Literature Wales Writer's Bursary
Daughter of the Last King - Conquest 1
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Hardback
Ages: 18+
1093. An invasion and a curse. The three sons of William the Conqueror fight with each other for control of the Anglo-Norman kingdom created by their father’s conquest. The Norman Marcher lords are let loose to consolidate the conquest of Wales, pushing across the English border to the east and invading from the sea to the south.
Nest ferch Rhys is the daughter of the king of south-west Wales. Captured during the Norman assault on her father’s lands, she is raised by her captors, the powerful Montgomery family. Nest is groomed to be the wife of a Norman, despite her pre-existing betrothal to a Welsh prince. Arnulf Montgomery has taken over her father’s lands and is her intended husband, but Count Henry, the youngest son of the Conqueror, is also captivated by the Welsh noblewoman.
Book I in the Conquest trilogy centring on the turbulent life of Nest ferch Rhys and the reign of King Henry I.
'I could not put this book down from the moment I started it. I practically inhaled the content.' Poppy Coburn
Reviews
‘Highly recommend. Fabulous story woven into Princess Nest’s true life. Conquest is a fabulous book and series. The research alone I can see was a huge undertaking. The story woven into the true accounts of Nest's life are so well done. Great story and had me addicted. I have read only some information on the 1100s but this book brought it alive for me. So much ordinary information that readers would love to know. All believable. Nest is a Princess of a region of Wales. Some of the Welsh names were hard to get my mouth around but I loved that we were looking at a part of history (Wales) that I knew little about. I loved the deeper knowledge of Norman England/Wales and the conflicts, which meant she stood between two worlds. Her connection to Henry 1 was fascinating. This book covers her life from age 8 to early '20s, marriage and mistress all in one day. I found it an exciting read and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good novel and loads of history.’ Suzi Hawkins
'The novel is clearly meticulously researched, but it is never weighed down, and the detail about daily life at court, in Norman castles or in convents is always interspersed with great character development, engaging dialogue and page-turning action. Nest is a lively and engaging protagonist.'
‘This is a beautifully written story, set against impressively researched history and narrated at a thriller pace. This is history brought to life with real characters, real events and a great story. I couldn’t put it down and greatly anticipate the second volume.’ Gina Connolly
