A review by gillsbooks21
Matrix by Lauren Groff

2.0

Set in the late-twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Matrix tells the mostly fictional story of one woman, the bastard half-sister of Henry II, and her journey from the royal court of Eleanor of Aquitaine to becoming a fierce, passionate, and rebel abbess in England. I was very much looking forward to reading probably one of the earliest set historical fiction novels I’ve ever read, but was disappointed with the slow-developing plot and narrative style of Lauren Groff. The only strong point about this book was reading about a nun who challenged the patriarchy in her role as abbess. However, this book reads more like a litany of events in Marie de France’s life rather than an exciting retelling of her actions. I usually find solace in reading after a long day at work, but this book made me want to scroll through Twitter instead of reading it☹️