(Six Tudor Queens)
By Nicola Harris
Book Review
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Infidel: The Daughters of Aragon begins in a world that appears structured, ceremonial, and controlled—but it quickly becomes clear that beneath that order lies something far more complex. What unfolds is a story that moves from the contained space of childhood into a wider landscape shaped by power, religion, and the demands of empire.
At the centre of the novel is Catalina, whose early life is defined not by choice, but by expectation. From the outset, she exists within a framework already designed for her—her future determined through alliances, her role shaped by those around her. As a child, she interprets this world through imagination, framing her betrothal in terms of stories and symbols she can understand. But as the narrative progresses, that perspective shifts. Her observations become more measured, and she begins to recognise the structure she is part of, rather than simply moving within it.
Running alongside Catalina’s development is the presence of her family, each of whom reflects a different aspect of that structure. Queen Isabella stands as a figure of authority and precision, embodying both strength and control. Her influence is constant, not only in what she says, but in how she is observed and imitated. Catalina learns as much from watching her as she does from being instructed.
Juana’s perspective offers a contrast to this. Where Catalina adapts, Juana questions. Her responses to religious authority and public displays of punishment introduce a more unsettled tone, one that challenges the certainty of the world around her. Through Juana, the narrative explores what it means to resist a system that leaves little room for dissent, and the consequences of seeing beyond what is expected.
The wider world enters the story gradually. Political alliances, foreign envoys, and moments of historical significance are not presented as distant events, but as forces that shape daily life. The fall of Granada, the movement of people across borders, and the expansion of influence beyond Spain all contribute to a sense that the characters are part of something continually shifting. These elements are integrated into the narrative without overwhelming it, allowing them to inform the story rather than dominate it.
The novel’s approach to structure mirrors this gradual expansion. Rather than relying on dramatic turns, it builds through accumulation—moments of observation, conversation, and experience that slowly alter the reader’s understanding. Catalina’s growth is not marked by a single defining event, but by a series of smaller realisations that, over time, reshape how she sees herself and her place within the world.
The setting plays an essential role in this process. The Spanish court is presented not only as a place of beauty and ceremony, but as an environment governed by expectation and visibility. Everything within it—clothing, behaviour, language—carries meaning. It is a space where identity is constructed as much as it is lived, and where even childhood is shaped by purpose.
What emerges is a narrative that moves from the personal to the political without losing sight of either. It begins with a child learning how to exist within her world and expands into a broader exploration of power, identity, and inheritance. By the end, the story does not feel concluded so much as established, leaving the sense that what has been formed here will continue to unfold beyond the final page.
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