Reviews

Devil's Consort by Anne O'Brien

amylikestoread's review against another edition

3.0

I'd probably say this was better than The King's Concubine once it finally got going. The first half of the book is really slow and it's only from when the Crusade begins that it speeds up. Big chunks of time are skipped along in a few pages, for instance the Crusade is summarised in less than a chapter. Eleanor is often very similar to Alice in the King's Concubine as a narrator and in some places it's hard to tell them apart. The first half of the book is about 2.5 stats and the second is more like 3 stars. I'd say the same about this book as I did about the King's Concubine that it could have done with being about 200 or so pages shorter, especially if the author wants to skip a lot of time in the novel.

lakesbecky's review against another edition

4.0

A new author for me but right up my street with a gripping novel about another strong woman in history. This time Eleanor of Aquitaine - not a perfect woman by any means but she knew what she wanted and mostly got it. Really makes the 12th century come to life.

claws13's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this now I want to know what the rest of her life was like.

libertyindiarose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

flick_reads's review

adventurous informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

paging_snidget's review against another edition

2.0

A mediocre novelisation of the story of a remarkable woman. Very little character development. Eleanor reads the same even though the story spans nearly twenty years. Things really lost it for me though when O'Brien tried to bring love into the storyline with Henry. It came out of nowhere and felt incredibly contrived.

This was a marginally better effort than the last of O'Brien's books I read but not by much. It wasn't through any change in the writing - just as full of ridiculous descriptions and contrived melodrama - but more the subject matter. Eleanor of Aquitaine was a fascinating figure of history and she wasn't done any justice here. My suggestion? Pick up a biography instead. That will be my next step.

blackwaterlilly's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

carollikesbooks's review against another edition

3.0

I realised once I'd started reading this I'd previously read it under its title of Queen Defiant. I don't know why it was reissued with a different title. It's a easy to read dramatic account of the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I love Eleanor and have read many books about her. This isn't one of the best or most balanced, however if you want a switch your brain off jolly romp with plenty of romance and Intrigue and not too much fact, it's enjoyable. A suitable book for a sit in the sun holiday read.