Customer Reviews

The Falcon and the Flower (Medieval Plantagenet)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is my second book of Virgnia Henley and once again, I was entertained and is impressed by her style. I am almost finished with The Dragon and The Jewel, the 2nd book of this PLANTAGENET TRILOGY. The last book is THE MARRIAGE PRIZE. Basing it on her books that I've read, Virginia Henley really knows her plot. She corporates history with romance in the most factual way. She is straight forward and doesn't use a lot flowery words even in the hero/heroine's story. I do enjoy flowery words from time to time but on this occasion, Her style was a welcome change to me that I didn't mind it at all.

The Falcon and the Flower affected me in the most bizarre ways. No doubt, I enjoyed this book. I find the PLANTAGENET interesting so the added history in this book thoroughly pulled me in. I love Falcon and Jasmine love story as well... but then I also felt guilty enjoying their story to the fullest because I don't like men hitting their wives. I feel if they did it once, they will do it again... and indeed, even towards the end of this book, Falcon did hit her again. ugh. Perhaps that is why I rated this book a four stars (4 1/2 if I could). That could have been omitted to proved he changed... I wanted to not like this book mainly for that reason but shamefully, i find my heart in spastic mode cuz I can see how much Falcon was drawn to Jasmine. He was VERY MUCH in love with her. It was a love at first sight. Jasmine didn't have a Title nor lands to offer, she wasn't trained to be a chatelain or a wife nor can she supposedly bore him sons or children... meanwhile, Falcon De Burgh could choose any bride he wants. There were many beautiful heiress who were fully trained to be chatelain and a submissive wife. There were many who could bring advantage to him but he chose Jasmine. Without Falcon realizing it, that alone says it all. Most of the books I've read have marriages cuz of convenience or with an advantage. However, Falcon's offer of marriage to Jasmine have no advantage to either of them. Love wasn't confessed in the beginning either so naturally it was confusing for both party, most especially for Jasmine who have ambition of her own to achieve. She feels that Falcon is ruining her life by marriage. I know a lot of reviewers here don't like Jasmine and I admit, I didn't particularly liked her in the beginning but this is also where I saw Ms. Henley's impressive talent. She wasn't afraid to put a flaw on her hero and heroine. Both Falcon and Jasmine have flaws of their own, which eventually made me liked them and admire them. Jasmine is also very young, only 18. She acted her age which is more realistic. I've read books where the heroine is only 18 or younger yet acted so maturely that it becomes too good to be true. Not Jasmine...Besides her beauty and her white magics, she WAS totally spoiled and useless as a wife! She likes nice clothes, to look her best and wants to be a Lady-in-Waiting for the Queen. She has her own plans and she's also living in a fantasy world, but mainly because of her grandmother ways of bringing her up. In the end, you will see her trying to be USEFUL, so to speak. That's when she becomes more lovable in my eyes.

Another part which actually amuses me more than anything is Falcon's lusty appetite towards Jasmine. Testosterone Machine, Indeed! I know others are annoyed by this but not me. I enjoyed the idea of Falcon's strong desire for his wife, and I mean strong! To top it all, Jasmine is PRUDE and won't have anything of that! Perhaps it's the challenge and the anticipation that makes Falcon even more lustful for his wife. I tell you, I've never read such a book. Most of my books have mutual desire and enjoyment when it comes to their lovemaking. Once again, Ms. Henley proves her unique ideas and implemented it well. I don't know if I should envy Jasmine or feel sore for her... oh I mean, SORRY for her. lol.

My sister suggested this trilogy to me. I didn't check the rating before reading it which I am glad I didn't, I might have been discourage and would have missed a good novel. I was surprise the overall rating of this book is only 3 1/2. In my opinion, THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER is full of NEW concepts and representation for me. It is a unique read and I totally enjoyed it.

As is usually the case with Henley, I found this book to be compelling and intriguing. This author has a real talent for reeling me in and keeping my attention. However, as is the case with "Enticed", I don't think her publishers did her any favors by reprinting this 1989 novel. The heroines in her earlier books are typically willfull, spoiled little brats you can't stand reading about.

The heroine of "The Falcon and the Flower" downright got on my nerves for over 2/3 of this book...no, more like 4/5 of this book. I think Ms. Virginia was trying to make her seem feisty, but she came off vastly different. She was an icy, mean, spoiled little girl I couldn't stand.

The heroine got on my nerves so bad that at one point I was actually routing for the hero's ex-mistress to win him back. I have never wished that on any other heroine I've read to date...that's tantamount to watching "Jaws" and routing for the shark.

Another thing that disturbed me about this book was that there were a couple of scenes in which the hero slapped the heroine. Unfortunately, I disliked her so much that I didn't care...then I felt guilty about that since I consider myself a feminist and abhor violence against women!

If you are a major Henley fan, you will probably enjoy this book at least somewhat. The book, with all its faults, was still quite engaging. As long as you go into this knowing what to expect, it probably won't be so bad. And as your reading, don't be surprised if you hear the theme song to "Jaws" playing in the background of your mind...

I have read several Henley books. I loved The Marriage Prize. As with that book, this one contained wonderful, fascinating historical facts and a story that I couldn't put down. My only complaint was that Jasmine was so unlikeable. As another reviewer said, she was a spoiled brat and I had very little sympathy for her. If you can put up with a herione like that, the book was well-written and the story comes to a satisfying ending.

After reading this book, I sat back and wondered "Now what was that about?" Frankly, I got tired of all the sex, not that I'm a prude by any stretch of the imagination. What bugged me throughout this book was the constant "ache" Falcon had for Jasmine and how she continued to turn him down. And then, suddenly, when she gets pregnant she loves him. Please. It was so unbelievable. I'm all for a fiesty heroine and a dark, brooding hero, but for God's sake this was ridiculous. And the shenanigan's at King John's court were just plain silly. I only read this for the historical content and I was sadly let down with that too. This won't be one I repeat.

I loved this book! Granted, Falcon is full of testosterone and he is domineering, and even a creep, but I like them that way. I don't want a sappy, wimpy hero. I like them to take charge and be demanding. It makes for such a worthwhile romance. What fun is it for them to say "I love you and fall onto the bed in the first chapter. I like fierce resistance on the woman's part and "I'm going to take you anyway types on the man's part. That kind of book makes me squirm and I like it!!! Virginia Henley does not dissapoint.

This was the first *romance* book I ever read and I have to say that I was hooked. I read this several years ago and have read many more since than, but the details of many of the others seem lost to me while this one, I do remember. Perhaps becuase it was the first of the kind i read, or maybe just because of how powerful a book it was.

I like this book ( and all of Ms. Henley's book) for a variety of reasons. First, they arent shy on length. Nothing is more aggrevating than getting into the story, falling in love with the characters and era and than having the story end. Ms. Henley write books on the longer side and also series *sagas*. I also like her discriptive language and her ability to make you feel for and like the main characters despite (or maybe because of) their sometimes obvious cahracter faults. Sometimes romance novels feel a bit *xeroxed*... like the writer is just changing the names, haircolor, and era and slapping a new cover on it. While I would have to say that this book fulfills a certain predictable romance *formula* (beautiful, willfull long haired heroine...brooding dark and head over heels in love on the inside, hero.... it really doesnt feel like a photocopy of every other book written in that form. It feels more like the original, that was emulated. The details are richer, the writing is better, the readers involvement is more than with many other books (even some of Ms henleys other books)

The love scenes that Ms Henly writes seem different to me than other writers too... while less timid than some other writers (maybe julie garwood?) they arent quite brazen either (maybe like some of joanna lindseys?)... And I am not finding fault with julie garwood or joanna lindsy...Im really just trying to place virginia henley in the love-scene-scale... I would say that they are more on the more brazen side with the rough edges smoothed a bit by some tactful beautiful writing.

The book isnt without faults but perhaps maybe the faults are more built in due to the genre. The exasperating heroine... okay, aggrevating sometimes... The roughness of the hero.. okay, brutality maybe. Maybe the issues are more due to the features of this *type* of book than the book itself.

I would certainly say that if you like romance novels, to not read virginia henley is a mistake. I think she could write any type of fiction she chose, I love her writing style.

I bought this book after reading some of the ratings on Amazon.com, and I have to agree with most of them that this book was lame. I read and read until I got to page 300 until they finally had sex, and i would have to disagree that if she was a white witch, she would have had more passion that what they showed in the book. I was very disappointed. I did already buy the other books in the series, so i better get it over with and see if they fare any better. The heroine seemed very self absorbed and selfish and could not admit she was wrong and judged everone to harshly. I would think that Falcon would have given up on her long ago.

The Flower: ok so I can understand how she became a spoiled little annoying girl but after a while you just got to ask: is she ever going to learn and try something else? She's a stupid, spoiled, and stubborn girl. That's all. Over and over it's the same thing, she doesn't try anything new, even for better or worse when he does something so horrible to her (read further).

The Falcon: Hate him. As other reviewers have put: he hits her, and once at the very end when you're just, "oh come on! haven't you changed YET?!" He's also a pig, who thinks one thing so sadly and understandably that you think that he's finally caught on and might change, but nope! HUGE SPOILER ALERT!!!!: he rapes her. And the FIRST time "I guess" I can understand his reasoning but then he does it again... and again, and again. And this isn't like other books (which are still sick) where the woman says no and tries to resist, but his skills and fire sooo ignite her to hott hott sex. NOPE!! She pleads and cries for him to stop, when she realizes he won't she freezes and makes her mind go away, somewhere far away, other than there. It's nothing more than rape! Several rapes! Each time after he's either angry (at her!) or feels bad, and when he feels bad that quickly turns to lust 10 pages later when he continues his raping or fondling of her as she pleads for him to stop.

Over all, this is a looong book where we get a lot of pages where they fight, yell, and say mean things, plus him and his lust, but then BAM!! LUST!!! and after one night over sex (of 3) she's telling him she loves him. Nowhere before that is there any hidden message that she's holding back and does like him. I mean, she stares at his chest a few times, but ladies... that's the only connection I can find before she's sprouting I love you to him... and after he hits and rapes her!! Classic Stockholm syndrome!!!

I wish I can get my $8 back and have the publishers pay me for my wasted time.

Both characters disgust me. THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!! I wish other reviews had warned me of the rapes and not just the hitting (which I can explain away by the time period) so I hope others find this review helpful.

I can't believe I wasted hours of my life reading this book!! The main characters were absolutely AWFUL to each other. Like many male protagonists of the romance genre, he was very arrogant. Arrogance/confidence is okay to some degree, but Falcon was mean...downright mean and hateful to Jasmine. Jasmine was a complete and spoiled rotten brat, as well as a first degree witch. I know a good story needs some conflict, but GOOD GRIEF! I found myself hating both characters because of their deplorable behavior towards each other!! I honestly don't even know why I bothered to finish the book. I guess I kept hoping it would get better, but it truly never did.

Don't waste your money on this one! If you want a well-written love story, try Julie Garwood, Hannah Howell, Monica McCarty, Kinley McGregor, or Galen Foley.

When I first saw this book, it sounded cool, so I bought it. The beginning was good, I enjoyed the meeting between Jasmine and Falcon. The adventure sequence was fine, but the characters ruined it for me. The guy is walking, talking tube of testosterone and the girl is obviously going through an identity crisis . She thinks she's a porcupine. The love-hate thing was good for a while, but come on. But the miiddle of the book, it really got boring. Falcon does nothing but lust after Jasmine and she does nothing but say "No" throughout the whole book. Can't they at least get a little close? An entire conversation with flying into the roof would be nice. If you want to use the love-hate thing, it's fine; just don't overdo it.