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Alix of Wanthwaite #3
The Prince of Poison
For decades, Pamela Kaufman has entertained a loyal readership with the mesmerizing and often hilarious adventures of Alix of Wanthwaite, madcap medieval beauty. In Shield of Three Lions, the unflappable Alix braved the crusades dressed as a man to spar with the king of England over her birthright. Banners of Gold saw her taken hostage, drawn into a web of international politics, and entangled in the heartstrings of three different men. Now, The Prince of Poison finds Alix homeward bound at last, with a half-royal child in tow and an angry monarch on her trail.
Set amidst the pomp and savagery of twelfth-century Europe, the Alix of Wanthwaite trilogy renders a glorious mishmash of ruffians, peasants, troubadours, murderers, pretenders, barons, princesses, and popes in charming and disarming detail. Alix’s bawdy, free-wheeling narration wickedly lampoons historical notables like Richard the Lion Heart and Eleanor of Aquitaine, spinning the historical novel in a fresh direction.
Set amidst the pomp and savagery of twelfth-century Europe, the Alix of Wanthwaite trilogy renders a glorious mishmash of ruffians, peasants, troubadours, murderers, pretenders, barons, princesses, and popes in charming and disarming detail. Alix’s bawdy, free-wheeling narration wickedly lampoons historical notables like Richard the Lion Heart and Eleanor of Aquitaine, spinning the historical novel in a fresh direction.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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278 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Kaufman
12 books54 followersPamela Kaufman, Ph.D., is the author of the bestselling medieval novels Shield of Three Lions and Banners of Gold. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 25, 2013
This is the third book in the Alix of Wanthwaite trilogy. I rated the first four stars, the second five but this one only three. The first third of this book kept my attention but from then on, until close to the end, it was mostly a chore to keep up with the treks on horseback across England and Wales, the murderous atrocities and rampages of King John, the innumerable gatherings and negotiations between the Barons and the Archbishop for a charter of rights, Alix’s unresolved marriage situation and the constant verbal and emotional sparring between her and Enoch.
Kaufman failed to provide a timeline in this book. Although this story takes the reader through sixteen years of social and personal turmoil I don’t think a single year is mentioned from beginning to end. A reader unaware of the historical timeline could easily believe the time span of this book is three to five years, not sixteen. This lack of orientation makes a big difference on readers’ mental imaging of Alix, Enoch, Leith, Bonel and King John. And where is the dialogue between Leith and her parents? Is the child mute? We learn more about Alix’s relationship with her dog than with her daughter! Can we believe that Alix sustained thirteen years of chastity, subsequent to Leith’s birth? Not credible. Was John’s naiveté at the end about Alix’s sinister motive in being close to his entourage, cooking his meals, credible? No. Kaufman is prolific in her display of language proficiency--sometimes to the point of irritation--but Old Norse is noticeable for its absence in this trilogy although it was in common use in east and middle England, north Scotland, Ireland and Normandy through to the 14th century.
On the whole Kaufman was an excellent skilled writer (she no longer writes) who wrote some noteworthy books but in my opinion this one was not as good as it could have been.
Kaufman failed to provide a timeline in this book. Although this story takes the reader through sixteen years of social and personal turmoil I don’t think a single year is mentioned from beginning to end. A reader unaware of the historical timeline could easily believe the time span of this book is three to five years, not sixteen. This lack of orientation makes a big difference on readers’ mental imaging of Alix, Enoch, Leith, Bonel and King John. And where is the dialogue between Leith and her parents? Is the child mute? We learn more about Alix’s relationship with her dog than with her daughter! Can we believe that Alix sustained thirteen years of chastity, subsequent to Leith’s birth? Not credible. Was John’s naiveté at the end about Alix’s sinister motive in being close to his entourage, cooking his meals, credible? No. Kaufman is prolific in her display of language proficiency--sometimes to the point of irritation--but Old Norse is noticeable for its absence in this trilogy although it was in common use in east and middle England, north Scotland, Ireland and Normandy through to the 14th century.
On the whole Kaufman was an excellent skilled writer (she no longer writes) who wrote some noteworthy books but in my opinion this one was not as good as it could have been.
November 9, 2012
The Shield of Three Lions and Banners of Gold, the first two novels featuring Alix of Wainthwaite, were delightly bawdy romps through the Crusades and the reign of Richard the Lion-Hearted. All the characters--the purely fictional as well as the historical ones such as Richard the Lion-Hearted and Elinor of Aquitaine--were depicted as utterly human and believable. And though author Kaufman didn't shy away from issues such as the treatment of Jews and the subjugation of women in the 12th century, the history never slowed down the rapid pace of the story or gave the sense that the characters were merely pawns being shoe-horned into an existing template.
Not so The Prince of Poison. Granted, the sombre events of the story don't make for many laughs. But rather than feel sorrow for or empathy with Alix, I was left with nothing but tedium. The characterisation and descriptions all seem bogged down by a sense of obligation, which makes me wonder why Kaufman felt compelled to write this book.
Not so The Prince of Poison. Granted, the sombre events of the story don't make for many laughs. But rather than feel sorrow for or empathy with Alix, I was left with nothing but tedium. The characterisation and descriptions all seem bogged down by a sense of obligation, which makes me wonder why Kaufman felt compelled to write this book.
July 12, 2018
A disappointment. Characters lacked their usual depth.
July 27, 2019
I looked forward to this, the last in a trilogy, but it didn't compare to the first two. Perhaps it was due to the abundance of gruesomeness and brutality, or the lack of dazzling Richard the Lion Heart and the formidable Queen Eleanor, who makes but a cameo appearance, but The Prince of Poison seemed dark and depressing.
Here, Alix, who was previously kidnapped to be King Richard's mistress, and now pregnant with his child, perilously makes her way through France in a desperate attempt to reach home and her husband."Enoch and England" is the mantra that gives her strength. Richard is dead, scheming brother Prince John has seized the throne and, aware of Alix's condition, he's determined there will be no child of Richard's to complicate his claim.
Alix has barely managed to evade the men John sent to scour the countryside, but as she approaches Rouen, she sees that he has also set watchmen at the gates of the cities. She's disguised as a nun, though, and as she steps into the line waiting at the gates, she spots a young , pregnant peasant woman ahead, bringing a wagonload of goods to sell in the market. She watches the girl ahead, feeling the kinship of pregnancy. As the woman approaches the gates, two guards stop her and begin questioning her. They sieze her by the arms, throw her to the ground, brutally beat and kick her, then toss her aside. She appears to be dying.
Horrified, Alix realizes it's because the girl was pregnant. John has ordered any pregnant woman to be detained, maybe even killed. She flees to the forest, subsisting on grubs and worms, praying that she won't lose the baby and somehow survives, Eventually Alix encounters a friend from the past, Bonel, a mysterious Jew who is able to hide her until the baby , a boy she names Theo, is born. Bonel teaches Alix a trade, in case she has to hide forever, but finally is able to arrange for her to sail to England. Through the auspices of Queen Eleanor, who Alix is reluctant to trust, plans are made for her return to England. But the Queen believes it's too dangerous for her to have Theo with her, and insists on separating the two. She arranges for him to sail with her friend, a trusted noblewoman, who doesn't know the child's identity. Alix is to meet them later in London under an assumed name and be reunited with her son. Alix is helpless to protest against the Queen, and has to comfort herself with the thought that the boy is, after all, the Queen's grandson.
Theo arrives safely, but Alix must endure worse conditions --small vessels and dangerous seas before staggering ashore far from her destination. She's astounded to find herself so far north of their destination that she's closer to Wanthwaite, her home, than to London. She makes her way there first. Only to discover that Enoch and her fortunes are very much changed, and that her welcome is far from what she expected.
Desperate to get to Theo, she invents a story to convince Enoch that she's expected in London soon and must be there. Unfortunately, Enoch believes the lie too well, and insists on accompanying Alix to London himself, to guard what he thinks she's going there to retrieve. Things go terribly awry, and they're forced to return not having accomplished either one's goal.
Meanwhile, King John returns to England and commences his reign of destruction, alienating every powerful baron and lord in the country, and unfortunately, Alix fears he spotted here while traveling with his entourage.
John's reign is so terrible that soon plots and plans abound- from assassination attempts to plotting with the pope, but the king continues to pillage and burn, wreaking destruction on subjects great and humble, until something must be done.
The barons, Enoch included, begin secret meetings with the Pope's Emissary, to create a charter, which the Pope will back up, to bring King John to heel. Proceedings are long and dangerous, and the final result of the plan ends in a place called Runnymede in June of 1215. King John after much delay and revision, has finally conceded to sign the document. As he and his guard enter the field, he again spies Alix, this time there's no doubt, their eyes meet and Alix knows he realizes she's involved. The king signs, but due to the treachery of a greedy Bishop, there's been a change. John's trail of death and destruction continues. Can Alix survive ?
Here, Alix, who was previously kidnapped to be King Richard's mistress, and now pregnant with his child, perilously makes her way through France in a desperate attempt to reach home and her husband."Enoch and England" is the mantra that gives her strength. Richard is dead, scheming brother Prince John has seized the throne and, aware of Alix's condition, he's determined there will be no child of Richard's to complicate his claim.
Alix has barely managed to evade the men John sent to scour the countryside, but as she approaches Rouen, she sees that he has also set watchmen at the gates of the cities. She's disguised as a nun, though, and as she steps into the line waiting at the gates, she spots a young , pregnant peasant woman ahead, bringing a wagonload of goods to sell in the market. She watches the girl ahead, feeling the kinship of pregnancy. As the woman approaches the gates, two guards stop her and begin questioning her. They sieze her by the arms, throw her to the ground, brutally beat and kick her, then toss her aside. She appears to be dying.
Horrified, Alix realizes it's because the girl was pregnant. John has ordered any pregnant woman to be detained, maybe even killed. She flees to the forest, subsisting on grubs and worms, praying that she won't lose the baby and somehow survives, Eventually Alix encounters a friend from the past, Bonel, a mysterious Jew who is able to hide her until the baby , a boy she names Theo, is born. Bonel teaches Alix a trade, in case she has to hide forever, but finally is able to arrange for her to sail to England. Through the auspices of Queen Eleanor, who Alix is reluctant to trust, plans are made for her return to England. But the Queen believes it's too dangerous for her to have Theo with her, and insists on separating the two. She arranges for him to sail with her friend, a trusted noblewoman, who doesn't know the child's identity. Alix is to meet them later in London under an assumed name and be reunited with her son. Alix is helpless to protest against the Queen, and has to comfort herself with the thought that the boy is, after all, the Queen's grandson.
Theo arrives safely, but Alix must endure worse conditions --small vessels and dangerous seas before staggering ashore far from her destination. She's astounded to find herself so far north of their destination that she's closer to Wanthwaite, her home, than to London. She makes her way there first. Only to discover that Enoch and her fortunes are very much changed, and that her welcome is far from what she expected.
Desperate to get to Theo, she invents a story to convince Enoch that she's expected in London soon and must be there. Unfortunately, Enoch believes the lie too well, and insists on accompanying Alix to London himself, to guard what he thinks she's going there to retrieve. Things go terribly awry, and they're forced to return not having accomplished either one's goal.
Meanwhile, King John returns to England and commences his reign of destruction, alienating every powerful baron and lord in the country, and unfortunately, Alix fears he spotted here while traveling with his entourage.
John's reign is so terrible that soon plots and plans abound- from assassination attempts to plotting with the pope, but the king continues to pillage and burn, wreaking destruction on subjects great and humble, until something must be done.
The barons, Enoch included, begin secret meetings with the Pope's Emissary, to create a charter, which the Pope will back up, to bring King John to heel. Proceedings are long and dangerous, and the final result of the plan ends in a place called Runnymede in June of 1215. King John after much delay and revision, has finally conceded to sign the document. As he and his guard enter the field, he again spies Alix, this time there's no doubt, their eyes meet and Alix knows he realizes she's involved. The king signs, but due to the treachery of a greedy Bishop, there's been a change. John's trail of death and destruction continues. Can Alix survive ?
April 2, 2019
I doona loike the anding!...
No, but jokes aside, I agree with earlier reviews; the third book of this thriology wasn't the best.
Firstly, the time period is hard to follow. We know for certain this is at the beginning of the 1200, but time flies in this book and still we get no clear date. It's very confusing.
(Spoiler warning!) Another part I don't like is Theo's death. Like, what happens? It all moves so quickly. The baby got eaten? Like, tell us in detail, don't move so fast.
I'd also like to have had some better in sight of Alix, like book one & two. Some memories of Richard, thoughts... It's less of that here.
And now... Bonel???? He just took his bags and married a Egyptian woman starting a family with her and forgetting Alix? I mean c'mon, couldn't we had some juicy information with Alix and Bonel like... Writing letters? A meeting after decades? I craved through these last two books it would be Bonel and Alix. But he gives up on HER!
Why I don't like the ending of this book is because it's too sudden. Again, I'd like to details on Alix and Enoch this time. I'm so glad it was these two finding their way again, but what happens then? I'd like for the author - Pamela Kaufman - to have written the last page on Alix and Enoch's life like ten years after King John's death. That would be interesting ey?
Now I rate this 2.5 of 5!
No, but jokes aside, I agree with earlier reviews; the third book of this thriology wasn't the best.
Firstly, the time period is hard to follow. We know for certain this is at the beginning of the 1200, but time flies in this book and still we get no clear date. It's very confusing.
(Spoiler warning!) Another part I don't like is Theo's death. Like, what happens? It all moves so quickly. The baby got eaten? Like, tell us in detail, don't move so fast.
I'd also like to have had some better in sight of Alix, like book one & two. Some memories of Richard, thoughts... It's less of that here.
And now... Bonel???? He just took his bags and married a Egyptian woman starting a family with her and forgetting Alix? I mean c'mon, couldn't we had some juicy information with Alix and Bonel like... Writing letters? A meeting after decades? I craved through these last two books it would be Bonel and Alix. But he gives up on HER!
Why I don't like the ending of this book is because it's too sudden. Again, I'd like to details on Alix and Enoch this time. I'm so glad it was these two finding their way again, but what happens then? I'd like for the author - Pamela Kaufman - to have written the last page on Alix and Enoch's life like ten years after King John's death. That would be interesting ey?
Now I rate this 2.5 of 5!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2019
The last volume of the Alix of Wanthwaite trilogy. Not as good as the other two, but the history of the Magna Carta was illuminating.
August 23, 2020
I always love the story of Alix. I started reading the story in the 10th grade and never finished the last book until now. It wasn't as good as the first or the second, but at least it was a happy ending. I would have liked more of the old characters and less of the new, but I guess there really wasn't much more to say that couldn't have been put in a small novella from this book that I would have liked. It doesn't' take away that it is one of my all time favorite love stories. I just which there was more.
April 1, 2008
Had to wait above ten years for the author to finally publish this last installment!!! It's funny -- book one seemed like it had a final conclusion. Then, surprisingly, there actually was a sequel, which ended with a cliff-hanger. Then it took FOREVER for this final book. It was a good conclusion to Alix's story. Not as good as the first two, but still a good story with lots of historical information.
October 25, 2010
The third book in the trilogy finds Alix of Wanthwaite as she attempts to elude King John after the death of Richard the Lionheart and her return to England from France. The book will be enjoyed most if you have read at least the previous book, Banners of Gold.
August 21, 2018
Well, the characters might be lacking their usual depth, the timelines might be seriously off but any book where Enoch and Alix finally end up together and (in my dreams) get their happily ever after is worth four stars...
July 12, 2008
Save your time, don't read it!
Read
February 1, 2008not bad but a predictable end to this trilogy. i was a bit disappointed.
January 31, 2008
I'm glad to finally know Alix's fate. While I think this book is less well written (and fraught with typos) it is an enjoyable read albeit a tad harlequin here and there.
Want to read
April 27, 2008OK the last book left me hanging so I will have to add this to my to read list.
October 17, 2008
I enjoyed the book but was really disappointed with the conclusion. That's it? I am always frustrated when I get to the last page.
September 25, 2010
You really have to read shield of three lions and banners of gold to understand this book so if you're interested start at the beginning. The shield of three lions is by far the best of the lot.
September 12, 2016
Love love love this series and all the characters in it.
January 5, 2016
I couldn't finish this book. I was expecting a much stronger Alix than this plot provided as I've read in other books.
May 5, 2019
What started out as a promising historical fiction series involving Richard the Lionheart, became so ridiculous as to make it disappointing. This could have been so much better.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews