r the author
ANNE
O’BRIEN
‘The characters are larger than life…and the author
a compulsive storyteller. A little fictional embroidery
has been worked into history but the bones of the
book are true.’
—Sunday Express
‘O’Brien has excellent control over the historical
material and a rich sense of characterisation, making
for a fascinating and surprisingly female-focused look
at one of the most turbulent periods of English history.’
—Publishers Weekly
‘Better than Philippa Gregory’
—The Bookseller
‘Anne O’Brien is fast becoming one of Britain’s most
popular and talented writers of medieval novels. Her
in-depth knowledge and silky skills with the pen help
to bring the past to life and put the focus firmly on
some of history’s most fascinating characters.’
—Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post
‘Anne O’Brien is definitely an author to watch for
historical fiction fans and I look forward to
reading more of her work in the future.’
—One More Page…
‘Ms O’Brien’s prose is smooth and uncomplicated.
Her characters’ speech is not overburdened with
archaic expressions, yet still evokes the time period.
She has obviously done a good deal of research and it
makes this story pleasurable to someone like myself,
who loves all things medieval…’
—Cynthia Robertson, Literarydaze
Also by
ANNE
O’BRIEN
VIRGIN WIDOW
DEVIL’S CONSORT
THE KING’S CONCUBINE
About the Author
ANNE O’BRIEN taught history in the East Riding of Yorkshire before deciding to fulfil an ambition to write historical fiction. She now lives in an eighteenth-century timbered cottage with her husband in the Welsh Marches, a wild, beautiful place renowned for its black-and-white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds, as well as ghosts and folklore, the Marches provide inspiration for her interest in medieval England.
Visit her at www.anneobrienbooks.com
The Forbidden Queen
Anne O’Brien
This is a work of fiction. References to historical events, real people or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
HQ is an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
Published in Great Britain 2013
HQ
1 London Bridge Street
London
SE1 9GF
© Anne O’Brien 2013
eISBN 978-1-472-01023-0
Version: 2019-04-12
Table of Contents
