be a wall flower or an ornament to adorn her husband's side. As the book progresses, we learn much about royal marriages of the time, and how the women had to endure being allied to a an often much older man for political alliances to be made at such young ages as 12 and 13 and made to breed from that age also. To our modern minds this seems unbelievable, but in those days, under canonical law, the age of consent was said to have been 12. However, in Eleanor's case, the prince who was one day to be King Edward I was only two years older than her. She did, I learn, have her first child at only around 13, whom died shortly afterwards.
The Damask Rose has a cast of interesting characters, most of whom are not fiction but real people. I liked how the author writes into the story the conflict between her and another character and how that character redeems himself. It’s a book that will sweep you into the 13th century and immerse you there till the end. I wholly recommend to those who love this period of medieval times and Women's history.
February 17, 2022
Difficult to read. DNF
April 18, 2021
n 1254, as a thirteen year old, Eleanor of Castile married the future Edward I and had to adjust to living in country far from her native Spain. Throughout her life time, Eleanor had a fearsome reputation and some would say that her later sobriquet of 'she-wolf' was well deserved, however, there was far more to this enigmatic queen than just her perceived delight in acquiring land and properties.
In The Damask Rose we pick up the story in 1264 when Eleanor, already a mother, is held hostage during the Baron’s Rebellion, and is forcibly removed from her sanctuary at Windsor Castle by the rebellious Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. Eleanor is not an easy prisoner, and works tirelessly to support both her husband, Prince Edward, and father-in-law, King Henry III, this makes an enemy of de Clare which will last throughout Eleanor’s lifetime.
This rich tapestry of a novel is as intricately woven as any medieval fabric, and gives a fascinating insight into the, rather complicated, life of this Queen Consort of England. The story moves swiftly through Eleanor’s life, bringing the medieval world to life in glorious splendour and allowing an imagined glimpse into what life was like at a royal court in the thirteenth century.
That Eleanor had her share of troubles is well described, particularly in light of her frequent pregnancies, and the tremendous losses she suffered as some of her children didn’t survive infancy. However, with tenacity and determination, Eleanor thrives in a male dominated world and it is particularly interesting to see her accompanying Edward as he goes on his legendary crusade to Acre, where he learns, in 1272, of his father, Henry III’s death, and the start of his own Kingship.
Introducing a fictional character into the story, namely that of Olwen, the herbalist, adds an interesting dimension to the story. Olwen becomes Eleanor’s confidante, and from this relationship we are able to put the historical detail of the story into a more domestic context. I enjoyed following Olwen’s story, she’s an interesting addition, as is the description of the herbs and plants which Olwen lovingly tends in the Queen’s many gardens.
The Damask Rose is a beautifully written, and intricately researched, novel by an author who knows how to bring history alive in the imagination. There is much to take in, so the book is not one to be read quickly, but rather to be enjoyed slowly in order to absorb the many facets of this enigmatic Queen’s complex life, who seems to have been a real tour de force in medieval England.
In The Damask Rose we pick up the story in 1264 when Eleanor, already a mother, is held hostage during the Baron’s Rebellion, and is forcibly removed from her sanctuary at Windsor Castle by the rebellious Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. Eleanor is not an easy prisoner, and works tirelessly to support both her husband, Prince Edward, and father-in-law, King Henry III, this makes an enemy of de Clare which will last throughout Eleanor’s lifetime.
This rich tapestry of a novel is as intricately woven as any medieval fabric, and gives a fascinating insight into the, rather complicated, life of this Queen Consort of England. The story moves swiftly through Eleanor’s life, bringing the medieval world to life in glorious splendour and allowing an imagined glimpse into what life was like at a royal court in the thirteenth century.
That Eleanor had her share of troubles is well described, particularly in light of her frequent pregnancies, and the tremendous losses she suffered as some of her children didn’t survive infancy. However, with tenacity and determination, Eleanor thrives in a male dominated world and it is particularly interesting to see her accompanying Edward as he goes on his legendary crusade to Acre, where he learns, in 1272, of his father, Henry III’s death, and the start of his own Kingship.
Introducing a fictional character into the story, namely that of Olwen, the herbalist, adds an interesting dimension to the story. Olwen becomes Eleanor’s confidante, and from this relationship we are able to put the historical detail of the story into a more domestic context. I enjoyed following Olwen’s story, she’s an interesting addition, as is the description of the herbs and plants which Olwen lovingly tends in the Queen’s many gardens.
The Damask Rose is a beautifully written, and intricately researched, novel by an author who knows how to bring history alive in the imagination. There is much to take in, so the book is not one to be read quickly, but rather to be enjoyed slowly in order to absorb the many facets of this enigmatic Queen’s complex life, who seems to have been a real tour de force in medieval England.
October 28, 2021
Eleanor of Castile is under house arrest together with her father-in-law king Henry III during the Baron’s War. She’s forced to live in poverty and her young daughter Katherine dies of a serious cold. She blames ‘Red’ Gilbert De Clare who switched sides and took her into his custody. Her husband prince Edward is locked up somewhere else but manages to escape. At the battle of Evesham, Simon The Monfort is killed and Gilbert once again declares his loyalties to Henry III. After the war, Eleanor decides to never be dependent on others again and starts to earn lands in her own name. She goes on a crusade to Acre as a princess, but she will return as queen of England.
The damask rose is the second part in McGrath’s she wolves trilogy about three medieval queens of England who weren’t popular with the people and the nobles. I did enjoy ‘The silken rose‘ about Alienor of Provence, so I couldn’t wait to learn more about the next queen called Eleanor. She was the wife and queen of Edward I. It was a love match but with a Baron’s War, a crusade and a lot of their children dying young, the couple did endure much together.
Eleanor wasn’t the loving mother, which makes her a bit of a cold character sometimes, but I could understand why she was afraid to get too close to her children. She lost so many of them and just wasn’t the maternal type. However, I did like Eleanor’s character in this book. She was an engaged queen and trusted her guts to like or dislike the people around her. She starts building up an inheritance of lands, which might have made her unpopular. But I don’t think we can really call her a she-wolf.
The novel isn’t only told from Eleanor’s perspective. We also meet Olwen, a lady herbalist who treats the royal family. She travels with them to Acre to discover new plants and herbals and when she returns she starts to plant new herbal gardens at every royal domain. It was fascinating to read about Eleanor’s intentions to improve the royal residences and their gardens.
Olwen is a fictitious character but I liked her. She offers another insight into the royal court and the politics of the time. Her relationship with both Guillaume and Eugene felt real. Also, Alienor of Provence is still present in this novel. I liked to see how the relationship between the two Eleanor’s progressed. I also got to see another side of Edward I who is often depicted as a ruthless king. McGrath succeeds in building a believable and engaging historical story.
Now I’m definitely looking forward to the third book about Isabella of France, a queen I know much more about than the two Eleanors.
Dutch review:
Eleanor Van Castilië zit opgesloten met haar schoonvader koning Henry III tijdens de Baron's War waarin Simon De Monfort en zijn bondgenoot Gilbert De Clare de macht in handen proberen nemen. Wanneer haar man prins Edward kan ontsnappen weet hij ook een einde aan de oorlog te maken op het slagveld waarbij Montfort omkomt en De Clare van kamp verandert. Tijdens haar gevangenschap sterft echter haar dochter Katherine van de kou en onvoldoende zorgen. Eleanor neemt zich voor nooit meer afhankelijk te zijn van anderen en begint zelf heel wat land in eigen naam te beheren, wat haar de titel She Wolf oplevert. Ze hecht zich niet meer aan haar jonge kinderen die plots kunnen sterven en trekt samen met Edward op kruistocht.
The damask rose is het tweede deel in the she wolves trilogie die het leven van drie middeleeuwse Engelse koninginnen beschrijft. Deze keer is het de beurt aan Eleanor Of Castilië, de vrouw van Edward I. Ik kende niets van haar leven en vond het heel fascinerend om te lezen dat ze op kruistocht is geweest en zelf zo hard bezig was met het vergaren van land.
Eleanor is niet meteen het meest sympathieke hoofdpersonage. Ze ziet haar man doodgraag, maar is niet zo'n moedertype. Ze zal 16 kinderen baren, waarvan er velen jong sterven. Dus ik kan dat ergens wel begrijpen. Verder kan ik me eigenlijk wel in haar inleven. Ze is heel betrokken en gaat af op haar gevoel om mensen wel of niet te mogen.
Het verhaal wordt afwisselend vertelt vanuit Eleanor zelf en Olwen, een herbaliste die met Eleanor meereist naar Acre om nieuwe kruiden te ontdekken en later verschillende paleistuinen aanlegt in opdracht van haar koningin. Olwen is een fictief personage maar ze zorgt ervoor dat we Eleanor, Edward en politieke intriges van een ander standpunt kunnen beleven. Haar relatie met zowel Eugene als Guillaume wordt mooi uitgewerkt. Ik had Olwen wel graag.
Ook Alienor of Provence, de koningin van het vorige boek, is nog aanwezig en de onderlinge relatie tussen de twee naamgenoten is mooi om volgen. Ik vind dit een heel fijne serie die historisch sterk is uitgewerkt maar ook voldoende verhalend. Ik kijk uit naar boek drie over Isabella Of France, die ken ik al wat beter.
The damask rose is the second part in McGrath’s she wolves trilogy about three medieval queens of England who weren’t popular with the people and the nobles. I did enjoy ‘The silken rose‘ about Alienor of Provence, so I couldn’t wait to learn more about the next queen called Eleanor. She was the wife and queen of Edward I. It was a love match but with a Baron’s War, a crusade and a lot of their children dying young, the couple did endure much together.
Eleanor wasn’t the loving mother, which makes her a bit of a cold character sometimes, but I could understand why she was afraid to get too close to her children. She lost so many of them and just wasn’t the maternal type. However, I did like Eleanor’s character in this book. She was an engaged queen and trusted her guts to like or dislike the people around her. She starts building up an inheritance of lands, which might have made her unpopular. But I don’t think we can really call her a she-wolf.
The novel isn’t only told from Eleanor’s perspective. We also meet Olwen, a lady herbalist who treats the royal family. She travels with them to Acre to discover new plants and herbals and when she returns she starts to plant new herbal gardens at every royal domain. It was fascinating to read about Eleanor’s intentions to improve the royal residences and their gardens.
Olwen is a fictitious character but I liked her. She offers another insight into the royal court and the politics of the time. Her relationship with both Guillaume and Eugene felt real. Also, Alienor of Provence is still present in this novel. I liked to see how the relationship between the two Eleanor’s progressed. I also got to see another side of Edward I who is often depicted as a ruthless king. McGrath succeeds in building a believable and engaging historical story.
Now I’m definitely looking forward to the third book about Isabella of France, a queen I know much more about than the two Eleanors.
Dutch review:
Eleanor Van Castilië zit opgesloten met haar schoonvader koning Henry III tijdens de Baron's War waarin Simon De Monfort en zijn bondgenoot Gilbert De Clare de macht in handen proberen nemen. Wanneer haar man prins Edward kan ontsnappen weet hij ook een einde aan de oorlog te maken op het slagveld waarbij Montfort omkomt en De Clare van kamp verandert. Tijdens haar gevangenschap sterft echter haar dochter Katherine van de kou en onvoldoende zorgen. Eleanor neemt zich voor nooit meer afhankelijk te zijn van anderen en begint zelf heel wat land in eigen naam te beheren, wat haar de titel She Wolf oplevert. Ze hecht zich niet meer aan haar jonge kinderen die plots kunnen sterven en trekt samen met Edward op kruistocht.
The damask rose is het tweede deel in the she wolves trilogie die het leven van drie middeleeuwse Engelse koninginnen beschrijft. Deze keer is het de beurt aan Eleanor Of Castilië, de vrouw van Edward I. Ik kende niets van haar leven en vond het heel fascinerend om te lezen dat ze op kruistocht is geweest en zelf zo hard bezig was met het vergaren van land.
Eleanor is niet meteen het meest sympathieke hoofdpersonage. Ze ziet haar man doodgraag, maar is niet zo'n moedertype. Ze zal 16 kinderen baren, waarvan er velen jong sterven. Dus ik kan dat ergens wel begrijpen. Verder kan ik me eigenlijk wel in haar inleven. Ze is heel betrokken en gaat af op haar gevoel om mensen wel of niet te mogen.
Het verhaal wordt afwisselend vertelt vanuit Eleanor zelf en Olwen, een herbaliste die met Eleanor meereist naar Acre om nieuwe kruiden te ontdekken en later verschillende paleistuinen aanlegt in opdracht van haar koningin. Olwen is een fictief personage maar ze zorgt ervoor dat we Eleanor, Edward en politieke intriges van een ander standpunt kunnen beleven. Haar relatie met zowel Eugene als Guillaume wordt mooi uitgewerkt. Ik had Olwen wel graag.
Ook Alienor of Provence, de koningin van het vorige boek, is nog aanwezig en de onderlinge relatie tussen de twee naamgenoten is mooi om volgen. Ik vind dit een heel fijne serie die historisch sterk is uitgewerkt maar ook voldoende verhalend. Ik kijk uit naar boek drie over Isabella Of France, die ken ik al wat beter.
April 13, 2021
We meet Eleanor of Castille, wife of Prince Edward – the future king of England, as she is taken hostage by Gilbert de Clare, lord of Gloucester. It is the perilous time of the Second Barons’ War against King Henry III. The leader of the pack, Simon de Montfort, controls most of the country and holds the king and his supporters checkmated. Separated from her beloved husband, Eleanor is forced into penury and swears revenge. This is a dynamic and tense introduction to the heroine of Carol McGrath’s biopic novel, The Damask Rose.
The story of her life unfolds in dramatic episodes that defined her and Edward’s rule: the defeat of the barons, his coronation, a crusade and retaking of Acre, an attempted assassination and a whole array of political and diplomatic machinations on the domestic and international front. The main players of the era, such as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, enter the scene. The settings extend beyond the shores of Britain and into France and Italy. European socio-economic dynamics form the backdrop to Eleanor’s story.
McGrath is sympathetic towards Eleanor, but that doesn’t prevent her from being honest about who she was: a smart and tough businesswoman who accumulated an extensive property portfolio and handled it with cunning expertise. She was also a mother who wasn’t motherly, but then again the mortality rate of newborn and young children didn’t allow much room to form emotional attachments, at least not until her children were older.
There is another heroine of this story, Olwen. She is a humble herbalist and Eleanor’s companion, confidante and on occasion even her spy. Her loyalty to her mistress is unsurpassed, but she also has her own story which flows in parallel to Eleanor’s but somewhat more idly and with greater intimacy. After all, Olwen doesn’t hold the weight of a whole kingdom on her shoulders.
The Damask Rose is written in beautifully stylised prose. I found myself fully immersed in the language and in Eleanor’s tumultuous life punctuated with many dramatic climaxes. The period detail and descriptions are totally absorbing. McGrath created a sense of immediacy with her heroine and took me on a journey of discovery that will stay with me for a while yet.
The story of her life unfolds in dramatic episodes that defined her and Edward’s rule: the defeat of the barons, his coronation, a crusade and retaking of Acre, an attempted assassination and a whole array of political and diplomatic machinations on the domestic and international front. The main players of the era, such as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, enter the scene. The settings extend beyond the shores of Britain and into France and Italy. European socio-economic dynamics form the backdrop to Eleanor’s story.
McGrath is sympathetic towards Eleanor, but that doesn’t prevent her from being honest about who she was: a smart and tough businesswoman who accumulated an extensive property portfolio and handled it with cunning expertise. She was also a mother who wasn’t motherly, but then again the mortality rate of newborn and young children didn’t allow much room to form emotional attachments, at least not until her children were older.
There is another heroine of this story, Olwen. She is a humble herbalist and Eleanor’s companion, confidante and on occasion even her spy. Her loyalty to her mistress is unsurpassed, but she also has her own story which flows in parallel to Eleanor’s but somewhat more idly and with greater intimacy. After all, Olwen doesn’t hold the weight of a whole kingdom on her shoulders.
The Damask Rose is written in beautifully stylised prose. I found myself fully immersed in the language and in Eleanor’s tumultuous life punctuated with many dramatic climaxes. The period detail and descriptions are totally absorbing. McGrath created a sense of immediacy with her heroine and took me on a journey of discovery that will stay with me for a while yet.
August 13, 2022
The Damask Rose by Carol McGrath is the second book in the she-wolf series that captures the lives of queens whose contemporaries labeled them contentious. Though the "she-wolf" label has been applied to many women in history, Eleanor of Castile is definitely a character that conjured up discomfort about female power, and how queens choose to wield it.
In this retelling, Eleanor is almost maddeningly queenly. Selfish, hyper focused on finances and land acquisition, and quick to rage at everyone from the King to her supportive, kind ladies. It is often uncomfortable, but that discomfort made me think more about why it's uncomfortable to read about a queen exhibiting such traits, while also solidly occupying a protagonist space in the novel.
After finishing, I thought about this and realized - queens are too often portrayed as either good or bad. Cruel or pious. The fact that I have fully enjoyed so many queens in novels....indicates a lack of depth in those novels, and highlights the depth in this one. Eleanor makes me uncomfortable, and yet, she is most likely a more accurate depiction of queenliness than others that offer pious, quiet and lovely queens. I really enjoyed this reflection, and upon finishing the book, enjoyed the journey with Eleanor.
I also really enjoyed Olwen's story line. Olwen, an herbalist who rises to become more prominent in the King and Queen's lives, follows them not only throughout the kingdom, but also on their journey to Acre. As she matures and builds her skills at not only healing, but horticulture, she offers a perfect contemporary window into Eleanor and Edward's court. Olwen learns much in life and love as she navigates the changing landscape of England during the Welsh and Barons wars.
Eleanor also grows throughout the novel -- and her self reflection at the end is beautiful. All ribbons are not tied into bows, but instead she comes to an acceptance of the things that were. And the traits she exhibited.
The final chapters that address Eleanor's illness and goodbyes are a poignant reminder that life is brief and beautiful. As she is remembered and grieved by Olwen, the reader is reminded that while life is short, memories live on. It is a beautiful "goodbye" to a beautifully dimensional queen.
In this retelling, Eleanor is almost maddeningly queenly. Selfish, hyper focused on finances and land acquisition, and quick to rage at everyone from the King to her supportive, kind ladies. It is often uncomfortable, but that discomfort made me think more about why it's uncomfortable to read about a queen exhibiting such traits, while also solidly occupying a protagonist space in the novel.
After finishing, I thought about this and realized - queens are too often portrayed as either good or bad. Cruel or pious. The fact that I have fully enjoyed so many queens in novels....indicates a lack of depth in those novels, and highlights the depth in this one. Eleanor makes me uncomfortable, and yet, she is most likely a more accurate depiction of queenliness than others that offer pious, quiet and lovely queens. I really enjoyed this reflection, and upon finishing the book, enjoyed the journey with Eleanor.
I also really enjoyed Olwen's story line. Olwen, an herbalist who rises to become more prominent in the King and Queen's lives, follows them not only throughout the kingdom, but also on their journey to Acre. As she matures and builds her skills at not only healing, but horticulture, she offers a perfect contemporary window into Eleanor and Edward's court. Olwen learns much in life and love as she navigates the changing landscape of England during the Welsh and Barons wars.
Eleanor also grows throughout the novel -- and her self reflection at the end is beautiful. All ribbons are not tied into bows, but instead she comes to an acceptance of the things that were. And the traits she exhibited.
The final chapters that address Eleanor's illness and goodbyes are a poignant reminder that life is brief and beautiful. As she is remembered and grieved by Olwen, the reader is reminded that while life is short, memories live on. It is a beautiful "goodbye" to a beautifully dimensional queen.
March 6, 2021
Damask Rose is the second book in Carol McGrath’s The Rose Trilogy – although it can be read as a standalone – and brings to life the story of a notable woman from history, Eleanor of Castile.
I have studied this time period at University but have never read historical fiction covering the events, so it was refreshing to have the story told from a female perspective.
It is full of betrayal, ambition, war, love and romance, and provides insight into the involvement of females in the major events of the period – passing message, holding castles and recruiting on behalf of their husbands.
The author has a wonderful way of bringing in detail and the descriptions of the herbs, gardens and clothing allow you to really imagine that you are there and part of the events. Unfortunately, the story does seem to move a little quickly through key events, glossing over rebellions, plots and the death of children with not much emotion or feeling from the characters.
Some of the writing can be repetitive in places – repeated emphasis that Eleanor is not maternal and an overuse of she-wolf in respect of Eleanor’s actions and personality. There are also randomly name-dropped characters from the time period who then play no part in the events of the story, almost like they are part of a storyline which was removed.
I did enjoy Olwen’s perspective, however, and she provided a gentler, more ordinary voice to contrast the Queen.
Overall, I thought Damask Rose was a very interesting read; however, not as much of a page-turner as my usual go-to Philippa Gregory stories.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have studied this time period at University but have never read historical fiction covering the events, so it was refreshing to have the story told from a female perspective.
It is full of betrayal, ambition, war, love and romance, and provides insight into the involvement of females in the major events of the period – passing message, holding castles and recruiting on behalf of their husbands.
The author has a wonderful way of bringing in detail and the descriptions of the herbs, gardens and clothing allow you to really imagine that you are there and part of the events. Unfortunately, the story does seem to move a little quickly through key events, glossing over rebellions, plots and the death of children with not much emotion or feeling from the characters.
Some of the writing can be repetitive in places – repeated emphasis that Eleanor is not maternal and an overuse of she-wolf in respect of Eleanor’s actions and personality. There are also randomly name-dropped characters from the time period who then play no part in the events of the story, almost like they are part of a storyline which was removed.
I did enjoy Olwen’s perspective, however, and she provided a gentler, more ordinary voice to contrast the Queen.
Overall, I thought Damask Rose was a very interesting read; however, not as much of a page-turner as my usual go-to Philippa Gregory stories.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2021
It takes a special book or author to jolt me from my love of the 17th century. Carol McGrath and Book Two in her ‘She-Wolves’ trilogy fits both counts!
The Damask Rose follows Eleanor of Castile, wife of the future King Edward I, through the highs and lows of her fascinating life. Not only do we traverse the tragedy of civil war, but readers also experience Eleanor’s personal life, which was no less turbulent. Her character is vividly crafted and stands out from the pages with excellent descriptions and dialogue. She is irascible and stubborn when it comes to her arch-enemy, Gilbert de Clare – but equally courageous and loyal in her husband’s service.
A suitably dramatic opening occurs at Windsor Castle, which Eleanor holds for her husband, and it is here that she comes face to face with Gilbert. It is an encounter that neither character will forget. The opposing emotions of grief and joy collide in a most touching scene, leaving Eleanor unable to celebrate the birth of her third child, due to lingering grief over the loss of her second.
But the story is not told solely through Eleanor’s eyes; we are able to watch events from afar via Olwen, a herbalist, who holds her mistresses loyalty, but no great rank. It is this which makes the story all the more relatable and riveting; that such a dramatic plot has been woven together from two very different standpoints.
The Damask Rose follows Eleanor of Castile, wife of the future King Edward I, through the highs and lows of her fascinating life. Not only do we traverse the tragedy of civil war, but readers also experience Eleanor’s personal life, which was no less turbulent. Her character is vividly crafted and stands out from the pages with excellent descriptions and dialogue. She is irascible and stubborn when it comes to her arch-enemy, Gilbert de Clare – but equally courageous and loyal in her husband’s service.
A suitably dramatic opening occurs at Windsor Castle, which Eleanor holds for her husband, and it is here that she comes face to face with Gilbert. It is an encounter that neither character will forget. The opposing emotions of grief and joy collide in a most touching scene, leaving Eleanor unable to celebrate the birth of her third child, due to lingering grief over the loss of her second.
But the story is not told solely through Eleanor’s eyes; we are able to watch events from afar via Olwen, a herbalist, who holds her mistresses loyalty, but no great rank. It is this which makes the story all the more relatable and riveting; that such a dramatic plot has been woven together from two very different standpoints.
May 19, 2021
The Damask Rose
McGrath has a knack for delving beyond the litany of battle dates and monarchs reigns, to give the reader the inside story. Here we have a young queen, married at 13, popping out babies at regular intervals, suffering miscarriages and early deaths, in love with her king and showing us her fiery character. The experiences packed into her short life are extraordinary, with constant travelling around her kingdom to build castles and gardens, as well as an action-packed crusade to the Holy Land, where the entourage don’t quite make it to Jerusalem. So near and yet so far.
The technique McGrath has employed in this novel, the second in her she-wolf trilogy, of contrasting a regal figure with one from a more humble background, is revelatory and extremely satisfying for the reader. It gives depth to both lives and a greater sense of the humanity of the characters. As a gardener I particularly enjoyed this novel for the inclusion of Olwen the herbalist, who collects plants for the Queen’s new gardens.
A terrific five-star read and I’m looking forward already to the third she-wolf novel.
McGrath has a knack for delving beyond the litany of battle dates and monarchs reigns, to give the reader the inside story. Here we have a young queen, married at 13, popping out babies at regular intervals, suffering miscarriages and early deaths, in love with her king and showing us her fiery character. The experiences packed into her short life are extraordinary, with constant travelling around her kingdom to build castles and gardens, as well as an action-packed crusade to the Holy Land, where the entourage don’t quite make it to Jerusalem. So near and yet so far.
The technique McGrath has employed in this novel, the second in her she-wolf trilogy, of contrasting a regal figure with one from a more humble background, is revelatory and extremely satisfying for the reader. It gives depth to both lives and a greater sense of the humanity of the characters. As a gardener I particularly enjoyed this novel for the inclusion of Olwen the herbalist, who collects plants for the Queen’s new gardens.
A terrific five-star read and I’m looking forward already to the third she-wolf novel.
March 21, 2021
After being held hostage during the Baron's Rebellion in 1266, Eleanor of Castile the child bride of the future King Edward of England vows to seek revenge on those that have wronged her family. Never again will she allow herself to be vulnerable and she will go one to be a woman ahead of her time in terms of her business acumen.
Olwen is a herbalist. a low born woman that Eleanor befriends thanks to their shared love of gardens and knowing that it is dangerous to be without friends in a strange land Eleanor keeps Olwen close at hand.
The lives of these two women are entwined from then on and while the book mainly concentrates on Eleanor, Olwen is always there in the background.
The writing is just beautiful. It grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go until the last.
I loved this book and would highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Olwen is a herbalist. a low born woman that Eleanor befriends thanks to their shared love of gardens and knowing that it is dangerous to be without friends in a strange land Eleanor keeps Olwen close at hand.
The lives of these two women are entwined from then on and while the book mainly concentrates on Eleanor, Olwen is always there in the background.
The writing is just beautiful. It grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go until the last.
I loved this book and would highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2021
I have enjoyed very much Eleanor of Castile's life from 1266 on told in this novel. She was a tough, no-nonsense woman driven by the love for her husband. However, she also strove to acquire independence through her will to acquire as many properties as possible under her own name. Her life was not easy, she was married at 12 years old and lost her first child at 13. Unfortunately, this tragedy will be followed by many more children's deaths. She appears as a cold mother with attachment difficulties. Well, who may judge her? In those days, children death rates were so high, she protected herself as she only could see fit. Her love for plants, flowers, gardens adds a very interesting and personal touch to the novel. Eleanor was always on the road, abroad as well. The author has depicted beautiful landscapes and gardens along Eleanor's numerous journeys. The reader also dives into all political, national upheavals which proved extremely interesting. Great read on many levels!
June 8, 2021
After the death of her child whilst she is held prisoner by her father-in-law's enemies Eleanor of Castile is determined never to be in the same situation again. When her husband Edward ascends to the throne Eleanor becomes a power in the country but she struggles to conceive a male heir. Going on crusade with Edward Eleanor is exposed to danger but is strong enough to get through this and the wars for Wales until she finally has a strong son.
As ever with McGrath's writings this is a a detailed and well-researched piece of historical biography wrapped up in a gentle medieval romance. Eleanor was Edward I's well beloved wife and here her story is juxtaposed with the fictional character of Olwen to compare and contrast the lives of the royals and the gentlefolk. It's not a demanding book but is very enjoyable.
As ever with McGrath's writings this is a a detailed and well-researched piece of historical biography wrapped up in a gentle medieval romance. Eleanor was Edward I's well beloved wife and here her story is juxtaposed with the fictional character of Olwen to compare and contrast the lives of the royals and the gentlefolk. It's not a demanding book but is very enjoyable.
July 5, 2024
As with the first book of this series, this was very well researched. I like that the fictitious character dealt in medicinal herbs and gardening. The choices the author made regarding Eleanor were, I thought, pretty true to what is known of her character, although I would have liked to have seen her reasoning for her land grabs brought out more. Her poverty during the barons' rebellion is mentioned, but if it had been emphasized more, it could have made her a more sympathetic character.
The one thing I had an issue with was the writing in the first third of the book. It's clunky and awkward, and is completely at odds with the way the story/writing flows later.
Despite those issues, I still recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, as the research, and the descriptions of court life, is well done.
The one thing I had an issue with was the writing in the first third of the book. It's clunky and awkward, and is completely at odds with the way the story/writing flows later.
Despite those issues, I still recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, as the research, and the descriptions of court life, is well done.
November 14, 2022
DNF. I usually love Carol McGrath's novels but this one had me whinging the whole time. Interminably long, boring characters, contrived plot - I mean what happened? I didn't give a crap what happened and hated all of the characters. While I do understand that not much is known about Eleanor other than the myth of sucking poison out of her husband's injury and not really liking children, but make something interesting up - the apothecary Olwen was the most interesting but she disappears for the most part 3/4 of the way thru the book and I just lost patience. Well sometimes you just have a bad run.
July 21, 2021
Eleanor of Castile is married to King Edward I, she was known as the she wolf as she was a strong independent woman who stood up to her husband and gave birth to many children.
Eleanor had a herbalist, fictional, that looked after her health, she disliked her mother in law, Aileonor of Province who seemed very maternal. However Eleanor was not maternal as a lot of her children died just after childbirth.
A good read.
Eleanor had a herbalist, fictional, that looked after her health, she disliked her mother in law, Aileonor of Province who seemed very maternal. However Eleanor was not maternal as a lot of her children died just after childbirth.
A good read.
April 11, 2022
So Interesting
Some people may find it hard to like Queen Eleanor but I came to respect and understand her through this book. Well written with a very good balance between dialogue and narrative. Carol McGrath really does a nice job of detailing the herbs and plants and their uses through her secondary main character Olwen. This book is part of a three part series that can be read as a standalone.
Some people may find it hard to like Queen Eleanor but I came to respect and understand her through this book. Well written with a very good balance between dialogue and narrative. Carol McGrath really does a nice job of detailing the herbs and plants and their uses through her secondary main character Olwen. This book is part of a three part series that can be read as a standalone.
April 19, 2022
History is brought to life in this second instalment of the She-Wolf trilogy from Carol McGrath. As in the first read, the historical elements are extensively researched and add so much colour to the story. I loved Olwen’s story and felt that she deserved the main character role rather than Eleanor of Castile. Eleanor is portrayed as such a cold and unemotional queen but her love for Edward is undeniable and unrelenting- such a fascinating woman.
August 31, 2022
Eleanor of Castile was married to the future Edward I aged 12, birthed and buried their first child aged 13 and died aged 49. This is a marvellous fictional telling of her life. Eleanor was quite a woman and queen. McGrath has such an engaging writing style that I soon found myself swept up in the time period and the storyline. I like how this trilogy also features a more 'normal' woman and you see her story alongside that of the more famous queen.
May 28, 2024
This is the first novel I've found on Eleanor of Castile, and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, I was bored throughout most of the book. Historical events are mostly "blink and you'll miss it" passages. Eleanor constantly throws tantrums like a child. And I will never agree with throwing in a fictional character that takes up half the story and detracts from Eleanor, which is what I really wanted to read.
June 5, 2021
I love this type of book and I tried really hard but I just couldn't enjoy this as well as I'd hoped. It did enlighten me about Eleanor and how she brought certain habits with her like carpets for instance and I'm in awe of any woman who successfully birthed 16 pregnancies, but I struggled to work up any enthusiasm about her overall.
April 16, 2024
Interesting read
It is an easy but lengthy read. I found it to be an easy way to read about Eleanor of Castille, someone who would not be uppermost in my reading list. I wished Migrating wouldn't have done more editing because at a middle point it was sounding like same, same old. It's worth sticking with it.
It is an easy but lengthy read. I found it to be an easy way to read about Eleanor of Castille, someone who would not be uppermost in my reading list. I wished Migrating wouldn't have done more editing because at a middle point it was sounding like same, same old. It's worth sticking with it.
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