BOOK REVIEW: The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick

Blurb:

Young Eleanor has everything to look forward to as the heiress to the wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father dies suddenly, childhood is over. Forced to marry Prince Louis of France, she barely adjusts before another death catapults them to King and Queen. Leaving everything behind, Eleanor must face the complex and vivacious French court. She is only 13. Barely out of childhood and forced to deal with great scandals, fraught relationships, and forbidden love at every turn, Eleanor finally sees what her future could hold if she could just seize the moment.

My Review:

“The Summer Queen” by Elizabeth Chadwick was absolutely fantastic. I might be a little biased, since I love anything to do with Eleanor of Aquitaine, but I really can’t say enough good things about this book! The great use of descriptions grabbed me from the beginning, and I was really able to picture what was going on through the use of great imagery. Also, the writing style flowed smoothly, so my interest was kept from beginning until end. I like how the focus was mainly on her first marriage, because had the author tried to fit the adventures of both marriages into one book, I think a lot would have been lost in the telling. I was surprised that the author described Louis and Eleanor’s marriage as somewhat passionate at the beginning. Other books I have read have shown that the marriage was pretty much doomed from the beginning, this novel showed that there possibly was the chance at love between them at first, but through different events in their lives, that chance was ruined. It’s sad that their marriage fell apart due to Louis’ poor advisors and overzealous religious beliefs. However, it is definitely easy to hate Louis in this novel due to the way he treats Eleanor! The adventures that Eleanor had during her lifetime are astounding, and it’s hard not to like someone with as much strength of character as Eleanor of Aquitaine! To think, this novel is only covering the FIRST half of her crazy life! I really like that the author ended the novel (the first in a trilogy!) at a positive point in Eleanor’s life. There are so many ups and downs throughout her life, with one of the major ‘downs’ happening during her marriage to Henry II, so it’s nice to end this first book with a little hope towards her future.

I would 100% recommend this novel to any lover of historical fiction. It has it all, romance, adventure, and intrigue! I give this novel a solid FIVE out of FIVE stars!

Praise for Elizabeth Chadwick:

“Like a fine wine Chadwick is to be savored all the way down to the last drop...”—Historically Obsessed

“I swear, each Elizabeth Chadwick book I read is even better than the last.”—Devourer of Books

“An author who makes historical fiction come gloriously alive.” —Times of London

“A star back in Britain, Elizabeth Chadwick is finally getting the attention she deserves here.” ―Deirdre Donahue, USA Today

Biography

Elizabeth Chadwick is a best selling, award winning author of historical fiction. A born storyteller, her first novel The Wild Hunt won a Betty Trask Award in 1990. She has been four times shortlisted for the RNA Award in the UK for the best mainstream romantic novel. Her book The Scarlet Lion was selected as one of the top ten works of historical fiction of the decade by Richard Lee, founder of The Historical Novel Society.

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BOOK REVIEW: A Triple Knot by Emma Campion

Blurb:

The critically acclaimed author of The King's Mistress brings another fascinating woman from history to life in an enthralling story of political intrigue, personal tragedy, and illicit love.
Joan of Kent, renowned beauty and cousin to King Edward III, is destined for a politically strategic marriage. As the king begins a long dynastic struggle to claim the crown of France, plunging England into the Hundred Years’ War, he negotiates her betrothal to a potential ally and heir of a powerful lordship.

But Joan, haunted by nightmares of her father’s execution at the hands of her treacherous royal kin, fears the king’s selection and is not resigned to her fate. She secretly pledges herself to one of the king’s own knights, one who has become a trusted friend and protector. Now she must defend her vow as the king—furious at Joan’s defiance—prepares to marry her off to another man.

In A Triple Knot, Emma Campion brings Joan, the “Fair Maid of Kent” to glorious life, deftly weaving details of King Edward III’s extravagant court into a rich and emotionally resonant tale of intrigue, love, and betrayal.

About the Author:

Emma Campion did her graduate work in medieval literature and history, and has continued to study the period while working first as an editor of scientific publications and now for some years as a freelance writer. She was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, grew up in Cincinnati, and has lived most of her adult life in Seattle, which she and her husband love for its combination of natural beauty and culture. Emma enjoys walking, hiking, and gardening, and practices yoga and vipassana meditation. She travels frequently to Great Britain.

Emma's current passion is exploring fuller and more plausible interpretations of the lives of women in the 14th century than are generally presented.

My Review:

“A Triple Knot” by Emma Campion is a fascinating historical fiction novel. Joan of Kent and Eleanor of Aquitaine are two of my favorite women in history to read about, so I jumped on reading a novel about Joan. Her life was seriously like a soap opera. She was loved by three different men, betrothed to one but married to another, then that marriage was annulled and she was remarried to the first one, and all of this while being love by Edward of Woodstock, who was to be the future King of England. Her life story is so crazy that it’s almost hard to believe! I really like that the novel began when Joan was young, because it gives the reader the whole picture of her life and her background, and it shows the hardships she went through after the loss of her father. “A Triple Knot” was well-written and smooth flowing. Once I started reading it, I had trouble putting it down! Joan’s life is perfect for a novel. It was full of intrigue, love, lust, and lies. She was a strong woman of her time, and she definitely made her mark in history.

I would recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction, especially those who are fascinated with England’s Kings and Queens. You really get a good look into the lives of royalty in this novel, and overall it’s a great read.

I give this novel a FIVE out of FIVE stars.

Isabella: Braveheart of France by Colin Falconer

Blurb:

She was taught to obey. Now she has learned to rebel. 

12 year old Isabella, a French princess marries the King of England - only to discover he has a terrible secret. Ten long years later she is in utter despair - does she submit to a lifetime of solitude and a spiritual death - or seize her destiny and take the throne of England for herself?

Isabella is just twelve years old when she marries Edward II of England. For the young princess it is love at first sight - but Edward has a terrible secret that threatens to tear their marriage - and England apart.

Who is Piers Gaveston - and why is his presence in the king’s

court about to plunge England into civil war?

The young queen believes in the love songs of the troubadours and her own exalted destiny - but she finds reality very different. As she grows to a woman in the deadly maelstrom of Edward’s court, she must decide between her husband, her children, even her life - and one breath-taking gamble that will change the course of history.

This is the story of Isabella, the only woman ever to invade England - and win.

In the tradition of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick, ISABELLA is thoroughly researched and fast paced, the little known story of the one invasion the English never talk about.

My Review:

“Isabella: Braveheart of France” by Colin Falconer is an excellent work of historical fiction. I was excited when I received a request to read and review this novel, because it takes place during one of, what I consider to be, the most interesting periods in history. It takes place during reign of Edward II, when England was still at odds with Robert the Bruce in Scotland, and in a fragile peace with, his wife Isabella’s brother, the King of France.

There are many rumors surrounding Edward II and his ‘favorites.’ Most historians tend to agree that these favorites, Gaveston and Despenser, were likely Edward II’s lovers, even though there is no solid proof Edward II was homosexual. His overt favoritism towards these men, during different times in his reign, caused much anger among those men who were higher ranking. It also caused his wife, the Queen of England, Isabella to feel animosity towards these men. The novel does an excellent job of giving the reader an idea of what was really going on during this time period. We are able to see Isabella’s struggle to accept something which she cannot control, which is the fact that Edward will never love her like she wants and needs him to and he chooses others before her. Falconer also does a great job painting a picture of Edward’s weaknesses, which eventually cost him the crown of England. Even a reader not familiar with this time period will be able to grasp what is going on fairly easily, because the author does a great job of giving the reader the details in an interesting way, without feeling like they’re reading a history book. Isabella is really brought to life in this novel, and the author doesn’t put her into the ‘she-wolf’ role that many authors have done before. Yes, she is a strong woman, and she is intelligent as well as a shrewd judge of character, but she is not the ‘man-eater’, who stole her husband’s crown for her son and then had him killed, that many historians have made her out to be. I think the author did an excellent job of portraying her as what, I believe, she was really like during her lifetime. The affair between Mortimer and Isabella is also brought to life in this novel, and that was a plus for me, because I believe that historical fiction containing some semblance of a love story or a romance adds to the overall interest level.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept my interest throughout, and I believe the author stayed true to the actual history of that time period. The novel is written in third person, but in present tense. This distracted me at first, because I’m used to third person, historical fiction novels being written in the past tense. After a couple chapters I became familiar with his style of writing, and it was no longer a distraction. Anyone who has interest in Medieval Europe, or in historical fiction dealing with England’s Kings and Queens, will definitely find this novel to be very interesting. I would recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction.

I give this novel five out of five stars!

BUY ISABELLA: BRAVEHEART OF FRANCE HERE!

THE BURNING CANDLE: A MEDIEVAL NOVEL by Lisa J. Yarde

Blurb:

Love is for women who have choices. She has none.

In eleventh-century France on the eve of the First Crusade, Isabel de Vermandois becomes the wife of a man old enough to be her father. He is Robert de Beaumont, Comte de Meulan. A hero of the Norman victory at Hastings and loyal counselor to successive English kings, Robert is not all Isabel had expected. Cruel and kind by contrast, he draws her into the decadent court of King Henry I. As Robert's secrets are unraveled, Isabel finds her heart divided. Her duties as a wife and mother compel her, but an undeniable attraction to the young William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, tempts her. In a kingdom where love holds no sway over marital relations, Isabel must choose where her loyalties and her heart lie.

Based on the life of a remarkable medieval woman forgotten by time, The Burning Candle is a story of duty and honor, love and betrayal.


Review:

This is the first book that I’ve read by Lisa J. Yarde, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I think that the author really did justice to this time period. The characters at times come across as ‘cold’, but that’s part of the reason I believe the novel felt ‘real’ to me. People during the Middle Ages aren’t really thought of as being exceptionally loving or soft. So many children died young, and marriages between royal and/or wealthy people were often arranged, so in order to survive I believe the people had to be a little ‘cold’.

I really enjoyed reading Isabel’s story as she grew from an abused child to a moderately happy woman. Part of the reason I enjoy historical fiction, is the fact that I am able to get a feel for how this real person, from history, may have actually felt or acted. I think that the way Isabel’s character is described is perfect. She is a strong woman, and though as a reader you may dislike her at times, you also are able to relate to her, because she’s not perfect. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between her and her husband, Robert de Beaumont, who she was contracted to marry at such a young age. I feel it clearly showed the true dynamic of many royal medieval marriages. The author obviously uses her creative license, but it definitely helped to make the story more interesting. And, Thorold’s character was the perfect villain!  His twisted influence in the story definitely helped to add to the suspense.

The thing that truly makes a historical fiction novel great for me is the addition of a love story, and the love story in this novel is amazing. As a reader, you are able to see the hardships that Isabel has suffered all of her life, and I think the love story helps to lighten the book up a little and to give the reader a little hope. I was completely caught up Isabel’s story, and the fact that the novel is based on actual historical figures and situations, makes it that much more interesting as a reader.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction from the medieval time period. I read it in two days, and had trouble putting it down. I love reading novels based on actual historical figures, especially people like Isabel, who led such fascinating lives. The only issue I had with this novel is the grammatical errors. The book definitely needs to be proof read again, because it’s frustrating to be reading an amazing book, only to keep coming across spelling/grammar errors.

I give this novel five out of five stars.

BUY THE BURNING CANDLE HERE!!!