Giveaway Time!

If you are wondering where the writers have disappeared to, you can find most buried away in their monastic caves click clacking away for NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month...too long of an acronym!) When you see them come up for air, they will need a good book and a shopping spree at Barnes & Noble. This month I will be giving away a $50 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble along with a signed copy of I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat.

The official rules:

Mention I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat on your blog, twitter, or facebook page and simply include your blurbed link in the comments section below. Your mention can be as simple as any of the following options:

A. "Carlyn Beccia has a new book(link here)"

B. Add the book trailer code to your blog, twitter or facebook page. (Just click on the "share" button or the "embed" button to get the code.) 

C. Write a short review. (Feel free to use words like "mind-blowing" "life changing" or a "spiritual awakening.") 

That's it. 

Each link gets you one entry.

It takes an army to promote a book! I may have a tiny tiny army reading this blog, but every little bit helps.

Above: Art from I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat. Cure: The Renaissance Cure, a Mother's kiss. 

Columbus - A man you can drool over

The Raucous Royals has been kind of hard on Christopher Columbus, so it may come as a surprise that I would recommend Christopher Columbus by one of my favorite authors Marion Day Bauer. I do have a soft spot for Columbus and this book hits it hard. Christopher Columbus tells the story of Columbus as the “dreamer” who had the courage to brave the unknown and the temerity to never give up on his goals. Liz Goulet Dubois’s charming boy-like depictions of Columbus pull at my childhood memories and remind me how much I loved this story as a kid.

When I read my daughter this book, she most liked that Columbus kept asking Isabella and Ferdinand until he got his yes - a concept every child can relate to.  Her favorite spread was when Columbus discovered “tierra” (land) with seagulls flying above his head.

This book definitely has the “drool factor”.

(The drool factor:  when you find your child asleep with their face stuck to a book and a puddle of drool forming across their favorite page. )

When it comes down to it, convincing my daughter Chris was a nice guy is just one of those essential lies that all parents tell their kids. Is it any more harmful than -  “Santa Claus is watching you” or “eat it, it’s chicken” or “darn it…the tv is broken?”  (I recommend that one.)

In the end, I want my daughter to love history and Christopher Columbus is the perfect first love. Sure, he will break her heart when she finds out her first love was most likely a syphilitic, marauding thug, but for now…. I am going to let her drool over Chris. 

Raucous New Releases in Children's Books

September's Raucous Book of the Month is sure to unglue your kids from iCarly.  More than just a pampered diva, Cleopatra gets the credit she deserves in Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen by Vicky Alvear Shecter. Shecter dispels many of the myths surrounding Egypt's most infamous queen such as her alleged promiscuity, her feminine wiles and the dirt behind her relationship with Rome's most influential rulers.  Kids will especially love the background information  about how Egyptians lived with sections on "Toys for Tuts" and "Books on a Stick."

Vicky will be stopping by next month for an interview on her new book so get your Cleo questions ready.



In A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Amos the lovable, Mr. Rogers look-a like, zoo keeper can't get to the zoo for his usual visit with his friends. Blame it on that darn sniffling rhino who gives Amos a bad case of rhinovirus.

No worries. Amos' friends decide they will just have to come to him and Amos spends the day in bed playing chess with his elephant buddy, reading books with the owl and getting his feet warmed by his pal the penguin. What child wouldn't want a penguin warming his feet? Kids who hate being thrown out of their routine for the sniffles will find comfort in this story of friendship. Pair it with I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat (shameless promotion) and your child will just feel lucky that they don't have to wear smelly socks around their neck to feel better.

Now, I am going to make a bold statement with A Sick Day for Amos McGee... I think it is the next Caldecott winner for the year. I know. I know. It is only August. Too early to start predicting winners. But when I saw, Red Sings from Tree Tops last year, I predicted  that it was the next Caldecott winner and it was a Honor Book. So now I am all cocky thinking I have this hidden talent for predicting Caldecott Winners.

I think you will agree with me when you see some of the pictures.

I stole this image for Erin Stead's site. I am hoping she won't mind since I just awarded her the Caldecott.

Quiz time: Win a copy of Boleyn, Tudor Vampire

It's Quiz time! I know the Anne Boleyn junkies are probably going to get the first one pretty quickly so I had to throw in a vampire question too.

1. There was a bird in Anne Boleyn's Greenwich garden whose screams drove her mad. What was that bird?
2. In the 18th century, what food may have given rise to the belief in vampires?

Leave your answer in the comments below. The first person to answers both questions correctly wins a copy of  Boleyn Tudor Vampire by Cinsearae S.

This one is for the US folks only.

Reminder: I will be giving away a copy of Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm to a lucky newsletter subscriber this week. If you are not a newsletter subscriber then you can subscribe here.

Hot new Book Releases and giveaways

The new Raucous Royals book of the month is Heart of Lies by M.L Malcom. Lately, I really try to read fiction books from eras that are not beaten to death. This one takes place in post-World War I Europe. From the publisher:

"Leo Hoffman was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme. Suddenly Leo is wanted across the European continent for a host of crimes, including murder. Left with no options, he must escape to Shanghai with his lover, carrying with him a stolen treasure that could be his salvation . . . or his death warrant. But the gangsters who control the decadent Asian city have no intention of letting him outrun his past. And when the Japanese invade, one wrong move could cost Leo Hoffman everything he holds dear.

An epic tale of intrigue, passion, and adventure, Heart of Lies heralds the arrival of a remarkable writer."

Review and giveaway coming at the end of this month.

Also coming up….

Pilgrim by James Jackson. I am really excited about this one because the children’s crusade has always fascinated me.

Boleyn, Tudor Vampire by Cinsearae S. Lately, I have not been reading many Tudor books, but I had to make an exception for one of my favorite Raucous Royals and vampires. Watch the book trailer. Anne Boleyn never looked so creepy. 

The Darling Stumpet and The Royal Miracle by Gillian Bagwell.  Gillian is going to be stopping by The Raucous Royals for a guest post for all the Charles II fans. I will also have more information about The Darling Strumpet when the book is released, but you can reserve a copy at Amazon's pre-order price by clicking the link below.

Books I wish would appear on my doorstep (because I am not giving up my copy)

 Last Judgement, Michelangelo and the Death of the Renaissance by James A. Connor

I came across this book while researching one of Michelangelo’s greatest loves – Vittoria Colonna (shown here) and their shared involvement in the Spirituali. Michelangelo's love for Vittoria was of the platonic variety, but the poetry he wrote her gives us a rare glimpse into his tormented mind. There was only one chapter on Vittoria, but I ended up devouring the whole book. A must read for anyone interested in Michelangelo and Renaissance Italy.

A future post on Vittoria Colonna and the Spirituali is coming….

Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media by Susan J. Douglas

This is not a book I would normally pick up (no history here) but Douglas’ writing style is sardonic enough to make me giggle through the usual feminist rhetoric. My one criticism is that she makes a lot of references to TV shows that I have never heard of so I didn’t have a strong point of reference for all her arguements. Still, it was interesting to see what role models might be melding girl’s minds and I would recommend this book to any authors who want to craft strong female characters with a positive message.

Only Newsletter Subscribers are entered to win books.

Publishers wishing to submit books to be considered for the Raucous Royals book of the month can contact me by clicking on the link under the scary lady.

Winner of Ship of Rome

Congratulations to newsletter subscriber, D A. D A wins Ship of Rome by John Stack this month. D A - I have emailed you and will need your mailing address to get out your prize.

Ship of Rome takes the reader off the coast of Sicily onto the trireme, the Aquilla where a strained alliance is formed between Atticus, a lowly Greek naval captain and Septimus, a noble Roman legion commander. They join forces to establish Rome's first navy and aren't given much to work with - just a bunch of inexperienced sailors, some underhanded backstabbers, and not a lot of fancy gadgets to make life comfy. A good healthy dose of carnage follows when they clash with the Carthaginian empires.

Books that take place on ships generally give me bad flashbacks of being forced to read Moby Dick. But Stack combines all the intimate details of life as a Roman naval captain with a fast-paced, "ramming speed" writing style that reminds me a lot of another favorite author, Ken Follett. Within the first two pages, I was caught up in the action and political machinations of some bad ass, sweaty, military leaders caught on the high seas. I confess that I don't know a lot about this time period, but the book had me off to the library in my usual geeky endeavors to learn more about Roman military life before Caesar.



Watch for the sequel in 2011 - Captain of Rome

I have some great book giveaways for next month. More on that tomorrow...

God Save the Queen

Loree Griffin Burns has done it again. She has combined cool science facts, a page turning detective mystery and a behind the scenes look at bee collectors into one darn beautifully illustrated book.  The Hive Detectives follows four leading bee scientists from lab to field to trace the mysterious causes of CCD (colony collapse disorder). Possible causes include some blood-sucking mites giving the poor bees the runs, some nasty honey bee viruses, and environmental causes like pesticides and herbicides.  The reader is allowed to weigh all the facts and come to their own conclusions.  (My vote is for the last one. I am convinced pesticides are the cause of my writers block.)

Kids will also come away with tons of bee facts like the roles of the worker bees, the drone bee and the queen bee. The worker bee is the multi-tasking super mom that maintains the hive, makes honey, nurses the young, get the nectar, drives them to soccer practice etc. etc. The drone bee is the male bee that sits around and mates with the queen, but does absolutely nothing to maintain the colony. (And yes, it is taking an amazing amount of willpower not to make a snarky comment) And the queen bee's sole purpose is not very different from history's most famous royal queens - to lay eggs.

Kids will also learn what happens to a worker bee when they sting you. I can't give it away, but it kind of made me feel bad for the bee. Definitely get this one for your budding scientist/ bee sympathizer.

The Coburg Conspiracy

I turn into a complete geek when it comes to anything involving conspiracies and royalty. So I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on The Coburg Conspiracy by Richard Sotnick. Isn't the cover beautiful too?




Stay tuned for A Raucous Royal Giveaway for all newsletter subscribers...

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel: Cromwell finally gets to smile

The Winner
Winner of the Raucous Book of the month, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is Katie Sue. Katie Sue I have sent you an email and just need your mailing address. This month’s featured book is Hubbub, Filth, Noise and Stench in England, 1600-1770(Review and give-away coming) The winner to the 12 days of Codpieces will be announced on Monday.

All newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win The Raucous book of the month. If you are not a newsletter subscriber, then you can subscribe here.

Raucous Review of the month: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
I was so excited to start reading this book because I am obviously a huge Tudor fan, but have never got a sense of Cromwell, the man behind the mastermind. In most historical fiction, Thomas Cromwell’s meteoric rise from tradesman to the king's chief minister is seen only through the eyes of Henry’s wives. Finally, Crommie was going to get his say.

I started reading Wolf Hall the minute I got home from the hospital with a new screaming baby.

Well, after about 10 pages, I wanted to throw the book at my grumpy cat. Then I realized A. That would kill the cat (it’s a rather big tome) and B. I needed more than 2 hours of sleep to read Wolf Hall. So I put it aside and picked it up a month later when my sleep had increased to an astounding 4 hours a night.

Book Review: Take two
Hilary Mantel’s writing style is truly unique, but does take at least 50 pages to adjust to and at least a few working brain cells. The dialogue is not your typical “he said, she said” written from one point of perspective and Cromwell is always referred to as "he" instead of his name. The reader almost has to actively participate in the dialogue where you are holding the camera in each scene. It is kind of like watching a subtitled movie where you are forced to pay attention instead of writing your grocery list while watching it.

Like any good historical novel, the descriptions are captivating, but it’s not just the historical details that will have reader’s smelling Wolsey’s oranges. Mantel’s writing style doesn’t just bring Cromwell to life. She makes her readers become Cromwell. Often Cromwell’s thoughts are written as if he wants to speak them out loud so you literally feel like you are in Cromwell’s head wishing you could punch Norfolk in the face or tell More that he belongs in the crazy farm. But you can’t. Because you are trying to survive the political minefield of Henry’s court without getting a knife in your back or becoming a head shorter.

Master Cromwell's smile
At first, I found it difficult to come to terms with Mantel’s portrayal of Cromwell. I had always pictured Cromwell as the disgruntled man in Holbein’s painting who looks like his hose are too tight or he just got the worst Tudor tax bill of his life. Mantel gives a Leonardesque make-over to Cromwell and instead of the stately court profile, the reader gets the missing frontal portrait. We see Cromwell as a broken-down son of an abusive father or a loving father himself grieving the loss of his child. Mantel’s Cromwell is a survivor. He loses the Holbein scowl and replaces it with a naughty, sarcastic gleam in his eye and a mocking Mona Lisa grin. Other courtiers are condescending toward him, but inside he is having the last laugh.

Send me a Master Cromwell....
Mantel's Cromwell is also not just the financial wizard or loyal lap dog to Henry VIII. He is the guy who can fix anything (as long as it can be fixed). After reading this book, Cromwell is now my new favorite dead person I would like to share a glass of ale with. (Sorry, Elizabeth I....you have been bumped). In fact, I kind of wish I had a Cromwell in my life right now. He could balance my checkbook, edit my manuscripts, do my laundry, devise ways to buy shoes without my husband knowing and other odd tasks that require cunning and a certain amount of humility. (Although I would have to insist that he stop referring to himself as "he" because that would be just plain creepy).

And it’s not just Cromwell who is so vividly portrayed. I think Mantel’s true strength is in creating a strong contrast in characters. Anne Boleyn evokes a weird combination of awe and nervous fear. In contrast, Cromwell has an all-knowing calmness and strength, and a sense that despite his rise...he knows eventually the jig will be up. Both seem to know that their individual success will put them at opposite ends of this dizzying wheel of fortune.

We will have to wait for Mantel's sequel to see how Cromwell stays on top.

And the winner is...

Ashley was last month's winner of Royal Affairs. Congratulations to the winner! I have emailed the winner and just need your mailing address.

This month's Raucous book of the month was supposed to be Booker prize winner, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I am REALLY enjoying the book, but it's a long one so I have to push it to next month's giveaway. (I probably would have finished it by now if I didn't have a tiny baby insisting that milk comes before mommy's reading time. )

I am going to have a non-book giveaway for this month. Stay tuned for more details....

All newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win the giveaway.

Raucous Book of the Month: Royal Affairs: A Lusty Romp through the Extramarital Adventures that Rocked the British Monarchy

In the raucous book of the month, Royal Affairs, Leslie Carroll takes readers on a lively tour through some of history’s busiest boudoirs. Everyone enjoys a good love story, unfortunately kings and queens could rarely choose a mate for love. Royal marriages were usually arranged to secure stronger alliances and a few heirs in the royal nursery. Rarely, did a happily-ever-after occur when the bride stepped off the boat. Carroll reminds us that it was the love affairs that happened outside of the marriage that provide a glimpse into a king or queen's true desires and reveal the kind of paramour that could command royal attention.

I especially enjoyed Carroll’s conversational writing style. I felt like I was sitting down for tea with a gossipy friend spilling the dirt on the latest rumors. Royal Affairs would also make the perfect gift book for the attention deficit reader (like me) because you can read it in parts and skip around to your favorite royals. And although this book falls into the adult genre, give it to that history loving teen on your Christmas list (or that teen who does not know yet there is a history lover inside of them).

Although the entertainment factor is high for this book, I must add that Royal Affairs is not just another frivolous romp through British history. Behind the bodice ripping is some real history. In each section, Carroll raises questions on how these dalliances changed the course of history. What if Mary Queen of Scots had not been such a dullard when choosing men? What if Charles II had divorced his wife and chosen a more fertile bride? What if Henry VIII had never met Anne Boleyn? From the Angevins to the Windsors, Carroll’s meticulous research uncovers the men and women behind the dutiful monarchy and will have you contemplating why some behind-the-scenes affairs got center stage in our history books and some did not.

When I finished Royal Affairs, I found myself comparing how a king behaved toward his queen vs. his mistress or how a dutiful queen behaved when not wearing the crown. Edward IV may have honored and loved his wife Elizabeth Woodville, but it was Jane Shore that captivated him through the years. Henry VIII respected his first wife Catherine enough to stay married to her for over twenty years until the magnetic Anne Boleyn flashed her sultry eyes. And Elizabeth I may have wed herself to England, but only Robert Dudley knew the secrets in her heart. Luckily, matrimonial bliss gets its say in Carroll’s companion book, Notorious Royal Marriages available in stores soon.

All newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win a signed copy of Royal Affairs this month. If you are not a newsletter subscriber then you can subscribe here.





In non-royal news, John Anthony Beccia IV finally came into this world (sideways!) on October 21st weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. I am trying desperately to get caught up on posts, but some of my planned October posts may get pushed into November.

Raucous Book of the Month - Giveaway

June's Raucous Book of the Month is a little off the topic of royalty, but appeals to my evil twin's (named Jesse) greatest love - Sideshows. The title of the book, Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical, delivers what every circus poster of the 19th century once promised...a chance to look. In a collection of bizarre short stories, you will meet such characters as Madame Zelda - the local fortune teller, Molly - the teen bearded lady, Tia Nafretiri - the daughter of a 3000 year old Mummy, and an occasional three-headed rat. Each fast-paced short story ends with a strange twist and a modern spin on what it means to live on the outskirts of conventional society. Some of the stories are beautifully illustrated in a graphic novel format that makes your typical scary clown a tad creepier. Get this book for your vampire loving teen who just might be a werecat by night.

I will be giving an advance copy of Sideshow to one lucky newsletter subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, then you can subscribe here.

And the winner is...

Amy and Robin were May's winners of The Raucous Royals giveaway. The giveaway this month was Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland. Read the review here

I have emailed the winners and just need your mailing address.

Next month's Raucous Royals book of the month is an advance copy of: Sideshow, Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists and Other Matters Odd and Magical edited by Deborah Noyes. It's a little outside of the usual royalty history reading, but how can a book staring three-headed rats, bearded ladies and mummies not be utterly fascinating? In honor of this book, I have been digging through my notes to find all the strange things royals have collected over the years and also some of the soothsayers and seers that prophesied history.

In July, The Raucous Royals book of the month will be Susan Scott Holloway's new novel, The French Mistress starring the enigmatic Louise de Keroualle. You can pre-order a copy now. Ms. Holloway will also stop by to answer a few question on one of my favorite monarchs, Charles II, and dish about his many mistresses.

All newsletters subscribers are automatically entered to win the giveaway. If you are not already a subscriber, subscribe here.

I also have another copy of The Tudors (Season Two) to giveaway. Instead of including this giveaway in the newsletter, we will be playing one of my favorite games - Guess the object. The first reader to post the correct answer will win. Stay tuned for more information....

And the winner is...

Amanda was the winner of an entire season of Showtime's The Tudors and Marie was the winner of The King's Rose by Alisa Libby. I have emailed the winners. Please send along your mailing address so that I can get out your prizes.

If you didn't win this month then there is always next month... Next month's giveaway is one my absolute favorite books this year - Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland. All newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win The Raucous Royals' Monthly Giveaway. If you are not a newsletter subscriber then you can subscribe here.

Congratulations to this month's winners!

The Raucous Book of the Month: The King’s Rose by Alisa M. Libby

I have read a few fictional portrayals of Catherine Howard and most present her as a one-dimensional bubble head who only cares about dancing, masques, and whatever shiny bauble the king’s throws at her feet. In Libby’s portrayal, we meet a more human Catherine torn between her desire to please her family and her desire to follow her heart. This Catherine is no Paris Hilton stuck in the 16th century. In The King’s Rose, Catherine is smart enough to understand her responsibility as queen, but also painfully aware that she is in over her head. Catherine thinks, “I am not a magician. I am not a witch. I can make the king feel young again, but I cannot actually make him young.” Here lies her dilemma. Catherine is constantly being reminded of her responsibility to produce an heir and she feels time running out as Henry experiences one health problem after another. Will her desperate situation force her to take drastic measures?

If you’re a Tudor junkie, you might already know about the love triangle Catherine finds herself in when one of Henry’s courtiers catches her eye. And if you are just getting into Tudor history….well, I don’t want to give too much away. Libby does occasionally veer slightly from the real history for a smoother plot flow, but an author note at the back clarifies which parts were based on conjecture. Get this book for your teenage Tudor lover or better yet….treat yourself to a little Tudor intrigue and romance.

This month, The King’s Rose will go to one lucky newsletter subscriber. The newsletter goes out at the end of each month. If you are not a subscriber then you can subscribe here.

Winner of Who put the B in the Ballyhoo?

This month's winner for The Raucous Book of the Month was Barbara. I have emailed the winner. I will be doing the drawing for The King's Rose at the end of this month. Stay tune for a review...

All newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win the Raucous Book of the Month.

Raucous Book of the Month - Giveaway

Encyclopedia of the End: Mysterious Death in Fact, Fancy, Folklore and More
By Deborah Noyes

In her new book, Deborah Noyes braves the grim reaper to demystify death in an alphabetically-listed banquet of facts, folklore, science and history. The scientifically inclined will be intrigued by the process of rigor mortis, postmortem and near-death experience, to name just a few. The history buff will find fascinating stories of 19th century body snatchers, death masks, death portraits, and tales of Houdini convening with the spirit world. Looking for a lighter fair at the death banquet? Skip to the letter G and read about goths, ghosts and graveyards. Looking for something meatier? Noyes includes the different cultural viewpoints on death in a respectful, but never preachy tone. Best of all, each topic includes just the right amount of details to keep inquisitive readers of the dead (or undead) engrossed for weeks.

I have to confess that I was thoroughly indoctrinated into the Catholic religion at a young age with the Catholic School, strict Catholic parents, and 9 yards of Catholic guilt and I am not about to change my opinion of what happens after you “bite the dust.” But I do wish my religious upbringing had been less narrow on the topic of death. I can remember very distinctively a Jewish friend’s dad dieing when I was young and not understanding her process of mourning. (Noyes lists Shiva under S). I couldn't understand why her mirrors were covered. It made me uncomfortable when I should have been focused less on my own comfort level and more on comforting my friend.

I understand why my parents didn’t discuss death. Undeniably, no one likes to talk about death. We even avoid saying the actual word. Under the letter E, Noyes lists some of the popular euphemisms for death including “passed on”, “kicked the bucket”, and my personal favorite – “pushing up daisies”. We certainly don’t need euphemisms for discussing birth and you will find far more books on pregnancy and the birth of a new baby. Why are we so well-educated on how life starts, but procrastinate talking about death until our child’s pet dies or even worse a beloved family member? Why not talk about dying BEFORE it happens?

From A to Z, Noyes resists the temptation to impart her own beliefs. (You can see from the above that I could not resist the same temptation.) Her impartiality is what really honors the dearly departed. Only in the introduction do we get a glimpse into how the author began her research when she writes, “Life matters because it’s on loan.”

I personally found Noyes brave approach to unmasking death illustrated perfectly by the epitaph she found on an 1813 grave stone:

‘Lie still sweet babe & take thy rest
God call’d you home He thought it best ‘

This month, one lucky newsletter subscriber will win Encyclopedia of the End by Deborah Noyes. If you are not a newsletter subscriber, sign up here. The winner will be announced on Monday. The newsletter is going out soon...promise. This month I am featuring the most scandalous hats throughout history. And stay tuned for next week when I will be featuring the most famous maker of the dead – The life of Marie Tussaud

Enjoy your day on loan!

Raucous Book of the Month – Doomed Queens

We have all probably heard the sermon: “those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.” Kris Waldherr exposes this truism with biting candor in her new book appropriately titled Doomed Queens. Part cautionary tale, part biography, Doomed Queens is chock full of regal queens meeting not-so enviable ends. Readers will find all their favorite femme fatales like Anne Boleyn, Marie Antoinette, and Mary Queen of Scots, but also lesser known figures such as Empress Wang and Theodora of Trebizond. Waldherr reminds us, “too often history is written by the victors.” So true. For this reason, readers will be captivated by Arsinoe IV, the Jan Brady of history—pushed aside by her more cunning sister, Cleopatra. Then there is Juana of Castile who emerges from the shadow of her powerful parents, Ferdinand and Isabella to show how things really went down in the power struggle for the throne. hint: it doesn't end pretty. In each biography, Waldherr shows how herstory doesn't always end as happily as history.

There are so many doomed queens included that you might have a hard time keeping their deaths straight. No worries. Waldherr offers handy icons to accompany each tale symbolizing everything from death by child birth to a date with the executioner. Each biography ends with an irreverent “cautionary moral” that may especially appeal to teens tired of pedantic conclusions in their history lessons. What can we learn from Sophia Alekseyevna, the disaffected, half-sister of Peter the Great? Perhaps it is as simple as, “the best candidate doesn’t always get the job.” What does Marie Antoinette's bucolic stint as a milkmaid tell us? “When you play at being a peasant, you risk being killed by one.”


Humorous quizzes and pithy sidebars add an extra level of intrigue for readers who have shorter attention spans while Waldherr’s haunting illustrations suspiciously circle each queen like a macabre dance of death. Look closer and you will find ghoulish memento mori peeking out from behind each delicately rendered portrait. Could this be a reminder? Perhaps current examples of distaff corporate climbers and policy makers can be made a head shorter with as much disregard. (ah hem…Palin)

But don’t let the title fool you. Although undeniable a morose angle taken, at the heart of Doomed Queens is not how queens died, but how they lived. Did Joan the I of Naples deserve the same fate as her husband? Why was the deposed Irene of Byzantium a candidate for sainthood? It’s these types of questions that will have book clubs, classrooms, royalty aficionados and modern-day divas talking.