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mjporterauthor's review
4.0
Queen of the North by Anne O'Brien is an engaging novel. Elizabeth Percy is an intriguing character - in many ways just as headstrong as her husband - Harry Hotspur, and with a firm belief in the value of her own royal birthright.
The blurb for the book is, sadly, misleading. Much of Elizabeth Percy's vitriol is not directed against Richard II, indeed she seems to really rather like him for the brief appearance he makes, but rather against the next king, Henry IV, who usurps the throne, with the support of the Earl of Northumberland and her husband, but who then fails to pay the desired blood price. It is Henry IV that she wishes to see removed from the throne of England, not Richard II, although it is her nephew that she wishes to replace him with. In this, her husband is very much in agreement.
There is a wonderful sense of impending doom throughout the first half of the novel, but I didn't feel as though the second half succeeded with quite the same sense of drama. That said, Elizabeth is too interesting a character to not want to read about all of her life, and I enjoyed the character's own journey to self-realisation that occurs by the final pages of the book.
All in all, a firm addition to Anne O'Brien's cast of somewhat 'unlikely' heroic women of the Middle Ages who have sadly been overlooked by the joy that is popular history.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
The blurb for the book is, sadly, misleading. Much of Elizabeth Percy's vitriol is not directed against Richard II, indeed she seems to really rather like him for the brief appearance he makes, but rather against the next king, Henry IV, who usurps the throne, with the support of the Earl of Northumberland and her husband, but who then fails to pay the desired blood price. It is Henry IV that she wishes to see removed from the throne of England, not Richard II, although it is her nephew that she wishes to replace him with. In this, her husband is very much in agreement.
There is a wonderful sense of impending doom throughout the first half of the novel, but I didn't feel as though the second half succeeded with quite the same sense of drama. That said, Elizabeth is too interesting a character to not want to read about all of her life, and I enjoyed the character's own journey to self-realisation that occurs by the final pages of the book.
All in all, a firm addition to Anne O'Brien's cast of somewhat 'unlikely' heroic women of the Middle Ages who have sadly been overlooked by the joy that is popular history.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
ailurophile_bibliophile89's review
1.0
1 Star
Second time I read this and I'm still not feeling it.
There was no sense of a timeline, very little development in characters or even plot, and there's a huge lack of cohesiveness and flow in O'Brien's writing.
It's very stilted and that was jarring to me since it could be one day, two weeks, a month, and on several occasions we skipped 1-3 years, with no rhyme or reason for the jump ahead (perhaps other than the author's own laziness).
But it is a quick, easy read, even if confusing and convoluted. For someone wanting something mindless and fast, Queen of the North while planning a wedding and training a newbie at work, it did just the trick.
Second time I read this and I'm still not feeling it.
There was no sense of a timeline, very little development in characters or even plot, and there's a huge lack of cohesiveness and flow in O'Brien's writing.
It's very stilted and that was jarring to me since it could be one day, two weeks, a month, and on several occasions we skipped 1-3 years, with no rhyme or reason for the jump ahead (perhaps other than the author's own laziness).
But it is a quick, easy read, even if confusing and convoluted. For someone wanting something mindless and fast, Queen of the North while planning a wedding and training a newbie at work, it did just the trick.
meggggggff's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
emmag1995's review
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
Granddaughter of a royal prince, Elizabeth Mortimer has Plantagenet blood flowing through her veins so her dynastic marriage to Harry Percy, son of the Earl of Northumberland, is no surprise. Percy, known as Hotspur, is an able soldier and has been loyal to King Richard II despite his inept governance. When Elizabeth's exiled cousin Henry Bolingbroke lands in Yorkshire ready to take back his inheritance Hotspur and his father pledge loyalty and back Henry of Lancaster to the throne. Even when Richard is found to have died in captivity the Percys support Henry. Elisabeth, however, is interested in the rights of her nephew, Edmund of March, who technically is the heir to the throne. Even when a failed coup sees Hotspur killed, distraught Elizabeth cannot see how her family ties may have destroyed her marriage ties.
Once again Anne O'Brien has found a historical figure about whom much and yet little is known. Elizabeth Mortimer was closely linked to the politics of the throne through blood and marriage and her O'Brien has given her a voice. In common with O'Brien's other works this fictionalisation comes with a heavy dose of romance which can be irritating at times but the machinations and complexity of medieval history are carefully contextualised and handled well. It is hard to write a convincing novel about real characters in history and O'Brien's books are on the 'populist' end of the scale but are also a really good read.
Once again Anne O'Brien has found a historical figure about whom much and yet little is known. Elizabeth Mortimer was closely linked to the politics of the throne through blood and marriage and her O'Brien has given her a voice. In common with O'Brien's other works this fictionalisation comes with a heavy dose of romance which can be irritating at times but the machinations and complexity of medieval history are carefully contextualised and handled well. It is hard to write a convincing novel about real characters in history and O'Brien's books are on the 'populist' end of the scale but are also a really good read.
kirkw1972's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting historical story of a time period I'm less familiar with. As with anything regarding royals and gentry of that time there is intrigue, scandal, plotting and fighting and all is included here. It felt well researched and there was a lot to take in. A little too much for me, in some parts it was a little weighty but overall an enjoyable read.
notarobot's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘Who was I, Elizabeth Mortimer?’
In 1399, King Richard II of England is barely clinging onto power. He’s angered many nobles by his ruthless taxation and his attempts to curb their power. So, when John of Gaunt’s exiled son Henry of Bolingbroke returns to England while Richard is visiting Ireland, he can rally support to replace Richard as king. Richard II abdicates, Henry of Bolingbroke becomes Henry IV.
But for Elizabeth Mortimer and her family, there is only one rightful King – her eight-year-old nephew, Edmund. Edmund is descended from Edward III’s second surviving son, Lionel. Henry of Bolingbroke is descended from Edward III’s third surviving son, John of Gaunt. But there is little support for another child king: Richard II had been king since he was ten years old, and Henry is an adult.
Elizabeth’s husband, Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur) and his family, pragmatic and powerful, support Henry IV. But what of Elizabeth? Can she reconcile her divided loyalties? At what cost?
Told in the first person, from Elizabeth’s perspective, Ms O’Brien brings the intrigues of this period to life. The novel is set between 1399 and 1408 and follows the ambitions and fortunes of the Mortimer and Percy families while Henry IV struggles against plots and rebellions.
‘Once you were Queen of the North. What would be your ambition now?’
I knew next to nothing about Elizabeth Mortimer before reading this novel. I’d heard of Harry Hotspur and was aware of how Henry IV became king, but I’d not focussed on the detail. Reading this novel gave me more insight into the competing claims for the throne at this time. It also gave me more background into the later struggles between Lancaster and York.
If you are interested in this period of English history, you may also enjoy this novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1399, King Richard II of England is barely clinging onto power. He’s angered many nobles by his ruthless taxation and his attempts to curb their power. So, when John of Gaunt’s exiled son Henry of Bolingbroke returns to England while Richard is visiting Ireland, he can rally support to replace Richard as king. Richard II abdicates, Henry of Bolingbroke becomes Henry IV.
But for Elizabeth Mortimer and her family, there is only one rightful King – her eight-year-old nephew, Edmund. Edmund is descended from Edward III’s second surviving son, Lionel. Henry of Bolingbroke is descended from Edward III’s third surviving son, John of Gaunt. But there is little support for another child king: Richard II had been king since he was ten years old, and Henry is an adult.
Elizabeth’s husband, Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur) and his family, pragmatic and powerful, support Henry IV. But what of Elizabeth? Can she reconcile her divided loyalties? At what cost?
Told in the first person, from Elizabeth’s perspective, Ms O’Brien brings the intrigues of this period to life. The novel is set between 1399 and 1408 and follows the ambitions and fortunes of the Mortimer and Percy families while Henry IV struggles against plots and rebellions.
‘Once you were Queen of the North. What would be your ambition now?’
I knew next to nothing about Elizabeth Mortimer before reading this novel. I’d heard of Harry Hotspur and was aware of how Henry IV became king, but I’d not focussed on the detail. Reading this novel gave me more insight into the competing claims for the throne at this time. It also gave me more background into the later struggles between Lancaster and York.
If you are interested in this period of English history, you may also enjoy this novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
herbalmoon's review against another edition
1.0
I'm sixty-some pages in and the most thrilling thing that's happened thus far is when Queen Isabelle interrogated Elizabeth about Bolingbroke's plans.
That's sarcasm, by the way.
She might have come off like a firecracker, but only one lit by those who wanted to use her as a puppet.
I have Scandalous Duchess on my reading list. Hopefully, that's a lot better!
That's sarcasm, by the way.
She might have come off like a firecracker, but only one lit by those who wanted to use her as a puppet.
I have Scandalous Duchess on my reading list. Hopefully, that's a lot better!