The Falcon and the Flower

The Medieval Plantagenet Trilogy #1

by Virginia Henley

Astride her white palfrey, surrounded by a nimbus of silver-blond hair, Jasmine was a vision to strike a man mute with desire.  But the violet-eyed love child of King Richard's half brother had vowed that no man would ever rule her heart.  Until she saw the face of the Devil himself in her crystal ball--the dark, brooding knight who would kill to make her his own.  She would risk a dissolute court and a maddened, lustful king to keep destiny at bay, anything to keep her from the hypnotic eyes and burning caresses of... The Falcon.

A wickedly handsome warrior who lived by blood and the sword, Falcon de Burgh wanted to wed no woman--until he laid eyes on the exquisite Jasmine, and he vowed to possess her, to teach her all the wondrous ways a man could love a woman, no matter what it might take to conquer her fiery, unyielding heart. Falcon knew only blind, reckless passion as he swore to tame, at the risk of his life... The Flower.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Historical Fiction, Medieval Romance, Fiction

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Virginia Syddall was born on December 5, 1935 in England, where her father, Thomas Syddall, taught her to love history. She obtained a degree in History in the University. In 1956, Virginia married Arthur Henley. They moved to America, and now they live most of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they spend the hot summers in Ontario, Canada, where they have their two adult children and three grandsons.

Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: 6/20/20
What a disappointment! I loved the H. He was strong, sexy, and charming. The h was the problem. She was such a naive, spoiled brat. She treated the H badly for no reason. Yes, she was raised by a witch grandmother who hated men but the h takes it too far. She wasn't even clever with her hated words. There was no softing in her towards him no matter what he did. He saves her more than once and she ungratefully replies she hates him. The book could have been great if not for her. All the other characters were great. In the last 100pgs (out of 400pgs)she finally grows up and the story gets good. That is the only reason I gave it 3 stars.

This was not worth my money! VH is better than this

[Dd · Rating 1 out of 5]

To describe this book in one word-TORTURE.I hated Jasmine.She was an irrational,stupid,crazy brat.Her behaviour in 3/4th of the book was atrocious and in the rest was amazingly idiotic.In fact she came in the category of prize idiots.Falcon was the so called hero.I did not actively hate him for most parts but disliked him.
In short I was tortured by the behaviour of the main leads in this book.I liked the side,supporting characters much better.God!even Morgana was better than Jasmine.One can atleast admire her tenacity to get what she wants.In the very least ,she has active brain cells and knows what she wants.

The perfect tag line for the book-Beware all readers.Peril awaits.

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story from a Master of Historical Romance

The first in Henley's Plantagenet trilogy (The Falcon and the Flower, The Dragon and the Jewel and The Marriage Prize), this story is set in the late 12th century, beginning in 1199 just as King Richard I ("the Lion Heart") is slain in France and his youngest brother, John (the runt of the Plantagenet litter), takes the throne of England.

Jasmine, the sheltered love child of King Richard's half brother, the Earl of Salisbury, has been raised by her maternal grandmother who is a "white witch" and hates men. A delicate flower physically, Jasmine has vowed that no man will ever rule her heart. One day she sees the face of a dark knight in her crystal ball, and later, encountering him at Stonehenge, thinks he's the Devil. When her father betroths her to the same knight, Falcon de Burgh, she hopes to resist the marriage. In a bargain with Falcon, she is allowed to be lady in waiting to the young Queen Isabella. It is there that King John takes a fancy to Jasmine, coveting her virginity for himself. His plan is to wed her to one of his noblemen and then take his pleasure as he does with the other ladies at court. But Falcon will come to her rescue and force her to wed for her protection.

This story kept me reading late into the night. There are many twists and turns and both Jasmine and Falcon treat each other badly as they resist the call of true love. As always, Henley masterfully weaves in history as she serves up a lusty tale with wonderful characters. I recommend it. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was by comparison to others of hers I rate higher.

If you like to read books in date order, here is the Plantagenet trilogy with the other books Henley wrote about the same time in chronological order:

* The Falcon and the Flower (1989) - late 12th century/early 13th
* The Dragon and the Jewel (1991) - 13th century
* The Marriage Prize (2000) - 13th century
* The Raven and the Rose (1987) - 15th century
* The Hawk and the Dove (1988) - 16th century
* The Pirate and the Pagan (1990) - 17th century

And, if you want Scotland's side of the story, you can read her wonderful Kennedy Clan books, both set in the 16th century after the events of The Raven and The Rose:

* Tempted (1992)
* The Border Hostage (2001)

[Jena · Rating 1 out of 5]

re-read 2022 - 1🌟. DNF. (Skim read it past 50 to 70%)
I must’ve been drunk or something to think this was the shit back in the day, when it’s just shit. (Edit. I skimmed read more parts of it to see if there was cheating after the marriage and there was, so I am changing my rating to 1 star).

15yrs ago: 5 stars (keeper)🙄. That’s so embarrassing.


This bodice ripper is mainly about politics - Kings, queens, corruption in court, who’s fucking the king and queen, blah blah.😴 There is cheating in this bodice ripper.


Then we have our MCs who I despised equally.
I wanted to bitch slap the petulant, spoiled, “always pissed off h” who spent most of the book being nasty to the H while using him for whatever she needed, and never being grateful.
She’s not just a user, she’s also a TSTL moron who thinks she knows everything, because she’s beautiful. (she was raised by her crazy grandma who told her she’s a witch and men are all evil. )
She’s also one of the biggest prude that ever lived in romance land.
The entire book is 1 frustrating mess of her acting like men have cooties. So immature...

Then we have the jerk H who acts obsessed with the h — but who is ok bitch slapping her, as well as sleeping with an ow when the H and h are already engaged and feelings have developed from his side at least.

So what’s the friggin point of this book…so I DNF.
The h is just an annoying bjtch.
Th H is a manwhore who seems to find every female in this book beautiful.


Safety
I DNF this at 50% and I don’t remember the rest of the book from 16 yrs ago.

- there is a very graphic scene of him fucking a woman at the start of the book, this is before he meets the h. After a wonderful lustful night with this girl, where he had to have sex with her multiple times because she was so hot, he sent her to one of his castles so she can be his mistress. Few pages later, he forgets her name.
Then at 70%, he cheats on the h with this same girl after the marriage, after he had sex with the h a few times. This ow is living at their castle with them, and the h knows she is his mistress.

“
His hands reached out roughly to her breasts. She moaned and fell back onto the bed, drawing him with her. Her long brown fingers reached out to play about his groin, now swollen with need. His mouth took hers savagely, then when he lifted his mouth from her she urged,”

-then H cheats on the h again at 76% with the above ow. He fingered her to orgasm.

- H finds every female hot. Even the heroins sisters. One of her sisters have huge tits he couldn’t ignore it.

- (around30%)
he sleeps with another woman/widow, but the scene is fade to black.
This happened after he became obsessed with the h, feelings have developed on the Hero’s side, MCs have kissed and they’ve even gotten engaged.
He is the jealous, possessive one, who even forced her to get engaged to him, and yet he’s ok sleeping with this woman with the h in the same building,Honestly after this scene, I lost all interest in the book.
The h finds out that he was with this widow in the morning and got mad, however, since this h is always mad, I couldn’t tell if she was really mad, or just being her nasty temperamental self..🙄

-this is a rapey book.

[DelilahW · Rating 1 out of 5]

As always, Henley depicts the arrogant Alpha hero to the max. The heroine is what really got the one-star review. She spends most of the book a tiny terrified virgin who finds the hero repellent and then wham! One night locked up in a room together and she's Lady Godiva. I found the heroine's constant whiney refusals of any physical interaction really, really tedious. Not that I condone violence, but this was one of those books where I really would have laughed if the hero had just up and given the heroine a good crack across the face with his hand. Yeah, sex can be scary the first time, but holy mother of Jebus, it's not THAT bad. Get a hold of yourself. I would categorize the hero in the dolt category for even bothering with her.

[Chantal ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leave all common sense at the door when you read this book and enjoy the whole magical fantasy that is Virginia Henley. In this book nothing make sense and the whole, he had no choice but to rape her idea pissed me off. Also, lets forget for a minute that you know anything about history and the Middle Ages because this book while entertaining has no historically value. Some part of this book made me ill. Like throwing up in my mouth. The king was so evil. You name an evil sin and he has done it. He was the devil, he wanted to sleep with every Virgin/woman or child in the place and here is where you get the bdsm references. It was hard to read when I was a young girl who never had a relationship (virgin) I had to read it again (after marriage) to understand all the references to incest, pedophilia, sodomy, group sex, and torture. I was grossed out by it but maybe that part was most accurate? I hated the hero but now that I finally understood what he was trying to do and protect her from I kind of liked him. He was so messed up when he found out that she was pregnant that he wanted her to have an abortion (they called it something else but it was taking some kind of drink) she is smart enough to know better but man I was mad cause it was just crazy how everything and everyone had a plot and secret agenda! Just read it for fun and not for historical accuracy. Part of this book was hot and sensual however there is a rape sense that is cringe worthy. Proceed with caution or better yet enter at your own risk!

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!}]

DNF on pg 50. *yawns*

[Hanife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu yorum aynı zamanda Romancekolikte yayınlanmıştır.


Kalbimin Tek Sahibi gibi historical romance türünde okuduğuklarımızı nazaran bambaşka bir kitap.Yazarın anlatımı ve kalemi gerçekten çok güçlü. O dönemi tüm gerçekliği, detaylı anlatımıyla okuyucunun önüne sürmesi, savaşların abartısız anlatımı benim açımdan güzeldi.

Jasmine karakteri sınırlarımı zorlayan hatta patlama nedenim olucak bir karakterdi. Alpha erkek modellerine zaafım var ve Falcon karakteri gönlümü çeldi açıkçası :) Kitap baştan sona akıcı,çarpıcı ve ilgi çekiciydi.

Konumuza gelirsek; Güzeller güzeli Jasmine bir aşk çocuğudur. Annesi onu doğururken ölmüş anneannesi tarafından prenses sanılarak büyütülmüştür. Anneannesi herkes tarafından büyücü olarak anılan biridir ve bu meziyetlerini Jasmine de öğretir. Kızın dillere detansı güzelliği yüzünden kendi kızını erkeklerden koruyamasada torununu korumayı kafaya takmıştır. Kızı erkeklere karşı feci doldurur.

Ama Jasmine bir gün köydeki gece şenliğine katılıp toplumun uçlarda gezinen hareketleri içerisinde zümrüt yeşili bir çift göze takılıp kalmış ve hayatını değiştiricek şeytanın ta kendisi olduğundan habersiz korkudan titriyordur.

Falcon yiğit, mert, gözü kara bir savaşçıdır. Askerlerine verdiği disiplin ve fetihleriyle anılır. Jasminenin kardeşleriyle sözlenmeye geldiği evde Jasmine'i gördükten sonra istediğinin "O" olduğunu farkına verir. Ve kendi kendine o kızı elde etmek için elinden geleni yapıcağına and içmiştir. Türlü entrika, savaşlar, yalanlar aralarına girsede katıksız arzuyla bahşedilmiş aşkları ayakta kalıcaktır.

Detaylı Yorum;


Kitabı tek tek incelemeye alırsak ilk başlarda çok güzel gidiyordu. Kızımızın oğluna Şeytan demesi itmesi felan gene o zamanlar pek koymuyordu. Çok inatçı bir kız ile karşı karşıyayız. Anneannesi öyle bir doldurmuş ki kızı düzeldiğine bile şükrettim. Falcon'un bir nevi yaramazlık edip kızımızla iş olmuşa getirip babasına baskı yapmasını beklemiyordum açıkçası.

Ama babası anneannesine topu atınca hah iş yokuşa sürüldü bunlar zor kavuşur dedim ve kafamda bu ikilinin kitap sonunda anca kavuşacağını kurdum ama nerde yazar beni defalarca yanılttı ! Bi tek "Be güzel yavrum niye aklını yoruyorsun o kadar oku sadece" demediği kaldı :D

Falcon'u aslında iki kişilik olarak ayırabiliriz. 1. Savaş Modu 2. Jasmine Modu :D 1. moddayken gözünü kan bürümüş önüne kralmı çıkmış hiç farketmez ezer geçer bir havada herşeyi katletmeye aç bir yaratık gibi. 2. modda ise sevmeye sevilmeye muhtaç ama bunu başkasına göstermeyecek kadar gururlu, kendi yöntemlerince eksikliği tamamlamaya çalışan anlayışlı,uyumlu ve sevecen bir insan.

Ben bir ara içine çift kişilik kaçmış düşüncelerindeydim şahsen :D Hele en başta kalesinin fethedilmesi haberiyle bir hışım gidip 3 günde kaleyi feth etmiş üstünede geri dönmüş olduğunu okuyunca korkulur bu adamdan dedim :D Jasmine nin üvey kız kardeşlerini işe fazla karıştırmaması iyi olmuş. Bir üvey kız kardeş sendromunu daha çekebilecek halde değildim şahsen. Öyle yada böyle kızımız sözleniyor ama dikbaşlılığından zerre ödün vermiyor. Neymiş efendim kraliçenin nedimelerinden biri olucakmış! Olduda noldu topuklarını kalçasına vura vura zor kaçtı Kalleş John'un elinden.

Adamın göz koymadığı bir dişi kalmadı. Hele ki o 12 yaşında ki kıza tecavüz olayı zaten son noktaydı adamı boğasım geldi. Önceden duyduğumdan şok olmadı benim için hiç değilse.. Bir ayrıntıda Robin Hood hikayesiydi :) O kısım gerçekten ilginçti. Bir an o ikilininde hikayesi olsa keşke diye düşündüm. Halbuki Robin Hood bilindik bir hikayedir ama yazar öyle bir anlatmış ki sanki yeni bir karaktermiş gibi.. Robin Hood da sevdiceğine kavuştu ama bizim Falcon sinirinden kudurdu bir güzel. Alalh için oralar çok zevkliydi:D Falconun sapkın düşüncelerini okudukça kahkahalar atasım geldi :D

Ama kızımızın habire onu hayvan hödük vs gibi şeyler itip kakması bir yerden sonra sinirimi bozmaya başladı. Ben bir yerden sonra yumuşar diye umuyordum ama nerde!! Katır inadı var ya :D Delirmemek elde değil :D Efenim bizim kız Kraliyet yaşamındaki şaşanın arkasındaki pisliği gördükçe o ortamdan uzaklaşsada artık bir kere batmıştır çamura.. Kontlardan biri bizim kıza göz koyar. Göz koyduğu gözleri çıkasıca işte. John da kızı evlendirmeden ona sahip olamıyacağını anlamıştır. Neticede Falconla evlendirse kızın yanına yanaşamıyacağını biliyor ve kont un kız için yüklü miktarda para vereceğininde farkındadır. Bir nevi onun için bir taşta iki kuştur.

Kızımızın dünyadan haberi yokken bir yandanda tarifsiz şekilde içindende bu yüzden kendine kızarak Falconu özlemektedir. Ne kadar adamı itsede onun dokunuş ve öpüşleri zihnine kazınmıştır. Düğünden bir gün önce John'un 14 yaşında kraliçe yaptığı ve azgınlığıyla tanınan kraliçemiz tarafından çağırılır. Ve evleniceği açıklanır. O dakikadan sonra kızımız oda hapsindedir. Falconun geride bıraktığı bir adamına zar zor haber vermişlerdir. Oda acil Falcona ulaşmaya çalışır ama yollar çok feci bozulmuştur. Falconla bir derenin karşı yakasında karşılaşırlar ama derenin azgın suları karşı tarafa geçit vermiyordur. Falcon Jasminenin evleniceği haberinden sonra biraz türk filmi tarzından" tutmayın beni uleyn" diyerekten atıyla karşıya geçer.

Bu arada saatler yaklaşmış ve evlilik vakti gelmiştir. Gelinimiz pis kontuyla evlenir... Ben açıkçası gene biraz türk filmi vari tam evlenicekler iken "Durun bu düğün yapılamaz" diye Falconun giriş yapmasını beklerdim. Evlendiklerinde yetmedi düğün gecesi için odaya çekildiklerinde ağzım açık kaldı. Ama kızımıza bir zeval gelmeden Falcon yetti o daş gibi geniş omuzlarıyla kapıya omuz atarak kırdı kızımızı alıp Kral John un aforoz edilmesi ve kızın düğününe katıldığından evliliğin geçersiz sayıldığını söyleyerek kızla kendi evlendi. Kızı bir an önce kendisinin yaparak iç huzura ereceğini sanma gafletinde bulunarak kıza bir nevi zorla sahip oldu. Hele kanıyla yatağı damgalaması ileride kendi ağzıylada belirttiği gibi hayvancaydı...

Hele herşey bitti gidecekler kız yerinden kıpırdamıyor Falcon bilerek kızdırdığında Jasminenin ayağa fırlaması çok komikti :D Toparlanıyor baya bir süre at sürdükten sonra karşılarına Robin Hoodumuz çıkıyor ve minnetinin karşılığı bir gecelik sığınak sunuyor. Orada bir gece konakladıktan sonra baya bir yolculuk üzerine kızın babasında bulunduğu Falconun bir tanıdığının yanına gidip gecelik konaklıyorlar :D Falcon kıza ne kadar yumuşak davransada nafile, bir kere kız onun vahşi tarafını görmüştür..

Falcona çok acıdım kitabın ortalarından bile fazlasına kadar... Senin arzulayıp uğruna ölüceğin kadın sana karşı bir dirhem duygu hissetmiyor. İnsana çok koyucak bir şey. Neyse buradan da artık Falconun şatosuna geçerler ama arada gururu yerlerde merdaneyle çiğnenmiş kontumuz peşine 5 tane asker takmıştır emme velakin Falcon anında onları devre dışı bırakıp kızıda bir odaya tıkmıştır o arada :D Kız sabah çemkirmeye başlar beni boğdun o arada :D

Adam işlerini hallederken bir hizmetçi yerinizde olsam bu adamı sinirlendirmezdim hanımım dün sizi kaçırmaya gelen 5 adamı öldürdü der ama bizim kız inanmaz :D Falconun onun için bir şey yapıcağını inanmak istemiyordur. En sonunda kaleye ulaşırlar ama Falcon savaş ganimeti olarak oraya bıraktığı kendini Falconun metresi sanan yılanı unutmuştur. Falcon Jasmine nin peşinden koşuyor Jasmine itiyordur. Metres olucak yılan ise boşluğu doldurup hem cinsleri gibi sarılp bırakmıyordur ama Falcon ihanet etmez karısına..

1 ay böylelikle geçmiştir ve metres bozuntusu hamile kalıp kendini yamamak istesede emeline ulaşamaz ve bizim Jasmine hamiledir :D Kızımız düşürme fikri aklından geçmezken anneannesi olucak kadın düşürücü ilaçlar vermeye çalışır ama başarısız olur :D Bizim kız soluğu bu ihaneti yapanların yanında bulur ve bu bebeği nolursa olsun doğurcağını söyler :D Falcon gurur duymuş ve duygulanmıştır. Çünkü bir çocuk sahibi olmak istiyordur. Helede sevdiği kadından. İşleri karıştıran büyükannedir kendi kızı güçsüz diye doğumda ölmüş olduğundan torununa aynı şeyin olmasını istemez ama Jasmine inatçıdır.

Bu olaydan sonra Falconu gene itsede adam hep ona geliyordur bir keresinde tam anında odaya metresi girer bizim kızımız kadının yerini bilmesi gerektiğini düşündüğünden gördüğüne sevinmiştir. Falcon kara kara düşünüp 1 aylık evliliğinde karısını hiç tanımadığını ve onun kendisine ısınmadığını bu olayı nasıl düzelticeğini düşünür. Bir gün hizmetçilerden odaya 3 günlük erzak taşımalarını kızın hizmetçisindende kızın kişisel eşyalarını kendi odasına taşımasını ister. Bizim kız bunu duyunca soluğu adamın odasında alır ve fare tuzağa düşmüştür :D

Kapılar kapanır ve Falconun oyunu başlar. Kızın ve kendi elbiselerini çıkartıp odadan atar :D 3 gün boyunca çıplak kalıcaklardır. Jasmine bu olay karşısında şok olsada kısa sürede yelkenleri koyverir ve kendini aşık olurken bulur. Zaman çok çabuk geçmiş bizim kızın doğum vakti gelmiştir. Şok bir şekilde ikiz doğurur :D

Bizim çiftinde hayatı bol sevgiyle dolup taşar ama her güzel şeye elbet gölge düşer. Kral John Falcona mal vermesi karşılığı ikizleri rehin almak istiyordur. Tabiki de Jasmine ölürde böyle bir şeye izin vermez. Kaçıp John a gider kendisini çocukları yerine sunar. Ama planıda vardır adamı iktidarsız yapıp herhangi bir şeyden kendini korumuştur. Hemen oradan kaçar ama yakalanmıştır. Verdiği zehir onu öldürmesede anneannesinin katkısıyla kral ölür.

Ölmeden kral onu yatağa bağlayıp kamçılamıştır. Falcon onu kurtarmaya geldiğinde bu halde bulur ve eve gidene kadar tek kelime konuşmaz. Kızımızda için için kahroluyordur. Zira kocasına kati süratle ihanet etmemiştir. İlk gece çocuklarıyla kalmak istemiştir Jasmine o yüzden kocasının yüzünü görmez ama ikinci gece odalarına girdiğinde ikiside birbirleri olmadan yapamıcaklarının farkındalığıyla tutunacak tek dalları olan aşklarına sığınmışlardır.....

[Auj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably my least favorite book by Virginia Henley that I've read. It was because of the heroine Jasmine. She was annoying for most of the book (until she finally enjoyed sex w Falcon!), and I couldn't see what he saw in her for most of the book besides her angelic beauty. She resisted Falcon's physical entreaties for most of the book! I thought she would never enjoy the sex between them.
I had just read Virginia Henley's "The Raven and the Rose" right before this, and the heroine Roseanna resisted the hero too for some time, one reason being that she thought she was in love with another man, but when they finally consummated their marriage, it was all good between them & they both took great pleasure in the bedroom. Jasmine didn't have any sort of that excuse. I don't know what her problem was; she seemed very afraid of sex & men and maybe of losing herself by enjoying the sex that she would start craving Falcon as he did her? (Her grandmother seemed to have taught her to hate men like the grandmother did.) I don't want to sound misogynistic, but like I want the heroines I read about to like having sex with the heroes...Another thing that annoyed me was that she would go into her head when he would have sex with her. It sounds equivalent to a woman detaching her mind from her body in order to endure rape!
Last but not least, she bit him once on his wound when they were having sex! Yo, she could have damaged something. Just terrible.

Then, when he locked her in their room for 3 days, she suddenly became responsive & passionate towards him. I saw the signs of it happening beforehand, but her quick acquiescence might have been too much of a turnaround to be completely believable.

Earlier, Jasmine was dumb enough to pick up a leopard/lynx/who know's baby cub and I was thinking to myself, you can do that? Then, of course, Falcon had to kill the mother which bit him and could have killed him. Then, Jasmine persuaded him to let the cub be her pet! Hmm?? She also had a pet bird, which got drunk in the beginning of the book (funny but absurd), and a hedgehog, which was all just very strange and unrealistic seeming.

Omg this quote: funny how they're talking about the animals as if they're men!

Jasmine confessed, “Feather got dead drunk again and I was afraid Quill might forage for him.”

“Mmm,” said Estelle, pursing her lips. “Typical male behavior.”



Falcon was a great hero, but for most of the book, I felt like she did not deserve him. He could have had her legitimate half-sisters, who were actually trained in the ways of keeping a castle & being a wife, but no, he chose her for her beauty. Her half-sisters were more than willing to sleep with him! In fact, so many women found him desirable he could have had any of them! Yet Jasmine continued to be incredibly unresponsive in bed.

Yeah, what can I say...Jasmine was just disappointing as a heroine & I'm not really sure why Virginia Henley wrote her that way, because as you can see by the other reviews, I'm not the only one who felt this way. The story would have been a lot better if Jasmine had responded to him, had been less annoying, etc.
Falcon obviously never learned to not hit a woman, but since she hit him first, I didn't really mind. And she was so infuriating I understood the desire!

I felt a little bad for King John when he died wow, Estelle actually poisoned him! because no one was sad & barely anyone liked him, which is sad too. Why in "Raven and the Rose" and this book both heroines were love children of kings/their sons (Roseanna in the R & R technically had more royal blood) and both their uncles wished to bed them? What's up with that?
I don't think I've ever read a historical romance from the time of England under King John (of the Magna Carta)--I've read far more, besides regency romances, that occurred during the time of King Edward IV, so this was interesting for me to read about.

I also liked the whole touch of astrology. Basically, King John had an astrologer. This is the second Virginia Henley book I've read that mentions astrology. The author herself is a Sagittarius, so of course, all her heroines are Sags too *rolls eyes*. The ironic thing is that Jasmine was SO not a Sagittarius lol. The author seems to have a thing for fire sign men too, because her hero in the other book was a Leo & Falcon was an Aries (which actually did fit him well). The astrologer also gave lengthy descriptions of a few signs, which was interesting. Obviously, if the author really knew astrology, she would know that there are not just Sun signs, but oh well, the effort is appreciated.

I don't know why, because I had a few problems with this book, but I see myself rereading this someday.

[Lady Whitbrooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I may slightly rant...... this author is extremely talented however here are a few reasons why this one is shy of 5 stars!
* I can tolerate a little angst but I was ready to slap the heroine silly till like 80% I mean enough of being a brat is enough.
* also maybe I am traditional but once the H and h are somewhat committed in this case betrothed I don’t like them sleeping around 👎
* it seemed to drag a little in a few spots with a lot of “fill in info”
* and lastly they where intimate MANY times before the h even remotely acted like she enjoyed it! REALLY 😳
Other than that 😂😂ha ha it was as a very good book and after about 80% it was quite fabulous. Definitely with the read!!
P.S. I loved Falcon alpha male 💯

[Misfit]

Despite some questionable historical howlers like velvet and William Marshal being the Earl of Pembroke during Richard's reign, I was willing to try, if only for the snark. I do realize that this was written back-in-the-day and historical accuracy, particularly in romances, wasn't such a bugaboo as it is today, but when this happened the book hit the virtual wall and is being returned to the library pronto. Using the spoiler tag for those who don't want to read the offensive language.

“I know what you’ve come for tonight,” he said, closing the distance between them in three long strides. “You’ve come to be fucked.

[Shirlene]

Jasmine was daughter the King Henry II's illegitimate son. Her mother had died in childbirth and she had been very small and sickly. She was given to her grandmother, Estelle, to raise. She was now almost 18. She considered to small to become a wife and mother so she was raised in the arts of music, painting, botany, writing, poetry and magic. She did tricks her grandmother taught her not because she believed in magic but to give people hope that what they wished for would come true. One evening saw a darkly forbidding man in her magic ball that made her think of the Devil.
Falcon De Burgh and others were gathered to discuss the protection of their land because King Richard was often engaged in a battle elsewhere. Richard preferred battles to ruling his kingdom and would do anything to get richer. Falcon became a trusted friend of William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury, King Richard's half brother, by fighting along side him. King Richard had been wounded and they traveled toward London and William asked Falcon to watch over Salisbury in his absence. The earl told him that he had 2 daughters and Falcon was welcome to choose one to become his bride. The earl had told Falcon that he needed a bride to take care of the land he was acquiring. Falcon was surprised that they were both beautiful and very capable women. He told the earl that he would not have another man for a father-in-law but didn't know which to choose.
Jasmine had snuck out one evening to hide and watch a ceremony taking place at Stonehenge and saw that most of what was going on was naked men and women having sex. Falcon and his men were camping nearby and the horses were restless. Falcon heard noises and went to investigate. He met Jasmine there but knew she wasn't participating and let her go.
Not much more time passed when her grandmother had a vision of King Richard dying and his youngest brother, John, becoming the next king. Jasmine and her grandmother headed to Salisbury to tell Jasmine's father. She was riding in the woods as Falcon and his men were returning from hunting wolves when he saw her. He chased her and she fainted when she saw him again. She told him when she woke up that she thought he was the Devil.
Falcon took her back to the castle and found out that she was a third daughter to Salisbury and asked for her to be his wife. Salisbury told him that was fine by him if her grandmother agreed. Salisbury convinced her grandmother that it would in her best interest to agreed, he threatened to kill her, and it was done. Jasmine tore up the first contract but her grandmother convinced her to use Falcon to get to court which was her desire.
King Richard died and John became king. Jasmine had gone to John's wife, Avisa, to become a lady in waiting only to find out that John divorced her. Jasmine was also surprised to find out that Avisa was having an affair with Falcon's uncle. He wanted to marry her when John took a 14 yr old wife but John had decreed that she marry someone else upon their divorce.
Jasmine had been raised by her grandmother to hate men so she pushed Falcon but only so far as he would allow. She did run her mouth too far at times and this had earned her a slap from him as well as a spanking when she told him she hated him. Falcon had told her not to go to Avisa but she ran away anyhow. An attempt was made to kidnap her on the way there. Falcon killed the man who arranged it and took his castle. The people of the Hagthorn castle were thrilled to have lost their abusive leader. Falcon and Jasmine stopped back by the castle to help the people for a few days on their way back to Salisbury. Falcon had gone to bring Jasmine home since Avisa was no longer to be queen. Jasmine then went to London with her grandmother to serve the new queen Isabella. She had thought to be away for a year but Falcon gave her three months until his return.
Jasmine's eyes were opened to a lot when she arrived in London. The new queen was young, vain, self indulgent and in love with herself much as King John was. They took note that John suffered from seizures the first night they ate with him. Estelle gave him some herbs to calm him and the king was quickly convinced that she was invaluable to him.
John's way of ruling was all about money. He paid mercenaries to fight his battles for him. He settled disputes by who paid him the highest amount of money. He decided who was to receive heiresses as wives by how much money they paid him. Widows were assigned husbands and had to pay him if they wanted out. He arrested Jews and large sums of money had to be paid for their freedom. The cities had to pay bribes. The barons were outraged. Their wives belonged to the king at his request. The king then turned to their daughters. Their sons were taken away as hostages and used to keep the men under his control. Jasmine had caught the king's eye and Estelle and Falcon did what they had to do to keep her away from him. John didn't care that it would be incest to take his own niece.
Falcon was ordered to take John north to sign a treaty with Scotland and Jasmine traveled with the queen. Jasmine made plans with Estelle to stay away from the queens bedchamber. Estelle taught her how to read Tarot cards. She changed her status with the queen by doing this and was now in charge of readings to tell her future. Jasmine was afraid of the king and went to the Falcon when needed for protection from the king as they traveled to Nottingham.
Before the journey began, Jasmine had noticed Mary-Ann FitzWalter and approached her. Mary-Ann told Jasmine that the man she loved, Robert, Lord of Huntingdon, had killed Roger de Longchamp for kidnaping her, in an attempt to make her his bride. Roger was a friend of King John and the king had Robert declared an outlaw and stripped him of his lands and title. It was the same thing that Falcon had done for her at Hagthorn only Falcon had stripped the man he killed of his lands.
Falcon's squire told him he had seen a man seen leaving Jasmine's room late one night. Robert had come to see Mary-Ann and they learned that he had been nicknamed Robin Hood. Falcon was jealous and angry when he found out about the visit. Jasmine had gone to see Falcon and learned that the king had ordered the knights in Nottingham to enter Sherwood Forest on a manhunt for Robin Hood. Jasmine had ridden into the forest to warn Robert. The hunt didn't result in any outlaws being found and many decided the story of Robin Hood was a myth. Falcon's squire, Gervase, was hit by an arrow from close range as they ended the manhunt. Falcon believed Robin Hood, as Jasmine's lover, had meant the arrow for him. Falcon took Gervase to Estelle for her help and he survived. He had about given up on taking Jasmine for a wife due to his continued fighting with her and the things he was feeling. He had forgotten that Jasmine was sharing a room with Mary-Ann. He watched her room that night until Robin snuck in. They fought until Robin submitted and then he learned that Mary-Ann was the one he was coming to visit. Robin told him that one of the kings friends, Ranulf de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, had fired the arrow.
During dinner the previous night, the king sat with Ranulf who offered to purchase his niece. John decided to sell her with the understanding that she would be his to sleep with once they were married. John had gone to Jasmine and took her hand and offered it to Ranulf. Falcon was angered when he saw the handling of Jasmine but didn't understand it's meaning. The next morning found Mary-Ann and her maid missing.
Estelle was called to the king's bedchamber one morning and found the dead body of Mary-Ann's 12 yr old sister in the king's bed. She told the king that she would take care of the body and she had his squire deliver the body to her family back in Nottingham. The king's squire, Will Marshal would never return to court.
Isabelle was finding excuses to throw Jasmine and Ranulf together as Falcon traveled further north with the king. John returned to Nottingham and gave Isabelle 24 hours to be ready to leave. Falcon had been given the Scottish princesses to care for and he took them to his father rather than to have them in care of the king because of his reputation with young girls. John had accepted money from Ranulf to marry Jasmine in secret told Ranulf that Isabelle would plan the secret wedding. Jasmine was told of her wedding the day before it was to happen and she tried to get away but guards were placed at her's and her grandmother's door. Falcon's Gervase set off to find Falcon and they met with Falcon already on his way. Gervase told him about Jasmine's impending wedding to Ranulf and Falcon swam across a flooded river in an attempt to reach her before the ceremony.
Falcon arrived in Gloucester to find Jasmine wed to Chester. He woke up the bishop and told him that John had been excommunicated by the Pope and since he attended the wedding, it was invalid. He drug the bishop to Chester's room and forced him to wed Jasmine to himself while leaving Chester tied up. Falcon consummated the marriage and headed to his home called Mountain Ash. They were followed but escaped through the forest aided by Robin Hood and his men. They arrived the next day where they were met by Jasmine's father, Salisbury along with England's marshal and judge. The men with Falcon all left to confront John about his actions and told John that he should be more concerned with getting an heir of his own than what he had been doing to others. Salisbury was disgusted to find out that Isabella had just come of age to have a child.
Falcon took Jasmine, now 19, to Mountain Ash in Wales. Jasmine refused to yield to Falcon and when they made love she took herself to a place in her mind where she didn't feel anything and didn't respond to Falcon. His castle was attacked by a Welshman and Falcon used Morganna, his captive, to gain knowledge of where the stolen possessions were being held. Jasmine became enraged when she thought she was Falcon's whore. This told Falcon that she was jealous and he had Gervase lock them together in his room for 3 days to convince her that he loved her. She was already pregnant and she wanted the baby. Estelle had arrived and tried to cause Jasmine abort the baby but Jasmine found out and told both her and Falcon that she wanted to keep it. Morganna tried to cause an accident but she was thrown out of the castle. Jasmine ended up having twin sons in late May. Jasmine had admitted her love for Falcon by this time.
Falcon had received a note from an uncle William in Ireland requesting aid in fighting the Irish to keep his lands and the king had requested help with the Irish too. Falcon decided to let King John pay for his going to Ireland. The king also had an heir now and Chester was preparing to marry.
Falcon took his family to Ireland and he fell in love with the country. Falcon's uncle was dying and he went to see King John. King John asked for his sons as well as Falcon's to hold in ransom for their loyalty. Falcon's uncle William sent his sons to Castle Rising, and Jasmine snuck out with them. The king had sent her a note that he would accept her in exchange for her sons. Falcon's uncle who had raised him was there and he was now married to Avisa. Their spouses had both died. They were preparing to leave before the king, who was on his way, arrived.
Jasmine was there to greet the king knowing that Estelle was with him. She had a vile of hemlock with her that she gave the king to prevent him from getting an erection and raping her. Falcon was on his way to her. She ended up escaping with Estelle the next day but the king followed her. His men that where with him thought he was telling them to go where he did. They had the crown jewels with him because he was afraid of their being stolen and they got too close to the water and were caught in the tide.
The king caught them and they were taken to a monastery. The king started to whip Jasmine and had hit her when they were interrupted by Estelle. She gave the king some medicine for his epilepsy and it was poison from the inside of a peach pit. King John died of the poison and they got away. Falcon was there to take them home.
They didn't talk while they went through a storm to arrive back in Ireland. Jasmine was determined to keep away from Falcon because she had found out that Morganna had returned and she thought with the Falcon's child. He told her that he was insulted that she would think that and she told him of what she did to the king. They laughed about it and ended up back together in bed. Each forgave the other and he knew she would be a good match and always a challenge to him. They would stay and build their family in Ireland.

[HannaFurukawa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Virginia Henley's Enslaved is one of my favorite novels. It's the type of novel that leaves an impression on you. Sad to say, this is a disappointment. I loved how it started out, I found the introduction of the main characters intriguing. I was hoping that Jasmine would show some affection towards Falcon as I kept reading the book (she never really did show any). It was frustrating to read the whole story and I guess the only reason I even kept going was in the hopes that she would begin to return some of the attraction Falcon felt for her. But no -she was an uptight bitch the whole time. Normally plots of shy,virginal, fragile heroines appeal to me. But Jasmine takes virginal and fragile to a whole new level! I was starting to think that she'd never enjoy sex no matter how much they did it! Their love scenes are more like rape scenes. She'd apparently go to this happy place in her head whenever they have sex. All she ever did was reflect on how horrible men are and cringe when Falcon would touch her. She was whiny, self-centered, judgmental, selfish...I could go on and on about her character. I wouldn't suggest anyone to read this unless they like heroines that are prudes for probably the whole part of the book.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

he rapes her. she's crying and begging him to stop and he rapes her and acts like he needs to do it. if he was so "in love" with her he wouldn't rape her. he wouldn't constantly threaten to beat her. what reasons did he give her to fall in love with him?
he fucking rapes her on their wedding night.
fuck him. this is disgusting. I need to take a shower after reading this trash.
the only reason they're even together is because he's the "best" suitor in some bizarre hell dimension of terrible rapist pedophilic child-murdering assholes.
how is he any different from the guy who forces her to marry him?

and again with the cutting of the hair. what is it with this author and hacking off women's hair?

I don't know why I keep reading these authors and expecting a nice romance with a nice hero and just nice stuff. why can't we have nice things? this is why I guess. ugh. so disgusted with this author.

well, never again.

[Lahn's Dahksahna · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5 stars....I have honestly never hated a heroine more! Like i kept reading hoping it would get better but it didn't it gradually got worse. I couldn't understand why she was so mean to the hero. He saves her from being raped, marries her and the things that came out of her mouth were vile and cruel and she never really developed at the end. There was also no real explanation for her cruelty. The author explains it as never being around men but i dont think it was efficient to explain such horrid behavior.

[LJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER - Poor
Henley, Virginia - 1st in Medieval Plantagenet series

Raised in a world without men, alluring Jasmine vows never to surrender to any man. Yet suddenly she finds herself caught between a king's penchant for virgins and a 13th-century warrior's oath to conquer her unyielding heart.

Frightened virgin in the first 3/4 of the story suddenly becomes a passionate lover. Awful.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read 4 1/2 stars. Tired with h behaviour towards H.

1st read 5 stars

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

#142 for 2018

[Netha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine, puteri dari love child of King Richard's half brother, hidup bersama neneknya estelle di tower.
hidup jasmine sangat dilindungi karna kondisinya yg fragile apalagi postur tubuh jasmine yg memang kecil membuat semua menganggap jasmine lemah ditambah ibunda jasmine yg meninggal sehabis melahirkan jasmine.

bertahun2 hidup jasmine terisolir sampai dia bertemu Falcon de Burgh, A wickedly handsome warrior who lived by blood and the sword.
falcon langsung jatuh cinta pd jasmine & langsung melamar jasmine tanpa peduli apapun walaupun banyak yg memperingatkannya tak mungkin jasmine bisa memberikan keturunan pada falcon tp falcon tidak perduli.

jasmine sendiri tidak setuju menikah dengan falcon. dia menolak berhubungan intim dengan suaminya.
bahkan jasmine tidur ditempat yg berbeda dengan falcon.
tiap apapun yg dilakukan falcon yg mengarah pd cumbuan hanya membuat jasmine makin memberontak.
ngomong2 soal sex. aq ga suka gimana cara falcon memuaskan nafsunya.
yeah taulah falcon mempunyai nafsu yg besar tp dia menempatkan mistressnya 1 atap dengan jasmine.
jasmine berulang kali harus melihat suaminya dimiliki oleh wanita lain.
tau kalo jasmine pun tidak menunaikan kewajibannya sbg seorang istri tp tidak berarti falcon bisa spt itu khan???
aq ga ngerti kenapa falcon ga ada sensitif2nya sama sekali.
dia ga mau nglepasin jasmine tp dia sendiri berulang kali menyakiti hati jasmine.

untungnya terlepas dari her delicate & fragile figure, jasmine bukanlah wanita yg diam saja jika tidak suka.
dia berani membantah falcon juga sang nenek.
falcon kesulitan menghadapi sifat pemberontak jasmine.
jasmine juga tidak ragu2 mendepak falcon dari kamarnya :D
jasmine pun tidak kenal takut walo semua orang ingin dia menggugurkan kandungnya tp dia ngotot mempertahankan kehamilannya.

jasmine sebenarnya suka pd falcon tp dia terbiasa melawan falcon hehehehe go jasmine
tp setidaknya diawal2 kehamilannya dia sudah bisa menerima kasih sayang falcon.
falcon pun menyingkirkan his mistress dari hadapan jasmine.
ya iyalah secara jasmine udah ngadain upacara kutukan buat si mistress.

mistress tersingkir, jasmine sudah bisa menerima falcon.
jasmine sudah melahirkan 2 putera kembar bagi falcon, michael & rikhard tp cerita belum happy end ya.

falcon pergi berperang eh jasmine diancam sama king john, her own uncle.
bahkan si john mau nge rape ponakannya sendiri
ya ampun tega banget sih????

lha si falcon juga tau2 salah paham trus nampar jasmine
ih KDRT donk kalo gitu
falcon kejam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

novel2 VH walo cowoqnya sangar2 & ceweqnya mungil2 tp gaya bahasanya tidak berbelit2 jadi suka deh bacanya
susahnya buku2 VH yg ku dapat dah kuning2 halamannya jd termiris2 deh >_<

[Elisabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uhhhh

So you wanna know how you get the girl, according to this book?
Step 1: Have a cocky, domineering attitude and command many people.
Step 2: Have property
Step 3: If she gets harassed by someone, simply kill them
Step 4: Speaking of harassment, it's fine if you do it. Have at it, bud.
Step 5: Get on good terms with her dad. Make sure he hero worships you.
Step 6: Force her into a marriage contract. Women love marriage contracts.
Step 7: Despite the fact you two are only engaged, sexually harass her... a lot. Even when she says "no" to your advances. ESPECIALLY if she says "no."
Step 8: If anyone tries to buy her from under your nose, just come get her and rape her so she'll be less valuable or desirable. You were gonna marry her anyway, so it's ok to take her virginity without consent.
Step 9: If she's resentful about how you treat her in and out of the bedroom, lock her in a room with you for three days and keep her nude the whole time. By the third day, she'll practically beg for a fourth day.
Step 10: if she's not totally all over you all the time, it's ok to get a side chick. Just blame her for not being available enough for you.
Step 11: Forgot to mention, beating her is totally fine if she gets mouthy with you.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trashy romance for the win!

Henley isn't very creative with her adjectives and I think I read "she was restless as a lioness" and "the slab of muscle of his chest" about 4 times but the dialogue is pretty good. Got pretty good insight into Falcon's head but Jasmine was a bit irritating. Took a while to get used to Henley's style of writing: one minute we're in England, the next paragraph we're in France; one paragraph where in Jasmine's head, the next we're in Falcon's. All the fighting and stubbornness was getting a bit tired but I guess that's the 12th century for you.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what a traditional bodice ripper is supposed to be: outrageous, naughty, completely non-PC. Lots of historical detail and the sumptuous descriptions in between all the rude bits made it a racingly fast read.

[✩Mannie✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE IT!! RTC

[Megan Kling]

This was a SLOG. FMC was childish and annoying, MMC cheats because he’s just soooo lusty, way too many royals to keep track of. A STRUGGLE.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non mi sento di dare più di 2 stelle: troppo lamentosa la protagonista, lui inspiegabilmente innamorato di lei.
Qualche schiaffone di troppo.
Passiamo oltre

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SOLID 3.5 STARS!

I GET THAT A MAJORITY OF READERS WOULD LIKE TO MURDER THE HEROINE IN THIS STORY, AND I ASK MYSELF WHY I PUT MYSELF THROUGH THIS TORTURE? BECAUSE I AM A SUCKER FOR THE KIND OF ANGST IT PROVIDES...AND ALSO PERHAPS I HAVE MASOCHISTIC TENDENCIES. LOL.

OUR HERO is actually the gem of the story despite it all. There is some cheating involved on his side, and i won't even begin to justify his reasons for it. Just know that the moment he clasped eyes on the heroine, he's utterly besotted but not in that insta love kind of way. Insta lust YES. But, I have to give him much credit because to pair him with such a cold and shrewish heroine, I will commend that he does have the patience of a Saint and it speaks volumes of why he allows her to treat him as such. For a powerful man, he lets Jasmine wind him around her finger especially when she never GOT WET for him. The poor man. And a good lesson for his womanizing ways too. Though for all his ways, he never once let another man touch Jasmine, he definitely protects what's his and he surprisingly gives more in the relationship compared to his wife, contrary to what Jasmine thinks.

OUR HEROINE is a definite spoilt, immature and honestly stupid woman. She is prone to hysterical fits, and frankly I think this is why men don't respect women in the medieval eras if they were all harpies. Honestly if Jasmine didn't look like an enchanting fae beauty, no one would have appreciated her for who she was...because her personality was absolutely abhorrent. I totally hated the way she rejected having sex with Falcon even after marriage....she just never gave him a chance to introduce her to sex...even if they had to hastily consummate their wedding because of an enemy. In a nutshell, I just hated how she judged Falcon and set her ways to hate and thwart him every moment when her heart knew he would undoubtedly protect her from any harm. THAT should have been a wake up call for her BUT no...she had to throw hissy fits and be all dramatic. GOOD GOD!

OVERALL I did liked the ending however. Falcon and Jasmine were unbearably sweet when he finally locked them in their chamber for three nights and finally had some proper sex where she actually GOT WET for him! I know! Unbelievable!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! This story will make your temper rise and fall!

[Coral · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Virginia Henley’s deep dives into history combined with bonkers romance. This book has less history and more of the bonkers romance and it suffers with that imbalance.
Firstly, the “hero” is a straight up rapist. It’s not even a gray area here. I couldn’t deal with his desire for ownership of the heroine.
The heroine has several too stupid to live moments, but I did like that she fought for herself and used her magic (oh yeah there’s magic in this one) to help her.
I finished but it was a struggle.

[Bambi Unbridled · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Virginia Henley, but I did not like this book. Jasmine was horrible throughout. She never showed any growth - she was a selfish spoiled brat to the very end. The only reason this book didn't get a 1 star rating is because I liked Falcon's character. I would be interested to know if the voluptary aspects of King John and Queen Isabella are true.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far I have liked this author's romances.

Back Cover Blurb:
This book is the love story between Falcon de Burgh and Jasmine of Salisbury.

[Senem Özgün · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaç kez okudum seni bilmiyorum ama sor bana doydum mu :D
Hayırrrr <3
MUHTEŞEMDİ...