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rosannelortz's review against another edition
3.0
“This plot is ridiculous.” I was about a third of the way through The Canterbury Papers when I uttered those critical words to my husband. Eleanor of Aquitaine wanted Alais, the French princess who used to be betrothed to her son Richard, to travel to Canterbury and obtain some secret letters hidden in the altar near Thomas Becket’s tomb. In return, the princesse Alais would receive some information about a mysterious child that had long been presumed dead. “Why?” I kept asking myself. “Why in the world would Eleanor want the French princess to go all the way across the English Channel on such an errand, when it would obviously be so much easier to send a servant, or a knight, or at least someone who was already in England?” Little did I suspect that the author intended to answer that very question later on in the novel.
As Alais pursues her journey to Canterbury, she runs into many implausible characters and situations. Averroes, the famous Muslim scholar, is staying at an inn on the seacoast in France and seems very interested in the large jewel pendant that Alais wears. She also meets up with her uncle Robert, the Duke of Orleans, who shows a similar interest in the necklace. Even though her room is ransacked, she keeps the jewel safe and makes her way to Canterbury. There, she discovers that the abbot is away on a journey; she must apply for permission to visit Becket’s altar to the acting prior, William of Caen.
This William, an orphan of obscure parentage, was fostered in the house of the former King Henry during the same years that Alais also lived there. Alais and the English princes had despised William because he was good and obedient and much better at his lessons than they were. But now it seems that William has become a well-respected church leader. As prior, he warns Alais to stay away from Becket’s altar, and then forbids her to hold an all-night vigil there. Apparently, he knows something about the mysterious letters.
As any daring heroine would do, Alais finds a way to thwart William’s commands and search for the letters. While she is in the cathedral, King John and his knights show up. They capture Alais and drag her away to Old Sarum, the tower where Eleanor of Aquitaine had been imprisoned for so many years. Why does John want to imprison Alais? He feels sure that she knows the whereabouts of the mysterious child (that Eleanor had alluded to), a bastard son of Henry II whom the Templars are plotting to put on the English throne as a replacement for avaricious John. Like Herod, John is seeking the child so that he may destroy him and protect his position.
At this point I was halfway into the book, and although the plot continued to be ridiculous, I stopped caring that it was ridiculous because I actually had become engaged with the characters. A daring rescue saves Alais from the hands of John, and we find that William of Caen may not be the simple churchman he purports to be. Eleanor’s true intentions in sending Alais to England are revealed, the value behind Alais’ jewel pendant is disclosed, and we discover the real identity of the mysterious child.
If you’re looking for historical fiction, this book set during John Lackland’s reign is probably not the book for you. But if you’re looking for a good adventure story, this one is a pleasant romp through the twelfth century with a decent romance and fairly well-drawn characters. Three out of five stars, by my estimation.
As Alais pursues her journey to Canterbury, she runs into many implausible characters and situations. Averroes, the famous Muslim scholar, is staying at an inn on the seacoast in France and seems very interested in the large jewel pendant that Alais wears. She also meets up with her uncle Robert, the Duke of Orleans, who shows a similar interest in the necklace. Even though her room is ransacked, she keeps the jewel safe and makes her way to Canterbury. There, she discovers that the abbot is away on a journey; she must apply for permission to visit Becket’s altar to the acting prior, William of Caen.
This William, an orphan of obscure parentage, was fostered in the house of the former King Henry during the same years that Alais also lived there. Alais and the English princes had despised William because he was good and obedient and much better at his lessons than they were. But now it seems that William has become a well-respected church leader. As prior, he warns Alais to stay away from Becket’s altar, and then forbids her to hold an all-night vigil there. Apparently, he knows something about the mysterious letters.
As any daring heroine would do, Alais finds a way to thwart William’s commands and search for the letters. While she is in the cathedral, King John and his knights show up. They capture Alais and drag her away to Old Sarum, the tower where Eleanor of Aquitaine had been imprisoned for so many years. Why does John want to imprison Alais? He feels sure that she knows the whereabouts of the mysterious child (that Eleanor had alluded to), a bastard son of Henry II whom the Templars are plotting to put on the English throne as a replacement for avaricious John. Like Herod, John is seeking the child so that he may destroy him and protect his position.
At this point I was halfway into the book, and although the plot continued to be ridiculous, I stopped caring that it was ridiculous because I actually had become engaged with the characters. A daring rescue saves Alais from the hands of John, and we find that William of Caen may not be the simple churchman he purports to be. Eleanor’s true intentions in sending Alais to England are revealed, the value behind Alais’ jewel pendant is disclosed, and we discover the real identity of the mysterious child.
If you’re looking for historical fiction, this book set during John Lackland’s reign is probably not the book for you. But if you’re looking for a good adventure story, this one is a pleasant romp through the twelfth century with a decent romance and fairly well-drawn characters. Three out of five stars, by my estimation.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"The only thing I felt was a strong hand around my neck, another around my waist, and -- before I could cry out -- I smelled the thick, sweet scent of a mandrake-soaked cloth. Unforgiving hands clapped it against my face, and all went dark.
Alaïs, the king of France's sister, is abducted while on her mission for the wily Eleanor of Aquitaine, the former Queen of England, to retrieve hidden letters that, in the wrong hands, could bring down the English king. In exchange, the French princess was to receive long-heldand dangerous information. Now Alaïs, along with help from the very intriguing leader of the Knights Templar, must unravel a tangled web of family secrets and lies." (From Amazon)
A good historical mystery.
"The only thing I felt was a strong hand around my neck, another around my waist, and -- before I could cry out -- I smelled the thick, sweet scent of a mandrake-soaked cloth. Unforgiving hands clapped it against my face, and all went dark.
Alaïs, the king of France's sister, is abducted while on her mission for the wily Eleanor of Aquitaine, the former Queen of England, to retrieve hidden letters that, in the wrong hands, could bring down the English king. In exchange, the French princess was to receive long-heldand dangerous information. Now Alaïs, along with help from the very intriguing leader of the Knights Templar, must unravel a tangled web of family secrets and lies." (From Amazon)
A good historical mystery.
readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy historical fiction, so I was excited, and I enjoyed it, but it was not as much a historical fiction as a novel. It definitely followed historical characters and was loosely based off of historical events, and I believe the author kept pretty closely with the time that she was writing in. I did enjoy the novel, the pacing was well done and I empathized with the main character quite a bit. It also had some twists that I wasn't expecting (though it wasn't terribly unpredictable). Overall, an enjoyable experience that I came away from having learned some about that time period.
kwurtzel3's review against another edition
3.0
I actually quite liked The Canterbury Papers. The resolution was very weak, and I was disappointed when I looked up the real Alys (not Alais in most contemporary sources, it seems) and her life barely followed that of the Alais in Healey's novel. I realize it's a novel for a reason, but to have so viciously twisted history sits wrong with me.
Not a bad book. If you really like this period, I'd recommend it. Otherwise, you can probably pass. 3.25/5.
Not a bad book. If you really like this period, I'd recommend it. Otherwise, you can probably pass. 3.25/5.
raejeanr's review against another edition
4.0
It felt good to read a fiction book! I like the main character's spunk even though she has her own demons to deal with.
jennysaisquois's review against another edition
4.0
I love historical mysteries, and I love ones that incorporate historical events and people who don't typically get enough "screen time" and imagine their stories from the fragments that are recorded. So while Eleanor of Aquitaine and King John of England (as well as a few other recognizable figures) feature in this book, the main characters are much more obscure and therefore, to me, much more interesting to follow.
The narrator and protagonist, Alais Capet, is basically a footnote today; a quick Google tells you that she was a French princess, betrothed to Richard the Lionheart of England, but never married him, possibly because of a rumored affair with Richard's father, Henry II. Although this book appears to focus on a search for possibly-treasonous letters written by Eleanor of Aquitaine to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the unfolding of Alais' history is the main thrust.
Because the plot is driven more by revealing conversations and letters about long-ago events, even though there is a fair bit of international travel, kidnapping, escaping, and other action, the book felt very slow paced in parts. Which is not to say it isn't enjoyable, just not a fast-paced thriller.
I felt that some aspects of the mysteries in the book - in particular, the situation with Alais' necklace, or the actual location of the Canterbury papers of the title - were written off too quickly/neatly. But I definitely enjoyed Alais' voice and am curious about the future of some of the characters.
The narrator and protagonist, Alais Capet, is basically a footnote today; a quick Google tells you that she was a French princess, betrothed to Richard the Lionheart of England, but never married him, possibly because of a rumored affair with Richard's father, Henry II. Although this book appears to focus on a search for possibly-treasonous letters written by Eleanor of Aquitaine to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the unfolding of Alais' history is the main thrust.
Because the plot is driven more by revealing conversations and letters about long-ago events, even though there is a fair bit of international travel, kidnapping, escaping, and other action, the book felt very slow paced in parts. Which is not to say it isn't enjoyable, just not a fast-paced thriller.
I felt that some aspects of the mysteries in the book - in particular, the situation with Alais' necklace, or the actual location of the Canterbury papers of the title - were written off too quickly/neatly. But I definitely enjoyed Alais' voice and am curious about the future of some of the characters.
robinwalter's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An entertaining historical fiction, let down a bit by a soggy, soapy ending.
kimmerp's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Have never in my life cared about middle ages politics, but this book was awesome. Plan to read next one as soon as I can.