'Gristwood handles multiple narrative strands with tremendous finesse... Densely packed with fascinating material, this immensely ambitious undertaking succeeds triumphantly.' * <i>Literary Review</i> * 'A masterpiece that effortlessly and enthrallingly interweaves the amazing stories of women who ruled in Europe during the Renaissance period...and a pacy and illuminating good read.' * Alison Weir * 'Engaging and highly readable.' * <i>BBC History Magazine</i>, Books of the Year * 'Gristwood brings them all to life with her usual mix of character study and pacy narrative'. * <i>History Revealed</i> * 'Gristwood interweaves the drama of monarchy with its more domestic moments.' * <i>Telegraph</i> * 'A fast-paced chronological narrative bursting with intrigue.' * <i>Publishers Weekly</i> * 'Sarah Gristwood's study of the brilliant, beleaguered and often bloody difficult women who kept Europe going in the sixteenth century is compelling, clear-eyed, beautifully rendered and never-more-timely.' -- Jessie Childs 'A magnificent exploration of a most remarkable group...Gristwood gives us impeccable research, incisive attention to detail and exquisite writing as she investigates these truly fascinating women and their lives of courage, tribulation and determination. Absolutely unputdownable.' -- Kate Williams, author of <i>The Storms of War</i>