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The Emma of Normandy Trilogy #1
Shadow on the Crown
A rich tale of power and forbidden love revolving around a young medieval queen
In 1002, fifteen-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son.
Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life.
Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the perfect antidote to Tudor fatigue, Shadow on the Crown is packed with nonstop action, romance, and plenty of deliciously creepy Gothic flavor.
In 1002, fifteen-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son.
Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life.
Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the perfect antidote to Tudor fatigue, Shadow on the Crown is packed with nonstop action, romance, and plenty of deliciously creepy Gothic flavor.
413 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2013
602 people are currently reading
12474 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Bracewell
8 books521 followersPatricia Bracewell grew up in Los Angeles where her love of stories led to college degrees in Literature, a career as a high school English teacher, and a yearning to write. Her first novel, Shadow on the Crown, about the 11th century queen of England, Emma of Normandy, was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Price of Blood, appeared in 2015. The final book of her Emma of Normandy Trilogy, The Steel Beneath the Silk will be published March 2, 2021.
Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California. Look for her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaBrac... and on Instagram as Patabrace.
Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California. Look for her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaBrac... and on Instagram as Patabrace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 791 reviews
March 2, 2022
The Middle Ages are a fascinating time in England’s history. To the reader looking back, it seems as though there were many things that could have disturbed the evolution of what we know as modern England today. What if the Viking raids had been more successful? What if there had been no King Alfred of Wessex? And all those kings afterward? What if they had been less successful? This novel follows King Aethelred who comes into power at the tender age of 12, when his older half-brother, Edward is murdered. History speculates that it was Aethelred’s mother who ordered the assassination. Patricia Bracewell trades a lot on that speculation in this novel. But the key figure in this historical fiction novel is Aethelred’s second wife, Emma of Normandy, sister of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. Bracewell reckons Emma to have been around the age of 15 when she marries Aethelred, who would have been in his thirties by then and the father of ten children. The body of his first wife having barely cooled, it is a political marriage, designed to keep raiding Danes at bay. It is thought that Richard II has some persuasive influence on the Danes.
I enjoyed Patricia Bracewell’s weaving of story around the bones of this history. She is an excellent writer who engages my interest from the beginning when Emma is still at home with her mother, Gunnor, and her brother, Richard II, as well as her older sister, Mathilde. As Mathilde is older, she should have been the one to wed King Aethelred, but Mathilde’s health is not the best, so Emma is chosen. Her mother tells Emma that she has more strength than her older sister and that it will be needed. When Emma arrives in a strange land with her ladies and a contingent of men chosen as her guards, she is received by a cold, often cruel husband. This is a gritty story, marked by violence perpetrated against the vulnerable, especially women and children. Emma’s value depended upon her ability to bear children. And if she should bear sons? What then of the King’s older sons?
Swein Forkbeard, the Danish King is King Aethelred’s arch enemy. He proves to be a fearsome foe that Aethelred may underestimate. The threat of raids is a constant worry and hangs over the people, even though Aethelred may be unprepared for them.
I’ve been looking for a book series that might engage me enough to read more than just the first book. I think this one fits the bill. The prose is descriptive without being overwhelming, the setting and time period intriguing, and the characters are arresting.
The TV series ‘The Last Kingdom’ chronicles events that precede those of this novel by one hundred years. I tried to read Bernard Cornwell’s books on which that series is based, but they were a little dry to my taste. Perhaps too much history, not enough fiction. This novel is just right. There’s enough history here that I feel I’m learning something but the fictional embellishments kept me from being bored.
Addendum: The TV series Vikings: Valhalla opens with the Saint Brice Massacre, an event covered in this novel, along with its repercussions.
I enjoyed Patricia Bracewell’s weaving of story around the bones of this history. She is an excellent writer who engages my interest from the beginning when Emma is still at home with her mother, Gunnor, and her brother, Richard II, as well as her older sister, Mathilde. As Mathilde is older, she should have been the one to wed King Aethelred, but Mathilde’s health is not the best, so Emma is chosen. Her mother tells Emma that she has more strength than her older sister and that it will be needed. When Emma arrives in a strange land with her ladies and a contingent of men chosen as her guards, she is received by a cold, often cruel husband. This is a gritty story, marked by violence perpetrated against the vulnerable, especially women and children. Emma’s value depended upon her ability to bear children. And if she should bear sons? What then of the King’s older sons?
Swein Forkbeard, the Danish King is King Aethelred’s arch enemy. He proves to be a fearsome foe that Aethelred may underestimate. The threat of raids is a constant worry and hangs over the people, even though Aethelred may be unprepared for them.
I’ve been looking for a book series that might engage me enough to read more than just the first book. I think this one fits the bill. The prose is descriptive without being overwhelming, the setting and time period intriguing, and the characters are arresting.
The TV series ‘The Last Kingdom’ chronicles events that precede those of this novel by one hundred years. I tried to read Bernard Cornwell’s books on which that series is based, but they were a little dry to my taste. Perhaps too much history, not enough fiction. This novel is just right. There’s enough history here that I feel I’m learning something but the fictional embellishments kept me from being bored.
Addendum: The TV series Vikings: Valhalla opens with the Saint Brice Massacre, an event covered in this novel, along with its repercussions.
March 31, 2013
Shadow on the Crown is the first in a trilogy based on the life of Emma of Normandy. I'm feeling lazy today and other reviewers here have recapped everything nicely, so I'll pass on another rehash.
I thought this was a solid effort from a first time writer, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Having read Helen Hollick's The Forever Queen (also published as A Hollow Crown), I was already familiar with the basics of Emma's life, but since there are so many gaps in the historical records it was fun to have another author's take on the *what if* parts, and a huge thumbs up to the author's notes at the end letting the reader know when she did that. I really liked who Bracewell chose to portray Elfgiva (sp?), and I think I know who she ends up with in her later years, but I didn't read online too much to avoid spoiling myself.
Shadow on the Crown ends when Emma gives birth to her first child, Edward (later to be known as Edward the Confessor). There's still a whole lot of story to be told though, so I am very much looking forward to books two and three. My only cautionary note would be that if you've recently read Hollick's book on Emma, I would recommend putting some space between these two books to avoid too much been-there-done-that.
I thought this was a solid effort from a first time writer, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Having read Helen Hollick's The Forever Queen (also published as A Hollow Crown), I was already familiar with the basics of Emma's life, but since there are so many gaps in the historical records it was fun to have another author's take on the *what if* parts, and a huge thumbs up to the author's notes at the end letting the reader know when she did that. I really liked who Bracewell chose to portray Elfgiva (sp?), and I think I know who she ends up with in her later years, but I didn't read online too much to avoid spoiling myself.
Shadow on the Crown ends when Emma gives birth to her first child, Edward (later to be known as Edward the Confessor). There's still a whole lot of story to be told though, so I am very much looking forward to books two and three. My only cautionary note would be that if you've recently read Hollick's book on Emma, I would recommend putting some space between these two books to avoid too much been-there-done-that.
February 20, 2013
Sadly, most people (even Anglophiles) are less versed with the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods of English rule. Some may have heard of Emma of Normandy but only because she is the mother of Edward the Confessor. Patricia Bracewell attempts to remedy Emma’s silence in “Shadow on the Crown”.
“Shadow on the Crown” begins in a slightly overwhelming manner, as a surplus of characters are introduced within alternating chapters/viewpoints making it somewhat difficult to immediately feel a connection or grasp to the story. However, this settles with novel progression and becomes more welcoming. Bracewell also shows some inconsistency (only initially) with an almost forced attempt to be overly literary and descriptive but she finds a happy medium and supplements this with an added intrigue and raw storytelling. The reader feels the story come alive with an ominous foreboding (in a positive way) which keeps pages turning.
Although “Shadow on the Crown” portrays many characters, each has his/her own personality and voice with ample development and without excessively predictable personalities. Bracewell allows the reader to peel layers and facets concerning each character.
With each chapter’s progression, “Shadow on the Crown” becomes more compelling and harder to put down. This may be due to Emma’s (the main character) likeability and attraction which grows with the story; and also due to “Shadow on the Crown” not being cheesy or predictable like many other historical fiction novels. In fact, some moments are too believable and raw, even causing disgust for its brutality but that just demonstrates how convincing Bracewell is.
“Shadow on the Crown” has a fast pace and is a moving, easy-to-read, quick novel and yet is not shallow or limp. For instance, the romance between Emma and Atheslstan is not explored deeply or mainly focused on which makes “Shadow on the Crown” stand out amongst other historical fiction novels which have too much romantic overture.
The conclusion of “Shadow on the Crown” is strong and memorable, solidly answering enough questions but still paving the way for Bracewell’s next installment.
Overall, I would have preferred a more intimate look at Emma which was slightly minimized due to the multiple character viewpoints. Also missing was a genealogical chart which could have been helpful. On the contrary, I generally don’t like historical fiction novels which are more fiction than history (fluff) , yet although Bracewell admits to this being the case with her novel (again, due to the lack of sources); I still found the novel satisfying as it felt so real and encourages further research.
“Shadow on the Crown” is a delicious and engaging HF novel and will leave the reader itching for the next book.
On a less important note: I enjoyed the text font which is very medieval in style and adds to the “realness” of the story. I enjoy small details!
“Shadow on the Crown” begins in a slightly overwhelming manner, as a surplus of characters are introduced within alternating chapters/viewpoints making it somewhat difficult to immediately feel a connection or grasp to the story. However, this settles with novel progression and becomes more welcoming. Bracewell also shows some inconsistency (only initially) with an almost forced attempt to be overly literary and descriptive but she finds a happy medium and supplements this with an added intrigue and raw storytelling. The reader feels the story come alive with an ominous foreboding (in a positive way) which keeps pages turning.
Although “Shadow on the Crown” portrays many characters, each has his/her own personality and voice with ample development and without excessively predictable personalities. Bracewell allows the reader to peel layers and facets concerning each character.
With each chapter’s progression, “Shadow on the Crown” becomes more compelling and harder to put down. This may be due to Emma’s (the main character) likeability and attraction which grows with the story; and also due to “Shadow on the Crown” not being cheesy or predictable like many other historical fiction novels. In fact, some moments are too believable and raw, even causing disgust for its brutality but that just demonstrates how convincing Bracewell is.
“Shadow on the Crown” has a fast pace and is a moving, easy-to-read, quick novel and yet is not shallow or limp. For instance, the romance between Emma and Atheslstan is not explored deeply or mainly focused on which makes “Shadow on the Crown” stand out amongst other historical fiction novels which have too much romantic overture.
The conclusion of “Shadow on the Crown” is strong and memorable, solidly answering enough questions but still paving the way for Bracewell’s next installment.
Overall, I would have preferred a more intimate look at Emma which was slightly minimized due to the multiple character viewpoints. Also missing was a genealogical chart which could have been helpful. On the contrary, I generally don’t like historical fiction novels which are more fiction than history (fluff) , yet although Bracewell admits to this being the case with her novel (again, due to the lack of sources); I still found the novel satisfying as it felt so real and encourages further research.
“Shadow on the Crown” is a delicious and engaging HF novel and will leave the reader itching for the next book.
On a less important note: I enjoyed the text font which is very medieval in style and adds to the “realness” of the story. I enjoy small details!
December 31, 2013
Where I got the book: purchased at a conference. Signed. I know Pat Bracewell from the conference circuit and Facebook.
This was my one buy at the 2013 Historical Novel Society conference because I'd read good things about it on Goodreads. I wasn't disappointed. I don't generally like "kings and queens" historical fiction, but I enjoyed this account of Emma of Normandy's marriage to the king known in modern times as Ethelred the Unready. Possibly because OH THANK HEAVEN it was written in third person past tense, so instead of limiting itself to Emma's immediate viewpoint it brought in events that happened outside the limited women's domain of home and hearth. Also, when Bracewell had Emma or her nemesis, Elgiva, do something adventurous or dangerous, there was a REASON for it, and she built up both characters well enough that their actions were believable. I'm so tired of HF heroines being given flimsy excuses to jump on a horse and ride around the countryside whenever the author realizes there's not enough action.
Elgiva's a nicely three-dimensional counterpart to Emma, although I did find myself wishing they didn't both have names beginning with an E because I tended to mix them up a bit. I wasn't too crazy about Athelstan the Gorgeous (no that's me, not Bracewell) and the doomed love affair; Bracewell's clearly more of a historical writer than a romance writer, and the story was strong enough to hold up without the romantic interruptions.
I loved learning about the period around 1000 AD when the Danish Vikings were raiding English coasts and the English kings had to decide between placating them with money or land or fighting against them. I did feel that this novel brought the age to life for me, and I found myself grabbing my copy of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles to read the contemporary account for myself. I also found myself wanting to know what happened next and picking up the book far more frequently than usual. There will be more Emma books, apparently, and I'll read them.
This was my one buy at the 2013 Historical Novel Society conference because I'd read good things about it on Goodreads. I wasn't disappointed. I don't generally like "kings and queens" historical fiction, but I enjoyed this account of Emma of Normandy's marriage to the king known in modern times as Ethelred the Unready. Possibly because OH THANK HEAVEN it was written in third person past tense, so instead of limiting itself to Emma's immediate viewpoint it brought in events that happened outside the limited women's domain of home and hearth. Also, when Bracewell had Emma or her nemesis, Elgiva, do something adventurous or dangerous, there was a REASON for it, and she built up both characters well enough that their actions were believable. I'm so tired of HF heroines being given flimsy excuses to jump on a horse and ride around the countryside whenever the author realizes there's not enough action.
Elgiva's a nicely three-dimensional counterpart to Emma, although I did find myself wishing they didn't both have names beginning with an E because I tended to mix them up a bit. I wasn't too crazy about Athelstan the Gorgeous (no that's me, not Bracewell) and the doomed love affair; Bracewell's clearly more of a historical writer than a romance writer, and the story was strong enough to hold up without the romantic interruptions.
I loved learning about the period around 1000 AD when the Danish Vikings were raiding English coasts and the English kings had to decide between placating them with money or land or fighting against them. I did feel that this novel brought the age to life for me, and I found myself grabbing my copy of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles to read the contemporary account for myself. I also found myself wanting to know what happened next and picking up the book far more frequently than usual. There will be more Emma books, apparently, and I'll read them.
February 25, 2013
I'm going to have to start this review with the publisher's summary, simply because it's a really good one and does the job so much better than I would be able to:
Doesn't that make you want to read it?
When King Æthelred II of England's wife dies giving birth to their eleventh child, which also dies, he has two options to consider for remarrying: Lady Elgiva of Mercia, a voluptuous sixteen-year-old who hungers for power and is the wealthiest woman in England, but as the daughter of ealdorman Ælfhelm of Northumbria, marrying her who gives unprecedented power to the northern lord, and Æthelred is nothing if not extremely paranoid, suspicious, afraid and completely untrusting. His other option is across the Narrow Sea.
Emma of Normandy is the youngest sister of Duke Richard, who rules Normandy, a province of France. By marrying her, Æthelred - or his council of advisors - hope that this would give Richard an incentive to close his harbours to the Danes, led by Swein Forkbeard, who continue to pillage, rape and murder along the coast of England ever summer. What the English fail to realise is that if Richard refuses the Danes, Normandy will suffer the same fate.
King Æthelred is haunted by the spectre of his older half-brother, King Edward, who was murdered when Æthelred was just a small boy. Rumour has it that it was Æthelred's mother who arranged it so that her son would rule England. The shadow of Edward plagues Æthelred and makes him even more unstable a ruler; combined with his paranoia and lack of trust, and Æthelred will listen to no one and makes rash and dangerous decisions. He has no love for his new young wife, Emma, and barely even tolerates her. For Emma's part, she was sent to marry him over her older sister because of her gift of tongues - she speaks several languages - and her intelligence. Her mother, a Dane, has hope that Emma will be able to forge alliances and subtly guide the king, but no one had counted on Æthelred's unpredictability, his rages, his deep suspicion of all around him, including his own sons.
His eldest son, the ætheling Athelstan, is only a couple of years older than Emma. Already he carries himself as a leader and offers sage advice to his father, advice Æthelred ignores because he feels threatened by Athelstan. He is initially distrustful of his father new Norman bride as well, but his plan to get to know her to learn more about her brother's plans results in mutual admiration and respect, and then love. But it is a deeply forbidden love, one they must hide and never act upon, because it would take little for Æthelred to set Emma aside since she has yet to bear a child.
When the Danes begin their assault on England's southern coast once more, the king's uselessness in the face of this dire threat compounds Athelstan's impatience, but the words of a seer continue to echo in his head: that he will never be king of England. To sit back, though, and let his father practically give England - the wealthiest country in Europe at the time - to the Danish king, Forkbeard, is intolerable. And walking the fine line between father and son, between Forkbeard and England, is Emma, who realises that she must take the power that is hers by right, or everything will be for naught.
The first book in Patricia Bracewell's new trilogy about the life of Emma of Normandy is engrossing and fascinating. It's not a time period I know a lot about - 1066, the Battle of Hastings, which marks the beginning of Norman (French) rule in England and the subjugation of the Saxons (followed by the Welsh*), is better known and, in a way, also marks the beginning of my historical knowledge. This novel is set between the years 1002 and 1005 (actually it begins in December 1001) and combines the early, fraught years of Emma's unpleasant marriage to Æthelred, with the truly scary dangers posed by the Danish marauders who pillaged the coast, sacking towns and making off with great wealth (with which they can build more dragon ships, raise larger armies and return for more).
I learnt a lot from reading this book. While Bracewell's note at the end separates fiction from fact, even were it entirely fictional there's still much to learn. The details are rich: from the clothing they wore, the jewellery, the daily routine and customs, the meanings behind things, the politics and economics of the kingdom. The England of the 11th century is just as divisive as ever, with England divided into Wessex in the south (the king's territory), East Anglia to the east, and Mercier in the centre - the map comes in handy. To the west is Wales, and to the north is Northumbria, or Scotland, where the population is descended from Vikings. There are no scenes in Northumbria, Wales or East Anglia, though their presence is always felt (well, not so much Wales, which I understand kept to itself until the Normans came).
The atmosphere, too, is vibrant and completely took me away from the comfort of my home. The unstable king created a tense, uncertain and even dangerous world for his people, but especially for Emma who was completely at his mercy and often reminded of that fact. This thread of danger, of threat, weaves in and out of the narrative and, coupled with the turbulent times, the powerful Danish host that wrecked such destruction on the English towns, and the overall lack of unity within the king's borders, it all serves to keep you on high alert, unsure what's coming but always with a feeling that the worst could happen. This tension is balanced by scenes between friends and lovers, of loyalty and the beauty of the land itself - though a lot of the time it's raining.
Emma grows and matures a great deal over the course of the novel and the few years it deals with in her young life. She was always possessed of a calm and a rational, compassionate intelligence, but she develops some steel from having to deal with the mercurial Æthelred, driven almost to madness by his guilt over his brother's murder. Emma is in a tough, unenviable place, and the fact that she's often viewed as the enemy only makes her position even more precarious. There's also Elgiva's jealousy, resentment, and animosity: Emma is the competition, and Elgiva, who is headstrong, ambitious, and clever enough to be dangerous, is her antithesis in all ways, right down to knowing how to use her body as a tool.
Athelstan, too, grows much over these years, and in him we see the beginnings of a true ruler. The only trouble is that he is beaten down and humiliated again and again by his suspicious father, and in turn does not know how to mollify or appease the king. He is too blunt, too honest and forthright, and worst of all is that he resembles Æthelred's dead brother Edward. Æthelred seems to have no love for any of his children, and has never taken any interest in any of their lives. His first wife was never crowned as queen, she was merely a consort, so his children by her have no titles or expectations beyond what Æthelred gives them. He pronounces Athelstan his heir but later retracts that. The growing tension between the king's older children and his new wife escalates when she finally has a baby, making them threats to each other for the same reason.
The plot is not complicated but it feels intricate because it deals with politics, economics, superstition and faith. This is a well fleshed-out world populated by living, breathing characters who make you ache, make you care, make you smile and make you despair. Yet it is never heavy or despondent, and is, I felt, free of any "presentism" - I was transported, and there was no judgement cast, no alteration of the customs to suit contemporary sensibilities or expectations. This is a finely crafted novel that tells a heartfelt story about a woman thrown to the lions who must learn, and learn quickly, how to protect herself and the people of England to whom she is now sworn.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
* Reading Sharon Kay Penman's Here Be Dragons taught me a lot about the kingdom after the Norman conquest and the taking of Wales. I may not have enjoyed it for the story's sake, but I did enjoy learning about the period and I recommend it for that reason.
Click here to read my interview with author Patricia Bracewell.
England, A.D. 1002
In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, a fifteen-year-old girl kneels to receive an English crown – an act that will echo down the ages.
Within that circlet of gold the ambitions of four powerful men are about to collide, for this young queen is the key to all that they desire.
To a calculating Norman duke she is a blood tie to the wealthiest monarchy in Europe. To a haunted English king she is a guarantee of allies against a fierce and brutal enemy. To Denmark’s Viking ruler she is a prize worth ten times her weight in silver. To a young ætheling of England she is a temptation to forbidden passion.
Her name is Emma ... and she will change the course of history.
Doesn't that make you want to read it?
When King Æthelred II of England's wife dies giving birth to their eleventh child, which also dies, he has two options to consider for remarrying: Lady Elgiva of Mercia, a voluptuous sixteen-year-old who hungers for power and is the wealthiest woman in England, but as the daughter of ealdorman Ælfhelm of Northumbria, marrying her who gives unprecedented power to the northern lord, and Æthelred is nothing if not extremely paranoid, suspicious, afraid and completely untrusting. His other option is across the Narrow Sea.
Emma of Normandy is the youngest sister of Duke Richard, who rules Normandy, a province of France. By marrying her, Æthelred - or his council of advisors - hope that this would give Richard an incentive to close his harbours to the Danes, led by Swein Forkbeard, who continue to pillage, rape and murder along the coast of England ever summer. What the English fail to realise is that if Richard refuses the Danes, Normandy will suffer the same fate.
King Æthelred is haunted by the spectre of his older half-brother, King Edward, who was murdered when Æthelred was just a small boy. Rumour has it that it was Æthelred's mother who arranged it so that her son would rule England. The shadow of Edward plagues Æthelred and makes him even more unstable a ruler; combined with his paranoia and lack of trust, and Æthelred will listen to no one and makes rash and dangerous decisions. He has no love for his new young wife, Emma, and barely even tolerates her. For Emma's part, she was sent to marry him over her older sister because of her gift of tongues - she speaks several languages - and her intelligence. Her mother, a Dane, has hope that Emma will be able to forge alliances and subtly guide the king, but no one had counted on Æthelred's unpredictability, his rages, his deep suspicion of all around him, including his own sons.
His eldest son, the ætheling Athelstan, is only a couple of years older than Emma. Already he carries himself as a leader and offers sage advice to his father, advice Æthelred ignores because he feels threatened by Athelstan. He is initially distrustful of his father new Norman bride as well, but his plan to get to know her to learn more about her brother's plans results in mutual admiration and respect, and then love. But it is a deeply forbidden love, one they must hide and never act upon, because it would take little for Æthelred to set Emma aside since she has yet to bear a child.
When the Danes begin their assault on England's southern coast once more, the king's uselessness in the face of this dire threat compounds Athelstan's impatience, but the words of a seer continue to echo in his head: that he will never be king of England. To sit back, though, and let his father practically give England - the wealthiest country in Europe at the time - to the Danish king, Forkbeard, is intolerable. And walking the fine line between father and son, between Forkbeard and England, is Emma, who realises that she must take the power that is hers by right, or everything will be for naught.
The first book in Patricia Bracewell's new trilogy about the life of Emma of Normandy is engrossing and fascinating. It's not a time period I know a lot about - 1066, the Battle of Hastings, which marks the beginning of Norman (French) rule in England and the subjugation of the Saxons (followed by the Welsh*), is better known and, in a way, also marks the beginning of my historical knowledge. This novel is set between the years 1002 and 1005 (actually it begins in December 1001) and combines the early, fraught years of Emma's unpleasant marriage to Æthelred, with the truly scary dangers posed by the Danish marauders who pillaged the coast, sacking towns and making off with great wealth (with which they can build more dragon ships, raise larger armies and return for more).
I learnt a lot from reading this book. While Bracewell's note at the end separates fiction from fact, even were it entirely fictional there's still much to learn. The details are rich: from the clothing they wore, the jewellery, the daily routine and customs, the meanings behind things, the politics and economics of the kingdom. The England of the 11th century is just as divisive as ever, with England divided into Wessex in the south (the king's territory), East Anglia to the east, and Mercier in the centre - the map comes in handy. To the west is Wales, and to the north is Northumbria, or Scotland, where the population is descended from Vikings. There are no scenes in Northumbria, Wales or East Anglia, though their presence is always felt (well, not so much Wales, which I understand kept to itself until the Normans came).
The atmosphere, too, is vibrant and completely took me away from the comfort of my home. The unstable king created a tense, uncertain and even dangerous world for his people, but especially for Emma who was completely at his mercy and often reminded of that fact. This thread of danger, of threat, weaves in and out of the narrative and, coupled with the turbulent times, the powerful Danish host that wrecked such destruction on the English towns, and the overall lack of unity within the king's borders, it all serves to keep you on high alert, unsure what's coming but always with a feeling that the worst could happen. This tension is balanced by scenes between friends and lovers, of loyalty and the beauty of the land itself - though a lot of the time it's raining.
Emma grows and matures a great deal over the course of the novel and the few years it deals with in her young life. She was always possessed of a calm and a rational, compassionate intelligence, but she develops some steel from having to deal with the mercurial Æthelred, driven almost to madness by his guilt over his brother's murder. Emma is in a tough, unenviable place, and the fact that she's often viewed as the enemy only makes her position even more precarious. There's also Elgiva's jealousy, resentment, and animosity: Emma is the competition, and Elgiva, who is headstrong, ambitious, and clever enough to be dangerous, is her antithesis in all ways, right down to knowing how to use her body as a tool.
Athelstan, too, grows much over these years, and in him we see the beginnings of a true ruler. The only trouble is that he is beaten down and humiliated again and again by his suspicious father, and in turn does not know how to mollify or appease the king. He is too blunt, too honest and forthright, and worst of all is that he resembles Æthelred's dead brother Edward. Æthelred seems to have no love for any of his children, and has never taken any interest in any of their lives. His first wife was never crowned as queen, she was merely a consort, so his children by her have no titles or expectations beyond what Æthelred gives them. He pronounces Athelstan his heir but later retracts that. The growing tension between the king's older children and his new wife escalates when she finally has a baby, making them threats to each other for the same reason.
The plot is not complicated but it feels intricate because it deals with politics, economics, superstition and faith. This is a well fleshed-out world populated by living, breathing characters who make you ache, make you care, make you smile and make you despair. Yet it is never heavy or despondent, and is, I felt, free of any "presentism" - I was transported, and there was no judgement cast, no alteration of the customs to suit contemporary sensibilities or expectations. This is a finely crafted novel that tells a heartfelt story about a woman thrown to the lions who must learn, and learn quickly, how to protect herself and the people of England to whom she is now sworn.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
* Reading Sharon Kay Penman's Here Be Dragons taught me a lot about the kingdom after the Norman conquest and the taking of Wales. I may not have enjoyed it for the story's sake, but I did enjoy learning about the period and I recommend it for that reason.
Click here to read my interview with author Patricia Bracewell.
January 28, 2013
As I sit down to write this review, I find myself conflicted. Part of this book was very interesting to me and I enjoyed it. But there were things that I just didn’t like and couldn’t look past which affected my overall enjoyment of the book. I can’t call myself an expert on historical fiction but I have read my fair share and enjoyed quite a good number of them. I am not entirely sure this is one of them.
Let me begin with Emma. Emma starts this story at the age of 15. She is sent by her brother (Richard, Duke of Normandy) to marry the much older King of England, Athelred (he’s 35 by the way). Now, I recognize that this was normal behavior for the time period. Girls were commonly married around 13-15 years old and were considered old maids by the time they reached 20. Historically, there was a good reason for this. The average life expectancy for that time was around 23-25. So by 20 you really were approaching the end of your days! But this is why it threw me off to have a 35 year old king who keeps being described as “so young” and “having a lot of years left in front of him”. Really? By normal standards for the time period he’s positively mummified. But let’s call that creative license and move on, alright? On her own, Emma started off as a great main character. She recognizes that typically women in her position are little about the station of cattle. But she is determined to go into the role of queen and be shown respect for her title at the very least. I appreciated that spunk and determination to make the best of her lot in life, no matter what that might be. But I soon wearied of her. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to be strong and demand respect or just do as she’s told. It seemed to depend on the company. If she was around other women then her backbone appeared, in the presence of men other than her husband a backbone appeared, with her husband and his sons the backbone turned to jelly. Well, most of the time at least, she spoke up for herself against her husband on more than one occasion too. So there was not much consistency with her character. She also had a tendency to do a lot of really stupid things in her quest to be respected. Like deciding that she is going to go on a boat trip, in the middle of winter, in terrible weather, when she is seconds away from giving birth. Nice job on that one Emma!
The only other main female character we meet is Elgiva. I kept getting the feeling that I was supposed to feel compassion for her, but I didn’t. She was a selfish, spoiled, evil, stupid little girl and one who brought nothing of any value to the plot. She was supposed to be this grand rival of Emma’s and her biggest foe. I found her to be more like a gnat buzzing around Emma’s ear…annoying for sure, but rarely threatening. She only has one truly evil action in this book and no one ever even knew it was her (or that it was anything other than an accident actually) so it was rather pointless.
The plot has a lot going on but not much of it actually amounted to anything. You have a King who is being confronted with an invasion by the Danes and has no idea what to do about it, and so he decides to do nothing or do something rash. Really? This guy got to become king? He was an idiot through and through. Athelstan started to serve a purpose in the book by being Athelred’s eldest son and the supposed heir to the throne even if he hadn’t been officially named heir yet. He tries to solve the invading Danes issue and gets nowhere. Emma’s plot was to find herself a place of power and title in the King’s court. Yet she also does a lot of things that directly contradict that supposed goal. Then we get prophecies about several characters that keep being mentioned but are not followed up on. There are lots and lots of interesting pieces of plot but it never comes together into a cohesive story.
But what really made this a two star book was what the author chose to imaginatively overlook with historical accuracy and what she did not. Anyone who reads historical fiction must accept that women are largely treated like objects for the sole use and purpose of men. They are bought and sold like pawns. Abuse and rape were common, this is all true! But I thought there was more women beating and women getting raped than there was plot. It was constant. It was hard to go a handful of pages without a woman being backhanded or sexually assaulted. Yes, it’s historically accurate, but after a copious amount of things that were conveniently made historically inaccurate for the sake of the story this is the one you decide to follow to the letter? Really? I found it to be a convenient plot device to engender dislike in characters we weren’t supposed to like without developing their character enough to show us why they’re bad. Just have them rape someone, then it’s all clear! No, just no! If there’s going to be that much blatant and horrendous abuse of women it needs to serve a purpose to the plot other than saying “see, he’s bad!”
There are a lot of things that I really liked about this book and a lot of things I didn’t. Ultimately it was the rampant degradation of women and the disjointed plot that just me not care much about any of it anymore. I didn’t care if we had a satisfying ending (we didn’t by the way), I just wanted to be finished. And that disappoints me, I had high hopes for this.
Special thanks to Viking Adult for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This and other reviews at Stefani's World of Words
Let me begin with Emma. Emma starts this story at the age of 15. She is sent by her brother (Richard, Duke of Normandy) to marry the much older King of England, Athelred (he’s 35 by the way). Now, I recognize that this was normal behavior for the time period. Girls were commonly married around 13-15 years old and were considered old maids by the time they reached 20. Historically, there was a good reason for this. The average life expectancy for that time was around 23-25. So by 20 you really were approaching the end of your days! But this is why it threw me off to have a 35 year old king who keeps being described as “so young” and “having a lot of years left in front of him”. Really? By normal standards for the time period he’s positively mummified. But let’s call that creative license and move on, alright? On her own, Emma started off as a great main character. She recognizes that typically women in her position are little about the station of cattle. But she is determined to go into the role of queen and be shown respect for her title at the very least. I appreciated that spunk and determination to make the best of her lot in life, no matter what that might be. But I soon wearied of her. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to be strong and demand respect or just do as she’s told. It seemed to depend on the company. If she was around other women then her backbone appeared, in the presence of men other than her husband a backbone appeared, with her husband and his sons the backbone turned to jelly. Well, most of the time at least, she spoke up for herself against her husband on more than one occasion too. So there was not much consistency with her character. She also had a tendency to do a lot of really stupid things in her quest to be respected. Like deciding that she is going to go on a boat trip, in the middle of winter, in terrible weather, when she is seconds away from giving birth. Nice job on that one Emma!
The only other main female character we meet is Elgiva. I kept getting the feeling that I was supposed to feel compassion for her, but I didn’t. She was a selfish, spoiled, evil, stupid little girl and one who brought nothing of any value to the plot. She was supposed to be this grand rival of Emma’s and her biggest foe. I found her to be more like a gnat buzzing around Emma’s ear…annoying for sure, but rarely threatening. She only has one truly evil action in this book and no one ever even knew it was her (or that it was anything other than an accident actually) so it was rather pointless.
The plot has a lot going on but not much of it actually amounted to anything. You have a King who is being confronted with an invasion by the Danes and has no idea what to do about it, and so he decides to do nothing or do something rash. Really? This guy got to become king? He was an idiot through and through. Athelstan started to serve a purpose in the book by being Athelred’s eldest son and the supposed heir to the throne even if he hadn’t been officially named heir yet. He tries to solve the invading Danes issue and gets nowhere. Emma’s plot was to find herself a place of power and title in the King’s court. Yet she also does a lot of things that directly contradict that supposed goal. Then we get prophecies about several characters that keep being mentioned but are not followed up on. There are lots and lots of interesting pieces of plot but it never comes together into a cohesive story.
But what really made this a two star book was what the author chose to imaginatively overlook with historical accuracy and what she did not. Anyone who reads historical fiction must accept that women are largely treated like objects for the sole use and purpose of men. They are bought and sold like pawns. Abuse and rape were common, this is all true! But I thought there was more women beating and women getting raped than there was plot. It was constant. It was hard to go a handful of pages without a woman being backhanded or sexually assaulted. Yes, it’s historically accurate, but after a copious amount of things that were conveniently made historically inaccurate for the sake of the story this is the one you decide to follow to the letter? Really? I found it to be a convenient plot device to engender dislike in characters we weren’t supposed to like without developing their character enough to show us why they’re bad. Just have them rape someone, then it’s all clear! No, just no! If there’s going to be that much blatant and horrendous abuse of women it needs to serve a purpose to the plot other than saying “see, he’s bad!”
There are a lot of things that I really liked about this book and a lot of things I didn’t. Ultimately it was the rampant degradation of women and the disjointed plot that just me not care much about any of it anymore. I didn’t care if we had a satisfying ending (we didn’t by the way), I just wanted to be finished. And that disappoints me, I had high hopes for this.
Special thanks to Viking Adult for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This and other reviews at Stefani's World of Words
March 26, 2013
Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell is a historical novel set way back in 1001 England. Emma is married by arrangement to the king in exchange for certain favors from her brother.
The road for Emma is hard. The king doesn't care about her and mostly resents her. She must keep his interest if she is to ever produce an heir. This task is made more difficult because of a very determined rival.
Many battles are fought, schemes are hatched and carried out viciously, there are illicit romances, heartbreak, and death.
A very harsh, bleak period of time with much danger and bloodshed. Through it all Emma manages to hold herself up and gives us an inspirational story of triumph.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I will be on board for the future installments for sure. To be clear, this is not a historical romance. There is romance, but this a fictional account of Queen Emma's life. The story is based in fact, but the author takes certain liberties along the way.
Overall I would give this one an A-. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
The road for Emma is hard. The king doesn't care about her and mostly resents her. She must keep his interest if she is to ever produce an heir. This task is made more difficult because of a very determined rival.
Many battles are fought, schemes are hatched and carried out viciously, there are illicit romances, heartbreak, and death.
A very harsh, bleak period of time with much danger and bloodshed. Through it all Emma manages to hold herself up and gives us an inspirational story of triumph.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I will be on board for the future installments for sure. To be clear, this is not a historical romance. There is romance, but this a fictional account of Queen Emma's life. The story is based in fact, but the author takes certain liberties along the way.
Overall I would give this one an A-. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
December 29, 2018
This debut novel by the American lady author, Patricia Bracewell, has been not only a very surprising but also a real positive revelation to me.
The subject of the book is the history of Emma of Normandy, and because while it's so hard to find any real documentation about this period, the author has still managed a thorough background research of historical details by using especially the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
The story itself is written in a very elegant style, making the storytelling absolutely splendid and keeping you spellbound.
This first part of this series contains the period AD 1001-1005 and it tells the story of Emma of Normandy, who was the sister of Richard II and Robert of Normandy as well as the great-aunt of William "The Conqueror" of Normandy, who as a very young girl will become Queen of England.
Her first husband will be the very much older King AEthelred of England, and securing her status as Queen of England is by bearing him a son and by building alliances with influential men at court as well as receiving the affection of the English common people.
This historical life story of Emma of Normandy is brought to us in a convincing way, for it tells us in an engaging style of life at court with all its dangers, treachery and deaths.
This lady author has delivered us a most wonderful book and one I would like to call a "Very Impressive Debut"!
The subject of the book is the history of Emma of Normandy, and because while it's so hard to find any real documentation about this period, the author has still managed a thorough background research of historical details by using especially the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
The story itself is written in a very elegant style, making the storytelling absolutely splendid and keeping you spellbound.
This first part of this series contains the period AD 1001-1005 and it tells the story of Emma of Normandy, who was the sister of Richard II and Robert of Normandy as well as the great-aunt of William "The Conqueror" of Normandy, who as a very young girl will become Queen of England.
Her first husband will be the very much older King AEthelred of England, and securing her status as Queen of England is by bearing him a son and by building alliances with influential men at court as well as receiving the affection of the English common people.
This historical life story of Emma of Normandy is brought to us in a convincing way, for it tells us in an engaging style of life at court with all its dangers, treachery and deaths.
This lady author has delivered us a most wonderful book and one I would like to call a "Very Impressive Debut"!
November 15, 2015
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
A copy of Shadow on the Crown was provided to me by Viking Adult/Netgalley for review purposes.
"You must ever be prepared within yourself to face what trials may lay in store for you. let this be your first lesson: No one else must see you like this, Emma. Do you hear me? However great the provocation you must never allow anyone to see your fear."
I'm a huge fan of historical fiction novels but to be honest, I don't branch out enough outside of my comfortable safe-zone known as the Tudor time period. This one caught my eye primarily because it is still set in England, however, it's in a very, very early England. After this one, I do believe I have learned my lesson and I need to take more chances with my historical fiction picks. Shadow on the Crown was superbly done.
'Their destinies were like two rivers that flowed ever in the same direction, within sight of each other but never meant to meet, to touch, to join as one.'
What worked incredibly well was the evidence of research that was done in preparation for this novel. The author has stated that Shadow on the Crown is based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, but it's evident the author has the ability to take pieces of history and create a truly stirring story. Also, I really appreciated her interpretation of the romances. In most historical fiction novels the romances are portrayed similarly to a historical romance (bodice ripper) and just comes off as corny rather than genuine.
Each character was given their own unique voice and even though they were not a main character their bits in the story still shown. Emma was an amazingly strong character and it was a joy to read (the majority of) this story through her eyes. The POV does occasionally switch up but is not overdone and provides additional and necessary facets of this story.
What truly blows me away about this novel is that it's a debut novel. The few historical fiction debut novels I've read in the past have all read like the author is re-wording their history books. Patricia Bracewell managed to re-tell a piece of history and imbue something vibrant into it. It's quite obvious that the author is passionate about history and this time period in general but her passion is addicting and made it a true joy to read. Shadow on the Crown does not tell all of Emma's story so I'm very much looking forward to future books.
A copy of Shadow on the Crown was provided to me by Viking Adult/Netgalley for review purposes.
"You must ever be prepared within yourself to face what trials may lay in store for you. let this be your first lesson: No one else must see you like this, Emma. Do you hear me? However great the provocation you must never allow anyone to see your fear."
I'm a huge fan of historical fiction novels but to be honest, I don't branch out enough outside of my comfortable safe-zone known as the Tudor time period. This one caught my eye primarily because it is still set in England, however, it's in a very, very early England. After this one, I do believe I have learned my lesson and I need to take more chances with my historical fiction picks. Shadow on the Crown was superbly done.
'Their destinies were like two rivers that flowed ever in the same direction, within sight of each other but never meant to meet, to touch, to join as one.'
What worked incredibly well was the evidence of research that was done in preparation for this novel. The author has stated that Shadow on the Crown is based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, but it's evident the author has the ability to take pieces of history and create a truly stirring story. Also, I really appreciated her interpretation of the romances. In most historical fiction novels the romances are portrayed similarly to a historical romance (bodice ripper) and just comes off as corny rather than genuine.
Each character was given their own unique voice and even though they were not a main character their bits in the story still shown. Emma was an amazingly strong character and it was a joy to read (the majority of) this story through her eyes. The POV does occasionally switch up but is not overdone and provides additional and necessary facets of this story.
What truly blows me away about this novel is that it's a debut novel. The few historical fiction debut novels I've read in the past have all read like the author is re-wording their history books. Patricia Bracewell managed to re-tell a piece of history and imbue something vibrant into it. It's quite obvious that the author is passionate about history and this time period in general but her passion is addicting and made it a true joy to read. Shadow on the Crown does not tell all of Emma's story so I'm very much looking forward to future books.
February 17, 2013
Spectacular book! Review to come...
November 23, 2015
Enjoyed this book immensely. I had previously read the second book in this trilogy. (But I would not advise reading any series backwards, especially history or historical fiction.)
In this, the first of three books about Emma of Normandy, Emma marries Aethelred, the king of England in order to solidify a relationship between England and Normandy. Emma's brother, Richard, Duke of Normandy gains an alliance with a king who controls a vast area of England; Aethelred gets a promise that Richard will keep the Vikings (somewhat) under control. (Richard already has a pact with the Danes and is related to them through his Danish mother.)
Wow, there is a lot of background to understand, names to learn, places to get accustomed to, but it's all well worth it. And, Bracewell is great at NOT info-dumping. Events, people, places, backstories, when needed, are all included within the storyline itself.(No long tedious passages of who did what to whom fifty years ago, unless it's relevant to what is going on.)
Emma is surprised when her mother arranges this marriage as she has an older sister who should be the next to marry, but Emma has been chosen as she is the stronger sister, both physically and emotionally. She goes to marry the king knowing full well what is expected of her, which the author goes into in detail, nothing is held back. Emma does not enjoy her marriage, her husband, her new life, but she prays and struggles to accept it with her head held high. Aethelred, expecting a submissive wife (like his first, who recently died in childbirth), is surprised to be married to an outspoken and and forthright woman, but apparently the historical Emma was no shrinking violet. When she is tested, she proves herself. She endures a gossipy and back-stabbing royal court which wants little to do with her, enemies who would like nothing better than to see her fail and either be sent home to Normandy or to a convent, and yet slowly Emma wins over enough key and important people who become her eyes and ears when her husband, the king, forces her into the background.
Despite her great dislike of her husband, Emma wants to have his child, to cement the alliance with the two countries. And even though Aethelred already has seven sons (by his first wife), he wants a child with Emma, too, if nothing else but to keep her busy and out of his way. It is this continuing struggle between the two - the king and Emma - which is one of the main focal points of the novel. And this is no romance, one in which Emma ultimately finds the tender man under the hard, coarse soul of the man she married. Not at all. King Aethelred is a beast, a man haunted by the ghost of his brother, as well as a ruthless ruler struggling to keep control of his lands, his nobles, and keep the Vikings - Danes mostly - from constantly pillaging, plundering, murdering, raping - all the things they were known for in this time period.
The time is from around the year 1000 to 1016. According to the author, Emma was between 12 and 20 when she became Aethelred's bride. The main historical figures are real; the main events are real. What the author has imagined or filled in, are the relationships between these people, though there are many historical sources which give hints and clues as to what went on between Emma and her husband, Emma and her Norman court, and others. At the end of the book the author describes where real events - and those which are fictional - meet.
There is a lot of action in this book; depictions of life at the time; attitudes toward women and children; the common people and the nobility; and even what day-to-day life looked like. The conversations are realistic and natural. This is an interesting novel of the Anglo-Saxon period in England, Normandy, and of course, up north where those rascally Vikings dwell. (If only they'd stay up there!)
I look forward to the third and final book in Bracewell's trilogy.
In this, the first of three books about Emma of Normandy, Emma marries Aethelred, the king of England in order to solidify a relationship between England and Normandy. Emma's brother, Richard, Duke of Normandy gains an alliance with a king who controls a vast area of England; Aethelred gets a promise that Richard will keep the Vikings (somewhat) under control. (Richard already has a pact with the Danes and is related to them through his Danish mother.)
Wow, there is a lot of background to understand, names to learn, places to get accustomed to, but it's all well worth it. And, Bracewell is great at NOT info-dumping. Events, people, places, backstories, when needed, are all included within the storyline itself.(No long tedious passages of who did what to whom fifty years ago, unless it's relevant to what is going on.)
Emma is surprised when her mother arranges this marriage as she has an older sister who should be the next to marry, but Emma has been chosen as she is the stronger sister, both physically and emotionally. She goes to marry the king knowing full well what is expected of her, which the author goes into in detail, nothing is held back. Emma does not enjoy her marriage, her husband, her new life, but she prays and struggles to accept it with her head held high. Aethelred, expecting a submissive wife (like his first, who recently died in childbirth), is surprised to be married to an outspoken and and forthright woman, but apparently the historical Emma was no shrinking violet. When she is tested, she proves herself. She endures a gossipy and back-stabbing royal court which wants little to do with her, enemies who would like nothing better than to see her fail and either be sent home to Normandy or to a convent, and yet slowly Emma wins over enough key and important people who become her eyes and ears when her husband, the king, forces her into the background.
Despite her great dislike of her husband, Emma wants to have his child, to cement the alliance with the two countries. And even though Aethelred already has seven sons (by his first wife), he wants a child with Emma, too, if nothing else but to keep her busy and out of his way. It is this continuing struggle between the two - the king and Emma - which is one of the main focal points of the novel. And this is no romance, one in which Emma ultimately finds the tender man under the hard, coarse soul of the man she married. Not at all. King Aethelred is a beast, a man haunted by the ghost of his brother, as well as a ruthless ruler struggling to keep control of his lands, his nobles, and keep the Vikings - Danes mostly - from constantly pillaging, plundering, murdering, raping - all the things they were known for in this time period.
The time is from around the year 1000 to 1016. According to the author, Emma was between 12 and 20 when she became Aethelred's bride. The main historical figures are real; the main events are real. What the author has imagined or filled in, are the relationships between these people, though there are many historical sources which give hints and clues as to what went on between Emma and her husband, Emma and her Norman court, and others. At the end of the book the author describes where real events - and those which are fictional - meet.
There is a lot of action in this book; depictions of life at the time; attitudes toward women and children; the common people and the nobility; and even what day-to-day life looked like. The conversations are realistic and natural. This is an interesting novel of the Anglo-Saxon period in England, Normandy, and of course, up north where those rascally Vikings dwell. (If only they'd stay up there!)
I look forward to the third and final book in Bracewell's trilogy.
August 1, 2014
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
Patricia Bracewell's Shadow on the Crown marked my first encounter with Emma of Normandy. The historic record is sketchy at best, so it isn't as if there's a lot of information for those looking to learn more about her, but even the basics were new to me. Naturally this blank slate mentality made it difficult to discern where fact met fiction, but it also made reading the book a unique experience as I was able to really lose myself in the narrative.
Bracewell's interpretation of Emma is wonderfully dynamic. She is passionate, resilient and astute, but there is a vulnerability in her make-up that rounds out her character and draws on the reader's sympathies. I found the fire and spirit Bracewell folded into Elgiva of Northampton equally fascinating and enjoyed watching the two vie for power in Æthelred's court.
I admit Bracewell's depiction of the Anglo-Saxon king didn't make much of an impression on me, but his eldest son is another story entirely. Little is known about Athelstan and his siblings, but the romantic arc she constructed for Æthelred's sixteen year old heir was highly satisfying and speaks volumes about the author who imagined it.
Finally, I thought the world these individuals inhabited beautifully developed. Though the novel is character driven, the reader is afforded a thorough understanding of the period, the lifestyle of the court, and the political stage on which Emma's story takes place. I personally believe atmosphere an essential factor in any fiction and can't help but appreciate the effort and research Bracewell put into crafting such an authentic setting.
Impossible to put down, Shadow on the Crown captivated my imagination from the start and left me itching to see how things will unfold in future installments of the trilogy.
Patricia Bracewell's Shadow on the Crown marked my first encounter with Emma of Normandy. The historic record is sketchy at best, so it isn't as if there's a lot of information for those looking to learn more about her, but even the basics were new to me. Naturally this blank slate mentality made it difficult to discern where fact met fiction, but it also made reading the book a unique experience as I was able to really lose myself in the narrative.
Bracewell's interpretation of Emma is wonderfully dynamic. She is passionate, resilient and astute, but there is a vulnerability in her make-up that rounds out her character and draws on the reader's sympathies. I found the fire and spirit Bracewell folded into Elgiva of Northampton equally fascinating and enjoyed watching the two vie for power in Æthelred's court.
I admit Bracewell's depiction of the Anglo-Saxon king didn't make much of an impression on me, but his eldest son is another story entirely. Little is known about Athelstan and his siblings, but the romantic arc she constructed for Æthelred's sixteen year old heir was highly satisfying and speaks volumes about the author who imagined it.
Finally, I thought the world these individuals inhabited beautifully developed. Though the novel is character driven, the reader is afforded a thorough understanding of the period, the lifestyle of the court, and the political stage on which Emma's story takes place. I personally believe atmosphere an essential factor in any fiction and can't help but appreciate the effort and research Bracewell put into crafting such an authentic setting.
Impossible to put down, Shadow on the Crown captivated my imagination from the start and left me itching to see how things will unfold in future installments of the trilogy.
July 12, 2013
I am torn: part of me is intrigued by Emma and what her role will be in the development of England, and the part of me is not eager to pick up the next book in this trilogy. I think that means a biography is in order. (Biographies are always in order.)
Here are my problems:
And I didn't even like Elgiva! I just hated how she was set up to be the foil to Emma in such a grossly anti-feministic way.
2. I was also a bit thrown by the decision to have the development of the main romance happen completely off page? This is how it happens: the characters meet. Then there's a time break, and suddenly they're ~in love~.
3. ALSO THE WRITING ISN'T THAT GOOD.
Here are my problems:
And I didn't even like Elgiva! I just hated how she was set up to be the foil to Emma in such a grossly anti-feministic way.
2. I was also a bit thrown by the decision to have the development of the main romance happen completely off page? This is how it happens: the characters meet. Then there's a time break, and suddenly they're ~in love~.
3. ALSO THE WRITING ISN'T THAT GOOD.
October 13, 2015
"Shadow on the Crown" is the first book in the Emma of Normandy trilogy by Patricia Bracewell. Emma is a young woman who is forced to marry King Aethelred of England. She is married off to him as so many medieval women were married because her family wanted to form an alliance. The king isn't all too happy to being married to Emma and is very suspicious of her true motives. This book is a great opening to a trilogy about a woman that I knew little about before I opened this book!
This book is a great kick off to the trilogy! We are introduced to many different characters. Our main character, Emma, is a really interesting character because as a medieval woman she really doesn't have much control over her own destiny. However, that she is incredibly strong and incredibly good at doing well with what she has. I really like getting to know her as a character. We get to follow her as she is a new bride and as her relationship with the King begins to change. We get to see her secret love and are privy to some of the things that she keeps hidden from most others! The author writes her in such a vivid way!
One of the problems with trilogies is that at the end of this book I found myself wanting more. Luckily I waited enough time so I was able to read the second book, The Price of Blood, right after this first book. However, the last book in the trilogy is not out yet. This is great historical fiction because of the detail that the author uses in order to bring the character to life. I like how vivid she was able to make Emma's life at court to me.
This book is a great kick off to the trilogy! We are introduced to many different characters. Our main character, Emma, is a really interesting character because as a medieval woman she really doesn't have much control over her own destiny. However, that she is incredibly strong and incredibly good at doing well with what she has. I really like getting to know her as a character. We get to follow her as she is a new bride and as her relationship with the King begins to change. We get to see her secret love and are privy to some of the things that she keeps hidden from most others! The author writes her in such a vivid way!
One of the problems with trilogies is that at the end of this book I found myself wanting more. Luckily I waited enough time so I was able to read the second book, The Price of Blood, right after this first book. However, the last book in the trilogy is not out yet. This is great historical fiction because of the detail that the author uses in order to bring the character to life. I like how vivid she was able to make Emma's life at court to me.
March 22, 2013
I had gone into this one expecting that it was going to be yet another historical romance, but instead found it to be a fairly solid historical novel. Not too many novels are set in England before the Norman Conquest, and this one tells the story of Emma, the sister of the Duke of Normandy who marries AEthelred II, king of the English. Expecting at least affection, Emma discovers herself in a court where her husband sees her as just a vessel to breed up sons on, a mistress who isn't above treachery, and worst of all, realizing that she has married the wrong man when she meets the King's eldest son, Athelstan. Well written, without a lot of stupidity or anachronisms, I had a good time with this one, and I am looking forward to the next book in the proposed trilogy. Four stars overall, recommended.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Patric...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Patric...
December 30, 2012
Started this book as a quick indulgent Saturday night read, and the writing was certainly more competent than I expected. However, I found the constant and unmitigated abuse of women (physical and sexual) to be very grating. While I understand that this was a common feature of medieval society, I feel that it was given undue reign in a book that took many imaginative liberties. I kept hoping for the two main female characters to overcome their social restraints and assert themselves; instead they were repeatedly smacked around, verbally abused, and raped, and themselves often subjugated their intellect to their bodies in seeking an advantage. This novel depicted the sad state of women in medieval times with all the literalness of nonfiction and none of the censure. It left me saddened and sickened more than entertained.
October 15, 2024
This was a really well-written historical fiction account of the girl from Normandy who became queen and against the odds survived the machinations of a haunted king, his sons and court.
I knew very little about this time period (1000) and look forward to the next chapter in Queen Emma's rule.
(Reviewed 4/22/15)
I knew very little about this time period (1000) and look forward to the next chapter in Queen Emma's rule.
(Reviewed 4/22/15)
August 18, 2019
This is Historical fiction 11 century England. I loved the historical aspect of this. Some of the information was different than what is reported in history books. I usually don't mind that as long as the story is firmly tethered down..which it was.
I liked Emma's attitude, but this often felt a little too modern for this time period. She also seemed to stumble onto pertinent information that aided in her decision making process. I wish a better network had been established to filter the information to her instead of it always appearing like a miracle that fluttered into her path. So three stars.
I liked Emma's attitude, but this often felt a little too modern for this time period. She also seemed to stumble onto pertinent information that aided in her decision making process. I wish a better network had been established to filter the information to her instead of it always appearing like a miracle that fluttered into her path. So three stars.
April 11, 2013
http://historicalreadings.blogspot.co...
3.5 stars.
Being the second of only two novels written about Emma of Normandy so far, it’s difficult not to compare this to the first, Helen Hollick’s The Forever Queen. Hollick’s novel is one of my favorites and so it would be difficult to stand up against in my eyes. At the same time, it's difficult to compare them because this novel only covers a portion of Emma's life whereas Hollick's novel covers her whole life.
Shadow on the Crown tells a tale of a strong young woman well groomed for queenship who finds herself a near prisoner of a husband who does not trust her. Her fate is in the hands of her brother, who will most likely put her in jeopardy by breaking his agreement with the English king - an agreement that was sealed with Emma’s marriage. And her attempts to make friends at court are rejected by her eldest wary stepsons and sabotaged by a jealous rival. Her position will be secured and protected if she bears a son but this is also the very thing that threatens her stepson’s positions as heirs. It’s told in third person, from the four points of view of Emma, King Æthelred, his son Æthelstan, and Elgiva (Ælfgifu of Northampton), the daughter of an Ealdorman.
It’s very well written but I don’t think the characters were quite as well done as Hollick’s. The antagonists were pretty one dimensional and I felt like the romance between Emma and Æthelstan was very sudden and unexpected. I don't fully understand what prompted Æthelstan to give Emma a chance and I felt like he did a very quick 180.
I felt like Bracewell took a lot more liberties with the unknown than Hollick did. It worked well for the story but it did make it feel less likely to have really happened. I don't mind authors taking a creative license though, as long as it works and makes sense, which it did, and there is a lot unknown about Emma which the author had to work with.
There's no denying this was a well written and well crafted story that was very enjoyable. Though it’s the first in a trilogy whereas Hollick’s novel on Emma is stand alone (there is a sequel but it does not strongly feature Emma), I’d say being split into shorter novels makes it easier to read and maybe more appealing to the mainstream. I’d still rank Forever Queen higher but I am looking forward to the next in this trilogy from Bracewell.
3.5 stars.
Being the second of only two novels written about Emma of Normandy so far, it’s difficult not to compare this to the first, Helen Hollick’s The Forever Queen. Hollick’s novel is one of my favorites and so it would be difficult to stand up against in my eyes. At the same time, it's difficult to compare them because this novel only covers a portion of Emma's life whereas Hollick's novel covers her whole life.
Shadow on the Crown tells a tale of a strong young woman well groomed for queenship who finds herself a near prisoner of a husband who does not trust her. Her fate is in the hands of her brother, who will most likely put her in jeopardy by breaking his agreement with the English king - an agreement that was sealed with Emma’s marriage. And her attempts to make friends at court are rejected by her eldest wary stepsons and sabotaged by a jealous rival. Her position will be secured and protected if she bears a son but this is also the very thing that threatens her stepson’s positions as heirs. It’s told in third person, from the four points of view of Emma, King Æthelred, his son Æthelstan, and Elgiva (Ælfgifu of Northampton), the daughter of an Ealdorman.
It’s very well written but I don’t think the characters were quite as well done as Hollick’s. The antagonists were pretty one dimensional and I felt like the romance between Emma and Æthelstan was very sudden and unexpected. I don't fully understand what prompted Æthelstan to give Emma a chance and I felt like he did a very quick 180.
I felt like Bracewell took a lot more liberties with the unknown than Hollick did. It worked well for the story but it did make it feel less likely to have really happened. I don't mind authors taking a creative license though, as long as it works and makes sense, which it did, and there is a lot unknown about Emma which the author had to work with.
There's no denying this was a well written and well crafted story that was very enjoyable. Though it’s the first in a trilogy whereas Hollick’s novel on Emma is stand alone (there is a sequel but it does not strongly feature Emma), I’d say being split into shorter novels makes it easier to read and maybe more appealing to the mainstream. I’d still rank Forever Queen higher but I am looking forward to the next in this trilogy from Bracewell.
June 2, 2015
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
The beautifully described settings transport the reader to Saxon England. The complex and skillfully developed characters become friends . . . or enemies. Scenes of drama, love, and suspense are interspersed with quotes from historical texts, showing how and where the author embellished Emma of Normandy's story. Since her story takes place at the beginning of the 11th century, there is much left to the imagination. Bracewell fills in these gaps marvelously. I enjoyed the creative way that fictional events led up or added to known historical events.
It took me a few chapters to picture the characters as Bracewell was writing them rather than as I remembered them in Helen Hollick's A Hollow Crown (aka The Forever Queen), but I ended up liking this version better. Emma is strong, yet understands that her duty is to be a devoted wife and have children. She is loving, but abhors her husband. She is kind, and will defend those she loves to her last breath. She was written as a dynamic character that I cheered for, cried with, and can't wait to read more about.
I listened to this as an audiobook and started going through withdrawal when the weekend came along. All of a sudden my habit of listening to my current audiobook while driving or doing homework was nowhere near enough. I had to creep off to a quiet corner of the house to listen to a few minutes like an addict sneaking into their stash. Shadow on the Crown was the most riveting novel about Saxon England that I have read, and I recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.
The beautifully described settings transport the reader to Saxon England. The complex and skillfully developed characters become friends . . . or enemies. Scenes of drama, love, and suspense are interspersed with quotes from historical texts, showing how and where the author embellished Emma of Normandy's story. Since her story takes place at the beginning of the 11th century, there is much left to the imagination. Bracewell fills in these gaps marvelously. I enjoyed the creative way that fictional events led up or added to known historical events.
It took me a few chapters to picture the characters as Bracewell was writing them rather than as I remembered them in Helen Hollick's A Hollow Crown (aka The Forever Queen), but I ended up liking this version better. Emma is strong, yet understands that her duty is to be a devoted wife and have children. She is loving, but abhors her husband. She is kind, and will defend those she loves to her last breath. She was written as a dynamic character that I cheered for, cried with, and can't wait to read more about.
I listened to this as an audiobook and started going through withdrawal when the weekend came along. All of a sudden my habit of listening to my current audiobook while driving or doing homework was nowhere near enough. I had to creep off to a quiet corner of the house to listen to a few minutes like an addict sneaking into their stash. Shadow on the Crown was the most riveting novel about Saxon England that I have read, and I recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.
August 16, 2020
As sister to the Norman duke Richard, Emma gets betrothed to the English king Aethelred II. Aethelred has just lost his wife in childbed who gave him already three daughters and six sons. His marriage to Emma is a pure political one as her brother promises to help defend England against the Danes. But the allegiance comes with a prize: Emma gets a crown and the title Queen of England.
Soon Emma discovers she has few friends at court and her husband bears her no love. Aethelred is plagued by a childhood drama and mistrusts everyone, including his beautiful but Norman queen. It is clear Emma must look elsewhere for love, but at first she gets none from the king’s eldest three sons. As queen she, and any male issue she begets, becomes a rival for the throne should Aethelred die. Elgiva, the daughter of a northern lord, had herself the ambition to be queen and blames Emma for her destroyed hopes. Yet another face she cannot trust.
This book was my first ebook on Kindle ever. I don’t know exactly why I chose this particular one, I just wanted to read something about Saxon England. Emma of Normandy is a queen I didn’t know anything about, but her name is often mentioned in historical podcasts. So I thought I might give this book, which is the first part in a trilogy about her life, a try. And I’m so glad I did, because I love this book.
The novel is written in the third person narrative from four different perspectives: Emma (the main character), Aethelred, Aethelstan (the heir to the throne) and Elgiva. This was definitely a surprise, as I thought the story would mainly be about Emma. I always like to read from different perspectives and the fact that you also get an insight in the troubled king’s mind really contributed to the story. Aethelred was not my favorite character, but reading from his point of view made hem feel more human, although I didn’t agree with his choices.
I did like the perspectives of Aethelstan and Emma the most. I could feel Emma’s insecurities and fears of a king rejecting her love and even her existence at some times. She was quite alone, except for her Norman ladies, at a strange court. Stepmother to sons who are her age and who don’t want to see her pregnant because that child will become a competitor for the throne itself. And then you have Elgiva, a vain noble girl who loathes Emma and is used by her family to grab power. I hope that her story becomes more balanced in the coming novels.
The battle with the Danes and the massacre at St. Brice’s Day are key events in the story. The Danish treat comes from Swein Forkbeard and his son Cnut. I feel we will see more of them in the next books. I found them very interesting side characters.
Bracewell crafts a believable story, but it’s important to note that there aren’t many facts from Emma’s early years as queen to start from. Some chapters of the books start with an ancient text from the Anglo-saxon chronicle, which was always a nice introduction. But sources from that era are scarce.
The author takes some liberties and also adds a romance, but it didn’t bother me at all. Bracewell even includes quite ‘modern’ themes such as panic attacks and claustrophobia. I liked her writing style, I loved the different characters (apart from Elgiva) and I look forward to reading the next part. I want to discover more of Emma’s life.
As this is Bracewell’s debut novel, I’m even more impressed. Highly recommended!
https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/20...
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Noot: Ik wil mijn boeken ook graag in het Nederlands blijven reviewen om mijn gevoel vlak na het uitlezen vast te leggen. Beetje later volgt dan de Engelse recensie via de nieuwe blog: In Another Era.
Emma wordt als zus van de Normandische hertog uitgehuwelijkt aan koning Eathelred II van Engeland. Aethelred heeft net zijn vrouw verloren die hem al 9 kinderen, waaronder 6 zonen, heeft geschonken. De enige reden dat Aethelred dus met Emma trouwt is om zijn land te beschermen tegen de Denen. Maar de prijs is hoog: Emma krijgt een kroon als koningin, en dat kan haar later meer macht geven in de strijd om de troon tegen haar stiefzonen. Dan moet ze natuurlijk wel eerst zelf een zoon baren, niet eenvoudig met een koning die geplaagd wordt door angsten en iedereen wantrouwt. Liefde zal ze ergens anders moeten zoeken.
Lang leve de Kindle waardoor ik boeken kan kopen over Saksisch Engeland! Ik wist bitter weinig over de periode tussen Alfred De Grote en 1066. Emma's leven is fascinerend en ik genoot van het verhaal.
Het boek is geschreven vanuit 4 verschillende perspectieven (Emma, Aethelred, kroonprins Aethelstan en Elgiva, de dochter van een noordelijke lord) en ik denk dat dat een grote winner was voor mij. Je krijgt een inkijk in de gedachten van meerdere hoofdrolspelers. Elgiva wordt wat neergezet als bitch, maar ook haar verhaal draagt bij. Bracewell schrijft vlot en weeft moeiteloos alle verhaallijnen door elkaar, daarbij laadt ze zich leiden door de Anglo-Saxon chronicle.
Over deze periode is historisch gezien niet zoveel geweten. En je hebt wel meteen door dat Bracewell heel wat eigen invulling geeft aan het verhaal. Maar ik stoorde me er totaal niet aan deze keer, omdat een boek over Emma met wat we weten niet zo heel interessant zou zijn. En Bracewell doet geen al te gekke dingen. Ze stopt zelfs moderne thema's zoals angstaanvallen en claustrofobie in het boek.
Ik ben ontzettend benieuwd hoe het verhaal verder gaat, want jawel, het is een trilogie. Deel 2 is gelukkig al uit en gaat binnenkort zeker op de Kindle.
Zware aanrader voor wie historisch fictie wel leuk vindt :)
Soon Emma discovers she has few friends at court and her husband bears her no love. Aethelred is plagued by a childhood drama and mistrusts everyone, including his beautiful but Norman queen. It is clear Emma must look elsewhere for love, but at first she gets none from the king’s eldest three sons. As queen she, and any male issue she begets, becomes a rival for the throne should Aethelred die. Elgiva, the daughter of a northern lord, had herself the ambition to be queen and blames Emma for her destroyed hopes. Yet another face she cannot trust.
This book was my first ebook on Kindle ever. I don’t know exactly why I chose this particular one, I just wanted to read something about Saxon England. Emma of Normandy is a queen I didn’t know anything about, but her name is often mentioned in historical podcasts. So I thought I might give this book, which is the first part in a trilogy about her life, a try. And I’m so glad I did, because I love this book.
The novel is written in the third person narrative from four different perspectives: Emma (the main character), Aethelred, Aethelstan (the heir to the throne) and Elgiva. This was definitely a surprise, as I thought the story would mainly be about Emma. I always like to read from different perspectives and the fact that you also get an insight in the troubled king’s mind really contributed to the story. Aethelred was not my favorite character, but reading from his point of view made hem feel more human, although I didn’t agree with his choices.
I did like the perspectives of Aethelstan and Emma the most. I could feel Emma’s insecurities and fears of a king rejecting her love and even her existence at some times. She was quite alone, except for her Norman ladies, at a strange court. Stepmother to sons who are her age and who don’t want to see her pregnant because that child will become a competitor for the throne itself. And then you have Elgiva, a vain noble girl who loathes Emma and is used by her family to grab power. I hope that her story becomes more balanced in the coming novels.
The battle with the Danes and the massacre at St. Brice’s Day are key events in the story. The Danish treat comes from Swein Forkbeard and his son Cnut. I feel we will see more of them in the next books. I found them very interesting side characters.
Bracewell crafts a believable story, but it’s important to note that there aren’t many facts from Emma’s early years as queen to start from. Some chapters of the books start with an ancient text from the Anglo-saxon chronicle, which was always a nice introduction. But sources from that era are scarce.
The author takes some liberties and also adds a romance, but it didn’t bother me at all. Bracewell even includes quite ‘modern’ themes such as panic attacks and claustrophobia. I liked her writing style, I loved the different characters (apart from Elgiva) and I look forward to reading the next part. I want to discover more of Emma’s life.
As this is Bracewell’s debut novel, I’m even more impressed. Highly recommended!
https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/20...
----
Noot: Ik wil mijn boeken ook graag in het Nederlands blijven reviewen om mijn gevoel vlak na het uitlezen vast te leggen. Beetje later volgt dan de Engelse recensie via de nieuwe blog: In Another Era.
Emma wordt als zus van de Normandische hertog uitgehuwelijkt aan koning Eathelred II van Engeland. Aethelred heeft net zijn vrouw verloren die hem al 9 kinderen, waaronder 6 zonen, heeft geschonken. De enige reden dat Aethelred dus met Emma trouwt is om zijn land te beschermen tegen de Denen. Maar de prijs is hoog: Emma krijgt een kroon als koningin, en dat kan haar later meer macht geven in de strijd om de troon tegen haar stiefzonen. Dan moet ze natuurlijk wel eerst zelf een zoon baren, niet eenvoudig met een koning die geplaagd wordt door angsten en iedereen wantrouwt. Liefde zal ze ergens anders moeten zoeken.
Lang leve de Kindle waardoor ik boeken kan kopen over Saksisch Engeland! Ik wist bitter weinig over de periode tussen Alfred De Grote en 1066. Emma's leven is fascinerend en ik genoot van het verhaal.
Het boek is geschreven vanuit 4 verschillende perspectieven (Emma, Aethelred, kroonprins Aethelstan en Elgiva, de dochter van een noordelijke lord) en ik denk dat dat een grote winner was voor mij. Je krijgt een inkijk in de gedachten van meerdere hoofdrolspelers. Elgiva wordt wat neergezet als bitch, maar ook haar verhaal draagt bij. Bracewell schrijft vlot en weeft moeiteloos alle verhaallijnen door elkaar, daarbij laadt ze zich leiden door de Anglo-Saxon chronicle.
Over deze periode is historisch gezien niet zoveel geweten. En je hebt wel meteen door dat Bracewell heel wat eigen invulling geeft aan het verhaal. Maar ik stoorde me er totaal niet aan deze keer, omdat een boek over Emma met wat we weten niet zo heel interessant zou zijn. En Bracewell doet geen al te gekke dingen. Ze stopt zelfs moderne thema's zoals angstaanvallen en claustrofobie in het boek.
Ik ben ontzettend benieuwd hoe het verhaal verder gaat, want jawel, het is een trilogie. Deel 2 is gelukkig al uit en gaat binnenkort zeker op de Kindle.
Zware aanrader voor wie historisch fictie wel leuk vindt :)
January 21, 2013
"Shadow on the Crown" is a beautifully written historical novel of love, loss, suffering and determination. Patricia Bracewell has created a vibrant world full of rich, engaging characters for the enjoyment of her readers.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as it was well researched, creatively crafted and an overall enjoyable experience. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book will not disappoint.
The author has filled her pages with immaculate dialogue that transported me back in time and gave me a sense of really being with the characters as they experienced life long ago. This is a book that you can easily lose yourself in.
I found that the book was paced well and kept me turning pages long after I had intended to stop reading for the night. One cannot help but feel for the plight of the main character. The emotions she displays show that she is a strong young woman, but also a real person who has desires and needs.
Although I did enjoy this book very much, I do have to say that if you are familiar with the actual historical events of this era, some of the material in this book will not be totally surprising. While I generally tend to wish that certain historical fiction titles would include a bit more history, that was not the case with this book. I think this book followed the events that are known to us almost too closely in some respects. The author could have taken a bit more liberty in creating events so that the scholars of this era would not guess what was going to happen next.
In the end, this was an excellent book, and I would recommend it highly to others who are a fan of historical fiction. I am excited for the following books in this series to be released.
I received a digital copy of this book at Netgalley.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as it was well researched, creatively crafted and an overall enjoyable experience. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this book will not disappoint.
The author has filled her pages with immaculate dialogue that transported me back in time and gave me a sense of really being with the characters as they experienced life long ago. This is a book that you can easily lose yourself in.
I found that the book was paced well and kept me turning pages long after I had intended to stop reading for the night. One cannot help but feel for the plight of the main character. The emotions she displays show that she is a strong young woman, but also a real person who has desires and needs.
Although I did enjoy this book very much, I do have to say that if you are familiar with the actual historical events of this era, some of the material in this book will not be totally surprising. While I generally tend to wish that certain historical fiction titles would include a bit more history, that was not the case with this book. I think this book followed the events that are known to us almost too closely in some respects. The author could have taken a bit more liberty in creating events so that the scholars of this era would not guess what was going to happen next.
In the end, this was an excellent book, and I would recommend it highly to others who are a fan of historical fiction. I am excited for the following books in this series to be released.
I received a digital copy of this book at Netgalley.
December 31, 2012
In Shadow on the Crown, Patricia Bracewell has written an engaging story about Queen Emma and her journey from Normandy to England, embellished with forbidden love, crushing sense of duty, and ultimately hope.
King Aethelred (the Unready) of England’s uncrowned wife has died in childbirth, and admidst unrest on his council and Viking raiders on England’s shores, he is forced into an alliance with Normandy. Emma is to be the peaceweaver whose influence spans the Narrow Sea. To Emma’s disappointment, her husband is a misogynist brute who resents and mistrusts his young Norman bride, and many do not agree with his choice of a wife, including the Lady Elgiva who wanted the throne for herself. The only light in Emma’s new life is Aethelred’s brood of young children, and surprisingly his eldest son Athelstan, though any child of her body would be rival for the eldest aetheling’s status as heir.
Emma is the victim of an uncaring husband, a hostile witan, and even the Vikings themselves, but she never displays a victim mentality, or self-pity. Emma is the annointed Queen of England, and she does everything she can, even at her own personal cost, to do the best thing for England and it’s people.
This book was very well-written, the plot moved quickly and easily and the author did a great job of keeping all the characters straight. I would have liked to see a little more development in the early stages of the above-mentioned “forbidden love.” But once it was established is was a lovely and heartbreaking relationship.
Shadow on the Crown is the first in a series of books and I eagerly await the second installment.
King Aethelred (the Unready) of England’s uncrowned wife has died in childbirth, and admidst unrest on his council and Viking raiders on England’s shores, he is forced into an alliance with Normandy. Emma is to be the peaceweaver whose influence spans the Narrow Sea. To Emma’s disappointment, her husband is a misogynist brute who resents and mistrusts his young Norman bride, and many do not agree with his choice of a wife, including the Lady Elgiva who wanted the throne for herself. The only light in Emma’s new life is Aethelred’s brood of young children, and surprisingly his eldest son Athelstan, though any child of her body would be rival for the eldest aetheling’s status as heir.
Emma is the victim of an uncaring husband, a hostile witan, and even the Vikings themselves, but she never displays a victim mentality, or self-pity. Emma is the annointed Queen of England, and she does everything she can, even at her own personal cost, to do the best thing for England and it’s people.
This book was very well-written, the plot moved quickly and easily and the author did a great job of keeping all the characters straight. I would have liked to see a little more development in the early stages of the above-mentioned “forbidden love.” But once it was established is was a lovely and heartbreaking relationship.
Shadow on the Crown is the first in a series of books and I eagerly await the second installment.
March 11, 2020
Fascinating! Patricia Bracewell’s Shadow on the Crown ( The Emma of Normandy #1) describes the medieval period of December 1001 to January 1005 when Emma, the sister of the Duke of Normandy, becomes the crowned queen of Aethelred the Unready of England. Aethelred, also known as Aethelred II, is a troubled and brutal king which fits almost too well this medieval period as it is a brutal and bloody time in England’s history. Emma, a strong woman, realizes just how strong she must be to fill this role. Many Danes have made England their home after arriving in ‘dragon’ ships as Viking raiders “who spread terror and devastation where so ever they went....”. (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.) Emma’s mother is Danish, and her father, now deceased, had been The Duke of Normandy- thus, French. As Aethelred’s second wife, Emma, age 15 and a foreigner, must prove not only to the King who trusts no one not even his sons by his first wife but his subjects as well that she is a ‘good’ and loyal’ queen. Emma is able to achieve both goals through her individual strength, but her road is not an easy one. I inadvertently read the author’s second book about Emma, The Price of Blood (5 stars), a few years ago. Thus, I knew Emma as a ‘strong and likable queen’. The author’s writing draws the reader right into the story. I ‘experienced’ Aethelred’s court, and Swein Forkbeard’s, the Danish king, invasion of Southern England and his complete destruction of the fortified town of Exeter among others. The author uses The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a actual record of this time period, as her ‘blueprint’. Beautifully done! 5 stars.
May 1, 2014
This is an excellent debut historical fiction novel. The plot is captivating, the characters are vivid and complex and the time period is portrayed so starkly real that I could see, taste, smell and feel everything that our central protagonist, Emma, did. It was brilliant from start to finish.
Emma of Normandy is mostly known for her role as the mother of Edward the Confessor and also for her second marriage to Cnut the Great, when she became the Queen of England once more. This novel however focuses upon the little known early years when she came to England as a young bride to become the second wife of Ethelred--"The Unready". The author admits in her author's note at the end that almost nothing is known about Emma's life during this time and therefore she was able to create a story around Emma that she felt most fitting. This is not to say however that the author throws history out of the window, not at all, rather she used the known version of historical events (from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) as the framework for Emma's story.
And what a remarkable story it is. Not only did Ms. Bracewell do an excellent job of creating the character of Emma herself--strong, determined, intelligent and quick-witted--but it was Emma's well-written storyline that truly made her come to life. Through the adversity she faced in this first novel of the trilogy I cannot wait to read of the woman that she will become in the next two novels. I have very high hopes for this trilogy.
Emma of Normandy is mostly known for her role as the mother of Edward the Confessor and also for her second marriage to Cnut the Great, when she became the Queen of England once more. This novel however focuses upon the little known early years when she came to England as a young bride to become the second wife of Ethelred--"The Unready". The author admits in her author's note at the end that almost nothing is known about Emma's life during this time and therefore she was able to create a story around Emma that she felt most fitting. This is not to say however that the author throws history out of the window, not at all, rather she used the known version of historical events (from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) as the framework for Emma's story.
And what a remarkable story it is. Not only did Ms. Bracewell do an excellent job of creating the character of Emma herself--strong, determined, intelligent and quick-witted--but it was Emma's well-written storyline that truly made her come to life. Through the adversity she faced in this first novel of the trilogy I cannot wait to read of the woman that she will become in the next two novels. I have very high hopes for this trilogy.
March 26, 2017
This was the first time I've ever read a book from this era, so the historical part of this was eye-opening. Unfortunately the narrative wasn't as great. I really did want to like it, but I had a hard time differentiating between all these Nordic names starting with E. And a book centered around a woman trying to produce an heir isn't exactly the most exciting of reads. The history was good though.
April 5, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Bracewell's imagining of Queen Emma's early years of marriage to King Athelred and am eagerly anticipating the second and third books in the series. I especially liked her portrayal of King Athelred - his mistrust, his inner deamons, his brutality; and her inclusion of a meeting with a young Cnut. Well done!!
November 4, 2014
Highly enjoyable story that kept me captivated from start to finish. Enjoyed the way the author uses poetic license to fill in the blanks which does not detract from the story at all. Eagerly anticipating installments 2 and 3.
October 17, 2021
3.5 stars
A good old romp and easy to read
Although a novel and the author, in her own words, admits to using artistic licence it has brought to light how one of England’s Queens has been almost written out of history.
I definitely became more interested in the Royal Family’s dynamics the more I read and looked up in the Kings and Queens of England to find out more, especially as Emma had not only Norman blood in her veins but also Danish blood from her mother’s side putting her in an unusual position with regards to her loyalties.
Will definitely be reading the next two books in this trilogy.
Well done Patricia Bracewell.
A good old romp and easy to read
Although a novel and the author, in her own words, admits to using artistic licence it has brought to light how one of England’s Queens has been almost written out of history.
I definitely became more interested in the Royal Family’s dynamics the more I read and looked up in the Kings and Queens of England to find out more, especially as Emma had not only Norman blood in her veins but also Danish blood from her mother’s side putting her in an unusual position with regards to her loyalties.
Will definitely be reading the next two books in this trilogy.
Well done Patricia Bracewell.
April 8, 2025
Women in those days were made out of something else. Literally living to just survive day in and day out. Being owned by husbands is not my cup of tea. Nor was it theirs...
Okay. The men too. Wearing heaps of armor and sleeping on the ground, etc...
I enjoyed the game play in this book. I felt like I was in a giant board game trying to figure out where pieces would be played, why and what should be done next ....
Okay. The men too. Wearing heaps of armor and sleeping on the ground, etc...
I enjoyed the game play in this book. I felt like I was in a giant board game trying to figure out where pieces would be played, why and what should be done next ....
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