The Boleyn Inheritance

Book Description

THREE WOMEN WHO SHARE ONE FATE: THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE

ANNE OF CLEVES

She runs from her tiny country, her hateful mother, and her abusive brother to a throne whose last three occupants are dead. King Henry VIII, her new husband, instantly dislikes her. Without friends, family, or even an understanding of the language being spoken around her, she must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king. Her Boleyn Inheritance: accusations and false witnesses.

KATHERINE HOWARD

She catches the king's eye within moments of arriving at court, setting in motion the dreadful machine of politics, intrigue, and treason that she does not understand. She only knows that she is beautiful, that men desire her, that she is young and in love -- but not with the diseased old man who made her queen, beds her night after night, and killed her cousin Anne. Her Boleyn Inheritance: the threat of the axe.

JANE ROCHFORD

She is the Boleyn girl whose testimony sent her husband and sister-in-law to their deaths. She is the trusted friend of two threatened queens, the perfectly loyal spy for her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and a canny survivor in the murderous court of a most dangerous king. Throughout Europe, her name is a byword for malice, jealousy, and twisted lust. Her Boleyn Inheritance: a fortune and a title, in exchange for her soul.

The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel drawn tight as a lute string about a court ruled by the gallows and three women whose positions brought them wealth, admiration, and power as well as deceit, betrayal, and terror. Once again, Philippa Gregory has brought a vanished world to life -- the whisper of a silk skirt on a stone stair, the yellow glow of candlelight illuminating a hastily written note, the murmurs of the crowd gathering on Tower Green below the newly built scaffold. In The Boleyn Inheritance Gregory is at her intelligent and page-turning best.

Customer Reviews:

The Boleyn Inheritance.......2007-10-19

In The Boleyn Inheritance, Phillipa Gregory takes a unique and thoughtful approach in her characterization of these lesser known figures from Henry VIII's throughly examined life. The story is told from the viewpoint of three women all trying to survive in the harsh and unforgiving environment of a tyrannical madman's world. An interesting perspective. The three separately reveal their thoughts, motivations and ambitions during the time following Anne Boleyn's death and leading up to the execution of Henry's fifth wife, Katherine Howard. The author does a very credible job in imagining what must be going through the minds of Anne of Cleves, Jane Boleyn and Katherine Howard while their lives are in Henry's hands. I've read a lot of fiction set in Tudor England as well as nonfiction and I always enjoy Phillipa Gregory's books.

The riddle of the Boleyn Inheritance.......2007-10-10

This book is amazing. If you make yourself the question "What is the Boleyn Inheritance?" The author will give you hints through the book, and you can make some guess of which the answer will be. It is just at the very end of the book, that you will find out the answer, which is a breathtaking surprise.

Reign of terror.......2007-10-06

Having just finished the last page of this book, I'm still feeling rather trembly(if that's a word!) and shaken at the picture of complete horror and terrible fear painted so brilliantly by Philippa Gregory. Poor, Katherine Howard was the 5th wife of the murderous Henry V111, a pretty but vapid child of fifteen and as silly and stupid a 15 year old as one could imagine. The poor ditz of a creature was used by her family, the aristocratic and ruthless Howards, who also produced Queen Anne Boleyn, and manipulated into captivating the King who had deteriorated into a madman with a gross, infected and ulcerated body and who had become a complete megalomaniac. The other part of the story which was more interesting to me, was the story of Anne of Cleves who was Henry's 4th wife but who, through dint of cleverness and good luck, escaped the headman's axe by agreeing to the annulment of her marriage. Not much has been written about Anne but she must go down in history as one of the luckiest women in the world. I found this book to be an excellent read and an absolute page turner to the end.

Captivated by the Tudors.......2007-09-19

Having been fascinated by "The Other Boleyn Girl", I was very much looking forward to "The Boleyn Inheritance" and was not disappointed. A sort of sequel, the latter carries forward a character from the first book, Jane Boleyn, and also includes Henry's fourth and fifth wives, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. The story moves forward through alternating accounts of events by the three women. In my opinion, the author does a good job of capturing each one's spirit and voice. In addition, the story is fairly accurate historically, so provided a starting point for additional research on Henry and his wives.

Not the best, but interesting.......2007-09-16

Definitely preferred The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. I'm reading Earthly Joys. I didn't think the two Boleyn books tied together that well. But the three narrators were interesting and her take on Anne of Cleves was fascinating. I loved the fleshing out of these forgotten and yet so important historical figures. But Jane Boleyn was tough to believe and understand.

Average customer rating:

Not My Favorite....drawn out and wordy.....going on and on...
Gregory's getting warmer . . .
Not worth reading
A heart-warming and inspiring tale
It was just OK...

The Constant Princess
Philippa Gregory
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743272498

Book Description

"I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England."

Thus, bestselling author Philippa Gregory introduces one of her most unforgettable heroines: Katherine of Aragon. Known to history as the Queen who was pushed off her throne by Anne Boleyn, here is a Katherine the world has forgotten: the enchanting princess that all England loved. First married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, Katherine's passion turns their arranged marriage into a love match; but when Arthur dies, the merciless English court and her ambitious parents -- the crusading King and Queen of Spain -- have to find a new role for the widow. Ultimately, it is Katherine herself who takes control of her own life by telling the most audacious lie in English history, leading her to the very pinnacle of power in England.

Set in the rich beauty of Moorish Spain and the glamour of the Tudor court, The Constant Princess presents a woman whose constancy helps her endure betrayal, poverty, and despair, until the inevitable moment when she steps into the role she has prepared for all her life: Henry VIII's Queen, Regent, and commander of the English army in their greatest victory against Scotland.

Download Description

"I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England.""

Customer Reviews:

Not My Favorite....drawn out and wordy.....going on and on..........2007-10-17

Many of Phillipa's other books are great but this book was irritating to me. I loved the story line which was very interesting but the book portrays the thoughs of the Princess/Queen which were redundant and annoying. The book could have been half its size if she didn't have the main character repeat herself over and over. The "Virgin Queen" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" are much better.

Gregory's getting warmer . . ........2007-10-14

The first book of Philippa Gregory's that I read was the excellent The Other Boleyn Girl, and it was a double-edged sword, in that got me started on a path to read the rest of her books, but also meant I'd forever compare the rest of her books to it. Like The Boleyn Inheritance, this book suffers in comparison. It has several of the same flaws: it's repetitive, and it's not that well written. For some reason, Gregory chose to include not just third-person narrative passages written in the past tense but also first-person italicized passages from Katherine's point of view that vacillate between the past and present tense. These accounts begin from the time she was five years old, yet the voice remains constantly that of a grown woman. In my opinion, these sections take away more from the story than they add to it, and the book would have been better off if Gregory had incorporated them into the overall narrative. Or perhaps if they'd been better edited, they would have fit in better. Some of the tense shifts really suffer from poor editing and make for confusing reading at times.

Perhaps Gregory's great flaw is a flaw shared by many writers of historical fiction: the novel can only be as good as the story that she has to tell. When history provides only sketchy accounts of an event, Gregory simply cannot be relied upon to fill it in to this reader's satisfaction. This book is marred by her inclusion of an 11th-hour cry for peace in the Middle East that reads as unbelievable and unwieldy in the mouth of a woman whose daughter turned out to be such an infamous religious fanatic, still vilified in popular culture and history books to this very day. Gregory's author's note confirms that this belief is more her idea than Katherine's, and she should have known that it had no place in her book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because of the way Gregory imagined the romance between Katherine and Arthur, and because she did a wonderful job of building a strong character who carries the book well on her own despite lapses in the writing.

I still haven't managed to strike gold as I did with "The Other Boleyn Girl" but I will keep trying, at least until I finish her Tudor series. Hopefully, I'll discover that she's a great writer, and not just a mediocre one who once managed to capture lightning in a bottle.

Not worth reading.......2007-10-10

I liked the Other Boleyn Girl...and I was intrigued when I found her book about Katherine of Aragon...

...sadly this book is not worth the time. Kathrine charecter comes off as whiney and overall without any depth. Katherine's charecter had little depth. I was very disappointed.

A heart-warming and inspiring tale.......2007-08-30

Like every other Philippa Gregory novel that I have read, "The Constant Princess" is yet another example of how delicious this author writes. This book does not disappoint. A wonderful story that is filled with fun, romance, and inspiration, "The Constant Princess" is about Queen Katharine of England (Henry VIII's first wife.)

The best part of Philippa Gregory's writing (at least what I have read so far) is that her stories are well seasoned with historical facts and characters. While this is an artistic take on historical events, it is still pure enjoyment to devour and I was left with a deep respect for Katharine the real person in addition to Katharine the character in this novel.

The first half of the book is delicious and romantic. My heart was singing and I forgot all about what really happens to our dear heroine because I was so wrapped up in the first part of her story (about her first marriage to Arthur.) Suddenly the story turns from romance to defining why the book is titled "The Constant Princess." Reading about her struggles, her near-misses, and ultimately to see her bring her goal to fruition was what made this a fantastic book.

If you enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and/or The Boleyn Inheritance, I am positive you will also enjoy this book. Add it to your collection of Philippa Gregory novels today!

It was just OK..........2007-08-29

As someone who thoroughly enjoys historical fiction and the Tudor time period in England I was really excited to pick up this book on Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife.

Gregory, covers Katherine or Catalina's childhood in Spain, her first marriage to Arthur (Henry's older brother), her agonizing wait for 7 years before she became Henry's wife, and then the first few years of marriage.

I thought the first half of the book somewhat interesting up until Arthur dies and she schemes to marry Henry, his younger brother. I also found the first years of Henry and Katherine's marriage somewhat interesting.

However, what takes away from this book in a big way is Gregory's repetitiveness throughout the book (as many others have cited). It really takes away from the progress of the story as you feel you're just stuck reading the same thing over and over again. Then Gregory glosses over Katherine's shining moment as Queen - holding back the Scots, skips 13 years of their reign together (during which Anne Boleyn enters the picture and convinces Henry to marry her) and ends the book abruptly. As the reader you almost get the sense that Gregory just got tired of writing about her because it didn't feel finished and complete.

Overall, this book was just OK.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe

Average customer rating:

Poor depiction of medieval history
THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN
Wanted to like this one but....
A sloppily written and very bad book
Excellent

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe
Nancy Goldstone
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Women in History | World | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0670038431
Release Date: 2007-04-19

Book Description

Four accomplished sisters who rose from near obscurity to become the most powerful women in Europe

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent thirteenth century, a time of chivalry and crusades, poetry, knights, and monarchs comes the story of the four beautiful daughters of the count of Provence whose brilliant marriages made them the queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily.

From a cultured childhood in Provence, each sister was propelled into a world marked by shifting alliances, intrigue, and subterfuge. Marguerite, the eldest, whose resolution and spirit would be tested by the cold splendor of the Palais du Roi in Paris; Eleanor, whose soaring political aspirations would provoke her kingdom to civil war; Sanchia, the neglected wife of the richest man in England who bought himself the crown of Germany; and Beatrice, whose desire for sovereignty was so acute that she risked her life to earn her place at the royal table.

A compulsively readable narrative, Four Queens shatters the myth that women were helpless pawns in a society that celebrated physical prowess and masculine intellect. A riveting historical saga for fans of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser.

Customer Reviews:

Poor depiction of medieval history.......2007-08-25

Ms. Goldstone omits a lot of facts from medieval history, particularly surrounding the canonization of Louis IX, his first crusades, his father's relationships with the English king, and the role all 4 sisters played in the political, economic and cultural life of their country. She also does not provide the reasons why Marguerite refused to support the canonization in the first place. She hs completely omitted the relationship between Sanchia and her elder sisters. Sanchia was treated the same way as her younger sister Beatrice, belittled and humiliated because she was not a queen while her sisters were. She fills in the blanks by putting names of relatives, w/o really explaining their roles in history and their influence on the affairs of France, England, Sicily, Provence, etc. After reading each chapter, I constantly wanted to ask "So what?" What was the influence on Boniface of Savoy, Thomas of Savoy and Beatrice of Savoy on the affairs of her daughters' kingdoms? Did they bring any reforms, what was their relationship with the Church? This "dump" of insignificant information makes the book very hard to read. It's overwhelmed with names but lacks explanation of their roles in the lives of the 4 queens and their impact on the history of France, England, etc.

She has failed to explain the kings' relationships with their vassals, There is no mention of the state both King Louis and King Henry have inherited their respective kingdoms. No mention of their relationships with the Parliament or Magna Carta, etc. She has failed to even mention the role of Templars in the Crusades!!!

Ms. Goldstone'language and the choice of words is rather poor, leaving the book disorganized and its chapters badly written. Her constant quoting of Matthew Paris and, sometimes, of Joinville, left me wondering if she has encountered any other contemporaries' notes in her search, for there are plenty.

In the back of the book, Ms. Goldstone mentions sources she used while writing her book. Her detailed description of each source made me wonder if she knew she was unprepared or was lacking enough references, thus making her write explanations of who said-when-what-how-why is this important to mention.

I realize that not everyone has a Ph.D. in history and the lack of it should not prevent individuals from writing a fine narrative piece on a historical topic. However, when you write it - do it like a professional, invest time in your research, learn your subjects/main actors. Otherwise, you will sound like an unprepared middle-school student, who pretends to act like historian.

THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN.......2007-06-05

Historians have long ignored or understated the contributions of women so Nancy Goldstone's FOUR QUEENS, the previously untold story of four 13th century sisters who rose from minor nobility in Provence to become queens of France, England, Sicily and Germany, comes as welcome and long-awaited relief. Marguerite, married at just 13 to Louis XI of France, stood her own in a court dominated by her powerful mother-in-law, Blanche of Castile, and ultimately led her husband and his army home from a disastrous Arabian crusade. Eleanor, wife to the ineffectual Henry III of England, deftly played-off rebellious barons and craftily preserved the throne for her son in spite of the civil war she helped ignite. Beautiful and gentle Sanchia married Richard of Cornwall, the richest man in Europe who effectively purchased the Kingdom of Germany. Feisty young Beatrice, wed to Charles of Anjou, led an army through the Italian alps in her determination to saved her besieged husband and secure him the Sicilian throne. Praised by eminent Princeton historian Theodore K. Rabb as "deeply researched," FOUR QUEENS is written with a light and accessible touch, equally at home on the shelf of the serious scholar as it would be on the nightstand of a harried mom who wants a few pages of intellectual stimulation before falling into bed. Brava!

Wanted to like this one but...........2007-06-04

she continually overemphasizes the political roles of the four daughters of Raymond Berenger V, the Count of Provence, and as a genuine medievalist, she should know better.

A sloppily written and very bad book.......2007-06-03

This is an extremely sloppily written and bad book. It is written in the childish style that some popular historians seem to find it necessary to adopt because they think their audience is too stupid to understand anything else - usually an underestimation of said audience. Moreover, the author has clearly not bothered to do any form of basic research to get her facts right. To take but a few examples: In chapter 7, we are told about Richard of Cornwall's crusade in 1240. He is said to have met Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople "who had lost his empire" (p74). Actually, the Latin Empire of Constantinople (Baldwin's empire) was around until 1261, which is when he lost it. Three pages later, we are told that "The French, too, had sent an army to retake Jerusalem only the year before," in other words in 1239. Retake from whom? Jerusalem was in Christian hands from 1227 to 1244. She also seems to have no idea of the relative importance of the Kingdom of Sicily within the domains of the Holy Roman Emperor. At this stage, less than a third through the book, I gave up, rather than waste any more time on such rubbish. Zero stars would be a better rating.

Excellent.......2007-06-02

I didn't know much of the story of the Provence sisters, but this filled that knowledge gap. For people interested in the Middle Ages as more than just the time between the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, this is a valuable resource. For people interested in powerful families, you can't go wrong with four sisters who all become queens! Excellent book!

Average customer rating:

A Place in History
Politically Correct Equals "Boring"
A Masterful Historical Novel
Berengaria Bares All ~ or ~ I'll Navarre Go Hungry Again
This book will surprise you!

Queen Without A Country
Rachel Bard
Manufacturer: Literary Network
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0971033382

Book Description

As 25 year old Berengaria of Navarre journeys on a ship bound for Sicily, little does she know what adventures and trials lie before her. She must face an indifferent husband, a domineering mother-in-law and the turbulent political climate of twelfth-century Europe. Will she find happiness amid such tribulations?

Customer Reviews:

A Place in History.......2007-03-15

I really enjoyed this book. I was curious about someone whom I may have heard mention about, but knew nothing except that she had been Richard I's wife. I knew a lot about him so I was interested. What I like about this book, compared to so many other historical fiction novels, is the lack of rediculous, embarrasing sexual descriptions. Also, the main character is not a super-woman, but someone who seems very real and good. She was someone I could relate to as opposed to a sexual goddess type that you usually find in these sorts of books. The historical information is extremely well-researched and presented in an interesting way. The characters are well-developed and likeable.

Politically Correct Equals "Boring".......2006-12-05

I love the story of Berengaria but have had a hard time finding out about her life after Richard. Therefore, I was very happy to find this book.

Unfortunately, the author is so preoccupied with not writing about any scandal that the book just becomes boring. For example,

Richard is portrayed as a man who likes men and women equally. But for some reason, he finds it very difficult to bed his wife.

His first betrothed Alice is mentioned in passing -- no mention of her affair with his father.

There is no explanation of the animosity between Philip the King of France and Richard. Nothing about their relationship.

Not only those scandals/rumors are missing but also some of the most exciting parts of the crusade! No mention is made of Richard's massacre of the Saracens! The crusade comes off as a very boring war.

I can't comment on the second half of the book about Berengaria after Richard since I know so little about her. But, if the first half is any indication, I will need to read a different book to get an idea of what kind of woman she really was.

A Masterful Historical Novel.......2006-11-09

Richard I of England's charisma reaches out and grabs us 800 years later. He is the epitome of the chivalrous medieval knight. But Richard's behavior toward his wife, Queen Berengaria, reveals a cold, callus aspect of his personality.

From casual reading I have noticed that many accounts of Richard's life mention that he married Berengaria, daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre on May 12, 1191 in Cyprus. However, some biographers do not mention the marriage at all! Many state that the marriage was never consummated. Aside from the marriage, Berengaria is rarely mentioned in connection with Richard.

With this meager knowledge, I was eager to read Queen Without a County. Who was this woman? Why did she have such a weird name? What became of her after her marriage?

Rachel Bard has done a masterful job with this difficult subject. Facts are scarce. But she sticks to those at her disposal. There is a love interest Bard admits may not have occurred. But she believes the little evidence available indicates that it might have happened.

Because of the lack of information, to do justice to the subject, Bard was compelled to write a novel, not a history. Using her imagination in conjunction with the facts, she creates a warm, injured, patient woman who overcomes incredible obstacles. Bard's Berengaria is not a 21st century woman wearing long dresses and strange headgear. Berengaria is woman of the Middle Ages. She has medieval interests: doing embroidery; copying manuscripts from Arabic into Latin; building a monastery. Berengaria has medieval morals (e.g., she worries about when to cover her hair) and a medieval concept of herself as a woman.

A 21st century woman would not put up with kind of abuse to which Berengaria was subjected. Berengaria patiently put up with it for years and blamed herself as much as Richard.

Most historians seem to agree that Richard was at fault for Berengaria's problems. Some believe Richard was a womanizer and that no single woman could hold his interest. Most writers, however, seem to believe that Richard was gay. He was simply not sexually interested in his beautiful wife. Because Richard was not interested in her, it seems that the rest of his world scarcely gave her a glance. Because of that, history is not interested in her. The different perspective on Richard Lionheart will intrigue those interested in this period.

Berengaria Bares All ~ or ~ I'll Navarre Go Hungry Again.......2002-12-26

The author Bard (aptly named!) has crafted an ingenious combination of historic fact and valid conjecture into a novel that tells the story of an important and practically forgotten Basque woman. Thanks to Bard's efforts, Berengaria has escaped being a figure lost in history, and has risen out of the mists of obsolescence into the light of historic fiction.

Berengaria deserves this study. Her husband, Richard the Lionhearted, is certainly well known. Yet virtually nothing is known about his wife, nor the country she came from. How many of us can say they feel well-informed about Navarre and/or the Basques? And of those of you that have raised your hand, how many of you can say you know anything about Berengaria? If your hand isn't still up, buy and read this book. Even if your hand is up, do the same.

Well done, bard Bard! What's next? I can't wait!

This book will surprise you!.......2002-12-19

I can only honestly judge a book once I've finished it. And this one is a winner. There are no unfinished storylines nor unresolved issues in this story. Bard did her research well, and managed to bring history alive. The author was apt at weaving a particularly intriguing story among a myriad of historical facts. Most important of all, the writing is clean, her words very well chosen. For me, the topper was the sense of humor in the writing.Example:"Fortunately the city looked calm. No arrows were flying over the walls." Hmmm, READ THIS BOOK YOU'LL LOVE IT!

Average customer rating:

A decent read, not what i expected though
Very disappointing
THERE ARE NO ANGELS HERE, DARK OR OTHERWISE.
Welcome to the Restoration: Decadence, romance, intrigue and deception
Hugely dissappointing..

Dark Angels: A Novel
Karleen Koen
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0307339912
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Alice Verney is a young woman intent on achieving her dreams. Having left Restoration England in the midst of a messy scandal, she has been living in Louis XIV’s Baroque, mannered France for two years. Now she is returning home to England and anxious to re-establish herself quickly. First, she will regain her former position as a maid of honor to Charles II’s queen. Then she will marry the most celebrated duke of the Restoration, putting herself in a position to attain power she’s only dreamed of. As a duchess, Alice will be able to make or break her friends and enemies at will.

But all is not as it seems in the rowdy, merry court of Charles II. Since the Restoration, old political alliances have frayed, and there are whispers that the king is moving to divorce his barren queen, who some wouldn’t mind seeing dead. But Alice, loyal only to a select few, is devoted to the queen, and so sets out to discover who might be making sinister plans, and if her own father is one of them. When a member of the royal family dies unexpectedly, and poison is suspected, the stakes are raised. Alice steps up her efforts to find out who is and isn’t true to the queen, learns of shocking betrayals throughout court, and meets a man that she may be falling in love with—and who will spoil all of her plans. With the suspected arrival of a known poison-maker, the atmosphere in the court electrifies, and suddenly the safety of the king himself seems uncertain. Secret plots are at play, and war is on the horizon—but will it be with the Dutch or the French? And has King Charles himself betrayed his country for greed?

The long-awaited prequel to Koen’s beloved Through a Glass Darkly, Dark Angels is a feast of a novel that sparkles with all the passion, extravagance, danger, and scandal of seventeenth-century England. Unforgettable in its dramatic force, here is a novel of love and politics, of romance and betrayal, of power and succession—and of a resourceful young woman who risks everything for pride and status in an era in which women were afforded little of either.

Customer Reviews:

A decent read, not what i expected though.......2007-08-16

This book tells the story of Alice Verney, Barbara Alderlys grandother, and the Duchess of Tamsworth. I was truly expecting a story of romance between Alice and Richard, who she would later marry. Those of you looking for that story, its here, but way towards the end and not really the central focus of the book.

The book starts about 10 years into the reign of Charles, known to history as the Merry Monarch for his many mistresses and children(none of them by his queen, Catharine of Branganza).

After many years apart, the king's sister is returning to England for a visit. She is married to a Prince of France, and while there are children from the marriage, it is known that the princesse is not happy, nor is here husband. When she returns to France, she dies suddenly. Alice, one of her ladies in waiting, is determined to finds out 1.) who killed her and 2) Who is now threatining her new mistress, Catherine of Bragnza.

Throughout the book, there are plots against the queen, plots for the queens, plots, to marry. Also bits and pieces mixed in about a spy from the french court, who is reluctant.

Alice, while at times stubborn and arrogantly sure she knows whats best for her friends, is likable, but almost a different person then the one we meet in TAGD. Although this is to be expected. After all, in DA, she hasnt gone through the hardships of losing her entire family just yet. So, she's a young girl here, with a young girl's attitude and assurance in herself.

There's no way i could possibly list everything here that goes on. It is shorter then its two predessors, but still worth the read.

The only thing i didn't like, was not enough Richard and Alice together!

Very disappointing.......2007-07-28

I had to force myself to finish this book in order to feel qualified to review it. Koen's other book, "Through a Glass Darkly" is one of my favorite historical novels, and I probably read it once a year. This one, however, is just not enjoyable. After I had read 1/3 of it, I still felt no connection to Alice, the main character. The writing was very disjointed, and it was very hard to tell who was talking or being talked about a lot of the time. I loved the character of Alice as the grandmother in "Through a Glass Darkly", and I was really looking forward to reading about her younger life. The Alice in "Dark Angels" did not mesh with the character as I knew her in the other book, and I wish I had never read this one. Very very disappointing.

THERE ARE NO ANGELS HERE, DARK OR OTHERWISE........2007-07-23

Welcome to the court of Charles II, hotbed of corruption, both political and moral. Enter Alice Verney, who aspires to a command a position of power within the court and seeks to attain her goal by marrying the aging Duke of Balmoral. Longstanding friendships are threatened by Alice's quest as well as her unequivocal need to control not only her own life but also the lives of those around her.

Alice is an unconventional heroine in the respect that she has always had money and been accustomed to the finer things. Unlike the "up from the gutter and into the glitter" characters that usually make their appearance in these historical sagas, Alice is initially not a very likable character. She is manipulative and deceitful, but does manage to present the reader with a colorful portrait of a woman of her era.

The author manages to evoke the flavor of the 17th century and capture of the Restoration-era mindset with its brazen women and conspiratorial men. Most of the characters in this narrative quagmire subscribe to the theory that their machinations and schemes are a necessary by-product of success and that "life isn't filled with easy choices and we all get our hands dirty from time to time". Personally, there is only one character in this entire novel that I would be inclined to trust with my life.

Finally, let me say that the book ends on a somewhat unfulfilling note. Two of the characters, Henri Ange the poison-maker, and Walter the young stable hand disappear from the pages without a resolution to their stories. Guess I am one of those readers who wants all loose ends neatly tied up with a big red bow. 2 1/2 STARS.

Welcome to the Restoration: Decadence, romance, intrigue and deception .......2007-06-08

Is there a more fascinating time or place than the court of King Charles II? I cannot think of one, and Karleen Koen lends her pen to bring it alive in "Dark Angels".

Koen has a knack for hooking the reader early on with hints and promises, and interesting characters. She writes romantic heroes, heroines and villains extremely well, as readers of "Through a Glass Darkly" know. I flew through the pages and loved the characters, costumes and themes centering on the struggles between love and greed or jealousy, forgiveness and revenge, and strategic scheming and surprise. Koen transports you to the decadent Courts of the Sun King (Louis XIV of France & creator of Versailles) and Charles II of England, and drapes you in damask, jewels and lace, and on the next page sends you to seedy brothels and privy court chambers for some debauchery, drunkeness and gambling. Regicide, religious wars, royal gossip and exploits, romance and gold digging rule the day. It is delicious fun!

The real story of "Dark Angles" introduces us to Alice Verney who is first a young Maid of Honor to Princess Henrietta Anne of France (sister to Charles II of England) and then a not-so-young Maid of Honor to the shunned Queen Catherine in England. She's had her heart broken in love and loyalty through the betrayals of a friend and lover, and the murder of Madame, Princess Henrietta. Alice puts up a condescending, stand-offish front in an attempt to protect herself and others, and finds that such a barrier isolates us from those we love, rather than keep them close. She is sassy, spoiled, scheming and sophisticated, and yet disillusioned by life at court. We see an early glimpse of the life lessons that shaped the loving, accepting and wise grandmother we met in "Through a Glass Darkly".

Koen brings alive the sexual charge of the time through accurate presentations of its rogues from the well documented exploits of Kings Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France to the English Earl of Rochester and Sir John Sedely who drunkenly bumble and grope their way through the background of this book. It was a drunken, decadent time of debauchery and hedonism, and great fun to re-live through books such as this, "The King's Touch", "The Perfect Royal Mistress", "Duchess: A novel of Sarah Churchill" or even "Forever Amber" (I am not a huge fan, but many others are).

I gave this book a "4 star" rating because it is just simply an intriguing, fast, fun escape read, but it does have its flaws. The main draw back is that Koen seems confused as to whether she wanted to write a "whodunnit?", a romance or a fantastic period novel. She delivers pieces of all three, and that leaves fans with genre preferences feeling disappointed. The good news is that this novel seems ripe for a sequel (or two!) to fill the time between its end and the beginning of her stellar debut, Through A Glass Darkly. I love the promise of more to come... I only hope the wait is short!

Hugely dissappointing.........2007-05-25

I loved Koen's other works. However, this book fell flat. There was really no intense character development nor was I given alot of reasons to root for Alice. Barbara's end was obvious. In fact, the entire book was pretty obvious to an avid reader of historical fiction. I could've guessed the entire plot in the first 100 pages.

Average customer rating:

An enjoyable Piece of Fiction
Disappointed from the first sentence to the last sentence
"Fictionalized" is an understatement
Enjoyable fiction
An enjoyable read

The Last Wife of Henry VIII: A Novel
Carolly Erickson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312352182
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Customer Reviews:

An enjoyable Piece of Fiction.......2007-08-27

I read this book in about 2 days, I enjoyed reading it and couldn't book the book down. It was my first time reading the author and found the novel very entertaining and interesting and highly recommend it to people who enjoy reading FICTION.

Disappointed from the first sentence to the last sentence.......2007-08-16

This book started very weak and ended even weaker. It was a very slow read and never seemed to pick up. I kept hoping page after page that the book would take a turn for the better but it never did. I feel like the story got lost amongst all the long winded descriptions of pointless details. The story jumped around alot and often made little sense. The ending was a huge disappointment. The author never wrapped up her story, she just ended it as abruptly as it began.

"Fictionalized" is an understatement .......2007-08-06

I've been reading Tudor history (including Dr. Erickson's historical biographies)and historical fiction for 35 years, and I would have to call this one of the worst novels about Henry VIII or his wives I've ever read. Katherine Parr's life was dramatic and remarkable in fact, and changing significant details of it did not improve her story. In fact, it cheapens it. I nearly quit reading because of the horrific inaccuracies--or rather deliberate departures from historical fact--but I didn't. Yes, I realize that this is fiction, but please. The only source I can find that Katherine married the younger Edward Borough is Lady Antonia Fraser via Susan E. James. Is it really likely that nearly all historians and genealogists have gotten this wrong for almost five hundred years? I was willing to suspend disbelief and go with that interpretation, but the book just goes downhill from there. The ending was shocking, but not in a good way. Tom Seymour obviously didn't die in a completely fictional attempt to usurp the throne prior to Katherine's death. Again, his life was dramatic enough not to need that kind of fictionalizing. When Katherine's brother Will tells her, "Cat, Tom's gone," I thought "where did he go?" until I realized that she had completely distorted the facts of Tom Seymour's death. It's an easy read, but it's barely historical. Please don't read this novel and think it bears any resemblance to actual Tudor history.

Enjoyable fiction.......2007-07-16

I wonder if the insatiable desire of her readership for all-things-Tudor led Ms. Erickson to coming up with this breezily written albeit entertaining bit of historical fiction (heavy on the "fiction," methinks). It's an easy, contemporary take on the life of Queen Kat Parr that was perfect for keeping me company on a transatlantic flight.

While it may not be her best literary accomplishment, the author's knack for storytelling is evident and put to good use.

An enjoyable read.......2007-05-16

This book was enjoyable. I'd like to give it 3 1/2 stars.

What I liked: This is told from the view of someone who was there for the reign of Henry VIII from start to finish(at least from near the end of the marriage to Catherine of Aragon to the king's death). Katherine Parr emerges as a savvy and observant person throughout. We know this was not the epic, tempestuous romance of Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor. Katherine Parr seemed more of a helpmeet to Henry VIII than anything else. Her observations are what is entertaining to the reader.

What I didn't like: Some will say this echoes real life, but, she seemed oblivious to the machinations of Thomas Seymour. Buying weapons and recruiting massive armies would raise suspicions not only from Tudor intelligence spies, but anyone. The author portrayed Katherine Parr as innocent to this. I found this hard to believe.

Average customer rating:

After the Death of Henry VIII
By Slanderous Tongues
Okay, but starting to get ridiculous
excellent Elizabethan historical fantasy

By Slanderous Tongues
Mercedes Lackey , and Roberta Gellis
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416521070

Book Description

Great Harry is dead, and England is ruled by a dour Protector for 10-year-old Edward VI¿-a Protector intent on keeping total control over the young king and no friend to Lady Elizabeth because of her brother¿s fondness for her. In the great lens and the dark pool that hold Visions for the FarSeers of the Bright Court and the Dark, the images change and waver. A pale, thin girl sometimes wears a crown and sometimes has no head; King Edward and his Court grow misty as he changes from boy to stripling. But the fires of Mary¿s reign still burn bright as they swallow writhing men, women, and children, and if she ever reigns the red-haired queen brings a burgeoning of art and joy. Elimination of that last possibility for England is Vidal Dhu¿s prime purpose, but he has been forbidden by King Oberon to attack Elizabeth. Though he may not attack her directly, still he hatches schemes within schemes. And if his plan to involve the young princess in a scandal that would render her unfit to rule in the opinion of the Proctor and his Council, he has more twisted plans to eliminate Elizabeth once and for all.

Customer Reviews:

After the Death of Henry VIII.......2007-06-04

By Slanderous Tongues (2007) is the third historical Fantasy in the Scepter'd Isle series, following Ill Met by Moonlight. In the previous volume, Henry VIII died and his death announcement was delayed for two days while Hertford arranged for Edward's crowning. Now Edward has become the King, but actual control lies with Hertford and the Regency Council.

Vidal Dhu learned that Elizabeth had been taken to an Unformed Land near the Unseleighe Lands and he attacked the party. Denoriel held off Vidal, but was losing Power when Oberon appeared and stopped the fighting. Elizabeth irritated Oberon by claiming Denoriel as her own, but Titania appeared and interrupted that conflict. Everybody fled while the Rulers of the sidhe settled their differences.

In this novel, as England mourns for their king, his children are uncertain without his presence. Ten year old Edward is now king and has been taken under the protection of his maternal uncle Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertford. Mary is now an adult and has her own household. But no one seems to care about fourteen year old Elizabeth. Since her infancy, the King has directed her living arrangements. Now that Henry is gone, she wonders who will take charge of her life.

Her good friend Lord Denno -- Denoriel -- enlists the aid of the Dowager Queen to provide a place for Elizabeth. Catherine eagerly accepts the chance to do something meaningful and asks for permission from the Council to take the youngster into her household. The Council agrees and Catherine invites Elizabeth to live with her.

Denoriel has been Elizabeth's friend for a long time -- in mortal terms -- and is now having lascivious thoughts about her. Since he believes that she would never think of him in a lustful manner, Denoriel tries somewhat unsuccessfully to school his thoughts. Little does he know that Elizabeth is having the same problem about him.

Lady Alana -- Aleneil -- keeps watch over Elizabeth as one of her maids of honor. So does Blanche Parry, a mortal with some ability to sense magic. Both are necessary, because Prince Vidal Dhu of the Dark Sidhe still wants to kill Elizabeth. Even though Oberon has forbidden him, or any other Dark Sidhe, to directly attack the child, Vidal knows that Elizabeth's succession to the throne would lead to a wanting time for the Dark Court.

Rhoslyn -- half-sister to Denoriel and Aleneil -- performs a similar service for Vidal among Lady Mary's household. Yet Rhoslyn is becoming ever more dissatisfied with the Dark Court. Contrary to what she had been told, Rhoslyn has found that the energy that feeds the Bright Court can also sustain her. But she doubts that her brother Pasgen would leave the Dark Court with her, so she continues to follow Vidal's orders, if not quite as he would have preferred.

Pasgen discovers that the mists in one area of the Chaos Lands have developed sentience. Apparently the mists were awakened by Elizabeth's request for assistance and then provided a lion to attack her enemies. Now these mists are inhabited by vaguely humanoid shapes: one with red hair like Elizabeth and the other with gold hair like Denoriel. The mists welcome Pasgen and even solicit his return, but he is afraid of their potential.

Harry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, finds a calling in Underhill. The Sidhe domains of Alhambra and El Dorado have been cursed by the Spanish Inquisition and are now infested with the Great Evil and minor malignities. He has been enticing older Sidhe back from the Dreaming to fight against these malevolent forces.

In this story, Denoriel meets Thomas Seymour in Queen Catherine's home and notes that the man is very welcome there. Yet Thomas is a man of lusty desires and selfish concerns. He wants to marry either Elizabeth or Mary to gain political power. Mary has little use for him, but Elizabeth is too naive (and devoted to Catherine) to plainly state her objections to his unwelcome attentions.

Vidal nurtures various plots to increase hostilities in the British Isles and to remove Elizabeth from the succession. He urges the Scots to continue their raids across the border and to repel offers for political settlements. He also encourages the followers of the old religion to instigate slanders against Elizabeth.

Denoriel is kept busy defending himself from personal attacks and trying to protect Elizabeth from political ploys. Even Rhoslyn and Pasgen become involved in defending Elizabeth and Denoriel. Their efforts lead to Denoriel becoming less averse to peaceful relations with his Dark Court siblings.

This story continues the fantastic explanations of English history leading up to the Elizabethan Age. Of course, all the magical effects are hidden from history, but much happens beyond mortal kenning! This volume leaves plenty of unexplored history for sequels.

Highly recommended for Lackey and Gellis fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical adventures, Unseleighe plotting and Underhill romances.

-Arthur W. Jordin

By Slanderous Tongues.......2007-06-02

As ever, Mercedes Lackey always entertaining. This is a fun series and am looking forward to the next.

Okay, but starting to get ridiculous.......2007-02-12

I really liked this series when it started out, since I was fans of Lackey's Serrated Edge series and I also like historical fiction with twists. The Guardian Sidhe plot line combined with the era of the Tudors seemed like an excellent idea. However, sorry to say, the believability of the novels seem to have gone downhill since This Sceptr'd Isle. In Isle and in Ill Met By Moonlight, Denoriel and Aleniel are presented as trusted friends, protectors, and advisors. Denoriel, especially, is shown to be a father-figure to both Harry and Elizabeth. Makes sense, since he is after all, centuries older, wiser, and is possessed of the Sidhe's love for children.
Which is why I was shocked when Lackey and Gellis decided to present him as Elizabeth's lover, of all things. To me, this just doesn't work. It's absurd to have a man, or elf if you prefer, go from raising a child to suddenly seeing that same child as a potential love interest. Yes, I know Denoriel is unbelievably hot and sexy, but STILL. And the reasoning given, that in order to protect Elizabeth from being attracted to Thomas Seymour, she needs another lover to distract her, and Denoriel is conveniently available and can't get her pregnant, plus she has stirrings of puppy-love for him . . .no this is just ridiculous. They would have done better to go with the original historical line that Elizabeth disliked Thomas Seymour since she saw him only as a stepfather, with Denoriel protecting her the way a father or brother would have. The teenage Elizabeth, from all the biographies, was not the type to have casual affairs with men at ANY age, she valued her autonomy too greatly and she knew that once a man gets a woman in bed, back then it was seen as a powerplay, which was why she always avoided such things. Also she hated marriage because of the dangers it presented to a woman, witness her mother and Henry VIII, because it gave total control to the man. Saying she would never marry because she could have her Sidhe lover and thus never miss out on sex or have to worry about commitment doesn't fit the image of Elizabeth that I know. And what about Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's great unrequited love? He barely gets a mention, Elizabeth is so preoccupied with Denno. Unless they're going to bring him up in the next book and say that the reason Elizabeth was able to resist him for so many years was because she loved Denoriel. Spare me! All in all the whole Elizabeth-Denno affair seemed tawdry and cheap to me instead of tender and loving. It would have made better sense for him to have fallen in love with Elizabeth once she was queen and Dudley had married her cousin Lettice, then she would have been looking at him as a woman who has known love and loss, not as a starry-eyed adolescent. I felt it also diminished the very real danger Seymour's advances caused her reputation, since there was no chance she might respond to them and jeopardize herself, the way there was in actual history. It would have been better if there HAD been a chance, then the book would have had some tension and Denoriel would have been tested as to how he could protect his charge without revealing himself and the whole scene of questioning at the end would have been a lot more dramatic. Yes, i know this is alternative history, but I think Lackey did a much better job with her other series, alternate Venice in Shadow of the Lion and This Rough Magic.

excellent Elizabethan historical fantasy .......2007-02-07

The prophecy is clear that Princess Elizabeth will eventually sit on the throne bringing an enlightened period to the mortals. The fairy realm remains divided as it has for several years over the now fourteen year old offspring of the late King Henry VIII who is being hounded eternally by a gaggle of executed spouses. The dark Unseleighe Sidhe Prince Vidal Dhu believes that preventing Elizabeth's ascension will mean a return to their glorious Dark Ages filled with horror and misdeeds that fueled these malevolent elves.

However, to achieve his side's darkest objective of insuring Elizabeth's fall from grace, they must remove preferably by death her overly protective guardians, the traitorous Seleighe twin elves, Lord Denoriel and Lady Aleneil. Dhu assigns the elimination of the Princess' protectors to twins Rhoslyn and Pasgen; if anyone can get at Denoriel and Aleneil it is their Dark elven half-siblings. With them removed from the scene the prophecy will fail as Elizabeth will surely find a spouse or some way to alienate her half-siblings the recently crowned boy King Edward VI and the heir their older half sister Princess Mary.

The third Scepter'd Isle Elizabethan historical fantasy (see ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and THIS SCEPTER'D ISLE) is an excellent blending of mid sixteenth century English royal history and a fantasy thriller. The stakes are high as the rival elven groups battle not only for their future but that of the humans. The key players from the mortal and paranormal realms seem genuine including the target Princess Elizabeth due to the mixing of real events and known facts of her young teen years into the story line. Fans will cherish this top quality collaboration between two distinguished authors from differing genres who prove that adding one and one can surpass two when greatness join forces.

Harriet Klausner

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)

Average customer rating:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered
Red Rose of the House of Tudor
Ok Book
My review
A great book for those who love English history

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0590684841

Amazon.com

"Do you know who I am? I shall tell you. I am Elizabeth, Princess of England, daughter of Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn. I am eleven years old. My mother, once Queen, is now dead. Almost eight years ago, when I was not yet three, Father chopped off her head."

Daughter of a fallen queen, young Princess Elizabeth lives a complicated and dangerous life. She fears her father's famous temper but loves him dearly, noting that she would trade all her jewels just to be noticed by him. She also loves her brother Edward, heir to the English throne, but doesn't like her older sister Mary, who torments her and conspires against her. Kat, her governess, is so worried for Elizabeth's life that she spends hours checking their room for poison whenever they move to a new palace. Court intrigues swirl around her, the French are threatening an invasion, and Kat is clamoring for her to have another bath--that makes nearly six in three months! Through Elizabeth's diary, author Kathryn Lasky brings the Tudor world to life: glittering banquets of peacock, eel, and swan; palaces so stinky that "everyone goes about with their noses buried in pomander balls to hide the stench"; archery contests, where Elizabeth excels; and Latin and logic lessons... where she needs a little work. Some of the history is slightly flawed (a misplaced date or two), but readers will enjoy the great detail as they learn about the childhood of one of England's greatest monarchs. An epilogue, with Tudor family trees, paintings, and background information enhances this already excellent and entertaining book. (Ages 10 and older) --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

N/A

Customer Reviews:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered.......2007-04-02

This book provides a unique look at what life may have been like for Elizabeth long before she was queen. It's easy for historical figures like Elizabeth to become so much larger than life that we forget they were real people, once. Elizabeth I recreates the emotions and thoughts of an adolescent girl in a way that shows that even a princess feels the universal emotions of loneliness, fear, and doubt.

Elizabeth I addresses two themes especially well: a daughter's longing for her father's affection, and a keen political mind's awareness of what it takes to be a successful ruler. Despite the fact that he had her mother beheaded, Elizabeth still loves her father and lives for the moments when he shows her favor. She is also an astute observer of the goings on in the world of royals and nobility, and early on comes to the realization that if she should become Queen, she must remain unmarried to retain her rule.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves diaries and memoirs and takes an interest in the intricacies of queendom.

Red Rose of the House of Tudor.......2007-03-27

This is one of the first in the Royal Diary series that I have read and It is by far my favorite. It gives a great insight in to palace life and into the life of a teenager. It is a great read for all Princess. This book also includes historical facts and pictures about Elizibeth the 1st and her family. I recomend this book for anyone who likes princess, drama and historical fiction. This is one of my favorites in an intriuging and educational series

Ok Book.......2007-03-06

I really like to read books about people and what happened in their life. I have read alot of diaries from different people in different time periods. I found as I was reading that this book starts out medium exciting. In the middle of the book it gets boring and I just felt like starting over on a different book, but by the end of the book I just didn't want to put it down. I really didn't know anything about Elizabeth 1 but after reading this book I would be able to tell you good, bad, and interesting things that happened to her. I found as I read the book that she is like me in many ways. She likes to be outside on sunny days, be around people, be adventurous and free, and she loves animals. It made it easier to read the book because I could look for more ways she was alike me. Even though there were many interesting things that happened in this book I wouldn't recomend this book to a friend. I wasn't really excited to read the book and I went really slow through it.

My review .......2007-02-25

I loved this book it made me relize that the world has changed alot from 1544to now (2007). The best part was that I felt like i was the one going through all the trials and challanges , That Elzibeth went through .

A great book for those who love English history.......2006-11-20

Having taken English History in a British school many years ago, I found this book to be very enlightening in reference to this period of time. This book gives a great insight into the formation of the Elizabethian period.

The Grand Duchesses: Daughters & Granddaughters of Russia's Tsars

Average customer rating:

The Grand Duchesses: Daughters & Granddaughters of Russia's Tsars

Manufacturer: Eurohistory.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0977196119

Product Description

This excellent volume includes biographies of more than twenty women of the Russian Imperial Family, from the daughters of Tsar Paul I to the present-day claimant to the Russian imperial throne. The Grand Duchesses is an unprecedented compilation of information regarding the Romanovs and Russia.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books