Review - The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner

Be sure to read until the end to find out how to win a copy of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner!

The Last Queen
by: C.W. Gortner

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (May 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345501853
ISBN-13: 978-0345501851
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches

For lovers of Historical Fiction, The Last Queen is a perfect read! Based upon researched facts (or rather the people of that time period) and age old myths, the author C.W. Gortner delves into the life of Juana of Castile. Historically portrayed as "mad", Mr. Gortner takes the reader into what the real woman behind the long told myths may have been like - her feelings, turmoil, emotions and thoughts. The author does a marvelous and touching job of bringing this young woman lovingly to life upon the pages of his story.

The Last Queen takes place during the late 1490's into the early 1500's within Spain, Flanders, France and Tudor England. This is a time when marriages were planned in infancy, for the soul purpose of bettering and strengthening ruling thrones. It was a common practice for a young woman to be married, with a couple of children, preferable an heir, before she turned twenty-one. This is much the way things occured for Juana as she is sent away from her beloved Spain, at the age of sixteen, to marry Philip, heir to the Habsburg Empire.

Luckily, love is a great and strong bond quickly formed between Juana and Philip. As they have their problems early in marriage, they are sorted out and their life is perfectly happy. That is until a tragedy occurs, turning their lives upside down, changing every aspect of their lives.

Unfortunately, tragedy is something that becomes common within young Juana's life and she must maintain and hold strong to her inner strength and courage. She must fight to hold steadfastly to her crown and to protect and save her beloved Spain, no matter the consequences.

Any reader who loves fiction based upon historical places and/or people will fall in love with The Last Queen. This is a story told in such a way that the reader is held captive from page to page. The character of Juana is heartwarming, fragile, fierce and is someone that readers will cheer for every step of the way. She quickly found a place within my heart and is a character that I now consider a favorite. Mr. Gortner also does a remarkable job in showing the reader the surroundings and places in which the story takes place. The reader's senses become acute during the author's lyrical prose and it is very easy to find oneself within the pages of the story.

I do have to admit that it took me a bit to really get into the story - meaning a couple of chapters. Though I don't feel this is the fault of the author, in any way, it was just my mindset at the time. However, after reading a bit, I was truly hooked and engrossed. The Last Queen is a story that screamed to be told and Mr. Gortner does an outstanding job of doing just that.

*overall rating 4/5

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About The Last Queen:

Daughter of Isabel of Castile and sister of Catherine of Aragon. Married at sixteen and a queen at twenty-five. Declared mad by history. Juana of Castile, the last true queen of Spain. Ruled by her passions, Juana’s arranged marriage to Philip the Fair of Flanders begins as a fairytale romance when despite never having met before their betrothal, they fall violently in love. Juana is never meant to be more than his consort and mother to his heirs until she finds herself heiress to the throne of Spain after tragedy decimates her family. Suddenly she is plunged into a ruthless battle of ambition and treachery, with the future of Spain and her own freedom at stake. Told in Juana's voice, The Last Queen is a powerful and moving portrait of a woman ahead of her time, a queen fought fiercely for her birthright in the face of an unimaginable betrayal. Juana's story is one of history's darkest secrets, brought vividly to life in this exhilarating novel.

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Excerpt from Chapter One
The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner
Ballantine Books copyright 2008

We entered Granada in resplendent procession, the battered crucifix sent by His Holiness to
consecrate heretic mosques carried aloft before us, followed by the nobility and clergy.
Discordant wailing sundered the air. The Jewish warehouses were being impounded. Gorged
with fragrant spices, yards of silk and velvet, and crates of medicinal herbs, the market
represented Granada’s true wealth, and my mother had ordered the wares secured against
looting. Later, she would have them inventoried, tallied and sold to replenish Castile’s treasury.
Riding with my sisters and our ladies, I gazed in disbelief upon the ravaged city. Shattered
buildings stood empty, seared by flame. Our catapults had leveled entire walls, and the stench of
rotting flesh wafted from the mounds of broken stone. I saw an emaciated child standing
motionless beside some dead rotting animal bound to a spit; as we passed, gaunt women knelt in
the ruins. I met their impenetrable stares. I saw no hatred or fear, no remorse, as if the very life
had been drained from them.
Then we started to ascend the road to the Alhambra—that legendary palace built by the
Moors in their flush of glory. I couldn’t resist rising in my saddle to peer through the gusts of
dust kicked up the horses, hoping to be the first to see its fabled walls.
Someone cried out.
Around me the women pulled their mounts to a halt. I looked about in bewilderment before
returning my gaze to the road ahead.
I froze.
A high tower thrust into the sky like a mirage. On its parapet I could see a tiny group of
figures, the wind snatching at their veils and flimsy wraps, light sparkling on the metallic threads
woven through their gowns.

To continue reading, (click here)

To purchase a signed copy of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, (click here)

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About C.W. Gortner:

C.W. Gortner’s fascination with history is a lifetime pursuit. He holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California and often travels to research his books. He has experienced life in a medieval Spanish castle and danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall; dug through library archives all over Europe; and tried to see and touch — or, at least, gaze at through impenetrable museum glass — as many artifacts of the era as he can find.

Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, publishes THE LAST QUEEN in trade paperback on May 5, 2009. A Random House Readers Circle Selection, it features a reading group guide and Q&A with the author. C.W. Gortner is also available for reader group chats by speaker phone or Skype. Visit www.cwgortner.com and click on the Reader Group link for more information.

He lives in Northern California. You can visit him online at www.cwgortner.com.

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Please be sure to visit Juana's World - http://www.cwgortner.com/Juanasworld.html to see painting and photographs of the real life people portrayed in The Last Queen. It is fascinating and really adds even more depth to the story!

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Win Prizes!

THE LAST QUEEN VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on May 4 and end on May 29. You can visit C.W.'s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in May to find out more about this talented author!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.





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Win a copy of The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner!!

I am anxious and excited to be able to offer one lucky winner a copy of their very own, of this marvelous book! Just comment on either this post, or Mr. Gortner's guest post (click here if you missed it yesterday)to be entered for your chance to win. Please leave your email address also. A winner will be picked June 9th. Good luck!