Isabella, Princess of Poland, is raised to a life of great wealth and leisure in the Polish Royal Court, destined to marry a king. But fate or divine providence intervenes when she meets Johan Hirschberg, a young Anabaptist who works in her father’s stable. This chance meeting leads the young couple into a forbidden love. Together they flee Poland and embark on a dangerous journey that brings … them, after great peril, to the small parish of a troubled priest named Menno Simons. Catholic Bishop, Franz von Waldek, paid by King Sigismund, Isabella’s father to find the princess at all costs, pursues them across Europe. Isabella does not know it, but if von Waldek captures her, she will have to make a choice that will change the course of European history forever.
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The Mennonite Queen by Patrick E. Craig is the third book in The Paradise Chronicles. Having read the second in the series I was looking forward to reading this one and was not disappointed. It definitely is not your usual Amish story. Yet it quickly drew me in especially as the story progresses and Princess Isabella follows her heart and begins to sense a call on her life that enables her to find her way to become the Mennonite Queen. Would she be able to do the unthinkable to save her family? Set in the 1500s, during a very turbulent time of religious wars and political alliances the story is filled with power-hungry men, would be kings, prophets, mercenaries, and sojourners. I enjoyed all the history regarding the Catholics, Lutherans, and Anabaptists and also the story of the former Catholic priest Menno Simons’ journey into his faith and his role as an Anabaptist religious leader. Scenes are described with finesse and subtlety and the vivid characters are well-rounded and realistic–all their flaws, foibles, and faults are there along with their strengths and humanity. I loved the friendship Isabella has with Magda, an older woman who became her friend, her midwife, her mentor. The scenes were such that the reader could feel as though they were right there in the midst of the action, feeling the emotions of the characters as they experience the various dilemmas and happenings in their lives. As the Princess journeyed to Münster in hopes of peace, she found hell on earth. Would she find that peace comes not from a place but true peace comes from within…from God? The Mennonite Queen is a story about love and family and yet it is also about one’s faith and the coming to the realization that if one cannot stand for one’s faith, what good is that faith. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
The Mennonite Queen is the third book in The Paradise Chronicles, but it can be read as a standalone. The Mennonite Queen takes readers back to 1559 when religion was a contemptuous subject. Catholic’s did not appreciate the Anabaptists philosophy of being baptized later in life. It took money from their coffers and led to rebellions among the people. Patrick E. Craig brought this time period alive with his rich historical details. We are swept across Europe as Isabella and Johan escape to live life as they desire. They want to marry and pursue the religion they believe in. The religious conflict is explained in way that is easy to understand. My favorite phrase from The Mennonite Queen is “our weapons are not swords and spears, but patience, silence, hope and the word of God”. These strong characters are realistic, and I found myself rooting for them. There are some emotional scenes that are just heart wrenching. Isabella goes through terrible struggles, but she endures them thanks to her strong faith. The Mennonite Queen is an emotional story and unique historical novel that will have you captivated.
The Mennonite Queen is a magnificent book. Author Patrick E. Craig wrote an awesome book with a storyline that completely caught my interest from beginning to the end. The characters gave a true life feeling and I could feel the emotions as I read the book. I highly recommend others to read The Mennonite Queen by Author Patrick E. Craig.
I received a copy from the author, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.
year 1530, Europe. Two different worlds, two different thoughts and believes, one only hope.
The book haunts the readers through the history of wonderful and strong characters that live in a difficult period in Europe:
religion christian wars, political marriage, army and defence alliance.
very nice book, hunting, inspirational, interesting. good author.