The Lion Triumphant

Daughters of England #2

by Philippa Carr

Catharine Kingsman
The Lion Triumphant follows The Miracle at St Bruno's with Catharine, the daughter of Damask, growing up in the new Elizabethan age -- one of the most eventful in English history because of the struggle for power between two mighty rivals had begun.

Catharine, smarting from the bitter blow which deprived her of her lover, meets the lusty sea Captain Jake Pennlyon, who makes it clear that he allows nothing to come between him and his desires. Catharine is the chief of these and the battle between two strong-willed and tempestuous people is fought out in the shadow of the growing rivalry between Spain and England. Catharine delights in outwitting the man who would subdue her and before he can have his way a mysterious abduction takes place. A captive on a Spanish galleon, Catharine experiences the terrors of the sea and makes the acquaintance of the mysterious and dignified Don Felipe. In the Hacienda she discovers the reason for her capture and what is demanded of her, which bears out the fact that Jake Pennlyon is a man whose life is inextricably interwoven with her own.

His symbol is the Lion and there is no escape from him and his determination to overcome her resistance. He is as sure of his power to subdue her as he is of England's to rule the seas. With her Spanish son Roberto and her English daughter Linnet, Catharine is torn between love and loyalty in a story of lusty adventure on land and sea, when those who lived in the turbulent sixteenth century were caught up in the trmendous events of their times. The fight for survival is Catharine's and Jake's, Roberto's and Linnet's -- as well as England's. From Plymouth, the ships set forth, for the issue will be decided at sea. Here is the most significant engagement of all times when the little ships of England drove off the mighty Spanish galleons of Spain and the Invincible Armada was defeated, leaving the Lion Triumphant.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, British Literature, Mystery

351 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Anna Percival and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jaimey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular! I loved this book but I have to say it is not a light read by any means. The story is intense and honestly, not all that romantic. In fact, don't read this if you're looking for romance. The hero is definitely more of an anti-hero and he doesn't change. This story is too realistic to be romantic...

[Infosifter · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you don't like seeing someone make endless excuses for evil, particularly rape, don't read this! I mostly skimmed it on the idea that every series can have one really terrible book and I wanted to follow The chronology, but honestly the main character made me think of women who are married to murderers and constantly justify their spouses evil deeds. She had unrealistically modern views on religion; I would've preferred to see unrealistically modern views about consent!

[Judi Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

As she always did, Phillipa Carr triumphed along with England.

If you love English history, Phillipa Carr, Victoria Holt Jean Plaidy are the one you need to read. She taught me all I know of English history and mystery

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love this series! Every year I read the Philippa Carr series (I have each one of the books). This one is full of things that happen. There is never a dull moment. Set back in Mary I (barely) and Elizabeth I reigns.

I will add to this one. This is a typical swashbuckling story of the ages. A pirate comes to town and changes everything. Sometimes I want to smack our heroine but then others I adore her!!!

This is the series that made me fall in love with reading.

[Celeste Batchelor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The subject matter of this book is totally barbaric. A woman who falls in love with all her rapists? Come on...this is a very sick and twisted scenario. Right up there with women who love their abusers. Not to mention that she is fine with her husband's affairs and willingly brings in his illegitimate children. All of it is sick.

I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Artemiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story!

Starts as classic pirate romance novel – sailor who is ready to get what he wants and maiden who does not want the sailor. Almost like The Taming the Shrew. Even after the maiden is abducted, I still thought that it’s all part of the sailors plan, for taming his wife to be. That’s when the first twist comes into the story. The story is full of twist and turns, and the minute you think you know what will happen next, it might go that way or not.

It’s a story full of love and passion, fear and grief, trust and hope. It is wonderfully written, nice tempo, nice fluidity. Reminds me a lot of Barbara Erskine books, or should it be the other way around, since Lion Triumphant is written almost 40 years ago and Barbara Erskine first book was published some 30 years ago. But the way, how Philippa Carr mixes real historic events into her novels are very enjoyable experience.

It is good change from contemporary and modern romance novels.

[Jeannie Glanville · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to admit, when I first read this book, I hated it! But it stayed with me. I kept thinking about it....I STILL think about it. So, I read it again. Older, wiser, more worldly me finally understood the heroine. And the unlikely male leads in the book, as well. The sea captain made me so angry so many times, I was almost frothing at the mouth! My husband would laugh and say, "quit reading it!" Which I really couldn't. Usually the lead men in books have a soft side to them, a gentle side that comes out around the woman they desire or love. Not the Captain. Oh no. He takes. He's an ass, a big one! But by the end of the book, you come to understand him, if not feel affection for him.

[Empress5150 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember reading this entire series when I was in high school. I clearly remember Book #1 as being pretty interesting, especially as it took place during the time of Henry VIII.

This second in the series, well, all I can say is, "What the ....?"

The time is now the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Cat, the daughter of Damask (the heroine from the first book) is bored and hanging out at her step-sister's digs. She wanders down to the boat dock and happens up Jake Pennlyon, who is conceited and arrogant from the get-go (and only gets worse).

La ti dah, she resists him even though she's secretly, what, turned on? By him. He eventually blackmails her into becoming betrothed to him. But, wait! She tricks him and pretends to be ill and he sails away before they can be wed.

From here, it just gets so ridiculous. In fact, it's so stupid, I can't believe I didn't remember how stupid it was and skip it (maybe my younger self thought it tantalizing?)

Anyway.

How a "heroine" of any book can fall in love with not one, but two; men who rape her is beyond me. And, the one she of course ultimately loves, is the one who also routinely cheats on her and brings bastard sons to live in her house.

So, yeah. I kept reading it only because of the brief snippets of Tudor and Stuart history which was sadly too much in the background.

The next book will center on Cat's daughter and I certainly hope she has more sense than her mother.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just could not deal with the rape and the Stockholm syndrome of the main character, Cat. She fell in love not once but twice her rapists. I know the book was written years ago and it takes place in a time when women had little choice, but it felt like I was supposed to be glad that she was content to marry men who sexually assaulted her. Just didn't work for me.

[Vmontgzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bueno otra historia que no deja indiferente, me recuerda un poco a La Hija del Diablo, la chica renuente, el marinero arrogante y mujeriego que la acosa. Hace muchisimo que un libro no me atrapaba como este y eso que es parecidisimo a La Hija del Diablo, que no me encanto, es obvio que Jean Plaidy uso la historia de Jake Pennylon para la novela de Tamar, ya que muchas partes son iguales, la relacion tormentosa de los protagonistas, solo que Catherine es mas lista que Tamar, la desaparicion de Jake y su captura por los españoles y turcos y hasta la forma en que regresa a casa. Algunas referencias a la caceria de brujas que aparecen en mayor medida en La Hija... No hay duda que hasta las mejores reciclan.

Mas de una vez quise ahorcar a Jake por bruto pero con todo no fui capaz de dejar el libro pues es adictiva igual que toda la serie. Muy recomendable.

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this second novel in the “Daughters of England” series to be a vast improvement on the first. Where Book One was largely predictable and had too many slow sections, Book Two is of a much faster pace with a few surprising episodes that I didn’t see coming.

The varied conflicts, settings, and characters all gelled together to create an entertaining narrative. Didn’t think it so amazing that I should rate it five stars; however, it certainly deserves four.

Impressive.

[Fiiiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect some misogyny in a Philippa Carr book, but here the author made some severely questionable choices that won’t allow me to give this book more than two stars. I am almost angry at myself for being entertained enough to finish this book.

[RainLady777 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough around the edges due to the time period it's reflective of, but an awesome mystery and an exciting plot. Very well written!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this book, but MAN all the adult males in this book are absolutely terrible and I hate them all.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

La reseña COMPLETA en el blog: http://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2016/12...

Leí la primera novela de esta serie y no me gustó demasiado. En cambio esta novela es realmente mucho mejor que la anterior. Tiene todos los ingredientes necesarios para mantener la atención y tensión. Por tema trabajo y hogar tuve que dejarla a un lado, pero entre la página 88 y hasta la palabra fin me demoré un día en leerla.

*SPOILER*
Sobre las opiniones que leí en algunos comentarios sobre la protagonista que se enamora de quienes la violentaron sexualmente, debo decir que hay que situarse en la época, no digo que esté bien, pero era lo que ocurría en aquella época de hombres machistas y mujeres sumisas, y esto ocurría de doncellas a reinas, solo hay que leer la historia y veremos que la autora solo reflejó lo que las mujeres en aquellos tiempos vivían y sentían. *FIN SPOILER*

Históricamente me parece que está bien documentada cronológicamente a pesar que no es el tema principal pero los acontecimientos históricos como la pelea entre ingleses y españoles,entre católicos y anglicanos/protestantes, entre Isabel y María influye mucho en la trama de la novela.
Recomendable.

[Karen Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second favorite, behind "Lament..", Swashbuckling, loud, romantic, exciting, and just downright hooray for the heroine worthy. I felt that Philippa Carr wrote the book in the 1500's, she was so true to the way life was back then. The Armada invasion at the end of the book was a thrilling climax and I was really swept away with the emotion of the Queens speech and the fictional characters woven in with real history. You know you are reading a great book when you have a great mental picture of all the characters, right down to their breeches and velvets.

[Lorna Gundaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Daughters of England series by Phillips Carr. She does not disappoint!! I have read the first three books which follow the same seafaring family through generations of men of strong, enduring passions and equally strong women. These books are historical to the times and place the families into conceivable events. Unknowingly, I have read 2 or 3 of these sequential books out of contex because they were all the library had. The books are great enough to stand alone, but, now, thanks to Kindle, I have access to all of the books and intend to read them in sequence.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it was exciting and held my interest from the first page. I enjoyed the main character's strong will. The book is set in the 1500's at the begining of Elizabeth III reign. It portrays a lot of the religious strife of the period and also delves into the Spanish inquisition.

I would probably rate it pg-pg13 because it does talk about unfaithfulness and mistresses.

"The Miracle at St Bruno's" is a prequel but I havn't read it yet.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A swashbuckling story of England when pirates raided Spanish galleons for gold to take back to Eliz.I.

Part of a series of mother to daughter generations stories telling the history of England from Henry VIII to WW II. Fabulous to read them all in order. Each one is a gem; each is surprising and well written.

[Kate Shiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something very interesting about the Daughters of England series: as you read all 19 novels in order, you can see Ms. Carr adapt her storylines to the changing landscape of the romance genre. In a way, it functions as a time capsule of the genre during the 70s and 80s, which is fascinating if you're interested in literary history.

This second book in the series is very much evocative of other popular romances of the 70s. It's what would be disparagingly called a "bodice ripper", a romance novel that involves plotlines of abduction and dubious consent. Many of these novels involved male heroes who were pirates, buccaneers, or adventurers. The point of these romance novels was to play into a fantasy that allowed women to give themselves up to sexual pleasure while still absolving themselves of any blame. Once you know that, it's easy to see the narrative of this book hide Catherine's desire behind her lack of explicit consent - most notably in the passage when she is aboard the Rampant Lion after being "rescued" from Tenerife. She expresses excited anticipation for what's ahead while continuing to describe it as Jake "forcing [her] to become his mistress".

That's not to say that this isn't problematic - obviously it is - but I do wonder quite a bit about how this ties into shaming women for their sexual fantasies and for being sexual beings in general. Even now, there are absolutely vitriolic debates about women's lit and how it "should" be. While I am personally not into modern romantasy, the hate leveled towards it can't be dismissed as not coming from a misogynistic place. Sometimes within these communities I see us ladies shame one another for enjoying material deemed "problematic", such as a darker romance. It's a bit strange that the same people who might call someone out for kinkshaming act as though a person's choice in erotic or semi-erotic literature says something about their personal ethics. I think by studying the history of women and literature we can see that these fantasies are something women have been exploring for a long, long time - arguably back to Ancient Rome with the Sabines.

But at the same time, in acknowledging these fantasies, do we risk condoning sexual violence or implying that we as women do in fact desire and invite it? That's also a very fair point, and it makes this line a tough one to walk. Women are very much taught to temper their expectations of love, romance, and a future partner - young girls are told that fairy tales and princes aren't real, and media for teenage girls often centers around storylines that involve realizing an idealized crush has feet of clay. By the time adulthood comes around, women are very adept at separating fact from fantasy when it comes to romance and relationships. However, young men often don't receive this socialization and are taught to expect an idealized partner as a reward for success ("getting the girl"). Furthermore, pornography targets young men and presents itself as realistic despite being pure fiction. Therefore, it sometimes seems odd to men that women can enjoy a fantasy scenario that they would not want to actually live out. My husband and I have discussed at length how deeply normalized porn is for men, and how it affects the way they view sex, their partners, and themselves. It's a fascinating discussion to have with a man in your life who is willing to offer his perspective (if you can manage to find one with a negative view towards porn...)

Tangent aside, I do enjoy this book overall and I think it's one of my favorites from the series. Side character Honey is one of my favorites, and this novel concerns her as well. Catherine is a fun heroine, and the adventures she goes on are captivating and enjoyable to read. While there are many elements of a romance novel present in this book, and it's often marketed as one, this series is really a family saga and the romances aren't exactly very idealized. The romantic leads are quite flawed but our heroines accept them as they are. Damask from Book 1, "The Miracle at St. Bruno's", does appear again in this novel as her own story continues. Book 3 continues the story of Catherine's daughter, Linnet Pennlyon.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the series as whole is reading it in order and taking notes to help you follow the history of Great Britain. As an American, I don't know as much about this as I may have liked. I used this series as a guide as to events and dates to read up on, and at the end I felt like I had gained a pretty solid basic understanding of English history from Henry VIII to WWII. There are points where Ms. Carr glosses over historical events - in this novel, for example, she brushes very quickly past the defeat of the Spanish Armada. While at first this was irritating, I appreciated it on a second re-read. This is a Carr series, not a Plaidy one; it's not full of historical information and is really focused on the family relationships. It's up to the reader to augment his or her knowledge as he or she sees fit.

It's a fun series, somewhat forgotten which it doesn't deserve. It certainly isn't for everyone; more sensitive readers will absolutely not find this enjoyable. But if this review piqued your interest, do check it out. I recommend the entire series highly.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kidnapped by Spanish pirates, snatched back five years later by English pirates, threatened with torture from the Inquisition, charges of witchcraft, and nearly murdered by her own servant, Catharine's life is never short of excitement!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things about this book were predictable, which almost made me not want to waste my time reading it. But I enjoyed the history that was interlaced in the story, and the main character is very relatable. There's really not much else to say about this book. It wasn't amazing, but it was good.

[Ruth Vanderhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected historical fiction and got gothic romance! I used to read these when I was 13 or 14. So it was a memory lane kind of experience. Kind of a ridiculous plot though--lots of lusty men and ravished women.

[Gary Branson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series. The author does tend to repeat herself at times but this doesn't detract from the story itself. The first two books in the series are historical romances at all. Brutal and frank retelling of a too brutal period in history.

[Tammie Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

book two of the philippa carr series.

[Marie Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely lived up to my expectations. Great stuff.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another one of those heroes I wasn't too enamored of, but the story is interesting and the other characters are, too. A little romance and intrigue are fun once in awhile.

[Jena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been a really great historical fiction if it focused more on the historical turmoil than rape.

[Kit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jake is the wooooorst.

[Jo Golding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't drag quite so much as the first book at the end. Not so totally sure that I'd read again