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Hardly would this be a reflection in a dazzling stained-glass church window.....

Katherine J. Chen had a far different portrayal in mind.

St. Joan of Arc conjures up images of a beautiful young maiden suited out in bright armor and seated upon a mighty steed. She was a soldier in a spiritual army hearing voices within herself. It was to a Will far greater than her own that Joan responded without question.

Chen's Joan is (in her own words) ugly, dark-eyed, and large. We visit her early on in 1422 as a young child. Joan takes to the countryside looking for adventure and challenge. She finds it in a village boy by the name of Guillaume. Joan will become known as "the rock thrower" for her deed that day. The thrust of that rock left one boy unable to return home.

Joan's relationship with her father is displayed through a vicious beatings that she received from him. Her physical presence was a continuous source of anger for the man. He would take out life's disappointments on this second daughter to the point of even banishing her from his home. Her waywardness was implanted at an early age.

Chen supplies us with a multitude of characters along the way in which we get a feel for France in a constant losing battle with England. There is an almost neverending fight for the throne as well with characters reflecting both rivals and allies for Joan.

Joan by Katherine J. Chen is a fierce read. Joan becomes an imposing figure led by her own internal battles from childhood. There is nothing "saintly" here in the mix. Chen took liberties in her telling in this one. Her research of the time period and historical significance are remarkable. But Joan is molded by Chen's imagination into a force of pure womanhood and grit. And that, folks, is a thing to behold. Bravo, Chen, bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House and to the talented Katherine J. Chen for the opportunity.