The Templar's Garden

1450's Britain. Isabelle, a young noblewoman with a divine calling and Père Charles, her chaplain and tutor go on a pilgrimage to the west country amidst the threat of war. Beautiful historical fiction filled with visions, scripture, architecture of holy places and human suffering, moving at a calm pace.
Being the first part of a trilogy the book has an open ending. I'm looking forward to see the story continue.

Thank you Netgalley and Duckworth for the ARC.

i always enjoy this type of book, the characters were great and I really enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to more in this series.

The Templars Garden.
I love historical fiction, especially if it has a mystery that relates to real events and people. Right from the first few pages, I was involved and delighted by the spirituality of the narrator, Isabelle, a 14 year old noblewoman, and her blossoming relationship with the family priest, Pere Charles.
Isabelle and her family are related to the English throne, but live in Gascony. When religious tensions surface in France, the family determine to return to England, but when they arrive back ,they find they are in the middle of the War of the Roses, where making the wrong choice in religion can be life ending. Her father goes to the Royal court to claim hereditary titles and Isabelle and her siblings are left to the care of an aunt, who may be a spy,and the afore mentioned priest.
The Priest has a secret that involves the Knights Templars, and a hidden religious artefact, the Mandylion. This relic is sought by the Pope to keep it safe from the burgeoning Protestant church in England, and in an effort to keep it safe, Pere Charles and Isabelle travel to Wales, to St David’s Cathedral, which is under the protection of the warrior monks, also known as Knights Templar.
I loved the descriptions of life in Gascony, and the education of noblewomen, I felt that Isabelle was a very sympathetic character.
The religious symbolism was beautiful, especially in details of church architecture and services. The history of the Mandylion was intriguing and I have always been fascinated by the history of the Knights Templar, making several trips to various churches associated with this brotherhood.
I have made many trips to Wales, after reading books about the War of the Roses, Tewkesbury Abbey and St David’s are very special places. After reading this first volume, I believe I will go back and retrace the journey that Isabelle took, COVID-19, permitting!!
I am so pleased that this book is the first in a series, and I will definitely keep an eye out for the next book, Queen of Heaven. It is exciting and a real page Turner, it feels authentic.
Thank you for my advance copy, given in return for this honest review. I rate this as a four star read and look forward to the next instalment.

Lady Isabelle, a devout Catholic, is forced, along with her family, to flee France to seek refuge in post-Hundred Years War England. Accompanied by her tutor, who is also the family priest, Lady Isabelle unwittingly becomes caught in a web of intrigue involving the English nobility, the Knights Templar, and a mysterious ancient relic. As she learns more about her tutor's tragic past and secret identity, will Lady Isabelle be able to outrun those who wish to cause both of them harm?

The author's extensive knowledge of history during this time period is evident in the many details about architecture, music, and life during the tension-filled days when France and England were perpetually at war. The excellent historical background adds interest to the plot as it unfolds. Be prepared to be left in suspense at the conclusion, because this is only the first installment of The Maid of Gascony Series. This work would be a worthwhile addition to any library's historical fiction section.

CW: violence and sexual assault.
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This book follows Isabelle as she matures into a young woman during a dangerous time in history. The War of the Roses is about to start, there is tension between England and France, and Isabelle's family safety and religion seem threatened. Her family moves from Gascony to England in fear of the French army, since her father has pledged loyalty to the English king rather than the French, which sends the family on a dangerous adventure.
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I loved Isabelle as a protagonist. She was very smart and encouraged to read and write, something that was not usually encouraged with women during this time period. She is also interesting because she appears to have visions and believes that she has a purpose to fulfil for Jesus. She is living during a time when the Catholic Church begins to be scrutinized for corruption, and she fears that there will be a split with the church. We learn a lot by reading Isabelle's journey, including the role that noblewomen were expected to play, the region of Gascony and it's the role in the tension between England and France, as well as the drama leading up to the War of the Roses. I love reading about this time period in history and I enjoyed some of the mystery elements to the book as well!

I found myself impersed by this book. Wonderful, realistic characters with so much research gone into it to back everything up. Difficult to put down, Catherine created a world which makes you feel as though you are living in it. The growth between characters is fantastically written and i enjoyed the whole aspect of her take on historical fiction.

Catherine Clover has produced a fine first novel which sensitively describes the development of a powerful relationship set amid a late medieval world. Her descriptions throughout the book of this world are wonderful.
I felt like I was completely immersed in the world and teleported back in time. Great characters too!