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Reign of Madness
From the author of The Creation of Eve comes a tale of love and madness, royal intrigue and marital betrayal, set during the Golden Age of Spain. Juana of Castile, third child of the Spanish monarchs Isabel and Fernando, grows up with no hope of inheriting her parents' crowns, but as a princess knows her to further her family's ambitions through marriage. Yet stories of courtly love, and of her parents' own legendary romance, surround her. When she weds the Duke of Burgundy, a young man so beautiful that he is known as Philippe the Handsome, she dares to hope that she might have both love and crowns. He is caring, charming, and attracted to her-seemingly a perfect husband. But what begins like a fairy tale ends quite differently. When Queen Isabel dies, the crowns of Spain unexpectedly pass down to Juana, leaving her husband and her father hungering for the throne. Rumors fly that the young Queen has gone mad, driven insane by possessiveness. Who is to be believed? The King, beloved by his subjects? Or the Queen, unseen and unknown by her people? One of the greatest cautionary tales in Spanish history comes to life as Lynn Cullen explores the controversial reign of Juana of Castile-also known as Juana the Mad. Sweeping, page-turning, and wholly entertaining, Reign of Madness is historical fiction at its richly satisfying best.
437 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2011
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August 23, 2011
I’m a huge “fan” (if you will) and supporter of Juana the Mad. Bluntly, I don’t think she was crazy and many of her actions were a result of being driven to a point of anxiety and misunderstanding. To me, she was a strong, captivating female. My interest in her caused me to anxiously await the release of “Reign of Madness”.
After reading only a few pages, I knew that I wasn’t going to be as satisfied as I initially perceived. Reign of Madness instantly throws you into a VERY fictional world. Although written with a ratio of “easy-to-read” and some of the classic writing style known to historical-fiction (more of the “easy-to read” ingredient); Reign of Madness is a bit to modern for my taste with out the usual royal imagery. The reader almost feels like the story is simply revolving around a modern-day family as opposed to a royal one.
Reign of Madness begins with an introduction to Christopher Columbus. This was obviously meant as a creative plotline, but came off more as an odd tangent. This story developed into a “crush” element between Juana and Diego (Columbus’s oldest son). This was completely unsatisfying as it was obvious that the author just needed a way of explaining future events and actions and thus threw in this huge and somewhat elementary-level historical liberty. In fact, it bordered on annoying.
Another grumble-factor were the interactions between Juana and her mother Isabel of Castile which implied that her mother’s “lack of love” caused some of Juana’s emotional distress which may have triggered her madness. Although an interesting proposition, Cullen didn’t develop this hypothesis making the quibbles just seem petty and Isabel into a modern, undoting mother.
Cullen also engaged in one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to historical fiction. We all know it well: when one character says to another, “Did you know that…” and proceeds to explain an event or historical figure just so the reader can be fed a historical fact. I can understand it once or twice, but it was overdone in Reign of Madness. Cullen needed to find a more creative method to infuse the historical facts. Furthermore, at times I literally rolled my eyes at the predictable storylines written at only a height better than young adult fiction. The novel simply lacked a depth which I recognize in many other historical fiction pieces.
Fluff was also evident in Cullen’s novel. Every chapter began with a highly descriptive introduction of the setting (countryside, palace, etc) and then would gel into dialogue. Did I mention that EVERY chapter did this? Have we heard the word “predictable” used yet? Speaking of predictability, I figured out the ending with over 200 pages left. This was a result of the overuse of foreshadowing.
Reign of Madness presented many situations and actions which are mentioned to attribute to Juana assumed madness, but none of these were really explored. Her entire character development (and the novel itself) seemed child-like. The transition from Juana’s love for her husband to suddenly despising him wasn’t well-described and maintained. As a reader, I was left confused and “wanting more”.
Despite all my complaints, Reign of Madness did engage me a bit more in the end and offered more of an emotional enticement. However, this was a bit late in the book (actually, a lot late). In the afterword, Cullen describes her historical liberties but also almost makes an excuse for them. Reign of Madness isn’t terrible if you like historical fiction which basically uses a well-know name and revolves a story around him/her, but if you are looking more of an in depth look at Juana, this isn’t for you. My suggestion? “The Last Queen” by C.W. Gortner.
The Last Queen
After reading only a few pages, I knew that I wasn’t going to be as satisfied as I initially perceived. Reign of Madness instantly throws you into a VERY fictional world. Although written with a ratio of “easy-to-read” and some of the classic writing style known to historical-fiction (more of the “easy-to read” ingredient); Reign of Madness is a bit to modern for my taste with out the usual royal imagery. The reader almost feels like the story is simply revolving around a modern-day family as opposed to a royal one.
Reign of Madness begins with an introduction to Christopher Columbus. This was obviously meant as a creative plotline, but came off more as an odd tangent. This story developed into a “crush” element between Juana and Diego (Columbus’s oldest son). This was completely unsatisfying as it was obvious that the author just needed a way of explaining future events and actions and thus threw in this huge and somewhat elementary-level historical liberty. In fact, it bordered on annoying.
Another grumble-factor were the interactions between Juana and her mother Isabel of Castile which implied that her mother’s “lack of love” caused some of Juana’s emotional distress which may have triggered her madness. Although an interesting proposition, Cullen didn’t develop this hypothesis making the quibbles just seem petty and Isabel into a modern, undoting mother.
Cullen also engaged in one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to historical fiction. We all know it well: when one character says to another, “Did you know that…” and proceeds to explain an event or historical figure just so the reader can be fed a historical fact. I can understand it once or twice, but it was overdone in Reign of Madness. Cullen needed to find a more creative method to infuse the historical facts. Furthermore, at times I literally rolled my eyes at the predictable storylines written at only a height better than young adult fiction. The novel simply lacked a depth which I recognize in many other historical fiction pieces.
Fluff was also evident in Cullen’s novel. Every chapter began with a highly descriptive introduction of the setting (countryside, palace, etc) and then would gel into dialogue. Did I mention that EVERY chapter did this? Have we heard the word “predictable” used yet? Speaking of predictability, I figured out the ending with over 200 pages left. This was a result of the overuse of foreshadowing.
Reign of Madness presented many situations and actions which are mentioned to attribute to Juana assumed madness, but none of these were really explored. Her entire character development (and the novel itself) seemed child-like. The transition from Juana’s love for her husband to suddenly despising him wasn’t well-described and maintained. As a reader, I was left confused and “wanting more”.
Despite all my complaints, Reign of Madness did engage me a bit more in the end and offered more of an emotional enticement. However, this was a bit late in the book (actually, a lot late). In the afterword, Cullen describes her historical liberties but also almost makes an excuse for them. Reign of Madness isn’t terrible if you like historical fiction which basically uses a well-know name and revolves a story around him/her, but if you are looking more of an in depth look at Juana, this isn’t for you. My suggestion? “The Last Queen” by C.W. Gortner.
The Last Queen
December 20, 2021
The story is set at the end of the 15th century and beginning of the 16th century, during the time of Christopher Columbus’ discoveries.
It is told through the eyes of Juana, daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand II of Spain.
Isabel and Ferdinand are known for ruling Spain equally. Is it so? Young Juana observes that it’s more of her mom’s iron hand ruling the kingdom than his reserved, quiet father. There is something else that she notices about her father, which pains her.
When in Spain, the voice reflects the views of a young girl, fourteen year-old. When she marries at seventeen and moves to Netherlands to marry Philippe, known as the Handsome, her voice matures. With time, she notices infidelities of her husband. Loneliness at foreign court and jealousy drives her to madness or is it just a talk? A rumor of madness spreads throughout courts to serve a purpose to somebody…
With well-developed characters, the story is interesting and well-written. I enjoyed sharp-tongue of Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, third wife of Philippe’s grandfather.
This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author. She researches subjects of those not so known or almost forgotten by history. I truly appreciate this kind of writers.
It is told through the eyes of Juana, daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand II of Spain.
Isabel and Ferdinand are known for ruling Spain equally. Is it so? Young Juana observes that it’s more of her mom’s iron hand ruling the kingdom than his reserved, quiet father. There is something else that she notices about her father, which pains her.
When in Spain, the voice reflects the views of a young girl, fourteen year-old. When she marries at seventeen and moves to Netherlands to marry Philippe, known as the Handsome, her voice matures. With time, she notices infidelities of her husband. Loneliness at foreign court and jealousy drives her to madness or is it just a talk? A rumor of madness spreads throughout courts to serve a purpose to somebody…
With well-developed characters, the story is interesting and well-written. I enjoyed sharp-tongue of Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, third wife of Philippe’s grandfather.
This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author. She researches subjects of those not so known or almost forgotten by history. I truly appreciate this kind of writers.
August 27, 2011
About 60 pages into it, I looked at my stack of to-read books, and stopped. It was reading like a YA romance, with a teenage heroine having
--issues with her parents (news flash: when your mother is the Queen of Spain, she's going to be a little controlling, and I doubt that Queen Isabel gave feminist speeches to her daughters, such as analogizing women to horses with "And so it continues forth, a noble, strong creature, kicked and spurred into docility by the little man upon it. . . .");
--a crush on Christopher Columbus' son (complete with him rescuing her after she
inexplicably manages to ride a mule into a raging river); and
--some sort of civil rights stirrings, 500 years ahead of her time, when she at least notices that the "Indios" brought back by Christopher Columbus don't like being in chains.
Yes, she was a teenager by our chronology. But having her act like a teenager from today's suburban America doesn't help me understand her better as a historical figure.
My other pet peeve: fussy language, apparently to emphasize that the story is not actually set in suburban America. Verbs like "tarried" and "wed," and sentences like
"Tongues would be wagging all over Christendom." Things don't happen
"right away," they happen "posthaste." I'm supposed to relate to the characters just as if they were sitting at the next table in the food court at the mall, but I can't relate to their language at all.
I love history, and historical fiction can be such a great way to learn about or re-interpret the past. But this is the kind of historical fiction that feels a bit silly, as if Juana of Castile is going to turn into a character from the Twilight series. Glad that others like it; not for me.
--issues with her parents (news flash: when your mother is the Queen of Spain, she's going to be a little controlling, and I doubt that Queen Isabel gave feminist speeches to her daughters, such as analogizing women to horses with "And so it continues forth, a noble, strong creature, kicked and spurred into docility by the little man upon it. . . .");
--a crush on Christopher Columbus' son (complete with him rescuing her after she
inexplicably manages to ride a mule into a raging river); and
--some sort of civil rights stirrings, 500 years ahead of her time, when she at least notices that the "Indios" brought back by Christopher Columbus don't like being in chains.
Yes, she was a teenager by our chronology. But having her act like a teenager from today's suburban America doesn't help me understand her better as a historical figure.
My other pet peeve: fussy language, apparently to emphasize that the story is not actually set in suburban America. Verbs like "tarried" and "wed," and sentences like
"Tongues would be wagging all over Christendom." Things don't happen
"right away," they happen "posthaste." I'm supposed to relate to the characters just as if they were sitting at the next table in the food court at the mall, but I can't relate to their language at all.
I love history, and historical fiction can be such a great way to learn about or re-interpret the past. But this is the kind of historical fiction that feels a bit silly, as if Juana of Castile is going to turn into a character from the Twilight series. Glad that others like it; not for me.
January 23, 2024
This book has been in my personal library for longer than I can remember at this point. I've always found a reason to avoid reading it. This year my goal is to get to some of the books sitting the longest on my personal shelves and TBR. So far I'm off to a good start.
There wasn't anything Earth shattering in this book. However, I did appreciate the author's take on the legend of Juana of Castile. Like many women of the age, I don't think she was a victim of her own making as much as she was an easy target for propaganda from the more powerful males surrounding her. Once Isabella was gone, Juana didn't stand a chance.
While the story itself was well done, I felt the characters fell a little flat. Philip was often more of a cartoon character than an actual person. Juana's sisters were often little more than chattering hens in the background.
There wasn't anything Earth shattering in this book. However, I did appreciate the author's take on the legend of Juana of Castile. Like many women of the age, I don't think she was a victim of her own making as much as she was an easy target for propaganda from the more powerful males surrounding her. Once Isabella was gone, Juana didn't stand a chance.
While the story itself was well done, I felt the characters fell a little flat. Philip was often more of a cartoon character than an actual person. Juana's sisters were often little more than chattering hens in the background.
October 3, 2021
An excellent historical view of Juana, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain. The characters are beautifully developed, and the plot kept me very interested.
January 29, 2012
I don't recall ever reading any books set in the spanish court so I checked Reign of Madness out of the library with relish. I quickly read through most of the book, but at about 3/4th of the way in I suddenly lost almost all interest in it. I did go ahead and finish it up, and in doing so pinpointed why this happened. Juana of Castile is a mousey character. She has events happen to her, but doesn’t do anything to really try to prevent the situations she finds herself in, I had thought that somewhere in the book that would change, that she would rail against her husband who treated her so badly, she was supposed to the be ruling monarch of the Spains! Her husband was only supposed to be a consort King, but she let him talk the Cortes into giving him full Kingship which he used to block her out and basically keep her as a castle shut in. Then a bit later when circumstances have changed, she just let her Father take over and basically do the same thing to her, have her be Queen in nothing but name only. The reason we get is that she wants to be acceptable to Diego Colon (Christopher Colombus’ son) who is of lower rank, but I would think at some point enough has to be enough. Of course I won’t judge the real Juana of Castile because we don’t really know what happened to her. But this book paints her as a completely sane woman whose father and husband plot against her and run her sanity through a smear campaign. I like bold and intense characters, not ones who just sit by and let things happen. Now speaking of bold characters after reading this book I’ll definitely be looking into getting some books about King Isabel of Castile. She seems like a larger than life woman.
August 9, 2011
I did not know much about Juana of Castile before reading this book but I now know that I want to know more.This tale of yet another young woman in history sold to a man she did not know for political reasons is unbelievably sad. While a work of fiction the story is based on what fact has come down through history.
Juana was the third daughter of the very famous Ferdinand and Isabella. She was not expected to ever ascend to the throne of "the Spains" but as a royal daughter she was sent to Austria to marry the Duke of Burgundy, known as Philippe the Handsome. He does seem to care for her as much as he can care for anyone other than himself but he is a vain, power hungry man. When Juana, through the tragic deaths of her brother, sister and mother ends up becoming Queen of Spain he in cahoots with her father has her locked up for close to 50 years. The men in her life, the men who were supposed to love her and support her stole her power and created the myth that she was crazy.
Ms. Cullen creates a fictional reason why Juana allowed this to occur since no one knows the true reason. The book fascinated me. I was drawn in from the beginning and I fell in love with this poor young woman. I feel so very sorry for what she had to endure and for what history has done to her.
The beginning of the book details Juana's life as a child in her parent's court. She meets Christopher Columbus and becomes infatuated with his son Diego. She is eventually told of her marriage to the Duke of Burgundy and embarks on her way to meet and marry him but is shocked at the ways of his court and people. She finds a way to adapt so as to keep him happy since a man at that time owned his wife and could do anything to and with her. There is much foreshadowing early in the tale.
Ms. Cullen's writing style is easy to read and draws you in to the era. History is finite so it is a good author that can breathe such life into old myths and create a reason to reconsider what has come through time.
Juana was the third daughter of the very famous Ferdinand and Isabella. She was not expected to ever ascend to the throne of "the Spains" but as a royal daughter she was sent to Austria to marry the Duke of Burgundy, known as Philippe the Handsome. He does seem to care for her as much as he can care for anyone other than himself but he is a vain, power hungry man. When Juana, through the tragic deaths of her brother, sister and mother ends up becoming Queen of Spain he in cahoots with her father has her locked up for close to 50 years. The men in her life, the men who were supposed to love her and support her stole her power and created the myth that she was crazy.
Ms. Cullen creates a fictional reason why Juana allowed this to occur since no one knows the true reason. The book fascinated me. I was drawn in from the beginning and I fell in love with this poor young woman. I feel so very sorry for what she had to endure and for what history has done to her.
The beginning of the book details Juana's life as a child in her parent's court. She meets Christopher Columbus and becomes infatuated with his son Diego. She is eventually told of her marriage to the Duke of Burgundy and embarks on her way to meet and marry him but is shocked at the ways of his court and people. She finds a way to adapt so as to keep him happy since a man at that time owned his wife and could do anything to and with her. There is much foreshadowing early in the tale.
Ms. Cullen's writing style is easy to read and draws you in to the era. History is finite so it is a good author that can breathe such life into old myths and create a reason to reconsider what has come through time.
July 25, 2011
This book chronicled a period in history and people that I previously knew very little about. I enjoyed the fascinating history lesson very much. In fact, the author's multi page author's note with detailed historical facts was one of my favorite parts of the book! The author writes history in such a way that it becomes very exciting, fast-paced, and relevant to today. I found myself searching for more information online, so I know I was hooked on this story.
However, the book was difficult for me to completely enjoy at times because of the abuse that Juana suffered at the hands of her husband. The reader has to endure the heroine being repeatedly emotionally and physically abused. I know you can't change history, but it was very hard to read. Philippe was one of the most downright evil characters I've read about for awhile.
I loved the character of Diego Colon (son of Christopher Columbus), how could you not?! At least Juana had one bright spot in her torturous life. Diego's gift to Juana was my favorite plot thread in the story. But you'll have to read it to find out what the gift was!
Juana's tale is not a happy one, but the history lesson is fascinating and one you're not likely to forget.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
However, the book was difficult for me to completely enjoy at times because of the abuse that Juana suffered at the hands of her husband. The reader has to endure the heroine being repeatedly emotionally and physically abused. I know you can't change history, but it was very hard to read. Philippe was one of the most downright evil characters I've read about for awhile.
I loved the character of Diego Colon (son of Christopher Columbus), how could you not?! At least Juana had one bright spot in her torturous life. Diego's gift to Juana was my favorite plot thread in the story. But you'll have to read it to find out what the gift was!
Juana's tale is not a happy one, but the history lesson is fascinating and one you're not likely to forget.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
August 24, 2011
Thoroughly depressing.
Cullen tries to for Juana of Aragon what Greggory did for Mary Boleyn, but Juana's life is so full of suckitude (that is so a word!), that the book left me mopy and disturbed.
Its well researched, I'll give it that, but it came off a little clinical - all the facts were there, the people, the events, etc, but it was missing some vital spark to make it all come alive. Cullen covers a lot of ground, which doesn't leave the reader much time to care for any of the characters - so I didn't.
May 20, 2019
Juana of Castile, also known as “Juana the Mad”, was the daughter of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. With two older siblings, she never thought she’d have a chance to be queen. She was married to Philippe of Flanders, who was lower ranked than she was. Initially in love with Philippe, things turned sour after a while, as Philippe dallied with other women, and began to treat Juana badly. When Juana did inherit her mother’s crown in Casile, Philippe managed to take her power from her.
The book started when Juana was young and living with her parents and siblings. It continued to follow her and Philippe’s relationship and travels between the Spains and Flanders. I found the beginning of the book a bit slow. It also jumped over time a bit. But, I thought it really picked up about the time Juana realized what a cad Philippe was. The author fictionalized a reason why Juana may have ultimately wanted to stay out of the limelight and not be queen, which was somewhat entertaining. In any case, I found the additional information about Christopher Columbus interesting, as I haven’t read much about him (though I did know his explorations were funded by Isabel and Ferdinand). The author did have a note at the end, separating out fact from fiction, which is always nice. It was particularly interesting to note what really happened with Beatriz, who was Juana’s closest lady.
The book started when Juana was young and living with her parents and siblings. It continued to follow her and Philippe’s relationship and travels between the Spains and Flanders. I found the beginning of the book a bit slow. It also jumped over time a bit. But, I thought it really picked up about the time Juana realized what a cad Philippe was. The author fictionalized a reason why Juana may have ultimately wanted to stay out of the limelight and not be queen, which was somewhat entertaining. In any case, I found the additional information about Christopher Columbus interesting, as I haven’t read much about him (though I did know his explorations were funded by Isabel and Ferdinand). The author did have a note at the end, separating out fact from fiction, which is always nice. It was particularly interesting to note what really happened with Beatriz, who was Juana’s closest lady.
July 1, 2022
This book does well in presenting this moment in history. Rich historical and cultural detail.
Another instance of a disgusting man and society gaslighting a woman, convincing everyone that she is crazy. Happened historically, happens still.
Another instance of a disgusting man and society gaslighting a woman, convincing everyone that she is crazy. Happened historically, happens still.
November 20, 2013
Historical fiction concerning people whose lives are basically giant question marks is... difficult to write. (Maybe that's Borgia fiction ranges from mediocre to nauseatingly bad.) Juana of Castile, otherwise known as Juan la Loca, is one of those question marks. Was she mad? Was it all propaganda spread by her husband and father? And if she wasn't mad, what was she like?
I tend to err on the side of Juana being mentally unstable, but perhaps not nearly as "mad" as Ferdinand and Philip (Philippe in Reign of Madness) the Handsome claimed. Mental illness ran in her family and would continue to run through the Hapsburg line after she added her DNA to the pot. There are several notable incidents that Lynn Cullen chose to omit from her novel that further indicate that Juana was troubled. Was she insane to the point of opening her husband's coffin to kiss his feet? I doubt it. But she wasn't normal.
Lynn Cullen, like many recent authors who choose to tackle Juana's story, has something of a different take. Her Juana is painfully naive, more pulled through her life than making that many active decisions. Though that is, perhaps, a realistic choice, it did make me frustrated with our leading lady on more than one occasion. That said, I found Reign of Madness engaging and entertaining, if not that deep or thought-provoking.
Juana and Philippe's hot and cold relationship is one of the novel's more fascinating aspects. It's really a classic abusive marriage. At some points he's tender and sweet--you can understand why a teenage Juana was first captivated with him--and at others incredibly cruel. That said, I was a little irritated with the fact that Cullen chose to erase some of Juana's more obsessive behaviors from the marriage. Rather than growing increasingly possessive of her husband, Juana realizes fairly quickly that he's an ass and just sort of tolerates him. It's not quite as interesting as the jealous behavior of the historical Juana. I also found Juana's continuing naivete a bit odd. It's one thing for her to be shocked by every scandal and goings-on as a teenager. By the time she reached her twenties, I was a little bored with her constant obliviousness.
I also found the characterization of Juana's mother, the famed Isabel of Castile, a little off. Well, very off. She was interesting as Cullen presented her, but nothing like the woman described in history. There's one plot point involving Isabel that I know a lot of history buffs will be irritated with, and a lot of her melancholy feminist musings just didn't ring true. At the end of the day, Isabel was a powerful woman, but seemed to be a little traditional when it came to marriage? I don't know. Whenever authors force modern feminism into their historical novels, it just doesn't ring true.
There was also this really shoehorned subplot with Christopher Columbus's son that just came off as ridiculous and unbelievable and placed in the book to make things more interesting. (And a lot of REALLY awkward phrases during the sex scenes. Or any reference to sex. I'm pretty sure Juana compares Philippe's balls to turtledove's eggs at some point. ????)
But all that aside--and some time-jumping that was probably confusing for those less familiar with Juana's story--I really did like the book. It wasn't perfect, but it reminded me of a historical soap opera. It was fun! It just wasn't that deep. Which is a shame, seeing as Juana la Loca is such an ambiguous figure. Could have been better--and I know Lynn Cullen is capable, as I did enjoy The Creation of Eve.
I tend to err on the side of Juana being mentally unstable, but perhaps not nearly as "mad" as Ferdinand and Philip (Philippe in Reign of Madness) the Handsome claimed. Mental illness ran in her family and would continue to run through the Hapsburg line after she added her DNA to the pot. There are several notable incidents that Lynn Cullen chose to omit from her novel that further indicate that Juana was troubled. Was she insane to the point of opening her husband's coffin to kiss his feet? I doubt it. But she wasn't normal.
Lynn Cullen, like many recent authors who choose to tackle Juana's story, has something of a different take. Her Juana is painfully naive, more pulled through her life than making that many active decisions. Though that is, perhaps, a realistic choice, it did make me frustrated with our leading lady on more than one occasion. That said, I found Reign of Madness engaging and entertaining, if not that deep or thought-provoking.
Juana and Philippe's hot and cold relationship is one of the novel's more fascinating aspects. It's really a classic abusive marriage. At some points he's tender and sweet--you can understand why a teenage Juana was first captivated with him--and at others incredibly cruel. That said, I was a little irritated with the fact that Cullen chose to erase some of Juana's more obsessive behaviors from the marriage. Rather than growing increasingly possessive of her husband, Juana realizes fairly quickly that he's an ass and just sort of tolerates him. It's not quite as interesting as the jealous behavior of the historical Juana. I also found Juana's continuing naivete a bit odd. It's one thing for her to be shocked by every scandal and goings-on as a teenager. By the time she reached her twenties, I was a little bored with her constant obliviousness.
I also found the characterization of Juana's mother, the famed Isabel of Castile, a little off. Well, very off. She was interesting as Cullen presented her, but nothing like the woman described in history. There's one plot point involving Isabel that I know a lot of history buffs will be irritated with, and a lot of her melancholy feminist musings just didn't ring true. At the end of the day, Isabel was a powerful woman, but seemed to be a little traditional when it came to marriage? I don't know. Whenever authors force modern feminism into their historical novels, it just doesn't ring true.
There was also this really shoehorned subplot with Christopher Columbus's son that just came off as ridiculous and unbelievable and placed in the book to make things more interesting. (And a lot of REALLY awkward phrases during the sex scenes. Or any reference to sex. I'm pretty sure Juana compares Philippe's balls to turtledove's eggs at some point. ????)
But all that aside--and some time-jumping that was probably confusing for those less familiar with Juana's story--I really did like the book. It wasn't perfect, but it reminded me of a historical soap opera. It was fun! It just wasn't that deep. Which is a shame, seeing as Juana la Loca is such an ambiguous figure. Could have been better--and I know Lynn Cullen is capable, as I did enjoy The Creation of Eve.
July 14, 2011
Being a princess was no fairy story! This tale is more tangled than Rapunzel’s!
Reign of Madness is an account that begins as a sunny romance and ends in gothic noir.
Juana of Castile was a bartered bride, following in her sister Catherine of Aragon’s doomed footsteps, bargained off as a political pawn to Habsburg Philippe the Handsome, Archduke of Flanders.
A flowering branch of one of the mightiest family trees in history, she was the daughter of Spain’s Ferdinand and Isabella. Her brother-in-law was history’s most infamous king, Henry VIII. She gave birth to a full house of two emperors and four queens, yet spent the last five decades of her life alone under house arrest in a convent.
At 16 years of age she left the hilly high country of sunny Spain and descended to the rainy grey lowlands of the Netherlands, becoming mired in a sordid Renaissance Gaslight. Initially swept off her feet by her handsome groom, she acquiesced to an impromptu marriage with none of the pomp due her circumstance. She never saw her mother again, and surely came to wish she hadn’t seen her father again after his duplicitous treachery.
Her story reflects the sad reality of the lot of the woman, even when that woman’s title was Queen. In the end, she is betrayed by husband, father, and son, and left childless and alone in a tower. Most historians disagree with her moniker of Juana the Mad, and Reign of Madness chronicles the rampant use of poison widely employed back in the day to kill or merely weaken its victims. Through disinformation and innuendo her power is wrested from her and the affections of her children alienated.
Lynn Cullen continues to outdo herself with each successive work. She obliquely mentions Juana of Castile in her wonderful Creation of Eve and her story unfolds in Reign of Madness. Her meticulous research gives substance and texture to the fascinating historical faction of one of history’s most hapless heroines. Cullen pulls the reader right into the heart of the court and castle, bringing home the passions and disappointments of this most pitiful queen.
The maps and family charts are a welcome enhancement and aid in keeping the august cast of characters straight. Her frequent inclusion of nature, especially birds, brings a vibrant immediacy to her writing that draws the reader deep into the narrative. Her mastery of the telling sexual details is not lurid, but evocative of Edith Wharton. Like a train wreck, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages, in false hope that surely things can’t go as badly awry as they seem.
Reign of Madness is an account that begins as a sunny romance and ends in gothic noir.
Juana of Castile was a bartered bride, following in her sister Catherine of Aragon’s doomed footsteps, bargained off as a political pawn to Habsburg Philippe the Handsome, Archduke of Flanders.
A flowering branch of one of the mightiest family trees in history, she was the daughter of Spain’s Ferdinand and Isabella. Her brother-in-law was history’s most infamous king, Henry VIII. She gave birth to a full house of two emperors and four queens, yet spent the last five decades of her life alone under house arrest in a convent.
At 16 years of age she left the hilly high country of sunny Spain and descended to the rainy grey lowlands of the Netherlands, becoming mired in a sordid Renaissance Gaslight. Initially swept off her feet by her handsome groom, she acquiesced to an impromptu marriage with none of the pomp due her circumstance. She never saw her mother again, and surely came to wish she hadn’t seen her father again after his duplicitous treachery.
Her story reflects the sad reality of the lot of the woman, even when that woman’s title was Queen. In the end, she is betrayed by husband, father, and son, and left childless and alone in a tower. Most historians disagree with her moniker of Juana the Mad, and Reign of Madness chronicles the rampant use of poison widely employed back in the day to kill or merely weaken its victims. Through disinformation and innuendo her power is wrested from her and the affections of her children alienated.
Lynn Cullen continues to outdo herself with each successive work. She obliquely mentions Juana of Castile in her wonderful Creation of Eve and her story unfolds in Reign of Madness. Her meticulous research gives substance and texture to the fascinating historical faction of one of history’s most hapless heroines. Cullen pulls the reader right into the heart of the court and castle, bringing home the passions and disappointments of this most pitiful queen.
The maps and family charts are a welcome enhancement and aid in keeping the august cast of characters straight. Her frequent inclusion of nature, especially birds, brings a vibrant immediacy to her writing that draws the reader deep into the narrative. Her mastery of the telling sexual details is not lurid, but evocative of Edith Wharton. Like a train wreck, you won’t be able to stop turning the pages, in false hope that surely things can’t go as badly awry as they seem.
January 18, 2012
Myth and legend are often very different from the truth. Set against the background of late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, Ms. Cullen weaves a remarkable tale about a famous young woman from a very famous royal family. Daughter of the Catholic Kings and sister to the famed Catherine of Aragon, the woman known from defaming stories as "Juana la Loca", Reign of Madness paints a very different story of this woman who was every bit as remarkable as her family members.
October 22, 2011
**Copy received thru First Reads Giveaway**
Took me a while to get into this book as it read like a YA book to me all the way through. Juana starts off as a teenager and even though she has six children and 10 or so years pass, she's still acting like a teenager. Everything she does is reactive - I dislike passive 'heroines' like this. Granted, for the time period described, female passivity was the norm, but you can't advertise this book as a great love story or a drama because there's neither.
I also found myself having to flip backwards every time I started a new chapter to compare the dates and find out how much time had passed. I wasn't looking the first few chapters, then it just seemed things were skipping, and I ended up looking every chapter after that.
On the other hand, it is a good insight into the nobles of the time and how so many of the countries were connected by marriage. Also a good overview of the place of women for the time. As a fan of historical fiction, I felt that Cullen gave enough detail to draw the reader in, but not so many that you lost the story. The same with the language: formal enough to make you realize you're in a different time period, but not so different that it was difficult to follow.
If this book had been written less like a YA novel and more like adult level historical fiction I would have enjoyed it more.
Took me a while to get into this book as it read like a YA book to me all the way through. Juana starts off as a teenager and even though she has six children and 10 or so years pass, she's still acting like a teenager. Everything she does is reactive - I dislike passive 'heroines' like this. Granted, for the time period described, female passivity was the norm, but you can't advertise this book as a great love story or a drama because there's neither.
I also found myself having to flip backwards every time I started a new chapter to compare the dates and find out how much time had passed. I wasn't looking the first few chapters, then it just seemed things were skipping, and I ended up looking every chapter after that.
On the other hand, it is a good insight into the nobles of the time and how so many of the countries were connected by marriage. Also a good overview of the place of women for the time. As a fan of historical fiction, I felt that Cullen gave enough detail to draw the reader in, but not so many that you lost the story. The same with the language: formal enough to make you realize you're in a different time period, but not so different that it was difficult to follow.
If this book had been written less like a YA novel and more like adult level historical fiction I would have enjoyed it more.
October 16, 2011
My full 4 JEWEL review can be found at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
The history of Spain and its royalty was mostly unknown to me until reading this book. I had heard of Isabella and Ferdinand of course, but not many details. While Reign of Madness went a long way to change that, it was also an enjoyable read.
Lynn Cullen has focused on a point in history that is still surrounded by more questions than answers, almost 500 years later. It continues to be a mystery what really happened to Juana during those four and half decades of imprisonment. I enjoyed the author's vision of what the Spanish Queen may have gone through.
One of the things I learned from this story was that Isabella had actually been the power in Spain, not Ferdinand. The glimpse into their personal life was very interesting. It is a real shame that poor Juana didn't get to benefit from her mother's strength and teachings. If she had, a completely different history may have unfolded.
The story moved along at a brisk pace and I was kept turning the pages, wanting to know more. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who want to read a really good story.
The history of Spain and its royalty was mostly unknown to me until reading this book. I had heard of Isabella and Ferdinand of course, but not many details. While Reign of Madness went a long way to change that, it was also an enjoyable read.
Lynn Cullen has focused on a point in history that is still surrounded by more questions than answers, almost 500 years later. It continues to be a mystery what really happened to Juana during those four and half decades of imprisonment. I enjoyed the author's vision of what the Spanish Queen may have gone through.
One of the things I learned from this story was that Isabella had actually been the power in Spain, not Ferdinand. The glimpse into their personal life was very interesting. It is a real shame that poor Juana didn't get to benefit from her mother's strength and teachings. If she had, a completely different history may have unfolded.
The story moved along at a brisk pace and I was kept turning the pages, wanting to know more. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who want to read a really good story.
January 3, 2013
It's historical fiction but based on many facts, per Ms. Cullen. Most striking to me is the similarity between those times and current times as far as control of women by some men is concerned.
January 7, 2013
Great read just before a trip to Spain!
April 16, 2013
This was an excellent book, but sad.
September 21, 2025
The daughters of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon lived very interesting lives. Of course, we know what happened to Katherine of Aragon, but her elder sister, Juana, has her own tragic tale. She was known as Juana the Mad because the rumors were that when her husband, Philip the Handsome, died, she carried her coffin around for months and would not let him be buried. Was Juana truly mad, or was it all a ruse by powerful men to steal her lands and titles? Lynn Cullen explores Juana of Castile’s life in her novel, “Reign of Madness.”
This was a book that I found when I was in a used book shop. I saw that it was about Juana of Castile, and I’ll be honest, I have never read a novel that is solely about her life. I know the basic information about her life and reign, but I was hoping that a novel would help me connect to Juana a bit more.
Juana of Castile was the daughter of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Since she was the second daughter, she was third in line for the throne of Castile, behind her brother, Juan, and eldest sister, Isabel. She was not destined to become queen, so her parents married her off to Philippe the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy. While it was a marriage for an alliance, love did bloom between Juana and Philippe, even though she did not always get along with Dowager Duchess Margaret of York. Eventually, the honeymoon stage ended, and it was replaced with paranoia and fears of infidelity. At the same time, fortune’s wheel turned in such a way that Juana became her mother’s heir to Castile. Juana doesn’t want power for herself, but Philippe desires power. Juana just wants to take care of her family, which includes her son, the future Charles V. Eventually, the desire for power would become so great that the idea of Juana as mad would overtake her entire life and her legacy.
I had some issues with this book, and there were times when I wanted to throw the book across the room. Some of the biggest ugh moments for me were when she said that bathing was something that only the Spanish were familiar with, and when Philippe kept breaking into Juana’s confinement chamber. These elements, along with a few others, showed me that Cullen didn’t fully grasp the 16th-century European world and its nuances. I also did not like how Juana was portrayed as a mousey character, and her father, Ferdinand, came across as almost a trophy husband.
This novel had the potential to do something groundbreaking when it comes to writing a novel about Juana of Castile by showing that she was sane, but it fell a bit flat. I think if you are someone who is not particular about historical nuances being accurate in a historical novel, and you want something about Juana of Castile, you might enjoy “Reign of Madness” by Lynn Cullen.
This was a book that I found when I was in a used book shop. I saw that it was about Juana of Castile, and I’ll be honest, I have never read a novel that is solely about her life. I know the basic information about her life and reign, but I was hoping that a novel would help me connect to Juana a bit more.
Juana of Castile was the daughter of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Since she was the second daughter, she was third in line for the throne of Castile, behind her brother, Juan, and eldest sister, Isabel. She was not destined to become queen, so her parents married her off to Philippe the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy. While it was a marriage for an alliance, love did bloom between Juana and Philippe, even though she did not always get along with Dowager Duchess Margaret of York. Eventually, the honeymoon stage ended, and it was replaced with paranoia and fears of infidelity. At the same time, fortune’s wheel turned in such a way that Juana became her mother’s heir to Castile. Juana doesn’t want power for herself, but Philippe desires power. Juana just wants to take care of her family, which includes her son, the future Charles V. Eventually, the desire for power would become so great that the idea of Juana as mad would overtake her entire life and her legacy.
I had some issues with this book, and there were times when I wanted to throw the book across the room. Some of the biggest ugh moments for me were when she said that bathing was something that only the Spanish were familiar with, and when Philippe kept breaking into Juana’s confinement chamber. These elements, along with a few others, showed me that Cullen didn’t fully grasp the 16th-century European world and its nuances. I also did not like how Juana was portrayed as a mousey character, and her father, Ferdinand, came across as almost a trophy husband.
This novel had the potential to do something groundbreaking when it comes to writing a novel about Juana of Castile by showing that she was sane, but it fell a bit flat. I think if you are someone who is not particular about historical nuances being accurate in a historical novel, and you want something about Juana of Castile, you might enjoy “Reign of Madness” by Lynn Cullen.
March 6, 2023
Juana is the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, and third in line to both of her parents thrones. As was customary at the time, Juana is married off so that the Spanish crown can strengthen its alliances across Europe. The book covers Juana's life and eventual fall into madness that the history books tell us about, but from Juana's point of view.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but Juana's inaction in her own life is infuriating. Juana as a character just seems to let everyone else make her choices for her and seems to be watching her own life from the sidelines while everyone disrespects her. I understand that this book is based on a historical figure and the author is bound by the real world parameters of her life, but this was the most frustrating book that I have read in a long time. Nothing about it is romantic, and you can't even argue that in the end Juana won because she was being left alone, because, sure she was being left alone, but she is trapped and not really living her life at all. That isn't freedom. You can't even really say, "well historically women have just had to put up with a lot." People had women for queens and rallied behind them. It is hard to believe that she wasn't a little bit mad, because if she was sane then why would she sit back and just let her life happen to her instead of taking charge of her own life. I did not enjoy this book at all and I wish I had my time back.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but Juana's inaction in her own life is infuriating. Juana as a character just seems to let everyone else make her choices for her and seems to be watching her own life from the sidelines while everyone disrespects her. I understand that this book is based on a historical figure and the author is bound by the real world parameters of her life, but this was the most frustrating book that I have read in a long time. Nothing about it is romantic, and you can't even argue that in the end Juana won because she was being left alone, because, sure she was being left alone, but she is trapped and not really living her life at all. That isn't freedom. You can't even really say, "well historically women have just had to put up with a lot." People had women for queens and rallied behind them. It is hard to believe that she wasn't a little bit mad, because if she was sane then why would she sit back and just let her life happen to her instead of taking charge of her own life. I did not enjoy this book at all and I wish I had my time back.
January 22, 2023
I’m a huge fan of Lynn Cullen, having read (and enjoyed) Twains End and Mrs Poe. With no prior knowledge of Juana of Castile, the daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain (the power couple responsible for sending Christopher Columbus on his journey), I was worried I would be lost. But this author is such a great storyteller that it was easy to follow along. As a work of historical fiction, there is poetic license. But there is also the careful untangling of legend and fact - and evidence to dispute the rumors of Juana’s madness. Read this book. You’ll learn a lot about 15th and 16th century Spain and Flanders and have fun along the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
This would have been excellent if not for the excessive amount of sexual content, innuendo, and descriptions. The beginning of Juana's marriage was so gross I almost quit the book. Granted, I am a prude - but what was unnecessary went way over the top. If I had wanted to read about what trickles down her leg or the fishy smell blown up from women's skirts, I would read romance novels not historical fiction.
I liked the later part where the author shows how the reputation of mental illness was falsified for political gain, so I'm glad I pushed through the first half. I have no doubt others would enjoy the sex stuff, but I found it annoying at best.
I liked the later part where the author shows how the reputation of mental illness was falsified for political gain, so I'm glad I pushed through the first half. I have no doubt others would enjoy the sex stuff, but I found it annoying at best.
August 18, 2019
The book was disappointing for me as it wasn't about her "Reign of Madness" as the title suggests but about her life prior to becoming Queen. It read more like a romance novel than historical fiction. I read "The Last Queen" by C.W. Gortner and it was far better than this. This book held my interest but as I was getting closer to the end I kept thinking is it just going to get to her last days in one chapter? I also couldn't believe how it just stops at the end....perhaps there is a sequel coming? If so, I probably will read it.
March 21, 2017
Lynn Cullen’s Reign of Madness offers a window into the life of one of Spain’s most notorious monarchs, Juana “the Mad” of Castile. Third child of the famous Spanish rulers, Fernando and Isabel, Juana married a Habsburg archduke, and upon the deaths of her elder siblings and mother, became the heir to her mother’s kingdoms. However, common consensus was that she was insane, so her husband had her put under house arrest, and after her husband died, Juana was kept imprisoned by her father and later her older son. Reign of Madness spans a time period of several years, starting when Juana is 14 and ending around the time her husband, Philippe the Handsome, dies and her father, King Fernando, seizes Juana’s crowns. Overall, I found this novel to be well-written and informative, though it was often hard reading due to how hopeless and powerless Juana’s life becomes toward the last quarter of the text.
I think my most pressing complaint about Reign of Madness is concerning how familiar the plot feels, even though there are really no stories similar to Juana’s in history. I can think of so many novels about female royals during the European Renaissance that follow a similar formula to the one Cullen employs here. A young princess marries a foreigner, but that marriage turns sour, so she instead seeks love in the arms of a handsome (but probably lowborn) courtier, all while dealing with her husband’s inability to rule. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction that covers those bases, and while perhaps it’s not an uncommon storyline in reality, I get frustrated because all my reads about European royals are starting to blend together. Sure, the idea of Juana having a romance with Christopher Columbus’s son whilst dealing with her husband’s ambition and tyranny is pleasant, but I felt like I’d read it before, you know? Authors of historical fiction seem to draw on the “forbidden love” side plot far more often than is necessary. With all that was going on in Juana’s life, I hardly think that she needed a romantic affair. Though I do admit that it allows Reign of Madness to have more hopeful/lighthearted moments than would otherwise be possible, all things considered.
What I did very much enjoy—and wish had been expanded upon in more depth—was Juana’s complicated relationship with her mother, Queen Isabel. The dynamic between mother and daughter was fascinating and nuanced, and I felt that Cullen did a good job with it for the most part, though I think she could have emphasized it more (and perhaps, in doing so, cut out Juana’s illicit love affair). In any case, I felt that Reign of Madness captured Juana’s conflicted feelings of resentment, respect, and envy towards her mother, and also displayed how those feelings evolved as Juana herself matured and gained a wider understanding of marriage and politics. In general, though, I felt that Isabel was more my favorite character in the book, as Juana often came off as someone who complained constantly and was exceedingly (and perhaps willfully) ignorant—as she’s the first-person narrator, this became frustrating. I’m not sure I really like Isabel of Castile, as a person, but she’s far more interesting and admirable than Juana in some respects, and I think Cullen did such a complex, driven woman justice.
As I mentioned, I did have problems with Juana herself, which made it hard to read the book in some respects. Juana, for instance, believes that her mother “made” her father have affairs with other women because she was too dominant and assertive as a wife—that kind of victim blaming is troublesome and infuriating, even from a character in 1500 AD. Juana also complained a lot, though she didn’t seem to do much to attempt to alter her situation. Again, considering historical context, Juana really was powerless in most respects, so it’s hard to fault her for that, though, again, if we look at Juana’s mother, we see a woman who was able to wield much power in spite of her societal limitations.
Another interesting detail about Juana’s story is that, when a mob attempted to free her from her prison in 1520, Juana…refused to be freed. That kind of behavior is extremely difficult to justify, considering that Reign of Madness makes the case that Juana was completely sane and merely imprisoned due to the fact that the men in her life were jealous of her power. Which seems like a plausible premise, except for Juana’s apparent refusal to fight back when given a clear opportunity to do so. Lynn Cullen “explains” this behavior by having it that Juana was waiting for Christopher Columbus’s son, her lover, to come and rescue her (or something along those lines). Honestly, I didn’t buy that, but since I felt the entire love plot was unnecessary in the first place, this comes as no surprise.
All things considered, I thought that Lynn Cullen did a very admirable job of trying to make sense of a historical figure as shrouded in controversy and myth as Juana of Castile. The book was easy to read and rich in detail, and my complaints all stem from disagreement with the author’s interpretation (and embellishing) of history, which in historical fiction is hardly something to get too upset about. So, all in all, Reign of Madness was well-written, nuanced, and enjoyable, and as I don’t have anything supremely negative to say in any respect, I’m inclined to call this a successful, worthwhile book.
I think my most pressing complaint about Reign of Madness is concerning how familiar the plot feels, even though there are really no stories similar to Juana’s in history. I can think of so many novels about female royals during the European Renaissance that follow a similar formula to the one Cullen employs here. A young princess marries a foreigner, but that marriage turns sour, so she instead seeks love in the arms of a handsome (but probably lowborn) courtier, all while dealing with her husband’s inability to rule. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction that covers those bases, and while perhaps it’s not an uncommon storyline in reality, I get frustrated because all my reads about European royals are starting to blend together. Sure, the idea of Juana having a romance with Christopher Columbus’s son whilst dealing with her husband’s ambition and tyranny is pleasant, but I felt like I’d read it before, you know? Authors of historical fiction seem to draw on the “forbidden love” side plot far more often than is necessary. With all that was going on in Juana’s life, I hardly think that she needed a romantic affair. Though I do admit that it allows Reign of Madness to have more hopeful/lighthearted moments than would otherwise be possible, all things considered.
What I did very much enjoy—and wish had been expanded upon in more depth—was Juana’s complicated relationship with her mother, Queen Isabel. The dynamic between mother and daughter was fascinating and nuanced, and I felt that Cullen did a good job with it for the most part, though I think she could have emphasized it more (and perhaps, in doing so, cut out Juana’s illicit love affair). In any case, I felt that Reign of Madness captured Juana’s conflicted feelings of resentment, respect, and envy towards her mother, and also displayed how those feelings evolved as Juana herself matured and gained a wider understanding of marriage and politics. In general, though, I felt that Isabel was more my favorite character in the book, as Juana often came off as someone who complained constantly and was exceedingly (and perhaps willfully) ignorant—as she’s the first-person narrator, this became frustrating. I’m not sure I really like Isabel of Castile, as a person, but she’s far more interesting and admirable than Juana in some respects, and I think Cullen did such a complex, driven woman justice.
As I mentioned, I did have problems with Juana herself, which made it hard to read the book in some respects. Juana, for instance, believes that her mother “made” her father have affairs with other women because she was too dominant and assertive as a wife—that kind of victim blaming is troublesome and infuriating, even from a character in 1500 AD. Juana also complained a lot, though she didn’t seem to do much to attempt to alter her situation. Again, considering historical context, Juana really was powerless in most respects, so it’s hard to fault her for that, though, again, if we look at Juana’s mother, we see a woman who was able to wield much power in spite of her societal limitations.
Another interesting detail about Juana’s story is that, when a mob attempted to free her from her prison in 1520, Juana…refused to be freed. That kind of behavior is extremely difficult to justify, considering that Reign of Madness makes the case that Juana was completely sane and merely imprisoned due to the fact that the men in her life were jealous of her power. Which seems like a plausible premise, except for Juana’s apparent refusal to fight back when given a clear opportunity to do so. Lynn Cullen “explains” this behavior by having it that Juana was waiting for Christopher Columbus’s son, her lover, to come and rescue her (or something along those lines). Honestly, I didn’t buy that, but since I felt the entire love plot was unnecessary in the first place, this comes as no surprise.
All things considered, I thought that Lynn Cullen did a very admirable job of trying to make sense of a historical figure as shrouded in controversy and myth as Juana of Castile. The book was easy to read and rich in detail, and my complaints all stem from disagreement with the author’s interpretation (and embellishing) of history, which in historical fiction is hardly something to get too upset about. So, all in all, Reign of Madness was well-written, nuanced, and enjoyable, and as I don’t have anything supremely negative to say in any respect, I’m inclined to call this a successful, worthwhile book.
February 13, 2022
I am always impressed with historical fiction writers who construct a life around little available or dependable history. I was aware of Juana Castile and her alleged descent into madness, but have read little factual information.
Cullen does a good job of creating the story of what might have happened and makes no claim to her story being factual. Once the reader accepts this is TRULY a fictional work, she can be drawn into the plot, characters and imaginings. I enjoyed the read.
Cullen does a good job of creating the story of what might have happened and makes no claim to her story being factual. Once the reader accepts this is TRULY a fictional work, she can be drawn into the plot, characters and imaginings. I enjoyed the read.
December 29, 2019
Fascinating story of Philip I (Philip the Handsome) and Juana I (Juana the Mad) and their respective families. I recently read 'The Creation of Eve' by same author, which was about Philip II, the grandson of Juana I.
We just returned from a vacation in Spain where we visited many of the towns and palaces described in the book. Now I want to read more about Juana's mother, Isabel I.
We just returned from a vacation in Spain where we visited many of the towns and palaces described in the book. Now I want to read more about Juana's mother, Isabel I.
May 24, 2020
Well done
I have been long interested in Juana La Loca. I believe she used her ‘madness’ to cover an intellect that was far above the men around her. To have survived in her situation was a miracle indeed.
This version was well written and, though it wasn’t consistent with my vision in places, made Juana and those around her seem alive and real. Well done, Ms. Cullen.
I have been long interested in Juana La Loca. I believe she used her ‘madness’ to cover an intellect that was far above the men around her. To have survived in her situation was a miracle indeed.
This version was well written and, though it wasn’t consistent with my vision in places, made Juana and those around her seem alive and real. Well done, Ms. Cullen.
June 27, 2017
Juana of Castilo
Just as I was ready to give up, book turned a corner and piqued my interest.
Mad Queen, seemed so by father and husband, then son so they could rule in her steed. Amazing story.
Just as I was ready to give up, book turned a corner and piqued my interest.
Mad Queen, seemed so by father and husband, then son so they could rule in her steed. Amazing story.
June 19, 2017
A well written story of Juana of Castile.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews