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melineegout's review
4.0
Je crois que c’est le livre de la saga que j’ai le moins apprécié lire. L’intrigue met plus de temps à s’installer que dans les trois premiers tomes et se concentre sur des personnages que j’apprécie moins. Cependant, la troisième partie rattrape le tout avec des retournements de situations qui m’ont rappelé pourquoi j’adore ces livres. J’ai hâte de lire la suite qui promet encore plus de manipulations sadiques et le retour d’Isabelle que j’attends avec impatience.
estherounette's review
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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.
alternbruno's review against another edition
4.0
La cuarta entrega de los Reyes Malditos versa sobre la sucesión que llevó a Felipe V al trono. En este golpe de estado que protagonizaría el descendiente de Felipe el hermoso, hay además una continuación sobre lo que ocurre con Guccio y su esposa Maria de Cressay. Sus historias se cruzan cuando los bebés son cambiados ante la demanda de presentar a Juan I, que sólo vivió 5 días.
Más allá de todo lo que implica arreglar una sucesión, cabe destacar la habilidad de Druon para retratar el drama de una época convulsa y llena de incertidumbre. La forma en la que se mueve entre la corte, los banqueros lombardos y las lenceras de la corte forman un tapiz donde todos los hilos se van trenzando de manera formidable. Las frágiles alianzas, las discordias que pasan de tenues a escandalosas, todo este juego de grados que va volviendo operante la balanza del poder.
Más allá de todo lo que implica arreglar una sucesión, cabe destacar la habilidad de Druon para retratar el drama de una época convulsa y llena de incertidumbre. La forma en la que se mueve entre la corte, los banqueros lombardos y las lenceras de la corte forman un tapiz donde todos los hilos se van trenzando de manera formidable. Las frágiles alianzas, las discordias que pasan de tenues a escandalosas, todo este juego de grados que va volviendo operante la balanza del poder.
izzy_reads7's review against another edition
4.0
All my favorite characters had interactions with each other in this installment! In the last book, I struggled with the court setting but this time around it was so much more intriguing with all the behind the scenes plotting of characters. The writing is detailed but never goes over the top so it flows very well. I love how there are consequences for all the actions the characters make and that nothing is left with untied ends. I loved this book but not my favorite in the series!
srash's review against another edition
5.0
This series continues to fire on all cylinders, though this one is easily the darkest book so far.
After the successful poisoning of King Louis, several contenders rally to be named regent. The late king's brother Philippe emerges as the most crafty and competent candidate, but he faces fierce and legitimate challenges from several quarters. He's also still a pawn in his mother-in-law's feud with her nephew, which spills into open warfare as the fight over who is to be regent ends up being, like everything else, a proxy battle over who has the right to control the county of Artois. When Robert and Mahaut match wits, nothing is off the table, including infanticide and tormenting the hapless peasants caught in the middle.
After the successful poisoning of King Louis, several contenders rally to be named regent. The late king's brother Philippe emerges as the most crafty and competent candidate, but he faces fierce and legitimate challenges from several quarters. He's also still a pawn in his mother-in-law's feud with her nephew, which spills into open warfare as the fight over who is to be regent ends up being, like everything else, a proxy battle over who has the right to control the county of Artois. When Robert and Mahaut match wits, nothing is off the table, including infanticide and tormenting the hapless peasants caught in the middle.