A review by bazayas
The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry that Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak

adventurous challenging dark informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This detailed history of the Merivingian dynasty of Early Medieval France tells the story of two queens married to rival brothers and carried on their own rivalry for decades with covert assassinations and full-out war. Brunhild is a Visigothic princess destined to be a queen, as is her sister who marries Brunhild’s new brother-in-law—but is then strangled to death and replaced by Fredegand, an ambitious slave girl.

Someone tell Starz about this book because I know they’ll do it with the enthusiasm it deserves. Both of these women were clearly the inspiration behind Cersei Lannister—but far more complex. This book has it all—brother kings fighting over kingdoms, a nun’s revolution, whirlwind romance, an abbess and her queer poet/bishop bestie, women on the battlefield, so much murder. Unfortunately, the audiobook narrator sounds like Moira Rose, but the writing itself is brilliant. 

CW/TW:

murder/torture; parental death; child death; domestic violence/abuse; implied SA

For fans of:

real life Game of Thrones; medieval history (similar to War of the Roses if there were two of Marguerite of Anjou); Shakespeare (some inspo behind Macbeth!); Wagner (inspo behind  his Brunhilda!);  feminist history (Anne Boleyn girlies)