The Forever Queen: Sometimes, a desperate kingdom is in need of one great woman (Paperback)
A USA Today Bestseller!
"Hollick does a remarkable job of bringing to life a little known but powerful queen... an absorbing plot that never lags over the course of a fat, satisfying book."—Publishers Weekly
Sometimes, a desperate kingdom is in need of one great woman
Saxon England, 1002. Not only is Æthelred a failure as King, but his young bride, Emma of Normandy, soon discovers he is even worse as a husband. When the Danish Vikings, led by Swein Forkbeard and his son, Cnut, cause a maelstrom of chaos, Emma, as Queen, must take control if the Kingdom-and her crown-are to be salvaged. Smarter than history remembers, and stronger than the foreign invaders who threaten England's shores, Emma risks everything on a gamble that could either fulfill her ambitions and dreams or destroy her completely.
Emma, the Queen of Saxon England, comes to life through the exquisite writing of Helen Hollick, who shows in this epic tale how one of the most compelling and vivid heroines in English history stood tall through a turbulent fifty-year reign of proud determination, tragic despair, and triumph over treachery.
What Reviewers Are Saying
"Hollick is a master at making each historic scene come alive in the mind of a character with the most to lose... rich, tasty, sugary sludge of historical fiction... the best the genre has to offer."—Historical Novels Review
"Brilliant prose, historical accuracy, and rich detail bring this violent era to life. The Forever Queen stands as a well-detailed biographical account of one of England's strongest, most determined queens."— Historical Novel Review Blog
"A rich and descriptive tapestry of Anglo Saxon history, warring factions, political intrigue and betrayal, brutal violence, and yes, love."—Queen of Happy Endings
Praise for Helen Hollick
"A very talented writer."—Sharon Kay Penman, bestselling author of Devil's Brood
"If only all historical fiction could be this good." —Historical Novels Review
"Hollick juggles a large cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill."—Publishers Weekly
"Helen Hollick has it all. She tells a great story." —Bernard Cornwell
(This book was previously published in the U.K. as THE HOLLOW CROWN.)
Helen Hollick lives in northeast London with her husband, daughter and a variety of pets, which include several horses, cats and two dogs. She has two major interests: Roman / Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy--the early eighteenth century.
"As vivid as a tapestry... A compelling read that brings to life an oft-ignored period of English history. " — Library Journal Xpress
"Helen Hollick has clearly done her historical homework, not only making these events educational for me, but entertaining as well. " — The Calico Critic
"Helen Hollick brings the turbulent 11th century England to life like only she can!" — Passages to the Past
"Wow..I felt like I was there in medieval England. Hollick has a magical way with her words" — Life in the Thumb
"I LOVE Helen Hollick. I am going to get on a plane, travel to England, seek her out, and kiss her on the cheek for writing such beautiful (and accurate) historical fiction" — The Bibliophilic Book Blog
"Hollick captures the political intrigue of early Medieval England and presents the reader with some of the most colorful characters to sit on the British throne." — Luxury Reading
"A story of love, hate, rolling turmoil and undying loyalty that any lover of historical fiction will crow with pleasure over for the intensity and integrity of such a wonderful period piece." — Yankee Romance Reviewers
"Brilliant prose, historical accuracy, and rich detail bring this violent era to life. The Forever Queen stands as a well-detailed biographical account of one of England's strongest, most determined queens. " — Historical Novel Review Blog
"A glorious monarch, strong with unwavering pride and resilience." — Bookworm’s Dinner
" This book paints a vivid portrait of the time as well as of a Queen who has had such a lasting effect on the history of England. It's truly an amazing book that I am very grateful to have read!" — Books by the Willow Tree
"The Forever Queen grabs the reader from the first page and keeps the reader fully engaged until the very end, making it an unforgettable read. A remarkable time in history is transformed into a engaging and delightful novel. " — Runpdinne
"Hollick is a master at making each historic scene come alive in the mind of a character with the most to lose... rich, tasty, sugary sludge of historical fiction... the best the genre has to offer." — Historical Novels Review
"Easily one of my favorite reads of the year... Believable and very authentic. " — Debbie’s Book Bag
"Emma's world is full of violence, political intrigue, war and uncertainty - which makes for a gripping and fascinating novel. " — Starting Fresh
"Emma is a gem and I’m glad I got to meet her through Helen Hollick’s novel." — The Literate Housewife
"The Forever Queen is so full of life that it is not a book that can be easily forgotten." — Romance Fiction on Suite 101
"Filled with action, adventure, emotion and suspense. Once you start this book, you will not want to put it down... Hollick creates a fascinating world filled with violence, battle and uncertainty." — Mrs. Q Book Addict
"One of the best historical fiction books that I have ever picked up." — Books Like Breathing
" When reading this book I felt absorbed into the story. I felt like I was THERE." — Broken Teepee
"The author has described this turbulent era masterfully and has the reader waiting to turn the next page" — Celtic Lady’s Reviews
"Hollick’s writing is so incredibly engrossing and I felt like I was actually in medieval England... satisfying, gripping and nothing less of amazing." — Read All Over Reviews
"Hollick brings history to life. Her attention to details and accuracy are impeccable. Hollick immerses her readers into the story. " — Jenny Loves to Read
"This is a woman worth reading about." — Book Girl of Mur-Y-Castell
"Hollick has always done a wonderful job of sticking very closely to the facts and weaving a wonderfully rich story around them. " — Books and Needlepoint
"The characters that Hollick has created are superb. Right from the start you can really get into what they are thinking and why they are doing what they do. " — The Maiden’s Court
"Breathtaking... brutally honest... " — Pencil Pushers and Ink Splotches
"Engaging... [Hollick] smoothly blends in details of the weather, countryside, and lifestyle of the times." — Book Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf
"Meticulously researched, beautifully written... With the intricacies of ancient politics simply and fascinatingly related so the reader feels completely at home in that time period." — The Tome Traveller’s Weblog
"A rich and descriptive tapestry of Anglo Saxon history, warring factions, political intrigue and betrayal, brutal violence, and yes, love." — Queen of Happy Endings
"The Forever Queen is laced with so many emotions that one wonders how any reader could not fall in love with this book. I felt as though I was witnessing the events of Emma’s life first hand." — The Royal Reviews