The Lioness

by Gigi Griffis

The king killed the love of her life—and she’s going to make him pay.

Step into this epic revenge tale a la The Count of Monte Cristo, based on the true story of France’s most notorious lady pirate. By the author of The Empress—as seen on Netflix.

It’s 1343 and Jeanne de Clisson is out for revenge.

At forty-three, her perfect life—a loving husband, three young children, and two castles in the French countryside—shatters when Phillip VI, the King of France, arrests and beheads her husband for treachery.

There’s no evidence and no trial—only the execution. The nobles are shocked. The paranoid king is relieved. And Jeanne…

Jeanne wants the king’s head on a pike.

To get justice, she’ll take to the sea with a pirate fleet. But while she’s burning castles to the ground and sinking merchant ships, the king is hunting her. And the closer she gets to her revenge, the closer the king gets to the people Jeanne loves most.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Medieval

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2024

About the author

Gigi Griffis is a critically acclaimed author of novels for adults and teens, including We Are The Beasts, The Lioness, and And the Trees Stare Back (a JLG Gold Standard Selection).

She’s a sucker for little-known histories, “unlikable” female characters, and all things Europe. After almost ten years of semi-nomadic life, she now lives in Portugal with an opinionated Yorkie-mix named Luna and a collection of very nerdy books.

Reviews

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely grateful to Dreamscape Media for accepting my request for the ALC in NetGalley!!🥰

What an awe-inspiring tale of revenge!!🤩🔥 there's always a great sense of satisfaction when men get what they deserve & Jeanne made sure the King paid enough for every wrong he did!!!!

What can you expect -
⚔️14th century France & Britain
⚔️Backdrop of the Hundred Years War
⚔️Warrior Women at their best!
⚔️Middle aged FMC
⚔️Female rage & her thirst for revenge
⚔️Politics & betrayal
⚔️Pirating & battles on sea
⚔️Heartbreak & emotional turmoil
⚔️Loyalty & found family

Jeanne de Clisson, the noble-woman-turned pirate, is the main character in this historical fiction retelling. Wronged by the King of France who put her husband to death without even a trial, she sets off on her path for revenge against the King & all the nobles who stood by his side.

Even as a child, Jeanne is known to have been fierce & headstrong, and she willingly got into swordplay & is also known to have been the right hand of her husband, Olivier, who fought in the Hundred Years War against Britain. They were equals in fighting, & also took all diplomatic decisions together. With such a loving partner, she also had three children & led a beautiful life. And when that very man was plucked from her & beheaded right in front of her, she couldn't take the injustice that was wrought upon them & took things into her own hands, and began collecting allies in secret & hit the King at every place where he would feel the loss.

"Didn't they know the danger of a woman wronged?"

Jeanne became the annoying thorn at the King's side as she took down his allies & began burning down his places. She was diplomatic, ruthless, deadly & never showed mercy!!! She became the Lioness of Brittany, and was revered & respected for her battle strategies & prowess and you would be better off not making her your enemy!🔥

"...she was - a spark, a flame, a raging inferno."

Also I absolutely loved the way she broke every stereotype!!! Women at that time were only allowed to stay beside men & give in to their whims, but she chose to go against all that & took to pirating. If you belonged to the other side of her at sea, she wouldn't think twice to attack you & disarm you within seconds, and then to loot your inventory & throw you at the sharks!!! I know she's morally gray but I loved that about her!😌🤌🏻✨ Women were always advised to be merciful & kind & just nod their heads at everything a man does & says even though it goes against morality, so why can't a woman do the same & punish everyone who's responsible for the wrongdoings of the world?!

Also her animal companion is a black cat, and it absolutely suits her, don't you think?! She even considered the cat (named Monster) to be her guiding light & a good omen, so different from how we used to treat black cats. (I'd stop here cuz I could write a thesis on her cuz I fell so hard for her that I read encyclopaedia & every other articles that were available on her in the internet😌)

Even though it's the retelling of one of the fiercest female pirates of France, Jeanne de Clisson, the author has also given her own twist to her tale. She has embellished the fearsome tale by adding a new supporting character (Amee) who didn't exist in history but never leaves the side of Jeanne in this tale. Amee is such a wonderful character, and united by the common goal & enemy, she stands by Jeanne's side & offers her valuable advice throughout the novel. And I loved how she also became a part of Jeanne's family & was taken care of by her till the end.

The only reason this wasn't a five star read is because some parts felt a bit repetitive from the second half, and I also hated the way she was losing herself along this path of revenge! She started to lose focus & became so involved in this path that she didn't give herself the time to enjoy her life or celebrate the tiny moments of victory. But I was glad that she got her happy ending by the end & also found her own inner circle!!

I also gotta appreciate the audiobook narrator, Imani Jade Powers, for the wonderful experience! It felt like hearing the fiercest pirate tell her own tale to yourself cuz the tone & intonation were all perfect & regal!

Overall, if you're someone like me who lives reading about female rage & warrior women, you absolutely gotta read this masterpiece.

[NrsKelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh am I a sucker for a historical fiction book with a kick butt FMC. And boy does this book deliver. I binged the whole audios book in 1 day.
I found myself rooting for Jeanne and her crew. This is not pick me girl energy….this is you came for me and my family so now I will kill everybody to get to you. To imagine that this is based on the life of a real woman (obviously not historically accurate), just makes it even more compelling.
When the world is as crazy as it atm ……we could all use a little Jeanne in our life!
5/5 stars for me.
I received and ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the period when all revolved around white men, we have a story about women and narrated by women. And that's amazing. I give this book 3,5 stars because sometimes I was bored and confused, but I'll round it up to 4, because there were moments I'd enjoyed.

Jeanne was a great centre character, though I found some other characters more interesting. I feel like there weren't enough of her soft motherly side. A lot of emotion related to her children were either pain or rage or fear. The loving Jeanne wasn't portrayed enough here.

Amee and Pieter are amazing friends. I wish I had them as mine.

Thank NetGalley, publisher, author and narrator for my audiobook arc

[Amanda Bennett at passionforprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This revenge tale is one that will have readers cheering one minute and seething the next as they follow the exploits of one of France’s most notorious lady pirates.

Jeanne de Clisson’s life splinters apart when French King Phillip VI arrests and beheads her beloved husband for treason without warning or a trial. The noble class is shocked, no more than Jeanne herself. Now left with her three young children, she makes a plan and finds allies as she is determined to seek her vengeance for the one she loved.

From burning down castles to destroying merchant ships on the high seas, Jeanne earns a reputation for her cunning and ruthless behavior in the name of retribution. “The Lioness” becomes something of myth and legend as she fights to destroy the French king all while he sends mercenaries to destroy her and the ones she holds dear.

Based on a true historical woman from the 14th century, Jeanne’s wrath is that of legend during France and England’s Hundred Years’ War. This is an era I knew little about, but Gigi Griffis touches on all the reasons that led to this conflict that dominated part of the Middle Ages. Jeanne is a fascinating character to be sure, and readers will find themselves rooting for her even when her moral boundaries get shaky.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and of course the author Gigi Griffis for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Lioness is out on February 18th. All opinions are my own.

http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lioness by Gigi Griffis was narrated by Imani Jade Powers. I enjoyed this and not surprised that history left this courageous woman out of our history classes. The author wrote a compelling story about love, loss and revenge. I enjoyed all the characters and was satisfied with the ending. The narrator was an excellent choice for this novel and I think it was a great listen.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

[Sarah Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I was as brave as jeanne.
This is a true account of the wrath of a woman, her husband has been killed by the king without a trial, so she is out for revenge. She makes her way towards the king and on the way she annihilates the castles in which the kings men are residing. Loss of friends and family. How she soldiers on is heartfelt.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put down The Lioness. This is about a woman scorned and the things we do for love, family, and justice. Jeanne de Clisson is a force to be reckoned with. She is a wife, mother and friend: fierce and brave and strong! She was amazing! Nothing stood in her way. Oh how we need a Jean in this day and time. I loved the supporting characters and how they loved, grounded and supported her. Griffis writes vividly and I felt like I was sailing on the pirate ships and invading the castles with Jeanne. If you like stories about strong women, revenge, with love and hope mixed in read this. This book also shared information on a time in history that I did not know much about. Definitely a 5 star rating from me!

I also love when authors include a note at the end explaining how they came to write the story and what is true and what they took liberties with. Griffis does a good job of this. She also includes other works in case you would like to learn more.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The king killed the love of her life—and she’s going to make him pay.”

I had never heard of Jeanne de Clisson, France’s most notorious lady pirate, known as The Lioness, but as soon as I read the description, I knew I simply had to read her story! I was captivated by every word and would have probably finished in a day if responsibilities hadn’t intruded. I am somewhat disappointed that this fierce, courageous woman was never mentioned in any of my history classes and found myself doing side research into her life and the lives of the other warrior women mentioned. I found myself cheering for her victories and sobbing for her heartbreaks. There were times the story was so intense and I was so worried about what would happen next, despite knowing how and when she died because of the rabbit holes of research I’d done down. I did find myself feeling somewhat sad for Jeanne, though, that she had such a hard time letting go of her bitterness for so long but, as a wife and a mother, I also understand how it would be nearly impossible to let go. Jeanne and those who supported her were such fascinating people and I hope to be able to find more books about them.

Thank you, Netgalley, Mastermind publishing, and Gigi Griffis for gifting me this ebook arc of this amazing story. My review has not been affected by this in any way.

[Darth C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had all the makings of a book I’d devour—revenge, piracy, and a woman hellbent on wrecking a king’s entire existence. And don’t get me wrong, there were moments where I was fully onboard, ready to hoist the black flag and set sail with Jeanne de Clisson. But somewhere along the way, the wind died down, and I was left drifting.

The historical backdrop? Fantastic. The sheer audacity of Jeanne’s story? Love it. But the execution felt… muted. For a tale about a lady pirate slashing her way through 14th-century France, I expected more grit, more fire. Instead, some parts felt repetitive, and Jeanne’s character, while fascinating, never quite pulled me in emotionally the way I wanted.

That said, if you love historical fiction with a dash of revenge and don’t mind a slower, more introspective take on piracy, this might be your thing. I just wanted a bit more oomph—or at least one truly unhinged, cackling villain moment.

[Monica H at The Readathon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 2.5 Stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook copy! One of my all-time favorite books is the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s SOOOO good! Think of that, but now make it a woman and make it 100 times more vindictive and rageful. Wow. Jeanne is one unhappy cookie!

Jeanne’s husband had been out fighting for the king in the war. He hadn’t been home for years. Jeanne hears that he’s coming home and travels to the king’s palace to see his return...only to watch him be accused of treason and beheaded before her eyes. Yeah. She’s VERY angry.

Jeanne gathers a whole bunch of allies, purchases a ship, and drops her young children off in a “safe” place. She then travels the seas burning down ships, raiding castles, and causing all sorts of chaos. She’s so brutal that she becomes known as The Lioness. She’s no longer a gentlewoman, but a notorious pirate. She has traded her castle, being with her children, and her lands for a ship, the ocean, and a few trusted friends. All of this to punish the king for killing her husband.

It’s quite the story! There is lots of action, adventure, and death. Revenge is the ONLY thing on Jeanne’s mind, and consequently, she ends up losing a lot. I don’t know in the end if I’d think it were worth it, but she doesn’t bat an eye at all the destruction she leaves in her wake.

I really liked a few of the supporting characters in the story. I did not like Jeanne at all. I couldn’t relate to her no matter how much I tried. Some of the people around her, though, redeemed the story for me. They showed that there was still humanity in all of the chaos. Were there any lessons learned? Maybe for some of the characters. It was difficult trying to like such an unlikable character, for me.

I was not a huge fan of this book. So much death, destruction, and chaos. Also, I just felt like I was reading a telling of the story--not that I was in the story, if that makes sense. I just could not relate. I did a little bit of research and it looks like Jeanne is based on a real character in the 14th century. Her name was Jeanne de Clisson and she was a French noblewoman. Her nickname was “The Lioness of Brittany.” For me, personally, I could not live my life like that—seeped in revenge. But, she’s infamous now, so I guess it worked for her.

Content Rating: R
-Profanity: High
-Intimacy: Low (She takes refuge in a brothel, but nothing “intimate” happens there.)
-Violence: High
Age Recommendation: Adult

You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeanne de Clisson, Lioness of Brittany, is a fascinating historical character, a notorious woman pirate in 14th century France, and Gigi Griffis creates a compelling revenge story and character sketch out of Jeanne's life.

In 1343, Jeanne de Clisson's [third] husband Olivier de Clisson was executed by King Philip VI for treason, as a part of the conflict of the Breton War of Succession. Griffis picks up her story as Jeanne is out for full revenge on everyone who has wronged her husband and also her. A fierce warrior in her own right, Jeanne sold her land and raised an army to seek revenge. Griffis gives us the years that Jeanne spent at sea pirating and harassing the French crown, and a portrait of a strong and fierce woman who leverages her friends and allies to carry out her missions.

This is an era of history in France that I know little about. This story pre-dates the Black Death by a few years, and is a time of great political turmoil. As Griffis says in her author’s note, just because we don’t hear as much about the women who raised armies doesn’t mean they didn’t have fascinating stories, and it’s interesting to see that a woman who raised 400 soldiers could be considered a footnote in history. But the men who recorded history often didn’t know what to do with women who didn’t fit their mold. All of the women Griffis writes about in The Lioness, with the exception of the young Black astrologer who joined Jeanne’s crew, are real women from history (with some names changed because half of them are named Jeanne). Griffis is meticulous about historical details where she has them, and then choosing additional elements for good storytelling. Jeanne’s character shifts a little too abruptly at the end of the book, making it a little less satisfying of an arc overall, but still a genuinely interesting read about a compelling historical character.

If you need a book about a fierce 43-year-old woman who is out for revenge and gives no quarter, this is the book for you. It’s a sometimes harsh, and certainly bloody, story that pulls no punches when it comes to Jeanne de Clisson’s force of personality.

I picked this up initially because the concept looked interesting and because the audiobook is narrated by Imani Jade Powers, and have no regrets about learning more about this era in France.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for an ALC for review. The Lioness is out 2/18/25.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received an advanced listening copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Griffis, known for her book "The Empress" and its subsequent adaptation on Netflix, brings to light another real life woman relegated to the shadows of history, Jeanne de Clisson. Jeanne lived during the time of The Hundred Years' War, and Griffis begins her story at the origin of Jeanne's rage. Her husband murdered by the French king, Jeanne decides she has to fight back to avenge her husband's death. Fueled by legends and rumors, Jeanne takes to piracy and battles against mercenaries, soldiers, and the king's supporters. Jeanne earns the nickname The Lioness for her ferocious fights and her unerring pursuit for justice.

As the author's note indicates, this fictionalized story about Jeanne presents a new perspective on the recorded histories of the 1300s. While histories are a collection of perspectives, most of the perspectives learned through popular history sources and through school are written by a specific demographic. This story helps to convey that not just white men fought for beliefs, king, and country; rather, there were a number of women warriors during the Middle Ages, as well as diverse groups of individuals who contributed to battles and freedoms.

This engaging story lets Jeanne's voice be heard. The repetitious musings on revenge for lost loved ones could be a bit distracting at times, and these left Jeanne seeming either a rather obstinate character or, much like a lion, keen for the next big attack. However, the narrative itself shows how much respect Jeanne earns as a warrior during this time, and the reader is left cheering on Jeanne as she considers her next big adventure.

The audio narration is very good for this story, with the voice actress portraying various characters--and various dialects--superbly. There is that sense of rage always under the surface of Jeanne's words as she speaks throughout the narrative, and the voice actress really does well to convey this.

I'd recommend this as a complement to Philippa Gregory's historical fiction accounts--a good way to learn a bit more about women in history in an accessible way.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review:

Rating: 2.5/5
Spice: None

This was ok, but not as wonderful as I had hoped.

What I didn't like:

One thing that REALLY bothered me was the extreme over-use of the word "Damned." I don't mind cursing - in fact I do quite a lot of it myself - it was the repetitive nature of it that bothered me. Jeanne didn't seem to know any other curse, and she used it over and over and over. It became so redundant and annoying. It seemed like the author was trying to convey that Jeanne was a tough pirate lady by having her curse a lot, while not wanting to use any curses other than "damned." I should have turned it into a drinking game.

Jeanne is painted in very broad strokes here. This book paints her as a warrior with a hot temper that can't see logic. That is basically pasted on her character like a name tag. There's not a lot of nuance behind her decisions, and I feel like to have been as successful at terrorizing the French as she was for as long as she was, she must have been a woman who understood nuance and logic. Her character annoyed me in her "speak loudly and carry a giant axe" approach to life.

What I did like:

This was an interesting historical fiction set in a time period of which the stories usually revolve around the men rather than the women. Jeanne was a really fascinating character, and this told her story pretty accurately. I am always a sucker for a feminist retelling of a historical or mythical character. The side characters were wonderful and complex, and I enjoyed them a lot. So much so that I found myself far more curious about their lives than Jeanne's.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5. Thank you to Ms. Griffis, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ALC/audiobook ARC. The narrator, Imani Jade Powers, is becoming a quick favorite of mine, so I was glad to see another ALC offer that was from her. Fantastically done.
The Lioness is a wonderful example of a historical novel done right. Ms. Griffins has obviously done her historical research into Jeanne de Clisson’s life, taking into account the footnotes of history the Lioness of Brittany was included in. Even her added character (as stated in the author’s historical note at the end) felt like part of the story that was natural to the historical accuracy. And, I’m biased, I love anyone who loves ravens.
The novel follows Jeanne de Clisson after the beheading of her third husband. At 43, and as mother of young (and older) children, she has had enough and desires to avenge the unfair accusation of treason that was given to her husband – and her. She may as well make the claim true. In order to do so, she decides to strike King Phillip VI where he’s weak: the water. And to do that, she has to become a pirate.
From what little research I’ve done (very little), the story follows through some of the hardest times from the death of Olivier IV de Clisson (her husband) to when she is wed to her next husband. Ms. Griffis develops her version of Jeanne well, bringing her from the hurt wife to the feared Lioness with emotional growth that seems true to the character, even if a bit rushed at the end.
If you’re looking for an interesting historical fiction that follows an older woman (and mother) who proves that women are just as deadly as men, and don’t mind a bit of blood and violence, this certainly is something to consider adding to your TBR list!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lioness is a fictional retelling of the very-true story of Jeanne de Clisson after her husband is executed by the king of France without a trial in the year 1343. What follows is the tale of a noblewoman-turned-pirate as Jeanne seeks to exact her revenge upon the king who betrayed her family.

The audiobook narrator, Imani Jade Powers, does a wonderful job of capturing Jeanne's voice throughout this story.

Griffis has a strong grasp of character, presenting interesting and well-rounded main and side characters. Jeanne herself is presented as someone who is very emotionally reactive (that is, rage and anger), quick to draw her sword (of which she is well-versed with), and unforgiving yet also incredibly loyal to her loved ones - characteristics not typical of female characters in fiction. The side characters that accompany her on her journey provide a nice balance and opportunities for emotional growth. I have a particular weak spot for the damned devil cat, Monster, that accompanied Jeanne through much of her journey.

The story itself is well-executed and there were parts where I was very much on the edge of my seat. I struggled a bit with the ending, on one hand, I do believe Griffis concluded strongly, but, on the other hand, I kind of wish the payoff/conclusion wasn't so internal (I think I feel this way in part because Jeanne and the narrative were so obsessed with killing the men that wronged her). There were a couple concepts that were also a little bit too repetitive, but that's a minor thing.

Overall, I absolutely do recommend this novel. It's a crime that women like Jeanne are treated as no more than footnotes in history. Please be aware that this story does contain some heavy/dark content at times that some readers may find difficult.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for making the AudioARC available to me. All opinions are my own.

Content Notes: death, child death, murder, blood, beheading, executions, war, attempted assault, mentions of self-mutilation, arson, and others

[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of The Lioness audiobook. I would do 4.5 stars if it would let me. I loved this one. I have often been interested in the untold stories of fierce women throughout history, and although some of this is dramatized or made up because many real-life details are unknown, much of this is true. I could tell the Author did a ton of research, even more, evidenced by her added details post-story. I appreciated that throughout Jeanne’s story, she also mentions other famous women who had inspired her, and the authors note about whom those characters were in real life.

Jeanne represents the woman I sometimes wish I could be. Not so much the killing, as the fact that she is unapologetically herself. I love that this woman didn’t let society beat the wild out of her. I also love that this is not some polished version in which you don’t see the mess, the mistakes, the stubbornness that is sometimes to her detriment. This is a revenge tale, and at times she took it too far. Yet, this is also a tale of her growth as a person

I knew from the beginning that her husband was set to die. It was still hard to listen to her be so excited and happy for him, knowing what was to come. This book takes you through the entire gamut of emotions. There are wins and there are some very hard losses.

One thing I didn’t expect in this story was the found family element. I adored the side characters in this book. Her relationships are sometimes complicated, yet full of so much love. I felt connected to each of them (especially Monster 😉). I also loved that there was occasionally an outside perspective of other women relevant to the events occurring.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lioness AUDIO by Gigi Griffiths is a compelling historical fiction featuring a plethora of characters but primarily Jeanne de Clisson. Jeanne’s husband, Olivier, was a warrior who had been captured and released by Edward, King of England in 1343. At a tournament in his and the other releasees’ honor, King Phillip abruptly announced that all of them were traitors and they were to be executed, right then. So, in front of Jeanne’s eyes, the love of her life was beheaded, an act for which she would never forgive Phillip. She spends the next fifteen years doing everything she could to get to Phillip and kill him: became a pirate and a warrior, as well as an assassin. Phillip died before she could kill him and she realized that she had wasted her life on this endeavor and settled in with the man she now loved.

What a great listen. I did not read the book but I believe the audio was probably better. It was exciting, energetic, and realistic. She is one of a group of women warriors who have never received the space in history they deserved. This book is based on a real woman and on real deeds. King Phillip is never portrayed as a good guy and this is as accurate a portrayal as any. She was so full of hatred for this man that it blinded her to anything else. She lived through betrayals, and injuries, not to mention injustice. She was taken in by Edward’s court, who for a while supplied her with the money to continue her fight. I loved it!

The narrator was Imani Jade Powers who did an amazing job portraying Jeanne as she aged, as she fought, and as she loved. Five stars to her for this project.

I was invited to listen to The Lioness by Dreamscape Media. All thoughts and opinions are m ine. #Netgalley #DreamscapeMedia #GigiGriffiths #ImaniJadePowers #TheLioness

[Shaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gigi Griffis for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for The Lioness coming out February 18, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It’s 1343 and Jeanne de Clisson is out for revenge.

At forty-three, her perfect life—a loving husband, three young children, and two castles in the French countryside—shatters when Phillip VI, the King of France, arrests and beheads her husband for treachery.

There’s no evidence and no trial—only the execution. The nobles are shocked. The paranoid king is relieved. And Jeanne…

Jeanne wants the king’s head on a pike.

To get justice, she’ll take to the sea with a pirate fleet. But while she’s burning castles to the ground and sinking merchant ships, the king is hunting her. And the closer she gets to her revenge, the closer the king gets to the people Jeanne loves most.

I really loved the Empress by this author, so I was excited to receive this book. I’m obsessed with historical fiction mixed with true stories. I love revenge stories and all the complexities of the past. I think I was expecting something a little more epic like the Empress. It had all the makings of a really amazing story. The execution wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. I think Jeanne’s love for her children was more told than shown. There weren’t that many interactions. I was just hoping for a little more action. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

[Charmaine Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing my with the audiobook to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I am dnf-ing at 40%. I was hoping the writing would get better but although I think Jeanne de Clisson is a great choice for a historical fiction novel, the execution fell extremely short. Jeanne read as a cliché and caricature of feminism due to shallow characterization and her motivations being reduce down to "I solve problems through fighting", "I loved my husband because he fought well", "if only my kids from my first husband saw their stepfather fight, then they would love him as a father also"...paraphrasing but you get the point.

I would have loved to see Jeanne portrayed with more nuance, her love for her husband and kids shown through her interactions/memories with them instead of just being told she loved them. We were only ever told about her emotions and relationships, never got to experience them as the reader. A female character that fights and brags about beating all the guys, does not count for writing a strong female character in my book.

As far as the narrator goes, I think they did a decent job. They didn't necessarily add to the story but nor did they take away from it.

[Ciera Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story--I was looking for another book that had a similar cover, but thought the premise of this book sounded cooler. So happy to have received this as an ALC! Thanks Dreamscape Media.

This FMC is a bad a$$. Total definition of feminine rage. She watches her husband be beheaded and her first thought is to kill the killers. She keeps mentioning her mother's teachings. I would have liked to see how those teachings made her so hardened. This book almost seems like a sequel because we come in right to the action. A prequel of the FMCs earlier life would be amazing.

This book was very tragic. It was difficult to watch this courageous woman lose everyone she loves.

The cat Monster stole the show.

I kept thinking of the song, "Bring the lion out".

Fave quotes: "For now, she wasn't the most furious thing on the English Channel." "She spent her whole life proving she was a threat." "Yes there were warrior women. No they aren't as rare as you think."

The authors note at the end was awesome. Women are footnotes in history; however, as mentioned in the quote above, warrior women aren't as rare as you think.

[Brittany Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this audiobook! Thank you #NetGalley and #Dreamscape for this #ARC. It was definitely worth the read. Jeanne is now on my ever-growing list of female role models who I'm mad I didn't learn about in history class. Somehow my high school and college education didn't make clear that women in Europe were often warriors in the 1300s.

While the protagonist, who legend apparently refers to as The Lioness for her grit and prowess in battle, is a tad delusional and cliché at times (at least with the creative license used in this portrayal), there is no doubt she is a strong female main character. I thought the writing style was great, the pacing was appropriate, and the interpersonal relationships between the characters was touching but also pretty realistic. I like how her platonic bestie often called her out. I also love that we get a few chapters from the POV of other badass ladies, like the queens of France and England at the time and one of the king of France's mistresses. I'd definitely like to read more from this author and more historical fiction from this era.

[claudia reads it all · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lioness is the story of Jeanne de Clisson, a badass French woman who vowed revenge on the French king for murdering her husband - and delivered vengeance on the high seas.

Jeanne is awaiting the return of her husband Olivier, and when he finally does, she joyfully goes to find him, only to see him executed by the king on made up charges and no trial. Devastated, Jeanne decides to avenge Olivier's death and becomes a pirate, hunting French ships and leaving only one crew member alive to spread her story.

This would be amazing enough if it was 100% fiction. We might even think it's 100% fictional, but in fact, Jeanne de Clisson is a real historical figure, whose bravery and determination was recognized by the English king, who named her an ally.

The narration was excellent and I feel like we can add The Lioness of Brittany to our pantheon of badass women who will resort to whatever it takes to get justice.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the story of France's most notorious female pirate, The Lioness is a historical tale of betrayal, loyalty and revenge, and found family.

Jeanne de Clisson is such a powerful figure and I was initially completely swept away by this story. However, I don't feel like I really got to know her as a person -- I understand that she was out to avenge the death of her husband, but I felt like the overarching tone of rage overshadowed everything else in the book. I liked the other characters, but I did not like Jeanne until the very end of the book. Just made it hard for me to enjoy the story and I had a tough time staying interested. By the time I thought about DNFing, I wanted to keep going anyway because I was so far in.

I did enjoy the narrator and thought she captured the tone of the characters and action very well.

2.5 stars.

I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to The Lioness as an audiobook. The author did a good job in arranging the story and explaining the way things happened. I thought the characters could have had more depth though. For instance, the main character was portrayed as a badass feminist with a take charge attitude. That was pretty much as far as it went though. There was not a lot of emotional depth as to who she was as a person. It was, however, a decent historical fiction piece about an event in history that I was unfamiliar with. And since it was an audiobook, I will mention that the narrator felt too forced in her storytelling. It did not feel like it was flowing naturally, which is also why I am giving it three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Gigi Griffis, and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to an audio recording of The Lioness in the return of an honest review.

[Loreweaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lioness by Gigi Griffis is an engaging and fast-paced novel that offers a captivating look into the life of Jeanne de Clisson. While I found the beginning to be a bit choppy and felt that some of the relationships lacked depth, the story gained momentum as it progressed, becoming more and more compelling.

What stood out most to me was how Jeanne was portrayed—not just as a noble or a warrior, but as a multifaceted woman who was a leader, a mother, and a force to be reckoned with. Her complexity and resilience were inspiring, and I appreciated how Griffis balanced her many roles.

Despite its rough start, The Lioness delivers an unforgettable story of strength and determination, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction centered on strong, dynamic women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Griffis and I thought that it was a good read. In a story that was driven by grief and rage is the story of Jeanne de Clisson that takes place over many years. She stays true to her self and mission to avenge the wrongs that were committed against her family. In a tale of the true account (or as true as one can get from the time of events) of Jeanne de Clisson's fight for revenge. The story of loss and betrayal is quite the story that had me hooked. Jeanne de Clisson is one strong character throughout the story and at times I wished she was a little more 'human' and showed some more true emotions for some of the events that were taking place at the time. Overall, this was a good book that I did enjoy from start to finish.

[Idara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeanne is the Ultimate Badass—And So Is the Narrator!

Jeanne absolutely owns every page of The Lioness! She’s fierce, determined, and unstoppable, whether she’s outwitting enemies or wielding a sword, she refuses to back down. Her resilience and fire make her one of the best heroines I’ve read in a long time.

And Imani Jade Powers? Absolutely phenomenal. She “becomes” Jeanne, bringing every moment to life with raw emotion and intensity. Her narration adds so much depth and power to the story—I couldn’t stop listening.

The action is intense, the historical setting is rich, and the storytelling is top-tier. If you love badass heroines and incredible narration, this is a must-read (or must-listen)!

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the gifted ALC.

[Daniela Petrova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another propulsive, heart-pounding read by the author of The Empress. I love reading about strong, powerful female characters based on real historical figures, and Griffis is a master storyteller of historical fiction. Her powerful voice shines through—her sentences are strong and clear, her descriptions are gorgeous and to the point (meaning I never felt the need to skim, as I sometimes do with books in this genre), and her characters are vividly depicted. This story is a killer and should definitely be made into a Netflix series, too. The Lioness is unputdownable.

[Emily Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!

This story is pure female rage and I am here for it. What an amazing story. This book made me look up Jeanne de Clisson and study about her. She is the perfect balance between loving mother and ruthless pirate set for revenge. The narration was also wonderful! It was very fast paced and there was hardly any down time in this story. This book took me through the entire range of emotions and left me wanting another story of her after her pirate years. If I could rate this more than 5 stars, I would!

[Stephanie Givre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my typical genre but it sounded interesting.

I loved the portrayal of strong female characters in history. However, the writing made them seem pretty one-dimensional. (In my opinion) We really only see our characters guided by their rage. Even in places where they should be more emotional, it didn't really feel like they were.

I received an audio copy of the book, and I liked the narrator. There were multiple voiced characters and accents and it was easy to distinguish between them all. Also easy to decipher at an increased speed.