His Castilian Hawk is a work of fiction in the historical fiction, interpersonal drama, and romance sub-genres, and was penned by author Anna Belfrage. Written as the opening novel to The Castilian Saga book series, the work is recommended for more mature readers owing to some moderate scenes of a sexual nature and the presence of occasional violence appropriate to the historical period. Set during the time of King Edward I, we find ourselves amid the battle to bring the country of Wales under English control. Robert FitzStephan is a loyal servant to the King, but when he is handed Eleanor d’Outremer, her family ties and rebellious spirit complicate matters more than he could ever anticipate.

Author Anna Belfrage does a fantastic job of bringing this under-represented area of British history to life and does so with a great passion for storytelling. As a Welsh native myself, it was fantastic to see the level of detail put into Edward’s reign of terror and his brutal methods, and it made me sympathize with Noor (Eleanor) all the more. The arranged marriage trope can be so terribly overused in historical fiction, so it was wonderful to see an accurate representation of the difficulties of this arrangement for women, and how they could still be brave and forthright despite the restrictions placed on them. Robert’s journey as a character is suitably complex as his perspective shifts, making a fully rounded central pair. Overall, I would highly recommend His Castilian Hawk for fans of accurate historical fiction and romance.

His Castilian Hawk is the first book in The Castilian Saga by Anna Belfrage. Eleanor, “Noor,” is alone in the world now that her brother and father are dead. Her grief only increases when she must marry Robert FitzStephan, a man she doesn’t even know. But duty is duty, and she must follow orders. However, marriage to a stranger is not easy, especially when his mistress is still in his life. To make matters worse, she finds out that Robert serves King Edward I, and the king wants to bring Wales under his thumb. But Noor cannot have that, and she needs to protect the Welsh princes from the clutches of the king. Robert does not expect to like his wife as much as he does. He marries her on orders of the king, but there is something about his spirited wife that calls to him. She is brave, intelligent and she wants something from him that he cannot give. Noor wants the impossible from him. Can he give her what she wants, or will it be considered a betrayal by his king?

I am a sucker for a good romance, and this one takes the top spot this year. I love it when authors add romance to a plot because that makes the reader experience it so much better. There is pride in the way Eleanor demands to be called Noor, a trait that I love about her the most. She and Robert clash a lot, but as the story progresses, they both come to an understanding. Their romance isn’t easy, they work hard for it, and readers are rewarded. The narrative is smooth, fluid, and incredibly well-paced. Anna Belfrage introduces new characters, new subplots, and new suspense bit by bit and gives her all to each of the elements. There is a mastery in the way the story unfolds. It lures readers in and makes them stay until the end. Each character has a purpose, and that purpose gets explained as the story progresses. His Castilian Hawk is a must-read for romance enthusiasts who love a solid plotline. Brilliant and entertaining.