The Forbidden Queen

Praise for the author

ANNE

O’BRIEN

‘The characters are larger than life…and the author

a compulsive storyteller. A little fictional embroidery

has been worked into history but the bones of the

book are true.’

—Sunday Express

‘O’Brien has excellent control over the historical

material and a rich sense of characterisation, making

for a fascinating and surprisingly female-focused look

at one of the most turbulent periods of English history.’

—Publishers Weekly

‘Better than Philippa Gregory’

—The Bookseller

‘Anne O’Brien is fast becoming one of Britain’s most

popular and talented writers of medieval novels. Her

in-depth knowledge and silky skills with the pen help

to bring the past to life and put the focus firmly on

some of history’s most fascinating characters.’

—Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post

‘Anne O’Brien is definitely an author to watch for

historical fiction fans and I look forward to

reading more of her work in the future.’

—One More Page…

‘Ms O’Brien’s prose is smooth and uncomplicated.

Her characters’ speech is not overburdened with

archaic expressions, yet still evokes the time period.

She has obviously done a good deal of research and it

makes this story pleasurable to someone like myself,

who loves all things medieval…’

—Cynthia Robertson, Literarydaze

Praise for the author

ANNE

O’BRIEN

‘The characters are larger than life…and the author

a compulsive storyteller. A little fictional embroidery

has been worked into history but the bones of the

book are true.’

—Sunday Express

‘O’Brien has excellent control over the historical

material and a rich sense of characterisation, making

for a fascinating and surprisingly female-focused look

at one of the most turbulent periods of English history.’

—Publishers Weekly

‘Better than Philippa Gregory’

—The Bookseller

‘Anne O’Brien is fast becoming one of Britain’s most

popular and talented writers of medieval novels. Her

in-depth knowledge and silky skills with the pen help

to bring the past to life and put the focus firmly on

some of history’s most fascinating characters.’

—Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post

‘Anne O’Brien is definitely an author to watch for

historical fiction fans and I look forward to

reading more of her work in the future.’

—One More Page…

‘Ms O’Brien’s prose is smooth and uncomplicated.

Her characters’ speech is not overburdened with

archaic expressions, yet still evokes the time period.

She has obviously done a good deal of research and it

makes this story pleasurable to someone like myself,

who loves all things medieval…’

—Cynthia Robertson, Literarydaze

Also by

ANNE

O’BRIEN

VIRGIN WIDOW

DEVIL’S CONSORT

THE KING’S CONCUBINE

Also by

ANNE

O’BRIEN

VIRGIN WIDOW

DEVIL’S CONSORT

THE KING’S CONCUBINE

About the Author

ANNE O’BRIEN taught history in the East Riding of Yorkshire before deciding to fulfil an ambition to write historical fiction. She now lives in an eighteenth-century timbered cottage with her husband in the Welsh Marches, a wild, beautiful place renowned for its black-and-white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds, as well as ghosts and folklore, the Marches provide inspiration for her interest in medieval England.

Visit her at www.anneobrienbooks.com

About the Author

ANNE O’BRIEN taught history in the East Riding of Yorkshire before deciding to fulfil an ambition to write historical fiction. She now lives in an eighteenth-century timbered cottage with her husband in the Welsh Marches, a wild, beautiful place renowned for its black-and-white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds, as well as ghosts and folklore, the Marches provide inspiration for her interest in medieval England.

Visit her at www.anneobrienbooks.com

The

Forbidden

Queen

Anne O’Brien

www.mirabooks.co.uk

The

Forbidden

Queen

Anne O’Brien

www.mirabooks.co.uk

To George, as ever, whose knowledge of English

medieval history is improving in leaps and bounds

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All my thanks to my agent, Jane Judd, whose support for me

and the courageous women of the Middle Ages continues

to be invaluable.

To Jenny Hutton and all the staff at MIRA, without whose

guidance and commitment the real Katherine de Valois

would never have emerged from the mists of the past.

To Helen Bowden and all at Orphans Press without whom

my website would not exist, and who come to my rescue to

create professional masterpieces out of my genealogy

and maps.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All my thanks to my agent, Jane Judd, whose support for me

and the courageous women of the Middle Ages continues

to be invaluable.

To Jenny Hutton and all the staff at MIRA, without whose