The Sister Queens

P
RAISE FOR

The Sister Queens

“In her debut novel,
The Sister Queens
, Sophie Perinot breathes life into two of history’s most fascinating siblings. What Philippa Gregory did for Anne and Mary Boleyn, Perinot has done for Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence. This is without a doubt one of the best novels I’ve read all year!”

—Michelle Moran, author of
Madame Tussaud

“Ms. Perinot, who seems like a very seasoned author, not someone presenting a debut work, has quite clearly put in the sort of exquisite attention to detail that resonates so deeply with true historical fiction lovers. I know it did that for me, swiftly drawing me back in time and placing me right there with her characters amid all of their conflicts and passions. Every page of
The Sister Queens
for me was like a morsel to savor.
The Sister Queens
is one of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time. Absolutely superb! I will certainly be adding it to my ‘keeper’ shelf.”

—Diane Haeger, author of
The Queen’s Rival

“
The Sister Queens
is a rich and stately medieval tapestry of a novel, with two royal couples weaving intertwined patterns of history and private life. Marguerite and Eleanor are the queens of France and England, yes, but Sophie Perinot reveals the living women behind the glittering pageantry—two young Provençal sisters, fiercely competitive and just as fiercely devoted. Through coronations and childbirth, wars and sieges, triumphs and betrayals, Marguerite’s and Eleanor’s lives are stitched against the colorful and meticulously researched background of thirteenth-century Europe—golden queens and steadfast sisters.”

—Elizabeth Loupas, author of
The Second Duchess

“Sophie Perinot’s debut tour de force,
The Sister Queens
, gives the reader a detailed and racy look into the very public and most intimate lives of English and French royalty. The sister queens have two very different personalities, yet Perinot’s skills allow a modern woman to see herself in them and root for them both. This sweeping, compelling novel is a medieval, double-decker lifestyles of the rich, famous, and fascinating.”

—Karen Harper, author of
The Queen’s Governess

“Sibling rivalry with the highest possible stakes! Sophie Perinot awards two of the luminaries of medieval royalty their due in a colorful and densely woven tapestry.”

—Leslie Carroll, author of
Notorious Royal Marriages
and
Royal Pains

“In her wonderful debut,
The Sister Queens
, Sophie Perinot breathes life into the world of the High Middle Ages, bringing us into the age of knights and chivalry, of courtly love and crusades. Caught in a web of politics, the young sisters Marguerite and Eleanor find themselves queens in foreign courts, where both women must learn to call on all their strength to become the queens they are destined to be. With lyrical prose,
The Sister Queens
tells a riveting story of sisterly rivalry and love, of war and betrayal. Marguerite and Eleanor remain united by bonds of love that cannot tarnish and that cannot break. A beautiful novel.”

—Christy English, author of
To Be Queen

“Here is a glimpse into the private and public lives of two sisters, Eleanor and Marguerite of Provence, who were destined to become queens of England and France. I found it irresistible. In an engaging style that draws the reader in, Sophie Perinot allows us to enjoy the rivalry and compassion that exist between two young women of very different character. At the same time, she gives us insight into the political intrigues in England and France that governed their lives. If you enjoy a tale of passion, intrigue, and sisterly devotion that will keep you turning the pages, then
The Sister Queens
is a must for your reading list.”

—Anne O’Brien, author of
The Virgin Widow
and
Queen Defiant

S
ISTER
        Q
UEENS

SOPHIE PERINOT

N
EW
A
MERICAN
L
IBRARY
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
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First published by New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, March 2012
10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

Copyright © Jill Tuennerman, 2012
Readers Guide copyright © Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2012
All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Perinot, Sophie.
    The sister queens/Sophie Perinot.
        p. cm.
    ISBN: 978-1-101-57728-8
    1. Marguerite, Queen, consort of Louis IX, King of France, 1221–1295—Fiction.
2. Eleanor, of Provence, Queen, consort of Henry III, King of England, 1223 or -4–1291—Fiction. 3. Sisters—Fiction. I. Title.
    PS3616.E7446S57 2012
    813’.6—dc23        2011044576

Set in Bembo
Designed by Ginger Legato

Printed in the United States of America

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For my sister, Laura.
You were my first memory; you remain my best friend.

For my daughters, Erin and Katie.
Remember that sometimes you see yourself most clearly
through your sister’s eyes.

For Frances,
my sister-in-writing if not by blood.

And for Colin.
You are my golden prince. May you grow up to be a good man
and
a great leader.