This past week I read Jody Hedlund’s Lost Princesses series. These four medieval Christian romances are filled with political upheaval and tragic circumstances, but also fierce loyalty and swoony romantic moments. *sigh* I lost myself in the historical backdrop of courageous knights, narrow escapes and newfound strength.
However, before I dive into my reviews, I want to caution readers.
While the series is considered “clean” or “sweet” regarding language and sexual content, it is set in the Middle Ages where brutality was often used to gain power. There are several intense moments of torture. They aren’t excessively graphic, but they are present. If you have a vivid imagination (or are a younger reader), you may choose to skim certain sections when you reach them.
Oh, and if you have a serious aversion to spiders… there’s one chapter you will want to skip. (Trust me, you’ll know it when you get there. 😅)
Always is the prequel romance that sets the stage for the entire series. When Mercia is invaded and overthrown by King Ethelwulf of Warwick, and Mercia’s monarchs die, their young daughter and newborn twins are entrusted to loyal knight Lance and noblewoman Lady Felicia to smuggle to safety.
I liked Lance and Felicia, and their strength and devotion carried the story. While their romance unfolded amid grave danger and uncertainty, this tale primarily lays the groundwork for what’s ahead.
Evermore is set seventeen years after Always and follows the crown princess, Lady Adelaide, as she discovers her identity and starts the dangerous journey to reclaim Mercia. Her romance with Christopher Langley—her childhood crush from the family who raised her—added tenderness and tension to a tale already complicated by Christopher’s brother, a ruthless king and the sadistic commander of Ethelwulf’s troops.
Compared to the prequel, the stakes were higher in this story. The action (and torture) was more intense, and character development deepened. Yes, I enjoyed the prequel, but this story exceeded my expectations.
Foremost follows Lady Maribel, one of the hidden twins. Raised in a secluded convent, Lady Maribel is preparing to take her vows when she discovers she’s one of the lost princesses of Mercia. Her journey to find her older sister with fellow orphan, Edmund—who has loved her for years—is packed with dangerous escapes and hidden longing.
There’s plenty of action and high stakes in this instalment, and yes, more moments sensitive readers may find difficult. (And once again: spiders. You have been warned. 😉)
Hereafter concludes this series with the other twin, Lady Emmaline, and her forced marriage to King Ethelwulf’s son, the redeemable antagonist Prince Ethelrex (Rex). Raised knowing her identity, Emmaline possessed courage, strength, and deep conviction… although she certainly struggled with Rex (like I did!) as he proved a far more complex character than I expected. Though I loathed the king with great vehemence, I never felt the same animosity toward the crown prince. Beneath the brawn and questionable tactics was a man whose heart we could glimpse from the beginning, so their relationship felt layered, intentional, and grounded in hope.
This novel also allowed a revisit with Lance and Felicia (and I may have been disproportionately excited about that… 😂). It offered a strong ending to the chaotic affair of Mercia vs Warwick, though the mess and brutality are still present.
If you enjoy medieval adventures with a strong Christian worldview, high-stakes political drama and romance threaded with faith and redemption, this series may be one to add to your list… just with the aforementioned cautions in mind.
Would you read a medieval Christian romance with this level of intensity? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
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