The Rebel Princess: a Novel of Suspense

by: Judith Koll Healey

Published by: William Morrow/ Harper Collins

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

The adventures of the Princesse Alaïs Capet, sister of King Phillippe II Augustus of France, continue (after the first book in the series, Canterbury Papers). It is now October 1207, and Alaïs, in Paris at her brother’s court, continues to have disturbing visions. The worst one involves her unacknowledged illegitimate son, Francis. Francis is a young man now, raised in the household of her lover, Lord William of Caen, a Knight Templar.

The French court is steeped in intrigue. The King does not trust anyone except his sister Alaïs, not even his main councilor Chastellain, or his aunt Constance. William arrives and with him the evil Arnaud Amaury, once a knight and now an Abbott and Papal envoy, who hopes to embroil Phillippe in a religious war with the minor nobles in the south. The war is to destroy the Cathars, an early sect trying to break with the rigid Catholic Church.

Alaïs’ childhood friend Joanna, now married to the Count of Toulouse, sends Alaïs a secret letter, beseeching her to try to prevent the war. Alaïs does her best, and is somewhat successful. Unfortunately it seems as if Abbott Amaury is threatening Alaïs, noticing how fond she is of Francis, a young knight in William’s service, and how much influence she has with the King. Within a few short days, chaos reigns–a young knight of William’s is accidentally killed in a tourney; a golden chalice of special importance to the Cathars is stolen from the Cathedral of St. Denis; Francis is abducted; and Constance leaves in the middle of the night.

William and his men leave for Toulouse, ordering Alaïs to stay behind, though she is certain that Francis is in danger and William will be too busy with his diplomatic mission tying to stop a religious war. She sets off with a few trusted knights, and is soon in disguise, spying on Amaury in a southern Abbey. Few women can match her wits, stubbornness, and bravery.

Healey’s attention to historic detail, her rich woven tapestry of settings, characters and plot will delight all readers. If you like Roberta Gellis, Jean Plaidy, Elizabeth Chadwick or Marion Zimmer Bradley, you will love these works.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Author’s Web site: http://www.TheRebelPrincessANovel.com