Take a photo of a barcode or cover
saessenach's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
acardattack's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
So good, so much happens, a lot happens, but a lot is set up too.
Very tense moments near the end.
Can't wait to read more. Let the political maneuvering continue
Very tense moments near the end.
Can't wait to read more. Let the political maneuvering continue
joebobhi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
monestebanm's review against another edition
5.0
Libro que me ha encantado, ya hacia tanto que no leía libros de esta sesga, que no recordaba lo entretenidos que estaban, y además, aprendemos historia sin darnos cuenta
joabroda's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Written in 1957, George R.R. Martin calls this series "The original Game of Thrones." How right it he is. The story covers the French Monarchy (Capetian dynasty) in the 14th century. The series begins as the French king Philip the Fair, already surrounded by scandal and intrigue, brings a curse upon his family when he persecutes the Knights Templar. The medieval folk were very superstitious, and wholly believed it was the curse that caused all the chaos-never thinking it was the poor choices of the King that were installed.
This was the fourth in the series, and it deals with the suspicious deaths of two kings and the passing over of the direct heir to the throne, a woman.
I am not sure that continuing is a good idea (though I will) as the 7th and final book was never translated from French. I suppose I will just have to read a non-fiction book to find out what happened.
This was the fourth in the series, and it deals with the suspicious deaths of two kings and the passing over of the direct heir to the throne, a woman.
I am not sure that continuing is a good idea (though I will) as the 7th and final book was never translated from French. I suppose I will just have to read a non-fiction book to find out what happened.
deeplyanchored's review against another edition
4.0
Louis X avait reçu la couronne alors que le monde était sans pape; il partait avant qu'on soit parvenu à s'accorder sur le choix d'un pontife. Et maintenant la France était sans roi.
michielvank's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marquito_navarrito89's review against another edition
5.0
Se fue la parte 4 de la serie y se pone cada vez mejor. Creo que en éste título se puede conocer hasta qué punto puede llegar la ambición como para ya no diferenciar entre amigos y enemigos, familiares o no familiares, culpables o inocentes. ¡Que magnífica es ésta saga!
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
5.0
Vicious, delicious and dark. These are just some of the ways that you can describe the Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon. This is the first time, however, that "heartbreaking" is the only fitting word to describe the ending to the series' fourth installment.
It's difficult to draw the line between fact and fiction for this series. As someone who is not well-versed in Medieval history, it's difficult for me to figure out the things that happened and the ones that came out of Druon's head. Nonetheless, Druon has created characters that I came to care deeply about, especially Marie de Cressay and Guccio Baglioni, the one beacon of hope and innocence in this dark, messed up world.
Between the scheming, the backstabbing and the betrayals, Marie and Guccio's story has always been a light at the end of the tunnel. Naive, perhaps, but it was pure and innocent. It is the one love story that isn't driven by political manoeuvrings and greed.
However, in this book, even that comes crashing down for the two characters, thanks to power-hungry assholes (Fuck you, Mahaut). It was painful to read the last chapters of this book, to see the two characters fall apart due to the villainy of others.
I have read a lot of Medieval fiction, but even those did not prepare me for Marie's loss. And to think that I have always been a supporter of Philip V's succession, his "victory" over the Duke of Burgundy and Charles of Valois left a bad taste in my mouth -- and I am sure his as well.
And, man, women were treated like cows for the slaughter back then, weren't they?
I'd say this is the best book in the series so far, and bold, too, for daring to bring a righteous king morally to his knees and killing off something beautiful. The worst part? Most of everything probably happened for real.
There are no winners in this story, only sinners. Sinners and greedy assholes.
It's difficult to draw the line between fact and fiction for this series. As someone who is not well-versed in Medieval history, it's difficult for me to figure out the things that happened and the ones that came out of Druon's head. Nonetheless, Druon has created characters that I came to care deeply about, especially Marie de Cressay and Guccio Baglioni, the one beacon of hope and innocence in this dark, messed up world.
Between the scheming, the backstabbing and the betrayals, Marie and Guccio's story has always been a light at the end of the tunnel. Naive, perhaps, but it was pure and innocent. It is the one love story that isn't driven by political manoeuvrings and greed.
However, in this book, even that comes crashing down for the two characters, thanks to power-hungry assholes (Fuck you, Mahaut). It was painful to read the last chapters of this book, to see the two characters fall apart due to the villainy of others.
I have read a lot of Medieval fiction, but even those did not prepare me for Marie's loss. And to think that I have always been a supporter of Philip V's succession, his "victory" over the Duke of Burgundy and Charles of Valois left a bad taste in my mouth -- and I am sure his as well.
And, man, women were treated like cows for the slaughter back then, weren't they?
I'd say this is the best book in the series so far, and bold, too, for daring to bring a righteous king morally to his knees and killing off something beautiful. The worst part? Most of everything probably happened for real.
There are no winners in this story, only sinners. Sinners and greedy assholes.