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Pride of Kings
National bestselling author and World Fantasy Award nominee Judith Tarr delivers a powerful epic of a glorious battle against magic unbound… At the coronation of the new king of England, two crowns are offered to Richard the the mortal and the magical. Lured by earthbound glory and driven by mortal faith, Richard spurns the pagan crown — and rides off on a Crusade to reclaim a sun-scorched Jerusalem from the infidels, leaving his new kingdom defenseless in the mists… For some unknown power has brought down the wall between worlds — and beings of dark magic await their chance to cross over the threshold. Summoned to England by his dreams is Arslan, a strapping youth born of fire and man. Able to walk between worlds and speak with spirits, he is destined to help a country he has never seen and swear loyalty to a man he has never Prince John, called Lackland, who will emerge from the shadow of his older brother Richard to rule the armies of the air. There are two wars for England to win or lose. One could weaken a mortal empire. The other could destroy the world…
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
121 books419 followersAKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 28, 2024
10/10
The author weaves a tale familiar and yet not—Richard the Lionheart, his brother Prince John, their mother Queen Eleanor, King Philip of France, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI of Germany are the historical figures playing out historical events, but surrounding them is a cast of Turks, French, and English men and women who are sorcerers, spirits, and magical creatures in a parallel but profoundly impactful set of events. The two worlds are woven seamlessly and skillfully into an engrossing saga. The main plot line has all the political intrigue and treachery the reader could want, but there is plenty of romance, humor, and magic to round out the story. The author’s prose is a delight to read—descriptive but never overly detailed, with action and insight well balanced throughout.
The author weaves a tale familiar and yet not—Richard the Lionheart, his brother Prince John, their mother Queen Eleanor, King Philip of France, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI of Germany are the historical figures playing out historical events, but surrounding them is a cast of Turks, French, and English men and women who are sorcerers, spirits, and magical creatures in a parallel but profoundly impactful set of events. The two worlds are woven seamlessly and skillfully into an engrossing saga. The main plot line has all the political intrigue and treachery the reader could want, but there is plenty of romance, humor, and magic to round out the story. The author’s prose is a delight to read—descriptive but never overly detailed, with action and insight well balanced throughout.
November 21, 2014
"The magic of the land demands a king of noble blood to rule it" books annoy me so much. *sigh* Why does that supposedly make such a positive difference?
I enjoy most of Judith Tarr's historical fiction--though I used to enjoy it more than I do now--and liked the idea of a book in which Prince John isn't the pitch black villain usurping Good King Richard's throne but is instead an admittedly ambitious man who lives in England and cares about its welfare while Richard sees England only as his possession and a treasury to plunder so he can continue on in the Crusades through the Holy Land he loves.
When Richard refuses the magical stewardship, the magic of the land chooses John to be shadow king. But that's only part of the plot. Way too much time is spent on characters Tarr doesn't make us care about finding their true loves and occasionally having sex that's written in euphemistic and hilariously overblown terms. Tarr has headed further and further into badly written romance as time has gone on, and this book makes a great example of this tendency.
Also, I didn't care about any of these characters. Not their lives, their goals, their loves, their euphemism-ridden sex lives, their problems. None of it.
I enjoy most of Judith Tarr's historical fiction--though I used to enjoy it more than I do now--and liked the idea of a book in which Prince John isn't the pitch black villain usurping Good King Richard's throne but is instead an admittedly ambitious man who lives in England and cares about its welfare while Richard sees England only as his possession and a treasury to plunder so he can continue on in the Crusades through the Holy Land he loves.
When Richard refuses the magical stewardship, the magic of the land chooses John to be shadow king. But that's only part of the plot. Way too much time is spent on characters Tarr doesn't make us care about finding their true loves and occasionally having sex that's written in euphemistic and hilariously overblown terms. Tarr has headed further and further into badly written romance as time has gone on, and this book makes a great example of this tendency.
Also, I didn't care about any of these characters. Not their lives, their goals, their loves, their euphemism-ridden sex lives, their problems. None of it.
November 11, 2024
An interesting weaving of fantasy with history. Reviews from people smarter than myself say that this is probably a more accurate portrayal of King John and King Richard in understanding history and personalities. The mists and mythology of Great Britain are alive and well in this book.
June 17, 2024
Fanciful alternate view of Richard the Leonhart and his brother John
July 17, 2015
Judith Tarr shines as always in the milieu of historical fantasy. At first blush, I read the title, Pride of Kings as one would think of a "pride of lions." It seemed a fitting description of a group of kings. Indeed, there are many kings in this story: the rules of France, Germany, England, and Britain all have their time on the stage.
For France and Germany, the respective rulers are responsible for both the mundane existance of the kingdom, and the shadowy, mystical kingdom of spirits. This is a deep delving into myths of the sacrifical king - where the health of the king determines the health of the land. England, however, has a bit of a problem. When Richard the Lionheart took the crown of England, he rejected this other shadow-crown, leaving the magical heart of Britian to find another. It find what it needs in Richard's poorly received brother, John Lackland. This sets up an intrigue of betrayal and appearance of betrayal, all to keep the shadow-heart of Britain safe.
The conceit of "Prince John" being the hero is an unlikely one, and led me to stumble a bit in the beginning of the book. However, Ms. Tarr makes no attempt to make John likeable - merely necessary. He takes the crown of the true realm of Britain as much because he intensely desires a crown as the fact that he truly loves the land. Ultimately, it took a secondary character to entice me to read more, and it's a good thing that we meet him early, as John remains a thoroughly dislikeable - if efficient - character.
The magical subtext of the novel is driven most strongly by Arslan, the young man with a French father and a spirt of fire for his mother. With his two Turks, Yusuf and Karim, he truly drives the narrative, leading John first to understand and then acceptance of this unseen side of Britain he's been asked to be king of. Arslan, in contrast to John, is a thoroughly likeable character with charisma and intelligence to spare. It is his love story with Eschiva that brings him down to earth enough to be able to appreciate instead of despise. And the love the author has for the cultures of the middle east that have dominated many of her other novels are present here - as the spectre of the Crusades comes alive. Though none of the action of the novel takes place in these far-off locales, their presence is ever felt.
All in all, Ms. Tarr exercises her already deft touch in the realm of history. Her prose which is at times inspiring - and never less than breathtaking - is reason alone to read the novel.
For France and Germany, the respective rulers are responsible for both the mundane existance of the kingdom, and the shadowy, mystical kingdom of spirits. This is a deep delving into myths of the sacrifical king - where the health of the king determines the health of the land. England, however, has a bit of a problem. When Richard the Lionheart took the crown of England, he rejected this other shadow-crown, leaving the magical heart of Britian to find another. It find what it needs in Richard's poorly received brother, John Lackland. This sets up an intrigue of betrayal and appearance of betrayal, all to keep the shadow-heart of Britain safe.
The conceit of "Prince John" being the hero is an unlikely one, and led me to stumble a bit in the beginning of the book. However, Ms. Tarr makes no attempt to make John likeable - merely necessary. He takes the crown of the true realm of Britain as much because he intensely desires a crown as the fact that he truly loves the land. Ultimately, it took a secondary character to entice me to read more, and it's a good thing that we meet him early, as John remains a thoroughly dislikeable - if efficient - character.
The magical subtext of the novel is driven most strongly by Arslan, the young man with a French father and a spirt of fire for his mother. With his two Turks, Yusuf and Karim, he truly drives the narrative, leading John first to understand and then acceptance of this unseen side of Britain he's been asked to be king of. Arslan, in contrast to John, is a thoroughly likeable character with charisma and intelligence to spare. It is his love story with Eschiva that brings him down to earth enough to be able to appreciate instead of despise. And the love the author has for the cultures of the middle east that have dominated many of her other novels are present here - as the spectre of the Crusades comes alive. Though none of the action of the novel takes place in these far-off locales, their presence is ever felt.
All in all, Ms. Tarr exercises her already deft touch in the realm of history. Her prose which is at times inspiring - and never less than breathtaking - is reason alone to read the novel.
February 3, 2017
Truthfully, my rating for this is more 3.75, but quibbles – quibbles! It was a fun read and a delightful reimagining of history, although I have to admit that it needed a little more POV from the Family Plantagenet for my taste. As seems to be the case with me a lot, I found the primary protagonist to be grating in that "I am perfect and wonderful and excruciatingly beautiful and whatever cipher the plot needs" kind of way, with his lady consort in a similar narrative space. I can see why they would appeal to some, but their core love story was not my particular cuppa, to the point where I would try to speed through it whenever they came up. (Slightly as an aside, but every romantic sideplot in this narrative felt weirdly out of the blue. But maybe that's fantasy romance tropes for you?)
That said, literally everyone else within this romp is a lovely, vibrant character that I loved dearly. (Particular favorites: Yusuf and Karim/Kalila, Susanna, our brief glimpses of Hugh Neville, and – naturally – good Prince John.) Moreover, the worldbuilding is vibrant and Tarr's particular spin on magic in Crusades-era Europe was fascinating. A welcome pressure valve in uncertain times, that is for sure.
That said, literally everyone else within this romp is a lovely, vibrant character that I loved dearly. (Particular favorites: Yusuf and Karim/Kalila, Susanna, our brief glimpses of Hugh Neville, and – naturally – good Prince John.) Moreover, the worldbuilding is vibrant and Tarr's particular spin on magic in Crusades-era Europe was fascinating. A welcome pressure valve in uncertain times, that is for sure.
July 11, 2014
Maneuvering among the rulers of Europe: Richard Coeur de Lion, Philip of France, Holy Roman Emperor Henry, and Richard's family. Tarr's fantasy interpretation of historical events is unique, as usual. She is such a moving, visual writer that she made me eager to go along with her transformation of King John into a magical pillar of Britain. His friend Arslan, son of a nobleman of Outremer and a fire spirit, is a bright delight.
Tarr's PRIDE OF KINGS and DEVIL'S BARGAIN both show King Richard and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine on Crusade, but they are entirely different stories. This one shows the Crusade as it was, with Richard spearheading the Crusade, alienating all the other leaders, and being captured and imprisoned on the way home. In DEVIL'S BARGAIN, published a year later, Richard overcomes all and his mother gives him sinister help; he is able to stay in Jerusalem because his covetous brother John has been left at home locked away. Tarr is so skilled an enchantress that I went willingly along with both stories.
Tarr's PRIDE OF KINGS and DEVIL'S BARGAIN both show King Richard and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine on Crusade, but they are entirely different stories. This one shows the Crusade as it was, with Richard spearheading the Crusade, alienating all the other leaders, and being captured and imprisoned on the way home. In DEVIL'S BARGAIN, published a year later, Richard overcomes all and his mother gives him sinister help; he is able to stay in Jerusalem because his covetous brother John has been left at home locked away. Tarr is so skilled an enchantress that I went willingly along with both stories.
October 16, 2013
A deeply satisfying magical retelling of the story of bad King John and Richard the Lionheart. Tarr writes with grace and passion, and fits the well-known history into a new mould that makes an odd sort of sense. King of the English vs King of all Britain - the mortal crown vs the pagan one. It's fascinating to see John as one of the good guys for a change, while still being as temperamental and self-serving as ever. And the characters through whom the story is told - Arslan, Eschiva and Kalila - are both wonderfully heroic and otherworldly, and satisfyingly human. I am immediately going off to look for more of Tarr's historical fantasy.
August 14, 2012
You don't get to see Prince John as a good guy too often... very unique take on the usual story of Richard.
The 'fantasy' bits were a little gratutitous, but still a fun read. Too bad the other books written by Mrs. Tarr in this era aren't connected at all.
The 'fantasy' bits were a little gratutitous, but still a fun read. Too bad the other books written by Mrs. Tarr in this era aren't connected at all.
February 16, 2014
It's a Judith Tarr fantasy-what else needs be said? It's less high fantasy than her Alamut or Isle of Glass novels, and less historical than Throne of Isis--this is magic and high adventure. I do love the magical beings in this one, though!
November 8, 2011
DNF page 89
I love fantasy but I don't think it works well with historical books. Okay this was my first try with it but still.
I love fantasy but I don't think it works well with historical books. Okay this was my first try with it but still.
January 24, 2011
No one combines history and fantasy like Judith Tarr. I loved the medieval world she created and her telling of the much maligned King John's story.
March 12, 2011
I tried to read this book twice. Though it has good parts and writing techniques, it is not my style.
April 3, 2011
Have to say this was a very interesting twist to the tale of robin hood, prince John, and king Richard. It was exciting with lots of twists.
March 31, 2011
superb (bsfs loan)
August 16, 2016
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews