5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
At least the cover's pretty...., September 24, 2009
This review is from: In the Shadow of Lions (Chronicles of the Scribe, Book 1) (Paperback)
Ginger Garrett's "In the Shadow of Lions" tells the story of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in 16th century England. She tells her tale through two main characters. The first, Rose, a fictional creation, is a despairing young woman ready to give up on life. The second is Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry the Eighth. Their stories are dictated by a supernatural being called the Scribe to a dying woman in the present day.
I found this book to be a frustrating, unfulfilling read. A major flaw in the novel is the portrayal of Anne Boleyn. I've read many, many books about Anne over the years, both fiction and non-fiction. Anne Boleyn was a woman who not only fascinated a king, but has also fascinated historians and readers in the centuries since her death. In Garrett's portrayal, she's a rather flat and uninteresting character. I never got a sense of why Henry became so obsessed with her or how she was able to keep his devotion for so long. There was nothing to explain her allure. Henry himself never emerges as a very well defined character.
"In the Shadow of Lions" also contains the most negative portrayal of Sir Thomas More I have ever read. There's no doubt More could be virulently anti-Protestant, but this book takes his actions to the extreme. His daughter, Margaret, is an extremely inconsistent character, one moment treating Rose as an ally and at others treating her more as an enemy. I felt very removed from this book; it was hard to truly feel involved with the story or the characters.
There were many other things about this book that bugged me, but I'll just mention one more. Anne and Henry's daughter, Elizabeth, was born on September 7, 1533. In this book, Anne is two months pregnant shortly before Christmas. There's no way the timeline would work out for a September birth. Garrett never gives a date for Elizabeth's birth, but she does say she's born in winter. A woman can't be over two months pregnant in late December and give birth in a winter month unless the baby is extremely premature, which was not the case, or the baby is in the womb for over a year. I kept thinking I was missing something but I've read it over twice. It just absolutely makes no sense.
I suppose this book might be more appealing to a reader of Christian fiction than to a reader of historical fiction. The historical oddities, at any rate, might be less off-putting.
I really wanted to like "In the Shadow of Lions." I was looking forward to reading about Anne Boleyn from a different viewpoint, one that explored her role in the Protestant Reformation. Unfortunately, the poorly developed, inconsistent, and often unlikeable characters made this more of an exercise in frustration. One of the first things I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover. It's too bad the contents inside didn't live up to it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Creative Alternative, September 14, 2008
This review is from: In the Shadow of Lions (Chronicles of the Scribe, Book 1) (Paperback)
In the Shadow of Lions is a story as dictated by a guardian angel to a present day woman who needs to hear it.
Two women without freedom face a reign, battles for power, threats of death and superstition. Beliefs collide to bring an alternative and gripping tale of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Historical fans and those who devour great storytelling should find much to like. If martyrdom and torture themes bother you, look before you leap. I found the novel to be a little challenging as I tried to piece together who was who and how they all intersected. But once I got it, the story rocked and rolled.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Be transported back in time, September 3, 2008
This review is from: In the Shadow of Lions (Chronicles of the Scribe, Book 1) (Paperback)
A bitter and prideful woman is facing imminent death when she is visited by the Scribe and is plunged into the turbulent and violent world of Henry VIII, his court, his advisors and his women.
Anne Boleyn is determined not to meet the fate of her sister by becoming King Henry's mistress, despite his persistent attempts to woo her. Remaining pure and faithful to God's call on her life she is strengthened by what she reads in the very first English translation of the Bible.
A woman of the night, Rose hopes for transformation of her heart, soul and mind when she is taken in by the devout Thomas More, a man searching for redemption in unimaginable ways, yet showing her a compassion she has never known.
As these two women try to find their way in a cruel and unforgiving world, the men in their lives wield power and influence without restraint.
Ginger Garrett's expertise in recreating the stories of women who changed the world is on full show in this epic tale of love, faith, fear and persecution. With impeccable research, Ginger provides an alternative view of Anne Boleyn as a woman keeping her promise to God in refusing Henry's advances as he sought desperately to father a son. In The Shadow of Lions reveals the terrible lengths many church leaders went to in order to prevent the Bible from being accessible to the people and is a heart rending and often difficult story to read. While not overly graphic, the violence meted out to those who opposed the dominance of the organised church, is a tragic reminder of the sacrifice others made so we can enjoy the privilege of owning a Bible. The numerous transitions between scenes of the Scribe, Anne and Rose requires that your mind be fully engaged in this complex story but the reward to staying focused is great. Immerse yourself in the beginnings of the Reformation and see God's hand at work in history.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
