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literarylover37's review against another edition
2.0
I'd probably give it a 2.5. I liked it but I felt like the character could have been developed more. It also bothered me that he said the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria at the end. Ships were named after saints. Nina and Pinta, though known more commonly, were actually nicknames for these ships given by the sailors. Why he would get the fact about having to wait 6 years for Isabel's support correct and not this is strange to me. I also agree with reviewers that he downplayed her role in the Inquisition. Still, it was well written and enjoyable to read.
lifeand100books's review
4.0
For many of us, the only information we know about Queen Isabella of Spain is that she commissioned Columbus to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to reach India. Besides this, her reign and accomplishments have been slowly forgotten over the years. C. W. Gortner aims to change that in his novel The Queen’s Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile. In this sweeping historical fiction work, Gortner lays out Isabella’s life for inspection and highlights her greatest triumphs and tribulations for all to see.
We begin with Isabella in her early years, when she is taken from her mother’s home and all that she knows and holds dear, to the home of her half-brother, Enrique, the King of Spain. Enrique is married to Joan of Portugal, who is known for her scandalous dress and manner. Although she does not want any part of the lives of Enrique and Joan, she is unwittingly thrown into a plot to dethrone Enrique, and is soon accused of treason and imprisoned. She is caught between what she believes to be the right course of action and what she must do to protect herself. She must change loyalties constantly, and in this ever-changing and dangerous world the only thing she truly wants is to marry her true love, Fernando, prince of Aragon. She is finally able to do so after successfully avoiding the other marriage proposals that are set up for her by Enrique. After her marriage to Fernando, they are both constantly tested as they try to unite Spain despite the many obstacles in their path. Will their marriage last? Will Isabella be able to be the monarch she knows that she can be?
Historical fiction can sometimes be a tricky genre to read when it’s about history that’s difficult to research. What I mean by that is the further back in history that you travel, the harder it is to find primary sources that can give you a complete picture of what that time was like. You have to become adept at filling in the gaps in an accurate and entertaining manner for your readers. Gortner clearly does this in The Queen’s Vow showing not only his depth and accuracy as a historian, but his imaginative and creative side as an author.
Gortner’s vision of who Isabella was is a beautiful rendition, one I think Isabella herself would be proud of. It’s written in a beautiful manner, weaving the plot lines of Isabella and those surrounding her into one seamless timeline. Some historical fiction novels can be overly heavy in their vast number of characters that are present, making it hard to keep track of all the plot lines that exist simultaneously. Fortunately, The Queen’s Vow does not have this problem, as Gortner focuses on Isabella and keeps the plot moving by introducing other characters that are only essential to her development in the story. In all, it is a great work that must find its way onto any historical fiction fan’s shelf. This is definitely worth the read!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-154
We begin with Isabella in her early years, when she is taken from her mother’s home and all that she knows and holds dear, to the home of her half-brother, Enrique, the King of Spain. Enrique is married to Joan of Portugal, who is known for her scandalous dress and manner. Although she does not want any part of the lives of Enrique and Joan, she is unwittingly thrown into a plot to dethrone Enrique, and is soon accused of treason and imprisoned. She is caught between what she believes to be the right course of action and what she must do to protect herself. She must change loyalties constantly, and in this ever-changing and dangerous world the only thing she truly wants is to marry her true love, Fernando, prince of Aragon. She is finally able to do so after successfully avoiding the other marriage proposals that are set up for her by Enrique. After her marriage to Fernando, they are both constantly tested as they try to unite Spain despite the many obstacles in their path. Will their marriage last? Will Isabella be able to be the monarch she knows that she can be?
Historical fiction can sometimes be a tricky genre to read when it’s about history that’s difficult to research. What I mean by that is the further back in history that you travel, the harder it is to find primary sources that can give you a complete picture of what that time was like. You have to become adept at filling in the gaps in an accurate and entertaining manner for your readers. Gortner clearly does this in The Queen’s Vow showing not only his depth and accuracy as a historian, but his imaginative and creative side as an author.
Gortner’s vision of who Isabella was is a beautiful rendition, one I think Isabella herself would be proud of. It’s written in a beautiful manner, weaving the plot lines of Isabella and those surrounding her into one seamless timeline. Some historical fiction novels can be overly heavy in their vast number of characters that are present, making it hard to keep track of all the plot lines that exist simultaneously. Fortunately, The Queen’s Vow does not have this problem, as Gortner focuses on Isabella and keeps the plot moving by introducing other characters that are only essential to her development in the story. In all, it is a great work that must find its way onto any historical fiction fan’s shelf. This is definitely worth the read!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-154
kinx128's review against another edition
5.0
C.W. Gortner was written a marvelous historical novel of Spain’s Isabella I during a very tumultuous time in its history. He successfully tackled a very controversial historical figure with great passion and aplomb. Mr. Gortner was able to bring to life Isabella I who had the reputation of intolerance and zealousness. Instead, Isabella is portrayed as sympathic and, in fact, empathic with her subjects and political opponents.
Prior to reading this book, I really didn’t know much about Isabella; except for her involvement of the Inquisition and Christopher Columbus. I really never expected to appreciate what she accomplished in her life. Mr. Gortner gave me a new perspective of her, for which I am grateful. I’m, also, grateful that he didn’t completely focus on her religious feelings and the Inquisition. Her focus remained throughout the entire book was on a united Spain and the obstacles she faced trying to achieve that.
I’m completely amazed by all the research the Mr. Gortner had to have done to write this novel. All of the political intrigue and betrayal was written so well that I could imagine what Castile was truly like.
The Queen’s Vow is a wonderful book with incredible richness of Spanish history. Reading this book, you will be surprised with Isabella and will want to know more about her.
Prior to reading this book, I really didn’t know much about Isabella; except for her involvement of the Inquisition and Christopher Columbus. I really never expected to appreciate what she accomplished in her life. Mr. Gortner gave me a new perspective of her, for which I am grateful. I’m, also, grateful that he didn’t completely focus on her religious feelings and the Inquisition. Her focus remained throughout the entire book was on a united Spain and the obstacles she faced trying to achieve that.
I’m completely amazed by all the research the Mr. Gortner had to have done to write this novel. All of the political intrigue and betrayal was written so well that I could imagine what Castile was truly like.
The Queen’s Vow is a wonderful book with incredible richness of Spanish history. Reading this book, you will be surprised with Isabella and will want to know more about her.
bmg20's review against another edition
3.0
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A copy of The Queen's Vow was provided to me by Random House for review purposes.
C.W. Gortner is well known for his historical fiction novels and I have been interested in reading his works for many years. This being my first one, I was impressed. His detailing of Isabella is almost sedulous with how painstaking it is. While he painted an extremely detailed portrait of Isabella, I'm not positive he painted her as accurately as she is known for being.
Isabella I of Castile was never expected to amount to anything yet she became known for greatness. Her struggle to claim her true right to the throne after her brother died at an early age is the initial focus of this novel. It also showcases first-hand the initial meeting of Isabella and her future-husband, Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Isabella is known for being a strong, independent queen who was able to reorganize governments and unburden the kingdom of debts that had been crushing for all citizens. She is also well known for her unwavering faith and while we saw moments of faith, I think the focus on her infatuation with a boy she knew for two days is a bit off-base. It's also unfounded in history as her and her husband did not meet until they were married. The Queen's Vow focuses heavily on their initial meeting and their subsequent separation after which Isabella pines over him because she's unable to communicate with him.
I've found this to be a common trend with many historical fiction novels (the emphasis on the romance aspect whether it being grounded in history or not) and I can say it often leaves me disappointed. This is especially true when the main character is telling the story of a strong woman in a time when women were constantly impeded. What I also found disconcerting was her disassociation from the corruption and decay that was happening around her. While all this chaos was happening around her she sat silently, biting her tongue and digging her nails in her hands to maintain composure. While I believe this to be done as further proof of her unwavering faith, it actually made her to be a very bland and boring character.
While I wasn't completely impressed with the representation of Isabella, I was for the most part pleased with the writing style of Gortner and his attention to detail. It's clear that he researches his topics extensively, I just hope that he doesn't take too much artistic license in all of his stories.
A copy of The Queen's Vow was provided to me by Random House for review purposes.
C.W. Gortner is well known for his historical fiction novels and I have been interested in reading his works for many years. This being my first one, I was impressed. His detailing of Isabella is almost sedulous with how painstaking it is. While he painted an extremely detailed portrait of Isabella, I'm not positive he painted her as accurately as she is known for being.
Isabella I of Castile was never expected to amount to anything yet she became known for greatness. Her struggle to claim her true right to the throne after her brother died at an early age is the initial focus of this novel. It also showcases first-hand the initial meeting of Isabella and her future-husband, Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Isabella is known for being a strong, independent queen who was able to reorganize governments and unburden the kingdom of debts that had been crushing for all citizens. She is also well known for her unwavering faith and while we saw moments of faith, I think the focus on her infatuation with a boy she knew for two days is a bit off-base. It's also unfounded in history as her and her husband did not meet until they were married. The Queen's Vow focuses heavily on their initial meeting and their subsequent separation after which Isabella pines over him because she's unable to communicate with him.
I've found this to be a common trend with many historical fiction novels (the emphasis on the romance aspect whether it being grounded in history or not) and I can say it often leaves me disappointed. This is especially true when the main character is telling the story of a strong woman in a time when women were constantly impeded. What I also found disconcerting was her disassociation from the corruption and decay that was happening around her. While all this chaos was happening around her she sat silently, biting her tongue and digging her nails in her hands to maintain composure. While I believe this to be done as further proof of her unwavering faith, it actually made her to be a very bland and boring character.
While I wasn't completely impressed with the representation of Isabella, I was for the most part pleased with the writing style of Gortner and his attention to detail. It's clear that he researches his topics extensively, I just hope that he doesn't take too much artistic license in all of his stories.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty much everything I know about Isabella of Spain I learned from watching a Spanish tv show entitled Isabel, which charges blithely through the entirety of her life. Reading this book is like watching that TV show, but with less gore and more attempts at justifying her treatment of the Jews. It is a little frustrating to discover afterwards that, despite the just-the-facts-ma'am treatment of the narrative, the author rearranged a fair number of events. Additionally, Isabel never really felt realistic - the historic Isabel was intensely religious and undoubtedly a canny politician and ruthless strategist, whereas this Isabella is a wide-eyed naif who basically seizes control of Castile because she feels she has no choice. But she's nice, really. She doesn't want to dispossess her niece, or begin the Reconquista, or fund the Inquisition, or persecute the conversos. It just kind of happens that way. Come on. It would have been a lot more fun, and a lot more interesting, to see her as a more realistic ruler.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
DNF this at page 166. This book just wasn't for me. Couldn't get into the story and didn't feel a connection with the characters.
bookishblond's review against another edition
2.0
Although I've loved C.W. Gortner's historical novels, The Queen's Vow was a profound disappointment. The book's coverage of Isabella's life is so odd--for about half the book, Isabella is a young woman, and the remainder of the book rushes through her life, listing historical events like a catalogue. Rather than writing about Isabella's experiences during these events, Gortner lists Isabella's travels, battles that were fought, and births of children--a catalogue rather than a portrait. Gortner also failed in that unique way male writers can fail in writing women. Depictions of childbirth, Isabella's body and sexual experiences, and some of her internal insights (for example, her thoughts when putting on armor) seemed too much like male imaginations of what women must experience.
Overall (and I hate to say it), The Queen's Vow does a disservice to Isabella of Castile, who was a complicated and accomplished historical figure, ahead of her times in many ways. Any literary depiction of her should do her justice.
Overall (and I hate to say it), The Queen's Vow does a disservice to Isabella of Castile, who was a complicated and accomplished historical figure, ahead of her times in many ways. Any literary depiction of her should do her justice.
susannavs's review
3.0
What I know of Isabella and Ferdinand is that they were Columbus's patron, and they oversaw the Inquisition (nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!)... I found some of Isabella's thoughts to be too modern in this book (I don't think her expectation that Ferdinand was completely faithful to her during their years apart was realistic. Certainly not for that time. And not for kings.). It was a pity the book ended when it did though - I'm left wondering what Isabella did with her maid, Beatriz, who was from "converso" stock and would had to have left Spain in the later years of the Inquisition! Overall though, I enjoyed this :-)
ashkitty93's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent historical novel from CW Gortner. I appreciated that he didn't try to shy away from or gloss over the events in Isabella's reign which are looked on as unsavory nowadays.
riseclare's review against another edition
4.0
Well written, very interesting, and kept my attention. Educational as well, as I have not read anything on Spanish royalty. (Ferdinand and Isabella) This is the mother of Catherine of Aragon and also she was a warrior queen and was responsible for part of the Spanish Inquisition. Great read and now I want to read about her daughter, the "mad" Queen, Juana. I've found a new author for sure! Already have downloaded his book on Chanel!