Dumped off at the doorstep of a convent as an infant, Alice
Perrers belonged to no one. As she grew it became obvious that a nun’s life
was not meant for Alice. Her first taste of another life came when the Fair
Maid Joan of Kent came for an extended visit to the nunnery. Hand picked for
her ugliness because Joan could not stand anyone competing with her beauty,
Alice waited on the royal guests every request. Alice was quick to discover not
only was Joan a vain woman she was also cruel and much later in life she would
also know the depth of her true malicious character. When Joan departed the
nunnery Alice begged to be taken with her. It was her only chance at escaping
taking her holy vows to become a nun. Cruelly refused Alice took Joan’s advice
and pushed herself to excel at her studies until one day she was unexpectedly hauled
off to the city to become a merchant’s servant.
The life of a servant at least was an escape from the
convent and her vows. Fate had always been overly cruel to her but her new
master decided to elevate to the status of wife. A sham of a marriage gave
Alice her new name Perrer’s and the first gift she ever received, a bride’s
gift in the form of a big fat purse of silver. Never owning anything of her own
in her whole life Alice took a chance and turned her new wealth into an
investment in property. She had a bit of help from one of her husband’s
advisors that was a savvy businessman. Her good fortune had turned to ill
fortune when her husband suddenly became ill and died. When he died she lost
everything except her secret investment. With no other choice Alice returned to
the convent.
Miserable to the core Alice waited for her opportunity to
escape. Graced by an unexpected royal visit to the convent. Alice expected
another woman like the cruel Joan of Kent instead it was the ailing queen Philippa.
Alice was once again chosen to serve the
queen. She was kind where no one else had ever been and when she left Alice again
begged to be taken with her but she was refused. Alice fell into a deep despair
until a man suddenly appeared to fetch her and take her to the beloved Queen.
The Queen in her kindness had elevated Alice to a new
position as companion to the queen. Alice from the beginning had questioned her
good fortune but as time passed on it was apparent that the Queen’s motives in bringing
her to court were not entirely as innocent as it seemed. King Edward III was
regal and handsome in his mid years he was adored by everyone. He was the war
hero that had many heirs and was especially loved by his wife. Alice though had
caught the king’s eye and since his ailing wife was further more unable to do
her bedroom duties the king sought a lover with his wife’s blessing. Alice was
Philippa’s pick for position of the king’s liaison. It was a dangerous path to
take. Full well knowing the dangers she could face. Alice realized from that
moment on her only ambition was to live a better life and if that happened to
be by being the king’s whore than so be it.
4/5 Enjoyed this one but I felt in some areas it dragged.
This was a tumultuous novel on Alice Perrer’s life that was full of court
intrigue and I have to admit O’Brien’s Joan of Kent sure was an evil witch to
Alice through out the years. I enjoyed seeing Joan through another perspective
that was not a lovesick man. I would recommend this novel to historical fiction
lovers alike because nothing beats rags to riches historical fiction novel.
FTC ~ this novel is part of my personal collection
R ~ Rating for sexual references and language
Amazon ~ THE KING'S CONCUBINE by Anne O'Brien
S U B S C R I B E ~ T W I T T E R ~ F A C E B O O K ~ I N S T A G R A M ~ G O O G L E +
~L I Z Z I E~
Sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it because it was different...the only thing I did not like was the cover because it did not go with the book.
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