Vainglory — Geraldine McCaughrean

Vainglory begins in France in 1429, the year of the Siege of Orléans, as Victoire de Gloriole regains possession of the family castle from the English following the Battle of Agincourt. Having consolidated his position by marrying a beautiful Englishwoman, Victoire sets out to rebuild adynasty and a castle. However some years on, he finds himself without a legitimate heir, and at war with a family of scheming cousins.From Joan of Arc and the 15th century wars with the English through to Catherine de Medici and theslaughter of the Huguenots, Vainglory tells the story of a power-hungry family who will let nothing and no one get in their way. Cleverly plotted and beautifully written, it is a historical novel of rare class.