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Cavalier Queen
______________________
She was the Princess Diana of her day.
She loved clothes and jewels and parties. She had exquisite taste in interior design. She seemed destined to reign as one of England's most glamorous queens, famed for the beautiful palaces she designed and decorated.
Instead, Princess Henrietta Maria of France became caught up in the Civil War, one of the greatest cataclysms in English history. Swept from her life of luxury into the squalid brutality of battle and the loneliness of exile, her heart was torn by the two men she loved - her husband, tragic Charles I and charismatic Harry Jermyn, who designed and built most of London's West End, including the street which bears his name.
This is their story.
She was the Princess Diana of her day.
She loved clothes and jewels and parties. She had exquisite taste in interior design. She seemed destined to reign as one of England's most glamorous queens, famed for the beautiful palaces she designed and decorated.
Instead, Princess Henrietta Maria of France became caught up in the Civil War, one of the greatest cataclysms in English history. Swept from her life of luxury into the squalid brutality of battle and the loneliness of exile, her heart was torn by the two men she loved - her husband, tragic Charles I and charismatic Harry Jermyn, who designed and built most of London's West End, including the street which bears his name.
This is their story.
592 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2011
6 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Mountain
13 books49 followersFiona Mountain grew up in Sheffield and moved to London aged eighteen where she worked in the press office for Radio 1 for ten years, handling the PR for presenters including John Peel, Mark Radlcliffe and Steve Wright and traveling with the Radio 1 Summer Roadshow.
Her first novel, Isabella, tells the haunting love story of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and his cousin, Isabella Curwen. It was short-listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2000, the first debut novel to reach the shortlist. It was followed with Pale as the Dead and Bloodline, which combine history with mystery and feature 'ancestor detective', Natasha Blake. Bloodline is the winner of the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Fiona's novels have been published in America, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Italy, Germany, Holland and Australia. Though having enjoyed writing the mysteries, Lady of the Butterflies, published in 2009, marks her permanent return to historical fiction.
She lives in a seventeenth century house in the Cotswolds with her husband, Tim, a musician, and their four young children.
Her new book, 'The Keeper of Songs' out in 2021.
Her first novel, Isabella, tells the haunting love story of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and his cousin, Isabella Curwen. It was short-listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2000, the first debut novel to reach the shortlist. It was followed with Pale as the Dead and Bloodline, which combine history with mystery and feature 'ancestor detective', Natasha Blake. Bloodline is the winner of the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Fiona's novels have been published in America, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Italy, Germany, Holland and Australia. Though having enjoyed writing the mysteries, Lady of the Butterflies, published in 2009, marks her permanent return to historical fiction.
She lives in a seventeenth century house in the Cotswolds with her husband, Tim, a musician, and their four young children.
Her new book, 'The Keeper of Songs' out in 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 16, 2014
Although royal marriages were generally not love matches; the union of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France grew from tension into a strong, united bond. However, the heart wants what it wants and gossip had it that she only truly wanted one: Henry Jermyn. Fiona Mountain portrays this love triangle and Henrietta’s role in, “Cavalier Queen”.
“Cavalier Queen” has an initial slow start barring the reader from getting into the story. Not only is the plot slow but Henrietta’s characterization is flat, reserved, and keeps the reader at bay versus truly revealing her inner psyche. Not to mention, Mountain’s writing both in terms of prose and story feel unnatural and forced: Henrietta is too giggly, everything is too expected, and actions are contrived.
Adding to this sentiment is the general absence of anything ‘really’ happening. Again, “Cavalier Queen” simply falls flat. When there is action on the pages, it is an overly sexafied bodice-ripper romance which results in eye rolling for those readers not interested in such content.
It takes approximately until page 180 before the pace of “Cavalier Queen” speeds up and Mountain finds her groove. The story begins to feel more organic with standout characters (the Duke of Buckingham, King Charles, etc). There is still a filter in getting to know Henrietta, which is an issue as the focus of “Cavalier Queen” is a character study and portrayal of her life. On the other hand, many of her actions in terms of the accused affair with Jermyn are believable and relatable as a female reader (perhaps Mountain has been in such a situation first-hand?).
Mountain’s research of the period is quite evident in “Cavalier Queen”. Although the premise of the novel appears to be historical romance based; the history of the period is strong and well-maintained making “Cavalier Queen” less fluffy than expected (it is still fluffy in many parts though, so be aware). The only complaint with this history focus is that the pages contain a lot of, “As you know, Bob”-style storytelling versus truly living through the events described.
There are many instances when Mountain offers too much detail which lags the pace. It isn’t that she ventures on tangents per se but there is too much emphasis on description and one wants to tell her to “move on, already”.
It isn’t until part three that Henrietta’s character finally comes into her own and displays the personality traits she is known for. The problem is that the transition to this version of Henrietta is not smooth and feels like a different character entirely. This also extends to the plot which is slightly rushed at this point, thus not giving the English Civil War its proper due.
The final quarter of “Cavalier Queen” is too choppy and contrived with one moment focusing on battle while the next is a too-modern take on a romance between Henrietta and Jermyn (with more sex depictions) but without proper transitions or smoothness. This definitely weakens the novel somewhat.
The conclusion is similarly unsatisfying being anticlimactic, lacking proper levels of emotion, and not being memorable enough. Simply put: the ending of “Cavalier Queen” is not that great.
It should be noted that “Cavalier Queen” does include historical inaccuracies and historical liberties which Mountain does not explain properly causing readers unfamiliar with the topic to take her whole word. On the other hand, the text does include some quotes and letters in full. There is also lots of raw sex—definitely rated R.
“Cavalier Queen” is inconsistent and toggles between solid historical fiction and a fluffy romance but it is a good choice for those who must read all novels available depicting Stuart England. Sadly though, the novel does have flaws and one won’t be blown away. “Cavalier Queen” is not comparable to Mountain’s, “Lady of the Butterflies” but it is still readable if susceptible to historical fiction novels leaning towards the romance end of things.
“Cavalier Queen” has an initial slow start barring the reader from getting into the story. Not only is the plot slow but Henrietta’s characterization is flat, reserved, and keeps the reader at bay versus truly revealing her inner psyche. Not to mention, Mountain’s writing both in terms of prose and story feel unnatural and forced: Henrietta is too giggly, everything is too expected, and actions are contrived.
Adding to this sentiment is the general absence of anything ‘really’ happening. Again, “Cavalier Queen” simply falls flat. When there is action on the pages, it is an overly sexafied bodice-ripper romance which results in eye rolling for those readers not interested in such content.
It takes approximately until page 180 before the pace of “Cavalier Queen” speeds up and Mountain finds her groove. The story begins to feel more organic with standout characters (the Duke of Buckingham, King Charles, etc). There is still a filter in getting to know Henrietta, which is an issue as the focus of “Cavalier Queen” is a character study and portrayal of her life. On the other hand, many of her actions in terms of the accused affair with Jermyn are believable and relatable as a female reader (perhaps Mountain has been in such a situation first-hand?).
Mountain’s research of the period is quite evident in “Cavalier Queen”. Although the premise of the novel appears to be historical romance based; the history of the period is strong and well-maintained making “Cavalier Queen” less fluffy than expected (it is still fluffy in many parts though, so be aware). The only complaint with this history focus is that the pages contain a lot of, “As you know, Bob”-style storytelling versus truly living through the events described.
There are many instances when Mountain offers too much detail which lags the pace. It isn’t that she ventures on tangents per se but there is too much emphasis on description and one wants to tell her to “move on, already”.
It isn’t until part three that Henrietta’s character finally comes into her own and displays the personality traits she is known for. The problem is that the transition to this version of Henrietta is not smooth and feels like a different character entirely. This also extends to the plot which is slightly rushed at this point, thus not giving the English Civil War its proper due.
The final quarter of “Cavalier Queen” is too choppy and contrived with one moment focusing on battle while the next is a too-modern take on a romance between Henrietta and Jermyn (with more sex depictions) but without proper transitions or smoothness. This definitely weakens the novel somewhat.
The conclusion is similarly unsatisfying being anticlimactic, lacking proper levels of emotion, and not being memorable enough. Simply put: the ending of “Cavalier Queen” is not that great.
It should be noted that “Cavalier Queen” does include historical inaccuracies and historical liberties which Mountain does not explain properly causing readers unfamiliar with the topic to take her whole word. On the other hand, the text does include some quotes and letters in full. There is also lots of raw sex—definitely rated R.
“Cavalier Queen” is inconsistent and toggles between solid historical fiction and a fluffy romance but it is a good choice for those who must read all novels available depicting Stuart England. Sadly though, the novel does have flaws and one won’t be blown away. “Cavalier Queen” is not comparable to Mountain’s, “Lady of the Butterflies” but it is still readable if susceptible to historical fiction novels leaning towards the romance end of things.
March 14, 2017
I'm not one for rewriting the synopsis of a novel in a review, but I must say that this story of the marriage of Queen Henrietta Maria to King Charles I of England gives good insight into the tensions and politics that played out in 17th century England. It is beautifully researched and there's so much detail in the book that the reader almost gets lost in it instead of the story.
I liked it, but I wish I was made to care more.
I liked it, but I wish I was made to care more.
August 26, 2018
Story: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Reread: Don't think so
August 20, 2016
c2011. DNF - oh, dear. This should have been just up my street - history with a bit of romance - especially this period but...oh dear....I just could not summon the enthusiasm to get past the first 3rd of the book. I eventually gave up just as Henrietta was about to go to England for the first time. I was bored, frankly, and also getting tired of the repetitive descriptions of her smallness, cleverness, prettiness and, oh and er smallness. Alison Weir has been quoted as saying "A major new talent in the field of historical fiction" which is more about the author than the particular book and a tad of a sweeping statement, IMHO. FWFTB: France, cataclysm, marriage, secret, passion. FCN: Princess Henrietta Maria of France, Charles I, Harry Jermyn, Marie de'Medici, Sir Robert Killigrew. "She would be exiled to England, which her godfather, Pope Urban had said was as good as delivering her to hell and the devil, it being full of heretics who despised and persecuted all followers of Rome."
March 3, 2013
The past is a different country, of which this author does not seem sufficiently informed in some ways. For instance, she has Henrietta Maria enjoy her stay at Blenheim, describing the palace and its grounds to a T...regardless of the fact that it was not in fact built until early the next century. Also, a queen or princess in those days was never without her retinue, so some of the scenes taking place between HM and her love interest and the ease with which they find each other alone all the time are highly improbable.
November 19, 2019
I am currently researching the life of Henriette Maria, wife of Charles I. I like to do this by reading both history and historical fiction to try and provide a more `rounded' picture of the subject. I began this book with some misgivings - mainly because of the terrible picture on the cover of the paperback edition I purchased - and the author was new to me. However, I did find the book easy to read, it moved at a pace and focussed upon the relationship between Henriette, her `lover' Henry Jermyn and her husband Charles I.
The Stuart period is proving to be much more exciting than the Tudors.
The Stuart period is proving to be much more exciting than the Tudors.
February 6, 2020
Couldn’t get into this book at all. What I hoped would be an interesting period novel ended up chick-lit. Which is ok if that’s what you want to read - just don’t dress it up as something else. Henrietta’s character was flat and boring, with both her love interests being equally so. How many times did I need to read how pretty and small Henrietta was? How tall and handsome Henry, or small and thin her husband? I gave up three quarters of the way into the book - life is too short! Sorry but I cannot recommend this book.
November 17, 2020
If you are looking for a historically accurate life story of Queen Henrietta Maria then this probably isn't for you, but if you want to be swept up in a grand, life long romance then I highly recommend this book. 5 stars due to my sheer enjoyment of the novel.
December 24, 2015
Ok so this is the second time I have had to type out this review, which is making me feel even less charitable towards it than I was when I started this. This book barely gets three stars. More like a 2.5, maybe less. There are times I wanted to throw it across the room and only the fact that it isn't actually my book stopped me. Arrrrgghhhhh.
My first problem can be found before you even open the book. The blurb states that the marriage of Henrietta Maria and Charles I 'becomes one of the greatest love matches in history'. Yet the ENTIRE PLOT OF THIS BOOK REVOLVES AROUND HER AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER MAN! You CAN'T call it a love match if the only person she professes to love in a romantic manner is not the man she is married to! Maybe this is more a problem with me applying modern values to a time when they simply don't apply. After all you could probably count on one hand the number of Kings who remained faithful to their wives. However, I would assume that most readers would share these views and therefore have a fundamental problem with the plot.
Second is Henrietta herself. She is thoroughly unlikeable. Her relationship with Charles does not come across as love at any point, in fact at one point she compares him and her feelings towards him as parallel to those she feels for one of her dogs. A dog. She compares the King of England to a dog, at a time when it was genuinely believed that Kings were chosen by God and second only to God himself. Seriously? As for Charles himself, he wasn't a particularly pleasant character. Far to easily lead by Buckingham, and then by Henrietta herself. He seemed in parts to be utterly devoted to Henrietta but it seems that it really was a case of out of sight out of mind for as soon as Henrietta leaves for Holland for her protection, their relationship reverts back to its early days and he later takes a mistress.
Harry is very charming and devotes his entire life to Henrietta. He comes across as a genuinely good man (overlooking the Eleanor Villiers incident). Which only serves to raise more issues with Henrietta. She treats Harry abominably, allowing and encouraging him to have feelings for her when she is a married woman and allowing him to sacrifice any chance at having a family of his own whilst he watches her marital bliss and frequent pregnancies from her side. It is cruel. Although the pair do eventually consummate their relationship it is almost twenty years after they first met. And she railed against him for sleeping with Eleanor and played hot and cold with him for twenty years, the poor man.
There is also a problem of characters simply disappearing. Once they have outlived their usefulness to the plot they vanish never to be seen or heard from again. Kate Villiers, complained to Henrietta about Harry's refusal to marry Eleanor and is never heard from again. Lucy Hay, betrays Henrietta by revealing Charles intended coup of parliament and disappears. Mall Stuart nee Villiers, who is in the majority of the book and is a pretty central character, lands in France, is helped up the cliff/hill when they reach shore and vanishes. Gone, nothing, no mention of what happened to her or where she went in the last hundred pages, maybe she was still there and Henrietta simply never bothered to notice her again. I don't know. This simply comes across as laziness from the writer which beings me onto my next point.
The last third of the book seems to be the victim of lazy writing. There are discrepancies in the characters ages which could easily have been fixed during editing but clearly weren't. The point where a writer has given up the will to live and no longer cares about the subject/characters etc. The short chapters for the Civil War years come across more like history lessons at school 'this battle was fought at this place, the parliamentarians are in control of these sections, this is the political situation, negotiations.' There is very little feeling in these parts it is a recital of facts. The ending is incredibly vague. Did Henrietta and Harry finally have a relationship once she left the convent (yes, the ever thoughtful and caring Henrietta upon hearing of the execution of the husband she doesn't love, runs away from the man she professes to love in order to hide in a convent, surrounded by nuns who are forbidden from allowing Harry to come and see her, that's true love)? What happened to her children (hello Wikipedia)? Oh wait, I forgot, Charles is the only one that matters since he became King of England and information on him is so easily accessible. Grrr.
Overall I would not recommend reading this book. I have to believe that there are better books about Henrietta Maria out there and if not, any aspiring historical fiction writers should get on that sharpish. There are just too many problems with this one, at least for me. That being said, the writing style could have been worse and did make it a relatively quick book to read given that it comes in at just under 600 pages and some chapters were up to 80 pages long.
Having typed all this it is tempting to lower my rating even further...
My first problem can be found before you even open the book. The blurb states that the marriage of Henrietta Maria and Charles I 'becomes one of the greatest love matches in history'. Yet the ENTIRE PLOT OF THIS BOOK REVOLVES AROUND HER AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER MAN! You CAN'T call it a love match if the only person she professes to love in a romantic manner is not the man she is married to! Maybe this is more a problem with me applying modern values to a time when they simply don't apply. After all you could probably count on one hand the number of Kings who remained faithful to their wives. However, I would assume that most readers would share these views and therefore have a fundamental problem with the plot.
Second is Henrietta herself. She is thoroughly unlikeable. Her relationship with Charles does not come across as love at any point, in fact at one point she compares him and her feelings towards him as parallel to those she feels for one of her dogs. A dog. She compares the King of England to a dog, at a time when it was genuinely believed that Kings were chosen by God and second only to God himself. Seriously? As for Charles himself, he wasn't a particularly pleasant character. Far to easily lead by Buckingham, and then by Henrietta herself. He seemed in parts to be utterly devoted to Henrietta but it seems that it really was a case of out of sight out of mind for as soon as Henrietta leaves for Holland for her protection, their relationship reverts back to its early days and he later takes a mistress.
Harry is very charming and devotes his entire life to Henrietta. He comes across as a genuinely good man (overlooking the Eleanor Villiers incident). Which only serves to raise more issues with Henrietta. She treats Harry abominably, allowing and encouraging him to have feelings for her when she is a married woman and allowing him to sacrifice any chance at having a family of his own whilst he watches her marital bliss and frequent pregnancies from her side. It is cruel. Although the pair do eventually consummate their relationship it is almost twenty years after they first met. And she railed against him for sleeping with Eleanor and played hot and cold with him for twenty years, the poor man.
There is also a problem of characters simply disappearing. Once they have outlived their usefulness to the plot they vanish never to be seen or heard from again. Kate Villiers, complained to Henrietta about Harry's refusal to marry Eleanor and is never heard from again. Lucy Hay, betrays Henrietta by revealing Charles intended coup of parliament and disappears. Mall Stuart nee Villiers, who is in the majority of the book and is a pretty central character, lands in France, is helped up the cliff/hill when they reach shore and vanishes. Gone, nothing, no mention of what happened to her or where she went in the last hundred pages, maybe she was still there and Henrietta simply never bothered to notice her again. I don't know. This simply comes across as laziness from the writer which beings me onto my next point.
The last third of the book seems to be the victim of lazy writing. There are discrepancies in the characters ages which could easily have been fixed during editing but clearly weren't. The point where a writer has given up the will to live and no longer cares about the subject/characters etc. The short chapters for the Civil War years come across more like history lessons at school 'this battle was fought at this place, the parliamentarians are in control of these sections, this is the political situation, negotiations.' There is very little feeling in these parts it is a recital of facts. The ending is incredibly vague. Did Henrietta and Harry finally have a relationship once she left the convent (yes, the ever thoughtful and caring Henrietta upon hearing of the execution of the husband she doesn't love, runs away from the man she professes to love in order to hide in a convent, surrounded by nuns who are forbidden from allowing Harry to come and see her, that's true love)? What happened to her children (hello Wikipedia)? Oh wait, I forgot, Charles is the only one that matters since he became King of England and information on him is so easily accessible. Grrr.
Overall I would not recommend reading this book. I have to believe that there are better books about Henrietta Maria out there and if not, any aspiring historical fiction writers should get on that sharpish. There are just too many problems with this one, at least for me. That being said, the writing style could have been worse and did make it a relatively quick book to read given that it comes in at just under 600 pages and some chapters were up to 80 pages long.
Having typed all this it is tempting to lower my rating even further...
May 9, 2020
Not very accurate and not nearly of the standard of a Georgette Heyer historical novel, not much better than Mills and Boon or chicklets. Persevered but did not like it.
March 9, 2025
good story but poor writing quality
December 13, 2016
Yet another ECW novel that gets it all wrong. I find the idea that Henry Jermyn was the father of Henrietta Maira's children difficult to give any credence and Mountain's portrayal of Charles owes more to homophobia (misplaced as its in fact very unlikely [but not impossible] that the relationship between Buckingham and Charles was sexual and the real problems in the marriage came from the political problems of the french alliance not working) and the (inaccurate) view of Charles as a crippled weakling (insert anachronistic grumbling about disabled sexuality here). The portrayal of Buckingham as the evil male homosexual courtesan is as offensive as it is cliched. The historiography is basically the whig view of the war (groan). The central premise is not a compliment to the heroine of the book as the author thinks - given the sexual mores of the period its in fact a huge insult to both HM and C. Lumpy, badly written and boring, with too much gratuitous sex and poor grasp of the history. I really need to give up on novels set in this time period but i keep hoping that something decent will happen...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2014
I never knew that...
That is the way I should always start a review of a novel about a character I have only ever come across as a supporting actor in other stories. I knew nothing about Henriette Marie before reading this but I am certainly interested in learning more now. She is an interesting, if not particularly likeable, character who played an enormous part in English history, if this book is to be believed.
Fiona Mountain's take on the lives of Henriette Marie and her husband Charles I is interesting with good character development although Charles comes across as weak and Henrietta as headstrong but rather vacant: neither of which does much to endear them to the reader although they both have their redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, the graphic sex scenes have dragged this book down from being a solid historical novel to something rather trashy in places, that should have had Harlequin or Mills and Boon stamped on the cover. I'm no prude but sometimes less is more.
That is the way I should always start a review of a novel about a character I have only ever come across as a supporting actor in other stories. I knew nothing about Henriette Marie before reading this but I am certainly interested in learning more now. She is an interesting, if not particularly likeable, character who played an enormous part in English history, if this book is to be believed.
Fiona Mountain's take on the lives of Henriette Marie and her husband Charles I is interesting with good character development although Charles comes across as weak and Henrietta as headstrong but rather vacant: neither of which does much to endear them to the reader although they both have their redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, the graphic sex scenes have dragged this book down from being a solid historical novel to something rather trashy in places, that should have had Harlequin or Mills and Boon stamped on the cover. I'm no prude but sometimes less is more.
July 20, 2014
I read Cavalier Queen having already studied the English Civil War extensively so I knew my stuff. I found that this novel was a brilliant piece of historical fiction but that's what it is fiction, whilst it was impressive at the number of facts Mountain had got into this book, the main thread, the romance between Henrietta and Henry is fiction, we do not know any of this for sure and I felt that maybe it was taken too far and some of the aspects Mountain writes about just would not have happened. Saying that though the characterisation of everyone involved was brilliantly done I felt, and I could really see both sides points of views. I would say that this is the most sympathetic view of Henrietta Maria I have read which was interesting and having started this novel with an opinion of her already, I did find it changing as I read this. Overall this is a fantastic book for any fan of historical novels.
October 8, 2015
‘Cavalier Queen’ is the first book I have read by Fiona Mountain – but it won’t be the last!
The English Civil War is a fascinating period of history, but the focus is usually on King Charles, or Oliver Cromwell, or Parliament. This book has a different perspective, focusing on Queen Henrietta Maria, her arranged marriage to the king, and her support for him during the war. I previously had only a superficial knowledge of Henrietta Maria’s life and loves, but this book has brought her to life for me. She was a multi-faceted woman, strong and supportive, deeply religious, loving and caring.
Ms. Mountain is a skilled writer. Her characters are sympathetically drawn and believable, her dialogue realistic. The descriptions of palaces are vivid, and one feels the discomfort of those who suffered through some terrible sea crossings. ‘Cavalier Queen’ is enjoyable on so many levels – history, romance, love and duty. This is a book you can easily get lost in!
The English Civil War is a fascinating period of history, but the focus is usually on King Charles, or Oliver Cromwell, or Parliament. This book has a different perspective, focusing on Queen Henrietta Maria, her arranged marriage to the king, and her support for him during the war. I previously had only a superficial knowledge of Henrietta Maria’s life and loves, but this book has brought her to life for me. She was a multi-faceted woman, strong and supportive, deeply religious, loving and caring.
Ms. Mountain is a skilled writer. Her characters are sympathetically drawn and believable, her dialogue realistic. The descriptions of palaces are vivid, and one feels the discomfort of those who suffered through some terrible sea crossings. ‘Cavalier Queen’ is enjoyable on so many levels – history, romance, love and duty. This is a book you can easily get lost in!
December 8, 2013
While a decent read, I must admit that I only finished it out of pure determination. I was very bored with the lead character, Henrietta, throughout the whole story and considered giving it up for a lost cause. It did pick up in part 3 when the story turned towards the war and Henrietta's mind became aware of more than frivolous games and gossip and whether Harry loves her as much as she loves him. It was exhausting (although accurate) to be stuck in the mind of a spoilt teenage girl and nothing is more boring to me. If you expect a thrilling tale of intrigue and politics the likes of Phillipa Gregory, this is not your book. Who knew that the life of a beheaded King's wife, a queen during a civil war, could be so mind numbingly boring? The end did save it for me though. It's a pity I had to wade through 300-odd pages before it got interesting.
Read
March 7, 2023I liked this book. Despite it being a decent size, it took me very few reading sessions to get through. And I was kind of disappointed once it was over.
Oddly, it was the middle section of the book that I enjoyed the most. In the beginning of the book, I felt a bit like I was being told a lot about Henrietta's character without being really shown it, which frustrated me. Then towards the end of the book it began to read more like a long epilogue, which is, I guess, a great risk in historical fiction where the characters fail to have a dramatic death and instead grow old away from the action. The middle though, where Henrietta has to learn how to be a queen, not just look like a queen, and to be a woman, not just look like a pretty doll, provides more conflict. There's the tensions in her heart, tensions politically, and tensions religiously which all combined to keep me reading.
Oddly, it was the middle section of the book that I enjoyed the most. In the beginning of the book, I felt a bit like I was being told a lot about Henrietta's character without being really shown it, which frustrated me. Then towards the end of the book it began to read more like a long epilogue, which is, I guess, a great risk in historical fiction where the characters fail to have a dramatic death and instead grow old away from the action. The middle though, where Henrietta has to learn how to be a queen, not just look like a queen, and to be a woman, not just look like a pretty doll, provides more conflict. There's the tensions in her heart, tensions politically, and tensions religiously which all combined to keep me reading.
December 31, 2011
Beautiful, beautiful story. Fiona Mountain has made Henrietta Maria quite the heroine. A true woman of power, strength and beauty to survive the hardest time in English history. Her relationships with Charles, slightly pitiful, and the breath taking relationship with her favorite and friend and lover and man she can never fully have reaches such a tearful climax that even I couldn't stop crying. Love is the most powerful force in this world and these characters, particularly Henrietta and Harry, really loved each other.
Fiona's writing is beautiful, well researched and full of twists and turns. She is ranked up there with Alison Weir, Phillipa Gregory and Margaret George. If you love their books then you will love this one.
A most stunning read!
Fiona's writing is beautiful, well researched and full of twists and turns. She is ranked up there with Alison Weir, Phillipa Gregory and Margaret George. If you love their books then you will love this one.
A most stunning read!
September 17, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. I studied the English Civil War in A level History but we did little about the wife of Charles I. I knew that she was Catholic and this was a factor in the Civil War but I knew little else. This book has been really interesting. When I got to the part about the start of the Civil War and during it I thought it was going to get boring and talk about it a lot. But luckily it didn't talk about the battles so much and much more about her role. I didn't know about the Queen's army but this made it seem important. If only I had studied her in history more than I did! The love affair between her and Henry Jermyn was also very interesting and told well. A great read!!
January 15, 2012
Primarily, this is a love story between a strong and determined woman, and the two men who loved her.
Henrietta- Maria, a Bourbon princess, was only 15 when she was married, by proxy, to Charles I of England, The marriage,initially difficult, eventually blossomed into a strong and tender partnership. However, this novel also focuses on Henrietta-Maria's life long association, and possible love affair, with one of her courtiers,Henry Jermyn.
Overall, I thought it was a well thought out historical story about a fascinating period in Englsih history.
Henrietta- Maria, a Bourbon princess, was only 15 when she was married, by proxy, to Charles I of England, The marriage,initially difficult, eventually blossomed into a strong and tender partnership. However, this novel also focuses on Henrietta-Maria's life long association, and possible love affair, with one of her courtiers,Henry Jermyn.
Overall, I thought it was a well thought out historical story about a fascinating period in Englsih history.
January 4, 2017
Exceptional novel which introduced me to my favorite historical character besides Queen Elizabeth Tudor. I remember strolling through Windsor castle where i found a painting of a beautiful lady hanging in the presence chamber (as far as i recall). I never quite knew who she was at the time, with her solemn eyes gazing upon me. However, when i revisited the castle i purposefully went towards that same painting, knowing well who she was and the story behind those eyes. I am not going to discuss her story here, i will leave that to you to explore!
June 22, 2015
Love this. It tells the story of Henrietta Maria, wife and Queen of Charles I. Through love, civil war and ultimately death, it is utterly gripping from start to finish. Another to add to my list of historical novels for my challenge, this one I could not put down! It is also a period of history I was not as familiar with - most of the historical novels that I read, based around the monarchy, are set around the Tudor period...
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
February 25, 2017
I'd never read anything about Henrietta before so I found the historical story of she and Charles I fascinating and it plugged the gap between what I knew of the Gunpowder Plot and the time of Oliver Cromwell. As a fictional novel, this is a well-told story albeit from a highly romanticised point of view and romps along at a good pace to keep things interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it has piqued my interest in reading a bit more about this lesser known figure in England's history.
December 5, 2011
I enjoyed this book. It made a change from the style of books I had been reading and I hadnt read a historical novel in a while. Gives a good insight into the life of Charles I and his French wife. Essentially a romance novel but with the additional historical backdrop. Enjoyed it possibly more because Im currently teaching the topic. Very similar in style to the Phillippa Gregory books.
May 12, 2017
Fiona Mountain choose a challenging individual living at an interesting time, but The Cavalier Queen is an unsatisfying book. Henrietta Maria comes across as a spoilt, whiny woman - which I suppose might be historically accurate, but makes it very hard to enjoy the book.
December 27, 2011
Very romantic.
December 30, 2012
Interesting and informative historical audio book. Would highly recommend it.
May 6, 2013
An historical novel, but more history than novel, and the novel part dominated by Mills & Boon romance. I didn't enjoy this as much as The Lady of the Butterflies
July 29, 2013
I loved this book. I would never leave the house if all books were this good. It was a very large book but I finished in three days and I was committed to the very last word.
December 18, 2021
an excellent read
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