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Nesta: Princess of Wales
A historical novel set in the early Middle Ages where the young Welsh Princess, Nesta Ferch Rhys, transforms from a naive young girl into a woman who cultivates and manipulates allies and uses her royal connections to achieve her ultimate goal of securing her family's place in history.Nesta was a consort to King Henry I, wife to Gerald of Pembroke and the captive-lover to Owain of Poweys. She is thought to be the original mother to the Tudor and Stuart Dynasties which Princess Diana and John F Kennedy are both descendants.
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 4, 2022
Very well written and an inventively told tale of Princess Nesta of Wales.This tells her story for the period in her life that she was consort to King Henry I.What I liked about it was that this particular Nesta was never a dull girl and always seemed to be plotting and scheming her native country's return to independence and I felt that some events in the story were a way to explain possibly what happened to her in real life.Some other events were a little too wild and out there for me but I still enjoyed it.
December 4, 2020
Not a good choice for fans of Penman or Gregory
Poorly written and even more poorly edited. Characters are shallow and the timeline is hard to follow. I don’t recommend this book for readers used to the well researched writings of Sharon Kay Penman or Philipa Gregory
Poorly written and even more poorly edited. Characters are shallow and the timeline is hard to follow. I don’t recommend this book for readers used to the well researched writings of Sharon Kay Penman or Philipa Gregory
September 6, 2023
This was extremely uneven. Some solid prose followed by paragraphs of staccato sentences like an elementary age story. Another large issue is modern language within a novel set in the early 1100s:
This is amazing, says a maid
Not my problem, says King William
You look Awesome, says not-yet-King Henry
(Yes this is laugh out loud funny but not conducive to an "historical fiction" novel. )
The plot and prose would be moving along and then suddenly the reader is slapped in the face with something ridiculous: The king wearing Asian silk 300 years before England discovered Asia. The king buying Egyptian Cotton? Nesta, a newly captured prisoner and daughter of the King of Wales who was just killed by a Norman - oh yes, make her in charge of King William Rufus's household?! My 'just believe' button just broke. Absolutely more on the fiction side than historical - Tower read the Wikipedia page and ran with the minor details without additional research.
I would give this a 2 star but there is an actual plot and author Tower does have her own take on Nesta's life. Ending was a bit abrupt. [The more I write this review the more I think this deserves 2 stars. I refuse to read, or even think about this novel again to decide.]
This is amazing, says a maid
Not my problem, says King William
You look Awesome, says not-yet-King Henry
(Yes this is laugh out loud funny but not conducive to an "historical fiction" novel. )
The plot and prose would be moving along and then suddenly the reader is slapped in the face with something ridiculous: The king wearing Asian silk 300 years before England discovered Asia. The king buying Egyptian Cotton? Nesta, a newly captured prisoner and daughter of the King of Wales who was just killed by a Norman - oh yes, make her in charge of King William Rufus's household?! My 'just believe' button just broke. Absolutely more on the fiction side than historical - Tower read the Wikipedia page and ran with the minor details without additional research.
I would give this a 2 star but there is an actual plot and author Tower does have her own take on Nesta's life. Ending was a bit abrupt. [The more I write this review the more I think this deserves 2 stars. I refuse to read, or even think about this novel again to decide.]
February 5, 2020
Oh my,oh my!! I thought I had already reviewed this on Amazon!! Wonderful story!! Even loved the historical setting, the background -all of it. Little Miss Nesta,well she does get around....But all together, she's got backbone, strong will, and a streak of stubborn even I can identify with!!
Even aside from knowing the author,I believe I would've picked up the book -cover and story intro would've gotten my attention...yes,I did enjoy the read...P/
Even aside from knowing the author,I believe I would've picked up the book -cover and story intro would've gotten my attention...yes,I did enjoy the read...P/
December 7, 2020
Yikes~ Is it possible an author sends a book out without proofreading?
I was so distracted by the improper word usage and speech inappropriate to the times that I couldn't pay attention to the shallow story painting Nesta as a major whore of the era. Really disappointed. There is enough information about the times to do better duty to this character. Don't despair~ Elizabeth Chadwick is working on the same theme as we read. :)
I was so distracted by the improper word usage and speech inappropriate to the times that I couldn't pay attention to the shallow story painting Nesta as a major whore of the era. Really disappointed. There is enough information about the times to do better duty to this character. Don't despair~ Elizabeth Chadwick is working on the same theme as we read. :)
May 25, 2021
This is complete nonsense. Rhododendrons in 11th century Wales, and everything else was wrong with the research in this book. It is shameful to not even acknowledge that Wales was a different country with people speaking a different language.
The plot couldn't have happened the way this writer imagined it. If you want to just make up stuff, write fantasy. This should not be described as historical fiction.
The plot couldn't have happened the way this writer imagined it. If you want to just make up stuff, write fantasy. This should not be described as historical fiction.
November 8, 2022
Good stories but...
I mostly enjoyed the book, however there were multiple people errors in word choice.
For instance, a horse has reins and you rein them in. A monarch reigns and has a reign. Difference between a captor and capture. Absolution and resolution.
Easy fixes for a proofreader or editor.
I mostly enjoyed the book, however there were multiple people errors in word choice.
For instance, a horse has reins and you rein them in. A monarch reigns and has a reign. Difference between a captor and capture. Absolution and resolution.
Easy fixes for a proofreader or editor.
April 19, 2020
Don't waste your time
Profoundly boring, historically inaccurate, the language was inappropriate for the time period. A very disappointing read . I gave the author two stars for her good intentions.
Profoundly boring, historically inaccurate, the language was inappropriate for the time period. A very disappointing read . I gave the author two stars for her good intentions.
October 15, 2020
Full of Anachronisms
Needs to do more homework. No one was saying okay, the word Asia was not in use, and certainly not tea. Style of writing not too bad, but with such an interesting character a little more homework would have gone a long way.
Needs to do more homework. No one was saying okay, the word Asia was not in use, and certainly not tea. Style of writing not too bad, but with such an interesting character a little more homework would have gone a long way.
September 27, 2021
clever ending
The ending removed any doubt of not reading the book! Whoever Nesta was I must look into, obviously Matilda & Stephen drama is most remembered & even more so Her son & his devils broad!
The ending removed any doubt of not reading the book! Whoever Nesta was I must look into, obviously Matilda & Stephen drama is most remembered & even more so Her son & his devils broad!
February 1, 2021
Disappointed
Would have been such a good book but too many loose ends. I was left with a huge question mark on my mind.
Would have been such a good book but too many loose ends. I was left with a huge question mark on my mind.
October 3, 2021
Start of a dynasty
Following the line of English kings and queens throughout their Welsh beginning is an interesting angle that is commonly overlooked.
Following the line of English kings and queens throughout their Welsh beginning is an interesting angle that is commonly overlooked.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews