The Rebel Princess

by Judith Koll Healey

Book Overview

"A seamless blend of history and fiction, and a gripping read."
--Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Rebel Princess--the breathtaking sequel to Judith Koll Healey's critically acclaimed historical novel The Canterbury Papers--returns the reader to Medieval France as it continues the story of an exceptional heroine, Princess Alais. Blending fascinating fact with dazzling invention, Healey's The Rebel Princess is an impeccably researched,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061673579
• ISBN13: 9780061673573
• Release Date: June 2010
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Always trust your heart but be wary of those surrounding it

Princesse Alas, sister to the King of France, Philippe was living in dangerous times at the turn of the 12th century. There were religious confrontations with Rome coming, strife with rulers in the south of France and spies abound trying to make their own agenda factual. But being a princess in this place and time meant you were rarely seen and never heard, however Alas was extraordinary in that her brother sought her council on matters of state and she always stood out in the crowd ready to voice her opinion and to add to all this she was blessed or cursed with a "second sight" that gave her visions and dreams that foretold both the present and future. She let no one intimidate her but did respect her brother and lived secretly with her gift revealing what she saw only to her brother and Templar Grand Master William of Cean, the man she dearly loved. But Alas also kept a very deep, dark secret and one that would drive her to take risks and allow any manner of danger to be set upon her. William would also carry this secret as well and made her not reveal of it regardless of how she felt. These two were the closest lovers possible but were kept apart for too many years as William carried out the Pope's agenda. Alas knew why she must not tell her secret but even the warmth of William's love was going to keep her telling much longer. When a horrid event changes everything for the Kingdom Alas moves to not only reveal this secret but to free the one person she must tell it to before it is too late. She may be a princess of the house of Capet and the daughter of the Kings of France but, she was at the core a woman who knew when her time had come to be counted and fight for what is right regardless of what may happen to you. This book is about so much more than one princess living in a time of turmoil - this book is about the spirit of a woman who fights for what is right alongside royalty and commoners. Most important of all it is about a mother who will do anything to protect the child she loves so much. There is history, strife and religious conflict but at the core there is the relationship between a man and a woman who know that time and circumstance may separate them but nothing in the end can destroy their love. Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at [...]

From S. Krishna's Books

The Rebel Princess takes place seven years after the events in The Canterbury Papers. While the mystery within its pages requires no foreknowledge and can stand on its own, I still feel that it is necessary to read these two books in order. Alais' personal story gets little treatment in The Rebel Princess; therefore, to appreciate her character development and to understand the situation between her, William, and Francis, it's necessary to know what happened in the first book. I enjoyed re-visiting Alais because I really loved her character in the first book. She didn't disappoint me in this one; Alais was just as strong as ever. I love how Healey made Alais such a put-together woman who is involved in the politics of her brother's kingdom. She is a role model for women of the time; however, she's also vulnerable. She's such a complicated, well-written character - I enjoyed spending time with her in order solving the mystery in the novel! I have to say, though, I enjoyed the mystery portion of The Canterbury Papers more than that of The Rebel Princess, though both are well done. The history in The Rebel Princess was very well done. Healey provides rich details about Southern France. I didn't know much about the Cathars prior to reading this novel, but Healey has piqued my curiosity. She really involves the reader in the history of the time period. Additionally, there is a very useful note in the back of the book which details the history of the time, and what the author took liberties with. She includes some further reading, in case the reader wants to learn more about the Cathars. The Rebel Princess was a great novel that was easy to read and enjoyable. I'm so glad that Healey left the end of this novel wide open - I would love a sequel in order to see what happens to Alais next!

fantastique medieval historical fiction

In October 1207, Princess Alais, sister to King Phillipe of France, waits for the return of her lover, English leader of the Knights Templar William of Caen to complete his mission safely. She impatiently hopes one day they will openly display their love and she can tell his ward Francis that she is his mother and English King Henry I is his sire. Before she can do that first he must leave the order. William and Francis come to see Alais and her brother to consult with the king re the Cathars breakaway region in the south centered in Toulouse. Phillip rejects the pope's envoys plea to mount a counter offensive; this angers Armand Amary, a church VIP who wants all the Cathars executed as heretics. When Francis is kidnapped, Alais heads to Toulouse risking her life searching for her offspring while William goes on a Pope Innocent III directed mission. Fans of Sharon Kay Penman and Rebecca Gellis will love this fantastique medieval historical fiction novel with a romantic subplot that enhances the prime court-papal intrigue story line. Readers learn about the Catharism movement focusing on the principles of a Good God and an evil adversary; their tenet of no priests or buildings ultimately led to the Albigensian Crusade. Although Alais does nothing wrong on her quest to save her son, the sequel to THE CANTERBURY PAPERS remains overall an insightful thirteenth century thriller. Harriet Klausner

"You and this monk have not finished with each other. Not yet."

The Rebel Princess is set during a turbulent time. The Cathars in southern France have attracted the attention of Rome, a pope who sees the movement toward spiritual austerity as a threat, the Good Men embracing the concept of dualism, the two natures of God, dark and light, a belief many condemn as heresy. In Paris, King Philippe Auguste of France is carefully measuring the temperature of the current situation, hoping to stay neutral as demands are made to choose sides. Ultimately, a murder will spark the first religious war of Christian against Christian known as the Albigensian Crusade, a bloody battle that will scar Christendom. There is treachery in Philippe's court, even his chief minister urging the king to intervene in the south on behalf of Rome. But the king keeps his own counsel, seeking to unveil the spy in his court, turning for advice to his sister, Alais Capet. The essence of the novel is Alais' personal struggle to support her brother and put to rest a long held secret. When a large delegation arrives in Paris, including the man she will soon marry, Grand Master of the Knights Templar in England, William of Caen, there is another party sent from Rome, headed by Abbe Arnaud Amaury, a fanatical cleric who harbors the furor of the coming scourge, the Inquisition. A former soldier turned man of God, Amaury is on a mission to purge the south of France of the Good Christians sewing the seeds of heresy. Before Alais can marry William of Caen and put to rest her burdensome secret, events intervene: a religious icon belonging to the Cathars is stolen, a man is murdered and a young knight from William's entourage kidnapped. Alais fees to the south on a personal mission, aware of the dangers ahead but unable to stay in Paris as war threatens and the fate of those she loves remains uncertain. Healy has created a serious, authentic character that is drawn into the chaos around her, her fate entwined with her country and her brother's efforts to avoid war. I did have trouble in the first few chapters, many of which describe the historical perspective that drives the plot: there seemed to be little passion in the author's prose, even with Alais' confessed love for William of Caen and distress over the actions of Rome's fanatic priest. Her drama is but a small fragment of history that illustrates the dangers of 13th century France, where religious fervor instigates war and the hounds of hell are unleashed in the name of God. Luan Gaines/2009.