What do you think?
Rate this book
Plantagenet Queens #3
A Reed in the Wind: Joanna Plantagenet, Queen of Sicily
A Reed in the Wind follows the eventful life of Joanna, daughter of Henry II of England and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her first adventure took her to Sicily, where through an arranged marriage she became the queen of King William the Good. She fell in love not only with her husband but also with the sunny island over which they reigned. Despite evil plots of her vengeful mother-in-law, threats from scheming courtiers, and personal tragedy, through pluck and good sense Joanna withstood it all.
More challenges were to come. After William's untimely death, Joanna was cast adrift in the turbulence of twelfth-century Europe. Her brother Richard the Lionheart, now king of England, rescued her and took her with him on Crusade to the Holy Land. Here she narrowly escaped marriage to an infidel, the brother of the Crusaders' dread enemy, Saladin. Back in France, still mourning William, she unexpectedly found contentment, if not passionate love, in a second marriage, to Count Raymond of Toulouse. Still ahead: the joy of motherhood, the comforts of friendship - and the agonies of intrigue and betrayal. Where would she find the strength to withstand the buffetings of fate and come at last to a safe haven?
A Reed in the Wind is the third in Rachel Bard's trilogy about Plantagenet queens. The heroine of the first, Queen Without a Country, was Berengaria, wed to Richard the Lionheart. The second, Isabella: Queen Without a Conscience, examines the beauteous, controversial Isabella of Angouleme, queen of King John, Joanna's younger brother. To research these three queens, the author traveled to Spain, France, England, Cyprus, Sicily - and so will you, as you follow their adventures on Kindle.
More challenges were to come. After William's untimely death, Joanna was cast adrift in the turbulence of twelfth-century Europe. Her brother Richard the Lionheart, now king of England, rescued her and took her with him on Crusade to the Holy Land. Here she narrowly escaped marriage to an infidel, the brother of the Crusaders' dread enemy, Saladin. Back in France, still mourning William, she unexpectedly found contentment, if not passionate love, in a second marriage, to Count Raymond of Toulouse. Still ahead: the joy of motherhood, the comforts of friendship - and the agonies of intrigue and betrayal. Where would she find the strength to withstand the buffetings of fate and come at last to a safe haven?
A Reed in the Wind is the third in Rachel Bard's trilogy about Plantagenet queens. The heroine of the first, Queen Without a Country, was Berengaria, wed to Richard the Lionheart. The second, Isabella: Queen Without a Conscience, examines the beauteous, controversial Isabella of Angouleme, queen of King John, Joanna's younger brother. To research these three queens, the author traveled to Spain, France, England, Cyprus, Sicily - and so will you, as you follow their adventures on Kindle.
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2014
41 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Bard
17 books4 followersRachel Bard had written eight nonfiction books from cookbooks to travel guides to histories when she began her series of historical novels about medieval queens. Her first, Queen Without a Country, was about Berengaria, wife of King Richard the Lionheart. In Isabella, she examines the life of Isabella of Angoulme, who succeeded Berengaria on the English throne. Her next, A Reed in the Wind, stars Joanna, Queen of Sicily, sister of Richard. Research for her novels has taken the author to England, France, Cyprus, Sicily, Spain the whole panorama of medieval Europe.
Her careers include advertising, journalism education and travel writing. She currently lives on Vashon Island, near Seattle.
Her careers include advertising, journalism education and travel writing. She currently lives on Vashon Island, near Seattle.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 24, 2015
Joanna of Sicily and England had a complicated life with high and low periods interspersed through it. I knew about her life as well as others in her family, my favorite one of all time. I believe that she made a difference to her time and place and was not merely "a reed in the wind".
A poignant ending to her life at a relatively young age, nonetheless left me with a feeling that she had accomplished a lot of what she had hoped to. Recommended for the fine historical research as well as a gentle but compelling narrative.
A poignant ending to her life at a relatively young age, nonetheless left me with a feeling that she had accomplished a lot of what she had hoped to. Recommended for the fine historical research as well as a gentle but compelling narrative.
August 5, 2015
Interesting subject matter [nice to have a story about a Queen that's lesser known in spite of her very much written about family members] and lots of history included, but the writing is not great.
The dialogue is too modern and feels very artificial; often the history included feels recited, rather than woven into the story. One thing that really irritated me was the way the author had characters of lower status addressing the royalty - waiting women and servants addressed the kings and queens by their title and first name, rather than using the less personal addresses like "Your Grace" or "Your Highness." That felt really off. The characters are mostly written in a very one dimensional way. It's just not up to par in the quality of the writing.
There are also some grammatical issues, one of which is on the "Mistakes that drive me nuts" short list: Using "insure" when it should be "ensure." That error is so frequently mentioned in lists of common mistakes that it really ought not to be found in a published work like this.
Overall, it was just so-so for me. I finished it, in spite of not enjoying it all that much, because I wanted to see how the author would complete Joanna's story.
The dialogue is too modern and feels very artificial; often the history included feels recited, rather than woven into the story. One thing that really irritated me was the way the author had characters of lower status addressing the royalty - waiting women and servants addressed the kings and queens by their title and first name, rather than using the less personal addresses like "Your Grace" or "Your Highness." That felt really off. The characters are mostly written in a very one dimensional way. It's just not up to par in the quality of the writing.
There are also some grammatical issues, one of which is on the "Mistakes that drive me nuts" short list: Using "insure" when it should be "ensure." That error is so frequently mentioned in lists of common mistakes that it really ought not to be found in a published work like this.
Overall, it was just so-so for me. I finished it, in spite of not enjoying it all that much, because I wanted to see how the author would complete Joanna's story.
May 16, 2020
Good
It was a good read but I did find that I skimmed through some parts. Mainly the sections on the churches as they were much to descriptive for me. Good characters and dialogue and I enjoyed learning about the relationship between William and Joanna.
It was a good read but I did find that I skimmed through some parts. Mainly the sections on the churches as they were much to descriptive for me. Good characters and dialogue and I enjoyed learning about the relationship between William and Joanna.
November 27, 2016
An imaginative evocation of the life of the daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine who married the King of Sicily and was one of the company that traveled with the the Third Crusade. According to the author she researched the book by traveling to Spain, France, England, Cyprus, Sicily. She would have been better off spending the time in the library since the research is very shallow and contains little detail to evoke the time period of the story.
October 2, 2024
A lovely and well-researched fiction version of Joanna's extraordinary life as the daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and hence pawn in the royal game of marriages and alliances. One major shift was in the ending: Joanna had to fight against rebelling nobles near Toulouse and that was her purpose for escaping. She also died at Fontevrault, not in Rouen (as can best be determined), but all those final details (fictionalized ) are faithful to the historical record.
October 28, 2021
The Unknown Princess
This was an interesting, heartfelt read as we follow Princess Joanna on her life journey as Queen of Sicily, to Countess of Toulouse, to nun. Joanna's mother is a well known and popular Queen. There are so many books about Eleanor of Aquitaine. I enjoyed reading about her daughter and getting a glimpse of the Plantegent family dynamic.
This was an interesting, heartfelt read as we follow Princess Joanna on her life journey as Queen of Sicily, to Countess of Toulouse, to nun. Joanna's mother is a well known and popular Queen. There are so many books about Eleanor of Aquitaine. I enjoyed reading about her daughter and getting a glimpse of the Plantegent family dynamic.
January 29, 2022
Plantagenant
As I read this book after several years of reading about this family, I wasn't to sure of what was fact or fiction. A totally different read of what I had read before and a much more believable read.
I wondered as I read what this authors own spiritual journey might have been. Not knowing how true this story is.
Good book!Well written! Thank you!
As I read this book after several years of reading about this family, I wasn't to sure of what was fact or fiction. A totally different read of what I had read before and a much more believable read.
I wondered as I read what this authors own spiritual journey might have been. Not knowing how true this story is.
Good book!Well written! Thank you!
March 11, 2020
Although the book was written according to a historical event in my opinion it came down to descriptions of architecture and wardrobe. There is no deeper connection between the characters. Too sweet and without much drama even though those times were pretty dramatic.But it can be read.
November 2, 2024
Enjoyed this book, a Lot! I have read a ton of books on the Plantagenets and it was good to see them interacting. And I LOVED that Simon de Montfort shows up!!!!!!!!!
I have already ordered and received the other 2 books in this series!!
I have already ordered and received the other 2 books in this series!!
June 11, 2015
I enjoyed the book. I found it to be historically true. For long years, I have been very interested in the Plantaganets and their reign, all the way down to my most favorite, Richard III. There was only one problem I had with this book. Dear, sweet, Joanna took an age to die! I kept expecting that I would turn the page to finally read The End, but no, Joanna took one more breath and lived on. Page after dreadfully-sick-Joanna page, she lived on. The woman had lived a terribly, mostly unloved life, the author should have condensed her dying to a peaceful few paragraphs telling the reader how she spent her dying last weeks instead of taking us through each day. Joanna's wonderful mother, the indomitable Queen Eleanor, if l,u
features in the book as do Joanna's two famous brothers, kings Richard the Lionheart and poor misunderstood John. All in all, the book is a great one to read. I highly recommend it, along with the author's other two about Queens in the same period. Great reading!!
features in the book as do Joanna's two famous brothers, kings Richard the Lionheart and poor misunderstood John. All in all, the book is a great one to read. I highly recommend it, along with the author's other two about Queens in the same period. Great reading!!
April 10, 2015
Very engaging book
I enjoyed reading about the historical figures, some that I knew by name, most not. Ms. Bard made them come to life throughout the story. I also enjoyed the thorough descriptions of the various abbies, palaces and towns.
I enjoyed reading about the historical figures, some that I knew by name, most not. Ms. Bard made them come to life throughout the story. I also enjoyed the thorough descriptions of the various abbies, palaces and towns.
January 9, 2016
Well written and engaging.
While I knew Eleanor and Henry II had daughters, thus is the first time I have read a detailed account of one of their lives. It is a sweeping, bittersweet story.
While I knew Eleanor and Henry II had daughters, thus is the first time I have read a detailed account of one of their lives. It is a sweeping, bittersweet story.
April 18, 2017
Excellent!!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews