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Lost Dreams: The Story of Eadburg, Queen of Wessex
Women have always had a tough time in politics. Over twelve hundred years ago, Eadburg made a name for herself as one of the most powerful queens of the early middle ages, and her reputation for malevolence is documented in a contemporaneous biography of King Alfred the Great. Was she truly evil, a tyrant and a murderer, or could her reputation have been part of a double-standard smear campaign by later generations of male chroniclers? Read her story, and you decide.
Warning: this book deals with adult topics and situations.
Warning: this book deals with adult topics and situations.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2014
45 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 31, 2015
Lost Dreams: The Story of Eadburg, Queen of Wessex
I really enjoyed this story of a lost time. It's true history is told by the victors, so we loose one side of the story. It was an easy book to read with interesting bits of fact and fiction. At a time when women only survived with the protection of strong male family members. The implication of incest and sexual activities added a different dimensions to the story line. I liked the writing style of this author and look forward to future books.
I really enjoyed this story of a lost time. It's true history is told by the victors, so we loose one side of the story. It was an easy book to read with interesting bits of fact and fiction. At a time when women only survived with the protection of strong male family members. The implication of incest and sexual activities added a different dimensions to the story line. I liked the writing style of this author and look forward to future books.
January 20, 2015
Good Read
Different structure using brief chapters that are well set off by great quotes from women through the ages. Worth reading and develops sympathy for the powerlessness of women in a male dominated world. Explicit sexual content important to the story but sometimes needed better handling.
Different structure using brief chapters that are well set off by great quotes from women through the ages. Worth reading and develops sympathy for the powerlessness of women in a male dominated world. Explicit sexual content important to the story but sometimes needed better handling.
January 22, 2015
Interesting fiction
What I liked best about this book is how the author consistently wrote in the voice of a selfish, self centered woman. The historicity is questionable but heck, it's fiction.
What I liked best about this book is how the author consistently wrote in the voice of a selfish, self centered woman. The historicity is questionable but heck, it's fiction.
July 18, 2015
Good quick read
Not many facts, but as a fiction gives some inkling of how women, even a queen, were treated disrespectful. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter!
Not many facts, but as a fiction gives some inkling of how women, even a queen, were treated disrespectful. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter!
April 29, 2024
Very interesting bit of history. I didn't always like Eadburg or her choices, but mostly I sympathized with her.
January 6, 2015
I am almost finished with the book. I have just a few pages left but I can't quite bring myself to say farewell yet!
first of all, I need to point out that I am totally and completely obsessed with Saxon history and with those little known women who played such a part in the events of that time. For this reason, my review is probably a bit biased in favor of any work that sheds more light on these women. Eadburg is definitely one of those women.
I had read some brief history on Queen Eadburg before and then my interest in her came forward when I watched my favorite show, The Vikings on the history channel. Last season they introduced Princess Kwenthrith, and her back story sounded vaguely familiar? Of course, I had to dig deeper into who she might be based on in history and my search led me back to Queen Eadburg!
You can read my complete review on my blog, with the comparisons between the character of Princess Kwenthrith, the real history or what little is known of Eadburg, and Jayne Stone's representation of Eadburg. http://timeslipsblog.wordpress.com/20...
I do have to say Thank You to Jayne Stone for this provocative and thoughtful rendition of the woman behind the rumors… Ohhh, and thank you too, Jayne for not leaving her die in the Church yard alone. I really thought that was going to be the sad and most pathetic end to her life right there! I do also have to amend my previous comment on this being a fun read? It was not a fun read as in light and amusing by any stretch of imagination. It was a fun read in the sense of how she approached Eadburh’s depressing, often tragic circumstances and balanced it with enough lighter moments of her life so that we still always hold out some hope for her even in the end. Jayne Stone took this much unknown woman with an at best sketchy reputation- at worst, an outright murderer- she made her come alive and made me care about her. Jeeeesh, she even made me care about the little dog, Poot! I think I felt as bad for him as I did for some others who met a horrible end!
first of all, I need to point out that I am totally and completely obsessed with Saxon history and with those little known women who played such a part in the events of that time. For this reason, my review is probably a bit biased in favor of any work that sheds more light on these women. Eadburg is definitely one of those women.
I had read some brief history on Queen Eadburg before and then my interest in her came forward when I watched my favorite show, The Vikings on the history channel. Last season they introduced Princess Kwenthrith, and her back story sounded vaguely familiar? Of course, I had to dig deeper into who she might be based on in history and my search led me back to Queen Eadburg!
You can read my complete review on my blog, with the comparisons between the character of Princess Kwenthrith, the real history or what little is known of Eadburg, and Jayne Stone's representation of Eadburg. http://timeslipsblog.wordpress.com/20...
I do have to say Thank You to Jayne Stone for this provocative and thoughtful rendition of the woman behind the rumors… Ohhh, and thank you too, Jayne for not leaving her die in the Church yard alone. I really thought that was going to be the sad and most pathetic end to her life right there! I do also have to amend my previous comment on this being a fun read? It was not a fun read as in light and amusing by any stretch of imagination. It was a fun read in the sense of how she approached Eadburh’s depressing, often tragic circumstances and balanced it with enough lighter moments of her life so that we still always hold out some hope for her even in the end. Jayne Stone took this much unknown woman with an at best sketchy reputation- at worst, an outright murderer- she made her come alive and made me care about her. Jeeeesh, she even made me care about the little dog, Poot! I think I felt as bad for him as I did for some others who met a horrible end!
February 8, 2017
Intriguingly written about a queen
The author tells a story of a young queens efforts at surviving within a life she would never have dreamt for herself. She lives a nightmarish life with only fleeting moments of love given her distant admirers non of which are her husband. She does lead a sad life .
The author tells a story of a young queens efforts at surviving within a life she would never have dreamt for herself. She lives a nightmarish life with only fleeting moments of love given her distant admirers non of which are her husband. She does lead a sad life .
December 7, 2015
I wanted to like this book more than I did, because the pain character was quite interesting. That said, I quickly grew tired of single sentence paragraphs and extremely short chapters. I'm not certain how well researched the book was either; I was put off by a scene in which the queen "pulled off her underpants" as women did not typically wear knickers during the 8th & 9th century. As I paid nothing for the book, I'm not too disappointed, however.
May 6, 2015
Mediocre
The warning at the beginning is warranted. I'm no prude, but such graphic scenes was unnecessary and added nothing to the story line. I'm not sure what direction the author had intended to take her character Eadburg, but the result became nothing more than a very long "poor me pity party". The educated, intelligent, strong-willed Eadburg I expected turned out to be an extremely foolish child who never grew up.
The warning at the beginning is warranted. I'm no prude, but such graphic scenes was unnecessary and added nothing to the story line. I'm not sure what direction the author had intended to take her character Eadburg, but the result became nothing more than a very long "poor me pity party". The educated, intelligent, strong-willed Eadburg I expected turned out to be an extremely foolish child who never grew up.
August 2, 2015
More porn than historical fiction
I don't know where to begin. The first thing that put me off was the language; too much slang and way too contemporary for a story based in 700-800AD. Second was the liberal, almost exploitative, use of sexual scenes. Third, the language used to describe those sexual scenes... Overall, extremely poor writing. Read if you want to read pornographic literature.
I don't know where to begin. The first thing that put me off was the language; too much slang and way too contemporary for a story based in 700-800AD. Second was the liberal, almost exploitative, use of sexual scenes. Third, the language used to describe those sexual scenes... Overall, extremely poor writing. Read if you want to read pornographic literature.
August 5, 2015
The story includes the events that are commonly mentioned about Eadburg in historical accounts, while filling in details that make for a plausible, interesting story. The writing isn't top quality, but for some reason, it kept me reading. It gets a bit R-rated at some points, and Eadburg makes a lot of bad choices, but the author manages to make her an engaging character.
April 23, 2015
Well written and interesting
Historical fiction that brought an unknown queen (to me) to life. I enjoyed the thorough descriptions of the times and customs. The sexual escapades were graphic, not sure they were necessary for the story to unfold.
Historical fiction that brought an unknown queen (to me) to life. I enjoyed the thorough descriptions of the times and customs. The sexual escapades were graphic, not sure they were necessary for the story to unfold.
August 8, 2015
couldn't put it down.
I found myself intrigued by the relationship of Eadburg and her husband, which was really horrendous. I'm sure there is more to this interesting story, and I will probably start looking for more information about her.
I found myself intrigued by the relationship of Eadburg and her husband, which was really horrendous. I'm sure there is more to this interesting story, and I will probably start looking for more information about her.
February 19, 2016
This Book was Great !!!!!
I could not put this book down. I read it in hours.. I would recommend it to everyone!! You will really enjoy it if you even like history a little!!!
-K- W.
Hollywood, FL
I could not put this book down. I read it in hours.. I would recommend it to everyone!! You will really enjoy it if you even like history a little!!!
-K- W.
Hollywood, FL
July 1, 2016
Interesting
Great read. Interesting embellishments on very little historical information. Since most writers of the timetables strong women, it's not surprising that little to nothing is recorded about Eadburg.
Great read. Interesting embellishments on very little historical information. Since most writers of the timetables strong women, it's not surprising that little to nothing is recorded about Eadburg.
January 12, 2015
Win some lose some
History is most fascinating even if fiction. To have it all does not mean to have it all with happiness. Sense of entitlement can bring you down.
History is most fascinating even if fiction. To have it all does not mean to have it all with happiness. Sense of entitlement can bring you down.
January 17, 2015
Enjoyable and interesting
Smooth reading. Went quickly and never slogged down with wordiness. Overall good historical content and story. That's all have to say.
Smooth reading. Went quickly and never slogged down with wordiness. Overall good historical content and story. That's all have to say.
April 22, 2015
Lost Dreams
Eadburg's and how she lived, could have been less tragic. Let's hope so. Life rarely follows a romantic adolescent dream. This was a good story.
Eadburg's and how she lived, could have been less tragic. Let's hope so. Life rarely follows a romantic adolescent dream. This was a good story.
January 12, 2016
So sad this is over =(
May 11, 2015
An interesting historical fiction novel, about a woman we know very little about.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews