Blue Ink Review Celebrates Lady of Lincoln

Lady of LincolnNicola de la HayeBook ReviewBook Recommendations
Written By Rachel Elwiss Joyce

There's a particular kind of validation that comes when someone who reads hundreds of books professionally stops to single out your work. This month, Blue Ink Review named Lady of Lincoln one of their February Book Recommendations, and I'm still processing what that means.

Blue Ink Review doesn't hand out accolades lightly. They're known for their rigorous standards and honest assessments, which makes their recognition of Lady of Lincoln feel especially meaningful. In their recommendation, they highlighted exactly what I'd hoped readers would discover: that Nicola de la Haye's story deserved to be told with the complexity and historical precision it demands, that medieval women's lives were far more nuanced than we've been led to believe, and that fiction grounded in meticulous research can transport readers to another time without sacrificing authenticity.

What strikes me most about this recognition is how it validates the countless hours spent poring over medieval records, tracing Nicola's footsteps through Lincolnshire's landscape, and wrestling with how to honour her legacy while crafting a compelling narrative. Historical fiction walks a tightrope between accuracy and storytelling, and Blue Ink Review's acknowledgment suggests that Lady of Lincoln manages that balance in ways that resonate with readers who value both elements.

Nicola de la Haye defended Lincoln Castle against siege, served as sheriff in her own right, and navigated the treacherous politics of medieval England with remarkable skill. Her story has been overlooked for centuries, reduced to footnotes in histories that centered men's experiences. Blue Ink Review's recognition helps ensure that more readers will discover her extraordinary life, and that feels like exactly the kind of impact I'd hoped this book might achieve.

If you haven't yet met Nicola de la Haye, there's never been a better time. Blue Ink Review thinks she's worth your attention, and I promise you, she absolutely is. You can buy your copy of LADY OF LINCOLN here.

Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Rachel Elwiss Joyce, Author of Historical Fiction.

Exploring power, loyalty, and love in turbulent medieval England.

Rachel came to novel writing later in life, but she has always been passionate about history, storytelling, and the forgotten voices of women. She writes meticulously researched, immersive historical fiction that brings overlooked heroines into the light.

She started inventing tales about medieval women living in castles when she was just six years old—and never stopped. But when she discovered the extraordinary story of Nicola de la Haye, the first female sheriff, who defended Lincoln Castle from a French invasion and became known as ‘the woman who saved England’, Rachel knew she had found a heroine worth telling the world about.

Lady of Lincoln is her debut novel, the first book in her Nicola de la Haye Series, with sequels to follow.

https://rachelelwissjoyce.com
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