The Queen of Four Kingdoms

August 25, 2014
Princess Michael (The Serpent and the Moon), an established lecturer and writer of royal histories, fleshes out the compelling story of Yolande of Aragon—nominally Queen of Four Kingdoms—in this first of a historical trilogy set during the Hundred Years’ War. From her marriage to Duke Louis II of Anjou in 1400 through the next 40 years, Yolande acquires and exerts unusual influence over the fortunes of France—not always behind the scenes—as a frequent regent of her family’s wealthy territories and as mother-in-law of King Charles VII. Despite her husband’s and son’s fruitless attempts to recapture the throne of Naples, Yolande champions the French monarchy against two forceful rivals: the Dukes of Burgundy and the English. She triumphs through her shrewd judgment of character and the effective, if morally questionable, placement of allies in strategic positions. Although participants and historical events are presented accurately, personalities tend to be one-dimensional and too frequently correlate to their physical appearance: handsome, virtue-filled men battle ugly, treacherous schemers. Despite a genealogical table, the ages of several main characters fluctuate conveniently, and occasional modernisms (“crying her eyes out”) will jar the attentive reader of this otherwise well-imagined account of a real-life French royal.

October 1, 2014

Princess Yolande of Aragon is finally meeting her fiance, Duke Louis II of Anjou, after nine years of waiting. Their long engagement occurred because Louis had been fighting to secure his inherited kingdom of Naples and Sicily. Defeated for the moment, he returns home to focus on domestic matters. The couple fall in love from their first meeting, and their newfound passion helps them navigate the upheaval surrounding the French royal court. King Charles VI of France suffers from a mental illness, and his behavior is often erratic, opening up a power struggle for control of the crown. Yolande becomes a key player in these tumultuous times, serving as our eyewitness to the battle of Agincourt and to the life of Joan of Arc. VERDICT What should have been an exciting historical saga of romance and royal intrigue is hampered by wooden writing and two-dimensional characters. Yolande, in this novel, is dull and insipid; contrary to the historical evidence that says otherwise. The author (a princess herself who has written three histories) does more telling than showing and the story's pacing suffers as a result.--Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL

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