13 Aug Book Review The Duty of Daughters Wendy J. Dunn #KatherineofAragon #TheDutyofDaughters #HistoricalFiction #WomenInHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: WENDY J. DUNN

I’m delighted to welcome Wendy J. Dunn as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between July 23rd – August 13, 2026. Wendy J. Dunn is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Duty of Daughters (Falling Pomegranate Seeds), published by Poesy Quill on November 17, 2019  (310 pages).

Below are highlights of The Duty of Daughters, Wendy J. Dunn’s author bio, and my 5-star review of the compelling and heartfelt story of the Machiavellian court of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon as seen through the eyes of Doña Beatriz Galindo.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2026/07/blog-tour-the-duty-of-daughters-by-wendy-j-dunn.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE DUTY OF DAUGHTERS

The Duty of Daughters
El Deber de Las Hijas (Spanish version)
(Falling Pomegranate Seeds)
by Wendy J. Dunn

Blurb:

Castile, 1490.

Doña Beatriz Galindo is an uneasy witness to the Holy War of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon. A holy war pushing the Moors out of territories ruled by them for centuries.

Beatriz does not want a life like other women. She desires power over her own destiny. Even if this means walking a far harder road.

A passionate and respected scholar, Beatriz serves her friend Queen Isabel of Castile as her advisor. She also tutors the queen’s youngest child, Catalina of Aragon.

Dedicated to Queen Isabel and her children, Beatriz guides the young Catalina of Aragon to walk her own hard life road.

But can she prepare Catalina to be England’s queen?

Any Triggers: Adult themes and situations.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link – The Duty of Daughters: https://mybook.to/FPS

Universal Buy Link – El Deber de las Hijas: books2read.com/u/mVoKBA

AUTHOR BIO: WENDY J. DUNN

Award-winning Australian author of Tudor historical fiction, specialising in Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon novels.

Wendy J. Dunn is an award-winning Australian author, playwright and poet fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel narrating the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their own holdings. It seems likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally.

Her second novel, The Light in the Labyrinth, set during final days of Anne Boleyn’s life, revisits the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of her niece Catherine Carey. The Duty of Daughters and All Manner of Things tell the story of Katherine of Aragon. Shades of Yellow tells the story of a woman writing a novel about Amy Robsart.

All Dunn’s award-winning works weave together the lyricism of poetry with the pulse of history, creating stories of love, loss, and the endurance of the human spirit.

Author Links:

Website     Facebook     Instagram     Threads     Bluesky     Book Bub

TikTok     Amazon Author Page     Goodreads     LinkedIn     Newsletter

BOOK REVIEW: THE DUTY OF DAUGHTERS

The Duty of Daughters (Falling Pomegranate Seeds) by Wendy J. Dunn sweeps you into the Machiavellian world of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon as seen through the eyes of Doña Beatriz Galindo.The novel spans approximately 10 years from 1490 to 1501, just before Princess Catalina (Catherine of Aragon) leaves for England to marry Prince Authur. An advisor to Queen Isabel, Doña tutored the subjects of medicine, rhetoric, and the philosophy of Aristotle to Princess Catalina and taught at the University of Salamanca. Doña is an eyewitness to the ruthless schemes in the royal court as King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel maneuver to gain more power and maintain their family’s legacy. Both will do whatever is necessary, including using his children as chess pieces in strategic marriages, to gain political power in the region. Doña provides insight into the machinations of the royal couple and their heartfelt grief with the tragic deaths of their children.

Author Wendy Dunn has crafted an engaging story revolving around Doña, a forgotten woman in history who, despite the paternalistic society she lived in, chose her pathway as a royal advisor and tutor, wife, and mother. The prose is filled with rich, sensory descriptions to set the mood in each scene. “At summer’s end beauty and ugliness competed for dominance. Most of the flowers were now gone to seed, even the well-tended roses drooped their heads … Life passed so quickly, one season dying, rebirthing into another.”

Each chapter begins with thought-provoking quote or Castilian proverb to help set the stage. Doña is an engaging character who must endure the sexual advances of the king so she can continue her passion to be a tutor to the queen’s youngest daughter and teacher at the University. Despite her personal dilemma, she manages to maintain her influential positions and marries a man she loves and has a son. 

The changing political climate of the region where Moors, Jews, and Christians had lived together harmoniously are shown in scenes where the queen’s entourage, including her children, witness Jews being forced to leave the country because they refuse to accept Christianity. Though Queen Isabella often felt deep jealousy and anger toward her husband’s infidelities, she balanced her personal hurt with political pragmatism. Nonetheless, they mutually respected each other and governed jointly. Both instilled their strong belief in duty to their children, even though some of the arranged marriages had tragic consequences. The author’s note about writing the novel provides insight into the historical background, but it would have been helpful if years of the scenes were also included in each chapter. 

The Duty of Daughters captures the political intrigue of the royal court of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, their complex relationship that forged an empire, and the impact they had on their children with emphasis on education. Highly recommended. 

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