The Iron Queen

Shakespeare’s Queens #3

by Joanna Courtney

A brand new Historical fiction series by the bestselling author of the Queens of Conquest series, unearthing the real women behind Shakespeare's most infamous queens . . .

Welcome to the Iron Age, a time of which little has been written and where women ruled, druids and paganism grew in power and men were considered useful, but of limited capacity. There, we meet Cordelia, youngest of three sisters but soon to be proven the strongest . . .

If you love Elizabeth Chadwick and Anne O'Brien you will adore Joanna Courtney

Praise for Joanna Courtney:

'A glorious, rich, epic story of love, friendship and sacrifice which will sweep you up and transport you to another time. I absolutely loved this and can't wait for the next book in the series' Rachael Lucas, author of Sealed With A Kiss and Coming Up Roses

'Lovely writing and a terrific sense of narrative drive. Superb!' Carol McGrath, author of The Daughters of Hastings trilogy

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

My first literary accolade was a creative writing prize at primary school and from that point on I wanted to be a novelist. I was always reading as a child and often made up stories for my brother and sister on long car journeys. I was also a huge Enid Blyton fan and by ten I was writing my own (doubtless terrible) boarding school novels. Perhaps inevitably, I took my degree in English literature and it was at Cambridge, specialising in medieval literature, that I first discovered what has become a true passion for ancient history.

I took a sidestep after university to work in a wonderful textiles factory in Lancashire - a move that led me to my lovely husband, but didn't satisfy my yearning to write. Married and living in Derbyshire, however, I took up my pen again in the sparse hours available between raising my two stepchildren and two more of my own. At that hectic time, I primarily wrote shorter fiction and I've had well over 200 stories and serials published in women's magazines. As my children began to grow up and then leave home, however, I have had more time to write.
My passion is freeing women from either the obscurity or the mistruths of male-dominated history. My first trilogy, The Queens of the conquest, is about the women fighting to be Queen of England in 1066 - Edyth of Mercia, wife of King Harold; Elizaveta of Kiev; wife of Harald Hardrada; and Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
My second explores the true story of three of Shakespeare's most famous - and most maligned heroines - Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.

I also write WW2 fiction as Anna Stuart.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly amazing and very enjoyable novel is the 3rd and last volume of the "Shakespeare's Queens" trilogy, from the English author, Joanna Courtney, and this time its featuring the formidable, Cordelia.

At the beginning of the book you'll notice a Celtic Calendar, also a map of the Celtic World in Britain in 500 BC, as well as a drawing of a roundhouse which people used in those times.

While at the back of the book you'll find Historical Notes concerning this superb historical tale, and these are documented and explained by the author in a most exquisite fashion, all in effort this make this story so much more understandable.

Wonderful storytelling from this author, although there are so little written records about this period of history, just artefacts and hillforts f.e, does this historical tale enormous credit, the characters involved in this story are very believable and lifelike, and the atmosphere and customs of the Iron Age make this tale very much authentic as a whole.

This book is set during the years 500-499 BC, and the main protagonists of this book are the three sisters, Goneril (Fire), Regan (Earth), and of course Cordelia (Water), with at their side their father. Leir, and what makes this story so remarkable and exciting is the fact that women lead and ruled the tribes in the Celtic World, and the men were inferior to them concerning power and taken as their consorts.

The book comes alive after the death of Branwen, wife of Leir, keeping the old Chieftainess Mavelle, rule the tribe of the Coritani, with at her side the wise and skilled High Druidess Olwen, but lurking in the shadows for full power is the eldest daughter, Goneril.

In the meantime Regan has married Prince Aledus of the Catuvellauni in the hope to form a strong alliance, and Cordelia in love with the undersmith, Taran, hoping to marry him, when all of a sudden things come to a head when Goneril wants power on her own, dealing out death to certain people, while also setting her sights on Taran too, and by doing all this, all things will then turn into hatred and animosity between the sisters, that will finally result in total war, and there Cordelia will show Iron strength, determination and coolness to become the new Chieftainess of the Coritani.

Very much recommended, for this is a very impressive retelling of the Celtic story of Cordelia, presented to us in a most fascinating fashion, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Wonderful Celtic Lifelike Cordelia"!

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

IRON QUEEN was the August book club pick, and I really enjoyed it. I was a little nervous, as I hadn't enjoyed BLOOD QUEEN all that much. However, I think having read that book before this one helped because I knew not to expect the play I knew, but a story with some similar names and ideas.

This is not the King Lear written by Shakespeare but it does still contain tragic elements. The sisters are torn apart, but by the power-hungry nature of one of them. While a boy (Cordelia's love interest) is caught up in it, it is not because Goneril desires him particularly, but because of wanting to possess a man like him. And so it's not a love-based snit between the siblings, but Goneril's resentment of not getting what she wants (and lots of other non-boy related actions are also responsible for causing the trouble.) I really liked that as every tragedy I've read based around a group of women has been because of a boy and that bores me, so this was great. It's also a very lopsided powerplay/fight, all one sister causing the issues.

The author vividly brings Iron Age Britain to life. It's a richly imagined world, woven through with a Season-based belief system that makes the book feel very connected to the landscape it's set in. It was really interesting to see this part of history brought to life.

I also liked seeing the scientific side of the druids. They're usually portrayed as mystics, but the historical note explains that most weren't like that. In this book, the main druid we see if a scientist, interested in understanding the mechanism of flight (and how animals work as a whole.) Having investigations into flight was a really surprising - but fun - part of the book, and is linked into the tragedy as a whole.

I listened to this in the car, so snoozed through a bit of it at the start (I find it hard to stay awake in warm cars on long journeys.) However, despite missing a few chapters, I was able to follow along and fill in those blanks as there were enough hints to keep me clued in as to what I'd missed!

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had already written this review once and I can’t be bothered to do it all again so in summary.
This didn’t really mesh with me.
Cordelia was weak. Also why did she suddenly seem attracted to Taran actually all the romances seemed sudden which I guess might be that the author doesn’t like to write romance.
Regan despite being portrayed as strong was actually stupid.
Finally Goneril who was supposed to be so strong willed took the advice of a woman she didn’t know the name of and a man who she barely knew for a week?
The Celtic calendar and map was a useful reference and I enjoyed the time period and seeing their view of the world at large but that’s about it.

[Tracey Mayhew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - King Lear has always been my favourite Shakespeare play. On the whole, it was a great story and I loved how the Shakespeare elements were woven into history.

My only issue with this was that I would have loved to see more of Regan (she was my favourite character) and, without saying too much, would have loved to seen more of a conclusion for her story.

I would recommend this story (and in fact the whole series) wholeheartedly!

[Rachel Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be really slow and anti-climatic for most of the book. Goneril turning on her sisters didn’t happen until like well after halfway, which was quite annoying when that’s what the synopsis focused on. It felt rushed but also like it was dragging a lot of the time. The ending was interesting and kept me entertained, but that was really it.

[Izzy Gurney · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely my least fav in the series, but still a great book! I loved cordelia and the wholesome togetherness pf the tribe! I think the reason it was my least fav was because I felt it lacked that whimsical element I loved in the second book. loved this trilogy.. so sad it had to end but will defo be reading ioanna Courtney's other works.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book got off to a slow start but then picked up and I enjoyed it. I especially like the female ruled society aspect.

[Calyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an adaption of Shakespeare's Cordelia, and despite not having read Shakespeare's version of her character prior to this, the story is easy enough to understand. The characters are all quite distinct in character, without there being too many to keep track of. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the triplets, and the storyline was intriguing and engaging. The Celtic theme is also quite interesting, with there being a map and the Celtic calendar at the front, and the world is imagined and described really well. Also, only allowing girls to become chieftain is definitely a concept that interests me, as it contrasts many other times where only males are allowed to become chief, making the Celtic world quite unique.

In terms of negatives, I disliked the slow pace of this; there's a lot of waiting around and the romance is more repetitive, with little description on how or why it actually happens. I also dislike how little we get to know about Goneril, and that she only serves as an antagonist, but not anything else. We don't get to learn about her dreams, her motives, other than just a want for power. There's also quite a few big changes to get your head around throughout the story, and I think that the different places are often quite hard to imagine. 

Overall, yes I enjoyed the book, but it could still use some work character wise, however, that may just be because of the Shakespearean play it is based on. A good read, but I think the characters are a little too frustrating for me at times.