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The Queen's Companion
A fanatical religious group is trying to assist the Church in ridding itself of heretics. They terrorize the small kingdom of Montalcino. Catherine, its queen, is returning from Rome where she sought the pope’s help. She and her soldiers discover a woman being tortured. They rescue Lady Isabella. During her convalescence the women fall in love.The sexual tension creates spiritual struggle for Catherine, who believes that their feelings doom them for eternity. The more she tries to deny her feelings, the more power they have over her. Eventually, Catherine gives into her love for Isabella. She marries to cover the relationship, but this only intensifies the danger because her Bishop is determined to expose her. His own life a web of secrecy, he seduces Catherine’s naïve daughter, Sofia, into friendship. Sofia plays out the Bishop’s intentions, propelling everyone toward disaster.Set against the backdrop of one of the most wretched times in human history, The Queen’s Companion is an epic tale of lives torn apart by ambition, greed and betrayal. More, it is a story of how love can transform broken souls.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 29, 2015
This is not a light read, especially there are quite some truth to the period of inquisition. Be prepared to shed a few tears reading this book.
The story started with Catherine, the queen of Montalcino rescuing a tortured and very wounded Isabella during her journey back to her castle. Given the ordeal Isabella went through the her difficulty in establishing trust with people, Catherine became her sole care taker. She gradually came to enjoy Isabella's intellectual conversations and company, but struggles with her feeling towards Isabella. The first portion of the book was more focused on Catherine and Isabella's relationship, how the companionship gradually sets into deep love with such connection and tenderness; and the latter portion has more focus on how Catherine, through compassion and bravery, stood up for her people to fight against cruelty and injustice of inquisition. Can't say I'm a big fan of the ending but I would say it is appropriate given the circumstances, I just wish the characters have to suffer less. I'm sure the events will have very profound effects on Sofi as well and her future path as Queen.
I'm not a religious person, but I do believe God's love is universal and non-discriminatory. It is sometimes human who chooses to interpret God's words in a one dimensional way. Do read the prologue and epilogue of this book, it is interesting how the author describes the story came musing in her head.
Highly recommending this book, and I know I'll be re-reading it soon.
The story started with Catherine, the queen of Montalcino rescuing a tortured and very wounded Isabella during her journey back to her castle. Given the ordeal Isabella went through the her difficulty in establishing trust with people, Catherine became her sole care taker. She gradually came to enjoy Isabella's intellectual conversations and company, but struggles with her feeling towards Isabella. The first portion of the book was more focused on Catherine and Isabella's relationship, how the companionship gradually sets into deep love with such connection and tenderness; and the latter portion has more focus on how Catherine, through compassion and bravery, stood up for her people to fight against cruelty and injustice of inquisition. Can't say I'm a big fan of the ending but I would say it is appropriate given the circumstances, I just wish the characters have to suffer less. I'm sure the events will have very profound effects on Sofi as well and her future path as Queen.
I'm not a religious person, but I do believe God's love is universal and non-discriminatory. It is sometimes human who chooses to interpret God's words in a one dimensional way. Do read the prologue and epilogue of this book, it is interesting how the author describes the story came musing in her head.
Highly recommending this book, and I know I'll be re-reading it soon.
November 8, 2021
This book is the definition of faded to black.
Why did Catherine gotta die near the end? . And why did Sofia ( Cat's daughter) gotta betray her own mother??!!
Honestly this was interesting only at the beginning. Too damn long. Too many damn sufferings.
Why did Catherine gotta die near the end? . And why did Sofia ( Cat's daughter) gotta betray her own mother??!!
Honestly this was interesting only at the beginning. Too damn long. Too many damn sufferings.
October 14, 2011
A well-researched and well-planned novel. It may or may not have happened but the narration bears such a close resemblance to history, one might actually believe it is true. The characters are well-defined, and their motives well-explained.
This is an entertaining and enlightening novel of a period of history which most people now look upon with horror and regret. The author’s foreword is also an enlightening explanation of how she came to write the story.
This is an entertaining and enlightening novel of a period of history which most people now look upon with horror and regret. The author’s foreword is also an enlightening explanation of how she came to write the story.
May 25, 2011
Great character development. They are likable, and you can sympathize with their feelings and decisions. Excellent period detail--very easy to picture the physical surroundings. The afterward, which describes how the story came to be told, is amazing! Well done!
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September 26, 2011Profound. That is the only word that comes to mind after reading The Queen's Companion. There was profound loyalty, lose, grief, persecution and most importantly....profound love.
September 26, 2011
Profound. That is the only word that comes to mind after reading The Queen's Companion. There was profound loyalty, lose, grief, persecution and most importantly....profound love.
March 5, 2013
Not my usual style of reading but I picked it up due to reveiws I had read elsewhere. Even though it was not my usual type of romance, I found it interesting.
April 13, 2012
Incredible story.
November 28, 2017
If indeed this is historical fiction or not it's a well written piece. I wasn't enamored by the first chapter but as I read on I appreciated the investment on character, dialogue, plot. To accept that this might have all been real and the writer was given this revelation as described is something I am still pondering on.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews