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The Crown Rose
The Crown Rose tells the story of Isabelle of France, born heir to the her life from childhood to her later years; a life of turmoil and strife and longing.... The year is 1240. It is the reign of King Louis IX. Knighthood is still honored, though the traditions are beginning to fade. This will be the last generation of knights as we understand them. It is a time of intense chivalry and faith; religious orders such as the Templars, the Franciscans, Dominicans, and the Knights of Malta are springing up everywhere. And it is a time of conflict between nations struggling and warring to form their own identities and their own destinies. The Crown Rose portrays the mystery of one man who enters Isabelle's life at several key moments, becoming her icon, her soul's other half, and her destiny... a man who may, in fact, be much more than an ordinary man. His bloodline goes back to the Holy Land, and he is far, far older than he appears. The Crown Rose weaves its tale around the actual events of the time, blending historical realism with a hint of the fantastic, drawing upon extensive research to make the story as accurate as possible. It is a tale of chivalry, knighthood, romance, and war; of lost secrets and hidden mysteries; of honor, duty and sacrifice; and the power of a few dedicated people to change the face of the world itself.
454 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 3, 2007
Started this, but didn't make it very far before abandoning it. Seemed like it would be good enough, and it had a couple of very nice reviews on the back, but no. Too much license with the historical people for my comfort. And written in a very modern voice.
August 8, 2012
(Note - this is a really long review!)
This historical fantasy takes documented and accepted figures from history (King Louis the IX, his mother, Regent and Queen Mother Blanche, his sister Princess Isabelle) and places them in a setting that attempts to explain some of the actions and the wars that took place during the reign of King Louis IX, and the canonization and later sainthood of both Louis and Isabelle. Using recorded and respected historical sources, Ms Avery writes about what could have happened, taking these obscure figures and interspersing them with other figures, such as Thomas Aquinas and the Knights of the Templar (a controversial and secretive sect), and introducing the Royal Protectors, the Order of the Rose, which become pivotal figures in this novel.
This mysterious trio of women have powers which even in this more modern age would be greeted with cynicism and even fear, so their reluctance to reveal those supernatural powers is understandable, especially in context with the church and it's command over both political and secular figures and activities of the day. The sisters (in truth and belief) are displayed to have powers which would quickly have them punished for witchcraft, and their ability to travel and mingle with the world's leaders is both eerie and intriguing.
The main issue I had with the story was that, although the main character, Isabelle, is charming, and her mysterious friend Jean (John) is also, there is not enough of an attempt to build a solid feeling that this is a real person whom I should like. The story opens with the 9-year-old Isabelle and her spoiled ways. It continues to build Isabelle, but not Jean, although the opening builds her as a mysterious figure, and we never quite lose that hint of mystery. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and that contributes somewhat to an overall dissatisfaction, as it takes us through many of the early years of the reign of King Louis, and introduces us to activities which would later, perhaps, have led to the sainthood of him and his sister Isabelle.
Overall, I felt that the characters were charming and the premise fascinating, but the introductory letter leads us to look for strife between the queen mother and her family, which never really appeared. Blanche is shown as a vague character, only coming forth as a feeling woman a few times, although she is powerful both as a ruler and as a mother. The vagueness is acceptable in her background role, but I was looking for the dissension and arguments which Isabelle mentions in her letter in the forward.
This fantasy is full of biblical truths and quotes, and early on introduces displays of saintly behavior from both Isabelle and Louis. History says the Isabelle early dedicated herself to helping the poor, and that Louis was "the Blessed", reigning for 44 years, partaking in 2 crusades and multiple activities to empower and strengthen the church. This is shown in the way that Isabelle helps an old man (Jacques) and a prostitute, giving it an immediate Biblical feel.
One of the women of the Order of the Rose, Neci, is introduced as a pivotal and much-loved mother type figure for Isabelle, and seems to be based on the virtuous and well-educated Lady de Boisemont. There are many places within this novel that draw excellent distinctions between the truth of the day, and parallels Biblical actions, such as Jesus throwing the moneylenders out of the Temple. Interestingly, it does not read as a Christian story, even though it enlightens the reader as to the possible reasons why the siblings would have been sainted. It does at times stray into the spiritual, which builds the premise of explaining the church's later actions, although it introduces the Order of the Rose and their mysterious companion Jean, which over the build up of the story from the introduction to the end weave in a heretical theme .
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I did have issues with some of the repetitive phrasing and style, which felt in some instances that this was written as a screenplay, then converted to a book. This was due to the author frequently repeating the actions that were taken, or will be taken, and telling them in a simplistic style. Even though this means the story has a feel that it was written for a younger audience, the adult context and theories are definitely adult, and would make slow reading for younger teens.
In this story, Ms Avery takes us back to a time when a 12-year-old girl was considered an adult, with possible marriage and childbearing in her near future. Research shows that often the royal girls would be promised in marriage at birth, and married off very young. In a society where many children did not live to see their first birthday, this was a harsh necessity, and we are reminded throughout this story that even those with wealth and power were not exempt from the constant danger and risks of merely living in those times. For instance, history records that Queen Blanche had 12 or 13 children, only a few of whom lived to adulthood.
Many children, even those born to royals, had freedoms to explore which our modern age restricts, and the necessity of danger to those children from disease and accidents meant that there were many children. This novel explores that, and gives us shrewd insight into the power of play, then and now, when 9-year-old Isabelle asks her brother to marry her, an action which might have been shocking if it wasn't sweetly presented as a child's adoration of her 21-year-old brother.
I would have enjoyed more explanation of this as an epilogue or author's notes, but researching it was also fun, and the introduction of such delights as lemon pancakes brings both a historical and a human fact to life, in a way that emboldens the story line while drawing the modern reader out to the darker world that existed at the time. One fact which I felt out of place was the mention of old people, specifically the oldster Jacques, as many people, specifically those of the commoners, did not live to grow old. Children were treasured, which is shown in the vignettes of Joan, but they did not have a long childhood. This story falls a little short when it discusses all the adults around, as it fails to mention that many of those would have still been teens, making decisions and taking actions which modern readers would feel out of place, but which were life as it was known then.
I did enjoy the additional characters brought in, although some felt superfluous, such as the learned people at the Point where Isabelle travels to pick up books. Also, Charles, although later important and influential, had too appearances that did not add to the overall storyline .
It did feel out of place that there were as many books available as there were. As the printing press was not invented until 1440, the books of the time would have been rare and carefully guarded, and it would have been rare indeed for someone, even a royal and beloved princess, to travel casually even within the city to borrow a book and then mistreat it or handle it without care, as is done near the end when Isabelle travels across the rooftops with Jean. This last was something that I did have an issue with, as it seemed out of character for the royal family and the times for a royal to bounce around the city, even one where she was known and loved, without an escort, and without her family knowing where she, the only girl and with marriage power to bind nations, was traveling or with whom.
Regardless, Isabelle is portrayed as bright, well read and interested in the court, which did make it difficult to understand some of her actions, such as mistreatment of books, although her studious nature did help to clarify why she did not comprehend the political nature of the maneuverings of her brother the King and their mother. Her early introduction to Conrad of Germany, later King, was whimsical and well done, and his reintroduction later as a suitor was woven into the story in a believable way. Although she likes Conrad, she does not want to marry him, and fails to realize that it could be a political advantage to do so. Her youth and her reluctance to involve herself in court make it very believable that she would fail to see the need to ally France and Germany, although there were times when she showed a proclivity, an insight, for discerning such advantages.
There were several places in the latter part of the book where it seemed rushed, such as when Prince Robert is seen discussing political matters with a tavern keeper, or Pierre is trying to discredit Jean, or Isabelle is trying to defend her feelings. At the same time, there were whimsical, possibly even scripted moments which I enjoyed, such as the English spy in the tavern, although the English King's desire to regain possession of the French lands was odd, in that there was little or no mention of the French claim to England through Queen Blanche.
Although Thomas Aquinas is treated as an adult, and presented as an intellectual, he seems juvenile and vague, but this is explained by the fact that he was imprisoned by his family for his desire to join the church. The author did take a little liberty with his age, as he would not have been able to have the discussions and be involved in the plots, as he was a babe in reality, but is presented as a young man in the view of this story. He seemed to be a bit of a dimwit, even though he is often referred to historically as a savant. He seemed easily led, awed by the royals, and unable to be fully present, although his actions had a direct consequence on the outcome of the story. His discussions with the university people add credence to his intelligence, and brings some of those people more into the story, although if left out would not detract much from the overall story, but thereby shortening the novel.
Overall though this was a good read, full of interesting fictional characters and facts, and would be something to recommend to high school students to introduce them to some of the reality of the world history they are trying to understand.
This historical fantasy takes documented and accepted figures from history (King Louis the IX, his mother, Regent and Queen Mother Blanche, his sister Princess Isabelle) and places them in a setting that attempts to explain some of the actions and the wars that took place during the reign of King Louis IX, and the canonization and later sainthood of both Louis and Isabelle. Using recorded and respected historical sources, Ms Avery writes about what could have happened, taking these obscure figures and interspersing them with other figures, such as Thomas Aquinas and the Knights of the Templar (a controversial and secretive sect), and introducing the Royal Protectors, the Order of the Rose, which become pivotal figures in this novel.
This mysterious trio of women have powers which even in this more modern age would be greeted with cynicism and even fear, so their reluctance to reveal those supernatural powers is understandable, especially in context with the church and it's command over both political and secular figures and activities of the day. The sisters (in truth and belief) are displayed to have powers which would quickly have them punished for witchcraft, and their ability to travel and mingle with the world's leaders is both eerie and intriguing.
The main issue I had with the story was that, although the main character, Isabelle, is charming, and her mysterious friend Jean (John) is also, there is not enough of an attempt to build a solid feeling that this is a real person whom I should like. The story opens with the 9-year-old Isabelle and her spoiled ways. It continues to build Isabelle, but not Jean, although the opening builds her as a mysterious figure, and we never quite lose that hint of mystery. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and that contributes somewhat to an overall dissatisfaction, as it takes us through many of the early years of the reign of King Louis, and introduces us to activities which would later, perhaps, have led to the sainthood of him and his sister Isabelle.
Overall, I felt that the characters were charming and the premise fascinating, but the introductory letter leads us to look for strife between the queen mother and her family, which never really appeared. Blanche is shown as a vague character, only coming forth as a feeling woman a few times, although she is powerful both as a ruler and as a mother. The vagueness is acceptable in her background role, but I was looking for the dissension and arguments which Isabelle mentions in her letter in the forward.
This fantasy is full of biblical truths and quotes, and early on introduces displays of saintly behavior from both Isabelle and Louis. History says the Isabelle early dedicated herself to helping the poor, and that Louis was "the Blessed", reigning for 44 years, partaking in 2 crusades and multiple activities to empower and strengthen the church. This is shown in the way that Isabelle helps an old man (Jacques) and a prostitute, giving it an immediate Biblical feel.
One of the women of the Order of the Rose, Neci, is introduced as a pivotal and much-loved mother type figure for Isabelle, and seems to be based on the virtuous and well-educated Lady de Boisemont. There are many places within this novel that draw excellent distinctions between the truth of the day, and parallels Biblical actions, such as Jesus throwing the moneylenders out of the Temple. Interestingly, it does not read as a Christian story, even though it enlightens the reader as to the possible reasons why the siblings would have been sainted. It does at times stray into the spiritual, which builds the premise of explaining the church's later actions, although it introduces the Order of the Rose and their mysterious companion Jean, which over the build up of the story from the introduction to the end weave in a heretical theme .
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I did have issues with some of the repetitive phrasing and style, which felt in some instances that this was written as a screenplay, then converted to a book. This was due to the author frequently repeating the actions that were taken, or will be taken, and telling them in a simplistic style. Even though this means the story has a feel that it was written for a younger audience, the adult context and theories are definitely adult, and would make slow reading for younger teens.
In this story, Ms Avery takes us back to a time when a 12-year-old girl was considered an adult, with possible marriage and childbearing in her near future. Research shows that often the royal girls would be promised in marriage at birth, and married off very young. In a society where many children did not live to see their first birthday, this was a harsh necessity, and we are reminded throughout this story that even those with wealth and power were not exempt from the constant danger and risks of merely living in those times. For instance, history records that Queen Blanche had 12 or 13 children, only a few of whom lived to adulthood.
Many children, even those born to royals, had freedoms to explore which our modern age restricts, and the necessity of danger to those children from disease and accidents meant that there were many children. This novel explores that, and gives us shrewd insight into the power of play, then and now, when 9-year-old Isabelle asks her brother to marry her, an action which might have been shocking if it wasn't sweetly presented as a child's adoration of her 21-year-old brother.
I would have enjoyed more explanation of this as an epilogue or author's notes, but researching it was also fun, and the introduction of such delights as lemon pancakes brings both a historical and a human fact to life, in a way that emboldens the story line while drawing the modern reader out to the darker world that existed at the time. One fact which I felt out of place was the mention of old people, specifically the oldster Jacques, as many people, specifically those of the commoners, did not live to grow old. Children were treasured, which is shown in the vignettes of Joan, but they did not have a long childhood. This story falls a little short when it discusses all the adults around, as it fails to mention that many of those would have still been teens, making decisions and taking actions which modern readers would feel out of place, but which were life as it was known then.
I did enjoy the additional characters brought in, although some felt superfluous, such as the learned people at the Point where Isabelle travels to pick up books. Also, Charles, although later important and influential, had too appearances that did not add to the overall storyline .
It did feel out of place that there were as many books available as there were. As the printing press was not invented until 1440, the books of the time would have been rare and carefully guarded, and it would have been rare indeed for someone, even a royal and beloved princess, to travel casually even within the city to borrow a book and then mistreat it or handle it without care, as is done near the end when Isabelle travels across the rooftops with Jean. This last was something that I did have an issue with, as it seemed out of character for the royal family and the times for a royal to bounce around the city, even one where she was known and loved, without an escort, and without her family knowing where she, the only girl and with marriage power to bind nations, was traveling or with whom.
Regardless, Isabelle is portrayed as bright, well read and interested in the court, which did make it difficult to understand some of her actions, such as mistreatment of books, although her studious nature did help to clarify why she did not comprehend the political nature of the maneuverings of her brother the King and their mother. Her early introduction to Conrad of Germany, later King, was whimsical and well done, and his reintroduction later as a suitor was woven into the story in a believable way. Although she likes Conrad, she does not want to marry him, and fails to realize that it could be a political advantage to do so. Her youth and her reluctance to involve herself in court make it very believable that she would fail to see the need to ally France and Germany, although there were times when she showed a proclivity, an insight, for discerning such advantages.
There were several places in the latter part of the book where it seemed rushed, such as when Prince Robert is seen discussing political matters with a tavern keeper, or Pierre is trying to discredit Jean, or Isabelle is trying to defend her feelings. At the same time, there were whimsical, possibly even scripted moments which I enjoyed, such as the English spy in the tavern, although the English King's desire to regain possession of the French lands was odd, in that there was little or no mention of the French claim to England through Queen Blanche.
Although Thomas Aquinas is treated as an adult, and presented as an intellectual, he seems juvenile and vague, but this is explained by the fact that he was imprisoned by his family for his desire to join the church. The author did take a little liberty with his age, as he would not have been able to have the discussions and be involved in the plots, as he was a babe in reality, but is presented as a young man in the view of this story. He seemed to be a bit of a dimwit, even though he is often referred to historically as a savant. He seemed easily led, awed by the royals, and unable to be fully present, although his actions had a direct consequence on the outcome of the story. His discussions with the university people add credence to his intelligence, and brings some of those people more into the story, although if left out would not detract much from the overall story, but thereby shortening the novel.
Overall though this was a good read, full of interesting fictional characters and facts, and would be something to recommend to high school students to introduce them to some of the reality of the world history they are trying to understand.
February 11, 2023
Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book. Only made it 40 something pages in. It seemed promising and looked interesting but unless someone can tell me this gets better, I probably will not pick this back up.
November 27, 2023
This was just weird. Plenty of history in the fiction, but mostly devoid of detail (a princess spends an awful amount of time alone, for example). The mystic/fantastic elements just didn't work for me and were rather unnecessary.
March 31, 2009
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
Fiona Avery’s The Crown Rose is a historical fantasy — it places real historical figures in a real historical setting but it includes fantastic elements (magic, sorcery, etc.). In this novel, we follow the story of Princess Isabelle, Queen Mother Blanche, King Louis, Prince Robert, and Prince Charles in 13th century France. The royals are protected and advised by the Order of the Rose, a mysterious trio of women with supernatural powers and unknown origins.
Ms Avery’s “good” characters are charming and her premise is interesting. The novel, which is full of biblical truths, displays of saintly behavior, and excellent distinctions between pharisaical and real righteous behavior, actually feels like a Christian fantasy (well, up until the very end when the Last-Temptation-of-Christ-style heresy is revealed).
But premise and characters can't make up for all of the problems I have with The Crown Rose. The biggest is the writing style. The simple, often choppy, informal sentences give it the feel of a children’s novel, though its content is definitely adult. Ms Avery constantly tells me what characters are doing, will do, or how they feel. And she often tells me these things twice. She attempts to use a formal tone and courtly dialogue, but the writing is inelegant and too modern. If I’m supposed to feel like I’m back in the middle ages, then characters can’t use words and phrases such as “really,” “pretty much,” “outside of,” “automatically,” and “try and.” And a 13th century French archbishop can’t take a 19th century British “lie-down.” There is none of that “old feel” to the language (or the story) that we get from good historical writers like Sharon Kay Penman, Philippa Gregory, Dorothy Dunnett, or — my favorite — Patrick O’Brien.
A good editor could have fixed these problems and also could have avoided making me wince at sentences such as these:
* “You’ve been salivating over my hand in marriage since the time I was born!”
* “I try and avoid him.”
* The whites of his eyes showed more power than the Devil’s.
* They went at each other viciously: no armor, no elite fencing; just two men determined to live, determined that he would kill the other one.
* The problem was how apparent was what he and this cousin had been up to in the house.
* The young lieutenant looked up at him, shivering with collapse.
* “Fearful hounds and other beasts that prowl on the helpless.”
* It was a massive understatement, she could tell.
* “I saw her come up to you just now, as I was making my way down. She never speaks to anyone outside of the queen.”
* “I’m really the only one in the family who does pretty much the same thing as you do.”
The writing style was enough to make me want to put down the novel, but wait! There’s more. Some of the plot was ridiculous. Could it be possible that Isabelle, an educated, well-read, and intelligent princess, doesn’t understand the political history between France and England and realize the reason her family wants her to marry the King of Germany (her best friend)? Nobody bothers to explain it to her and years later she is surprised to find out that marrying him might have been advantageous.
Is it possible that a sober Prince Robert — a military strategist — might tell family secrets to a tavern keeper he just met? Would an English spy give a French traitor information about England’s planned invasion of France while he dandled a French whore on each knee? Would Thomas Aquinas refuse to tell Princess Isabelle and the university scholars about his secret studies, yet confide them to a courtier he just met? Does a medieval princess walk about Paris without an escort, ride alone on day-long journeys, and stay for days in a tower with a mysterious man she hardly knows without her mother and brothers being concerned?
Fiona Avery writes for television and comics, and I wonder if this explains the poor handling of her villains. Instead of being subtle and intriguing, they are comical. The bad guys have small eyes, stringy hair, hang out in brothels, smoke opium, and “slither.” Her main villain, nobleman Pierre Mauclerc, has an irrational desire for Princess Isabella. She hates him, but he’s under the delusion that she wants him, and every man she talks to is an enemy to be dispatched. He tries multiple methods for knocking them off and I started to wonder when he’d bring out the Acme anvil and a stick of dynamite.
Lastly, I was disappointed that I didn’t get to read any of the “ripping philosophical discourse” between Isabelle and her university friends (Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Thomas Aquinas). Avery often alludes to these great debates and discussions when actually including them would have given this novel some much-needed heft.
I can’t recommend The Crown Rose as a YA novel because of the adult content. But, unfortunately, it will not satisfy adult readers of either fantasy or historical fiction.
Read this review in context at Fantasy Literature's Fiona Avery page
Fiona Avery’s The Crown Rose is a historical fantasy — it places real historical figures in a real historical setting but it includes fantastic elements (magic, sorcery, etc.). In this novel, we follow the story of Princess Isabelle, Queen Mother Blanche, King Louis, Prince Robert, and Prince Charles in 13th century France. The royals are protected and advised by the Order of the Rose, a mysterious trio of women with supernatural powers and unknown origins.
Ms Avery’s “good” characters are charming and her premise is interesting. The novel, which is full of biblical truths, displays of saintly behavior, and excellent distinctions between pharisaical and real righteous behavior, actually feels like a Christian fantasy (well, up until the very end when the Last-Temptation-of-Christ-style heresy is revealed).
But premise and characters can't make up for all of the problems I have with The Crown Rose. The biggest is the writing style. The simple, often choppy, informal sentences give it the feel of a children’s novel, though its content is definitely adult. Ms Avery constantly tells me what characters are doing, will do, or how they feel. And she often tells me these things twice. She attempts to use a formal tone and courtly dialogue, but the writing is inelegant and too modern. If I’m supposed to feel like I’m back in the middle ages, then characters can’t use words and phrases such as “really,” “pretty much,” “outside of,” “automatically,” and “try and.” And a 13th century French archbishop can’t take a 19th century British “lie-down.” There is none of that “old feel” to the language (or the story) that we get from good historical writers like Sharon Kay Penman, Philippa Gregory, Dorothy Dunnett, or — my favorite — Patrick O’Brien.
A good editor could have fixed these problems and also could have avoided making me wince at sentences such as these:
* “You’ve been salivating over my hand in marriage since the time I was born!”
* “I try and avoid him.”
* The whites of his eyes showed more power than the Devil’s.
* They went at each other viciously: no armor, no elite fencing; just two men determined to live, determined that he would kill the other one.
* The problem was how apparent was what he and this cousin had been up to in the house.
* The young lieutenant looked up at him, shivering with collapse.
* “Fearful hounds and other beasts that prowl on the helpless.”
* It was a massive understatement, she could tell.
* “I saw her come up to you just now, as I was making my way down. She never speaks to anyone outside of the queen.”
* “I’m really the only one in the family who does pretty much the same thing as you do.”
The writing style was enough to make me want to put down the novel, but wait! There’s more. Some of the plot was ridiculous. Could it be possible that Isabelle, an educated, well-read, and intelligent princess, doesn’t understand the political history between France and England and realize the reason her family wants her to marry the King of Germany (her best friend)? Nobody bothers to explain it to her and years later she is surprised to find out that marrying him might have been advantageous.
Is it possible that a sober Prince Robert — a military strategist — might tell family secrets to a tavern keeper he just met? Would an English spy give a French traitor information about England’s planned invasion of France while he dandled a French whore on each knee? Would Thomas Aquinas refuse to tell Princess Isabelle and the university scholars about his secret studies, yet confide them to a courtier he just met? Does a medieval princess walk about Paris without an escort, ride alone on day-long journeys, and stay for days in a tower with a mysterious man she hardly knows without her mother and brothers being concerned?
Fiona Avery writes for television and comics, and I wonder if this explains the poor handling of her villains. Instead of being subtle and intriguing, they are comical. The bad guys have small eyes, stringy hair, hang out in brothels, smoke opium, and “slither.” Her main villain, nobleman Pierre Mauclerc, has an irrational desire for Princess Isabella. She hates him, but he’s under the delusion that she wants him, and every man she talks to is an enemy to be dispatched. He tries multiple methods for knocking them off and I started to wonder when he’d bring out the Acme anvil and a stick of dynamite.
Lastly, I was disappointed that I didn’t get to read any of the “ripping philosophical discourse” between Isabelle and her university friends (Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon, Thomas Aquinas). Avery often alludes to these great debates and discussions when actually including them would have given this novel some much-needed heft.
I can’t recommend The Crown Rose as a YA novel because of the adult content. But, unfortunately, it will not satisfy adult readers of either fantasy or historical fiction.
Read this review in context at Fantasy Literature's Fiona Avery page
October 22, 2025
This wasn’t for me. Even though it’s set in the Middle Ages, the writing is extremely modern and vague. Not really my cup of tea..😐
March 16, 2014
This book has problems. Big, huge, problems. For starters, it can't decide what it wants to be about. Is it a book about Princess Isabelle? Is it about King Louis? Is it about the children (ahem) of Jesus and Mary Magdelene? Is it about the politics of that era? What. The. Heck. Is. It. About????
OK, full disclosure here. I am a Christian, but I do love a good story. For instance, I LOVED "The Da Vinci Code," because it was a great story and a it was told fairly well. Not because I believed it, not because I even thought it was remotely possible that Jesus and Mary M.... well, you know. But because it was creative and fun and bizarre. But this book wasn't any of those. It was, among other things, well, CREEPY.
CREEPY was the word I thought of while reading the descriptions of Isabelle's "devotion" to her brothers. CREEPY was what I thought EVERY time Jean Adaret Benariel appeared on the page. And CREEPY were the three sisters of the Order of the Rose: way too mysterious to be mysterious, just CREEPY.
And so it goes. What's with the impenetrable forest where Jean lives in a tower? CREEPY. What's with the weird guy who pursues Isabelle even though she has pledged her life to the church? CREEPY. And what's with Isabelle's pseduo-sexual attraction to Jean even though she's a nun? CREEPY!
There are lots of other issues that make this book an unreadable clunker. But I have a life, and finish here to go and pursue it. Hopefully with a better book next time.
OK, full disclosure here. I am a Christian, but I do love a good story. For instance, I LOVED "The Da Vinci Code," because it was a great story and a it was told fairly well. Not because I believed it, not because I even thought it was remotely possible that Jesus and Mary M.... well, you know. But because it was creative and fun and bizarre. But this book wasn't any of those. It was, among other things, well, CREEPY.
CREEPY was the word I thought of while reading the descriptions of Isabelle's "devotion" to her brothers. CREEPY was what I thought EVERY time Jean Adaret Benariel appeared on the page. And CREEPY were the three sisters of the Order of the Rose: way too mysterious to be mysterious, just CREEPY.
And so it goes. What's with the impenetrable forest where Jean lives in a tower? CREEPY. What's with the weird guy who pursues Isabelle even though she has pledged her life to the church? CREEPY. And what's with Isabelle's pseduo-sexual attraction to Jean even though she's a nun? CREEPY!
There are lots of other issues that make this book an unreadable clunker. But I have a life, and finish here to go and pursue it. Hopefully with a better book next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2012
A Medieval Tale of Royalty, Religion, and War in “The Crown Rose”
“The Crown Rose” by Fiona Avery is a medieval tale that rests on a solid foundation of research. Avery explores the stories behind Isabelle and King Louis, brother and sister who were both canonized as saints by the Catholic Church. Set circa 1244 in Paris and environs, Isabelle deals with finding her life mission while Louis, already king at a young age, fends off an English invasion and recovers holy relics.
Amid the historical characters are three beautiful ladies who comprise the mysterious Order of the Rose. They escorted the newly widowed Queen Blanche back to safety years earlier, and now protect the current king, Blanch's son Louis and his siblings. Who are these women, who never seem to age? Are they angels? Or are they something even harder to believe and accept? And how do they know the equally mysterious and powerful Jean, who lives in seclusion in a tower in a remote corner of the northwestern woods?
A good tale although it seems to be written for a youth or teen audience. Runs a little over 400 pages yet it seems to skip through some complex and momentous events far too quickly.
“The Crown Rose” by Fiona Avery is a medieval tale that rests on a solid foundation of research. Avery explores the stories behind Isabelle and King Louis, brother and sister who were both canonized as saints by the Catholic Church. Set circa 1244 in Paris and environs, Isabelle deals with finding her life mission while Louis, already king at a young age, fends off an English invasion and recovers holy relics.
Amid the historical characters are three beautiful ladies who comprise the mysterious Order of the Rose. They escorted the newly widowed Queen Blanche back to safety years earlier, and now protect the current king, Blanch's son Louis and his siblings. Who are these women, who never seem to age? Are they angels? Or are they something even harder to believe and accept? And how do they know the equally mysterious and powerful Jean, who lives in seclusion in a tower in a remote corner of the northwestern woods?
A good tale although it seems to be written for a youth or teen audience. Runs a little over 400 pages yet it seems to skip through some complex and momentous events far too quickly.
May 20, 2007
I think it's worth mentioning that I finished this novel in three days, even though it's almost twice as long as other novels that took me three times as long. It's a historical novel set in France in the 1230s (I think Louis X was king?), and centers around Isabelle, sister to the king and only daughter of the Queen Mother. She's an intellectual searching for answers, who is completely fascinated by the three sisters who make up the Order of the Rose, who guard over the royal family. The characters are all satisfyingly complex and dimensional. Things get pretty complicated (a war is started and ends, witchcraft is alleged, Isabelle falls in love), and I don't want to give too much away (Kate, I know you'd like this book), but suffice to say that I really enjoyed it, and would like to read more of Avery's work. I was surprised to read in the jacket bio that she also writes for Sci-Fi TV shows?
July 29, 2009
Avery tells the imagined story of Isabelle of France (1225-1270), younger sister of King Louis the IX. Isabelle (and Louis) were both canonized as Saints after their deaths, and Avery explores the possible reasons for Isabelle's canonization. While Avery presents historical fact in many ways, she also explores mystical religiosity in the form of religious relics, the existence of the Knights Templar, and departing even more into speculation, delves into the beliefs that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children: in this instance, three daughters and a son who were believed to be immortal. These (now adult and ageless) offspring, referred to in Avery's book as The Order of the Rose, serve the Royal family and provide inspiration for Isabelle's life.
February 26, 2010
A medieval historical fiction book set in France. It would be great as a supplement to a midieval unit historical fiction is for someone who is patient with the story length. It takes place in the court of Louis IX with the young Princess Isabelle as the protagonist. It focuses on the royals, the role religion played in the lives of the people of the day, the Catholic Church, the Templers and other mysteries of faith. Fiona Avery uses historical events and sprinkles in famous people who play minor parts. Thomas Aquinas, Bacon and others are name sprinkles. It is similar in plot to Dan Brown's DaVinci Code. Its great for advanced upper elementary or middle schoolers who are strong readers. I thoroughly enjoyed the book!
May 24, 2010
I've read this book twice and liked it more the second time around. That's something since I'd rated it a 4 the first time!
A historical fiction book with one particularly intriguing character. And easy read, which is refreshing for historical fiction. I often find historical fiction being bogged down in "the language of the times". I get it! It's France. They have accents. They speak French. They use language long past. I don't need that front and center in order to enjoy the book or find Fiona Avery a worthy writer.
Easy read. Fun to allow yourself to imagine the possibility that there are Jean Benariels around us every day.
Enjoy!
A historical fiction book with one particularly intriguing character. And easy read, which is refreshing for historical fiction. I often find historical fiction being bogged down in "the language of the times". I get it! It's France. They have accents. They speak French. They use language long past. I don't need that front and center in order to enjoy the book or find Fiona Avery a worthy writer.
Easy read. Fun to allow yourself to imagine the possibility that there are Jean Benariels around us every day.
Enjoy!
July 6, 2013
I could not have said it better than the Midwest Review: "Take French medieval history, blend in a healthy dose of fantasy, and then trace the life of one Isabelle of France, born heir to the throne in 1240 and facing an unusual, changed destiny from a man who may be more than an ordinary mortal and you have The Crown Rose, a rich fantasy with a plot woven around actual events, blending elements of the real and fantasy. Over a year was spent researching the period - and it shows in a rich, detailed setting." A beautifully written story that left me wanting to visit a particular tower hidden in the "haunted" woods of 13th century France.
July 25, 2016
I loved reading this. I didn’t want to put the book down. It was different to see that a princess become a nun, which I liked. The Order of the Rose and Jean were a real mystery to me. I liked the romance I read about Isabelle and Jean even though they never even so much as kissed. They were only destined to love each other and never get married. I also like that Louis' growth.
Throughout most of the book, I wanted to smack Pierre. About halfway through, I was ready to kill him. He is truly the character you love to hate.
It was very well written. Avery pulls you right into the story. I’m not sure of its historical accuracy.
Throughout most of the book, I wanted to smack Pierre. About halfway through, I was ready to kill him. He is truly the character you love to hate.
It was very well written. Avery pulls you right into the story. I’m not sure of its historical accuracy.
August 19, 2008
I thought this book had an interesting premise and a well-described setting, but I had trouble getting through it. I thought the writing wandered a bit too much. A lot happens and it feels unfocused. Also, I found the eventual "twist" about Jean and the Sisters to be a bit much. I guess I was hoping for a more historical book that didn't take quite so many liberties. I'm glad I checked it out from the library rather than buying it.
May 5, 2009
I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this book. It also helped me see how Christians viewed sacred relics. Gave me a better understanding of how all that could come about (although that part isn't necessarily historical). The ending was fun, but the reason I put this on a fantasy bookshelf. Some Christians might take offense at the ending.
Overall a good and satisfying read that helped me learn more about medieval times.
Overall a good and satisfying read that helped me learn more about medieval times.
July 13, 2011
Fiona Avery has been a screenwriter for Hollywood (Babylon 5)and a comic book writer (Spiderman, X-Men, Tomb Raider), so I expected a bit more action from this book. It is a take on what happened to Mary Magdalene--and her offspring, through the lens of Isabelle, a princess and heir to the throne of France in the 13th Century. Avery draws on actual events of the time to create an interesting mix of history and fantasy.
February 5, 2008
pretty good alternate-Christian story. Another of those "Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had kids" stories, though that isn't really clear until 1/2 or 2/3 of the way through. Although I don't think Jesus' children would be immortal, or nearly so, as they seem to be in this story. A nice take on a fictional biography of Princess Isabella of France in the 13th century.
March 21, 2009
I thought that this book started really really slow. It took me a long time to get into it, but since I didn't have anything else to read I trudged on. It did pick up, but like Dawn said it could bug you if you read it literally. It was a little weird, and had a some sexual references. Hence the 3 star.
January 26, 2012
It wasn't a bad book, but I really don't feel that it was more than a children's novel with some weird sex scenes. The writing is very simplistic.
Some of the things the princess is allowed to do confuse me. What mother lets her child go off into the woods with a strange man for a week without being concerned?
Some of the things the princess is allowed to do confuse me. What mother lets her child go off into the woods with a strange man for a week without being concerned?
August 14, 2008
Definitely one of the better books I've read recently. A pleasant enough read; a classic courtly-love-esque story with a fabulous (and controversial?) twist at the end that left me speechless for a good few minutes after finishing the book. An easy read and a great story, in my opinion.
July 27, 2009
Historical fiction of sorts that kept me interested the entire time. Sad, because I wanted to make up a different course of events, but this seems to follow legends. Whatever! And Isabelle is likable even though her life feels blatantly incomplete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2009
If you liked Da Vinci Code you'll probably like this book. I don't really like speculative historical fiction, but I didn't have any problems with the writer or storyline. Just not my cup of tea I guess.
August 20, 2010
This book leaves you in awe. Both Isabelle and King Louis are good, gentle people and leaders. Three sisters enter the book, as well as a disquieting man. Are the women angels??? Is the man sent from God or is he God himself? Fabulous book.
October 3, 2016
Took a long time to get through this one. Possible reasons: slow pace of the story, poor connection to main character, lots of hops between thoughts. Would save for older children due to heavy emphasis on history, french language, and several short sexual scenes.
May 1, 2008
I liked the way the book started out.. but it went in too many directions what weren't very clear. Parts of the story weren't resolved which is the worst annoyance in a book.
November 13, 2008
I liked this book - it kept me guessing all the way through it. If you took it too literally, it could bug you, but as clean reading material that's interesting, I thought it was good.
April 9, 2009
i liked it. i thought it would be more historical than fiction, when it ended up the other way around, but it was a fun read with interesting historical insights in it.
September 17, 2009
Well researched book about St Isabel of Spain 1345 A.D. Many characters in this book were real.
November 26, 2009
Loved the intrigue, the romance and Isabella's determination once she discovered her heart's desire.
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