It is a well-known tradition in Europe, and the West, to forget and erase women’s history. A Polish queen comes to life in The Widow Queen. This is an imagined and fictional life of what Swietoslawa and her life might have looked and felt like. There is such an emphasis on feeling what her life would have been. That is the part that makes this book most raw and well written. The rich facts build-up to emphasize every facet and complexity of Swietoslawa and her family. At its heart, this book is about family.

The Widow Queen is a historical fiction about an 11th-century princess, the daughter of Mieszko I of Poland. The story starts when she’s a young princess and into her twenties. The author quite literally throws us into ice water when Duke Mieszko and his son, Boleslaw, swim in an icy lake. It is brutal and old-world, she tells. The family surrounding Swietoslawa’s world makes it into a detailed, fun, and ravenous read.

Originally, my interest in this book stems from it being translated into English by a well-known Polish author. What grabbed me first is Swietoslawa, who is like the 11th-century princess version of a wolf stalking its prey. That’s the best way that I can describe her. She and her family are seemingly predatory in the way they’re described. It’s those little details that pull me. Swietoslawa’s father telling her how much she reminds her of him, so eager to get rid of their enemies. Mieszko sitting in his chair with a hawk on his shoulder. Ruthless and aggressive, yet loving and vulnerable. I’ve never read that before, or often, in a book like this.

This is a world full of cultural intricacies, struggles, and biases with religion. The power that religion gives privileged people becomes a large proponent and one thing that I found really interesting. In that sense, it reminded me a lot of the Vikings. Every character, including Swietoslawa, has a bias and shades of grey regarding what they believe in. Everything about this book is deep-set on emotion and using historical facts to paint a large picture for you to visualize it. Religion is part of that. Culture, and all the different ethnic minorities in Poland, are a part of that. The rulers’ intent on changing the scope of their land impacts its people, and that acknowledgment shows through. That’s what’s so interesting about this book.

Yet as I read, I found myself torn in half by how much more the first 70 percent of this novel is so much more interesting than its ending. It’s the ending that I am captivated by or should be. I’m left dry in many places, where the pacing drags, and I’m reaching for anything to drag me back into the ferociousness of its characters. The one warning of this book is that many spots could have used better editorial work, specifically in the pacing.

I also want to note something. Many places, particularly in sex scenes, use metaphors veering into the ridiculous. I don’t know if this is an issue with a translation, but sometimes when things are translated into English from a totally different language and culture, not everything has a tone that makes it sound well-written. I mention this because some English, especially American, readers might laugh at some metaphors that are supposed to sound beautiful and atmospheric as they probably are in Polish.

I would love to read more historical fiction by Elżbieta Cherezińska and hope to see more translations of her work in the future if they are anything as vibrant and brutal as The Widow Queen. I recommend reading this with something more fast-paced since the pacing issues can be a bit jarring. However, I would give this a read. There are not many books released by Eastern-European authors in the U.S. If you would like a taste of the rich history of Poland, this is definitely one to pick up.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

If Game of Thrones were set in 10th century Poland, Sweden, and neighboring countries...

The Widow Queen is based on the life of Świętosława, a 10th century princess and daughter of a Polish duke, who becomes a powerful Scandinavian queen. Cherezinska brings "the bold one" to life with rich description of the life of a woman who is seen by the men around her as a political pawn, to be used in any way possible to gain lands and power. Świętosława turns the tables on the men trying to control her, and becomes a brutal and powerful ruler in her own right. The clash between those who believe in the "old gods" and those who follow the still-new Christianity is also detailed. While I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of all the different players and regions, I found this to be a fascinating history of a woman who has almost been forgotten, who was always known as someone's daughter, someone's wife, and almost never named in historical records. The story ends on a cliffhanger leading to the next book in the series.

Elzbieta Cherezinska's The Widow Queen is the first in her historical saga, The Bold that begins in 984 AD. Swietoslawa, called the bold for her exploits, is the beloved daughter of Mieszka, great duke of Poland. Mieszka carefully builds his empire through his daughters' and son's marriages - Swietoslawa to King Eric of Sweden.

There are battles and betrayal, and our heroine is left as a widow queen, with a tsunami of suitors. Can she retain power as a woman and keep her sons safe? She is forced to marry again, and bears two more sons.

I very much enjoyed this saga of Polish and Scandinavian history swirling around a bold queen.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was not what I was expecting at all. I did not care for it at all. I just couldn't get invested in any of the characters.

If you are a fan of epic historical fantasy, then The Widow Queen, written by Elżbieta Cherezińska, is a novel that will be worth your time. However, I do want to take a minute to thank Maya Zakrzewska-Pim for translating this novel. Without that, I never would have been able to read it!

Swietoslawa was never content to follow her father’s orders. She doesn’t want to go down the same path as her sisters. She didn’t want a husband – she wanted a throne and crown of her own. She wanted to be more than a pawn; she wanted the right to rule on her own.

A right she’s willing to fight for. Unfortunately, Swietoslawa is about to learn the meaning of a double-edged sword. As she is about to gain her wish…and all of the challenges that come with it. Set in Poland, 984, this is a thrilling tale of politics, determination, and the battle for power.

“Whatever awaited her this Koliada, she wasn't going to be a lamb led to slaughter.”

If there's one thing that I've learned from reading The Widow Queen, I really need to read more translated novels. Because this book? It's amazing. The Widow Queen is compelling, emotional, and dramatic all in one.

This novel is perfect for those out there that love historical fiction. Heck, even if history and historical fiction isn't really your thing (guilty – most of the time), you'll have no trouble following along. Or appreciating the messages woven into Cherezińska's work.

The Widow Queen is a rich and detailed read. If you don't believe me, take a look at the page count – over five hundred pages of details, descriptions, and character development! I was thrilled.

I can tell you with complete honesty that I have never read a book quite like The Widow Queen. It's so refreshing to see and say that. Clearly, I need to continue branching out, because this was a delightful experience.

I really struggled with this one. It’s choppy and confusing. There are so many characters and very few of them stand out. DNF at 20% - I really tried to get into this one because I loved the idea of it. It just wasn’t happening.

“She knew that the fire could start anew at any moment. The people hadn’t put down their weapons, they were holding on to them, soiled by the body they’d destroyed. She was afraid. In this moment, she felt a fear like she had never known. A frenzied but paralyzing feeling, like all was crashing down around her at once. But she was a queen, she could not be afraid.”

THE WIDOW QUEEN
The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska is the first book in a historical epic about a Polish Queen known as, The Bold One. It is 10th century Poland. The world can change with one battle. Swietoslawa is the daughter of a Duke. One of three daughters. The Duke cherishes his daughters but he also knows that he can use them. Swietoslawa refuses to be a pawn. She does not hold her tongue like most ladies learn to do. She knows she must eventually marry. But she hopes that she will be widowed and can therefore have a throne all of her own.

This is a rare historical fiction! I would put it up there with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and Bernard Cornwell’s works. It is over 500 pages long and I still wanted more. Be prepared, it ends on a MASSIVE cliffhanger. Kind of like, the 9th episode in Game of Thrones.—it just ends, leaving you angry that you have to wait a week to get answers…except now you have to wait at least a year for the next book. This is the time period that I love reading and learning about! While we have limited sources from the time, the author does a splendid job at filling in the gaps. The historical detail is splendid.

Some of the transitions are a little rough as the point-of-view switches, but it overall moves at a good pace. The characters change and transform through each and every event. I loved watching Swietoslawa become a powerful Queen, someone who is only mentioned in history. There is also plenty of political and religious intrigue. This is a time when Christianity is sweeping through Europe and the Pagan rituals are becoming a thing of the past.

Overall, this was a splendid read! I rate it 4 out of 5 stars!

This story is a part of history that I never knew about, and I man have I been missing out! It was fascinating and devastating all at the same time. The Vikings have always been something that have fascinated me, but I never knew the connection some of them had to Poland's history. I loved the characters, and the all twisted connections they had. Cherezinska weaved a story that transported me into Poland and Scandanavia, and I didn't want to leave. It was thrilling, and I couldn't help but route for Swietoslawa and her family the whole time.

The only complaint I have is that it felt a bit disconnected at times, and it didn't seem to have a smooth plot line. I wish it flowed a bit better, but despite that, I loved it! I will be anxiously awaiting book number 2!

A huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to review this epic historical novel in exchange for an honest review.

A unique setting - the dawn of the middle ages in what is now Eastern Europe.
The plot- a bloodthirsty cross between a Game of Thrones roller coaster of a ride and the ethereal plot of The Bear and the Nightingale, that pits Christianity against paganism.
The characters- a heroine that reminds me of Lada Dracul from Kiersten White's The Conqueror's Saga.

Swietoslawa is determined to be more than a pawn in her father's political machinations, more than a means to garnering a strategic alliance. She wants a throne of her own and is confident she has the cunning, ruthlessness and wisdom to rule without a husband. Although there are five main characters, her story enthralled ne the most.

This was meticulously researched. The daily lives of the main characters, from mundane tasks to their hopes and dreams, unfold with precision and wonder.

Highly, highly, highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book didn't land for me- I had expected more historical fiction, but in tone it felt more like fantasy. I do think that it will really appeal to Game of Thrones or Brandon Sanderson fans, though!

I am usually a little leery of books that have been translated (I always wonder how much of the story is getting lost in translation), but this one seems to be translated well. It was a little difficult to get into, but after 50 or so pages, the author's unique voice pulls you in and won't let go. The characters are authentic and complex, displaying a wide range of emotions and actions; the plot is very detailed, shedding light on a era that is little known (by me, anyways). This is historical fiction at its best.

Rebellion has never set well with parents of any sort. Here a king with three daughters see’s the chance to secure his borders and strengthen his legacy. Kings have long used their offspring to mend fences gain alliances and secure thrones. We are given not only a front row seat to the intrigue of court buy the bargains made by a polish princess to retain her own power and secure a legacy rich but not without personal sacrifice. A corner of history that refuses to lay silent.

A Strong Woman in a Dynastic Chess Game

In the years around 960 the Piast House ruled Poland. The Duke Mieszko was ambitious to increase his power and rule the entire area. One of his plans for this included his children, his son and three daughters. He planned to use marriage to his daughters to cement alliances and increase his scope.

His youngest daughter, Swietoslawa or the bold one, understood her father’s plans, but she had plans of her own. She didn’t want to be a pawn in a man’s world. She wanted to rule in her own right and was willing to do whatever it took to reach that position. This book is primarily her story, but it also involves the other family members and the areas they rule.

The story is complex and requires you to keep the genealogy straight. This can be challenging at the beginning of the novel. Another interesting aspect of the story is the relationship between Christianity and the pagan religion. In order to gain more power, the Duke allied himself with the Holy Roman Empire and forcibly converted his country to Christianity. I found this one of the most interest parts of the book.

This book is the first in a series that will trace the Plast House through the era. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a good book in an interesting era. The next book will be available in 2022.

I received this book from NetGalley for this review.

Świętosława (pronounced shvee-in-toe-slah-vah) is one of the Duke of Poland's three daughters. As an aristocratic female in the Middle Ages, she will be married off to create an alliance with surrounding territories. Her brother Bolesław (boh-less-lahv) will succeed his father Mieszko (mee-esh-koh) as the Duke of Poland. The story takes place in the Middle Ages, beginning in the late 900s.

The other narrators in the book are men from outside Poland -- Olav Tryggvason in Rus (Russia/Belarus) and Sven the future King of Denmark. Sven begins in Denmark and travels to Poland, returning to his home with a new bride.

Mieszko's three daughters have their own preferences for which man they want to marry, but their father has other plans. It seems that the women are all unlucky in love, and part 2 of the novel follows the siblings (Bolesław included) in their new marriages.

The story is full of political intrigue between the various Scandinavian rulers. This makes for a slow novel, plodding along waiting for something to happen. The scenes with battles are short and don't add much excitement to the novel.

In all honesty, I only made it a third of the way through the book. When I saw there were 15 hours left, I made the decision to cut my losses. I didn't feel any emotional attachment to the characters, and I wasn't interested in the plot.

Recommended only for fans of medieval historical fiction, especially those looking for a story that doesn't center around England.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I found I had to really concentrate while reading it due to the depth and complexity of the relationships running throughout the plot. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this book was no exception.

It isn’t too many generations back on my father’s side that my family migrated from Poland and the last few years I’ve found myself drawn to learn more about that part of my heritage. Since fiction has always helped drive my interest in history (and vice versa), when I saw a novel about a Polish princess who became a commanding queen, I jumped at the chance to read it. Elżbieta Cherezińska’s The Widow Queen is the first of her two novels about Świętosława to be translated into English (with the second hopefully being released in 2022). Inspired by figures from 10th century history (a period where the historical record has quite a few gaps), The Widow Queen has done what my favorite historical novels always do: it’s inspired me to search out and learn more.

Świętosława, her brother, and their half-sisters are all expected to play their part in their father Duke Mieszko’s plans to expand his rule and influence in what will become Poland. But Świętosława has never been one to simply do what she’s told. Earning herself a nickname meaning “bold,” Świętosława proves adept at navigating the treacherous waves of warring kingdoms and shifting alliances in the North and Baltic Seas, though she learns quickly that the price of her power and safety is almost always paid in personal sacrifice and that choice can be a powerful illusion.

Delving into overviews of this period of history and seeing the uncertainty around the identities of the key women, I thoroughly enjoyed the way Cherezińska used creative license to combine several of them into one character while also accounting for the confusion and contradiction of the different accounts. Being the period in history when much of this area of the world was shifting towards Christianity, she also took license with some of those uncertainties to draw clearer lines of conflict while also exploring that blending of the old and new that happens when such a huge shift takes place. It all made for an intricate unfolding of shifting alliances and skillful political maneuvering, tinged with the types of personal affronts and emotional investment that drive the most satisfying stories of revenge and one-up-man-ship.

Shifting focus between several characters, the novel is very much Świętosława’s story. In the earlier half of the novel, her brother Bolesław and their father’s court play a much larger role before disappearing almost entirely in the second half. While it’s necessary for following both the course of history and the main focus of the novel, it did leave things feeling a little unbalanced at first. Learning there is a second novel in this set and that the English translation of it should only be a year away leaves me hoping that Bolesław and some of the others in Poznań will come back again more in the second book.

As far as being a translation goes, my experience is that they can be hit or miss. For me, Maya Zakrzewska-Pim’s translation goes into the ‘hit’ column (though I admittedly haven’t read the original Polish and won’t be able to for a long time if ever). There’s a lyricism and poetry to the imagery and symbolism of the book that can often fall flat in translations.

The Widow Queen will be available in English on April 6, 2021.

The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska is the epic tale of a medieval queen.

What I Liked

Swietoslawa was inspiringly ahead of her time. She always knew she wanted to rule without the aid of a man. The character is detailed with intricate layer after intricate layer. Even though the story focuses on five different interconnected characters, her story drew me in the most. She is such a great example of women empowerment, doing even distasteful tasks involved with ruling and figuring out how to rule within the confines of a male-dominated world. She is inspiring even today.

I also enjoyed the setting. I did not know much about Scandinavia’s medieval history, and this book provided that and more. I especially enjoyed the mystical elements and how the transition from the old gods to Christianity transpired. I know the facts behind that transition, but it never felt so real and as messy as it did in this tale.

To Read or Not to Read

Suppose you are looking for a medieval story whose heroine could inspire epic fantasy tales. In that case, you will be enchanted by this tale of the queen who ruled in Scandinavia.

The Widow Queen is an ambitious start to the story of Świętosława, as well as a variety of other players set during the time period of 984 CE - 997 CE in and around Poland. This is a fictional story based off of true historical events, which includes Vikings, Polish history, and more of the area, which I thought made things even more engaging and exciting when reading this book.

This book took me a long time to read, not only because it's fairly long (~600 pages or so) but also because it's fairly dense in content and there are a lot of characters and plot details to follow. All that being said, however, I never really felt that lost while following. There's definitely some necessary info-dumping at times in order to help set the stage and background for understanding events that are both occurring and will occur, but it didn't necessarily feel overwhelming for some reason. I love history, so I have appreciate how much this book has told me about the time period and the wars and politics of the period, as well as how much it has inspired me to look up more about the characters and places mentioned on my own. I always think the mark of an especially good book is when it inspires readers to look into more information about something on their own.

The Widow Queen is told across a variety of perspectives including Świętosława, members of Świętosława's family, and other prominent players in her family's life, but Świętosława remains the central protagonist of the story. Świętosława is a character that I personally found myself really enjoying getting to know, and her journey was compelling and full of so many new people, places, and intrigue. Świętosława is often referred to as 'the bold one,' and I honestly can't think of a better way to describe her or her personality. I particularly liked how well she always stood her ground in any situation, and even if she did find that she said something wrong or made a wrong move, she always acknowledged it while maintaining her position and not allowing herself to be forced to back down by anyone. Świętosława may not be the most warm or welcoming person, but she knows how to survive and how to stay in power by playing all of her cards in the ways she knows best. Świętosława is the main reason that I am most excited to continue on with this series, because I am immensely curious to find out what will happen next in her life (and, quite frankly, I'm very interested in what will happen in her lynxes' lives as well--because yes, she has two lynxes!).

The rest of the cast of characters are full of varied and colorful characters that added a lot of depth and excitement to the story. All of these characters are based on real historical figures, and although I don't really know much about this time period or these people, I could tell that Cherezińska took time and effort to create them in an as authentic manner as possible, and I really felt like these were real people. I liked how she managed to convey how intertwined so many of these characters and their relationships were with others, both political and personally, as well as how the different countries interacted in varying ways.

Since this is a translated story, I'm not sure how much the translation plays into the pacing and writing style, but I will still discuss my thoughts on the writing as its presented in this book. This is one of those books that has both fast and slow pacing at the same time, and I both enjoyed it while I also found it a little dragging at times. Events themselves can happen unexpectedly quickly and unpredictably, but some scenes and/or situations seemed to drag on a bit too long. The writing itself also feels rather sparse in ways--for instance, the dialogue is short and a bit clipped in ways, but in a way that felt enjoyable and authentic. The plot itself felt slightly meandering at times as well, but if you are interested in the characters and the time period then it never really feels like it's a bad thing; conversely, if you're not enjoying the characters--for instance, there were a couple POVs I didn't care for--then some areas might be a bit harder to get through. Świętosława's POVs were always enjoyable for me, though.

Overall, I've given The Widow Queen four stars! This book is a perfect read for someone who loves historical fiction, strong characters, and a compelling narrative.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Tor books, and Ms. Cherezińskafor the opportunity to read an ARC of this (translated) novel.

I guess I'm on a bit of a Viking bent this year. First the Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, and now The Widow Queen, by Cherezińska (and ably translated by Ms. Zakrzewska-Pim). I was struck by the SIZE of the book and frankly found the beginning a bit difficult as you're plunged straight into the meat of the story without a great deal of context or background.

Nonetheless, I found Swietoslawa to be a terrifically compelling character and caught myself racing through other characters' chapters to get back to her. The author acknowledges 'All the unnamed, forgotten princesses from the Piast dynasty, but also to nuns, wives, mothers, and female rulers about whom history remains silent. To all the girls marked in family trees sadly as N.N.'⁣ in her foreword, and Swietoslawa (or Sigrid, as she later renames herself) is certainly a worthy recipient of a book's focus. She is a fierce, intelligent, cunning, loyal woman who embodies every lesson her father ever taught her about being a successful ruler. I would wish that more of the women in the story received such loving treatment - other than Swietoslawa, all the remaining main characters are decidedly MALE - but this book is definitely Swietoslawa/Sigrid's story and it shows.

The treatment of Christian/pagan was handled deftly; neither religion came off looking particularly rosy which I found very realistic. The politics were also very informative: I had NO idea there were so many remaining historical records detailing Dark Ages-era history of Scandinavia, Poland, Hungary, etc for the author to draw from. The author has certainly done a very thorough job mining her sources for information and reimagining them into a gripping narrative.

The one thing I didn't like about the book is a purely personal preference: I'm not a big fan of unfulfilled love/bittersweet endings stories, and this is certainly one of those. I do understand the literary and romantic appeal of these setups but I just personally don't like reading them. Despite this, once I got properly going with this story I was completely hooked and found myself reading (and reading, and reading; it's a long book!) at every opportunity.

4.5 stars and highly recommended to historical fiction fans, especially those who enjoy Game of Thrones-style politics with larger-than-life figures, Bernard Cornwell readers, or those who watch the Vikings tv show on History Channel.

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars

This is for fans of Game of Thrones and Viking sagas - it has all the intrigue of familial plotting, backstabbing, betrayal, forbidden love, war, and so much more. The rich Scandinavian and Polish royal history really was intriguing because I knew almost next to nothing about this time period from the 900s -1000s. Duke Miasko I is at the head of the Polish throne and Swietoslawa and his other two daughters start alliances through their strategic marriages. Through this they are united by Sweden, Jomsberg, and Norway. This was such an interesting time as many of the people in these regions still practiced their Nordic pagan religion and to see the spread of Christianity by each family dynasty was very interesting. Swietoslawa was such a strong person, despite not having much say in her own life decisions. I am not sure if she really had lynxes as pets, but that would have been amazing. Also, the bond between Olav and Swietoslawa - I yearned for them to be together even though they spent most of the book apart. I couldn't find much online about them in real life, so that might actually be fictional. I can easily visualize this whole saga as a tv show - there is so much that goes on and so fascinating that most of this is based on actual history.

I highly recommend it for those that are big history/royal family nerds, but want to stay awake. This book is very well written and easy to read. It was very helpful for the author/translator to reiterate some of the names and who they were again and again throughout the book so you don’t have to keep flipping back.

Thank you to Tor Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

US Pub Date: April 6, 2021