Customer Reviews

The King's Women

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I knew little of the subject matter before I started reading this book and was uninspired by the cover or the writeup on the back of the novel....but I loved it! I am also a big fan of Tudor England so it was interesting to see where they arose from (Catherine, Charles' sister married Owen Tudor after the death of Henry V).

The novel centers around King Charles VII and all the women in his life from the time of his birth to the time of his death. His life and career are both shaped by the mothers (birth and "real"), mistresses, sister, wife, and advisors (such as Joan of Arc) that form parts of his life. I couldn't put this book down, especially the last half. Deryn Lake has a great way of writing to put the reader directly into the scene and the imagery is excellent!

I give the book four stars instead of five due to the slow first half and also because of some of my concerns with the historical notes. It states that none of Queen Isabeau's actions have been exaggerated when I have read since completing this novel that her monstrousness may have been perpetuated by the French and the English as she was both a foreigner and a strong leader for a woman of the time. As well, the statement that the Priory of Sion was proven to be real in the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Now, I'm sure the author has done more research than I have but I have read in multiple places that this is a hoax and no such secret society ever existed and was invented in the 1950's.

Despite the notes, I loved this book but take the historical "facts" with the grain of salt that what was recorded in 1400's is not necessarily 100% correct. After all, history is written by the winners :)

Deryn Lake is a pseudonym of a well know historical novelist. Among the books she has written are the popular John Rawlings Mysteries, Death on the Romney Marsh, Death in the Peerless Pool, Death at the Apothecaries' hall, Death at the Devil's Tavern and others. As all these titles are preceded by the word death, it is a pretty good indication regarding the contents of the books and very good historical murder mysteries they are. `Deryn Lake' live near Hastings, in East Sussex

Written in 2006 this is a change of tack for Deryn Lake and also an earlier period in history than the novels featuring the apothecary John Rawlings. The author has also seen fit to cross the channel to France for the backdrop to this novel., set in the Middle Ages. France is threatened by the might of the English and their monarch Henry V. At France's head is a young frightened boy, the Dauphin Charles, but the chrysalis is about to turn into a butterfly and be the most victorious king of all. Charles is to be the one who is to cut the canker out of the heart of France and drive the English back across the channel . . . This is the story of King Charles VII of France and the women in his life.

I bought this book with a little trepidation. Having enjoyed and read all the John Rawlings novels, I thought I may be disappointed with a new scenario from the author, but not a bit of it. The author's writing style is still as lucid as ever and her meticulous research introduces us to such characters from history as Agnes Sorel, mistress of the king, Joan of Arc, Nicolas Flamel, the French Alchemist and the Knights Templars all beautifully blended into an intriguing tale.

It took me several months to read this book mainly because of the difficulty in keeping the characters straight, along with not knowing how the names are pronounced. As my title says, this book would be better if you can speak French...or have some sort of French knowledge. Also, I discovered that the French loved the names Louis, Charles, Jeanne, Jean, Marie which were used over and over but for different characters. The movement of the book was slow as dirt, and the only good part of the rise of King Charles of France was at the end of this long story...and the author rushed it! Up until the last 100 pages, I'd give the book 1 star, but the end of the story, rushed as it was, was the saving grace.

Knowing very well the regions and the palaces where this all happened it is a wonderful (new) vision on how it all could have been. Being Dutch the language usage was sometimes a little overwhelming but I loved the way this author pins down the caracters and the flow of history. Very worthwhile.

The King's Women was a disappointment because the fictional aspects of the book were too far-fetched to allow me to "suspend disbelief." Her research and sense of place took my breath away--I often felt myself transported to the places and times Ms. Lake so vividly described. But the fictional premises were such a "reach," I found myself laughing when I shouldn't have been. The fact that a serious publisher agreed to produce and distribute this book is even more astonishing. Being as kind as I can, I will only rate this book with 3 stars.

Mike MacCarthy
San Diego, CA