To those around her she was a loyal subject.
In her heart she was a traitor.
1399: England’s crown is under threat. King Richard II holds onto his power by an ever-weakening thread, with exiled Henry of Lancaster back to reclaim his place on the throne.
For Elizabeth Mortimer, there is only one rightful King – her eight-year-old nephew, Edmund. Only he can guarantee her fortunes, and protect her family’s rule over the precious Northern lands bordering Scotland.
But many, including Elizabeth’s husband, do not want another child-King. Elizabeth must hide her true ambitions in Court, and go against her husband’s wishes to help build a rebel army.
To question her loyalty to the King places Elizabeth in the shadow of the axe.
To concede would curdle her Plantagenet blood.
This is one woman’s quest to turn history on its head.
‘O’Brien is now approaching Philippa Gregory status’ Reader’s Digest‘O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’ Daily Telegraph‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political’ The TimesPraise for Queen of the North:
‘Once more Anne O’Brien takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride…Elizabeth Mortimer’s story joins the growing list of female lives Anne has gloriously rescued from history’s recycling skip’ Joanna Hickson
‘Enthralling … with masterful skill Anne O'Brien takes the reader on an action packed journey back to the tumultuous and uncertain days of the fifteenth century. A medieval masterpiece’ Nicola Tallis
‘With Anne O’Brien’s trademark attention to period detail, it’s a fascinating read’ Woman’s Weekly
‘Imaginative, rich in detail and immaculately researched’ Lancashire Post