Irene

"Irene had eyes that changed colour like the desert sand and hair as black as a moonless night. She was no more than sixteen years old when Allah chose to put her in my path. To a man hardened by war, jaded by decades of resentment and anger, meeting her was like finding cool water under the scorching desert sun."
- Vizier Abdullah

Irene is a young Castilian widow, barely 17 years old, forced to leave Castile at her father's behest, who fears his political enemies may direct their wrath towards her. She is sent to take possession of a remote piece of land near Wroclaw, in Polish territory, accompanied only by a small retinue and a handful of knights for her protection. Intelligent and determined, yet sometimes led astray by pride and inexperience, Irene must rebuild her life from scratch. Her resolute character, youth, and beauty will soon make her the centre of attention among her noble neighbours.

IRENE: New Beginnings is the first in a series of novels by Vilches, author of the epic saga The Jade Oracle (La Flor de Jade). This historical novel is set in a fictional Europe at the end of the 13th century, where our young protagonist, Irene de Manrique, strives to carve out a place for herself in a world on the brink of total war.

Discover a world of intrigue, passion, and survival as Irene's journey unfolds amidst the looming shadows of political turmoil and personal ambition.