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This is not one of my favorite Sharon Kay Penman books. I re-read it because it fit a challenge and because having enjoyed The Land Beyond the Sea I thought maybe my taste had changed.
It was a slog for most of the book, but went faster in the last 150 -200 pages (after Ranulf discovered Wales and Henry met Eleanor). For most of the story there were too many people to keep straight and not a lot of personality. A lot of scenes where one character would tell another character about something that ...more
It was a slog for most of the book, but went faster in the last 150 -200 pages (after Ranulf discovered Wales and Henry met Eleanor). For most of the story there were too many people to keep straight and not a lot of personality. A lot of scenes where one character would tell another character about something that ...more

I enjoyed reading another version of the story of Maude (Matilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the conqueror) and her fight for the throne against King Stephen in the 1100s. The novel allowed the reader to see her son become Henry II, and later marry Eleanor of Aquitaine (another strong woman!) This historical novel brought these medieval times a little closer to my understanding. It was interesting to read this tale by Sharon Kay Penman after I had read the one by Elizabeth
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May 06, 2013
Charlene Bridges
marked it as to-read