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Reviewed by Tina Gibbons for Readers' Favorite
The Last Princess of Meigen by Rachel A. James is a historical romance. Princess Alena was not of royal birth, and her father-in-law believed she'd bewitched his son into marriage. She had married the prince for love alone, and after he had died, she was left as a servant to the king. Alena suffered from a breathing affliction that strengthened the king's belief she was possessed. When the king forced her to enter into a marital agreement to unite two kingdoms, she traveled to meet her betrothed in Angularem. She found herself captivated by a physician who treated her breathing illness and had to choose between what her heart wanted and loyalty to her king. Her king had been known to be vicious and deceptive, and he held Alena's son to force her to comply with the marriage arrangement. She struggled to find strength and purpose to free herself and her son from the king's grip.
Princess Alena led a happy life while her husband was alive. After he died, she wasn't comfortable in her role as a princess. Her constant struggle to fit in, to find a purpose and be useful made me sad. While helping the physician at Angularem and learning medicine, she blossomed; it expanded her character, transformed her and made her likable. When faced with her father-in-law's presence, Alena battled to hold on to the person she'd become. I liked that person and her fortitude in standing up for herself and her loved ones. I applaud the author. Alena could have been the damsel rescued by the knight, but Ms. James went a different route.
The other characters were interesting: a wickedly evil father-in-law who stirred trouble, a pregnant princess Teagan who was proficient with a longbow, a betrothed King Niall who still mourned his wife. I was captivated enough by Teagan and Niall to read more and look for other books by Ms. James. I enjoyed this book for the sweet love story between Alena and Sherwin, and for the other elements of excitement, treachery, and deceit. I recommend The Last Princess of Meigen by Rachel A. James.
