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Four Sisters, All Queens

by Sherry Jones (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 736 ratings · 126 reviews

Rich in intrigue and scheming, love and lust, Sherry Jones’s vibrant historical novel follows four women destined to sway the fate of nations and the hearts of kings. . . . Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious moth...more

Paperback, 434 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Gallery Books

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Oct 11, 2012 Jemidar rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: buddy-reads-with-anna, historical-fiction, culled

DNF.

Got just over a quarter of a way through this and couldn't take anymore. It's full of walking cliches rather than characters and way too many modern sensibilities & attitudes for anyone to believe it is taking place in medieval times. Any historical event or place mentioned merely acts as backdrop or wallpaper and was obviously not well researched. There's more but I will leave my list of gripes here as I really don't feel like investing anymore time and effort in this ridiculous novel.

I...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Rio (Lynne) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

3.5 Stars. Sherry Jones takes on the intricate story of four sisters from Provence who become Queens in the 13th century. Marguerite, Queen of France. Eleonore, Queen of England, Sanchia, Queen of Germany and Beatrice, Queen of Sicily. After reading Penman's Falls the Shadow, I wanted to learn more about Eleonore. When the The Sister Queens came out I was excited. Sadly, it was pure fluff. Then I saw Jones' version and was hoping for more grit and history. The book started a little slow for me....more 3.5 Stars. Sherry Jones takes on the intricate story of four sisters from Provence who become Queens in the 13th century. Marguerite, Queen of France. Eleonore, Queen of England, Sanchia, Queen of Germany and Beatrice, Queen of Sicily. After reading Penman's Falls the Shadow, I wanted to learn more about Eleonore. When the The Sister Queens came out I was excited. Sadly, it was pure fluff. Then I saw Jones' version and was hoping for more grit and history. The book started a little slow for me. Instead of just showing us the actions of the characters, Jones added dialogue to show us how tough they were. Example, their Mom kept calling them her sons, because they were raised to be educated and to be queens. Most HF fans know how rare education was for women, especially in the 13th century, so we could tell by their actions they weren't weak. After Eleonore marries Henry, I see this isn't going to be the boring, ridiculous love story like the Sister Queens where Henry paints Eleonore's room at The Tower of London with flowers. Jones gives us the real story. We see how her family (the foreigners) cause tension taking land and titles. Jones' takes us through the Simon de Montfort years and how the people hated Eleonore. With Marguerite, we see what a fanatic Louis was with Christianity. How his mother Blanche made her life hell and didn't let her fully be the Queen of France. Beatrice marries Louis' brother Charles and Jones takes us through the Crusades. I won't tell you a lot due to spoiler alerts, but the war in Damietta was my favorite. Back in England Sanchia marries Richard. She is the weakest of the sisters and even though there isn't much known about her except the basics, I feel Jones take on Sanchia was believable. If you want to learn about the sisters, this book overall is pretty accurate. Taking on the sister's tale couldn't have been an easy task. Lots of history for a book, but I believe Jones did a great job covering the important marks. I also enjoyed the humor surrounding Louis IX and his "Saintly" missions (all true by the way.) My only complaints where how at times Marguerite seemed too modern. I wasn't there, but I believe even though she had animosity towards Blanche and Louis over their extremism on religion, I'm sure she was just as Catholic. Secondly, there were no author's notes.
Marguerite

Eleonore

Sanchia and Richard

Beatrice
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Aug 07, 2012 Sherry rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

From Publishers Weekly: "Jones’s excellent new historical (after the prequel, White Heart) reimagines the world of 13th-century Europe and the dramatic true story of four sisters who each became queens. Their influential mother, Beatrice of Savoy and countess of Provence, arranges even before the girls’ births to wed them to powerful men in an effort to ensure the safety of her beloved homeland, which has long been the object of desire of warring parties. Marguerite marries King Louis IX of Fran...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Cathie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-rc-goal

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fascinating portrayal of the four sisters! I enjoyed the emotional characterization of their personalities – the dynamics amongst themselves, their parents, their husbands, their children, their in-laws.

Their mother states family comes first, family is everything. Throughout the novel, the angst at times of each sisters' test of familial loyalty - their husbands and children (immediate family) vs. their sisters and extended family first. And poor Beatrice!

Th...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Erin Al-Mehairi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Here is full review on my blog, or a partial below the link:

http://hookofabook.wordpress.com/2012...

Review:

If you love historical fiction as much as I do, more than likely it’s because it takes you away to a new place, a new world, and a new time. The BEST historical fiction novels are so phenomenally written with intricate details, robust characters, lush scenery, and have a way of really making you feel the passion behind the novel. Four Sisters, All Queens, a novel by Sherry Jones about four...more

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Dec 28, 2012 L'aura rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

The idea of this book is great, and I'm sure a lot of research went into it. The cover is luscious...and then I opened it: BIG deception.

At the beginning, the dialogue was extremely boring "tattlings" amongst petulant little girls, with no real feelings attached, only extreme sibling rivalry. Ok, I told myself, they're little girls, surely this will improve. As the novel progressed, MANY family members are introduced and quite a bit of historical data is inserted, yet the characters never showe...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Shelly Benson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a good book to read after having read Falls the Shadow. The reversal of protagonists and point of view between the 2 books was interesting. I also liked the different narration by the different sisters' points of view. I can't wait to read more on these fascinating sisters!

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Jul 10, 2012 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, it was a slow start but by the end it was a page turner. The characters are wonderful and I love this time period so I was enjoyable all around for me. If you enjoy historical fiction I highly recommend this book.

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Jul 30, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Four Sisters, All Queens tells the tales of the four daughters of Ramon, Count of Provence and his wife, Beatrice of Savoy. Raised more like sons the daughters were educated which was highly unusual in a time period when women were considered nothing more that chattel. All were considered beautiful and important marriages were in their futures.

The book belongs mostly to two of the daughters, Marguerite and Eléonore since they married Louis IX of France and Henry III of England respectively. The...more Four Sisters, All Queens tells the tales of the four daughters of Ramon, Count of Provence and his wife, Beatrice of Savoy. Raised more like sons the daughters were educated which was highly unusual in a time period when women were considered nothing more that chattel. All were considered beautiful and important marriages were in their futures.

The book belongs mostly to two of the daughters, Marguerite and Eléonore since they married Louis IX of France and Henry III of England respectively. These two were close as children and despite the machinations of their husbands and in Marguerite's case, her mother in law, they for the most part remained close. There were some bumps in the road as France and England were at war with each other and while history does not record it so, it is not so hard to imagine that it was the efforts of the sisters that finally brought peace between the nations after so many years.

Eleonore married Henry III of England at a time when Henry was trying to hard to recover what his father John had lost in the wars with France. The country was broke and suffering and yet he was more concerned with regaining lands overseas. His barons were rebelling and Henry was doling out benefits to his half brothers and giving positions to Eleonore's family. It's far to complicated to go into in this short review but it was not a fun time in English history. It was about the closest the monarchy came to disappearing at any time prior to the Commonwealth period later in history.

Beatrice and Sanchia play minor but significant roles as they too are married to wealthy and powerful men of the time. Sanchia, from all reports the most beautiful of the sisters is married to King Henry's brother, Richard. He is one of the richest men in the world and he longs now for power. He finally achieves that when he is elected King of Germany with the help of well placed bribes. Beatrice marries Alfonse, Louis IX's brother and he buys his way to the title of King of Sicily. Not as much is left to history about these two.

Ms. Jones does a good job of weaving history with fiction to write a fascinating story of four women who lived in a time when they should have been unremarked yet they left their mark on their times. It should also be remembered that they were 12, 13, 15 or around those ages when they went off to these marriages. I must say that I am happy I live now. But I digress. Ms. Jones brought the lives of the four Queens to life and injected four distinct personalities into the mix. It's just a shame that there is not more of these fascinating women left to us. For now we will jsut have to enjoy works like this.
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May 22, 2012 Aubrie Dionne rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Rich Tapestry of Courtly Duty, Political Intrigue, and the Fight for Ultimate Power

Four Queens, All Sisters weaves the stories of four young girls all married off to Kings and other powerful men to secure their family’s stronghold in Provence, France. In planning these unions, their mother hopes they will hold family above all, but the very unions she arranges threaten to tear the sisters apart.

I loved this book, and I don’t read much historical fiction. I’d always thought of how wonderful it...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historical-fiction

Marguerite, Eleonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice are all sisters and all queens. They all knew from very young ages that they would be married off to men who could increase their family's prestige and power. Talk about pressure. I'm not sure that I could function under that much pressure; I guess it's a good thing that I live now and not in those days. The fact that all four of these women become queens is fascinating.

Being one of three girls, I'm always fascinated with sister stories. That is a real...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novel about the four sisters if Provence. I read 'Sister Queens' by Sophie Perinot, based upon Marguerite of France and Eleanor of England, and it really sparked my interest. I enjoyed this novel just as much, although it was rather different.
This novel also encompasses the point of view of Beatrice and of Sanchia, the other two sisters, giving a much wider perspective. I especially enjoyed the character development of Beatrice, as Ms Jones gave interesting insight as to why Beatr...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Lisa Yarde rated it 5 of 5 stars

Marguerite, queen consort of France. Eleonore, queen consort of England. Sanchia, queen consort of Germany. Beatrice, queen consort of Sicily. Four remarkable women made even more so by their sisterhood and the struggles each faced. Author Sherry Jones reveals deep-seated rivalries and startling secrets about the sisters and their courtly lives in the medieval world of Four Sisters, All Queens.

Despite their shared heritage as the children of Count Ramon Berenguer of Provence and Beatrice of Savo...more Marguerite, queen consort of France. Eleonore, queen consort of England. Sanchia, queen consort of Germany. Beatrice, queen consort of Sicily. Four remarkable women made even more so by their sisterhood and the struggles each faced. Author Sherry Jones reveals deep-seated rivalries and startling secrets about the sisters and their courtly lives in the medieval world of Four Sisters, All Queens.

Despite their shared heritage as the children of Count Ramon Berenguer of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy, Marguerite, Eleonore, Sanchia and Beatrice, have anything but an idyllic existence. Constant warfare with the neighboring county of Toulouse means poor nourishment, threadbare clothes and hand-me-downs, and the possibility that their father Ramon’s days as count are numbered. Beatrice of Savoy is determined her children will escape their circumstances by marrying well, a scheme the two eldest sisters heartily endorse. Marguerite marries the pious Louis of France, whose mother Blanche will not surrender her power to a young queen. Blanche continually disrupts Marguerite’s expected role as Louis’ consort at court and even intrudes on their privacy in the couple’s bedchamber. Eleonore’s marriage to Henry III of England would fare better than her elder sister’s own, if not for Henry’s jealous courtiers. Many of the English barons, including members of Henry’s family, comically refer to Eleonore as an interfering “foreigner” despite their own dual heritages across the Channel.

The younger sisters Sanchia and Beatrice fare little better. The devout Sanchia, for whom beauty is curse, looks for an escape from Raymond of Toulouse’s eager attentions. Her elder sisters and mother invent a timely rescue, beguiling King Henry’s brother Richard of Cornwall into thinking he has fallen in love with a woman as vivacious as Beatrice of Savoy, when he marries Sanchia. Beatrice seems the happiest in her union with Louis’ brother Charles, if only Blanche’s schemes to claim Provence for France and the sudden death of Beatrice’s father hadn’t forced her into the marriage. Unlike Sanchia, Beatrice has always felt like an interloper among her siblings. Charles’s machinations force her to choose between love for her sisters or her husband, ensuring the permanence of a long-standing feud with Marguerite and Eleonore’s bitterness over rival claims to Sicily. It’s heartbreaking to witness how easily each of the sisters forgets their mother’s chief admonition: family first, when it comes to each other.

The author takes readers on a mad dash between rival courts in France and England, and the German court, where Sanchia enjoys a brief reign. If I could find any fault with this novel, I wish it had been longer. Jones has created multifaceted characters with distinct personalities, flaws and triumphs. Marguerite’s strong personality emerges despite all of her mother in-law’s attempts to subdue her. Eleonore is perhaps even bolder like her elder sister, often thwarting her husband the king and his courtiers. While Sanchia’s demure nature seems subdued compared with Marguerite and Eleonore, her endurance against steady trials at her husband’s side reveal an inner strength to rival that of her sisters. Beatrice’s personality matches that of her two elder sisters, but she fosters the same compassion one might feel for Sanchia, as both endure unions with men who ride roughshod over their wives’ wishes and sympathies. It’s a testament to Jones’ natural talent that she can explore the vast history of the period with obvious passion and interest, yet leave a reader wanting to know more. (less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Suzan Tisdale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Four Sisters, All Queens follows the lives of four women from 13th Century Europe. They are the daughters of Beatrice of Savoy, Provance, France. The story follows the lives of Marguerite, Queen of France, Eleonore, Queen of England, Sanchia, Queen of Germany, and Beatrice, Queen of Sicily. This is a beautifully written novel and cannot be considered your ‘typical’ historical romance. There are no damsels in distress, no knights in shining armor rushing in to save the day. There is no regency se...more Four Sisters, All Queens follows the lives of four women from 13th Century Europe. They are the daughters of Beatrice of Savoy, Provance, France. The story follows the lives of Marguerite, Queen of France, Eleonore, Queen of England, Sanchia, Queen of Germany, and Beatrice, Queen of Sicily. This is a beautifully written novel and cannot be considered your ‘typical’ historical romance. There are no damsels in distress, no knights in shining armor rushing in to save the day. There is no regency setting with coming out balls. But, this is a romance novel nonetheless.

Unique is one word I would use to describe this book. Unique in that while I read this beautifully written story, I was learning something. Ms. Jones does a remarkable job at teaching you about the public lives of these women while taking you into their personal, behind-the-throne lives. You might ask ‘where is the romance’? Its there, trust me, and on a level I can honestly say I’m not used to. While there are no heaving bosoms, no throws of passion, this is a story about how and why these women come love these men, their kings, their husbands.

Family first is their motto. Ms. Jones does a remarkable job showing what that means to each woman. She shows what each gives up in order to help their husbands and their children. Sacrifice, political intrigue, romance, murder plots all intertwined together to leave you admiring these strong women. And they are strong. Ms. Jones has a way of describing a scene, right down to the lavish meals and rich clothing, without droning on and on. There are no boring, lets skip past this moments in the book. I honestly could not put it down.

Captivating, breathtaking, splendid, those are just a few words to describe this wonderfully written novel. The heat level is a 0, but trust me when I say this book doesn’t require heaving bosoms and throws of passion in the traditional sense. Ms. Jones shows you the love, adoration and passion between the queens and their kings, but in a very exceptional and exquisite way. You’ll just have to read it to understand what I mean!(less)

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May 12, 2012 Stacie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, first-reads, historical-fiction, plantagenet-related

I received this book through the Goodreads First-Reads giveaway.

I don't know much about old monarchies. The Tudors are about as far as I go. And thanks to Philipa Gregory, I'm starting to know more about The War of the Roses, which is a little older than the Tudors. And I know very little about the Crusades and Richard the Lionheart (even older still). So for me, "Four Sisters, All Queens" was actually quite informative because this novel fell between everything that I kind of already know.

The n...more I received this book through the Goodreads First-Reads giveaway.

I don't know much about old monarchies. The Tudors are about as far as I go. And thanks to Philipa Gregory, I'm starting to know more about The War of the Roses, which is a little older than the Tudors. And I know very little about the Crusades and Richard the Lionheart (even older still). So for me, "Four Sisters, All Queens" was actually quite informative because this novel fell between everything that I kind of already know.

The novel basically follows the four sisters of Provence: Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia. and Beatrice who all eventually become queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily. Marguerite and Eleanor are the basic focus of the book and the two sisters alive by the end, while Sanchia and Beatrice are more side characters (they both don't start getting their own chapters until probably a good 25% of the book is done). With each sister, we are giving a brief account of their childhood and then how they are married off to their husbands. With Marguerite and Eleanor, it seems like the first half of their stories primarily deal with them having all their children, whereas Sanchia and Beatrice (because they are not heavily focused on) head straight on into other plots involving their relationships with their husbands. I think the best parts of the book come when Mari and Elli (their mother's nicknames for them) travel to Egypt and face all sorts of turmoil. For Sanchia, the highlight of her story in her husband's affair with a Jewess and the murder that follows, which in turn leads to a shocking conclusion later in the book that Sanchia was poisoned by the woman's jealous husband out of revenge. Poor Beatrice is sort of left out of things, and she's really used more for plot purposes than actually given anything personally for herself.

Overall, I really quite enjoyed this book. It had a somewhat slow beginning. Like I said, the parts with Egypt were exciting and that's where the book finally gets going. I thought I'd get confused with the narrative of four sisters, but Sherry Jones totally makes it work. Each sister has a distinct personality and each narrative is easy to follow and to get into.(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Angie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, read2012

I think I would actually give this 2.5 stars. It had some good moments, but nothing I didn't already know. It's a fictionalization of their actual stories. While rooted in some historical fact, the author most certainly took liberties, as is with most historical fiction.

If you want the real story, read Four Queens by Nancy Goldstone.

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Jun 11, 2012 Sasha rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m not very familiar with early modern European history, particularly that which includes women (as history rarely devoted time to women back then). I don’t typically read historical fiction because, for the most part, I find it rather tedious. This book took on the perspective of the four Provençal sisters, Beatrice, Sanchia, Eléonore, and Marguerite, who each became queens of Italy, Germany, England, and France, respectively. Since I’ve never even heard of these sisters before and I had never...more I’m not very familiar with early modern European history, particularly that which includes women (as history rarely devoted time to women back then). I don’t typically read historical fiction because, for the most part, I find it rather tedious. This book took on the perspective of the four Provençal sisters, Beatrice, Sanchia, Eléonore, and Marguerite, who each became queens of Italy, Germany, England, and France, respectively. Since I’ve never even heard of these sisters before and I had never read any historical fiction that focused on this time period, Four Sisters struck my interest. With Sherry Jones’ elegant prose and vivacious character portraits, it managed to keep said interest throughout most of the book.

Jones manages to make a subject that can be potentially boring an easily accessible read. The setup was well done, and I really got a feel for the political and social climate at the time. The towering castles, the sprawing countryside, the balls and the courtly intrigue were each touched upon in turn, without becoming dull. While I found the social norms of the time rather grating—particularly the mindset regarding women and how they are just pretty objects with no brains or power—I liked that all four sisters at one point or another managed to prove otherwise, showing that it is truly the queen who is the quiet strength behind a royal family.

Jones also had the difficult task of trying to portray four historical figures about whom very little is known. I found the two youngest sisters annoying at different points, especially the naïve and meek Sanchia. However, the older sisters made up for the younger ones with their maturity, wit, and use of cleverness to stay afloat in the world of politics and betrayal at court. The relationship between the sisters was also a driving force in the novel, and a focal point which I found compelling. It’s difficult enough to become a queen of a country and marry a stranger… but to have a sister whose country is feuding with your own is even worse. Where do you draw the line between protecting family and committing treason? Four Sisters raised an important question: who should you serve first: country? Or kin?

Even immediately after reading the book, I don’t really recall the historical events that took place all too well. I suppose that is Four Sisters’ greatest weakness—the historical events that took place during the sisters’ reigns were not recounted in a compelling-enough way to keep my interest. Also, the girls’ husbands were terrible. I know that was probably how they had acted in real life, but it was rather painful to read about how neglected, abused, and usurped these sisters were by their husbands and the other men (and some women) in their lives. I kept waiting for them to stand up for themselves, but then I had to remind myself that that was not the way things were done in the 1200s.

Four Sisters was an interesting fictional insight into a remarkable family and the sisters who ruled the world for a time. At the very least, it succeeded in making me curious enough about the Provençal sisters to read more about them when the opportunity presents itself. Historical fiction lovers, this one is definitely for you. Between the clandestine romances, heaving bodices, courtly drama, and extensive historical research, this book presents an entertaining imagining of these queens, first and foremost sisters.

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For more book reviews, visit my blog The Bookshelf!(less)

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Nov 10, 2012 Cynthia Haggard rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is hard enough to write a novel with one or two protagonists. It is extremely hard to write biographical fiction. But when you put the two together and write biographical fiction about four main characters, as Sherry Jones did in her novel FOUR SISTERS ALL QUEENS, you have given yourself an almost impossible job.

Sherry Jones solves the problem of the four protagonists by circling among these women as their different stories unfold. The first half to two-thirds of the novel is extremely well-d...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Miss Melly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-faves, historical-fiction

Ms Jones does a fantastic job of capturing the sister's relationships to their mother, their husbands and each other. Each chapter changes from one sister to another - yet you never resent leaving one sister to explore the life of the next. I loved every minute of this book.
A first-class novel.

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Aug 17, 2012 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, history-medeval-european-british-en, the-royal-challenge

Want to read a great historical novel about someone other than the Tudors or Plantagenets? Have you already read six time six novels of all Henry VII's wives? Read Four Sisters, All Queens about the Savoy family of Provence with the four daughters, Marguerite, Eleanore, Sanchia, and Beatrice. Don't dare call any of them The Other Savoy Girl.

Each would go on to be Queen in her own right of France, England, Germany, and Sicily. The pageantry and pomp is on display. Not far away though, is the tedi...more Want to read a great historical novel about someone other than the Tudors or Plantagenets? Have you already read six time six novels of all Henry VII's wives? Read Four Sisters, All Queens about the Savoy family of Provence with the four daughters, Marguerite, Eleanore, Sanchia, and Beatrice. Don't dare call any of them The Other Savoy Girl.

Each would go on to be Queen in her own right of France, England, Germany, and Sicily. The pageantry and pomp is on display. Not far away though, is the tedium, treachery and catastrophe. The four sisters stay close despite the clashing national interests of their respective, royal husbands. Like real life there is the tragic rift that is borne out of the greatest love and loyalty.

What of the royal husbands? You'll find no Fabio models in 50 Shades of Grey or epic ogres. All are rendered in a realistic manner. You are in turn exasperated, resigned, and sometimes loathing of them. You also could say,"I could make an accommodation with this guy."

Sherry Jones has driven home the fact that medieval royal marriage was a state obligation. It had no fairy tale overtones. The wife's position was precarious if she did not bear sons. It was easy to put aside a "barren" wife. There was the double standard of winking at a husband's mistresses but demanding the wife be above reproach. For a woman to challenge those tenets brought blackmail and death to two of the sisters.

You can admire and even marvel how each of the sisters performed diplomacy and statecraft between two European superpowers and left both French and English Kings happy.

I like the Historical fiction of Phillipa Gregory, Susan Higganbotham, Sharon Kay Penman, Anya Seton, Jean Plaidy and many others. I shall have to add Sherry Jones to my list.

Historical fiction seems to start with Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II with maybe Richard the Lion Hearted thrown in. Then it leap frogs to Edward III-Henry V-The Wars of the Roses, and then the Tudors. Edward I and the Edward II? Bad kings that killed William Wallace say the brainwashed Braveheart crowd. Henry III? Who?

It is good that novelists Sherry Jones and Susan Higganbotham are doing justice to these nobles. I will also read

Four Queens: The Provençal Sisters Who Ruled Europe , The Three Edwards, andThe Magnificent Century.

So, everyone read and enjoy!(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical fiction lovers

Shelves: france, historical-fiction, plantagenent-england

A middle ages book set around 1233-1273 that I didn't want to put down. While I have read several books set in the middle ages this is the first I remember from this time period. I will be looking for more from this time period especially about the main characters. Marguerite, Eleonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice from Provence. Their mother raised them to be leaders and that family comes first. Their Savoy uncle promised to make queens of them all. This book is about their marriages, struggles of fam...more

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May 23, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Four Sisters, all Queens” is the story of Marguerite, Elenore, Sanchia and Beatrice. The story follows the sisters from childhood, to their challenges of being Queens while trying to stay true and loyal to their Savoy family. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a time period of which I was very unfamiliar with (usually more of a Tudor reader). Sherry Jones did a marvelous job of sharing the story of this powerful family with the reader from the point of view of all four sister...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Cel Jel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book, for the story line carries you along. The fact that the four sisiters were married for political reasons, and lived very different lives, with very different husbands was well portrayed in the book. The complexity of relationships in families were shown, with one sister only receiving kudos post mortem by her others, once they relised her sacrifice for them.
There was only one hiccup to my enjoyment, the use of a word in a way that I thought did not match the situati...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Lcitera rated it 4 of 5 stars

Historical fiction set in 13th century Provence. Well researched. The saga of four sisters who are bartered into political alliances under the cover of marriages. Throw in the Crusades and an evil mother, an assortment of in laws that redefine dysfunctional and religious fervor...it all makes for an informative and good read. The plethora of historical events are cleverly written as chapters that focus on one sister at a time...often we see an event via the perspective of all four Queens. Diffic...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Sherry Jones' Four Sisters All Queens through Goodreads, and I am so glad that I did because it was such an engaging novel. Jones brings to life the four Savoy sisters who each helped to shape thirteenth century Europe. I really liked how Jones alternated the points of view to give the reader an emotional connection to each sister. These alternated points of view allowed the reader to see all sides of the conflict that came between these sisters due to circums...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although some of the language was immature and you occasionally run across phrases that seem historically out-of-place, overall it was an enjoyable light read. The characters are vivid and engaging, really coming to life from the pages. I enjoy complex stories being told from different points of view. Full of scheming and betrayal, the story manages to remain clear and not get lost in a tangle of twists and turns. It is a creative exercise, focusing mainly on the imagined emotional lives and inn...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Ravin Maurice rated it 4 of 5 stars

While it took me a while to get into this book, once I did I could not put it down.
This book is the story of the four daughters of Beatrice of Savoy; Marguerite, Eleonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice. And they are four very different women with very different paths, but all interesting stories. Written in alternating chapters from their four perspectives, with an introduction by their mother, this is a very complex and rich book. The lush descriptive details and characters personalities made this boo...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Connie Morrison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sherry Jones has done it again! The author of the wonderful “Jewel of Medina” has woven a rich, historic tapestry of 13th century European royalty with the Savoy family passions at the epicenter. Ms. Jones’ lush detail and strong female characters lead the reader through the turbulent politics of Europe as seen through the eyes of four sisters who all ruled as queens. Rarely have I read such elegant descriptive passages imbued with such an abundance of sumptuous detail and opulent dialogue. I st...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Quinby6696 Frank rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am so addicted to good historical fiction! This is my third book about the endlessly fascinating daughters of Ramon Berenger, Count of Provence. In the 13th century Marguerite became Queen of France, Eleanor became Queen of England, Sanchia Queen of Germany (the Holy Roman Empire), and Beatrice became Queen of Sicily. Three of the four went on Crusade. Jones' vibrant writing brings these amazing women and their time to life. Skip the tedious Reading Group Guide" at the end. These things are re...more

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May 18, 2013 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother—and to abide by the countess’s motto: “Family comes first.”

With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite’s illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Eléonore—independent and daring—is betrothed to He...more "Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother—and to abide by the countess’s motto: “Family comes first.”

With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite’s illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Eléonore—independent and daring—is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens.

Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite’s duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers—Provence itself."- Amazon.ca

My thoughts on "Four Sisters, All Queens."
First, I just couldn't put this book down! Sherry Jones transports the reader into the lives of four sisters in 13th century Europe. Jones also manages to tell the story of all four women in a 400+ page book by focusing on what she feels are the most important events of the lives of each woman. However, it never feels rushed and the storyline is paced well. These sisters were never boring and dealt with many issues that women today struggle with- family loyalty, sibling rivalries, monstrous in-laws etc. Most of the book focuses on the two eldest sisters, Marguerite and Eleonore( I'm not complaining because these women are fantastic characters.) Sanchia and Beatrice make their entrances at the right time and place-when they reach marriageable age.

These sisters were really at the mercy of their mother, Beatrice of Savoy, who dreamed of having her daughters( apparently, she often referred to them as " boys" when they were little) sit on the thrones of mighty kings, in order to help her own family's interest. This makes the Savoys sound much like the Boelyns and the Seymours of the Tudor era.

I would have to say that Eleanore, Queen of England, wife of Henry III and mother of Edward I was my favorite character. I loved her take charge attitude even if it cost her the admiration of her people and her king at various instances in her adult life. I also enjoyed how Jones brings out the inner conflict Eleanore often faced with her relationships with people versus Henry's way of dealing with things. For those readers that may be interested to learn more about Simon de Montfort and his rebellious ways, check out "Falls the Shadow" by Sharon Kay Penman.

Sanchia, Queen of the Romans( Germany) and wife of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, was my least favorite. Of course, her greatest ambition was to be a bride of Christ and not to be a queen. She also seems to be the sister that suffers from the worst "daddy issues" in the book. In reality, Richard was no Jesus!

Certainly one of my favorite books in the historical fiction genre and I will definitely be re-reading this book in the future.(less)

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About Sherry Jones

Sherry Jones is an American journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial "The Jewel of Medina" and other historical fiction novels about women's power. She is also a speaker on issues including women's rights, free speech, and Islamophobia.

Her forthcoming novels from Simon and Schuster Gallery Books continue her tradition of exploring the obstacles women have long faced...more Sherry Jones is an American journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial "The Jewel of Medina" and other historical fiction novels about women's power. She is also a speaker on issues including women's rights, free speech, and Islamophobia.

Her forthcoming novels from Simon and Schuster Gallery Books continue her tradition of exploring the obstacles women have long faced in our efforts to reach our highest potential in a patriarchal world.

"White Heart," debuting as an e-novella April 3, tells the tale of Blanche de Castille, the legendary White Queen of France, who braved sieges, scandal and heartache to protect the Crown from usurpers for her young son, King Louis IX (Saint Louis). The novella is a prequel to:

"Four Sisters, All Queens," about four sisters in 13th century Provence -- Margeurite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provence, who became queens of France, England, Germany, and Italy.

Jones became the center of a national controversy in the summer of 2008 after Random House cancelled publication of her historical novel, The Jewel of Medina about Aisha, a wife of the Prophet Muhammad.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Random House had paid Jones a $100,000 advance for the novel when University of Texas Professor Denise Spellberg say a copy of the galleys and decided to "warn Muslims" of the pending publication of a novel that, in Spellberg's opinion, "made fun of Muslims and their history." Random House immediately cancelled publication.

Beaufort Books published the book in the U.S. in October 2008. Publishers in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Serbia, Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Albania have followed. It has been a best-seller in Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

A sequel, "The Sword of Medina," continues the story of A'isha's life after Muhammad's death and the rivalry with his cousin, Ali, which led to the first Islamic civil war and the Sunni-Shia split. It has been published in a number of countries, as well, and was also a best-seller in Serbia. "The Sword of Medina" was awarded a silver medal in the IPPYs, the Independent Publisher Association's book of the year awards.

The controversy over her books has sent Jones on the lecture circuit, speaking in the U.S. and Europe on topics including free speech and censorship, women's rights in Islam, and racism. She has written on these topics for Index on Censorship, New Humanist, AOL News, the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post.

Jones has also published a satirical short story, "Rapture," on Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051UT1XG.
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