Strong and exceptional women who made their mark on history.
For all the lovely Queens out there.. Stand tall and keep your head up!
And a big thank you to Jess @ Jessticulates for creating this wonderful tag.
It’s not that I have anything against the male species but.. when a man is strong, it’s expected.
A woman, though, is beautifully powerful in more subtle way.
We wear our strength on the inside.
Throughout history women have been crammed into the carefully constructed notion that they are the weaker sex in a male dominated world. And, time and again, they’ve overcome.
These remarkable ladies are only a few of the incredible women who have molded history and given girls today the freedoms and possibilities that weren’t always available.
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1. EMPRESS MATILDA (1102-1167)
After her father, Henry I, died naming her his heir, Matilda’s cousin, Stephen, subsequently took the throne for himself. Matilda never stopped fighting for what was rightfully hers. Though she would never be named Queen of England in her own right, she was able to convince Stephen to name her son, the future Henry II, his successor over his own children.
Choose a book with a protagonist who stands their ground.
Publication date: May 2009
Pages: 384
Genre: Urban fantasy, Paranormal fiction, Fantasy fiction
Series: Book 1 of 9: The Walker Papers
Joanne Walker is definitely one of my favorites. What the author did here, combining Native American and Celtic mythology results in one heck of reading experience and some really incredible characters. If you love action packed urban fantasy.. you’re going to love this.
2. ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE (1122-1204)
Before she married Henry II and became Queen of England in 1152, Eleanor was Queen of France as the wife of Louis VII. She sought an annulment from her marriage to Louis, and he eventually agreed because 15 years of marriage had produced no sons, only for Eleanor to go on to have eight children with Henry—five of whom were sons. Ouch!
Choose a book or series in which the heroine has more than one romantic relationship.
Thief by C. L. Stone
Publication date: February 2014
Pages: 341
Genre: Romance, Reverse harem, New adult
Series: Book 1 of 6: The Academy Scarab Beetle Series
This is a reverse-harem (meaning our protagonist has multiple male love interests). When they’re all interested, and everyone’s consenting, why choose? This character isn’t just in a bind, she’s trouble with a capital T. Can these boys be up to the challenge or will this thief steal more than their hearts?
3. ELEANOR OF CASTILE (1241-1290)
A keen patron of literature and a successful businesswoman in her own right, Eleanor was Edward I’s first wife. He was so heartbroken when she died that he erected the Eleanor Crosses, twelve stone crosses marking the places where her body rested overnight on its journey from Lincolnshire, where she died, to her burial place in London. Three of the crosses still survive today.
Choose a bittersweet book.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Publication date: February 2005
Pages: 448
Genre: Women’s fiction, Sisters fiction, Tragedy
Standalone
There are few books that have wrecked me emotionally as much as this book. Next to ‘The Lovely Bones‘ this heart wrenching story is the definition of ‘bittersweet’.
4. ISABELLA OF FRANCE (1295-1358)
Often known as the ‘She-Wolf of France’, Isabella was Edward II’s wife. Unfortunately for Edward, he wasn’t particularly good at being king, and Isabella soon grew tired of his (possibly homosexual) relationship with his favorite, Hugh Despenser. After she began an affair with English nobleman Roger Mortimer while on a diplomatic mission to France, the pair returned to England with an army and she deposed Edward and acted as regent until their son, the future Edward III, came of age.
Choose a book where the romance overtook the plot.
The Soul Summoner by Elicia Hyder
Publication date: November 2015
Pages: 302
Genre: Contemporary fantasy fiction, Psychic mysteries, Paranormal fiction
Series: Book 1 of 9: The Soul Summoner
I know, I know, this looks more like action than romance. That’s kind of the point. I get it, two guys are on the front.. prepare yourself for a triangle, right? Which doesn’t necessarily mean the relationships have to suffocate the storyline. I feel like the relationships become more important than the rest of the story, which is really frustrating.
5. PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT (1310/15-1369)
Queen of England as the wife of Edward III, Philippa was beloved by the English people for her compassion and kindness. The Queen’s College, Oxford, founded in 1341, is named in her honor.
Choose a book set at a university.
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Publication date: July 2012
Pages: 434
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Women’s fiction
Series: Book 1 of 3: Beautiful
Such an appropriate title. She has no interest in the smexy playboy Travis. Challenge accepted. He’s determined to win our protagonist over.. until he realizes that he’s starting to feel something more. They couldn’t be worse for each other but they find themselves unable to resist becoming a.. beautiful disaster.
6. JOAN OF NAVARRE (1368-1437)
Joan was Henry IV’s second wife. Six years after his death, Joan was accused of attempting to poison her stepson, Henry V, through witchcraft and was imprisoned for four years until he ordered her release, just six weeks before he suddenly died.
Choose a book about witches.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Publication date: December 2003
Pages: 416
Genre: Young adult, Historical fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of 3: Gemma Doyle
A stunning tale of a young woman and her journey to unlocking mysterious powers in a world she doesn’t quite understand. This book is a captivating work of fantasy that I couldn’t pull myself away from. I found this series a nostalgic blend of ‘The Little Princess‘ meets Cate Tiernan‘s ‘Sweep‘ series.
If you enjoyed this tag, please, feel free to join the fun!
Who is your favorite queen? (Real or fictional!)
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This is SUCH an amazing tag! I love the prompts – so thoughtful and interesting! I’ve only read ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ out of your list – and that book had me bawling like a baby – such a beautiful-heart breaking book. :’)
I know, right? It’s so original! She did a wonderful job with it.
And, man, that book is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster! Have you seen the movie? It’s a tearjerker too..
This was such a fun tag to read! My Sister’s Keeper and any book by Jodi Picoult is so heartbreaking. My Sister’s Keeper really had me in tears so many times 😢
Isn’t it!? It was fun to do as well! And omgoodness. That book is tragic, Picoult did a brilliant job, at times too well.. I just wanted to pull the little one out of the pages and cuddle her.
I hear you- that book seriously brought out so many emotions. Every book by her that I have read has made me cry so hard.
I haven’t read any of her other books yet.. they can’t all be that moving!
I’ve read two others and both had me in tears in the first few pages!
That’s seriously impressive..