17 reviews in, and I’m starting to suspect this little habit has properly stuck. I used to just close a book and move on, but now I like sitting with it for a bit—working out what actually stayed with me and what didn’t.
Infidel: The Daughters of Aragon caught me slightly off guard. I went in fully expecting a young Catherine of Aragon story, something quite focused on her childhood and how she became the woman history remembers. And while that’s definitely there, it wasn’t what ended up holding my attention the most.
That would be Joanna of Castile.
I didn’t know much about her before this, and now I’m wondering how she’s managed to slip past me for so long. She’s not written as dramatic or deliberately rebellious—she just reacts honestly to things that don’t quite sit right with her, and that makes her stand out in a court where everyone else seems to know exactly how to behave.
There’s a moment early on where the children are made to witness an execution, and it’s one of those scenes that doesn’t need to be over-explained to have an impact. Juana’s reaction feels instinctive, almost out of step with everyone around her, and it quietly sets up how she’ll be seen going forward. It’s less about the event itself and more about what it reveals.
The contrast between Catalina and Juana works really well. Catalina feels like she’s learning how to move within the system, understanding what’s expected of her and adapting to it, while Juana keeps pressing against it without really meaning to. It makes their chapters feel quite different without ever clashing.
The story doesn’t rush. It takes its time building the world and letting the characters grow into it, which meant that by the end, I felt like I understood them rather than just having followed along.
I came away from this thinking less about the big historical moments and more about the people inside them, which is usually a good sign.
Overall, I found it a really absorbing read.
I’d give Infidel: The Daughters of Aragon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.
If you enjoy:
Historical fiction that focuses on people rather than just events
Stories that explore family, expectation, and identity
Characters who don’t quite fit the roles they’re given
A slower, more thoughtful pace
…then this is well worth your time.
17 reviews in, and still no sign of running out of things to read.
Universal Buy Link
https://books2read.com/u/4AZDEJ
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I’ve always been a writer, but it was only when illness forced me to stop everything that I finally had the time to write a novel. After decades of misdiagnosis, I learned I was born with a serious genetic condition, not rare, but profoundly misunderstood. The clues were there from birth, and suddenly, a lifetime of struggle made sense.
Writing became my lifeline: a way to step beyond my pain, to shape my experience into a story, and to find meaning where there had once been only endurance.
I have a lifelong love of children, Counselling, and Psychotherapy Theory and history.
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Victoria 📚
