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ionablue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rivkachava's review against another edition
Just was not into it. Not bad, just wasn't paying attention to it.
ckcarpenter2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
sherwoodreads's review
A really ambitious first novel that I think needed one more hard pass to come into focus. That's not to say it isn't worth reading.
The author gives us our history one universe over, wherein neither Richard Plantagenet nor Philip of France were quite the stinkards they were in real life. Here, they end up in a romance with one another.
The two main threads are Richard and Philp's slow progress toward romance, and family dynamics, especially among the Plantagenets. They talk. A LOT. There's less of the minnesinger/troubedour/ courtly love rituals and settings, fewer jousts and wars... I'm okay with that, but over the course of the book I got this sense of everyone sitting around in modern comfort talking up a storm.
Readers looking for m/m might be disappointed, because although this novel has the m/m frame, and a lot of the angst, it doesn't have the steam. Which again is okay by me.
My favorite part was actually the friendship and respect that Philip had for his wife Isabella, forced to marry him at way too young an age, as sometimes happened in dynastic marriages with huge tracts of land and political fortunes at stake. Their dynamic is what really drew me. The historical accuracy is more Hollywood backdrop, but the author says up front this is a what-if. The book stands on its characters, who are larger than life and complex, and I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
The author gives us our history one universe over, wherein neither Richard Plantagenet nor Philip of France were quite the stinkards they were in real life. Here, they end up in a romance with one another.
The two main threads are Richard and Philp's slow progress toward romance, and family dynamics, especially among the Plantagenets. They talk. A LOT. There's less of the minnesinger/troubedour/ courtly love rituals and settings, fewer jousts and wars... I'm okay with that, but over the course of the book I got this sense of everyone sitting around in modern comfort talking up a storm.
Readers looking for m/m might be disappointed, because although this novel has the m/m frame, and a lot of the angst, it doesn't have the steam. Which again is okay by me.
My favorite part was actually the friendship and respect that Philip had for his wife Isabella, forced to marry him at way too young an age, as sometimes happened in dynastic marriages with huge tracts of land and political fortunes at stake. Their dynamic is what really drew me. The historical accuracy is more Hollywood backdrop, but the author says up front this is a what-if. The book stands on its characters, who are larger than life and complex, and I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
pureferret's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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? Yes
5.0
apileofcranes's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
naharobed's review
4.0
If The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller left a gaping hole in your heart, this book might help you fill some of it. It's a reimagined historical romance based on two real life kings, King Richard of England and King Phillip of France during the 12th Century. I loved the writing, it's very poetic and lyrical but not overly flowery
cardbuck1720's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
nomomstayandread's review
3.0
I appreciated the author's note that said, like, look. Both of these real people were trash so we're using some facts and none of the rest.
For the longest time in this, not a lot happened. Richard had 90% of the swooniest lines in this and was the reason I pushed all the way through to the end.
Thank you to Penguin Audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review. I bought a hard copy but when the chance to have Steve West say the loveliest things into my ear arises, I'm doing it.
For the longest time in this, not a lot happened. Richard had 90% of the swooniest lines in this and was the reason I pushed all the way through to the end.
Thank you to Penguin Audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review. I bought a hard copy but when the chance to have Steve West say the loveliest things into my ear arises, I'm doing it.