Thy Mother Is A Lioness by Sam Foster

Catherine de Medici, Queen Regent of France, hopes to teach her youngest daughter, Marguerite, to be smart and knowledgeable in political issues. She narrates tales that explore her family history, including Caterina Sforza’s and Maria Salviati’s stories. Caterina appears to be adaptable and intelligent. She not only learned the lesson Charles’s standing army taught those in Europe, but she also started her own army with men from Imola, who had been loyal to her family for four generations and would be loyal to her. However, is this enough to secure her survival in a world of bloody wars and ruthless politics? Sam Foster’s Thy Mother Is A Lioness is a historical journey that brings us to Europe’s past, a war-torn world, and a fight for power involving brilliant women characters.

The book’s evocative depiction of war and battle strategies got my heart racing. It felt like a strategy game, and I had a great time following the intricate details, such as making a barricade of sandbags before a breach and placing archers in an advantageous position.

Also, I enjoying following the amazing characters from the book. Some characters are well-known historical personalities, including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The book’s thorough descriptions allow for a realistic reading experience, since picturing the characters feels quite effortless. Images of some characters are stuck in my mind, including the man sporting “a beard that hung to the middle of his chest and as yet showed no gray.”

Catherine and Marguerite have a particularly interesting relationship. We see Catherine trying to impact her daughter with historical knowledge and teach her to be brave and ambitious, despite the challenges posed by men in their society. Marguerite’s quick learning ability is impressive, even though Catherine sometimes acts like she doesn’t notice it.

The book has a wide range of captivating themes, including war, arranged marriage, family separation, exile, learning, and imprisonment. Though it has an impressive collection of historical information, the information can be overwhelming. The story seems to drag through lengthy details about family and relationship structures, as well as political moves. It doesn’t seem to maintain its focus on passionate, individual struggles.

Historical books like Thy Mother Is A Lioness are a great opportunity to learn about the past, and their fictional elements allow us to enjoy the ride. Sam’s book captures your attention with its lyrical language and immersive descriptions, drawing you into its pages. It’s strong female characters are quite fascinating and inspiring, reminding us never to underestimate the feminine charm and strength. Though I wished it was less cumbersome in some areas, I’m happy to have experienced a vivid representation of history through it.

Released exclusively on Substack – https://samfoster.substack.com