The sisters (in truth and belief) are displayed to have powers which would quickly have them punished for witchcraft, and their ability to travel and mingle with the world's leaders is both eerie and intriguing. This mysterious trio of women have powers which even in this more modern age would be greeted with cynicism and even fear, so their reluctance to reveal those supernatural powers, not to mention extreme age, is understandable, especially in context with the church and it's command over both political and secular figures and activities of the day. Using recorded and respected historical sources, Ms Avery writes about what could have happened, taking these obscure figures and interspersing them with other figures, such as Thomas Aquinas and the Knights of the Templar (a controversial and secretive sect), and introducing the Royal Protectors, the Order of the Rose, which become pivotal figures in this novel. This historical fantasy takes documented and accepted figures from history (King Louis the IX, his mother, Regent and Queen Mother Blanche, his sister Princess Isabelle) and places them in a setting that attempts to explain some of the actions and the wars that took place during the reign of King Louis IX, and the canonization and later sainthood of both Louis and Isabelle. It is a tale of chivalry, knighthood, romance, and war of lost secrets and hidden mysteries of honor, duty and sacrifice and the power of a few dedicated people to change the face of the world itself. The Crown Rose weaves its tale around the actual events of the time, blending historical realism with a hint of the fantastic, drawing upon extensive research to make the story as accurate as possible. His bloodline goes back to the Holy Land, and he is far, far older than he appears. a man who may, in fact, be much more than an ordinary man. The Crown Rose portrays the mystery of one man who enters Isabelle's life at several key moments, becoming her icon, her soul's other half, and her destiny. And it is a time of conflict between nations struggling and warring to form their own identities and their own destinies.

It is a time of intense chivalry and faith religious orders such as the Templars, the Franciscans, Dominicans, and the Knights of Malta are springing up everywhere. This will be the last generation of knights as we understand them.

Knighthood is still honored, though the traditions are beginning to fade. The Crown Rose tells the story of Isabelle of France, born heir to the her life from childhood to her later years a life of turmoil and strife and longing.

The Crown Rose by Fiona Kai Avery