Medieval Queens Book Tag

Welcome back everyone! Today, I’ll be doing the Medieval Queens Book Tag on my blog. Thank you so much Aby @ Beyond the Read for tagging me and the amazing Jess @ Jesticulates for coming up with this tag!

So without any further ado, let’s get into the tag, because I had a lot of fun writing it and coming up with books related to the below prompts!

empress matilda (1102-1167)

After her father, Henry I, died naming her his heir, Matilda’s cousin, Stephen, subsequently took the throne for himself. Matilda never stopped fighting for what was rightfully hers. Though she would never be named Queen of England in her own right, she was able to convince Stephen to name her son, the future Henry II, his successor over his own children.

Choose a book with a protagonist who stands their ground.

The Descent of the Drowned by Ana Lal Din

I’ll have to go with Roma from The Descent of the Drowned for this one. I really just adore how Roma stands her ground and stays strong throughout the book, no matter what happens!

eleanor of quitaine (1122-1204)

Before she married Henry II and became Queen of England in 1152, Eleanor was Queen of France as the wife of Louis VII. She sought an annulment from her marriage to Louis and he eventually agreed because 15 years of marriage had produced no sons, only for Eleanor to go on to have eight children with Henry—five of whom were sons. Ouch!

Choose a book or series in which the heroine has more than one romantic relationship.

I don’t want to spoil the plot/relationships for some people, but a certain character has more than one romantic relationship which I think was executed very interestingly. You’ll know what I’m talking about if you’ve read the book. Another book I know of that has the heroine with multiple relationships is Wu Zetian from Iron Widow—I haven’t personally read it but have heard great reviews from others!

eleanor of castile (1241-1290)

A keen patron of literature and a successful businesswoman in her own right, Eleanor was Edward I’s first wife. He was so heartbroken when she died that he erected the Eleanor Crosses, 12 stone crosses marking the places where her body rested over night on its journey from Lincolnshire, where she died, to her burial place in London. Three of the crosses still survive today.

Choose a bittersweet book.

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi

This is is more sweet than bitter, but bittersweet nevertheless! A fitting end to the series, Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality ties up the threads of the much loved middle grade series featuring brown girls and Hindu mythology. I especially how Kara’s character arc was handled here!

isabella of france (1295-1358)

Often known as the ‘She-Wolf of France’, Isabella was Edward II’s wife. Unfortunately for Edward he wasn’t particularly good at being king, and Isabella soon grew tired of his (possibly homosexual) relationship with his favourite, Hugh Despenser. After she began an affair with English nobleman Roger Mortimer while on a diplomatic mission to France, the pair returned to England with an army and she deposed Edward and acted as regent until their son, the future Edward III, came of age.

Choose a book where the romance overtook the plot.

I think this speaks for itself. The Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo is my obvious choice for this because let’s be honest—many people are here for the love triangle more than the plot itself. Admittedly, the world seemed really unique (and that’s the only thing that won for me) but the romance was clearly overdone.

philippa of hainault (1310/15-1369)

Queen of England as the wife of Edward III, Philippa was beloved by the English people for her compassion and kindness. The Queen’s College, Oxford, founded in 1341, is named in her honour.

Choose a book that’s set at a university.

Babel by R. F. Kuang

I haven’t read many books set in a university, but here’s Babel because I have so clearly run out of choices. A breathtaking masterpiece of a novel, Babel really tugs at the strings of the horrors of colonialism. Kuang really delivered what she said she would!

joan of navarre (1368-1437)

Joan was Henry IV’s second wife. Six years after his death, Joan was accused of attempting to poison her stepson, Henry V, through witchcraft and was imprisoned for four years until he ordered her release, just six weeks before he suddenly died.

Choose a book about witches.

Welp. If three isn’t too much? I just so many witchy books last month so couldn’t resist but add ALL of them so yeah, I’m definitely guilty here! There’s also a couple more but I’ll keep quiet for now lmao. But seriously, go check out these amazing books all releasing this August!

That’s all for today! Hope everyone enjoyed reading this post. As for the tags, I tag:

• Kshoni @ A Page Full of Words
• Ash @ Ink, Words and Ash
• Aster @ Happy Bookish After
• Everyone else reading this post!

No pressure of course, feel free to do it whenever it’s possible, and most importantly, have fun writ

THANK YOU FOR READING!