The author used some original documents, including letters written by and to Adela of Blois. Did you find those original writings enlightening or confusing? Do you think the story would have been easier to read and more compelling without those?
With husbands often absent on crusade, noblewomen like Adela and Giselle managed estates and political responsibilities. What did the story reveal to you about women’s agency in a time often dismissed as male-dominated?
How did the novel’s portrayal of Adela compare with what you already knew (or didn’t know) about William the Conqueror’s daughter? Do you feel the author presented her more as a political figure, a mother, or a woman navigating uniquely personal challenges?
Cerdic’s divided loyalties—to England, to Normandy, to Adela, and to Giselle—are central to the story. Did you sympathize with his struggles, or did you find his indecision frustrating? What does the novel suggest about the true "price" of loyalty?
