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caterinaanna's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
flamingokrysten's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book on and off while working on my masters degree. It kept my interest for the first 330 pages. I went days to weeks in between reading it and I thought about it and wonder what was going to happen. After page 300 it started to get a little boring and after page 330 I really struggled to finish reading it. Another reviewer comments there wasn’t really a story line to connect with and follow and I have to agree. There were snippets here and there with the underlining themes that followed, but I wish there was a little more to it. I liked following Joanna from childhood to adulthood, but I just felt a little unsatisfied. I wouldn’t reread this.
moominmama_11's review against another edition
3.0
Well it was no wolf hall, but a really enjoyable novel all the same
olurin's review against another edition
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
ilovestory's review
4.0
As always, beautifully written historical fiction which creates well-rounded characters.
ghostresidues's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
erinremen's review
5.0
A powerful, well written and masterful take on the lives of Joanna De Valence and her husband William De Valence and the incredible and troubled lives they lived as stout allies of King Henry III. A moving tale that shows clearly the love they had for each other, their children, their King and country. I honestly struggled to put it down and found myself devouring any and all information i could find on the couple and the people that surrounded them. A five star read for me!
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
Joanna is placed in the Royal Court to serve Queen Alienor, wife of Henry III. She has few prospects until tragedy strikes her family and suddenly she is a valuable heiress. The King weds her to his half-brother William de Valence and the couple become powerful at court. however Henry is a weak king and his nobles, led by Simon de Montford, are plotting.
This is another wonderful tale from Chadwick. Joanna is a very minor figure in history but she was at the heart of the Barons' Revolt of the 13th century and Chadwick uses her as a device for exploring this era in more detail. There are not many books set in this period and most tend to support the cause of the nobles however this is more skewed to the Royal family focusing as it does on the wife of one of the french interlopers. Little is known of Joanna but Chadwick fleshes her out well and this is a really entertaining and well-researched book.
This is another wonderful tale from Chadwick. Joanna is a very minor figure in history but she was at the heart of the Barons' Revolt of the 13th century and Chadwick uses her as a device for exploring this era in more detail. There are not many books set in this period and most tend to support the cause of the nobles however this is more skewed to the Royal family focusing as it does on the wife of one of the french interlopers. Little is known of Joanna but Chadwick fleshes her out well and this is a really entertaining and well-researched book.