She should have stayed in the shadows—but Leonor de Guzmán yearned for the sun
Castile in the 1330s is a place of constant turmoil. King Alfonso must contend with the incursions from the Muslim Marinids eager to reclaim Al-Andalus while struggling with repeated rebellions against his firm rule.
When Alfonso needs respite, he finds it in the arms of his Leonor—the most beautiful woman in the realm. But while he may love Leonor over all others, his lawful wife, Maria of Portugal, is tired of being constantly displaced by the fair Leonor.
Leonor loves her man. She gives him healthy sons, a place to be himself. But she is only a mistress, even if Alfonso treats her like a queen. Leonor’s enemies watch and hate.
Flying too close to the sun comes at a high price. How much will Leonor’s love cost her?
Based on the true story of Alfonso XI and his complicated relationships to wife and life-long mistress.
Praise for Queen of Shadows:
"Belfrage demonstrates a keen awareness of how power operates—not only through laws and titles, but through relationships, perceptions, and the fragile balance between influence and legitimacy. Her prose is measured and evocative, allowing the emotional weight of events to unfold naturally without diminishing their impact. The historical setting is rendered with careful attention to detail, creating a world that feels both authentic and immediate."
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I fell completely into this book.
I've read a lot of historical fiction over the years, but every now and then a novel comes along that makes you forget you're reading at all. Queen of Shadows did exactly that. Before long, I wasn't sitting on my sofa with a cup of tea—I was in medieval Castile, watching lives unfold, alliances shift, hearts break, and families fight for survival.
Leonor de Guzmán absolutely stole this story for me. I knew of her before I started the book, but Anna Belfrage made her feel so real that I found myself thinking about her long after I'd put the book down for the night. She loves deeply, fights for her children, and tries to hold on to her place in a world that is constantly reminding her she doesn't truly belong. More than once I wanted to reach into the pages and tell her to be careful.
The relationship between Leonor and Alfonso is complicated in all the best ways. It would have been easy to paint one person as right and another as wrong, but nothing is ever that simple here. I found myself feeling sympathy for everyone involved, even when I didn't agree with their choices. That takes skill.
I also loved Alma. In many ways she became my anchor in the story. While kings and nobles argue over power, titles, and inheritance, Alma reminds us what life is like for everyone else. I looked forward to her chapters every bit as much as those centred on the royal family.
And Rodrigo? I adored Rodrigo. Watching him grow from an eager young man into someone shaped by experience, responsibility, and hardship was one of the most satisfying parts of the novel. There were moments when I worried terribly about what might happen to him.
What I enjoyed most was how alive everything felt. The politics matter because they affect people you care about. The battles matter because you know who might not come home. The rivalries matter because families are caught in the middle of them. Nothing felt distant or detached.
There were scenes that made me smile, scenes that made me angry, and a few that genuinely broke my heart. More than once I found myself reading "just one more chapter" before bed, only to discover another hour had disappeared.
By the end, these characters felt like people I'd known for years. I wasn't ready to leave them.
If you enjoy historical fiction filled with memorable characters, family drama, political intrigue, love, loss, and all the messy complications of real life, then I can't recommend Queen of Shadows highly enough.
A wonderful book and an easy five stars.
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Anna Belfrage
“This is what all historical fiction should be like. Superb.”
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