The Maiden's Court: 12th c

Showing posts with label 12th c. Show all posts

Monday, December 1, 2014

Book Review: The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton & Giveaway

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton
Paperback, 496 pages
NAL
November 4, 2014
★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Historical fiction

Source: Received from the publisher for review as part of HFVBT

“In the late twelfth century on the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, following a violent feud between blood brothers, the victor Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself Genghis Khan. But behind one powerful man stand many strong women…
After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, darkness looms over Borte’s life. She becomes an outcast among her clan and after seeking comfort in the arms of an aristocratic traveler, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man she was betrothed to years ago but who abandoned her long before they could marry. And he will only leave her behind again.
Temujin will make Borte his khatun, his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new empire. Their daughter, a fierce girl named Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, seeks revenge against the Mongol barbarians who destroyed her city and murdered her family, but in the end will sacrifice everything to protect the Golden Family. Demure widow to Genghis’ son, Sorkhokhtani positions her sons to inherit the Empire when it begins to fracture from within.
As Genghis Khan sets out to expand his conquests and the steppes run red with blood, Borte and the women of the clan will fight, love, scheme, and sacrifice, all for the good of their family and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls…”

The Tiger Queens is broken up into four parts with each part being narrated by a different women from Genghis Khan’s tribe. This divide into parts is designed to move the reader through over 80 years of time and I think this works well stylistically as each story picks up about where the prior one left off giving the reader a continuity. While these women couldn’t be more different, I like them for different reasons. They are strong, but in their own ways. Borte has seen and been subjected to a lot in her life and that is where she draws her strength from. Alaqai has been pretty much a tom-boy and the Khan’s favorite child, so she got away with a lot growing up, but now must use her skills in a new land amongst people who basically hate her. Fatima, who was taken as a slave, and must learn to deal with her captors. Sorkhokhtani, the quiet, one who takes everything in and then does everything she can to keep her family in power. There is a wide cast of characters here, but the author has done a great job of giving you enough information about each one to make them whole – even the more periphery characters.

The best scenes in my opinion are the times when these women are all together. There is a great scene that stands out for me while reading this novel. All of the daughters (by blood, marriage, and adoption) of Genghis Khan spend time really getting to know each other while discussing what to expect upon two of the girls marrying in the very near future. It was funny, sweet, and solidified the sisterly bonds. It actually broke my heart to see these women have to break up and go the separate ways of their new families after this heart-to-heart moment. I think that was when I really started to enjoy the book – not that it wasn’t an enjoyable read up until that point.

It is obvious that the author has done a great deal of research on the topic of Genghis Khan and the Mongols and the groups that they interacted with along the way. This is an area of the world where I have virtually little knowledge going into this novel. She does an excellent job of weaving even the smallest details into the novel so that the world they live in feels palpable to the reader without it ever feeling overburdened with detail. A great balance of show and tell.

The novel had a little bit of a slow start for me, but quickly picked up and didn’t slow down straight through to the end and left me wanting to know more about these incredible women.

Author Stephanie Thornton also has written The Secret History and Daughter of the Gods. You can visit Thornton’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book (scroll down that page about halfway)?

My reviews of other books by this author:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

You can follow along with the rest of the tour by visiting the HFVBT site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #TheTigerQueensBlogTour.

I also have a giveaway opportunity for you all (this is the same giveaway that was posted on my In-Progress review on Tuesday November 25th). I have 2 paperback copies ofThe Tiger Queens to giveaway - one copy will be sent out by me (extra copy I received) and the other will be sent by the publisher.

Giveaway is open to USA residents only and will be open from November 25, 2014 until December 6, 2014
Entries are made via the Rafflecopter below - please follow directions provided in the Rafflecopter entries
I have updated by giveaway policies and made them always available on my "policies" tab at the top of the page. When you get to that page scroll about 3/4 down the page and there are my giveaway policies. Please review these and abide by them. Thanks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

In-Progress Book Review: The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton & Giveaway

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton
Paperback, 496 pages
NAL
November 4, 2014

Genre: Historical fiction

Source: Received from the publisher for review as part of HFVBT

“In the late twelfth century on the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, following a violent feud between blood brothers, the victor Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself Genghis Khan. But behind one powerful man stand many strong women…
After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, darkness looms over Borte’s life. She becomes an outcast among her clan and after seeking comfort in the arms of an aristocratic traveler, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man she was betrothed to years ago but who abandoned her long before they could marry. And he will only leave her behind again.
Temujin will make Borte his khatun, his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new empire. Their daughter, a fierce girl named Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, seeks revenge against the Mongol barbarians who destroyed her city and murdered her family, but in the end will sacrifice everything to protect the Golden Family. Demure widow to Genghis’ son, Sorkhokhtani positions her sons to inherit the Empire when it begins to fracture from within.
As Genghis Khan sets out to expand his conquests and the steppes run red with blood, Borte and the women of the clan will fight, love, scheme, and sacrifice, all for the good of their family and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls…”

I tried so hard to free up the time to get this book finished before today. I have not had as much time to read as I would have wished the last two weeks because of finishing up my research paper and then my final exams for the semester – so alas, I’m only about 50% of the way through The Tiger Queens. I should be able to finish up in the next day or so. I thought about trying to write up a full review without having finished the book – but that felt disingenuous to me, so I’m going to give my thoughts thus far and then follow up later this week with my full thoughts following completing the book. It’s only the fair thing to do.

The Tiger Queens is broken up into four parts with each part being narrated by a different women from Genghis Khan’s tribe. So far I have read through two of these women’s stories. This divide into parts is designed to move the reader through over 80 years of time and I think this works well stylistically as each story (so far) has seemed to pick up about where the prior one left off. While the women I have read about thus far, Borte and Alaqai, couldn’t be more different, I like them for different reasons. Both are strong, but in their own ways. Borte has seen and been subjected to a lot in her life and that is where she draws her strength from. Alaqai has been pretty much a tom-boy and the Khan’s favorite child, so she got away with a lot growing up but not must use her skills in a new land amongst people who basically hate her. There is a wide cast of characters here, but the author has done a great job of giving you enough information about each one to make them whole – even the more periphery characters.

There is a great scene that stands out for more so far while reading this novel. All of the daughters (by blood, marriage, and adoption) of Genghis Khan spend time really getting to know each other while discussing what to expect upon two of the girls marrying in the very near future. It was funny, sweet, and solidified the sisterly bonds. It actually broke my heart to see these women have to break up and go the separate ways of their new families after this heart-to-heart moment. I think that was when I really started to enjoy the book – not that it wasn’t an enjoyable read up until that point.

I look forward to being able to see how the stories of the other two women fit into the overarching storyline.

You can follow along with the rest of the tour by visiting the HFVBT site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #TheTigerQueensBlogTour.

I also have a giveaway opportunity for you all. I have 2 paperback copies of The Tiger Queens to giveaway - one copy will be sent out by me (extra copy I received) and the other will be sent by the publisher.

Giveaway is open to USA residents only and will be open from November 25, 2014 until December 6, 2014
Entries are made via the Rafflecopter below - please follow directions provided in the Rafflecopter entries
I have updated by giveaway policies and made them always available on my "policies" tab at the top of the page. When you get to that page scroll about 3/4 down the page and there are my giveaway policies. Please review these and abide by them. Thanks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Book Review: The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick
Book 1 in Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy
ARC, eBook, 497 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark
July 1, 2014
★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Historical fiction

Source: Received for review via Netgalley

“Eleanor of Aquitaine is a 12th century icon who has fascinated readers for 800 years. But the real Eleanor remains elusive.
This stunning novel introduces an Eleanor that all other writers have missed. Based on the most up-to-date research, it is the first novel to show Eleanor beginning her married life at 13.
Overflowing with scandal, passion, triumph and tragedy, Eleanor's legendary story begins when her beloved father dies in the summer of 1137, and she is made to marry the young prince Louis of France. A week after the marriage she becomes a queen and her life will change beyond recognition . . .”

The Summer Queen is the first in a planned trilogy by Elizabeth Chadwick featuring Eleanor (or Alienor) of Aquitaine. This novel focuses on her younger years, time as Queen of France while married to King Louis, and the earliest years of her marriage to Henry, Duke of Normandy. I have read a novel or two that also focus primarily on this time period, however, Chadwick brings a new interpretation and life to Alienor.

As Chadwick chooses to call her main character by Alienor, I will here too. For me, it helped to separate this character from the one I have read in other novels, so it allowed for a fresh interpretation. Alienor was strong, crafty, and determined to make the best out of bad situations. Anyone who could put up with the man that King Louis became deserves just a little bit of credit. This part of her life is a prime example of sometimes money/fame/being queen isn’t everything if all the other parts of your life are miserable.

I think that Chadwick did a fantastic job of presenting Alienor in a realistic light. There are a great many myths and stories that surround her and Chadwick makes choices, filling in the historical blanks, that make the most sense with her interpretation of the historical record. At no point did Alienor feel out of place or stepping beyond her role, as some authors have made her do. She was a real woman living and breathing in her time.

Speaking of living and breathing, the world that these characters live in utterly came to life within the pages. One of Chadwick’s strengths is that she brings the historical world that we will never experience to life in a way that is relatable to us in the modern day.

While the William Marshal novels will also be my Chadwick novels of choice, I have faith that the Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy will be right up there, because The Summer Queen was a great start!

Author Elizabeth Chadwick also has written many other books, too many to list really. Here is the complete list. You can visit Chadwick’s website or one of her blogs for additional information about the books.

For another take on The Summer Queen, check out this music list compiled by the author.

My reviews of other books by this author:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Book Review: Russka by Edward Rutherfurd

Russka by Edward Rutherfurd
Unabridged, 39 hr. 57 min.
Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Wanda McCaddon (Narrator)
September 13, 2012
★★★★☆

Genre: Family Saga, Historical Fiction

Source: Downloaded from Audible for Personal Collection

“Russka is the story of four families who are divided by ethnicity but united in shaping the destiny of Russia. From a single riverside village situated at one of the country's geographic crossroads, Russia's Slav peasant origins are influenced by the Greco-Iranian, Khazar, Jewish, and Mongol invasions. Unified by this one place, the many cultures blend to form a rich and varied tapestry.

Rutherfurd's grand saga is as multifaceted as Russia itself: harsh yet exotic, proud yet fearful of enemies, steeped in ancient superstitions but always seeking to shape the emerging world. Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great, and Lenin all play their roles in creating and destroying the land and its people.

In Russka, Edward Rutherfurd has transformed the epic history of a great civilization into a human story of flesh and blood.”

Russia is a land with a history that is vast, varied, and lengthy – and Rutherfurd admirably conquers that history in his 960 page, (almost) 40 hour long book. As is the style of Rutherfurd novels, the reader is taken on a historical tour that follows the lives of a few choice families from a cross-section of society. From the early days traveling across Russia’s plains to the post WWII era, the country comes to vivid life. Russia has been a country that has been closed off from much of the world for much of its history – through actions of its own and those of others – making it a land that is rather mysterious to many. Rutherfurd’s writing style makes this region accessible to readers and evokes a feeling of the times.

1,800 years is a lot to cover in a novel, but Rutherfurd hits what appear to be all of the biggest events. There were events that I knew (from history class) as well as those that I did not. Somehow in my listening I seem to have missed the entire section on Catherine the Great, which is a period I am particularly interested in, but rest assured, it is covered!

This novel was everything that I was hoping it would be – making the vague history of Russia accessible and interesting.

★★★☆☆

When you are spending just shy of 40 hours listening to a novel – the narration becomes excessively important. A 12 hour novel I can deal with a so-so narrator, 40 hours, it’s A LOT harder. The narration wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t compelling. The narrator’s voice had a jarring accent that frequently pulled me out of the flow of the story. It also wasn’t the type of accent that fit with the context of the story – which would have made a little easier to accept, even if it wasn’t pleasing to the ear.

I can’t help but compare the experience of listening to Russka to the experience listening to the other Rutherfurd book I have read, New York. In that case, the narrator was marvelous and I even experienced tears and goosebumps from the combination of great narrative and amazing narration. I was hoping for that experience here and that didn’t quite happen.

Edward Rutherfurd has also written several other historical fiction books: The Princes of Ireland, Rebels of Ireland, The Forest, London, New York, Paris, and Sarum. You can visit Rutherfurd’s website for additional information about these books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

New York

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Sweat, Tears, and Digital Ink

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

Monday, October 14, 2013

Book Review: Illuminations by Mary Sharatt & Giveaway

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt
Hard Cover, 288 pages
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
October 9, 2012
★★★★★

Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction

Source: Received from author for review and also as part of HFVBT tour

“Illuminations chronicles the life of Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), who was tithed to the church at the age of eight and expected to live out her days in silent submission as the handmaiden of a renowned but disturbed young nun, Jutta von Sponheim. Instead, Hildegard rejected Jutta’s masochistic piety and found comfort and grace in studying books, growing herbs, and rejoicing in her own secret visions of the divine. When Jutta died some three decades later, Hildegard broke out of her prison with the heavenly calling to speak and write about her visions and to liberate her sisters and herself from the soul-destroying anchorage.

Like Anita Diamant’s portrayal of Dinah in The Red Tent, Mary Sharratt interweaves historical research with psychological insight and vivid imagination to write an engaging and triumphant portrait of a courageous and remarkably resilient woman and the life she might have lived. Deeply affecting, Illuminations is a testament to the power of faith, love, and self-creation.”

This was one of those books that I wasn’t sure I would be into because of the subject matter. I have had bad luck in the past reading novels that are set essentially entirely in a nunnery/church/etc. I also had never heard of Hildegard von Bingen or Jutta von Sponheim. However, everyone I spoke with had nothing but great things to say about the book and highly recommended it. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed with this book.

Apparently a lot can happen within two small rooms with a high-walled courtyard and only a small screen to see out into the church. It was a very emotional novel - really getting into the mind of Hildegard, Jutta, and their other followers. There was a lot of drama between these girls – as you would expect across time and place with any group of women enclosed in a small space over a long period of time. Hildegard really grew as a character; I can’t say I always liked her or agreed with her, but when she set her mind to something she went for it – and that I admire. Unlike the other novels that I have read set in a church setting it was still engaging for the reader and not at all boring. Although the book was relatively short the way the novel was written it made it feel much longer.

Even only having a passing interest in religious figures and events I found the book very interesting. The pace of prose moved right along and the characters kept me connected to the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Christian subjects or really to anyone interested in a well written psychological story.

Author Mary Sharratt also has written several books including: Daughters of the Witching Hill and Vanishing Point. You can visit Sharratt’s website or blog for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

My reviews of other books by this author:

Daughters of the Witching Hill

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #IlluminationsTour.

I also have a giveaway opportunity for all of you – one copy of Illuminations by Mary Sharratt. It is open internationally! Giveaway is open until October 27th. Make your entries in the Rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Book Review: Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick

Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick
ARC, E-book (Kindle), 544 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark
March 5, 2013
★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received for review consideration from publisher

“A medieval tale of pride and strife, of coming-of-age in a world where chivalry is a luxury seldom afforded, especially by men of power.

England, 1148---ten-year-old Brunin FitzWarin is an awkward misfit in his own family. A quiet child, he is tormented by his brothers and loathed by his powerful and autocratic grandmother. In an attempt to encourage Brunin’s development, his father sends him to be fostered in the household of Joscelin de Dinan, Lord of Ludlow. Here Brunin will learn knightly arts, but before he can succeed, he must overcome the deep-seated doubts that hold him back.

Hawise, the youngest daughter of Lord Joscelin, soon forms a strong friendship with Brunin. Family loyalties mean that her father, with the young Brunin as his squire, must aid Prince Henry of Anjou in his battle with King Stephen for the English crown. Meanwhile, Ludlow itself comes under threat from Joscelin’s rival, Gilbert de Lacy. As the war for the crown rages, and de Lacy becomes more assertive in his claims for Ludlow, Brunin and Hawise are drawn into each other’s arms.

Now Brunin must defeat the shadows of his childhood and put to use all that he has learned. As the pressure on Ludlow intensifies and a new Welsh threat emerges against his own family’s lands, Brunin must confront the future head on, or fail on all counts....”

This was my first real foray into Chadwick’s back list – I previously read, A Place Beyond Courage and For the King’s Favor however they were a part of the William Marshall saga and thus felt like one coherent series. While the story is set amongst the civil war between Matilda and Stephen and then the early years of Henry I, the story is much more about the family life with the de Dinans and FitzWarins. There is something of three generational stories within the narrative – you have Brunin’s grandmother, Jocelin and Sybilla (de Dinan) and Fulk and Eve (FitzWarin), and then Brunin and Hawise. Each has its own set of challenges and personalities.

One strength of this novel is the growth and development of characters. At the start of the story Brunin is a sort of wimpy boy who has been constantly put down by his grandmother, father and brothers. By the end of the novel he has had to face many dramatic upheavals in his life and truly becomes a man who will fight for his family and their cause. The same can really be said for Hawise. She starts off as a little “tomboy” – not really interested in sewing with the women but would rather ride her horse and climb and be where she shouldn’t. While she is faced with the responsibilities of the family and her home, she grows into a strong woman of her time. These changes just don’t happen suddenly and unexpectedly, but you see the characters encounter forks in the road and make decisions that will affect their futures.

I am interested in seeing how Lords of the White Castle or (The Outlaw Knight as it will be re-released in the USA in September) will play out as it was originally written first, but is the continuation of the story from Shadows and Strongholds. On a random side note – I think it is interesting that the British covers of both of these books had females on the covers, but the USA releases have men on the covers.

Author Elizabeth Chadwick also has written many books, the other book that is connected to this one although also stands alone is Lords of the White Castle (aka The Outlaw Knight). You can visit Chadwick’s website or blog for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book (click the link and then scroll down a little bit)?

My reviews of other books by this author:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Book Review: A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick

A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick
Book 1 in the William Marshall series
ARC, Kindle E-book, 512 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark
September 1, 2012
★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher through Netgalley for review

“The early twelfth century is a time for ambitious men to prosper, and royal servant John FitzGilbert is one of them. But when the old king dies and his successor is appointed, John faces a terrible choice: he must join the rival faction-his enemies- or risk losing everything. His new wife helps him carry his burden, but his final choice will seal not only her fate, but those of his young children.
As the fight for England's crown enters a new phase, John may be forced to make a terrible sacrifice...”

Ever since I first picked up The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick I have been entranced with the Marshal family – be it William, Mahelt, or now, John Marshal. I had heard from many other readers who had read the previously released UK version of this novel that this was a wonderful read and it certainly did not disappoint.

John Marshal is always known for the “hammers and anvil” speech that he gave to King Stephen at Newbury Castle – and this incident leads people to believe him to be a harsh, uncaring, man. Chadwick’s Marshal is much more of a compassionate man who had to have the courage to make the tough, right decisions. Chadwick builds a person that we can believe in and understand that his decision to leave his son, William, with the King was not one that was made lightly.

We meet John Marshal’s two wives in this novel, Aline and Sybilla, and these two women could not have been more different. Aline was a more quiet, reserved, deeply religious woman, while Sybilla was more passionate, outgoing, and a great hostess. I have to say that I couldn’t wait to see Aline leave the scene, not only because she was not compatible at all with John, but because she was so boring. I kept thinking “get with the program and do your duties!” Sybilla was much more interesting to read about because she knew what her responsibilities were and was a great helpmate to John.

My favorite scenes were those that did not involve John or Aline or Sybilla – but little William. Of course I enjoyed reading about him in The Greatest Knight and the other novels, but these small scenes allowed the reader to get to know where he got some of his ways from and give us a little preview of the future William Marshal.

As with all of her novels, Chadwick really knows how to create some great drama. I have to say, without giving anything away, that the scenes at Wherwell Abbey were fantastic. Each chapter pulls you immediately into the next chapter and it is truly an “unputdownable” read.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

You can also watch the book trailer below:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Elizabeth Chadwick:

Elizabeth Chadwick has written many wonderful novels, among those in the William Marshall series are:

The Greatest Knight (Book 2)
[My Review]

The Scarlet Lion (Book 3)
[My Review]

For the King's Favor (Book 4)
AKA - A Time for Singing
[My Review]

To Defy a King (Book 5)
[My Review]

You can find a complete list of Chadwick novels here.

I have also reviewed the following other novels by Elizabeth Chadwick:

Find Elizabeth Chadwick: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Book Review: Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

ARC, Paperback, 544 pages

Sourcebooks Landmark

September 1, 2011

★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher for review

Matilda, daughter of Henry I, knows that there are those who will not accept her as England’s queen when her father dies. But the men who support her rival Stephen do not know the iron will that drives her.

Adeliza, Henry’s widowed queen and Matilda’s stepmother, is now married to a warrior who fights to keep Matilda off the throne. But Adeliza, born with a strength that can sustain her through heartrending pain, knows that the crown belongs to a woman this time.

In the anarchy, in a world where a man’s word is law, how can Adeliza obey her husband while supporting Matilda? How long can Matilda fight for the throne that she has struggled so bitterly to win?

Lady of the English might be more aptly named Ladies of the English as this story is just as much about the widowed queen Adeliza as it is about the rightful queen Matilda. We are privy to their respective worlds as Matilda struggles to fight for that which should be hers by right. We see Adeliza struggle between how she wants to help Matilda and how she must do as her husband wants. Matilda must fight against her cousin Stephen and his supporters to take back England for her and her heirs.

A shocker for me about this book by Elizabeth Chadwick is that it didn’t immediately suck me right into the lives of the characters. I felt that the beginning of the novel was more slow and wading – you didn’t just jump right in. As the novel progressed I began to connect with Adeliza and very much enjoyed her story. Toward the end I even cried as her story came to a close – Chadwick was at her best in pulling the heartstrings and manipulating the reader’s emotions. But, while I liked Adeliza, I just could not get into Matilda. I felt like she was cold and distant to the reader – and even though that was sort of how she presented herself to the world, I just couldn’t connect with her enough to care if she won back her crown or not. I kept looking forward to the next Adeliza passage.

This was my first book by this author that wasn’t in some way related to the Bigod or Marshall families – and I didn’t love it quite as much as those.

I have to say that Chadwick excels in the details. Every moment in the world felt real, as if you were breathing in the same air as the characters. You get it all – sights, sounds, tastes, smells. The minor or sideline characters were very well developed and I came to care for many of them as well. You really get to see the young Henry II and can believe how he grew up to become the great king who would eventually marry Eleanor of Aquitaine.

So overall this book was sort of hit and miss for me. Not my favorite Chadwick read by a long shot, but still a very good book overall.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

You can also watch the book trailer below.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Buy the Book Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Elizabeth Chadwick

Elizabeth Chadwick has written many novels, a selection of those include:

A Place Beyond Courage
[My Review]

The Greatest Knight
[My Review]

The Scarlet Lion
[My Review]

For the King’s Favor
AKA: A Time For Singing
[My Review]

To Defy A King
[My Review]

Shadows and Strongholds
[My Review]

The Summer Queen
[My Review]

You can find a complete list of Chadwick novels here.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Book Review: The Queen's Pawn by Christy English

The Queen’s Pawn by Christy English

ARC, Paperback, 378 pages

NAL Trade

April 6, 2010

★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from the Author for Review

“A historical novel of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine and the one person she loved more than power-her rival for the throne.

At only nine, Princess Alais of France is sent to live in England until she is of age to wed Prince Richard, son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Alais is an innocent pawn on the chessboard of dynastic marriage, her betrothal intended to broker an uneasy truce between the nations.

Estranged from her husband, Eleanor sees a kindred spirit in this determined young girl. She embraces Alais as a daughter, teaching the princess what it takes to be a woman of power in a world of men. But as Alais grows to maturity and develops ambitions of her own, Eleanor begins to see her as a threat-and their love for each other becomes overshadowed by their bitter rivalry, dark betrayals, conflicting passions, and a battle for revenge over the throne of England itself."

To Be Queen is the story of Eleanor and Alais – regardless of who else is present in any scene. These two women are alike in many ways but the differences between them profoundly affect the way they thrive and evolve. When we meet Eleanor she has already been through the good times with her second husband – King Henry II – and they are on the backward slide. Eleanor is always thinking five steps ahead of him (and everyone else for that matter) to decide what is the best action to take to support her interests. Alais is a blossoming young woman, at a very impressionable time in her life, when she arrives at the English court. We get to see her quickly grow from a quiet and naïve girl to someone who is much more sure of who she is and what she wants. She thrives under Eleanor’s tutelage – but the one thing that she will not give up is her religiosity (something that Eleanor does not have). Alais becomes, in my opinion, a more perfected image of Eleanor – not yet jaded, but strong and has learned how to take life in her own hands.

Although Eleanor and Alais take the main stage in this novel, the men in their lives do play quite an important role. Richard (Eleanor’s son and Alais’ betrothed) and Henry (Eleanor’s husband and Alais’ eventual lover) cause a lot of turmoil between these two women but they create some of the most memorable moments in the story. My favorite scenes are the sweet, passionate moments between Richard and Alais. There are no romping romance scenes but there are some tender, caring touches and the words that go unspoken say it all. There were also some great moment between Eleanor and Henry. Even though their marriage is in ruins and they are always launching attacks at each other, they do have these moments where they reminisce. There is still love there, but it doesn’t have the same hold over them.

I loved the ending – it is so sweet and hopeful after everything that happened in the preceding 370ish pages.

While this is a story that is mostly focused on the development of the characters (specifically Eleanor and Alais) there are some great drama and romance scenes as well – but the characters are always the prime focus. Wonderfully written and believable. As soon as I finished reading it I was ready to launch into To Be Queen.

Author Christy English has also written To Be Queen with a release date of April 5, 2011. You can visit Christy’s website for additional information about the book.

My other reviews of this author’s books:

To Be Queen

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

Also today during the HFBRT To Be Queen Event:
@ Historical-Fiction.com - Christy's Guest Post

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Book Review: To Be Queen by Christy English

To Be Queen by Christy English

Book 2 in the Eleanor of Aquitaine series

ARC, Paperback, 400 pages

NAL Trade

April 5, 2011

★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from author for review for HFBRT event

“The author of The Queen's Pawn delves into the early life of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine in her new historical novel.

After her father's sudden death, fifteen-year-old Eleanor is quickly crowned Duchess of Aquitaine and betrothed to King Louis VII. When her new husband cannot pronounce her given name, Alienor becomes Eleanor, Queen of France.

Although Louis is enamored of his bride, the newly crowned king is easily manipulated by the church and a God that Eleanor doesn't believe in. Now, if she can find the strength to fight for what she wants, Eleanor may finally find the passion she has longed for, and the means to fulfill her legacy as Queen.”

In her follow-up to the highly enjoyable The Queen’s Pawn, Christy English brings us back a few years to a young Alienor who is just coming into her own as the up-and-coming Duchess of Aquitaine. We have the great privilege to follow Eleanor from Aquitaine to France, to the Holy Land and finally (at the very end) on to England. This novel allows us to really get a sense of how she came to be the powerful woman we know and love – the one who constantly opposes King Henry in The Queen’s Pawn. I really found myself liking this young Eleanor much more than the hardened Eleanor of later life – she was just so passionate.

I was also allowed the chance to get to know characters that were less familiar to me. Eleanor’s sister, Petra, plays an important role in the running of Aquitaine after Eleanor becomes Queen of France – I didn’t even know she had a sister but I quickly became a fast fan. King Louis was a more complex character than I initially thought. The relationship between him and his wife was interesting to watch develop – it was also painful to watch fall apart. You also get to see what attracted Eleanor to a young Henry of Normandy – he was determined and powerful – how could you not be attracted to him?

One of the strengths of the author in this novel was the ease in which she evokes the senses – sight and smell particularly. It really builds and adds to the descriptions of the world around us. The trip to the Holy Land was nothing like I imagined whenever I would hear that Eleanor went on Crusade with Louis. This trip was less focused on the events transpiring while en route and more on the evolution of Eleanor as a person. Building upon this, Christy develops a total woman in Eleanor – she is not just the stereotyped woman, although you can see where these famous stereotypes come from. We get to see a woman with flaws, but a woman who learns from them and grows.

A wonderful novel – just slightly more enjoyable than The Queen’s Pawn, mostly because I liked this version of Eleanor better. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

Christy English has also written The Queen’s Pawn (you can find my review later this week). You can visit her website for additional information about her books. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble RJ Julia

Also by Christy English

The Queen’s Pawn (Book 1 of Eleanor of Aquitaine)
[My Review]

Aphrodite’s Choice (Book 1 of The Goddess Diaries)

How to Tame a Willful Wife (Book 1 of Shakespeare in Love)

Love on a Midsummer Night (Book 2 of Shakespeare in Love)

Much Ado About Jack (Book 3 of Shakespeare in Love)

How to Seduce a Scot (Book 1 of Broadswords & Ballrooms)

How to Bed a Baron (Book 1.5 of Broadswords & Ballrooms)

How to Wed a Warrior (Book 2 of Broadswords & Ballrooms)

How to Train Your Highlander (Book 3 of Broadswords & Ballrooms)

Find Christy English: Website | Twitter

Also going on today as part of the HFRT event:
@ HFRT - "Getting to Know Christy English"
@ Hist-Fic Chick - Christy's Guest Post - "All We Have Left of Her"

About Me

Heather, 30, USA. Hi everyone! I started my blog, The Maiden's Court, in May 2009 as a creative outlet for my reading and it has completely taken me to new places. I love sharing my reading and the things that I learn.

On my blog you will find my honest reviews of historical fiction books, historical movie reviews, and interesting historical content among other things. If you would like to know more about me, check out the About Me. Feel free to contact me at any time - best way is to use the contact form at the bottom of the Review Policy page or email me at dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com.

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