Infamous is set during the end of King Edward I's reign. The story surrounds the life of Marjory de Warenne and her quest for happiness. At the age of 18, Marjory meets Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. While deceit has ruined their plans of marriage, Marjory is married off to Humphrey de Bohun, heir to an Earldom.

In this book, the reader is treated to an enthralling tale of betrayal, happiness, loyalty, love, and loss as the story follows the path of Marjory's life through losing a husband during the Welsh rebellions, embracing her newfound freedom as a widow, and at last finding her true happiness as her path once again meets with the Earl of Warwick.

Virginia Henley has created an intriguing tale while masterfully using historical figures and events around which the story has taken place. She has shunned the typical format of a romance novel to give the reader a breath of fresh air. While the story is centered on Marjory and Warwick's romance, the author took the book in another direction, showing all aspects of their life apart and fully telling Marjory's tale while being married to another man and taking a lover after being widowed. She was able to show the hardships of life during the early 14th century without casting the characters as helpless victims, as we so often see with romance novels. With a fast-paced plot, I fully enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction with a bit of romance on the side.

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Publisher: Signet (July 5, 2006)
ISBN: 0451219112
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