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jobinsonlis's review against another edition
4.0
This is great. I don’t think it’s as well-written as Sharon Kay Penman’s Eleanor and Henry books but it has a whole lot more of Eleanor and as a major Eleanor of Aquitaine simp, I always want more Eleanor. I do think Louis got a bad turn here and honestly I found some of this depiction of him homophobic and I didn’t really like all the drama with her vassal Geoffrey as Eleanor’s great love but I did really like Eleanor and Henry together here. Henry in particular shines. You can see why they really thought it would work early on and you can already see the seeds of why it would all go so wrong for them.
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
The Summer Queen tells the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine from the time she was betrothed to Louis VII of France at the age of 13 until the beginning of her marriage of Henry II of England and becoming Queen of England.
I have read other historical fiction concerning Eleanor, so I did know some tidbits of her life going into the book. However, Elizabeth Chadwick has done some extensive research into Eleanor's life and found that, like much of women from the Medieval time period, little is actually know and much is guesswork. digging into the Akashic records, a few new facts are thrown into this story. Along with that, this will be a three part series and we are only looking at a smaller chunk of Eleanor's life. This to me is a great, so much historical fiction tries to fit an entire person't life into one book and it is overwhelming. For such a strong character as Eleanor, a series seems fitting.
Eleanor is definitely painted as a strong woman of the time in this book. By whatever means she can, intelligence, sex or manipulation, Eleanor tries her hardest to live her life as she wants within the societal boundaries of the time. For me, it was really interesting to see Eleanor's views of the men in her life and how each of them influenced her. She tended to take away the positive traits from men and negative traits from women. There is also good view into the Medieval time period including tumultuous politics, wars, religious overbearing, and attempts to capture a wife.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review
I have read other historical fiction concerning Eleanor, so I did know some tidbits of her life going into the book. However, Elizabeth Chadwick has done some extensive research into Eleanor's life and found that, like much of women from the Medieval time period, little is actually know and much is guesswork. digging into the Akashic records, a few new facts are thrown into this story. Along with that, this will be a three part series and we are only looking at a smaller chunk of Eleanor's life. This to me is a great, so much historical fiction tries to fit an entire person't life into one book and it is overwhelming. For such a strong character as Eleanor, a series seems fitting.
Eleanor is definitely painted as a strong woman of the time in this book. By whatever means she can, intelligence, sex or manipulation, Eleanor tries her hardest to live her life as she wants within the societal boundaries of the time. For me, it was really interesting to see Eleanor's views of the men in her life and how each of them influenced her. She tended to take away the positive traits from men and negative traits from women. There is also good view into the Medieval time period including tumultuous politics, wars, religious overbearing, and attempts to capture a wife.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review
kim_chelf's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. Along the lines of Phillipa Gregory, but focusing on a different character, I loved learning more about Alienor and her life. I remember learning about her in school many many years ago, but it was nice to fill in some of the gaps--true or not. I find history much more interesting to take in this way, as long as you remember that not everything is historical fact.
barbaraf's review against another edition
4.0
Eleanor of Aquatine definitely must have been a fascinating woman. She was queen of France and then England and mother to kings. This fictionalized story of her life does evolve around some of the well documented events that occurred during her life and also speculates on some of the purported rumors and innuendos.
Since this is a three part series, when you finish the book there is obviously not any real ending, plot twist or climax. So be prepared to read the rest of the series at some point. The bottom line is that I enjoyed the story and characters enough to continue. Thanks to the San Francisco Public Library for the ebook which was readily available.
Since this is a three part series, when you finish the book there is obviously not any real ending, plot twist or climax. So be prepared to read the rest of the series at some point. The bottom line is that I enjoyed the story and characters enough to continue. Thanks to the San Francisco Public Library for the ebook which was readily available.
hsrudolph's review against another edition
3.0
Wonderful audiobook with great narration. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this as much had I read it, but sometimes these beautifully narrated stories are very soothing and are great to listen to. Obviously this was a fictional account of the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, but she’s a fascinating historical figure and this book brought the time period to life.
stellarature's review against another edition
4.0
Finally a telling of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s story that I enjoyed! I love that it really took the time to explore young Eleanor and how she progressed very naturally over the course of the book. What I most loved is that this book didn’t turn her into the overbearing girlboss modern interpretations seem to enjoy or the maneating slut history paints her as. She’s very much a product of her time and her struggles through losing her father, ending up in an ill-fated marriage, and coming into her own. Also I do think she did a good job at her portrayal of Louis, who in so many words, was a man child from the beginning of the marriage all the way to his final appearance in the story.
On a side note, the whole subplot with Petronella and Raoul was very uncomfortable but I feel like that was deliberate. Chadwick was very subtly showing how imbalanced and toxic the relationship was by showing how differently they viewed the relationship through their thoughts: her as a very passionate, lost girl with a desperation for love and stability in the wrong place and him as a predator very consciously preying on and taking advantage of a young girl. It wasn’t meant to be shown as something positive and how it played out makes that very clear.
Can’t wait to read the next one!
On a side note, the whole subplot with Petronella and Raoul was very uncomfortable but I feel like that was deliberate. Chadwick was very subtly showing how imbalanced and toxic the relationship was by showing how differently they viewed the relationship through their thoughts: her as a very passionate, lost girl with a desperation for love and stability in the wrong place and him as a predator very consciously preying on and taking advantage of a young girl. It wasn’t meant to be shown as something positive and how it played out makes that very clear.
Can’t wait to read the next one!
carrie123's review against another edition
4.0
A great read! I was expecting this book to be more scandalous, like the ones I used to read by a different author. There was some of that, but there was a lot more history which I appreciated and made me want to read up more about them. I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
2.0
Too many liberalities taken with the facts. Historical fiction should not be this speculative.
riseclare's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book about Eleanor. I love all books about her. I think I prefer Sharon Kay Penman's character of her, however this book is very readable, not too long and doesn't linger on long boring parts.