Joan

Joan

Katherine J. Chen

Publication date: July 5, 2022 by Random House 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 👢👢👢👢👢

Summary: Girl. Warrior. Heretic. Saint? A stunning secular reimagining of the epic life of Joan of Arc, in the bold tradition of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

1412. France is mired in a losing war against England. Its people are starving. Its king is in hiding. From this chaos emerges a teenage girl who will turn the tide of battle and lead the French to victory, an unlikely hero whose name will echo across the centuries.

In Katherine J. Chen's hands, the myth and legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. This deeply researched novel is a sweeping narrative of her life, from a childhood steeped in both joy and violence to her meteoric rise to fame at the head of the French army, where she navigates both the perils of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court. Many are threatened by a woman who leads, and Joan draws wrath and suspicion from all corners, even as her first taste of fame and glory leave her vulnerable to her own powerful ambition.

With unforgettably vivid characters, transporting settings, and action-packed storytelling, Joan is a thrilling epic, a triumph of historical fiction, as well as a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history.

My thoughts: This is a retelling of Joan of Arc like none that you have come across before. Within these pages you will not find a simpering young maiden who blindly followed what the visions told her to do. You will however find a strong, willful, determined, compassionate woman who believed that her strengths were given to her for one reason and one reason only, to save France. Chen wrote a story of a woman who had to defy all the odds of her childhood just to survive never mind be successful at anything.  The Joan in this story had what many would refer to as superhuman strength and unmatched skill in the art of war. 

The Joan in this story would be offered to the Dauphin as a means to combat his lethargy and rejuvenate the Dauphin's desire to attack the English. 

The Joan in this story superseded expectations and needed to be reminded of her role and place in society. 

The Joan in this story never once forgot her purpose.  

Chen wrote with a balance of historical and cultural context, inner reflection, battle tactics, and court intrigue. An engrossing fast paced read. A fascinating take on a much loved symbol of France.