The Iron King (The Accursed Kings #1)
By: Maurice Druon
Format/Source: Paperback; my copy
The Iron King – Philip the Fair – is as cold and silent, as handsome and unblinking as a statue. He governs his realm with an iron hand, but he cannot rule his own family: his sons are weak and their wives adulterous; while his red-blooded daughter Isabella is unhappily married to an English king who prefers the company of men.
A web of scandal, murder and intrigue is weaving itself around the Iron King; but his downfall will come from an unexpected quarter. Bent on the persecution of the rich and powerful Knights Templar, Philip sentences Grand Master Jacques de Molay to be burned at the stake, thus drawing down upon himself a curse that will destroy his entire dynasty…
I’ve had this book on my want-to-read list ever since I heard how much George R.R. Martin enjoyed this series. It sounded pretty epic, covering a chunk of French dynastic history. It has been out of print for decades but HarperCollins UK decided to re-print them recently, which is awesome. May contain some minor spoilers ahead!
This book is part of the Books on France Reading Challenge 2013 that I am participating in.