New Movie: Ironclad

I came across this trailer today. It is a movie, scheduled for release this year, about the rebellion against King John that lead up to Magna Carta.

The preview looks good...guess I'll have to wait and see if there is any substance to it.

Ironclad - Teaser Promo [VO]
by Lyricis

The Alphabet in Historical Fiction Challenge: D

Whew! Just barely getting mine in on time!!

Each fortnight the ladies at Historical Tapestry will post a new letter of the alphabet and you do a blog post about a work of historical fiction that has that letter:

• as the first letter in the title
• as the first letter of the author's first or last name
• the first letter of a character's first or last name
• the first letter of a place where an historical event took place

So here is my post for the fourth letter of this challenge: D

Here Be Dragons, Sharon Kay Penman

From the back cover:

Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England's ruthless, power-hungry King John. Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce by marrying the English king's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna, who slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband. But as John's attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales - and Llewelyn - Joanna must decide where her love and loyalties truly lie.

The turbulent clashes of two disparate worlds and the destinies of the individuals caught between them spring to life in this magnificent novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies.

I absolutely, positively loved this book. Sharon Kay Penman is really a top notch storyteller. I could not put this one down! Llewelyn and Joanna's story is simply amazing and so full of life and love. You can't help but fall in love with Llewelyn - he is so courageous and honorable and passionate. I want to travel to Wales just in the hopes of seeing him appear somewhere! Joanna is such a complex and changing character throughout - from a young, scared girl married into a strange land to a woman desperately in love with her husband but torn with loyalty to her father to a mature woman who knows she has to live with the consequences of her actions. There are many other intriguing and well developed characters running around, including Joanna's father, King John, and Llewelyn's arrogant son, Gruffydd. As usual, Penman's descriptions, this time of Wales and its people and their traditions and customs, really help to bring to life a time very distant from our own and one that most are not familiar with. I think a true sign of a good author is when you can close your eyes and really see what they are talking about; you feel like you can almost reach out and touch it. That is achieved magnificently in this novel. I can not wait to read the next two books in the trilogy, Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning.

*I will be posting a more detailed review in a few days.

This Day in History...

January 29, 1596 - Sir Francis Drake, the most famous English seaman and adventurer of the Elizabethan era was buried at sea.

January 29, 1820 - King George III died at Windsor Castle. He was 81 years old and, at the time, the longest reigning British monarch (over 59 years).

This Day in History...

A couple of biggies today..

January 28, 1457 - Birth of Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII. He was the founder of the Tudor dynasty, defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, father of Henry VIII and grandfather of Elizabeth I.

January 28, 1547 - Henry VIII, one of the most infamous English monarchs, died at Whitehall Palace. It was exactly 100 years after the birth of his father Henry VII.

This Day in History...

January 27, 1606 - The trial of Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators began. They were charged with treason for attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament, with the royal family inside.

Book Review: The Winter Mantle

The Winter Mantle, Elizabeth Chadwick
3.5 roses

This was another fast paced work of wonderfully blended history and fiction from Elizabeth Chadwick. While my rating may not show it, this was a good book. There were just a few things that brought my overall rating down. It is the true story of Waltheof of Huntington, an English lord held hostage by William of Normandy after the Battle of Hastings, and his Norman bride Judith, William's niece. After finally marrying the woman of dreams, Waltheof realizes that she is not as wonderful as she originally appeared. After many turbulent years of marriage and children, Judith eventually makes a decision that seals Waltheof's fate. As their daughter Matlida grows, she desperately wants to avoid the situation her parents ended up in.

This is a wonderfully written book with great descriptions and details and good character development. Chadwick really excels at making the past come alive for the reader in her descriptions of all things in the medieval world. Surprisingly, there really are no "villains" in the story, just some really annoying and arrogant people (Judith's mother for one). Waltheof is honorable and quite likable though his one weakness, his inability to think before he acts, lands him in trouble again and again. Sometimes I just wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up. Judith starts out as a character I could feel a bit sorry and cheer for because of what she puts up with from her mother. She appears to be a loving, kind-hearted girl who just wants to find love - until she and Waltheof marry. This is where my rating on the book began to drop. Once married, Judith morphs into a horrid, shrewish person I wished Waltheof would slap some sense into (or just slap for that matter). Her constant arrogance over her Norman blood being better than Waltheof's English really made me dislike her. The unending scorn she held for the Simon de Senlis, the boy Waltheof saved, was really irritating as she felt he kept showing up just to make her feel guilty about the part she played in it. She really turned into her mother. It was hard for me to comprehend how someone could change so drastically and so quickly. After her roll in Waltheof's downfall I had absolutely no pity or sympathy left for her. At this point I was a bit confused because the story switches and focuses on Waltheof and Judith's daughter, Matilda. While this was a complete change and not what I was expecting from the book, Matilda's story was enjoyable to read. The whole episode dealing with her marriage to a friend of her father's, just to get away from her mother was priceless (and I liked seeing Judith get what was coming to her). It was interesting to see how she matured and tried to avoid the mistakes her mother made.

This was a good story, as usual, from Elizabeth Chadwick but not one of my favorites. The change in Judith's character was a huge swing that left me scratching my head a bit. The chemistry between her and Waltheof was so wonderful to read about in the beginning but then it just disappeared. I really loved reading about Waltheof and hated the way he was treated by the woman he loved. The switch in the focus of the story was a bit of a shock as well, though Matilda's story was interesting to read. Those two issues though are what brought my overall rating down on this book.

Teaser Tuesday

TT is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Last Kingdom, Bernard Cornwell

I already knew what we would do; perhaps I had always known.

I am an Englishman of England, but I had been a Dane while Ragnar was alive for Ragnar loved me and cared for me and called me his son, but Ragnar was dead and I had no other friends among the Danes.

This Day in History...

January 26, 1788 - A fleet of British ships, carrying convicts, arrived at the colony of New South Wales. This is basically the founding of Australia.

Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists!!


Only have one to share this week!




The White Boar, Marian Palmer
Thank you Lynn for sending this to me! I can't wait to read it! I am always happy to get my hands on a novel about Richard III!! This one was published in the late 60's I believe so it will be interesting to see the author's take on Richard.

Book Review: O, Juliet

O, Juliet, Robin Maxwell
4 roses

I have been chomping at the bit to post my full review of this marvelous book! Robin Maxwell's newest masterpiece will be released on February 2 so make plans to run (yes run) out to pick this one up. You will be glad that you did!

Maxwell's newest novel is a fascinating look at Romeo and Juliet's story without the Shakespearean language. Let me say first that this is NOT a retelling of Shakespeare's play but rather a look at what really "might have been." The basic storyline is the same but everything else is told in much more detail with some slight changes to help the story along. As Shakespeare based his famous play off several Medieval love stories, Maxwell also used those in her research for this novel. There is a wonderful blend of the familiar story mixed with marvelous details of the time period which I feel really help immerse the reader in the story. Maxwell fills in all the details that Shakespeare's play leaves out: customs, traditions, business practices, treatment and status of women, etc. These details really help separate this novel from the play. Where as the play is really just the love story between two teenagers Maxwell's novel is really a look at the lives of these two young adults and the events in the world around them.

There are recognizable characters though some may have different names and different personalities (for instance the rather quiet, meek Paris becomes Jacapo Strozzi, a truly malicious and despicable man). I really enjoyed the characterization of Romeo and Juliet in this novel. Romeo is portrayed as a sensitive but energetic young man who loves Juliet not just for her beauty but for her intellect and passions as well. Juliet is a feisty young woman who is educated, has a sense of adventure, and is quite determined to go after what she wants. It was wonderful to see the two as individual people with other issues in their lives rather than a pair of moon-struck teenagers. Our two protagonists are also in their late teens here which makes their feelings for each other seem much more real and staying, rather than a teenage crush. Maxwell really outdid herself with her portrayals of these two famous characters.

Besides familiar characters, there are familiar events in the novel, though the way they come about or the outcome may be different. I really enjoyed the way Juliet managed to get away in order to marry Romeo. We get a better look at why there is a feud between the Capelletti and the Monticecco and Romeo is even able to negotiate a truce between the two. It was wonderful to see that a relationship between the two could have been possible at this point, as the two families were able to "make friends." Jacapo, Juliet's bethrothed, is really the catalyst that causes all the friction and problems between the two families. He really is a loathsome creature. It is his influence that really puts pressure on the couple as the story nears its climax and I was eager to see what Maxwell's resolution to the situation would be. I will not give away the ending but it was quite emotional.

This is a very fun, entertaining, and fast read. Shakespeare's basic story is really embellished and filled out with wonderful detail. It will really hold your attention! I would recommend this to anyone: Shakespeare buffs, romance fans, general readers. Please head over and see my interview with Ms. Maxwell and stayed tuned...there may be a giveaway!!

This Day in History...

January 25, 1327 - Edward III acceded to the English throne.

January 25, 1533 - King Henry VIII secretly married Anne Boleyn. She had discovered ten days earlier that she was pregnant.

January 25, 1554 - Sir Thomas Wyatt gathered an army in Kent to start his rebellion against Queen Mary. The rebellion failed and he was executed on 11th April.

This Day in History...

January 22, 1788 - The future poet George Gordon Byron, better known as Lord Byron, was born in London.

January 22, 1901 - Queen Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. She was 81. Her reign lasting 63 years was the longest in British history.

This Day in History...

January 21, 1549 - Parliament passed the first of four Acts of Uniformity. The first Act required the exclusive use of the Book of Common Prayer in all public services of the Anglican Church.

This Day in History...

January 20, 1265 - The first Parliament met at Westminster Hall in London, convened by Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester. Montfort would later be killed in battle and considered a traitor.


*You can read more about Montfort in Sharon Kay Penman's Falls the Shadow, the second book in her Welsh Trilogy.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Her Mother's Daughter, Julianne Lee

Though Mary disliked the execution of so close a relative as her cousin, it might be unavoidable, for Mary had learned well from her father to beware of those with blood ties too close to the Crown.

"With all due respect, Your Grace, the entire congregation rose against your priest, he angered them so with his attacks on their faith. I feel Your Grace may be underestimating the determination of Protestants to remain on their chosen path."

Book Review: Hugh and Bess

Hugh and Bess, Susan Higginbotham
5 roses

After reading The Traitor's Wife last year I have been eagerly awaiting the time when I could read more of Ms. Higginbotham's novels. Once I started reading this one I could not put it down and I finished it in less than a day. This one comes next in chronological order after TW, telling the story of Hugh le Despenser the younger's son, Hugh, and his young wife Elizabeth de Montacute.

Bess is over ten years younger than Hugh and not happy that she is to marry the son of an executed traitor. I couldn't be annoyed with Bess about her attitude toward Hugh in the beginning as all she had heard about this man's family was horrible; it was only to be expected that she would not want to marry into a family with that kind of past. As the story starts when she is quite young we really get to watch her grow and mature. Hugh is easily likable and it was really touching to see how careful and patient he was with his young bride. He has a wonderful sense of humor and his comments about his own family's past are priceless. I loved watching how they came to truly love one another. It is easy to sympathize with each and still be able to place blame on both of them in their one "big argument." They are both stubborn and opinionated people but neither have any real horrible character flaws. I have to say though that Hugh was my favorite side of that pair. While there is plenty of history thrown into the mix, the real "star" is the love story between the two. I was almost in tears reading about the coming of the Black Death and those that suffered from it.

This really was an interesting look at many people not usually focused on in history or historical fiction. The major players in the events of the time are certainly mentioned but they do not play a leading roll in the story, which is refreshing; its always nice to read about new people. Higginbotham is a wonderful writer and she had me hooked from the start; I kept wanting to turn the pages, eager to find out what happened next. The novel is excellently written with very interesting characters and great plot/story development and is an easy read. Like Sharon Kay Penman, Higginbotham manages to blend fiction with well researched history seamlessly but manages to keep the reader from getting bogged down in too much detail. It is always nice to read really good historical fiction where the author hasn't changed or altered too much history to suit their own story needs. So much of this history is so fascinating and intriguing already; it doesn't really need any more drama thrown in!

I would certainly recommend this to any readers (even readers that enjoy romance). If you have read her first novel, make sure to pick this one up.

This Day in History...

January 19, 1544 - Francis II, King of France was born. He was Mary, Queen of Scots' first husband.

January 19, 1547 - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was beheaded at the Tower of London, for high treason. His father, the Duke of Norfolk, was spared by the death of Henry VIII.

New O, Juliet Love Games Competition!!

As we're another week closer to the release of Robin Maxwell's new novel, she has posted another competition on her blog and this one is pretty cool!

Head over to the O, Juliet site to check out the new poetry contest! The winners will receive, among other things, an awesome leather bound, Renaissance style journal.

This Day in History...

January 18, 1486 - Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV. After 30 years of civil war the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York were united.

Jean Plaidy Challenge 2010

One of my favorite authors of historical fiction is Jean Plaidy. Some of her Queens of England series really solidified my love of this genre.

Arleigh and Lucy over at Plaidy's Royal Intrigue have a wonderful challenge starting now and running though the end of the year, full of fun and giveaways. Head over to the blog and check out all the details and sign up!


The levels you can join at:

LEVELS:
Ms. Carr: read 6 Books
Ms. Holt: read 8 Books
Grand Plaidy Lady: Over 12 books

At the end of the year, 1 winner will be picked from each level.

I will be aiming for the Ms. Holt level, though I may change that as the year progresses!