What do you think?
Rate this book
The Stolen Queen
The year is 1199, and King Richard the Lionheart is dead, leaving his brother John to inherit both his French and English lands. Young Isabelle of Angouleme is betrothed to the son of her father's enemy, Hugh de Lusignan, and taken to his castle to be educated, where she is initiated into the 'Old Religion'. Isabelle is then told that she is to be married not to Hugh de Lusignan but to King John of England, in a complex and treacherous plot to gain the English succession. The Lusignans envisage an empire ruled by their young puppet queen, which will eventually oust Christianity and restore the Old Religion to Europe. But when Isabelle takes matters into her own hands, passions will rage and dynastic fortunes will rise and fall. Set against the vivid backdrop of the great political struggles of medieval Europe, The Stolen Queen will delight lovers of intrigue and adventure.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Hilton
32 books120 followersLisa Hilton is an author and biographer. She grew up in the north of England and read English at New College, Oxford, after which she studied History of Art in Florence and Paris. After eight years in New York, Paris and Milan she has recently returned to England and now lives in London with her husband and their daughter. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Elle, the Evening Standard and the Telegraph, among others.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 29, 2015
I have been struggling to create the review for this novel because while I did not enjoy it at all, it seems difficult to put in writing why that was.
As a history nerd I can usually devour books about great Kings and Queens, and two of my favourite books of all time are novels based on real monarchs. Anne O'Brien has written some amazing novels of this genre and I was hoping to add another author of the same class to my list. I have read Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York by Lisa Hilton before but not a work of fiction. I was hoping that her historical knowledge would really enhance her novels.
Here comes the hard part: The writing style was rather difficult to get to grips with. Hilton used a superfluous and flowery style that just seemed to waffle. There were long paragraphs about entirely uninteresting aspects such as the scenery which should have merely set the backdrop to the main plot, instead descriptions about the lovely trees skimming the wonderful skies by the beautiful river became the main event.
Isabelle was only 9 years old at the start of the novel, I understand that this is a terribly young age for the events that occured, but Hilton retained a childishlynaive and innocent narration throughout the novel. Isabelle was not yet old enough to understand the nuances of politics and her marriage, and I felt that this made the novel seem emotionless. I only felt worried about her marriage to John because I know that Kings were buggers. Especially John. But Isabelle was oblivious and just looked forward to being Queen so she could prove a point to a boy who was once horrible to her. She didn't even act like a Queen or Lady. Fighting and arguing and screaming whenever she did not get her way. Was this intentional? To show the juxtaposition of her age against her situation? Maybe, but I do not think that it paid off. Isabelle should have been more "I was looking forward to it but Agnes was sobbing again so I had a bad feeling..." Build that sense of foreboding for me, don't just leave me with nothing until the awful events begin.
There just needed to be more depth and emotion in the novel. I needed to care about Isabelle, not just want her to shut up about the trees and skies and her horse.
As a history nerd I can usually devour books about great Kings and Queens, and two of my favourite books of all time are novels based on real monarchs. Anne O'Brien has written some amazing novels of this genre and I was hoping to add another author of the same class to my list. I have read Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York by Lisa Hilton before but not a work of fiction. I was hoping that her historical knowledge would really enhance her novels.
Here comes the hard part: The writing style was rather difficult to get to grips with. Hilton used a superfluous and flowery style that just seemed to waffle. There were long paragraphs about entirely uninteresting aspects such as the scenery which should have merely set the backdrop to the main plot, instead descriptions about the lovely trees skimming the wonderful skies by the beautiful river became the main event.
Isabelle was only 9 years old at the start of the novel, I understand that this is a terribly young age for the events that occured, but Hilton retained a childishlynaive and innocent narration throughout the novel. Isabelle was not yet old enough to understand the nuances of politics and her marriage, and I felt that this made the novel seem emotionless. I only felt worried about her marriage to John because I know that Kings were buggers. Especially John. But Isabelle was oblivious and just looked forward to being Queen so she could prove a point to a boy who was once horrible to her. She didn't even act like a Queen or Lady. Fighting and arguing and screaming whenever she did not get her way. Was this intentional? To show the juxtaposition of her age against her situation? Maybe, but I do not think that it paid off. Isabelle should have been more "I was looking forward to it but Agnes was sobbing again so I had a bad feeling..." Build that sense of foreboding for me, don't just leave me with nothing until the awful events begin.
There just needed to be more depth and emotion in the novel. I needed to care about Isabelle, not just want her to shut up about the trees and skies and her horse.
March 5, 2016
Awful if read as a historical novel, OK if you mentally class it as fantasy. It badly needed a historical author's note at the end to explain why she veered so much from what other historians mostly agree on. For example the idea of 'I would never see Henry again', what about the widely held fact that she arranged and attended his coronation?! The imprisonment seems to confuse two separate episodes in her life and the whole running away idea at the end is just bizarre. Kept hoping it would get better, it only got worse and I'm just glad I borrowed it from the library rather than paying for it and regretting it. Don't bother with this if you're a fan of Phillipa Gregory or Sharon Penman as you will probably be very disappointed!
October 21, 2021
Ok I spent ages trying to find a book in the library then got embarrassed and just grabbed this one. I liked the whole royal scheme premise but it got so depressing so fast. I couldn’t stop reading in the hopes that this poor girl got a break. She didn’t.
It’s historical fiction but all the other reviews say to read it as fantasy because it’s inaccurate. Still confused as to whether I enjoyed it or not but I’m giving it four stars because I couldn’t stop reading it out of morbid fascination.
It’s historical fiction but all the other reviews say to read it as fantasy because it’s inaccurate. Still confused as to whether I enjoyed it or not but I’m giving it four stars because I couldn’t stop reading it out of morbid fascination.
July 30, 2018
This is a novel about King John's queen Isabelle.
Officially, it's an historical novel. The reality is that it bears about as much resemblance to history as a sopworth camel does to an A-380.
I am not dissing the book. I loved it. Well written, fast paced, and quirky. It's just the plot is so far out of left field that it probably should be classified as historical fantasy, laden as it is with the Horned God, sacred marriages between siblings (yup, I mean incest), and outright bulldust.
Did I mention that I loved it?
Officially, it's an historical novel. The reality is that it bears about as much resemblance to history as a sopworth camel does to an A-380.
I am not dissing the book. I loved it. Well written, fast paced, and quirky. It's just the plot is so far out of left field that it probably should be classified as historical fantasy, laden as it is with the Horned God, sacred marriages between siblings (yup, I mean incest), and outright bulldust.
Did I mention that I loved it?
September 16, 2015
Barely managed to finish this and I'm struggling to find anything to say in its favour. I may do a brief review later.
October 24, 2023
Inaccurate Historical Fiction. 9 year old speaks like a 40 year old. First 10 chapters were so hard to follow which is why it took me so long to read. I wouldn't have read this if I knew there was incest and extremely large age gaps.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
Absolute drivel. Not sure if it’s actually based on any actual historical evidence (I’ll check). The best I can say for it is it’s readable and I sped through it. Certain it will leave no lasting impression.
August 20, 2018
Fantasy with people who have history-related names.
September 1, 2019
Fantastic journey through a long ago Queens life.
I couldn't put this done. Once started all other tasks were forgotten. I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
I couldn't put this done. Once started all other tasks were forgotten. I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
February 12, 2020
Dnf. Got lost in the unrelateable drama. Too many characters.
May 27, 2025
Read this by mistake… not very good
October 12, 2015
Isabelle of Angouleme is still a child when she is betrothed to the son of her father's enemy, Hugh de Lusignan. Taken to the Lusignan stronghold, Isabelle is introduced into a mysterious ‘old religion’ which seems to have its basis in the myths and legends which surround the story of the serpent enchantress, Melusine. Mysterious horned figures and cloak darkened shapes fever her dreams, until she is unsure of her place in reality.
Forced to grow up in this disordered world and with a growing antipathy towards her intended husband, Isabelle is relieved when the planned wedding to Hugh is abandoned and she is told that she is to marry, John, King of England. Escaping Hugh de Lusignan will prove to be easier than escaping the old religion, and swapping one meddlesome bridegroom for another is the price Isabelle must pay for alleged freedom. However, born into this turbulent time in medieval history, Isabelle discovers that she is merely a pawn to be used at the whim of ambitious men, and her freedom will come at a price.
I thought that the story moved along reasonably well, although there were times when the narrative seemed to falter and lose its way a little and became a little fanciful. However, interspersed within the narrative are some historical facts, which help to place The Stolen Queen accurately within its medieval time scale, but, I suppose, it is the supernatural elements which add a more unusual twist and thus allows Isabelle’s story to be told in a very different way. The political and domestic intrigue of living so close to the royal household comes across, as does John’s irascible and unreasonable temperament.
The author writes with passion and commitment, and clearly loves telling a story. I am sure that The Stolen Queen will appeal to lovers of medieval historical fiction, and the more unusual supernatural twist, adds an extra dimension to the story.
Forced to grow up in this disordered world and with a growing antipathy towards her intended husband, Isabelle is relieved when the planned wedding to Hugh is abandoned and she is told that she is to marry, John, King of England. Escaping Hugh de Lusignan will prove to be easier than escaping the old religion, and swapping one meddlesome bridegroom for another is the price Isabelle must pay for alleged freedom. However, born into this turbulent time in medieval history, Isabelle discovers that she is merely a pawn to be used at the whim of ambitious men, and her freedom will come at a price.
I thought that the story moved along reasonably well, although there were times when the narrative seemed to falter and lose its way a little and became a little fanciful. However, interspersed within the narrative are some historical facts, which help to place The Stolen Queen accurately within its medieval time scale, but, I suppose, it is the supernatural elements which add a more unusual twist and thus allows Isabelle’s story to be told in a very different way. The political and domestic intrigue of living so close to the royal household comes across, as does John’s irascible and unreasonable temperament.
The author writes with passion and commitment, and clearly loves telling a story. I am sure that The Stolen Queen will appeal to lovers of medieval historical fiction, and the more unusual supernatural twist, adds an extra dimension to the story.
December 13, 2016
c2015: This story covers a part of history that has been the subject of many a tale. Unfortunately, it has also been told a lot better than this attempt. I think that the worst part was the dialogue - not at all well done. I persevered because I have just had a DNF and didn't want to continue the trend but it was hard going and I didn't, at any time, go back to see if I had missed a paragraph or two when picking it up to read after a break. Wait for it **drum roll** should have stayed stolen. Unable to recommend to the normal crew.
January 24, 2016
What a bunch of tripe! How was this researched and where was the evidence that it is a true historical other than a few people who really existed... should of given up on it when I first thought it was rubbish but sadly I held out thinking maybe something big would happen. NOPE!
August 18, 2016
The writing is excellent, but it's like the author decided to make England and France into Westeros. Definitely more fantasy then historical.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews