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jenijo's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. It's not a favorite, but it was intriguing enough to finish.
grayduck's review
Reviewed 10/24/2006
First off, this is not a novel of suspense. When I think of suspense I think of that feeling I get when I KNOW the monster is behind the door and I want to reach into the book and shake the protagonist and say "Don't open the door you bloody fool, the werewolf is right there!!!!!" I didn't get that feeling once while reading this book.
The Canterbury Papers of the title are a set of letters that Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queen of France, then of England) has hidden away. Now that her older son Richard Lionheart is dead, her dimwitted asshole of a younger son Bad King John is in charge of England*. Something in these hidden letters threatens his throne. So of course, she wants them back. She sends her stepdaughter Alais to go fetch them from Canterbury...and when she does, she will let Alais in on a secret that will change her life.
Now, here's the kicker. I liked this book. It was a fun, leisurely read...in spite of these facts:
Alais falls into the category of women that I don't like in historical novels: she's got a mysteriously 20th-century sensibility for a woman of the middle ages. This is my #1 problem with female protagonists in historical fiction. Not only does her character completely conflict with the times, she's psychic. Luckily, it's only brought up once or twice. I wish that the author would have left that out. She's remarkably dense for a psychic woman.
Little things. Like Tom, the steward, has only one eye. But Alais could "see the fear in his eyes". It's probably an editing boo-boo, but man, did it bug me. Other little things like that.
Anyway, I liked the book. I didn't expect too much in the way of scholarly information from it, but it was a two-day read and I did get caught up in it enough to be late for dinner one night. I picked it up with an inkling that it would be more like The Birth of Venus than The Agony and the Ecstasy, but I was alright with that. It was the right book at the right time.
First off, this is not a novel of suspense. When I think of suspense I think of that feeling I get when I KNOW the monster is behind the door and I want to reach into the book and shake the protagonist and say "Don't open the door you bloody fool, the werewolf is right there!!!!!" I didn't get that feeling once while reading this book.
The Canterbury Papers of the title are a set of letters that Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queen of France, then of England) has hidden away. Now that her older son Richard Lionheart is dead, her dimwitted asshole of a younger son Bad King John is in charge of England*. Something in these hidden letters threatens his throne. So of course, she wants them back. She sends her stepdaughter Alais to go fetch them from Canterbury...and when she does, she will let Alais in on a secret that will change her life.
Now, here's the kicker. I liked this book. It was a fun, leisurely read...in spite of these facts:
Alais falls into the category of women that I don't like in historical novels: she's got a mysteriously 20th-century sensibility for a woman of the middle ages. This is my #1 problem with female protagonists in historical fiction. Not only does her character completely conflict with the times, she's psychic. Luckily, it's only brought up once or twice. I wish that the author would have left that out. She's remarkably dense for a psychic woman.
Little things. Like Tom, the steward, has only one eye. But Alais could "see the fear in his eyes". It's probably an editing boo-boo, but man, did it bug me. Other little things like that.
Anyway, I liked the book. I didn't expect too much in the way of scholarly information from it, but it was a two-day read and I did get caught up in it enough to be late for dinner one night. I picked it up with an inkling that it would be more like The Birth of Venus than The Agony and the Ecstasy, but I was alright with that. It was the right book at the right time.
agrinczel's review against another edition
5.0
Not usually the time period that appeals to me, but I found this book really interesting.
I read this as part of the 2017 #MMDChallenge (fun): "A book recommended by someone with great taste" (thanks Kim! :))
I read this as part of the 2017 #MMDChallenge (fun): "A book recommended by someone with great taste" (thanks Kim! :))
kathrynreadsalot's review against another edition
2.0
A suspense novel set in medieval England and France in the 13th Century. It is narrated by french pricess Alais, who is bored with life at her brother's court when her step-mother Queen Eleanor asks her to take on a mission in return for information Alais desperately wants. It is an enjoyable read and brings the exciting era to life.
I again enjoyed the epigraph:
"The truth of the imagination leads us to compassion. These two imagination and compassion, are the only possibility of salvation." W.S. Merwin.
I again enjoyed the epigraph:
"The truth of the imagination leads us to compassion. These two imagination and compassion, are the only possibility of salvation." W.S. Merwin.
krkay128's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
yes_smam's review against another edition
2.0
It was alright. Slow in the beginning, typical throughout. Interesting, but nothing worth writing home about.
artemishi's review
4.0
The Canterbury Papers brought to life an historical figure I'd never encountered before- Alaïs Capet, stepdaughter of Eleanor of Aquitane. This book did an excellent job of bringing a little-known figure into life, especially as an older (for the day) woman caught in the typical Plantagenet drama of the day.
There's a fair amount of actual history in here, and the author is good at calling out the fictitious bits from it. It's got a lot going on- mainly intrigue and mystery, but also adventure, a strong female protagonist, and romance. It's a pretty well-paced novel, although I wanted to see more about William Marshall and a few of the other side characters (who are actual historical figures).
Overall, I recommend it for fans of historical fiction, especially 1200s England/France/Aquitane, the Plantagenets, and the Knights Templar. Even if you are only mildly interested in historical fiction, the narrative voice of a 40s-sh woman being given the breath and space to become her own person (at a time where she was, by status and birth, always meant to be a political pawn) was refreshing and sweet.
There's a fair amount of actual history in here, and the author is good at calling out the fictitious bits from it. It's got a lot going on- mainly intrigue and mystery, but also adventure, a strong female protagonist, and romance. It's a pretty well-paced novel, although I wanted to see more about William Marshall and a few of the other side characters (who are actual historical figures).
Overall, I recommend it for fans of historical fiction, especially 1200s England/France/Aquitane, the Plantagenets, and the Knights Templar. Even if you are only mildly interested in historical fiction, the narrative voice of a 40s-sh woman being given the breath and space to become her own person (at a time where she was, by status and birth, always meant to be a political pawn) was refreshing and sweet.
panxa's review
3.0
I really liked the character of Alaïs Capet, but the story was slow a little to catch my attention. I felt like it picked up for me once she reached Old Saum. I'm going to read book 2, more for Alaïs than the plot as blurbed.
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