THE LAST QUEEN - C. W. Gortner
A Perfect 10
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0-345-50184-4
August 2008
Historical Fiction

Spain and Flanders - 1492 to 1550

Juana, one of the daughters of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain, is born into a world of turmoil and uncertainty. As the offspring of rulers, she knows from childhood that her future is not her own. Bright, inquisitive, and bold, Juana adores her father, respects her coldly regal mother, and, above all, loves her country. The thought of leaving Spain is abhorrent to her, but she is destined to wed the Archduke Philip of Flanders, the son of the Hapsburg emperor, a move which will, hopefully, align Flanders with Spain rather than her enemy, France. At sixteen, with her entourage, Juana sails away from her beloved homeland into a future no one could have predicted.

Known in history books as Juana the Mad because of her seemingly erratic behavior, could it be that there was a reason for her actions besides madness? This remarkable novel, told by Juana, reveals a different view of her life.

Arriving in Flanders, Juana meets the young archduke and both are immediately attracted to each other. In fact, they are so sexually drawn to one another, that they demand to be wed at that moment. A priest is brought in, the brief ceremony completed, and the couple disappears into their quarters. For the first time in her life, Juana feels loved, wanted, and desired, and for the first time, she feels empowered. Philip, despite his obvious lust for his bride, is immature and petulant at times -- wanting more than a duchy to rule. Juana lives in an early cloud of romantic dreams, but it doesn't last long. Constant pregnancies, a self-centered husband, manipulative advisors, and a changing world scene soon destroy what happiness Juana briefly experiences.

With the death of her brother, older sister, and her sister's son, Juana is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as the sole heir to her parents' hard-fought-for realm. This completely changes her relationship with her power-hungry husband and puts her into the middle of a dangerous struggle for control of Spain. Despite her intelligence and boldness, Juana's emotions come into play all too often -- to her detriment, as those around her use her outward passion against Juana to show the world that she is too unstable to rule alone. But was she mentally ill?

C. W. Gortner brings THE LAST QUEEN to life by his use of the sensitive, personal view of the queen in her own words. Passionate and brilliant, Juana is also powerless as the pawn in a world chessboard controlled by influential men. How does any woman react to a cheating, manipulative husband? To one pregnancy after another? To having no say at all in her life or her future? Does that make one mad? You decide after reading this incredibly fascinating story of the last queen of Spanish blood to rule her country. Mr. Gortner's meticulous research and his obvious passion for this subject shine through in the excellent portrayal of Juana, the people around her, and the changing world that shapes the future. Beautifully written, THE LAST QUEEN is a Perfect 10 from the first page to the last.

Jani Brooks