In Therein Lies the Pearl by Catherine Hughes, set in the 11th century, Celia Campion comes of age near Caen as Norman power tightens around the Channel. Violence strips away all semblance of family security and places her inside the household of Duchess Matilda. Celia is sent to England under a false religious identity to remain close to Margaret of Wessex, whose bloodline has consequences during King Edward’s decline. Despite court life being full of threats and coercion, Celia reports back to Normandy—a duty demanded of her in return for her sister's safety. While Harold Godwinson advances his position and William waits across the water, every day places Celia beside the decisions that influence public rule, as England moves toward invasion.

Therein Lies the Pearl by Catherine Hughes is a brilliant historical novel, written primarily from the unique perspective of an outsider on the inside. Hughes breathes pure life into eleventh-century England and Normandy, and we see both domestic labor and court ritual, from laundering linen beside cold rivers to oaths taken before relics. Even the ducal stables at Caen ooze with heat, straw, and rank. Celia is the standout character, whose brutal series of losses, which nearly broke me as each happened, only strengthened her self-command and a genuine care for others, even when her agency is removed. Margaret of Wessex is also a fully formed character, defined by moral steadiness and a mind that guides others during danger. The writing is crisp and elegant, and this is an excellent novel for lovers of medieval history, court intrigue, and women shaped by power, faith, and duty. Very highly recommended.

Two young women, kindred spirits, Celia from Normandy and Margaret, the daughter of Edward the Exile, come together in a thrilling adventure set in the eleventh century, during the days leading up to the Norman Conquest. Catherine Hughes’ Therein Lies the Pearl takes history as we often read it and presents it from the perspectives of the women who struggled to survive in a world that didn’t accept them for their worth. Her story is based on the turbulent royal history of the era, the childless King Edward, his nephew Edward the Exile, Harold the Earl of Wessex and East Anglia, William the Duke of Normandy, and when all these royals and would-be leaders of their time plotted to gain power. It’s always about power and the greed of men. But what about the women? How did they survive the adversity of men vying for their sexual favors, those they don’t care to share, along with the loss of loved ones and death all around them?

Catherine Hughes’ Therein Lies the Pearl is a fascinating historical novel that follows two women instead of the men who controlled their lives. This intense story unfolds with a shipwreck scene that introduces Celia. Backtracking in time, we learn a little about Celia’s upbringing. The story then switches to introduce Margaret, the royal who really wants to follow her faith, a path often chosen by noble women. The author presents historical facts with precision and develops the characters with believable qualities for this era. Descriptive narrative is effectively employed to set the stage and move the drama forward. The book comes to a full circle at the end, and then the author lays out the key points of each section of the book, presumably to assist those wanting to share the story and study it further. This is a fascinating and educational read.