Four Sisters, All Queens
Sisters Marguerite, Elonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have grown up under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother, whose main desire is to see all her daughters become queens. With their homeland of Provence constantly under attack, the sisters know their duty to family must always come first. But over the years, husbands, duplicitous mother-in-laws, land-hungry barons and vengeful lovers strain the sisters’ relationships. As sister is pitted against sister, their fate and that of Provence hangs in the balance.
Sherry Jones’ Four Sisters, All Queens sheds light on the true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions and conquests shaped the course of history. When I picked up this book, I had no idea who these ladies were or how vital their roles were in Europe’s history. However, I quickly learned that Marguerite, Elonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice were more than just wives to powerful men. They were intelligent, daring women who knew their lives depended on being one step ahead of their enemies.
I’m impressed with how Jones wrote the sisters’ relationships. She made the tension between Marguerite and Beatrice believable. The closeness between Marguerite and Elonore, the isolation Sanchia felt not only in her marriage but with her smarter sisters, Beatrice’s desire to fit in with her sisters but always feeling like an outsider – all of it was written in a way that made me connect with each sister in a different way.
Jones did more than just write about the sisters as, well, sisters. She also dove deep into their lives as queens and rulers of their respective countries. At different points in their lives, their roles created tension between them, but always the sisters did what they thought was best for their kingdoms. Marguerite especially was devoted to France, since her husband King Louis IX was more focused on martyrdom than ruling. Elonore’s ambition drove her to marry England’s king, but she turned into a capable queen as well. Sanchia only wanted a quiet life as a nun, so she was thrust into her marriage and queendom unwillingly, but she did her best to rule wisely, even if it was for a short time. Beatrice was driven by her husband’s ambition to rule, but she wanted to be a good queen, even if her older sisters thought she was power-hungry and easily manipulated.
It was interesting to see how their mother’s ambition impacted the sisters’ lives. Their mother was the one who set them on their paths towards monarchy. She played a vital role in their lives, not just as a mother but also as an advisor and confidant. She was only doing what she thought was best for them. However, she didn’t always act in their interests, especially with Sanchia. This is a theme that can still be felt by mothers today.
History lovers will find much to appreciate in Jones’ Four Sisters, All Queens.
Four Sisters, All Queens Rating: ★★★★
Sherry Jones’ Four Sisters, All Queens sheds light on the true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions and conquests shaped the course of history. When I picked up this book, I had no idea who these ladies were or how vital their roles were in Europe’s history. However, I quickly learned that Marguerite, Elonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice were more than just wives to powerful men. They were intelligent, daring women who knew their lives depended on being one step ahead of their enemies.
I’m impressed with how Jones wrote the sisters’ relationships. She made the tension between Marguerite and Beatrice believable. The closeness between Marguerite and Elonore, the isolation Sanchia felt not only in her marriage but with her smarter sisters, Beatrice’s desire to fit in with her sisters but always feeling like an outsider – all of it was written in a way that made me connect with each sister in a different way.
Jones did more than just write about the sisters as, well, sisters. She also dove deep into their lives as queens and rulers of their respective countries. At different points in their lives, their roles created tension between them, but always the sisters did what they thought was best for their kingdoms. Marguerite especially was devoted to France, since her husband King Louis IX was more focused on martyrdom than ruling. Elonore’s ambition drove her to marry England’s king, but she turned into a capable queen as well. Sanchia only wanted a quiet life as a nun, so she was thrust into her marriage and queendom unwillingly, but she did her best to rule wisely, even if it was for a short time. Beatrice was driven by her husband’s ambition to rule, but she wanted to be a good queen, even if her older sisters thought she was power-hungry and easily manipulated.
It was interesting to see how their mother’s ambition impacted the sisters’ lives. Their mother was the one who set them on their paths towards monarchy. She played a vital role in their lives, not just as a mother but also as an advisor and confidant. She was only doing what she thought was best for them. However, she didn’t always act in their interests, especially with Sanchia. This is a theme that can still be felt by mothers today.
History lovers will find much to appreciate in Jones’ Four Sisters, All Queens.
Four Sisters, All Queens Rating: ★★★★