For fans of Alison Weir and Sarah Gristwood, The Rival Queens is the thrilling history of a terrible betrayal at heart of the lavish Valois court.

Tells the true life stories of two formidable 16th century queens: Marguerite de Valois and her mother Catherine de Medici. 'A gripping tale of royal feuds and divided kingdoms' Amanda Foreman

One of the challenges facing any historian of this period is the sheer profusion of themes that need to be handled ... What makes Goldstone's biography so enjoyable is that she manages, thanks to the clarity of her presentation, to lead readers through this labyrinth with a sure and steady hand ... She is a popular historian whose writing is based on very serious research, with a gift for telling the most complicated tale in vivid, accessible prose