Review: Lady of Lincoln by Rachel Elwiss Joyce
Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Rachel Elwiss Joyce to Ruins & Reading. I'm sharing my review of her captivating novel about the indomitable Nicola de la Haye – Lady of Lincoln. If you love sweeping historical sagas with compelling real-life characters, read on!
Lady of Lincoln is currently on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club. Find other fascinating posts about Nicola, enticing excerpts, and more HERE!
Lady of Lincoln:
A Novel of Nicola de la Haye,
the Medieval Heroine History Tried to Forget
(The Nicola de la Haye Series, Book 1)
Rachel Elwiss Joyce
Review:
I've wanted to read Lady of Lincoln ever since the Awards readers at The Coffee Pot Book Club chose it as Book of the Year 2025, and I finally got around to it. And it was so worth the wait!
Based on real events in the life of Nicola de la Haye, medieval heiress to the constabulary of Lincoln Castle and later appointed sheriff, Lady of Lincoln is the first book in a long-overdue trilogy about this remarkable woman.
Lady of Lincoln begins with a young, teenage Nicola. A tomboy with a strong sense of justice, she is keen to learn to fight like a boy, even though it is unbecoming for a young lady. Unlike her sister, Julia, who enjoys pursuits more befitting a lady, Nicola feels more comfortable on horseback.
But after her mother's last pregnancy nearly kills her, and suddenly heiress to the castle at Lincoln, and its adjoining lands, her father decides the time is right to find her a suitable husband. And he has already chosen him – Gerard de Camville, an experienced lord over ten years her senior: serious, reliable, loyal. And an utterly boring choice for a young, vibrant girl like herself, decides Nicola!
After a brief sojourn in Normandy, during which she encounters handsome, outgoing William FitzErneis – a young knight with no inheritance – she is smitten, and keeps refusing her father's demands to wed Gerard. Not when she fancies William...
On her father's death, she spurns Gerard (and ignores King Henry II's command) and weds William, but her newfound joy soon turns sour, as she uncovers his real character.
William is not nasty, but he is self-serving and ambitious. Being in Henry the Young King's inner circle provides him with opportunities, but these turn to dust when the king quashes his sons’ rebellion.
Left with a huge debt, a sweet but hapless husband chasing fame and fortune on the tourney circuit, and a ghastly stalker who seeks to take advantage of her by force, Nicola has plenty of challenges to face. But can she cut it in a world where men reign supreme and women are regarded as chattel?
Well, read this riveting novel to find out!
Lady of Lincoln is a brilliant historical adventure with a highly likeable heroine. Ms Joyce has brought this remarkable woman cleverly to life. Nicola is intelligent, headstrong, loyal to her people, but also flawed in her outlook and demands, especially in her younger years. A typical teenager, you might say...
But as events unfold, Nicola grows into a woman who has learned bitter lessons, through deceit, disappointment, and loss, and she only slowly realises where her true place is. She can only continue wielding the power she has been given as heiress with the help of a male protector. A frustrating, but necessary sign of the times. And who can she truly trust to let her get on with it?
William is an interesting guy – a younger son whose goal in life is to wed a wealthy heiress. But once he has accomplished this, he learns the hard way that running a vast estate like Lincoln is not an easy task, and that fleecing the villeins does not lead to riches. He isn't callous, but rather inexperienced. And in his defense, he finally realises that he loves his wife, and wants to make amends. Alas...
Gerard is the calm in all the storms surrounding Nicola and Will. He is the steadfast supporter waiting in the shadows. Some would argue that that is a sign of weakness, but the way he is portrayed works very well in explaining their relationship and ultimately, trust.
In Gerard's character, I saw traces of Robert of Gloucester, the illegitimate half-brother of the Empress Matilda. Both men are loyal and dependable – to the point of appearing dull – but with a rare depth that makes them compelling, powerful men of their times in their own ways. Their actions, when needed, count. But you can see why a teenage Nicola would first choose excitement...
Lady of Lincoln is an incredibly well-researched story about a young woman who makes her mark in a world ruled by men. She learns the hard way what it means to be a noble woman, yet she never really gives up her sense of entitlement and control.
I can't wait for the next novel in this series. Hurry up, Ms Joyce!
Highly recommended!
Blurb:
A true story. A forgotten heroine. In a time when women were told to stay silent, could she become the saviour her people need?
12th-century England. Nicola de la Haye wants to do her duty. But though she’s taught a female cannot lead alone, the young noblewoman bristles at the marriage her father has arranged to secure her inheritance. And when an unexpected death leaves her unguided, the impetuous girl shuns the king’s blessing and weds a handsome-but-landless knight.
Harshly fined by Henry II for her unsanctioned union, Nicola struggles to salvage her estates while dealing with devastating betrayals from her husband… and his choice to join rebels in a brewing civil war. Yet after averting a tragedy and gaining the castle garrison’s respect, she still must face the might of powerful men determined to crush her under their will.
Can she survive love, threats, and violent ambition to prove she’s worthy of authority?
In this carefully researched and vividly human series debut, Rachel Elwiss Joyce showcases the complex themes of honour, responsibility, and freedom in the story of a remarkable heroine who men tried to erase from history. And as readers dive into a world defined by violence and turmoil, they’ll be stunned by this courageous young woman’s journey toward greatness.
Lady of Lincoln is the gritty first book in the Nicola de la Haye Series historical fiction saga. If you like richly textured female heroes, courtly drama, and fast-paced intrigue, then you’ll adore Rachel Elwiss Joyce’s gripping true-life tale.
Praise for Lady of Lincoln:
"Joyce’s vivid prose and masterful storytelling immerse the reader deeply into the emotional landscapes of her protagonists, making their struggles and triumphs resonate long after the final page has been turned. This debut is not only impressive in its narrative depth but also remarkable in its ability to evoke thought and reflection long after the final page is turned."
~ The Coffee Pot Book Club 5* Editorial Review
Buy Link: Universal Buy Link
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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About the Author:
After a rewarding career in the sciences, Rachel returned to her first love—history and the art of storytelling. Fascinated by the women history neglected, or tried to forget, she creates meticulously researched, emotionally resonant fiction that brings her characters’ stories vividly to life.
Her fascination with the past began early. At six years old, she was already inventing tales about medieval women in castles, inspired by her treasured Ladybird books and other picture-rich stories that transported her to another time. By the time she discovered Katherine by Anya Seton as a teenager, she knew the joy and escape that only great historical fiction can bring.
Rachel’s two grown-up children still tease her (fondly) about childhoods spent being “dragged” around castles, archaeological sites, and historical re-enactments. For Rachel, history and imagination have always gone hand in hand.
There was, however, a long gap between the stories of her childhood and her decision to write her own novel. The spark came when she discovered the remarkable true story of Nicola de la Haye—the first female sheriff of England, who defended Lincoln Castle against a French invasion and became known as “the woman who saved England,” Rachel knew she had found her heroine, and a story she was destined to tell.
Rachel lives in the UK, where she continues to explore the lives of women who shaped history but were left out of its pages.
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