The Lost Queen by Carol McGrath. Normally I am all over a crusade but Berengaria wasn’t doing it for me. Bloody hell cheer up. I know we don’t know a lot about any woman in history so people can make them whatever they want but all the women in this seemed a bit wet. She goes on a cool little road trip but babes come on. I think I would have liked a second book and seen what she would have done post the big man’s death.

Berengaria of Navarre is one of the Queens of England I know least about and I’m sure I’m not alone in that as so little has been written about her. I’ve read novels in which she appears briefly as a secondary character, but with the exception of Martha Rofheart’s Lionheart, nothing where she takes a more central role. In The Lost Queen, Carol McGrath builds Berengaria’s story around the small amount of factual information we have about her, taking us through the early days of her marriage to King Richard I and her time spent in the Holy Land, where she accompanied Richard on the Third Crusade.

Like the other McGrath books I’ve read, there’s also a fictional heroine whose story takes place alongside the real historical one. In this case, it’s Lady Avelina of Middleton, whose husband William has disappeared after leaving for Outremer three years earlier to claim his father’s estate. William’s half-brother, Walter, is insisting that William must have become caught up in the Crusades and killed in battle, but Avelina suspects that Walter has his eye on herself and Middleton. Avelina is determined to prove that her husband is still alive and sets off to look for him, attaching herself to a party of nuns who are travelling to Jerusalem in search of a religious relic to bring back to their abbey.

During the journey, Avelina’s path crosses with Berengaria’s, who is on her way to her wedding with Richard. Richard’s mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, escorts Berengaria as far as Sicily, then Eleanor’s daughter Joanna accompanies her from there to Cyprus and then the Holy Land. Avelina and the nuns join them along the way and a friendship forms between Avelina and the new queen.

Berengaria is known as the only English queen never to visit England (although it’s now thought that she may have done after Richard’s death). This means that, apart from a few chapters involving Avelina, most of the novel is set elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of all the adventures the characters have on the journey: crossing the Alps in the middle of winter; surviving assassination attempts; being shipwrecked off the coast of Cyprus and held prisoner.

As I know so little about Berengaria I can’t really comment on the accuracy of the novel. McGrath does include an author’s note, in which she explains some of her decisions and how she worked with the available information to create the story. We do know that Berengaria never had children, for example, but McGrath suggests that she may have been pregnant with Richard’s child and had a miscarriage. The Avelina chapters of the book obviously allow for a lot more invention and imagination and there are also a few sections here and there narrated by other characters such as Blondel, the troubadour, or Ursula, one of Berengaria's ladies. I can understand why these perspectives were included, as they fill in some of the gaps, showing us things that Berengaria and Avelina don’t witness for themselves, but I didn’t feel they really added much to the story and we don’t spend enough time with these characters to form any kind of emotional connection.

The book ends before the death of Richard I and I was sorry that we didn’t continue with Berengaria’s later years as it would have been interesting to see how she dealt with being a widow and queen dowager. However, even less is known about that period of Berengaria’s life, so maybe it was the right decision for the book to end when it did. I’ll be looking out for news on which historical figure Carol McGrath is writing about next!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Fans of Elizabeth Chadwick and Anne O’Brien will be swept away by Carol McGrath’s latest novel, The Lost Queen.

1191 and while Richard the Lionheart has gone off on a crusade to liberate Jerusalem and her lands while he battles Saladin, his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his betrothed, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, are about to embark on a perilous journey of their own. Having promised to meet Richard in Messina, the two women are on their way to the Alps in midwinter and their journey is going to be fraught with jeopardy, danger and many challenges which will test them like never before. Will the two women manage to reach Messina unscathed? Or will this trip end up changing them beyond all recognition?

With vicious assassins waiting to strike at any second, the two women will need to be bold and courageous like never before. Although they meet violent storms and lascivious pirates along the way, Berengaria holds her nerve as she outmatches her enemies, rises above all the challenges obstructing her way and emerges a queen worthy of a king’s heart. Yet, before she continues her journey with Richard to the Holy Land, the two must wed and provide England with an heir, However, first the two of them must first make their way back home on a journey neither one of them will forget.

Carol McGrath knows her subject well and effortlessly takes her readers back in time with The Lost Queen. Brimming with intrigue, tension and adventure, The Lost Queen is a powerful Medieval tale full of atmosphere, danger and emotion and transports the reader to another world. Full of larger than life characters, sumptuous descriptions of Medieval times and rip-roaring action, Carol McGrath’s The Lost Queen is historical fiction at its most dazzling.

The stunning historical novel of a feisty, intelligent Queen and her epic journey to reunite with her King this book takes you to 1191 where King Richard the Lionheart is on his way to battle the Saladin and liberate Jerusalem. But there is more to the story than that as he his hoping to get married and produce an heir. But life is not that simple and this book is full of courage, strength and life in times gone bad, the good and the bad.

This is history, it is also romance and it is well researched an written. I enjoyed the read and found it interesting and intriguing but found the romance in parts a bit over the top. There is plenty of adventure among the pages and there are two great heroines that will keep you reading. A great story and a wonderful read.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

King Richard is in The Holy Land, fighting the infidel to regain control of Jerusalem, but is also hoping to get married. His chosen bride, Berengaria of Navarre, is travelling from Spain to meet him, and Richard's sister in Cyprus. Waylaid by a storm, Berengaria's ship are harassed and Richard takes control of the island to save her. Also with Berengaria is Avelina, a young woman looking for her husband lost after a battle, both are hoping that the path of love is cleared for them.
In common with all McGrath's books, this one is quite syrupy at times when the romance becomes a little too much. Aside from that it is a well-researched novel around the married life of Berengaria, a queen who may not even have ever visited England. It's great that the spotlight is on a woman about whom we know little

Having read and enjoyed The Stolen Crown last year, I've been looking forward to reading about Richard the Lionheart's queen – Berengaria of Navarre.

Not that much is known about Richard's wife, and with discussions about his sexuality ongoing, she seems to have been pushed into the background even further. So it's fantastic that the poor, historically-neglected lady gets a fictional outing in The Lost Queen.

In the novel, we meet not one, but two remarkable heroines: Berengaria and Lady Avelina of Middleton. Both are thrown together on their journey, and their fates interlink from that moment onwards.

Dowager Queen Eleanor (famously of Aquitaine) is accompanying young Berengaria from her home to Sicily, where she is to marry King Richard. This secret arrangement was made to thwart the French king, and the secret soon gets out.

Avelina, meanwhile, is travelling to the Holy Land in search of her missing husband, whose nefarious brother is laying claims to her and her property. But without confirmation of William's death, Avelina doesn't give up.

So it happens that the two ladies' paths cross in eastern France, and together they travel through the mountains and across Italy to the kingdom of Sicily, facing down assassination attempts, attacks, and other dangers.

Will Avelina find her husband? And what will Berengaria make of her husband-to-be? Well, find out in the novel!


I love a gripping adventure with determined, intelligent heroines, and The Lost Queen provides me with an excellent tale! Avelina's sheer audacity to flee her home in the disguise of a nun, travelling with other nuns heading for the Holy Land, shows her courage, and her firm belief that her husband must be alive. She doesn't concern herself with potential what-ifs until she has proof of either his death or she finds him alive. With her hound Racer and crafty maid Mahelt by her side, she is keen to seek closure, so she can plan her life ahead, ideally without her husband's brother.

Berengaria, on the other side, is leaving a protected life at her brother Sancho's court. She has an overly romantic view of Richard, one that will be challenged through the plot, but she is also determined to make her marriage work. Well-educated and intelligent, Berengaria knows what she wants, and doesn't shy away from a bit of eavesdropping where needed. I found those instances quite cheeky and delightful, as they allowed her a deeper insight.

I'm not a great fan of Richard the Lionheart, who spent way to much time and money waging war, rather than care for his domains, and in the book, he is described as a womaniser. That, I can well believe.

The relationship between Berengaria and Richard is intriguing. Both know their connection is first and foremost a political one – with her brother securing the southern Aquitanian borderlands from Navarre. But as they grow closer, they do form a bond, which makes for intriguing reading.

The historical background is meticulously researched, down to the most minute detail. This provides the reader with a wonderfully visual experience. The two fascinating female protagonists pull you along on their journey of personal – and political – discovery. The reader is drawn into a vividly depicted medieval world full of gripping plots (Richard's 'plan' for his widowed sister Joanna stands out), power games between rulers who can't stand the sight of each other, and avarice.

The forever-dramatic Crusades form a spectacular political background against which the characters' lives are played out. As religious enemies try to trick each other, personal vendettas and ambitions are rife amongst the nobility as much as the lower ranks.

Berengaria's development from young, innocent girl to worldly-wise wife and queen is riveting to follow, and it's a sign of Ms McGrath's impeccable plotting skills that we find this young lady come to life so vividly.

The rich narrative sweeps you along in a colourful adventure which makes you feel like you stepped right into the late 12th century, and the vibrant courts of the time.

A highly recommended read!

his is a well researched and involving historical novel which brings to life a Queen of England about whom little is known. The story of Berengaria covers her life when she was betrothed to Richard, the journey to meet him and the years following her marriage. She emerges as a brave, independent woman whose intelligence and political instincts enable her to survive in difficult circumstances. She shows great loyalty to her friends and household but her deepest loyalty is reserved for her errant husband.

Some of the characters are invented and the author explains their purpose at the end of the story. She also highlights the difficulty in finding out facts about Berengaria as little is known so some events have been deduced. Berengaria’s story is an engrossing one, told through the eyes of different characters which adds depth to events.

In short: a lost queen is found.

This is an interesting and beautiful story about a queen of England that many people have never heard of. Avelina is on her way to find out what has happened to her husband after he disappeared during the Crusades. Without him her brother-in-law intends to take controld of her estate from her. Meanwhile Princess Berengaria of Navarre is due to wed King Richard I of England, but with the king busy at the Third Crusade she must travel to him to get married. With her soon to be mother-in-law travelling with her their journey over the Alps is frought with problems. Will the women make it to their destination, and what will happen when they get there?

This is an interesting novel which grew on me as I read it. Beginning with a chapter about a character called Avelina which is narrated in the first person, we follow Avelina as she readies herself to travel to the Crusasdes to find out what has happened to her husband who was fighting there. But travelling as a lone woman, is dangerous so she joins some nuns who are also traveling to the Holy Land and decides to disguise herself as one of them. I liked Avelina’s character from the start, the way she decides to travel and the difficulties she faces at home with her brother-in-law, making her determined to find her husband or find out what happened to him.

The story switches viewpoint in other chapters, or within chapters to a few other characters though the rest of the book is written in the third person perspective. I liked getting to know Berengaria, the princess who is eager to marry King Richard. You feel for the princess and how awkward her relationship is with Queen Eleanor, Richard’s mother, as they journey together across the Alps. Soon the stories of Avelina and Berengaria combine and the book moves swiftly through the months it takes the women to cross into Italy ahead of Berengaria’s wedding and then shows what happened after she marries Richard.

The book is in three parts but covers several years and I did feel at times that the narration, though very good, just wasn’t as exciting as it could have been. Because the story covers so many years rather than a few months, there are moments when big events happen or you see the start of an exciting scene only to then read in the next chapter or paragraph what had transpired as someone recalls the events, rather than seeing them happening in the story firsthand. A lot of the book is written in this way which took me some time to get used to and it did feel a little less exciting overall as a result. However, as the story moves on and Berengaria settles into her life as queen I did start to enjoy this more and more.

Berengaria is a character I really grew to like. She’s a strong character and despite all she goes through, I love how she manages to cope and continues being a strong woman. The story shows what historically happened to both Richard and Bengaria at this time, explaining a lot of the political issues that occured at the time in an easy to understand way. The descriptions of the places really brings to life what it was like for those visiting the lands where the Crusades were happening and I love some of the colours, scents and beautiful surroundings Berengaria and the others encounter which are a stark contrast with the winters in Europe. While Berengaria has her own problems being Richard’s queen, Avelina also has her own issues, first with finding out what happened to her husband William and later with what is happening for her back in England. This book really grew on me and I especially began to enjoy this story when find out what happened to Avelina’s husband.

I did start to worry near the end that the ending was going to be a sad one. Although certain lovely things were happening for some characters, the story started having a bit of a sadder tone for one main character. However the ending is a beautiful one that made me smile and tear up a little too, and it’s a generally lovely ending for all the main characters involved. There is an epilogue and some author’s notes at the back of the book which explain more about what happened in history and what happened to Berengaria after the events of the story. I’m amazed by how historically accurate this book is, and the research that went into this book is fascinating. Reading about the real Berengaria in these notes, what she went through after the events of the book, just made me love her more as a character and I’m glad this book has been written to give a voice to a queen who has largely been forgotten in history.

There is are a couple of maps at the start of the book as well as a family tree and list of characters. Overall I have really enjoyed this book. To discover Queen Berengaria’s story and how it fitted into history was fascinating. Of course this is historical fiction, but with so many real facts included, it feels like a wonderful insight into this era of history and these historical figures. I love how this story brought to life so many of the real people and events from that time and it was generally a very interesting read which I really did get into after a while and which did make me a little emotional when I finished reading it. Because the story covers so many events and several years, I honestly would have preferred this story to have beeen broken down into a longer book or more books, covering Berengaria’s life and the events in more detail, rather than many events in the story being explained with hindsight. But despite this criticism (and it’s my only criticism) I really enjoyed this book and it’s certainly made me want to read more about Berengaria, the lost queen.

As an avid reader of historical fiction particularly set in medieval and Tudor times I was keen to read this book. I’m always on the look out for similar authors in this genre to Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick so was excited to see if Carol McGrath would be one to add to my list. She certainly is! I absolutely loved this book although it took me a while to get into it as it was a period of history I wasn’t as familiar with but once I got into the story I absolutely loved it. It tells the story of King Richard the Lionheart and his new bride. It is written from the perspective of both his bride and another of the party on the journey to meet King Richard. The other member of the party is seeking answers to what has happened to her husband who had joined the crusades. I loved the fact it was written from both women’s perspective and gave a different angle on that particular time in history. I couldn’t put it down and I look forward to exploring more of Carol McGrath’s world of historical fiction. Highly recommend this book particularly if you like Philippa Gregory or Elizabeth Chadwick’s books.

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Annarella Giac
Annarella's Reviews > The Lost Queen
The Lost Queen by Carol McGrath
The Lost Queen
by Carol McGrath (Goodreads Author)
1869131
Annarella's reviewJul 27, 2024 · edit
it was amazing
bookshelves: historical-fiction, netgalley, blogtour

The Middle Ages is one of the most fascinating historical periods because it was an age of changes, an age when a lot happened. It was also a time when some formidable women were able to gain independence or become powerful queens or abbesses.
Berengaria was a contemporary of women like Hildegard of Bingen and Marie de France. Her mother-in-law was the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, and I’m not sure if I would love a mother-in-law so strong-willed and clever, but not well known for her tenderness.
She’s a woman who shared her life with some very important people of her age, but she is somewhat hidden by a fog. There’s a lot of speculation and theories about her.
I love Carol McGrath’s portrayal of Berengaria and the character’s arc: from a sweet and romantic girl to a grown-up and hardened woman who never lost her sweeter side.
There’s a lot going on in this book because there’s a lot going on in history. I loved the attention to detail, the historical characters who are lively, and you could feel the emotions.
My favorite part was the journey to meet Richard. It would be a very long journey in 2024 if you are not flying. Dangerous, exhausting, fascinating.
I loved this novel as it’s fast-paced and never drags. There are plenty of characters and places, but that’s history unless you want a sort of abridged version.
I add Berengaria to the list of Middle Ages women I would have liked to meet.
I have read other books by Carol McGrath, but this is my favorite so far: read it and you will time travel to a different age.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Headline and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy; all opinions are mine.

Carol McGrath is an author who always brings the past alive for me. I have read several of her books and have enjoyed everyone. The Lost Queen is set in a period I haven't read much about, so it's a book I was happy to read.

Set In the 1190s and during the Crusades, this is a novel that brings the Queen of Richard the Lionheart into the foreground. Told from the perspectives of Berengaria of Navarre, the Queen of England to be, and Lady Avalina of Middleton.

Lady Avalina's husband didn't return from the previous crusade three years ago. She is fighting pressure to accept that he is dead. Lady Avalina, along with some nuns on pilgrimage, accompanied the Princess and Eleanor of Aquitaine on their way to Cyprus for her wedding to King Richard 1.

Rich, vivid, and excellently researched, The Lost Queen tells a tale from so long ago, but it felt like I was actually with these historical figures, some of whom I only knew the basic facts about. Berengaria is consigned to history as Richard the Lionharts' wife. I never knew details, and it was certainly an interesting and immersive read.

Lady Avaline turns into a friend of this Queen of England after joining her court when they arrive, and Berengaria has married King Richard 1.

I learned such a lot about this time period with the colourful and varied descriptive writing. It is a novel I would say any historical fiction reader would adore. Especially if they are interested in the nobility of the past. This has everything  sometimes a little slower in its telling, but with strong women and the danger of pirates and assassins along the way!

This was an enjoyable historical fiction book set in 1191 during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart.
The author brings both the story and the characters to life extremely well. I really enjoyed learning about the character of Berengaria of Navarre, the wife of King Richard I. She has passed through popular history with little note and it was great to get to know more about her. She was a strong and resilient woman who showed great courage.

The novel was clearly well researched and the author used enough detail to create a realistic feeling Medieval period. There were a few surprises along the way and the novel had a dramatic feel. Any fans of historical fiction, particularly the Medieval period will love this novel.

The Lost Queen is partly the story of Richard the Lionheart's wife before and during her marriage. However, it doesn't take place in England, as Richard is so largely absent, and his focus is on the Third Crusade, so our heroine never visits England.

There are also two other main characters: a fictional woman seeking her husband and Blondel, a troubadour. The author uses different tenses for these characters, which I always struggle with, although I know others don't. The narrative is also moved forward by a collection of letters written to England.

The story itself is rich with period detail, from food to clothes to journeys and all those they encounter on their journey. The historical political landscape is abundant with those who are loyal to or disloyal to King Richard.

Fans of the genre will enjoy meeting Berengaria and visiting the period so meticulously brought to life by the author.

The Lost Queen – Review

Another strong novel by Carol McGrath told mostly through the eyes of two women – Berengaria of Navarre, (Richard the Lionheart’s wife) and Avelina of Middleton who sets out searching for her husband who was lost on a previous crusade, defending Outremer from Saladin’s forces. Both characters are fully realised and I particularly enjoyed meeting Berengaria, who like many women of the era was marrying for the convenience of political alliance.

Avelina’s strength is her determination, and she joins some nuns who are also travelling on pilgrimage and through a series of serendipitous encounters they meet up with the Royal entourage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is escorting Berengaria to meet her son. As a Queen, Berengaria never sets foot in England (thus, The Lost Queen) and I knew little about her from the outset, and learned the history as I went along, on Berengaria’s shoulder as she navigates snow-capped Alps, attacks by assassins and all manner of hardships during her long travels to meet a man, who quite frankly, is far more concerned with military supremacy than he is with any wife. I also really empathised with her as she has to deal with Eleanor of Aquitaine, who came across as a real gorgon of a prospective mother-in-law. Avelina’s role in the story as Berengaria’s friend really helped the reader understand the power of female friendship in those times.

Carol McGrath has a great way of uncovering little known Medieval women with fascinating lives and this is no exception. Her depth of knowledge of the period is apparent in all the tiny details of clothing, crafts, setting and courtly life. and her attention to detail in the similes she chooses – such as ‘her back straight as a stiff reed growing on a riverbank’. Carol McGrath never strays from the period.

The courtly life of poetry, song and chivalry is contrasted with the violence and bloodshed of war. Berengaria’s court and life in the Kingdom of Jersusalem gives a real immersion into a different way of living and highlights the turmoil that existed between different religious persuasions and the power-mongering of rival states. The book serves to highlight how women were often left behind by their men, often with little news about what had become of them.

If you love carefully researched historical fiction, with total command of the detail and the history, this is a book for you.

Highly recommended.

I was aware of Berengaria although I knew very little about her. Carol Mcgrath brings her to life in such a way that by the end of the novel, the reader feels as if they are part of her entourage. I am in awe of the amount of research it must have taken to make the characters truly jump off the page and to recreate the perilous journey as she goes to meet her betrothed.
It's interesting that so many strong women have been overlooked, so I am delighted to see Berengaria receive the recognition she deserves in her own right and not just as the wife of a famous king.
I found the book absorbing and loved going on the journey with her. Can thoroughly recommend.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This historical novel takes place in 1191, during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart. I'm a big reader of historical fiction and sometimes find myself in the mood for a book like this.

The writing was elegant and sophisticated, and I liked how the author brought both the story and the characters to life.

I think the character I connected with the most was Berengaria. She was a wonderful character, and I loved her courage and resilience.

If you are a reader of historical fiction, and read to escape, as I do, I think this is a great type of book to lose yourself in for a little while.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

The Lost Queen by Carol McGrath is a novel based on the third crusade in the 1190s but through the eyes of two women - Berengaria of Navarre, who becomes Richard the Lionheart’s wife (and therefore Queen of England) and Lady Avelina of Middleton.

Avelina’s husband has been missing for the last three years, not having returned from Levant from a previous crusade, and so she decides to try and find him. She makes the journey in the company of some Hampshire nuns on pilgrimage as mounting pressure grows for her to accept her husband is dead.

Avelina and the nuns end up travelling with Princess Berengaria, who is being escorted to Cyprus for her wedding to King Richard by no less than Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard’s mother. Once in the crusader states, Avelina joins Berengaria’s court and the two become close friends and we follow their lives.

Carol McGrath’s historical research is thorough and it lends a wonderful depth to the descriptions and characterisations that really helps you feel that you’re being immersed in the time period.

I particularly found it interesting learning more about the experiences of medieval English nobility living in the Kingdom of Jerusalem - modern day Palestine, Israel and Jordan. It has definitely highlighted the importance for me in better understanding the long history of colonisation, power struggles and religious wars taking place in this area.

Berengaria as Queen was often left behind by Richard, whose main passions in life were the crusades and the military. You also get a sense of how long it took to share and receive information - letters often took months, or never arrived. This meant the pacing of the book often stuttered, echoing what it must have felt like for Berengaria to have her purpose and focus as a wife and Queen so often disrupted.

Thank you to the author Carol McGrath, @headline and @rachelsrandomresources for the blog tour and my #gifted copy. The Lost Queen is out today!

Berengaria Of Navarre crosses the Alps with her future mother-in-law Eleanor Of Aquitaine during winter to marry her future husband, Richard I, in Sicily. Once married, she joins Richard's Third Crusade to recapture the Promised Land from Saladin. Along the way, they encounter Avelina whose husband has probably been captured by the Muslims.

Carol McGrath chooses in 'The lost queen' for one of England's most unknown queens as a main character. Berengaria never set foot in England during her reign - of only eight years - and did not see her husband enough to give birth to an heir to the throne. This is literally the first time I have read a book in which she takes center stage. So I must congratulate McGrath with her choice of queens again.

Berengaria is a woman who travelled through the Alps, went on a crusade and helped to raise funds in Aquitaine for her husband's bail to be released by the German emperor. She has a story to tell, although not much is known from her life.

As always, McGrath chooses also to write about the life of a second woman who befriends the queen. This time, we meet Avelina. A young woman who believes herself widowed and wants to regain her husbands lands in the East. She has a talent for illustrating manuscripts and she forms a bond with Berengaria along the road to Silicy. Avelina's story is well-developed, though she takes a bit more of a back seat at the end of the story once she returns to England.

Apart from Avelina and Berengaria some parts of the story are told from Blondel, a court musician, and William, Avelina's husband. Both perspectives felt a bit odd, they served the purpose of telling a part of the story were neither of the women would have been present, but the parts were to short to form an attachment to these men.

This book was stronger than the one about Isabella of France (The stone rose). We do get to know Berengaria and also come to understand the political situation in this complex medieval era. Eleanor and Joanna, Richard's mum and sister, also play a big role in the story. As does Philip of France and his brother John is never really there, but always a little present with his various plots.

I enjoy reading about the Crusades and the various small kingsdoms in Europe. And I like reading McGrath's books, even if they sometimes lack some emotion. But this is definitely one of my favourite books from her. And her extensive historical note shows a big amount of research has gone in to reconstructing Berengaria's life, for she is truly a lost queen.

I am curious to see if McGrath will now write about King John and Isabella of Angoulême as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for this eCopy to review

The Lost Queen is a glimpse into the life of Princess Berengaria of Navarre as she travels across Europe to join her fiancé Richard the Lionheart. Full of danger but also adventure and a chance to see the world Berengaria is a great traveller. Once married to Richard we feel very sorry for her as she neglected during the Crusades

I enjoyed the parallel story of Avalina and her crusader husband William it brought a chance to see things from a different perspective

A little slow in places, but full of rich historical detail and a chance to learn about one of our Queens who is not very well known and a much more realistic portrayal of Richard.

I have read all of Carol McGrath’s she-wolf biopics about strong and intelligent medieval queens forgotten by history. I found them all fascinating, rich in historical nuance and pulsing with palpable humanity. “The Lost Queen” is my favourite to date!

The book takes us in the footsteps on Berengaria, a princess from Navarre who marries Richard the Lionheart. As most royal marriages of the time, it is a union of political convenience, but in McGrath’s capable hands politics defer to passions, hopes and fears as Berengaria – not Richard – steps into the spotlight. Her femininity and her humanity are painted in assured strokes on the broad canvas of savage crusades, unscrupulous dynastic rivalries and the overall tumult of the early 12-century Europe. The contrast between the gentler and fairer feminine perspective and the violent and self-indulgent masculine perceptions is exquisitely delineated through Berengaria and Richard’s tenuous relationship. Berengaria’s loyalty is pitted against Richard’s neglect and thirst for warring and conquest.

As in McGrath’s other books, there is a parallel storyline of Avalina and her crusader husband William, and here different notes are played to demonstrate how discharging one’s duty to king and God does not have to preclude marital happiness and family life.

“The Lost Queen” is an epic adventure. Berengaria traverses the Alps at the height of winter, escapes an assassination attempt, travels to Sicily and joins her husband in the Outremer – the Kingdom of Heaven, where he vies for supremacy against the hordes of Saladin. McGrath reveals the raw brutality of the crusades. She doesn’t shy from exposing vile atrocities committed by Richard I in the Holy Land. Neither she, nor her characters, attempt to excuse them, and she certainly won’t write them out of history. She is a consummate storyteller, not a spin doctor.

McGrath’s grip on the period, the culture, the mentality of the people she writes about and the detail of their everyday lives is watertight. It isn’t that she just knows about the period – it is that she actually inhabits it.