A player, not a pawn, a powerful woman when most women were powerless.
In the male-dominated world of twelfth century France, Countess Adele of Blose, daughter, sister, and mother of kings survives complicated and dangerous conflicts to become a powerful ruler and strategist.
When her much older husband leaves on the First Crusade and later dies in the Holy Land, Adele, as rebent, assumers the responsiblity of dealing with the compliex political and religous issues of her time. She owes political loyalty to the French Kings and family loyalty to England. She must balance these competing interest in order to preserve the land and power of her husband and sons.
In a time when kings and popes argue over supremeacy, Adele seeks compromise and a middle ground, but ultimately, she must take sides.
Does she chose wisely?
In addition to Adele's life, this fictional biography illuminates the lives of other twelfth century French women.