Can't-Wait Wednesday: Portraits of Eleanor by Mary Ann Cappiello

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.
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Portraits of Eleanor: Medieval Warrior Queen by Mary Ann Cappiello

Expected publication: June 22, 2027 by Holiday House

Monster. Temptress. Murderer. Queen. Who was Eleanor of Aquitaine, really?

The juicy rumors abound: Eleanor had an affair with her uncle. Eleanor rode through town topless on a horse. Eleanor controlled her sons like puppets.

These salacious lies and half-truths about Eleanor of Aquitaine have piled up for centuries. Why? Because a woman with power threatened the status quo of medieval Europe. Can’t have that! Stifling her success, gossipy myths transformed Eleanor from a trusted mother to an adulteress, from a tough negotiator to a nightmarish shrew.

But there is a more compelling version of Eleanor’s life buried beneath these stories. In fact, the legendary Queen of England and France survived kidnapping, shipwreck, and starvation; she commanded military power and political influence throughout the 12th Century and was the wealthiest landowner in Europe. No big deal... (Actually: a really big deal!)

This sensational read tears away years of mistruths to reveal an impressive feminist icon. Full-color photographs, royal family trees, and historical artifacts are interspersed among engaging chapters that unpack the myths behind Eleanor’s legacy. Perfect for fans of Candace Fleming’s The Family Romanov or Amy Butler Greenfield’s The Woman All Spies Fear.

I've been wanting to read a nonfiction about Eleanor of Aquitaine for ages and this 2027 release looks and sounds great. I can't wait!!!

What book are you awaiting today?

Audiobook Review: Locusta by Emily Dexter

Title: Locusta
Author: Emily Dexter
Series: The Poisoned Empire Duology #1
Publication: September 15, 2026 by Hay House LLC
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Find it on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 3/5★

Circe meets The Lost Apothecary in the first book of this historical fantasy duology featuring Ancient Rome’s most infamous poisoner who changed the course of history to save the woman she loved.

Born in the ancient region of Gaul, Locusta is the last of her kind—a Druid whose communion with the spirit world grants her the dangerous gift of identifying and wielding deadly substances. When Roman soldiers attack her home and slaughter her mother, Locusta is captured and enslaved, taken to the heart of the empire where political plots abound and death commands a high price. Guided by Arawn, the god of death, she must learn to survive within the brutal, glittering world of ancient Rome.

Her strange talents soon catch the attention of the Roman elite, and she becomes ensnared in a double life—poisoner by night for the cunning Antonia Augusta, and lady-in-waiting by day to Livia, the Emperor’s ambitious cousin. As Locusta plants the seeds of revenge against those who destroyed her home, her connection with Livia deepens into a passionate, forbidden romance that threatens them both. Surrounded by danger and deceit, Locusta’s poisons become their only protection against the increasingly unstable Emperor Caligula and the enemies lurking in every shadow.

Locusta reimagines the rise of one of history’s most complex women through a lens of myth, power, and feminine rage. Rich with ruthless twists, deadly magic, and a sapphic love story that burns from sweet to spicy, this is a story of survival, defiance, and the dangerous alchemy of love and death in a world ruled by men.

Locusta by Emily Dexter is a historical fantasy set in ancient Rome during the reign of emperor Caligula and Claudius.

I was really looking forward to this book because I'm very intrigued by the historical figure of Locusta. Historian don't actually know a lot about her, only what the ancient Roman sources say about her and as we all know how they thought about people from outside their Empire. I liked how the story started and enjoyed reading about Locusta becoming a Druid even though the circumstances of it were quite sad. I also liked her connection she forms with the god of death. However this is where my interest kinda of stopped.

I feel like as soon as Locusta was brought to Rome and she met Livia (cousin of the emperor) that she was instantly obsessed with her and that she sort of disappeared inside the obsession. I also didn't like how things evolved with Agrippina and how the author made her a villain.

This said, the audiobook was quite good. I enjoyed the narrator and it was quite suspsensful at times. However, I'm not sure I'll be picking up the second book of the duology.

About the author:

Emily Dexter is a writer and creator whose work explores the intersection of history, mysticism, and the human spirit. Emily is a deep believer in the magic and power of fiction to change the world and has yet to find something she likes more than creating it. She has cultivated an expansive international audience of readers and viewers across multiple social platforms, where she shares insights on history, mythology, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. Through her writing, she seeks to uncover the wisdom and resilience of women whose stories have been lost to time, inviting readers to see the ancient world, and themselves, through a lens of wonder and truth. When not doing magic, reading, or creating you can find her somewhere in the forests of Lake Tahoe, with her three children, wonderful husband, and stick hoarding dragon dog. 

Website | Instagram  | TikTok | Patreon

 

Cover Reveal: Heartless Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood

Welcome to the cover reveal of Heartless Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood, a fantasy romance.
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Heartless Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood
(Wylder Tales, #4)
Publication date: March 31 2027
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Blurb coming soon…

A slow burn fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the Wylder Tales series includes:

rival queens
forced proximity
enemies to lovers
found family
magical bonds
wicked witches
burly beasts

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Jennifer Silverwood lives in the middle of an enchanted forest surrounded by cursed books, nosy spirits, and mischievous goblins she calls her children. After beginning several nonsensical degrees, she found her calling helping other authors bring their books to life. Jennifer is the author of two fairy tale fantasy series: the Borderlands Saga and Wylder Tales. Because she wasn't satisfied writing in one genre, she also invites you to explore uncharted space with the Heaven’s Edge Novellas—and dare to fall in love again with the standalone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok