The Last Queen

A Novel of Juana La Loca

By: C. W. Gortner

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

One of history's most enigmatic women tells the haunting, passionate story of her tumultuous life. Juana of Castile is just thirteen when she witnesses the fall of Moorish Granada and the uniting of the fractured kingdoms of Spain under her warrior parents, Isabel and Fernando. Intelligent, beautiful, and proud of her heritage, Juana rebels when she is chosen as a bride for the Hapsburg heir - until she comes face-to-face with Prince Philip the Fair, a man who will bring her the greatest of passions, and the darkest despair.

When tragedy decimates Juana's family in Spain, she suddenly finds herself heiress to Castile, a realm prey to scheming lords bent on thwarting her rule. The betrayal of those she loves plunges Juana into a ruthless battle of wills - a struggle of corruption, perfidy, and heart-shattering deceit that could cost her the crown, her freedom, and her very life.

©2008 C.W. Gortner (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A novel of ravishing power....With compassion and deep respect, Gortner brings Juana la Loca to vivid life." (Malaga Daily)

This is a historical "Novel"

Told in the first person, this is a Novel first with historical time lines. It is written and read beautifully. The last queen of Argonne is a story of corruption, betrayal, repression of woman, and abuse of power. There is very little known about Juana, especially because she was not able to assume her rightful place as Queen because of her husband, father, and son. Her children became very powerful, they even her daughters. I wonder what a difference it would have made if Juana were born in a different time, and lived at the same time as Elizabeth I. Would there ever have been a Spanish armada?

Love this Book👑

I just think this version of Juanas' story is really fascinating. Quite the life she lived.

worth the cost...

I guess the book was pretty good as many times I swear my blood pressure rose...what a woman must endure because of the proud incompetence of men....even to this day.

Great Story

Really interesting story but sad like most of the women royalty of their time. Definitely worth listening too.

Tired of New Victim View of Women

Would you listen to The Last Queen again? Why?

I have listened to many of these historical fictions, one theme that continues to be strong in all of them is that these women have been raped by their husbands. There is no proof of this in any of their lives stories as told in historical books but all these authors assume that because they are strong women a man must have dominated them in such a manor. Due to this new story line, I will no longer listen too or read historical fiction. Authors need to keep with what they know and not assume that all women are victims of rape.

This book infuriated me and I loved it.

A beautiful story of duty, love, betrayal, and the strength of women… suspenseful and fascinating

Narrator is AWFUL

She is terrible at voices. She makes all the men sound sinister, even in casual dialogues, and makes all the women sound breathlessly on the verge of hysterics or tears, or both.
The narration was fine, and the emotional inflection as the main character appropriate but my God she ruined the dialogue.

The story itself is good. I dislike Gortner’s exercise of artistic license and his rearranging of events to suit his narrative. I think the real story is fascinating enough and didn’t really need rearranging. Otherwise it was an engaging story that gives the historical figures new depths and turns them not deeply flawed human. Would definitely recommend to Phillipa Gregory fans who, like me, have whetted their literary appetites on her excellent (if slightly biased) historical fiction are looking for something similar - just with a different narrator!!

Marguerite Gavin

The reader’s Spanish pronunciation is appalling!!
It distracts from the story. I also find it very insulting!! I’m sure if this had been in any other language Marguerite would have bent over backwards to pronounce correctly.
I will never listen to a book read by her again.
Ms Gortner should have been more careful. How could she have sanctioned this reading?!?!

Excellent Historical Novel!

Listening to this book helped tie together this period of history for me. I usually listen to or read books on England. I wanted to expand my knowledge of the different countries. They are all interlaced due to the marriages. It is very interesting. An excellent listen!

Another masterfully crafted compelling story by CWG

Compelling. Intimate. Tragic. Fulfilling. Masterful. I agree that the reader sounded like a robot. Definitely suffered through that to get to the goods and didn’t regret a minute of the time spent listening to this haunting tale.