The Importance of Pawns: Chronicles of the House of Valois

Written by Keira Morgan

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Claude is queen in name only. Can she outwit her rival, win her husband to her side, save her sister, and assert her power? . . .

Danger lurks beneath the glitter of the sixteenth century French court. The queen lies dying; the king has but months to live. Their two daughters, Claude and young Renee are heiresses to the rich duchy of Brittany. Countess Louise, their guardian, schemes to steal their inheritance.

For years she has envied the dying Queen Anne, the girls' mother. She plots to marry wealthy Claude to her son. Her unexpected guardianship presents a golden opportunity, but only if she can remove their protectress Baronne Michelle, who loves the princesses and safeguards their interests.

As political tensions rise, the futures of Princess Renee and the Baronne hang in the balance, threatened by Countess Louise's designs. Will timid Claude untangle the treacherous intrigues Countess Louise is weaving? Can she outflank the wily countess to protect young Princess Renee? And can she find the courage to defend those she loves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666183108

Keira Morgan

The adventure and romance of Renaissance has fascinated Keira since she was young. It isn’t just the history. In her fiction, readers enter the world of the French court with its irresistible characters, and dangerous intrigues. The accurate historical details of food and clothing, chateaux and furnishings, coaches and litters, gardens and chapels, friends and children bring the world to life as her historical characters struggle with their real-life challenges. She studied Renaissance and Reformation history in Canadian universities to the doctoral level. But her favourite reading was historical fiction, since in it authors explored the feelings and thoughts that motivated people rather than just the facts. When she recognized she would rather write fiction than history, she chose a career in the Canadian public service and wrote in her free time. She now lives in Mexico with her husband, two dogs and two cats where she writes full time. The Importance of Sons is the second of her published novels.  She is writing a four-part series in the Chronicles of the House of Valois. The Importance of Pawns is already available.