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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Centurion and the Queen, April 20, 2008
This review is from: The Centurion And The Queen (Paperback)
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this a good solid 8. The plot is riveting, the research is meticulous, and there's a wealth of information about a very interesting time in history. It is very well written and a candidate for re-reading. And you can't say that about every book!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
intriguing, plausible and heroic, March 21, 2009
This review is from: The Centurion And The Queen (Paperback)
I'd read Minnette's fantasy novel, "Starsight," a while ago and really enjoyed it. But I wasn't quite so sure what I'd think about historical romance, particularly not when it's set in the land of my birth. I'm kind of possessive about England and its history; I people its past with characters from the Rosemary Sutcliffe novels I read as a child. And the memories run deep because she always made me cry, much to my brothers' amusement.
Minnette didn't make me cry. But she did create a very plausible England with fine characters and intriguing background. The centurion is predictably heroic (should I put that in capitals?), but none-the-less interesting, particularly when Minnette begins to sketch in more of his background. And the queen projects a satisfying combination of power, education, impulsiveness and vulnerability. The other characters each arrive with fully realized histories and possibilities, giving them surprising depth. And Minnette paints an appealingly cosmopolitan picture of the culture of the time, with world travel, education, law, slavery and friendship all falling into place. The pages flew by.
So, if you're looking for an exciting read, empowered heroine, romantic love, and intriguing vision of English history, "the Centurion and the Queen" will supply your needs and more.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommend this memorable tale!, June 10, 2009
This review is from: The Centurion And The Queen (Paperback)
This ancient historical, adventurous romance was so good that I read it in two sittings. Britannia of two thousand years ago comes vividly to life as the reader becomes immersed in the lives of heroic characters.
The disciplined Centurion Marius meets his match in the beautiful, fiercely intelligent and battle-trained Breton queen Delia who only wants to save the people she loves.
For years, Marius has done his duty and earned the admiration and respect of his men. When Delia breaks Roman law, committing treason, which requires the harshest of punishment, all eyes fall on the cold Centurion to do what he must. He's shaken to the core, thinking of the Breton beauty who has already begun to get inside his heart with her cleverness and vulnerability. In the first of several interesting twists and turns in this brilliantly written book, Marius "knows what he has to do" and does it.
It's a fast-mover, one gripping scene after the next, with a powerful love story plaited throughout. In the last part of the book, Delia's people face off with Marius's Romans in a battle that will resonate throughout history.
Some books keep you turning pages until the end then leave you cold on the last page. Not this one. The end was so satisfying that it justified the entire exciting story. Now I want to go out and buy the paperback version. I highly recommend this memorable tale.
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