The Princeling [Mass Market Paperback]

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Warner Futura (2001)
• ASIN: B000SE7VJQ
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable, June 21, 2001

By 

silke cormican (ccormican.aol.com) (München) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Princeling (Morland Dynasty) (Paperback)

Following "The Founding" and "The Dark Rose", this is the third book in the MORLAND DYNASTY series.

A few years have passed and Nanette, having suffered a tragic personal loss, once again returns to court where she witnesses the turbulent years of Elizabeth I.'s reign as the young Queen's confidante and lady-in-waiting.

Meanwhile, in order to increase the Morland family's wealth and influence through an advantageous marriage, John, heir to Morland Place, is sent by his domineering father to the wild Northern Border. In order to prove himself among the savage Northerners and to win the love of the woman he desires, John has to live through hardship and bloody battle.

At the same time, John's gentle sister Lettice is sent to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. When she is ravished by and marries a ruthless Scottish nobleman, Lettice soon becomes embroiled in court intrigues. Having heard rumours about the mysterious deaths of her husband's first two wives and being unable to give her husband the desired heir, fear becomes her daily fare.

I found this powerful and beautifully written novel thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are believable and it becomes obvious that the author did much research on the subject. Currently, I am reading the sixth book in the series and I have not yet tired of the Morlands.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm starting to see a pattern forming, June 14, 2005

By 

S. Becker "sminismoni" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Princeling (Morland Dynasty) (Paperback)

This is the 3rd instalment of the Morland Dynasty saga, tracing to fortunes of an English family from the middle ages to present day.


I enjoyed the first 2 books, "The Founding" and "The Dark Rose". The characters were well rounded, and the historical events delightfully interwoven with their fortunes.

Unfortunately, the Princeling reads more like a recitation of the Morland family tree than a novel with people and events. Sure, John and Lettice Morland are well described, but it's like they are cardboard effigies. We never really care about them except as just another link in the chain of the family which runs before and after them. Births and deaths are described in succinct, predictable passages. One minute a baby is born, the next, the are married. Then they have children and die in an accident of some sort. This pattern happens to so many of the characters that they no longer seem to be individuals.

The historical background is pale too. The influential reign of Elizabeth I, the journeys of Francis Drake, the overthrow of Mary, Queen of Scots all happen "off stage". In the previous 2 books, the characters were actively involved.

All I can hope for the next book is a return to the earlier form. Otherwise, I don't see it worth continuing a predictable series written in "This happened, then that happened" style.

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware the Kindle edition, January 21, 2012

By 

LK (Sacramento CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dynasty 3: The Princeling: The Princeling (Morland Dynasty) (Kindle Edition)

The conversion to the electronic format was not entirely successful. It badly needs editing to get rid of the frequent and distracting typos. This story wasn't as good as the first book but I suspect I would have enjoyed it as a paperback.