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klherring's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Chadwick novel and I wasn't sure what to expect. I love historical fiction, but hate those that fall into the category of historical romance. I was anxious that this might slide a little into that realm and was really pleased to find that it did not. I haven't read much about Eleanor of Aquitaine, and so this was an educational read for me. While I enjoyed, I did find it a little tedious at times, though I can't say what really caused my interest to lapse. However, I think I will enjoy reading the rest of this serious and other works by this author. Nice work and well researched!
mrs_george's review against another edition
4.0
I knew very little about Eleanor of Aquitaine but saw this at the library and with a trip to Europe on the horizon I added it to my kindle. I’m so glad I did! Eleanor is so interesting and I look forward to continuing her story in the next book.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
This is a new take on one of the most famous queens in English history. Chadwick uses her non-Anglicized name "Alienor" instead of the more common "Eleanor", because she called herself Alienor and used that name to sign her charters. That also helps separate her from other fictionalized accounts of Aquitaine's famed beauty (especially those of [a:Sharon Kay Penman|24655|Sharon Kay Penman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234237583p2/24655.jpg], with which I was much more familiar).
I always enjoy the richness of Chadwick's writing, surrounding the reader with sensory descriptions of sound, scent and sight, and this was no exception. I was immersed in Aquitaine and the French court, from the feeling of the fabrics worn to the stifling heat and odors in the summer.
This is more than just Alienor's story though. Through her the reader sees her increasing alienation at the French court, helped by her mother-in-law's disapproval and the influence of bishops and religious leaders, and then we see the potential joy in her initial relationship with Louis, a seed which never comes to fruition. We watch as the marriage mirrors her experience at court, the relationship souring as Louis withdraws his affection as he longs for a male heir, under the influence of male companions. We see the suspicion, the desperation, the hostility, the fervor, and the betrayals.
It's not just Alienor's story though. We also see a lot more of Louis than I had expected. He's not just the French king, left in a corner, but someone we come to know, even though our understanding of his motives is often opaque.
I look forward to reading the next one!
I always enjoy the richness of Chadwick's writing, surrounding the reader with sensory descriptions of sound, scent and sight, and this was no exception. I was immersed in Aquitaine and the French court, from the feeling of the fabrics worn to the stifling heat and odors in the summer.
This is more than just Alienor's story though. Through her the reader sees her increasing alienation at the French court, helped by her mother-in-law's disapproval and the influence of bishops and religious leaders, and then we see the potential joy in her initial relationship with Louis, a seed which never comes to fruition. We watch as the marriage mirrors her experience at court, the relationship souring as Louis withdraws his affection as he longs for a male heir, under the influence of male companions. We see the suspicion, the desperation, the hostility, the fervor, and the betrayals.
It's not just Alienor's story though. We also see a lot more of Louis than I had expected. He's not just the French king, left in a corner, but someone we come to know, even though our understanding of his motives is often opaque.
I look forward to reading the next one!
dmwhipp's review against another edition
3.0
Informative and entertaining look into the early life of Alienor of Aquitaine.
nytxia's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book.
I liked the way Eleanor (Alienor, as according to the author, it's as her name appears in the Anglo-Norman texts) is portrayed and how the story, even if a bit too factual at times, was interesting to read. Bonus points for the steamy scenes (right quantity and right amount of detail: not too little, not too much) and for including that bit of speculation on her vassal (not going to include spoilers here).
Considering we know already how the 'story' ends as this is well-known history, then what makes the most interesting element to explore in historical fiction, in my opinion, is each character's thoughts, reactions and feelings along with the speculative gaps. While the author did a good job, I have the certain reservations:
- The 'Akashic records' as she mentions in her author's note, I am not too sure what to think of this;
- The constant focus on specific emotions to describe a character's tone or reaction such as 'anger' or 'happiness'. Basically didn't follow the "show, don't tell" principle, which is a shame, considering the character's development and general descriptions were very good.
Apart from that, I thought there was a good use of the third person omniscient POV - I am impressed myself because I am usually not a fan of this type of narration, but I thought the story flowed quite well, considering we had access to many different character's thoughts and emotions within the same chapter.
The next book in this series has been offered to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I am certainly looking forward to reading it.
I liked the way Eleanor (Alienor, as according to the author, it's as her name appears in the Anglo-Norman texts) is portrayed and how the story, even if a bit too factual at times, was interesting to read. Bonus points for the steamy scenes (right quantity and right amount of detail: not too little, not too much) and for including that bit of speculation on her vassal (not going to include spoilers here).
Considering we know already how the 'story' ends as this is well-known history, then what makes the most interesting element to explore in historical fiction, in my opinion, is each character's thoughts, reactions and feelings along with the speculative gaps. While the author did a good job, I have the certain reservations:
- The 'Akashic records' as she mentions in her author's note, I am not too sure what to think of this;
- The constant focus on specific emotions to describe a character's tone or reaction such as 'anger' or 'happiness'. Basically didn't follow the "show, don't tell" principle, which is a shame, considering the character's development and general descriptions were very good.
Apart from that, I thought there was a good use of the third person omniscient POV - I am impressed myself because I am usually not a fan of this type of narration, but I thought the story flowed quite well, considering we had access to many different character's thoughts and emotions within the same chapter.
The next book in this series has been offered to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I am certainly looking forward to reading it.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Eleanor of Aquitaine (Alienor in the book, per the spelling of the day) is a fascinating historical figure: one of the most powerful women of the medieval age, yet constantly subject to laws made and enforced by men. Wealthy in land and money in her own right, but forced to be under the influence of her husband to rule those lands—and not necessarily permitted to choose who that husband would be. The only woman in history to have been queen of both France and England, not at the same time and with two different husbands. Her politics often appall me as a modern reader (the Crusades, for example), but she was both a product of her time and, arguably ahead of her time. With two children from her first marriage and eight from her second—many of whom went on to have epic family trees of their own—there's an argument that the vast majority of people in present-day England are one way or another related to Edward III; as he's one of many documented descendants of Eleanor of Aquitaine, that would mean an even higher probability of being somehow related to Eleanor of Aquitaine if you're from England (and, you know, places with heavy English-origin and English-adjacent populations).
Many of the (also many) novels about Eleanor of Aquitaine's life make her out to be led by her erotic passions—dissatisfied by Louis VII and throwing herself crotch-first at various willing men. There does seem to be some evidence that she had affairs (and that Louis was too wedded to the church to be satisfying as a husband or a king), but I have to think that Eleanor was too canny, too ambitious to run willy-nilly from one affair to the next, as a lot of historical fiction suggests. And so I really appreciate this about The Summer Queen: Eleanor is dissatisfied with her marriage, yes (and we are told, often in detail, whether or not she enjoyed any given sexual encounter), but this is not a book about affairs. The focus does remain more on her attempts to retain her power as a duchess in her own right, ensure that her legacy will continue, and maintain a sense of agency in her private life.
What didn't work so well for me were the many, many times the reader is told exactly what the POV character thinks or feels. Take this example: Raoul knew all about being careful. He had had decades of practice during the various affairs he had conducted. He had a slight conscience about Petronella, but it wasn't enough to subjugate his lust or his drive as a sexual predator (115). Just...tell me...what person ever thinks that way...? It probably makes some good page-space sense to go for telling rather than showing (it's not a short book as it is), but...I don't think the book ever goes for subtlety. (If a character promises to destroy some Dramatic Evidence of Misconduct, you can bet that not only will they not destroy it but it will be uncovered within, like...the next ten pages.)
There is some nuance to Louis for once, though, which is nice. Oh, he's still portrayed as being ashamed of sex, and focussed more on the church than on the country, and quite petty about things at times—but he has his more human moments. Too, Eleanor's marriage to Henry II is not portrayed as a loins-first-politics-second animal attraction, but a calculated decision on both sides, which seems much more in line with the careful woman Eleanor would have had to be to maintain her power and influence.
So much and yet so little is known of her life—despite her influence and power and scope, only one known possession of hers remains (and even that is a vase that she gifted to Louis, who in turn gifted it to the church). Her thoughts and feelings and private, non-political life are up to guesswork and probability. This particular estimating continues with [b:The Winter Crown|25365228|The Winter Crown (Eleanor of Aquitaine, #2)|Elizabeth Chadwick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429116526l/25365228._SY75_.jpg|27038984], so I may yet add that to my pile of Eleanor-themed books.
Many of the (also many) novels about Eleanor of Aquitaine's life make her out to be led by her erotic passions—dissatisfied by Louis VII and throwing herself crotch-first at various willing men. There does seem to be some evidence that she had affairs (and that Louis was too wedded to the church to be satisfying as a husband or a king), but I have to think that Eleanor was too canny, too ambitious to run willy-nilly from one affair to the next, as a lot of historical fiction suggests. And so I really appreciate this about The Summer Queen: Eleanor is dissatisfied with her marriage, yes (and we are told, often in detail, whether or not she enjoyed any given sexual encounter), but this is not a book about affairs. The focus does remain more on her attempts to retain her power as a duchess in her own right, ensure that her legacy will continue, and maintain a sense of agency in her private life.
What didn't work so well for me were the many, many times the reader is told exactly what the POV character thinks or feels. Take this example: Raoul knew all about being careful. He had had decades of practice during the various affairs he had conducted. He had a slight conscience about Petronella, but it wasn't enough to subjugate his lust or his drive as a sexual predator (115). Just...tell me...what person ever thinks that way...? It probably makes some good page-space sense to go for telling rather than showing (it's not a short book as it is), but...I don't think the book ever goes for subtlety. (If a character promises to destroy some Dramatic Evidence of Misconduct, you can bet that not only will they not destroy it but it will be uncovered within, like...the next ten pages.)
There is some nuance to Louis for once, though, which is nice. Oh, he's still portrayed as being ashamed of sex, and focussed more on the church than on the country, and quite petty about things at times—but he has his more human moments. Too, Eleanor's marriage to Henry II is not portrayed as a loins-first-politics-second animal attraction, but a calculated decision on both sides, which seems much more in line with the careful woman Eleanor would have had to be to maintain her power and influence.
So much and yet so little is known of her life—despite her influence and power and scope, only one known possession of hers remains (and even that is a vase that she gifted to Louis, who in turn gifted it to the church). Her thoughts and feelings and private, non-political life are up to guesswork and probability. This particular estimating continues with [b:The Winter Crown|25365228|The Winter Crown (Eleanor of Aquitaine, #2)|Elizabeth Chadwick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429116526l/25365228._SY75_.jpg|27038984], so I may yet add that to my pile of Eleanor-themed books.
dianaliliana's review against another edition
3.0
Ja die Figuren sind gut beschrieben aber für mich hat es sich gezogen wie Kaugummi. Ich liebe Alienor von Aquitanien und das ist nicht das erste Buch dass ich über sie lese aber das war mir doch zuviel Louis. -.- Klar war diese Ehe bestimmt kein Zuckerschlecken aber so ausführlich hätte ich's nicht gebraucht. Die Geschichte mit dem Kreuzzug war allerdings spannend. Also meine persönliche Meinung Leute. Es schadet nicht es zu lesen und sich eine eigene Meinung zu bilden, es ist ganz nett.
lara_bookella's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Lo stile di Elizabeth Chadwick è capace di raccontare la Storia come fosse un romanzo: in ogni momento ero colpita da come riuscisse a raccontarmi fatti storici con l’estro e lo stile di una storia inventata. Mi ha fatto un sacco specie il modo in cui lei è riuscita a immaginare odori, rumori, colori di paramenti, di abiti e cavalli solo studiando le fonti storiche.
Tutte le vicende storiche-politiche in cui viene coinvolta Eleonora sono studiate a scuola, ma nessun testo scolastico riesce a cogliere con tanta semplicità le cause e le conseguenze delle scelte dei regnanti di Francia.
La cosa che mi è piaciuta di più in assoluto è stata proprio Eleonora: l’autrice è riuscita a renderla viva, spontanea, umana e realistica. Eleonora ha dovuto lottare con il suo tempo e la sua società in modi diversi da quelli che dobbiamo usare noi oggi, ma lo ha fatto con lo stesso spirito di chi ora cerca di affermarsi in un mondo storicamente dominato dai maschi.
Tutte le vicende storiche-politiche in cui viene coinvolta Eleonora sono studiate a scuola, ma nessun testo scolastico riesce a cogliere con tanta semplicità le cause e le conseguenze delle scelte dei regnanti di Francia.
La cosa che mi è piaciuta di più in assoluto è stata proprio Eleonora: l’autrice è riuscita a renderla viva, spontanea, umana e realistica. Eleonora ha dovuto lottare con il suo tempo e la sua società in modi diversi da quelli che dobbiamo usare noi oggi, ma lo ha fatto con lo stesso spirito di chi ora cerca di affermarsi in un mondo storicamente dominato dai maschi.
millie_who_loves_books's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual violence
louise_jb0's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0