Book Review: Infidel: The Daughters of Aragon (Six Tudor Queens) By Nicola Harris

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A princess. A survivor. A daughter of Aragon.  Born in the glittering courts of Castile and Aragon and forged in the shadow of war, Catalina de Aragón grows up surrounded by queens, rebels, and ghosts. She is her mother’s last daughter, the final jewel of a dynasty built on conquest and faith, and the one child Isabella of Castile cannot bear to lose. But destiny has already claimed Catalina.

Nicola Harris’s Infidel: The Daughters of Aragon offers a compelling and emotionally resonant portrayal of Catherine of Aragon’s early life in Spain.  Known as 'Catalina', this intimate focus on her formative years offers a deeper understanding of the values, pressures, and cultural influences that would define her as Queen of England.

Catalina's upbringing within the formidable court of Ferdinand and Isabella explores how deeply her early life steeped in discipline, education, and expectation would have shaped her sense of purpose and unwavering faith.

I liked the depiction of Catalina as a curious, intelligent, and perceptive young girl, navigating the tension between innocence and responsibility. Even her moments of familial warmth and personal aspiration are overshadowed by the weight of her destiny, made more poignant by witnessing the sad fate of her brother and sisters.

Well researched historical detail supports the narrative, and the rituals, landscapes, and spiritual intensity of the Spanish court adds immersive depth to the story. Ultimately, Infidel succeeds in reframing Catherine of Aragon not as a historical figure defined by her marriage and its dissolution, but as a woman shaped by a complex and deeply influential early life. 

I am happy to recommend Infidel to anyone interested in historical fiction and Tudor history, and hope to one day read Nicola’s sequel, covering the rest of Catherine’s troubled life.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Nicola Harris has been a lifelong enthusiast of Tudor history, with a particular fondness for castles, queens, and the emotional undercurrents of court life.  Before illness changed her path, she worked with children as a Nursery Nurse. Nicola was an Aid worker in Romania for the BBC's Blue Peter Appeal in the early 1990s, Writing became a lifeline when she became seriously ill and was diagnosed with a genetic disability. Although she will  never “get better,” Nicola has completed three novels with a fourth in the pipeline. She lives in England with her husband and has two adult children—none of whom share her historical obsession, but who have endured countless castle visits with admirable patience (and the occasional ice cream bribe). Find out more at Nicola's website: https://nicolaharrisauthor.com and find her on Twitter @harris_nic59544 and Bluesky @nicolaharrisauthor.bsky.social