Kakaku：699 saved$6.99
Wizards of the Coast
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Solid book, maybe a few flaws) 『The Queen of Stone by Keith Baker is the first book in a new Eberron series titled Thorn of Breland. It appears that this book in not so much part of a trilogy as it is an ongoing series. The second book is titled Son of Khyber and will be out in the Fall of 2009. This series is to be a series of stand-alone novels, but have continuing characters. Personally, I am happy some one is taking this approach and now-a-days it seems everything has to be a trilogy if it's a fantasy story. Hopefully this approach catches on with author authors. Time will tell of course. Here are my thoughts on this novel.
If you like political plots based on nations and warring factions, then you definitely need to pick this book up. The plot of this book centers on the `people' of Droaam wanting to be recognized as their own nation. To this extend they invite representatives of the other nations to come and meet with them in the heart of the Droaam to express themselves and their case. There are numerous sub plots that surround the other nation's representatives. Some of them are present for more than just hearing Droaam's case to be recognized. To say more about those sub plots would invariably include spoilers so I will refrain from doing so. The main story is solid and provides great detail about the Droaam, such as stories about them, who is all involved, and some of the motivations they have for seeking to be a recognized nation. Of course, there is also a group within Droaam that does not want to be a recognized nation; they have their own reasons why. While at points the story seems rather linear and status quo, by the end of the novel the reader realizes that some of the things they thought were in fact not true and the actual reasoning's for some of the characters are interesting and well thought out.
The characters in this book are all new characters and as such there is some character development that needs to take place right away. The main character, Thorn, was actually very hard for me to connect with. In fact, I simply did not really care for her character one way or the other. Which was odd, most main characters I either love or hate, but there is some connection there. With Thorn, I was rather apathetic. Part of this was because for every situation she seemed to have some item (magic or mundane) or some skill that would get her out of it. Maybe she was too powerful? The characters that I particularly enjoyed were the secondary characters. Such as; Drego, Ghyrryn, Tori, Harryn, Sheshka, and Sora Katra; for whatever reason these characters really drew me in and made me want to know more about them. Grated, that is the mark of a really good side character. It just felt odd as I was reading to want to know more about them and caring less about the main character. For the most part the characters all spoke with unique voices and it was evident they all had their own motivations. Dialogue was solid and flowed well and didn't see forced at all. To me, some of the more memorable characters are the ones that did not receive as much face time.
A couple criticisms about this novel:
1 - As I mentioned above when talking about Thorn. I understand in the role she was in she would have some items at her disposal, but it just seemed too neat and tidy that for every situation she found herself in she had something to use. Even when I fastidiously plan ahead for things, there are times when I am missing something.
2 - While the ending answered quite a few questions presented during the novel (and left some open as well), it felt really rushed to me. Almost as though I was watching a movie at 1.5 frame rate. I read the last 50 pages twice, simply because I felt I missed something. Even after reading it twice, I still feel as though I did not `get' everything that happened.
Some things I liked about this novel:
1 - The area of Droaam. I really like the idea of a nation of monsters working towards a common goal. What could be more frightening for those living on that border than to know that the `monsters' have banded together and are presenting a united front. Hopefully, there are more books written in this area.
2 - The variety of characters. It seems some fantasy authors can get into a rut and use the old stand-by races, human, elves, dwarfs, orcs, goblins, etc. In this book we are presented with so many more. Some of which are rarely written about. I really enjoyed the diversity.
3 - Showing monsters for being more than monsters. To piggyback off the above item. Usually `monsters' are just things to slay and to give the heroes something to do. Not so with this book. Those monsters talk, think and act on their own. It's refreshing to read about them in this type of role.
Even with not caring for Thorn, I quite enjoyed this novel. It flowed well, the pacing was solid (except for that rushed feeling at the end), and more importantly the story made sense. This novel is not just a story for a story's sake. It's to build the world and add more lore and background to the setting. On that note, it succeeded tremendously. Granted, there were some things I would have liked to have seen differently, but what is here is a solid book and a novel that certainly fits in well with the other Eberrn novels to date. Fans of the Eberron setting will no doubt want to pick this book up. Fans of the fantasy genre, or looking at getting into the genre, may want to consider other Eberron novels before tackling this one. Either way, it's a solid read and one I recommend to Eberron faithful 』
(Keith Baker's best yet.) 『Just finished the book up last night around 2am, and it was one of the most fun reads I've had in a while. The depictions of the monster kingdom of Droaam and its inhabitants is utterly compelling. The plot is great, and I feel like I could easily read a dozen more books about this fascinating place, and its horrifying yet strangely sympathetic inhabitants. I feel like I should go out and march for civil rights for Medusa's in Eberron!』 『In the land of monsters, you'll want her by your side.
Nyrielle Tam--better known by her code name, Thorn--is a Dark Lantern sent undercover to a summit in the monstrous kingdom of Droaam. The beasts of Droaam have organized and want recognition from the kingdoms of Khorvaire. Breland attends to gauge its neighbors' reaction to the new state's demands of equality . . . and to take the opportunity to recover something long ago stolen by the mysterious Sheshka, Queen of the Medusas. It's up to Thorn to accomplish both, while keeping her King and Country out of war.
The creator of the world ofEberronreturns with a series that shows offEberron's cross-genre capabilities--all the smarts and action of a spy thriller, with the magic and depth of world only fantasy can create. There's something here for every fan!』
Kakaku：542 saved$5.42
Ballantine Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Unfairly biased) 『Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England is a biography of the wife of Edward II. It's actually a composite of things: a biography of Isabella's most intimate household moments, drawn from her extensive household account books (want to know what was used as toilet paper in the English royal household? It's in there), as well as an account of her relationship with her husband, his favorites, and her lover, Roger Mortimer.
My major problem with this book is Weir's extreme bias in favor of Isabella. Weir even goes so far as to blame Edward entirely for the breakdown of the royal marriage and for Isabella's changed demeanor during it. Most of Weir's "evidence" regarding the queen's relationship with Mortimer is based on court gossip, yet Weir chooses to treat the stories as though they're true. And the author furthermore chooses to ignore the fact that Isabella was guilty of regicide, instead placing all of the blame on Roger Mortimer's shoulders. It's almost as though the author went into the research and writing of this book thinking, "I'm going to vindicate Isabella." This is a work of popular history, and as such, I feel that Weir could have been more impartial in her assessment of Isabella's story. All that's really known about Isabella's day-to-day life comes from her book of household accounts, and Weir continually tries to make presumptions about how the queen "might" have felt or "perhaps" have thought. This book is way too speculative for me.
All that said, however, I enjoyed the detail that Weir goes into in telling what little is known about Isabella's life. Weir certainly has a way with words, she definitely does her research, and she's very good about bringing historical figures to life on the page. If you're a newcomer to the history and politics of early-14th century England, I wouldn't recommend this, however. 』
(Read it with an open mind!) 『Alison Weir provides a fascinating interpretation of the facts surrounding King Edward II, Queen Isabella, Piers Gaveston, and Hugh le Despenser. If you have already made up your mind about these medieval figures and are closed off to any evidence that proves you wrong, then maybe this book isn't for you. This book doesn't claim that Isabella is innocent of everything history accuses her of, but it does provide undeniable proof that everything is not as it seems. It certainly made me question most of the "facts" that I have read by other authors. I'm giving this book five stars for its provocative view of a woman that history has perhaps unjustly vilified for centuries.』
(I'm not an expert, but I enjoyed this read) 『I will admit to not being an expert on Queen Isabella. I have never read a biography on her before, so when I picked up Alison Weir's book in the store I had nothing to compare it to and enjoyed it immensely. There is wonderful period detail here, especially in the beginning, and I think the reader feels a measure of sympathy for Isabella, whose husband wasn't interested in her sexually (or emotionally it seems). My favorite part of the book was when Isabella (finally) took a lover and decided to make a stand against her husband with him. Part slighted young woman, part Lady Macbeth, Queen Isabella is a very interesting read with a few theories about Edward II's "death" I hadn't heard before (whether or not they could be accurate I can't say).』
(Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery and Murder in Medivel England) 『This is a History book. So it has just the facts, M'am. A very good History book and therefore lots of niggling details...and every detail has multiple perspectives gathered from letters and writings of the time and are based on the authors religious or nationalistic views. It is a slow read that you can put down and easily pick up again, as you will want to work your way through this beautifully written and richly informative history as seen through the mind of a very interesting queen. It covers the period of English History from the late times of Edward I (late 13th century) to Edward II and the the beginning of the reign of Edward III (mid 14th century. There is no plot so the fun is in the interesting details and analysis of those Medievil times.』
(Somewhat Dry Recital of Revisionist History) 『I really tried to like this book. Inasmuch as I am an avid student of history and enjoy the tangled web of early to mid twentieth century English history, this book seemed right up my alley.
I can't say that it is a bad book, but upon reflection, perhaps the most telling fact is that it took me so long to finish it. A book of this size generally takes me about a week to finish, reading for an hour or so each night before bed. Most nights, however, found me nodding off in less than half the time. Weir's style can best be described as a dry recitation of historical facts with frequent asides in which she injects her own analysis. Hardly scintillating entertainment and simply not lively enough to keep me awake.
From the standpoint of substance, I can't say that I agree with her efforts to rehabiltate the universally condemned Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II of England. Isabella conspired against, overthrew, cheated on and likely participated in the murder of her husband and sovereign. According to Weir, she was simply misunderstood and unfairly judged. To my knowledge, she is the only one that believes so.
In order to back up her position, Weir not only spins facts to the benefit of the Queen, but she weaves many out of whole cloth and disregards the numerous facts which clearly implicate her in the crimes for which history has condemned her. In an attempt to absolve the Queen of the crime of murder, she even trots out the old, roundly rejected canard that Edward II escaped from his captors and lived the remainder of his life as a hermit in France. This despite the public, state funeral in which the body and face of the King were clearly displayed and visible to thousands. As if an escape somehow lessens the crime of ordering the murder in the first place.
Even in the cases where she concedes guilt on the part of the Queen, such as her adulterous relationship with Mortimer, she pardons the Queen, holding her to current standards as opposed to those in which she lived. In this regard, she clearly states that were Queen Isabella alive today, she would be viewed as a strong, independent woman, deserving of praise and not scorn (You go, girl). Nice theory, except for the fact that she didn't live in current times. In her day, regicide was perhaps the greatest crime and sin of the day, and adultery by a royal woman was universally punishable by death.
I've read several of Weir's works and to date am not impressed. She seems to be on a personal crusade to rehabiltate the reputations of various women of the Middle Ages that for some reason or another have been judged harshly by history. I've never been a fan of revisionist history and particularly when the revisions are politically or socially motivated. This book is not only not particularly entertaining, but it's not even good history.』 『Isabella arrived in London in 1308, the spirited twelve-year-old daughter of King Philip IV of France. Her marriage to the heir to England’s throne was designed to heal old political wounds between the two countries, and in the years that followed, she would become an important figure, a determined and clever woman whose influence would come to last centuries. But Queen Isabella’s political machinations led generations of historians to malign her, earning her a reputation as a ruthless schemer and an odious nickname, “the She-Wolf of France.”
Now the acclaimed author of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alison Weir, reexamines the life of Isabella of England, history’s other notorious and charismatic medieval queen. Praised for her fair looks, the newly wed Isabella was denied the attentions of Edward II, a weak, sexually ambiguous monarch with scant taste for his royal duties. As their marriage progressed, Isabella was neglected by her dissolute husband andslighted by his favored male courtiers. Humiliated and deprived of her income, her children, and her liberty, Isabella escaped to France, where she entered into a passionate affair with Edward II’s mortal enemy, Roger Mortimer. Together, Isabella and Mortimer led the only successful invasion of English soil since the Norman Conquest of 1066, deposing Edward and ruling in his stead as co-regents for Isabella’s young son, Edward III. Fate, however, was soon to catch up with Isabella and her lover.
Many mysteries and legends have been woven around Isabella’s story. She was long condemned as an accessory to Edward II’s brutal murder in 1327, but recent research has cast doubt on whether that murder even took place.
Isabella’s reputation, then, rests largely on the prejudices of monkish chroniclers and prudish Victorian scholars. Here Alison Weir gives a startling, groundbreaking new perspective on Isabella, in this first full biography in more than 150 years. In a work of extraordinary original research, Weir effectively strips away centuries of propaganda, legend, and romantic myth, and reveals a truly remarkable woman who had a profound influence upon the age in which she lived and the history of western Europe.
Engaging, vibrant, alive with breathtaking detail and unforgettable characters, Queen Isabella is biographical history at its finest.
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Yesterday's Classics
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Story of the life of Queen Victoria, a well-beloved woman who became queen at eighteen and for nearly 64 years wore the crown of Great Britain. Relates her training for the monarchy and the exemplary way she executed her duties, while managing a household of nine children. Suitable for ages 11 and up.』
Kakaku：640 saved$6.40
Clarion Books
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Additional interest and depth following a book club novel) 『After reading (and thoroughly enjoying) The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley, I chose this book. As I read this biography I enjoyed the portraits, explanatory drawings and maps included throughout the book. I referred to the "Cast of Characters" many times, much easier than making my own list, it had all the information I wanted. I easily finished this book in time for our monthly meeting. After recognizing the depth it added to our discussion, several of my book club friends borrowed the book and also enjoyed it. Begin with this book if you are reading biography, continue with this if you are reading historical fiction, change genres with this if you are watching films. 』
(Nothing New) 『This woman was the greatest monarch England ever had. Ever. The book, however was a bit disapointing. It is a bare-bones just-the-facts telling of a great women's life and didn't near do her justice. I wanted more.
If general facts and a fast read are all you want, this book is perfect. Just not for me.』
(The least frumpy queen on record) 『Take a look at the cover of this book for just a moment. Just a single solitary moment. Maybe the last thing you want to do is read a young adult biography on England's greatest queen, and I can understand where you're coming from. But take a good long look at the image presented on the cover here. This portrait of Queen Elizabeth was fashioned in her time and is commonly referred to as The Rainbow Portrait. It is, to my mind, the most flattering painting ever made of the ruler and it hasn't been touched since she posed for it. When you first look at it, it seems pretty standard. There she is with the high forehead (considered attractive at the time), the bright curly red hair, and the ostentatious finery. In fact, let's take a closer look at that finery. If you look carefully you cannot help but notice that her gown is covered in ears and eyes. You heard me right. Honest to goodness ears and eyes are all over this thing! You don't notice it at first, but once you've seen it you can never forget it. Such is the case with Thomas's book itself. It may not look like much at first, but once you take even a glance at the text you immediately become transfixed by the lives of Elizabeth, her crazy family, suitors, and enemies.
Elizabeth was born the second child of the (in the words of the great comic Eddie Izzard) "big fat hairy king", Henry VIII. Fond of killing off his wives when they either displeased him or couldn't produce male heirs, Elizabeth was the daughter of the soon-to-be beheaded Anne Boleyn. Her life was touch and go from the start. One minute she was treated as a prized pet and the next she was sent to royal grounds far from court. What followed soon after was a series of deaths and accessions to the throne. When Henry VIII died he was followed by Elizabeth's little half-bro Edward VI. When Eddie died he was followed by the Lady Jane Grey (for nine days). After she was tossed out came Elizabeth's older half-sis Mary (Bloody Mary to you commoners). Finally, Mary kicked it and Elizabeth rose to the throne. She was only 25 or 26 at the time and extraordinarily canny in the choices she made. Refusing to marry (and thereby give up her ruling power) Elizabeth remained sexy and single. Over the course of her life she dealt with assassination attempts, the continual threat of Mary Queen of Scots, an invasion of England by the Spanish Armada, excommunication, and all sorts of fun stuff. The result? Elizabeth remains perhaps the best remembered Queen of them all, making her an excellent subject of bios and bio-pics.
I'm easily bored. If I pick up a children's book that won a Newbery Award pre-1950 to read, you'll probably find me curled up in a corner fast asleep in five minutes time. Non-fiction is therefore one of the banes of my existence and I heap large helpings of praise onto any author that can make a realistic subject even halfway interesting. Not being familiar with Jane Resh Thomas, I was understandably nervous when I confronted this tome of a book and its 16th century subject. To my vast relief, my fears were more than unfounded. Here is a history book that has plumbed every interesting tidbit, rumor, factoid, and story for the eager ears of the reader. Want to hear how Queen Elizabeth would expose her chest to foreign diplomats (to put them on edge, you see)? Read it here. Curious about her six foot tall rival who was a queen that disguised herself as a boy to gain English sanctuary? It's a great tale. None of this is to say that Thomas neglects actual informative facts about the Elizabethan era and its people. In fact, this kind of information is so plentiful that it fills each and every page without ever drawing undue attention to itself. I think I learned more about ancient court life within these pages than I could have hoped to anywhere else.
In addition to fabulous factual storytelling and a wonderful ear for narrative, tension, and intrigue, Thomas has filled the book with numerous paintings of the characters involved, even going so far as to include Elizabeth's life in portraits as a color filled section of seven portraits that follow her through the years. To help the easily confused (like my pretty self) there's a fabulous opening section that names and describes many of the book's major players. There's also a portrait gallery of Henry VIII's wives and description of their mostly shortened lives. The back of the book contains a useful chronology of events, a well-cited bibliography of every source Thomas used or even thought of using, and an index. You're in safe hands with this thorough researcher.
Thomas attempts in this book to show the life of Elizabeth without commenting on her too much. Yes, Elizabeth could be as cruel and calculating as her predecessors and she wasn't afraid to "Off with their head" a couple of her closest compatriots. In the end, however, she comes off as a remarkable woman. Thomas leaves plenty of room for speculation on lurid topics that cover everything from Elizabeth's sex life to her love of sweets for dinner. Nothing here is written in stone, but this is probably as good a teen biography of this great woman you're going to get for at least another one hundred years. As someone who looked upon reading this book initially as a chore, I can tell you honestly that it was a joy to go through. A biography that deserves remembrance.』
(WONDERFUL) 『This is a wonderful and very detailed book on Queen Elizabeth I of England- it explains everything from the divorce from Catherine of Aragorn to her reported affairs with Robin Dudley. If you want to know more about English history, this is definitely a great place to start.
This is the best biography on Elizabeth I that I've read so far, and it has pictures of the portraits that she appeared in in her life. And you'll learn pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about Elizabeth the First- from what her three nicknames were (Gloriana, Good Queen Bess, and the Virgin Queen) to the last lie that she every told her sister, Mary.
This is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone!』
(Well written, but content inappropriate for pre-teens) 『While the publisher touts this book as appropriate for children 10 and up, I think the School Journal recommendation of Grades 8 and up is much more appropriate. My eight year old wanted to read this book for a class project. I mistakenly thought it would be an excellent choice, but by page 17, I'd forbidden her to continue. By that time, I'd been asked to define�prostitute,� �castration,� �disemboweling,� �liaison,� "skin ulcer," and �deformed� as she read passages that included subjects like the corruption in the priesthood (priests living openly with prostitutes), the adultery charges against Anne Boleyn (including explanations of howthe fact that her third child was born stillborn and deformed might have led to rumors about Anne�s morality, as deformity was believed to stem from the woman participating in witchcraft or sexual intercourse with the devil) , and Henry�s persecution of those who refused to accept his new authority as head of the Church of England (including the execution, castration, and disemboweling of priests who defied him). While all the information is accurate and well-researched, this gritty detail (much of which I didn't have to deal with until I was a sophomore in college) seems inappropriate for a child's introduction to the fascinating life of Queen Elizabeth I or Tudor England. It is much more likely -- especially for a sensitive child -- to put them off both subjects forever!』 『Elizabeth I (1533-1603) impressed herself more vividly on the memory of the world than any other monarch in the history of England. She successfully established and maintained power while refusing to bow to the wishes of those who believed no woman was fit to occupy the English throne. This biography describes the opulent but cruel childhood that shaped the woman Elizabeth became and details her triumphant reign, as well as the unrelenting forces that opposed her. Exploring the answers to some of history's most persistent and intriguing questions, Jane Resh Thomas has created a compelling account of Elizabeth's life that shatters the myths surrounding her and allows readers an unprecedented view of the queen as a human being. Full-color insert, chronology, bibliography, index.』
Kakaku：510 saved$5.10
Del Rey
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Good Story, Nauseating Speech, Weak Heroine) 『Good story. This is the first time I have ever read such a detailed version of the Arthur and Camelot legend. He and his knights and Gwen seem as tho they really existed in the telling of this tale... BUT the speech is nauseating. If I have to read the words "honor...love..my lord" one more time, I may have to throw it aside. Something else I am beyond tired of, seems that Gwen has ADD or something.. Always has the tremors. On every page, she is trembling with joy, lust, passion, fear.. awful lot of trembling going on. Getting old. I would also like to add, she is a very weak female in this telling. She is apparently an angel as she is queen of not only Camelot, but also of turning the other cheek. She excells at letting others walk all over almost as much as she does at trembling.』
(Mixed, but enjoyable) 『I had misgivings about this book, but overall, by the end I really really enjoyed it. At times I skipped whole chapters and didn't miss much, but the parts I read in depth were well told for the most. As has been said, the dialogue is...scary at times and the beginning drags but I liked it.
The book has a striking resemblance to "The Wicked Day" by Mart Stewart, which is one of my favorite arthurian retellings. From the whole Morgause murder to Arthur choosing a new puppy and naming it Cabal after his old dog, this book is basically a rewrite of Stewart's, which in turn took a lot of pointers from "Once and Future King". But, some new things are added, which keep it new, but I was disappointed in Mekenzie's lack of imagination especially on those point, even though she does say int he introduction that she was influenced by Stewart (to say the least).
My chief complaint is that Guinevere's actions do not match the other characters' supposed admiration of her. She's praised for being strong and beautiful, but every other page she's crying for some ridiculous reason and Arthur is telling her "you're so great, everyone loves you," or "I could never live without you, you make me a better man.." and of course, it always ends with him getting laid. Pretty predictable after a few chapters of the same crap.
BUT that aside, Mordred is pretty well played out, the intrigues with Morgause and Morgan are very interesting, and the Elaine subplot is well tied in. It's a nice read if you like Arthuriana, but if you're just looking for a well-rounded, nicely-developed book, then this probably isn't it.』
(Fairy Tale Beautiful) 『I confess to having had some misgivings about reading yet another version of the Arthurian legend. After reading the very wonderful Mists of Avalon years ago, I wondered why I should bother reading another woman's view of the same tale. This one answered that question, as it is an excellent retelling in its own right. Told in the first person by Guinevere herself, although the details of the plot are standard, the writing is beautiful, the episodes move quickly, the depictions of the characters are quite human and believable and, best of all, the love triangle is beautifully and compassionately depicted. There is nothing sordid or salacious in the love affair between the Queen and Lancelot, and King Arthur is clearly drawn as the lynch pin and central focus of all the action. The writing is restrained, yet lovely, and McKenzie avoids lapsing into flowery rapturous descriptions of passionate clinches and like cliches. Plus, there is enough "action and suspense" apart from the primary interaction between the main characters to keep the reader entertained. Never hysterical; always credible; very enjoyable.
I am a "hard grader" but this one deserves an A - - the full 5 stars.』
(Weeping and trembling aside, a good read) 『Nancy McKenzie has created a masterpiece. Her lengthy research into a romantic historic era has definitely paid off.
So why only 3 stars? Partly because there isn't a "half" star available or it would have been 3 1/2.
Mainly I was annoyed by the many, many, many references to our heroine's compulsive trembling and tears. What is she? A valiant girl grown to womanhood or a chihuahua? This book could easily have been 50 pages shorted without all the retelling of Gwen's weaknesses and childlike attributes.
All that said, this is a masterful read. I LOVE the author's interpretation of the characters and their relationships! She showed even Arthur as a wonderful human being, demi-god, proud leader, and tender father. He has warts, but the legend shines through.
It is also nice to see Guinevere as someone other than a slutty wench. Compassionate, passionate, tender, intelligent, naive and occasionally care-free.(though that last one tends to land her in terrible straits...)
Great cast of characters, particularly the Orkney boys. I can easily visualize the rowdy, dirty, rough bunch of scamps....and then there is Mordred...
Some folks here say they will definitely read the Grail Prince, the continuation of Galahad's story. But the author protrayed Lancelot's son as such a single-minded freaked-out JERK that I cannot get excited enough to buy the book.
All in all, a good read. Too long for its overall content, but well done!』
(absolutely wondrful!!) 『ok this is my mom's amazon account but watever i had to get this book for summer reading and my friend who doesnt read like at all absolutely loved it so i knew i had to read it being a great lover of books! this book is the most amazing book ever! the characters are portayed sooooo well and it really feels like you're in those times and places!!!! i really couldnt put it down even once and i dont have any complaints about it and i've also read the grail prince which is the sequel to this book and if u liked this book and want to know what happens after it and even though it's mostly about galahad it's an AWESOME book too and you do find out what happens after the queen of camelot and SO much more』 『“Guinevere comes alive–a strong, resourceful, and compassionate woman, accessible to modern folk . . . McKenzie makes a quantum leap in defining the character of Guinevere as a real, flesh-and-blood woman. The Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle comes alive as well–believable, poignant, and bearing the seeds of tragedy.” –KATHERINE KURTZ
On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will begwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell.
At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall. Return to a time of legend–the days of Guinevere and Arthur and the glory that was to become Camelot
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Putnam Juvenile
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A spectator in her own life...) 『I am always confused as to why people bother to write books like this. They always go like so: 1)The author takes a well known plot or historical event, and then inserts his/her character into it. 2)Instead of influencing main events (which were set in stone from the beginning, due to the source of the story) the character utterly fails to make any real impact at all, merely spectating from the sidelines. 3)As a result the character turns out to be really boring and wimpy. 4)I am left wondering why the author bothered to create the character at all if he/she weren't integral to the plot.
So, why write a book about Marry Queen of Scots from the hanger-on's point of view when you could eliminate the middle man and just write about Marry Queen of Scots? That way the author could lose the redundancy of having a main character be a spectator in her own life. Admittedly, there are some books where this ruse works well. "All the King's Men" has a main character who orbits around the force of nature that is Willie Stark, but the main character still has places in which his actions are integral to the outcome of the plot. Remove the main character and events could not have turned out as they did at the end of that novel. In the case of "The Queen's own Fool", on the other hand, remove the "Fool" and you would still have the exact same outcome in the plot. The author has committed the fallacy of making his/her own main character redundant. Other examples of this fluke would be "Ender's Shadow" and "Renfield: Slave of Dracula" which both attempt to take an existing story and add something to the actions of minor characters. However, when you come right down to it the additions mean nothing because they can't affect the outcome.
In conclusion, I give "The Queen's Own Fool" 2 stars for poor character creation and a boring plot』
(Wonderful historical fiction) 『Most people know a lot about Queen Elizabeth I. Few people know much about Queen Mary of Scotland. This is a story about Mary and her fascinating history.
This is historical fiction at its best; the book sticks to true facts very closely and tells of a story that is not well known. I loved this book. I loved that there was a story out there about Mary Queen of Scots, and that this book was also wonderfully written. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The reader gets a clear idea of what it was like then, and they also get to learn all about an incredible woman.
The story describes Mary's first marriage, then continues to describe her return to Scotland from France. Nicola, the queen's "fool", is the narrarator who tells the story. She is very close to Mary and tells us everything that goes on in Mary's life. After they return to Scotland, Mary (I'm not spoiling the story; it's history, and this is how it happened) married twice more, both times awful marriages that only caused harm.
Besides the fact that the history is really cool, it's also great how it's written. So go on. Read it, read it! It's so easy to love.』
(A Wonderful Book!) 『I loved this book! I bought it from our library's used book sale, I figured it might at best give me some background for my son's history study this year. I was so impressed! I read it in about 3 days, and highly recommend it.
The story is told through the eyes of the female "fool", or jester, of Mary Queen of Scots, Nicola Ambruzi (La Jardinierre, the Garden Girl). While we don't know much about her, we do know from court documents that she existed, and that she was the favored fool of Mary. The novel delves into so many known historical events, telling them from a completely personal point of view. The historical fact-finding is incredible, and the plot and character personalities are sure to involve even a reluctant reader, right from the start.
This book gets my highest recommendation - I will even be reading most of it with my son (4th grade) later this year, to help him understand the politics, beliefs and court life of the late Middle Ages.』
(My first love!) 『When I was in high school, I hated to read teen magazines much less real books. I struggled with a learning disorder and was stuck at a low reading level so I could never enjoy reading. My mom checked this book out at the library for me with little hope that would read it. It was strange but I just picked it up and started reading. I kept reading and turning the pages and I just couldn't put it down! I found it so incredibly captivating! I loved it so much! I never thought I'd enjoy reading so much. After that I started picking up more and more books and my reading level shot straight up! This may seem off topic but believe me, this book helped me sooo much! It really is my first love!』
(A Fantastic Piece of Historical Fiction!) 『I have to say that I absolutely LOOOVVEE this book!! It only took me two days (And nights of late night reading) to finish and I could barely force myself to put it down. This is a masterful tale and brilliantly written. I HIGHLY recommend it.』 『Called La Jardiniere, a resourceful and clever jester to the queen's court, Nicola was a most unlikely person to end up "fool" and friend to Mary, Queen of Scots. But Nicola isn't an ordinary comedian clowning before the court; her sharp tongue is rare amongst the fawning nobles. As fate takes Mary from France to Scotland, and into confrontations with rebellious lords and devious advisors, Nicola remains deep in the queen's inner circle. But when the Scots start to turn on Queen Mary, Nicola struggles to find something-anything-that she, just a fool, can do to save her friend.
"Rich and involving . . . Readers are treated to a fascinating look at royal politics through the eyes of Nicola." (School Library Journal, starred review)』 『"Where history ends, storytelling begins," writes Jane Yolen in her author's note to this exciting novel based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Only a few facts are known about Mary's young female jester, le Jardiniere, but Yolen and her collaborator, Scottish writer Robert Harris, have created a fascinating girl narrator based on this historical oddity. Le Jardiniere relates the true and tragic tale of the ill-fated 16th-century queen of Scotland.
In 1559, when a ragtag troupe of traveling entertainers is snatched from the sodden streets of Rheims to amuse the bored visiting French court, 13-year-old Nicola Ambruzzi impresses the queen with her wit and honesty. The beautiful young Mary takes the girl under her protection as "the queen's own fool," commissioned to speak the truth boldly amid the fawning lies and schemes of the courtiers. Around them swarm secret plots, duplicity, and betrayal; death is a constant threat.
After her weak boy-husband King Francis dies, the kindhearted Mary is unwilling to hear Nicola speak the truth about her suitors. She experiences two disastrous marriages, first with the handsome wastrel Darnley and then--for political expediency--with his murderer, the treacherous Bothwell. When he plots against her, she must flee back to Scotland to try to resume her throne in the midst of swirling conflict between the Protestant lords and their Catholic rulers. Nicola's wit and daring get them through some dangerous situations, but Mary is eventually imprisoned in the stark castle of Lochleven, where their hairsbreadth attempts at escape wind up a story from history as exciting and deeply affecting as any of Yolen's fantasy novels. (Ages 12 and older)--Patty Campbell』
Kakaku：279 saved$2.79
Harper Perennial
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (...) 『In my opinion, this isn't as juicy as Sex with the King, but still a great read』
(It was okay - that's all, just okay) 『Eurocentric, of course. Titilating, sure. Accurate, not so much. Needed a fact-checker (editor should have cought some more obvious errors) and it seems to me that the author puts a 21st century filter on what she reports. For instance, she talks of 'mounds of flesh' on plump women as though it were repulsive in a time when we can see from the protraits done of women celebrated for their beauty that beauty often came in soft packages. Not really done from the feminist perspective and not as accurate as i'd like, but it passed the time on public transportation and for that I'm grateful.』
(A great book.) 『I have really enjoyed this book. After reading it you feel like you actually knew these people at one time. The only thing I didn't like about the book was how much it does seem to jump around. The only thing about that though is you really get to see how much of the royal families were related and the level of inbreding that was going on.』
(Great Brief History Lesson) 『I really enjoyed this book. I've read others of the same topic and this one was more polished, and less juvenile. It's very entertaining and well written. Covering monarchs the more well known monarchs like Marie Antoinette and Anne Boleyn to lesser known Caroline Matilda of Denmark and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. The book not only explores the loves of these women but also their daily and usually turbulent lives. Great way to learn a little history. I plan to read Sex with Kings next』
(Added tidbits of history) 『I read a lot of period/non fiction of this period and loved this book. Gave me information about the players of the time I had never heard before. Easy read and lots of fun!』 『
In royal courts bristling with testosterone—swashbuckling generals, polished courtiers, and virile cardinals—how did repressed regal ladies find happiness?
Anne Boleyn flirted with courtiers; Catherine Howard slept with one. Henry VIII had both of them beheaded.
Catherine the Great had her idiot husband murdered and ruled the Russian empire with a long list of sexy young favorites.
Marie Antoinette fell in love with the handsome Swedish count Axel Fersen, who tried valiantly to rescue her from the guillotine.
Princess Diana gave up her palace bodyguard to enjoy countless love affairs, which tragically led to her early death.
In this impeccably researched, scandalously readable follow-up to herNew York TimesbestsellerSex with Kings, Eleanor Herman reveals the truth about what has historically gone on behind the closed door of the queen's boudoir.
Kakaku：542 saved$5.42
Vintage
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Comprehensive and engaging window into the lives of two rulers on one island) 『 This dual biography by Jane Dunn is an excellent and highly engaging work of history, and tells much of the Elizabethan age regarding not only politics but also society, religion relationships and gender.
Elizabeth refused to marry and reigned for 45 years as the solitary monarch of England, at the time a revolutionary decision. A women of great strength, a wise ruler (although as the author points out, unlike Mary, she was blessed with dependable and skilled advisers) and as we see a great orator and poet. Her rallying of the people of England against the Spanish Armada certainly was something of a reflection of Churchill's rallying of Britain against the Nazi menace 400 years later. We need leaders in the West today who can stand up against the threat of Islamo-Fascism and terror.
Mary was a passionate and wilful adventurer. married twice for political gain, but took several lovers, and certainly was passionate at different times in her love for Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley(who she came to despise for good reason later) and for the Earl of Bothwell.
Mary was a vengeful ruler and the more ruthless of the two queens, she felt nothing plotting the overthrow and death of Elizabeth, while it was with great anguish that Elizabeth was forced to sign Mary's death warrant, after Mary's plotting (The Throckmorton and Babington plots) made her end inevitable.
Essentially the book is about a fatal and tragic clash of interests. "A fatal complication ensued when Mary turned her sights on the greater crown of England. believing it her rightful inheritance and a claim worth pursuing. Elizabeth's fundamental insecurity in her own legitimacy, where the whole of Catholic Europe was ranged against her , 'the bastard child of a whore' increased the tension and emotional volatility of the issue. The complex rivalry, the feint and parrying of their personal relationship, sprang from the challenge Mary made for Elizabeth's throne, and the unassailable legitimacy of her claim. The powerful passions this relationship engendered in each was a result of their strikingly different natures. The fact that they never met allowed their rivalries to inflate in each Queen's imagination, their qualities elaborated upon by ambassadors and courtiers intent on their own ambition". Elizabeth was a prisoner accused of treason and threatened with execution as a young girl, before gaining the throne, seen by the majority of England's people as a great deliverer from her older sister 'Bloody' Mary I's 's tyrannic religious repression of the Protestants. As was written in John Fox's 'Foxes Book of Martyrs' where he records the names and circumstances of ordinary people put to death for their faith under Mary I "When these at Maidstone were put to death We wished for our ELIZABETH."
At the time of her mother's execution Princess Elizabeth was two years and eight months old. She was soon stripped of her title of princess and declared illegitimate. Elizabeth who was an incredibly bright child, did not notice that her mother was gone but she did notice the change of her name. She apparently said
