zoeeann's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
amylikestoread's review
3.0
2.5* and at times a generous 3. This was the second book of Vanora Bennett's that I've read, I tried to read The People's Queen a couple of years ago but couldn't get into it. I did consider abandoning this one too around 300 pages in but I pushed on and the ending was almost worth it. I preferred reading from Catherine's perspective than Owain's, his became increasingly dull in the middle section. It was interesting to read a book on Catherine of Valois, she's never really been covered in mainstream historical fiction. I just found this book hard to engage with, it only drew me in a few times and was far too long. I have another of Bennett's books to try but I don't think I'll be picking up any others from her after that.
linyarai's review
3.0
I found it to be fairly slow paced, and had a disappointing ending. I admire her strength in what she went through, but thought she should have been more of a Queen.
daisy87's review
4.0
I always love how I learn a part of history because I'm reading a book set in that time period (I Wiki the people and battles and such when I start the book). I loved the story of Catherine and Owain the way the author told it in her book, it's a lovely story of love conquering a whole lot of obstacles. I felt sad when I learned she died at such a young age and that little Harry went mad later on in his life.
dashausfrau's review
3.0
6 out of 10 - specifically for helping me draw what is probably an obvious line between Shakespeare's Henry V and Joan d'Arc. Also I'd like to know more about Christine de Pizan, without whom we would know far less about any of it.
The middle ages was def Game of Thrones, with alliances forming & dissolving randomly & cousins & siblings ascending & getting stabbed in the back at the drop of a hat, all with the dissonant undercurrent of the Church claiming the blood of Charlemagne to be "SACRED" & anointed & whatever while ignoring that the inbred royals have developed psychosis (if they only knew the word).
The middle ages was def Game of Thrones, with alliances forming & dissolving randomly & cousins & siblings ascending & getting stabbed in the back at the drop of a hat, all with the dissonant undercurrent of the Church claiming the blood of Charlemagne to be "SACRED" & anointed & whatever while ignoring that the inbred royals have developed psychosis (if they only knew the word).
elysianfield's review
2.0
I was bored out of my mind and had trouble of wanting to pick it up. And why did all Lancastrian people had bulging eyes, frog eyes or something? Started to annoy me.
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