Keira Morgan

The book is about Duchess Anne, the young ruler of Brittany who was forced by her family into a bitter choice: marry the French king or lose her duchy. Anne is surrounded by enemies but she eventually learns how to navigate the treacherous French court and secure her place as queen. When her first child is born, Charles-Orland, Countess Louise d’Angoulême resents both Anne and the baby. Louise, with ambitions for her own son, challenges the queen's position and manipulates the king's decisions. They frequently clash as they compete for power and control. This story is based on the remarkable real life of Duchess Anne of Brittany. The author brings us a riveting tale about the dangerous rivalry between two strong women.

The story began slowly as many characters were introduced. I had a hard time keeping them straight. I felt the Louise was the more likable character at first. Anne was painted as a frivolous girl but as the book delved further into her life story, she became a compelling character. While she enjoyed spending money, Anne had a difficult life. She was forced to leave her first husband, before receiving an annulment from the Pope, and marry someone she did not know, the king of France, when she was just fifteen-years-old. She was definitely manipulated by everyone at the French court but she learned how to make a life of her own. I then began to view Louise as a villain. Certainly, their sons were competing to be the king of France, but Louise harbored a lot of hate in her heart. Anne never did so I felt she was the most likable.

Most of the characters are drawn from real life people. Its amazing that the author could weave such a fine tale with all the restrictions of history.… (mehr)

I have not read any books written by Keira Morgan before. In fact, I never heard of her until I was searching for a book title with a chess piece in the title for the What's in a Name Reading Challenge. Two date, she has published two novels and a third will be published soon. Morgan writes historical fiction and does it well. The Importance of Pawns was a satisfying read.

The publisher's summary:

Step into the lavish world of sixteenth-century French court, where danger lurks beneath the glittering facade. In this enthralling tale, Claude, a queen in name only, must navigate treacherous waters to outwit her rival, win her husband to her side, save her sister, and assert her power. Amidst the backdrop of a dying queen, Claude and young Renée find themselves as heiresses to the coveted duchy of Brittany.

Their guardian, Countess Louise, harbors envy and schemes to steal their inheritance. With cunning and ambition, she plans to marry off Claude to her own son, seizing the opportunity presented by her unexpected guardianship. But standing in Countess Louise's way is Baronne Michelle, a devoted protector of the princesses and their interests.

As political tensions escalate, the futures of Princess Renée and the Baronne hang precariously, threatened by the countess's machinations. Will timid Claude unravel the treacherous intrigues woven by Countess Louise? Can she outmaneuver her and safeguard young Princess Renée? And most importantly, will she find the courage to defend those she loves?

"The Importance of Pawns" is a gripping historical fiction novel inspired by real events and characters. It weaves a timeless tale of envy, power, and intrigue, where loyalty and the strength of women's friendships are put to the ultimate test. From revenge and deceit to love and bravery, this mesmerizing story will hold you captive until the very last page.

Join in this remarkable journey where history comes alive. Discover the indomitable spirit of Claude and her fight for justice. Immerse yourself in a world where alliances are fragile, secrets abound, and the strength of one woman's resolve can change everything.

The story takes place in 16th century Renaissance France. I enjoyed reading about the sumptuous banquets, gowns and chateaux apartments of this era. I had not heard about any of these characters in history before and believe that Ms. Morgan is the first author to write about them. In this respect, she made a great choice to write about them.

So, who were the pawns in the story? Just about every character is a pawn of someone else. In general, the ladies were pawns of the men but they were the greatest manipulators of events and overshadowed the men. Louise and Michelle were the biggest manipulators but they themselves were manipulated by others. Princess Claude and her young sister Renee were the biggest pawns in this story. Claude eventually overcame her timidity in the last chapter. Renee was too young to gain mastery over her life.

The book ended abruptly with Claude entering her confinement. It was an odd place to end a story. The reader does not know if she gave birth to a boy or girl of whether the child lived. Even if there was a sequel to this novel, this was still a weird place to end. Thus, I am rating the book 4 out of 5 stars.… (mehr)