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The King's Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick: A Book Review

The King’s Jewel

Author: Elizabeth Chadwick

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Publisher: Sphere

Release Date: 2023

Pages: 456

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Wales, 1093.


     The warm, comfortable family life of young Nesta, daughter of Prince Rhys of Deheubarth, is destroyed when her father is killed and she is taken hostage. Her honour is further tarnished when she is taken as an unwilling concubine by King William's ruthless younger brother Henry, who later ascends the throne under suspicious circumstances.


     But it is Nesta's marriage that will really change the course of her life. Gerald FitzWalter, an ambitious young knight, is rewarded for his unwavering loyalty to his new King with Nesta's hand. He is delighted, having always admired her from afar, but Nesta's only comfort is her return to her beloved Wales. There, she cannot help but be tempted by the handsome, charismatic and dangerous son of the Welsh prince, Owain. When he offers her the chance to join him in his plan to overthrow Norman rule she must choose between duty and desire . . .


      From the award-winning and bestselling author comes the heartbreaking tale of a woman trying to survive in a man's world - a world where the men who would protect her are dead and banished.


     My Review: The King’s Jewel is a biographical novel on Princess Nest ferch Rhys. Princess Nesta’s father, Prince Rhys al Tewdwr is killed and her Welsh kingdom is invaded by Normans. Princess Nesta is captured and becomes the mistress of Prince Henry of Normandy (who later becomes King Henry I of England). Once Princess Nesta bears Prince Henry a son, Prince Henry discards her and marries her to the Norman lord, Gerald de Windsor. With the new marriage, Princess Nesta is back in her own kingdom where she reigns as a Norman lady. However, her peaceful life soon changes when she becomes infatuated with the Welsh prince, Owain ap Cadwgan.


     Before reading The King’s Jewel, I have never heard of Princess Nest ferch Rhys. Therefore, I found Princess Nest’s story to be very fascinating. While I found Nesta’s story to be very interesting, I did not find Nesta to be a likable character. In fact, I found her to be very cold. Initially, I liked her and sympathized with her because she experienced a lot of trauma. When she became infatuated with Owain, she made many foolish choices and became very cruel to her loving husband. Nesta was very entitled and selfish. She had no redeeming qualities. Instead of wishing that she would have a happy marriage with Gerald, I hoped that she would get her just desserts. The book also tried to portray Nesta to be a major political player. While Nesta tries to be manipulative, she was mostly a pawn to be used by powerful men.


     Overall, this book is about marriage, choices, and survival. While I did not like Nesta, I thought the other characters were well developed. I strongly disliked the reckless Owain, and I could not wait for him to get his own comeuppance. I liked her gentle husband, Gerald, who loved her deeply and did everything he could to make his wife happy. I also liked how Mrs. Chadwick makes medieval Wales come alive. I thought she had a good understanding of Welsh politics during Princess Nesta’s time. She perfectly portrayed the infighting amongst the Welsh that allowed the Normans to invade and conquer their kingdom. Overall, The King Jewel is a very mesmerizing novel that reads like a soap opera! There is betrayal, treachery, and scandal! The story was also very fast-paced, and I found it hard to put down! I recommend this novel for fans of Anne O’Brien, Carol McGrath, and Patricia Bracewell!


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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