Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel ~ a Review

by MK French

In twelfth-century Europe, Philip was just crowned King of France. His greatest enemy is King Henry of England, and Philip proposes an alliance with Henry's son Richard, Duke of Aquitaine. Richard despises his father and never thought he could be a king. Philip and Richard not only have a potential alliance but a growing love that is threatened by impending war.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2023; 978-0593597842; Dell
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); historical romance

This historical retelling gives a new spin to the rivalry between Richard the Lionheart and King Philip of France. Richard is a second son, raised by Eleanor of Aquitaine, and impulsive. The Angevin brothers expect backstabbing and war, which was all but encouraged by their father. Philip isn't as weak-minded or as easy to maneuver as his father was, so he becomes the obvious choice of ally for various brothers as they vie for power and lives of their own choosing outside Henry's plotting. Philip is 18 and was married to a 13-year-old for political reasons, so they have a chaste relationship; being an equal to Richard was a fun novelty. There are hints of an attraction before anything happens between them, but once it does, they're willing to betray vows and others for the sake of love. Both love fiercely and love their lands; this is meant to put them at odds and make romance impossible. 

While history has not decided if there was a physical relationship or not, Natasha decided to write a romance. Love persevered in spite of politics and the terrible example that Henry and Eleanor set. There might be war, there might be loss of territory, there might be pride, but at the end of the day, love remains. That's a wonderful sentiment we all need right now. 

Buy Solomon's Crown at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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