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Medieval Babes: Tales of Little-Known Ladies #8
Poisoned Chalice: Mabel de Belleme Normandy's Wicked Lady
‘Small, very talkative, ready enough to do evil, shrewd and jocular, extremely cruel and daring.’ Orderic Vitalis on Mabel de Belleme.Mabel is the daughter of William de Belleme, known as Talvas, the Hard Shield, for his fierceness in battle…and at home. When William murders Mabel’s mother, he is expelled from his castle into exile—but Mabel follows him loyally, despite what he has done.As the Belleme fortunes gradually return, Mabel is married to an upstanding young lord, Roger de Montgomery, a close friend of the new Duke of Normandy—William, who will one day become the Conqueror of England. Their marriage appears to be successful, with many children, but Mabel remains her father’s daughter in temperament and spirit and soon her reputation becomes fearsome.Castles and lands are collected like pieces on a chessboard, and those who object to her harsh tactics are dealt with, not by the sword but by Mabel’s secret means. When Mabel plays her game, she seeks to win at any cost.But when she crosses Hugh Bunel, kinsman of a man she has killed, Normandy’s wicked lady may have met her match…Based on a true story of Norman times.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2021
146 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Reedman
105 books169 followersBorn in Canada, J.P. Reedman has been a UK resident for over 30 years. She has been writing since the age of 5, and preferred genres are fantasy and historical (or a mixture of both.) Interests are British history and prehistory, especially the neolithic and bronze ages, archaeology, anthropology and features of the countryside. She is author of the STONEHENGE SAGA a novel that places the legends of King Arthur back into the bronze age, and a number of works about King Richard III, including the epic, I RICHARD PLANTAGENET, which, with both parts combined, is over 250,000 words long and written from Richard's first person perspective. She is also the author of the bestselling medieval novel, MY FAIR LADY, about the little known Queen, Eleanor of Provence which is first in an ongoing series about lesser-known medieval noblewoman. 13 SO FAR!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 11, 2022
Engaging story about a wicked woman
Poisoned Chalice by J. P. Reedman
Reviewed April 18, 2021
Poisoned Chalice by J. P. Reedman is the story of Mabel de Bellême, a Norman noblewoman whose reputation is less than savory. Although few details are known about Mabel’s life, Ms Reedman has used what is available to craft a fascinating story about a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid of doing whatever was necessary to get it.
Though the daughter of Norman nobility (her father holds lands at Bellême, Domfront and Alençon) Mabel grows up in a brutal environment. Her father, William Talvas, is a man known for his harshness, treachery, and cruelty, but he has a soft spot for his daughter who acts more like a badass tomboy. When she witnesses her father strangle her mother in the heat of an argument, Mabel accepts this with a sense of pragmatism; it was her mother’s fault anyway, she reasons, for refusing to abide her husband’s wishes.
Later, when her older brother Arnulf rebels against their father and takes over the family home at Alençon, Mabel goes into exile with her father. Penniless, the two travel with a few retainers who along the way abandon father and daughter, and the two eventually make their way to Ralf de Beaumont who while not exactly a friend is at least on amicable terms with Talvas. There, William sets about arranging to marry Haberga de Beaumont, while Ralf’s wife sets about trying to make Mabel into a more pleasing woman so that an appropriate marriage can be made.
During this time, Talvas and another nobleman, William Fitz Giroie are engaged in a bitter feud. In what outwardly appears to be an attempt at resolving their conflict, Talvas invites Fitz Giroie to his wedding – but Talvas has other, more diabolical plans. While the wedding festivities are going on, Talvas has Fitz Giroie abducted and imprisoned, and has Mabel accompany him to the dungeon where she assists her father in the blinding and mutilation of Fitz Giroie.
Is it any wonder that Mabel, growing up in such an environment, would have a jaded outlook and see might-makes-right as her life philosophy?
But Mabel isn’t some one-dimensional wicked woman, although she engages in plenty of questionable actions during her lifetime. In Poisoned Chalice Ms Reedman gives us a woman who, while she may not encourage warm and fuzzy feelings, is always interesting and keeps the reader’s attention throughout her various adventures. Living in Normandy during the pre-1066 Conquest years, Mabel and her husband Roger de Montgomery are front and center to the events revolving around the young duke of Normandy, William sometimes called “the Bastard” but who history will remember as William the Conqueror.
Poisoned Chalice is a very engaging story, down to its shocking ending, when the old saying about reaping what you sow comes into play.
Update March 11, 2022: In going through my family history files, I've discovered that Mabel is a 29x great-grandmother!
Poisoned Chalice by J. P. Reedman
Reviewed April 18, 2021
Poisoned Chalice by J. P. Reedman is the story of Mabel de Bellême, a Norman noblewoman whose reputation is less than savory. Although few details are known about Mabel’s life, Ms Reedman has used what is available to craft a fascinating story about a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid of doing whatever was necessary to get it.
Though the daughter of Norman nobility (her father holds lands at Bellême, Domfront and Alençon) Mabel grows up in a brutal environment. Her father, William Talvas, is a man known for his harshness, treachery, and cruelty, but he has a soft spot for his daughter who acts more like a badass tomboy. When she witnesses her father strangle her mother in the heat of an argument, Mabel accepts this with a sense of pragmatism; it was her mother’s fault anyway, she reasons, for refusing to abide her husband’s wishes.
Later, when her older brother Arnulf rebels against their father and takes over the family home at Alençon, Mabel goes into exile with her father. Penniless, the two travel with a few retainers who along the way abandon father and daughter, and the two eventually make their way to Ralf de Beaumont who while not exactly a friend is at least on amicable terms with Talvas. There, William sets about arranging to marry Haberga de Beaumont, while Ralf’s wife sets about trying to make Mabel into a more pleasing woman so that an appropriate marriage can be made.
During this time, Talvas and another nobleman, William Fitz Giroie are engaged in a bitter feud. In what outwardly appears to be an attempt at resolving their conflict, Talvas invites Fitz Giroie to his wedding – but Talvas has other, more diabolical plans. While the wedding festivities are going on, Talvas has Fitz Giroie abducted and imprisoned, and has Mabel accompany him to the dungeon where she assists her father in the blinding and mutilation of Fitz Giroie.
Is it any wonder that Mabel, growing up in such an environment, would have a jaded outlook and see might-makes-right as her life philosophy?
But Mabel isn’t some one-dimensional wicked woman, although she engages in plenty of questionable actions during her lifetime. In Poisoned Chalice Ms Reedman gives us a woman who, while she may not encourage warm and fuzzy feelings, is always interesting and keeps the reader’s attention throughout her various adventures. Living in Normandy during the pre-1066 Conquest years, Mabel and her husband Roger de Montgomery are front and center to the events revolving around the young duke of Normandy, William sometimes called “the Bastard” but who history will remember as William the Conqueror.
Poisoned Chalice is a very engaging story, down to its shocking ending, when the old saying about reaping what you sow comes into play.
Update March 11, 2022: In going through my family history files, I've discovered that Mabel is a 29x great-grandmother!
February 2, 2023
Look.inside the heart of a female sociopath
Fast read. First person narrative inside the life and mind of an awful, just about beyond redemption woman who lived back in the middle ages. The powerful men around her seemed to be cut if the same clothe to a large extent ago not sure why she seemed fair more corrupt if a soul. Perhaps it's the expectation that all a woman is less likely to willfully commit awful crimes although we know that's untrue. Perhaps just a product of the harsh times although we are likely just wired to naively believe that women as god awful as Mabel de Montgomery Dr Bellame are not alive and living as posh lifestyles today accruing wealth and power and cruelly squashing anyone that gets their ire stoked. Oftentimes ad I read if an interesting and admirable woman from a bygone era I think I would like to know them, sip tea with them and spend an afternoon in their company getting to know them. Uh uh ... Definitely not coming away wanting to know Mabel on a personal level. I rate this a four more because I didn't like Mabel at all and not because of the author s ability to tell the tale. Never have I so like forward to someone getting a taste of their own medicine.
Fast read. First person narrative inside the life and mind of an awful, just about beyond redemption woman who lived back in the middle ages. The powerful men around her seemed to be cut if the same clothe to a large extent ago not sure why she seemed fair more corrupt if a soul. Perhaps it's the expectation that all a woman is less likely to willfully commit awful crimes although we know that's untrue. Perhaps just a product of the harsh times although we are likely just wired to naively believe that women as god awful as Mabel de Montgomery Dr Bellame are not alive and living as posh lifestyles today accruing wealth and power and cruelly squashing anyone that gets their ire stoked. Oftentimes ad I read if an interesting and admirable woman from a bygone era I think I would like to know them, sip tea with them and spend an afternoon in their company getting to know them. Uh uh ... Definitely not coming away wanting to know Mabel on a personal level. I rate this a four more because I didn't like Mabel at all and not because of the author s ability to tell the tale. Never have I so like forward to someone getting a taste of their own medicine.
October 13, 2021
I have read books in this series before and found as I did in this one the writing somewhat simplistic. I realize that the subjects are always women about whom very little is written and for the most part I have enjoyed the stories. In this case the woman was so dislikeable that I found myself rushing through it to finish and see if she got her just desserts. I am happy to say that she did. I realize that coming from such a dysfunctional family and with episodes of real danger and poverty in her early life that she was warranted in some of her attitudes and certainly the times she lived in were dangerous and violent. As written however she seemed to have been a sociopath from an early age, certainly she was disdainful of her mother and brother's perceived weakness and strongly identified with her brute of a father. Later even her attachment to her husband and children seemed more about what she could obtain in wealth and status through them.
January 25, 2023
Jean38no
A most interesting medieval tale of the little known Mabel de Belleme. I had never heard of her, but had heard of Roger Montgomery and Countess of Shrewsbury which title she gained when William gave it to her husband a good friend of his. It seems that this particular lady was greedy and pretty wicked. She didn’t hesitate to poison someone who she felt stood in her way of lands she felt should be hers. She bore ten children , nine survived . Land meant more titles and money. It appears she was very much her fathers child ,who legend has he killed his wife( her mother). Yet she chose to stay with him when he lost everything. His son came against him and took over his castle. His son was seeking revenge for his mothers death. The author makes Mabel come alive and all of medieval France with her.
A most interesting medieval tale of the little known Mabel de Belleme. I had never heard of her, but had heard of Roger Montgomery and Countess of Shrewsbury which title she gained when William gave it to her husband a good friend of his. It seems that this particular lady was greedy and pretty wicked. She didn’t hesitate to poison someone who she felt stood in her way of lands she felt should be hers. She bore ten children , nine survived . Land meant more titles and money. It appears she was very much her fathers child ,who legend has he killed his wife( her mother). Yet she chose to stay with him when he lost everything. His son came against him and took over his castle. His son was seeking revenge for his mothers death. The author makes Mabel come alive and all of medieval France with her.
January 8, 2023
If you like reading about psychopathic/sociopathic women go right ahead. I would have stopped reading it soon after starting but I had nothing else to read while football and golf were on tv at my house. Did not enjoy at all but kept me occupied. I really liked Book 1 of the series but this one is nothing like that one.
May 19, 2021
Mabel takes the cake
I absolutely adore this author and am never disappointed. This series of books are so great and this story is one you have to read. Mabel was unknown to me and she is a woman who you will come to love to hate. Don't wait.... Read it now!
I absolutely adore this author and am never disappointed. This series of books are so great and this story is one you have to read. Mabel was unknown to me and she is a woman who you will come to love to hate. Don't wait.... Read it now!
June 24, 2021
Mabel was certainly an evil lady, after lands, she will do anything to keep her property, including poison her brother in law, which apparently was a mistake and the wrong person. Her father William Talvas brought her up to be evil so therefore she knew no better.
November 16, 2023
a bit bloodthirsty
Mable de Belleme was no shrinking violet! She was cast out of her castle and spent her entire life scheming to acquire riches. She succeeded but her methods ultimately caught up with her. Very interesting reading about the 9 th century life.
Mable de Belleme was no shrinking violet! She was cast out of her castle and spent her entire life scheming to acquire riches. She succeeded but her methods ultimately caught up with her. Very interesting reading about the 9 th century life.
October 10, 2021
Love this author she writes about periods and people of history of which I have little knowledge but fetches them to life keeping you enthralled and wanting to read more
November 19, 2021
A wonderful read the story of the wicked and vengeful Mabel De Bellene highly recommend
December 13, 2021
The series subtitle 'Medieval Babes' initially put me of, leading to believe it to be more romance.
If this hadn't been free i doubt i would have picked this up. Interesting and informative read.
If this hadn't been free i doubt i would have picked this up. Interesting and informative read.
January 22, 2024
Very different than the other books in this series. Disappointed that there isn't any mention of the son Hugh's fate at the end.
January 22, 2025
Loved this book! Great historical fiction, and the characters are amazing. The plot was interesting adn kept me reading. Mabel was a woman ahead of her time
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews