Book Review: Queens of the Conquest by Alison Weir

AD* | The story of England’s medieval queens is vivid and stirring, packed with tragedy, high drama and even comedy. It is a chronicle of love, murder, war and betrayal, filled with passion, intrigue and sorrow, peopled by a cast of heroines, villains, stateswomen and lovers. In the first volume of this epic new series, Alison Weir strips away centuries of romantic mythology and prejudice to reveal the lives of England’s queens in the century after the Norman Conquest.

Beginning with Matilda of Flanders, who supported William the Conqueror in his invasion of England in 1066, and culminating in the turbulent life of the Empress Maud, who claimed to be the queen of England in her own right and fought a bitter war to that end, the five Norman queens emerge as hugely influential figures and fascinating characters.

Much more than a series of individual biographies, Queens of the Conquest is a seamless tale of interconnected lives and a rich portrait of English history in a time of flux. In Alison Weir’s hands, these five extraordinary women reclaim their rightful roles at the centre of English history.

The Stay at Home Book Tag

Last Updated: 25 April 2025

2020 has been a year of curveballs and uncertainty all around, but one positive to come out of the situation is that many more people have found the time to rediscover their love of books. Reading has always been one of my biggest passions, and I can wholeheartedly get behind this newfound love for literature.

When I came across the Stay at Home book tag on Rebecca's book blog, I couldn't wait to get involved and share my answers to the questions in the tag. So, what's the Stay at Home book tag all about?

Reading Round-Up: July/August 2020

I think it's safe to say that 2020 hasn't exactly happened how any of us planned, but at least there are plenty of great books to keep us company! I've been smashing my reading goals over the last few months, and I can't quite believe that July and August have passed already. It will be Christmas before we know it!

So, take some time out, grab a cuppa, and sit down to check out all the books I've been reading, acquiring, and adding to my wishlist during July and August 2020!

If you missed the last reading round-up, you can catch up with that here. 

Review: Blue Tea Box

AD* | With the cooler weather we've been having recently, it definitely feels as though there's a chill in the air and autumn is on its way. Once the nights start to draw in and we all dig out our cosy jumpers again, there's nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa with a blanket and a mug of tea. 

I am a big tea lover, and I'm always up for the opportunity to try different blends and types of tea. So, when the lovely people at Blue Tea Box contacted me and offered me the chance to try one of their tea subscription boxes, there was only ever going to be one answer!

Book Review: In a Cottage, In a Wood by Cass Green

Last Updated: 25 April 2025

AD* | A strange encounter...

Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.

An unexpected gift...

Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.

A twisted secret...

But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever...