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jla525's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read that I finished in just a couple of days.
This was a great perspective on Eleanor and told completely from her point of view.
My only complaint was I felt like English took some liberties with gossip vs. established history. It did make the book more interesting though.
This was a great perspective on Eleanor and told completely from her point of view.
My only complaint was I felt like English took some liberties with gossip vs. established history. It did make the book more interesting though.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
So that was a fun read.
I don't read much historical fiction, and I knew absolutely nothing about Eleanor of Aquitaine prior to reading this book (so I learned a lot, especially since I kept going "Really?" and pulling up Wikipedia), so I didn't really know what to expect. It was great, though, to read about a strong -- and ambitious -- woman who is willing to do what it takes to achieve her goals.
Two quibbles: first, the romance. Frankly, I have no idea whether or not the real Eleanor of Aquitaine had affairs, although it's certainly possible. Obviously she had a thing going on with Henry at some point prior to her annulment, but her other affairs in this book felt a little forced in for the sake of having sex in the book. I suppose the romance qualifies the book as a historical romance, so it may have been written in with an eye to marketing, but it didn't feel entirely true to the story. ()
The other quibble is just that I wished the book had covered her marriage to Henry as well -- so perhaps not much of a complaint, because I would happily have kept reading! From the things I read online while/after reading this book, it looks like she continued to lead a seriously impressive -- by those standards or today's standards -- life with all sorts of book-worthy drama. (I mean, come on now. Is that not kind of fantastic?)
Edited to add: Yes, eventually I realised that this is book 2, and that English has written another book about the later years. Whoops.
I don't read much historical fiction, and I knew absolutely nothing about Eleanor of Aquitaine prior to reading this book (so I learned a lot, especially since I kept going "Really?" and pulling up Wikipedia), so I didn't really know what to expect. It was great, though, to read about a strong -- and ambitious -- woman who is willing to do what it takes to achieve her goals.
Two quibbles: first, the romance. Frankly, I have no idea whether or not the real Eleanor of Aquitaine had affairs, although it's certainly possible. Obviously she had a thing going on with Henry at some point prior to her annulment, but her other affairs in this book felt a little forced in for the sake of having sex in the book. I suppose the romance qualifies the book as a historical romance, so it may have been written in with an eye to marketing, but it didn't feel entirely true to the story. (
Spoiler
The thing with Geoffrey de Rancon? She knows that their entire camp, including people who really don't like her, will find out, and not only does she not care -- stupid, when you're married to a man with a whole lot of power -- nothing ever comes of it, which seems a bit unlikely.The other quibble is just that I wished the book had covered her marriage to Henry as well -- so perhaps not much of a complaint, because I would happily have kept reading! From the things I read online while/after reading this book, it looks like she continued to lead a seriously impressive -- by those standards or today's standards -- life with all sorts of book-worthy drama. (I mean, come on now.
Spoiler
Two men tried to kidnap and marry her; she married Henry against his family's wishes; Henry became King of England and she became Queen; Henry was entirely unfaithful; Eleanor was imprisoned for supporting her son's rebellion against her husband...Edited to add: Yes, eventually I realised that this is book 2, and that English has written another book about the later years. Whoops.
tanyarobinson's review against another edition
3.0
Christy English's novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine earns a 3.5 from me for being strongly historically based and moving smoothly through events. It's impossible, however, not to draw comparisons with Sharon Kay Penman's When Christ and his Saints Slept and Time and Chance, which cover the same period and characters in a fuller and richer fashion.
darbspott's review against another edition
4.0
Truthfully a 3.5 star book, I was generous and rounded up.
awall14's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great Historcal Fiction Novel. Eleanor was real to me, and totally how I thought she should be. In fact, all the characters came to life. Yay :D
I also think that it's great that this book focused on Eleanor's earlier life. In most cases I've found that this area gets skipped over, or not gien a fair description. Mostly, it follows along the lines of "Married Louis. Had two girls. Marriage was hopeless and fell apart. Went Crusading. The end. Lets move on." I'm so glad that this novel, took an actual indepth look at this period of Eleanor's life. Also, it was lovely that the author showed that Louis and Eleanor actually cared for each other in the beginning. Another thing that is usually ignored.
I guess the only thing I didn't fully like is the "love at first sight" thing that happened very frequently through out the book. Yet, while I didn't really like it, I think that it's very possible that that is how things were back then.
I'm very excited to read Christy English's other book :D
I also think that it's great that this book focused on Eleanor's earlier life. In most cases I've found that this area gets skipped over, or not gien a fair description. Mostly, it follows along the lines of "Married Louis. Had two girls. Marriage was hopeless and fell apart. Went Crusading. The end. Lets move on." I'm so glad that this novel, took an actual indepth look at this period of Eleanor's life. Also, it was lovely that the author showed that Louis and Eleanor actually cared for each other in the beginning. Another thing that is usually ignored.
I guess the only thing I didn't fully like is the "love at first sight" thing that happened very frequently through out the book. Yet, while I didn't really like it, I think that it's very possible that that is how things were back then.
I'm very excited to read Christy English's other book :D
mimima's review against another edition
3.0
I'm super picky about historical accuracy - especially when it comes to someone as beloved as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Since I was reading this for a different purpose than usual, I worked hard to just put aside my feelings about the choices in character and actions and ride along for the story.
As such, it was done well, though she lept through a lot of things that I'd be curious to see in more detail and spent time on some things I'd like to see her leap through.
Good to spend time in France, I'd be curious if she writes part two. I see her other Eleanor book is about Richard I, so she seems to take another time leap.
As such, it was done well, though she lept through a lot of things that I'd be curious to see in more detail and spent time on some things I'd like to see her leap through.
Good to spend time in France, I'd be curious if she writes part two. I see her other Eleanor book is about Richard I, so she seems to take another time leap.
evamadera1's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. I really did.
English's prose creates incredibly vivid word pictures. This is one of the few books that I have read that the prose is crafted in such a way as to seem like I'm watching the story unfold rather than reading it.
Unfortunately, this also contributes to one of its major detractors. When English describes Eleanor's wedding night, her words while chaste created quite an unchaste images. In my opinion, this cheapens the book.
Additionally, English seems to fixate on Eleanor's relationships with men including her uncle who she meets for the first time at 27 or 28. That completely creeped me out. This apparent fixation on men detracts from the independent, master political manipulator English clearly perceived Eleanor to be.
By the end of the book I had no sympathy whatsoever for Eleanor. That's not what's supposed to happen in a reader in regards to the main character of the book. Eleanor turned from being a confident Duches of Aquitaine in her own right to the Queen of England easily seduced by first her uncle and later Henry of Normandy who later became her husband and King of England.
History and politics are not all about sex. English however seems to think that it is.
English's prose creates incredibly vivid word pictures. This is one of the few books that I have read that the prose is crafted in such a way as to seem like I'm watching the story unfold rather than reading it.
Unfortunately, this also contributes to one of its major detractors. When English describes Eleanor's wedding night, her words while chaste created quite an unchaste images. In my opinion, this cheapens the book.
Additionally, English seems to fixate on Eleanor's relationships with men including her uncle who she meets for the first time at 27 or 28. That completely creeped me out. This apparent fixation on men detracts from the independent, master political manipulator English clearly perceived Eleanor to be.
By the end of the book I had no sympathy whatsoever for Eleanor. That's not what's supposed to happen in a reader in regards to the main character of the book. Eleanor turned from being a confident Duches of Aquitaine in her own right to the Queen of England easily seduced by first her uncle and later Henry of Normandy who later became her husband and King of England.
History and politics are not all about sex. English however seems to think that it is.
andiwin's review against another edition
5.0
I loved To Be Queen and can't wait to read more from Christy English!
elysianfield's review
3.0
When Eleanor of Aquitaine was young, she was raised to be her father’s heir to be Duchess of Aquitaine. Soon after her father’s death, Eleanor is wed to Dauphin Louis of France and the young pair has mutual affection for each other from the start. Louis was meant for the church but his elder brother’s death changed everything. He remained very pious his whole life, preferring church to his wife.
Eleanor tries to be a good wife but she soon learns that she may not compete with the church her husband is so devoted to. When her marriage starts to deterioate, she starts to think about divorce.
And when she meets Henry Plantagenet, Eleanor sees a new start for herself.
I liked that the book focused on Eleanor’s early life because it’s less often written about. Eleanor’s marriage to Louis is usually overshadowed by her marriage to Henry II of England and I was intrigued to read about them and I wish there was more books about them.
Eleanor was determined, fierce, no-nonsense person but there were just times I wanted to shake her and yell “Why did you do that?!”. And of course all the rumours of affairs had to be included. It would have been interesting to hear Louis side of the story too.
Book was ok; it was fairly quick and easy to read.
Eleanor tries to be a good wife but she soon learns that she may not compete with the church her husband is so devoted to. When her marriage starts to deterioate, she starts to think about divorce.
And when she meets Henry Plantagenet, Eleanor sees a new start for herself.
I liked that the book focused on Eleanor’s early life because it’s less often written about. Eleanor’s marriage to Louis is usually overshadowed by her marriage to Henry II of England and I was intrigued to read about them and I wish there was more books about them.
Eleanor was determined, fierce, no-nonsense person but there were just times I wanted to shake her and yell “Why did you do that?!”. And of course all the rumours of affairs had to be included. It would have been interesting to hear Louis side of the story too.
Book was ok; it was fairly quick and easy to read.
katie666's review
3.0
**Spoilerish**
Really interesting story. I am always curious, when I read historical fiction, about how much of it is really factual. However I am too lazy to actually do any research into the subject. I had no idea royal marriages were annulled like that back then. I figure they would have been stuck with each other no matter what. I was really creeped out that she fell in love with her uncle and slept with him. Was that not gross then?
Really interesting story. I am always curious, when I read historical fiction, about how much of it is really factual. However I am too lazy to actually do any research into the subject. I had no idea royal marriages were annulled like that back then. I figure they would have been stuck with each other no matter what. I was really creeped out that she fell in love with her uncle and slept with him. Was that not gross then?
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