Gina Rae Mitchell

The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris

A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour.

The author is offering some fabulous prizes in the giveaway! Scroll to the bottom to sign up.

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Quick Summary

The Girl of Many Crowns is a compelling historical narrative of Judith, the first princess of France, whose life becomes a symbol of resilience amid political turbulence. Set during the reign of King Charles, grandson of Charlemagne, the story unfolds against a backdrop of Viking raids, internal rebellions, and scheming monarchs. Judith’s father uses her as a pawn, marrying her at 12 to an aging king for strategic alliances. Widowed young and remarried by her father’s decree, Judith defies his authority when he demands a third marriage, resulting in her imprisonment.

Amid this turmoil, Baldwin Iron Arm, a loyal knight and family protector, grapples with his allegiance to the king and his growing commitment to Judith’s freedom. Rich in historical detail, the story explores themes of courage, loyalty, and defiance in the face of oppression.

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The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris [#BookReview #AuthorGuestPost #Giveaway #HistoricalFiction #Medieval] @iReadBookTours @NewClassicsPublishing

Book Details

The Girl of Many Crowns: The true story of a runaway queen and a powerful knight who defy an empire by D.H. Morris
Published by New Classics Publishing on October 4, 2024
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Historical Fiction, Medieval
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 305

"The Girl of Many Crowns" is the true and inspiring story of Judith, the first princess of France, who is a pawn in a complex political game of chess as her father, King Charles, tries to hold on to his kingdom. King Charles, grandson of Emperor Charlemagne, is beset on every side by Vikings, rebel lords, and greedy neighboring monarchs. He marries 12-year-old Judith to Aethelwulf, the aging King of Wessex, for political advantage. When she is widowed less than two years later, he arranges a second marriage for her. But, when Judith refuses to marry a third time at her father's command, King Charles imprisons her in one of his palaces.

Baldwin Iron Arm is a powerful knight from Flanders who pledges loyalty to King Charles and his family. As the companion of Judith's brother, Louis, he fulfills his oath by protecting King Charles' family from Vikings, rebel lords, wars, and assassination plots. He is conflicted when he must choose between obeying the king and rescuing his daughter Judith from her imprisonment.

Source: Amazon Purchase, iRead Book Tours

Content Rating: PG due to some mature subject matters, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content.

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Book Trailer

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Purchase Links for The Girl of Many Crowns

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Also available for purchase here (Non-affiliated)

BookBaby    BN    

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My thoughts on The Girl of Many Crowns

The Girl of Many Crowns offers a riveting glimpse into the tumultuous life of Judith, the first princess of France, against the richly detailed backdrop of medieval Europe. D.H. Morris masterfully blends history and human drama, making Judith’s struggles both personal and profoundly symbolic of the era’s precarious politics.

Judith’s journey is one of remarkable resilience. From her first marriage at just 12 years old to her refusal to comply with her father’s demand for a third arranged marriage, Judith’s strength shines through. Her father, King Charles, is painted as a desperate ruler balancing his kingdom’s fragility against Viking invasions and internal rebellion. In this context, Judith isn’t just a pawn—she’s a young woman fighting for agency in a world that denies her any.

Baldwin Iron Arm is a standout character, adding complexity to the story. As a knight torn between loyalty to King Charles and his compassion for Judith, his internal conflict mirrors the broader tensions of duty versus morality. While understated, the relationship between Baldwin and Judith underscores the book’s theme of protection and defiance.

The story is engaging and thought-provoking, though the historical scope sometimes overshadows Judith’s emotional arc. Still, readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction will find much to love. Judith’s tale of defiance against an unjust fate is inspiring and deeply human, making this book memorable.

As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to spend years researching everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were just being formed and fighting for their very existence. She is planning a prequel to The Girl of Many Crowns.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love to read books through my  Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

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Authors on iTours Interview

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Guest Post from D. H. Morris, Author of The Girl of Many Crowns

AN EPIC QUEST – by D. H. Morris

Many families have that one aunt or uncle who knows everything about the family origins. For our family it was my Aunt Geraldine and she had a plethora of charts and stories to prove it. When my husband and I married, Aunt Geraldine gave us a genealogy book complete with pedigree charts and family group sheets as well as an enormous family tree that traced one line of our family back to the 8^th century emperor Charlemagne and beyond.

Aunt Geraldine, foreseeing the time when she would pass the genealogy torch, had gifted us these records hoping that we might become the family experts for the next generation. I was skeptical at first, but my husband was all for it and we soon were bitten by the genealogy bug.

One mystery existed on the line that went back so many centuries. A girl named Judith – born about 844 – improbably appeared in four different places on my family tree. Surely, this could not be the same person! It made no sense, so I set out to prove the record wrong. Instead, I uncovered a fascinating series of events that confirmed the records while painting an inspiring picture of courage, love, and self-determination. Intrigued by the story of Baldwin Iron Arm and Judith of Francia, I collected research about them and their world over several decades. But it took the forced isolation of Covid for me to put it all together and finally write their story.

The plot of The Girl of Many Crowns follows the historical events recorded by 9^th-century monks at the end of each year as recorded in The Annals of St. Bertin and other contemporary records. I was surprised by how many original sources still exist today – albeit mainly in Latin or German. Some of these sources were detailed enough to even provide a few conversations and speeches that took place during the events covered in the book. To preserve authenticity and draw the reader into the 9-century world – I adopted their more formal way of expressing themselves when writing dialog.

All but a few minor characters in the book are historical figures. My research revealed complex characters set in surprising circumstances faced with daunting challenges and poignant choices. I included any fun facts I discovered about these characters. For example, Judith’s mother, Queen Engelberga, was a renowned embroiderer whose work adorned palaces and cathedrals throughout Francia. One story crying out to be written is that of Judith’s grandmother and namesake the Empress Judith. Her Cinderella-like courtship with Judith’s grandfather has inspired me to begin researching and writing a prequel based on her heroic life.

A genealogical question began my journey into the ninth century. Along the way, I discovered other amazing stories of passion, adventure. I hope that my quest will inspire other writers to look back in time – perhaps into their own ancestors’ lives – and find those hidden gems. The epic journey is so worth it!

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10% of net proceeds from this book go to OUR Rescue, fighting against child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

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Giveaway!

Author-signed copy of THE GIRL OF MANY CROWNS, plus bag, shirt, and other assorted prizes (one winner) (USA and Canada) (ends Feb 7)

Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!

Official Tour Page for The Girl of Many Crowns

Full Tour Schedule:

Jan 6 – @adriftinfictionalworld – book review
Jan 6 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 6 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Jan 6 – @this.human.reads * – book review
Jan 7 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 7 – @readsandmusic * – book review
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Jan 8 – @jilljemmett * – book review
Jan 8 – laksesideivingsite – book review / giveaway
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Jan 9 – Happily Managing a Household of Boys – book review / giveaway
Jan 10 – @onceuponafrida * – book review
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Jan 13 – @Leannebookstagram – book review
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Jan 14 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 15 – @book_withquotes * – book review
Jan 15 – @michellegodardricher/ * – book review
Jan 16 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 16 – @laylabaylabooks * – book review
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Jan 21 – @bookishrebel01 * – book review
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Jan 23 – @nissa_the.bookworm * – book review
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Jan 27 – @onceuponamaltesereader/ * – book review
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Jan 28 – @kiv_coffeeandpages * – book review
Jan 29 – @thewinter_fox_library * – book review
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Jan 30 – Meghan ‘s Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways – book review / giveaway
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Jan 31 –  bookishengineer – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 31 – Teatime and Books – book spotlight
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THE GIR OF MANY CROWNS Book Tour Giveaway

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Book Title: The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 305 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: New Classics Publishing
Release date: October 4, 2024
Tour dates: Jan 6 to Jan 31, 2025
Content Rating: PG due to some mature subject matters, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content.

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