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Queens of Conquest #1
The Chosen Queen #1
The Queens of the Conquest trilogy 1066. Three Queens. One Crown. As a young woman in England's royal court, Edyth, granddaughter of Lady Godiva, dreams of marrying for love. But political matches are rife while King Edward is still without an heir and the future of England is uncertain. When Edyth's family are exiled to the wild Welsh court, she falls in love with the charismatic King of Wales - but their romance comes at a price and she is catapulted onto the opposing side of a bitter feud with England. Edyth's only allies are Earl Harold Godwinson and his handfasted wife, Lady Svana. As the years pass, Edyth finds herself elevated to a position beyond even her greatest expectations. She enjoys both power and wealth but as her star rises the lines of love and duty become more blurred than she could ever have imagined. As 1066 dawns, Edyth is asked to make an impossible choice. Her decision is one that has the power to change the future of England forever . . . The Chosen Queen by Joanna Courtney is the perfect blend of history, fast-paced plot and sweeping romance with a cast of strong female characters - an unforgettable read. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Chadwick and Philippa Gregory.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
About the author
Joanna Courtney
15 books203 followersMy first literary accolade was a creative writing prize at primary school and from that point on I wanted to be a novelist. I was always reading as a child and often made up stories for my brother and sister on long car journeys. I was also a huge Enid Blyton fan and by ten I was writing my own (doubtless terrible) boarding school novels. Perhaps inevitably, I took my degree in English literature and it was at Cambridge, specialising in medieval literature, that I first discovered what has become a true passion for ancient history.
I took a sidestep after university to work in a wonderful textiles factory in Lancashire - a move that led me to my lovely husband, but didn't satisfy my yearning to write. Married and living in Derbyshire, however, I took up my pen again in the sparse hours available between raising my two stepchildren and two more of my own. At that hectic time, I primarily wrote shorter fiction and I've had well over 200 stories and serials published in women's magazines. As my children began to grow up and then leave home, however, I have had more time to write.
My passion is freeing women from either the obscurity or the mistruths of male-dominated history. My first trilogy, The Queens of the conquest, is about the women fighting to be Queen of England in 1066 - Edyth of Mercia, wife of King Harold; Elizaveta of Kiev; wife of Harald Hardrada; and Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
My second explores the true story of three of Shakespeare's most famous - and most maligned heroines - Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.
I also write WW2 fiction as Anna Stuart.
I took a sidestep after university to work in a wonderful textiles factory in Lancashire - a move that led me to my lovely husband, but didn't satisfy my yearning to write. Married and living in Derbyshire, however, I took up my pen again in the sparse hours available between raising my two stepchildren and two more of my own. At that hectic time, I primarily wrote shorter fiction and I've had well over 200 stories and serials published in women's magazines. As my children began to grow up and then leave home, however, I have had more time to write.
My passion is freeing women from either the obscurity or the mistruths of male-dominated history. My first trilogy, The Queens of the conquest, is about the women fighting to be Queen of England in 1066 - Edyth of Mercia, wife of King Harold; Elizaveta of Kiev; wife of Harald Hardrada; and Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
My second explores the true story of three of Shakespeare's most famous - and most maligned heroines - Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.
I also write WW2 fiction as Anna Stuart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 20, 2017
I remember reading about Edyth as a kid in Morgan Llewelyn’s Wing From Hastings. I was really young and so only remember vague impressions, like remembering that Harold was a big bully and her brothers were toads. It was a real treat to re-visit this era and these people specifically to get another look at them.
For a debut novel, this author has done a fantastic job. She took a lot of time in her world building and research of details. The reader gets a real sense for the sights, sounds, and smells of late Anglo-Saxon England and wild Wales. The intense political situation the characters found themselves in was thoroughly explored and made for suspenseful reading. I also was very fascinated by all the details on hand fasting vs traditional Roman religious weddings and the differences thereof.
All the characters and their various relationships made for enthralling reading. To see Edyth, Harold, and all the others come alive again was a real treat. The author gives them real depth of emotion, personality, and understanding. I especially liked Edyth and her understanding of the various political situations and her place in them. Being married to two men who are enemies and the particular situation with Harold/Svana showed her maturity and clear thinking. I also liked how real she felt in her sensual nature and curiosity, like any other girl/woman her age.
Altogether, I feel that this is a robust start of Joanna Courtney’s new trilogy and total career. She tells a great story, gets the historical details right, and makes her characters and their relationships breathe with depth and realism. I definitely look forward to more works by her; I feel she’s going to be among the greats for me.
For a debut novel, this author has done a fantastic job. She took a lot of time in her world building and research of details. The reader gets a real sense for the sights, sounds, and smells of late Anglo-Saxon England and wild Wales. The intense political situation the characters found themselves in was thoroughly explored and made for suspenseful reading. I also was very fascinated by all the details on hand fasting vs traditional Roman religious weddings and the differences thereof.
All the characters and their various relationships made for enthralling reading. To see Edyth, Harold, and all the others come alive again was a real treat. The author gives them real depth of emotion, personality, and understanding. I especially liked Edyth and her understanding of the various political situations and her place in them. Being married to two men who are enemies and the particular situation with Harold/Svana showed her maturity and clear thinking. I also liked how real she felt in her sensual nature and curiosity, like any other girl/woman her age.
Altogether, I feel that this is a robust start of Joanna Courtney’s new trilogy and total career. She tells a great story, gets the historical details right, and makes her characters and their relationships breathe with depth and realism. I definitely look forward to more works by her; I feel she’s going to be among the greats for me.
May 26, 2017
Set in the last years of Anglo-Saxon rule before the Norman conquest of 1066, this could have been an interesting look at a slightly less well-known historical era – but it’s tainted by re-writing history as a Mills & Boon romance, and offers no sense of time and place.
Very much in the Philippa Gregory strain of writing, there’s a lot of flouncy descriptions of dresses, jewellery and heaving milk-white breasts – while everyone thinks, speaks and understands the world through modern ideas and concepts.
So everyone wants to marry for true love rather than political alliance, our heroine Edyth asserts that she ‘is more than happy to be queen but it does not define me’, her husband Gruffydd (known as Griffin in the book) tells her that she ‘could do anything if I set my mind to it’ and women count their wrinkles when they re-meet after a time apart from their friends.
I particularly enjoyed this dialogue when the Viking marauders come calling:
Edyth: You have travelled far?
Viking leader: Indeed. I have been overseeing some business around the Irish seas.
Travelled far? Indeed? Overseeing some business? Dialogue which wouldn't be out of place in a genteel Victorian drawing-room or Jane Austen novel seems singularly inappropriate for 11th century Wales.
This is certainly readable (though I really wish a strict editor had taken a red pencil to the over-abundance of unnecessary similes), but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been less silly and girlie in places and offered a truer sense of what the thought-world of Anglo-Saxon Britain was like.
Very much in the Philippa Gregory strain of writing, there’s a lot of flouncy descriptions of dresses, jewellery and heaving milk-white breasts – while everyone thinks, speaks and understands the world through modern ideas and concepts.
So everyone wants to marry for true love rather than political alliance, our heroine Edyth asserts that she ‘is more than happy to be queen but it does not define me’, her husband Gruffydd (known as Griffin in the book) tells her that she ‘could do anything if I set my mind to it’ and women count their wrinkles when they re-meet after a time apart from their friends.
I particularly enjoyed this dialogue when the Viking marauders come calling:
Edyth: You have travelled far?
Viking leader: Indeed. I have been overseeing some business around the Irish seas.
Travelled far? Indeed? Overseeing some business? Dialogue which wouldn't be out of place in a genteel Victorian drawing-room or Jane Austen novel seems singularly inappropriate for 11th century Wales.
This is certainly readable (though I really wish a strict editor had taken a red pencil to the over-abundance of unnecessary similes), but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been less silly and girlie in places and offered a truer sense of what the thought-world of Anglo-Saxon Britain was like.
September 4, 2025
The Chosen Queen offers an intriguing premise of the last years of Anglo-Saxon Britain. However, this historical fiction overwhelmingly fails to successfully present characters, their motives, and their relationships with other characters.
Mainly, characters are presented in black and white with contemporary moral standings while still happily committing immoral decisions both in regard to the chronological period and today's period.
The author attempts to present the main protagonist as strong, impactful and decisive character, however she is continuously set to fail without the realisation of the author that this takes away the depth from her character. Oh, and all the important male characters (outside the family of the protagonist) are disturbingly attracted to the 14 year old protagonist.
There's a lot else thar could be said, but frankly a fairly bad book.
Mainly, characters are presented in black and white with contemporary moral standings while still happily committing immoral decisions both in regard to the chronological period and today's period.
The author attempts to present the main protagonist as strong, impactful and decisive character, however she is continuously set to fail without the realisation of the author that this takes away the depth from her character. Oh, and all the important male characters (outside the family of the protagonist) are disturbingly attracted to the 14 year old protagonist.
There's a lot else thar could be said, but frankly a fairly bad book.
May 2, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. The author is a fan of writers such as Elizabeth Chadwick and Phillipa Gregory, and I think she can take her place among those authors for page-turning historical novels. The pace, the setting as well as the characters made this a book that was hard to put down.
A fair amount of artistic licence is taken with the characters (real historical figures) but as far back as the Battle of Hastings, which was almost a 1,000 years ago, who kept a day to day journal? :P What the writer has done is fleshed out the story in her own words to make a highly readable novel.
Edyth, who is the central character of the story, is a strong and resilient woman as best as she is able to be in the times she lived in. She became queen not only of Wales, but England through two marriages. There is also a strong friendship with Svana, Harold's handfasted wife, who was not recognised as his real wife as the marriage had not been done through the Catholic faith. Although the women were close in the book, it is doubtful they were friends in reality, but it gives a nice feel of feminine solidarity in a time when women were basically powerless in the face of men's demands.
Will be looking out for future works by this author.
A fair amount of artistic licence is taken with the characters (real historical figures) but as far back as the Battle of Hastings, which was almost a 1,000 years ago, who kept a day to day journal? :P What the writer has done is fleshed out the story in her own words to make a highly readable novel.
Edyth, who is the central character of the story, is a strong and resilient woman as best as she is able to be in the times she lived in. She became queen not only of Wales, but England through two marriages. There is also a strong friendship with Svana, Harold's handfasted wife, who was not recognised as his real wife as the marriage had not been done through the Catholic faith. Although the women were close in the book, it is doubtful they were friends in reality, but it gives a nice feel of feminine solidarity in a time when women were basically powerless in the face of men's demands.
Will be looking out for future works by this author.
April 24, 2015
I’m not usually a fan of Historical Fiction. I read the odd one here and there – with The Chosen Queen by Joanna Courtney I had been following along the authors story from concept to publication and so of course I HAD to read it and see the end result for myself. What I found was a beautifully written multi layered tale with a tremendously authentic sense of place and time and some characters that I fell heartily in love with.
Seriously the historical flavour in this novel is magnificent – you sink into it and really feel it – then of course on top of that you have Edyth anchoring the story and giving it a focus. I loved Edyth, her passion for life and for Griffin, the Welsh King, not only that but perhaps my favourite part of the tale, her relationship with Harold (Earl of Wessex). The characters come to life within the historical setting and it is truly a real page turner.
A bit of an epic feel to the whole thing and some gorgeous prose just add to the ambience and overall I thought this was really terrific. Although I’m not likely to become a closet fan of Historical Fiction I AM likely to become a huge fan of Joanna Courtney and therefore am now awaiting the next novel rather avidly.
Highly Recommended
Happy Reading Folks!
Seriously the historical flavour in this novel is magnificent – you sink into it and really feel it – then of course on top of that you have Edyth anchoring the story and giving it a focus. I loved Edyth, her passion for life and for Griffin, the Welsh King, not only that but perhaps my favourite part of the tale, her relationship with Harold (Earl of Wessex). The characters come to life within the historical setting and it is truly a real page turner.
A bit of an epic feel to the whole thing and some gorgeous prose just add to the ambience and overall I thought this was really terrific. Although I’m not likely to become a closet fan of Historical Fiction I AM likely to become a huge fan of Joanna Courtney and therefore am now awaiting the next novel rather avidly.
Highly Recommended
Happy Reading Folks!
January 30, 2016
I am a huge fan of writers like Elizabeth Chadwick so I find it difficult to find other authors who write historical fiction that I like. Whilst this book was enjoyable I felt it lacked depth and the plot was very one-dimensional. The characters seemed rather simplistic and it seemed a rather rose tinted perspective of the time. An ok read but I probably wouldn't make an effort to read more by this author.
September 15, 2017
4.5 Stars!!!
Really enjoyed this book, now to hunt down the other 2 books in the trilogy.. thanks to Tracey at Carpe Librum for gifting this book in one of our meet up mystery swaps and for me being clever enough to pick it..
Really enjoyed this book, now to hunt down the other 2 books in the trilogy.. thanks to Tracey at Carpe Librum for gifting this book in one of our meet up mystery swaps and for me being clever enough to pick it..
September 28, 2019
I really enjoyed Eadyths story. Amazing that she has been the only queen of Wales and also England. And can't believe that I had to be told that it was the battle of Hastings duh! Lol.
Great characters that did feel real and not too contrived.
Great characters that did feel real and not too contrived.
February 6, 2017
0.5 stars!
How can anyone even like this book? A girl barely 16, about to give birth to her second child and that too with a husband who's 44 years old? What in hell is this shit?
DNF
How can anyone even like this book? A girl barely 16, about to give birth to her second child and that too with a husband who's 44 years old? What in hell is this shit?
DNF
May 12, 2015
It's 1055 and fourteen year old Edyth is already quite mature for her age. She's curious about love and Harold and Svana are her great examples. She's impressed by their relationship and their faith that love will survive everything. They aren't officially married, but they have something much more special. Edyth wants to have a similar experience, she'd like to get married for love and not because of connections.
There's a lot of political unrest in England and Edyth's father is exiled. He travels to Wales together with his family. There Edyth meets Griffin, the king of Wales. Even though he's much older Edyth feels they have a connection. The king asks her to marry him which will make Edyth the queen of Wales. Griffin lives with the expectation that every day could be his last, because of that he enjoys whatever he can as much as possible. His dream is to unite Wales, but that's a difficult task.
After much political unrest Edyth has to go back to England. The only good thing about that is that she can be with her best friend Svana once more. She finds herself in the middle of a difficult matter. King Edward is old and there is no heir, who will become the next king? There's a tough decision Edyth has to make. One that has consequences for the future of the kingdom.
The Chosen Queen overwhelmed me when I first started reading it. There were a lot of characters and the fourteen year old Edyth was much more advanced than a girl her age often is. That is part of her character though. She fights for what she believes in and love is the most important thing there is for this strong, fierce and determined woman. I greatly admired Edyth and enjoyed reading her story very much. When Edyth grows older the story becomes more mature as well.
Edyth's life isn't easy. Even though this isn't an actual retelling of her history I thought it was great to read a story about this woman. She's certainly interesting and the author has done a wonderful job creating such a gripping and thrilling story. The battles had me on the edge of my seat every time. I loved the story and the development of Edyth's character. The beginning of the book might be a bit chaotic, but the rest of the story is absolutely fantastic and I didn't want it to end.
There's a lot of political unrest in England and Edyth's father is exiled. He travels to Wales together with his family. There Edyth meets Griffin, the king of Wales. Even though he's much older Edyth feels they have a connection. The king asks her to marry him which will make Edyth the queen of Wales. Griffin lives with the expectation that every day could be his last, because of that he enjoys whatever he can as much as possible. His dream is to unite Wales, but that's a difficult task.
After much political unrest Edyth has to go back to England. The only good thing about that is that she can be with her best friend Svana once more. She finds herself in the middle of a difficult matter. King Edward is old and there is no heir, who will become the next king? There's a tough decision Edyth has to make. One that has consequences for the future of the kingdom.
The Chosen Queen overwhelmed me when I first started reading it. There were a lot of characters and the fourteen year old Edyth was much more advanced than a girl her age often is. That is part of her character though. She fights for what she believes in and love is the most important thing there is for this strong, fierce and determined woman. I greatly admired Edyth and enjoyed reading her story very much. When Edyth grows older the story becomes more mature as well.
Edyth's life isn't easy. Even though this isn't an actual retelling of her history I thought it was great to read a story about this woman. She's certainly interesting and the author has done a wonderful job creating such a gripping and thrilling story. The battles had me on the edge of my seat every time. I loved the story and the development of Edyth's character. The beginning of the book might be a bit chaotic, but the rest of the story is absolutely fantastic and I didn't want it to end.
September 10, 2015
The Chosen Queen of the title is Edyth and the year is 1055, a decade before the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and yes, William the Conqueror.
Edyth is the granddaughter of Lady Godiva and dreams of marrying for love, but times were different 950 years ago and more often than not, women were married for political and monetary gain.
Edyth's father is close to King Edward (now known as Edward the Confessor), but after an angry outburst the family is exiled to Wales and the novel really takes off.
I read The Chosen Queen quite soon after the latest Philippa Gregory novel and I was a little worried this might pale in comparison, but I'm pleased to say it wasn't the case. Joanna Courtney manages to guide the reader through a turbulent time in the history of Wales and England with a tight, fast-paced plot and a hint of romance throughout.
Similar to Gregory, Courtney has chosen (see what I did there?) a strong female character from history in Edyth as her protagonist, and we are privy to her inner thoughts during her rise in power and influence. Lady Svana is Edyth's closest friend however their friendship is complicated and at one point they even find themselves on opposing sides. The loss of human life in battle after battle is deeply felt by the two women and Courtney has captured the times very well.
The Chosen Queen is a standalone but also the first in The Queens of the Conquest trilogy, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction by Philippa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick or Jean Plaidy.
* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *
Edyth is the granddaughter of Lady Godiva and dreams of marrying for love, but times were different 950 years ago and more often than not, women were married for political and monetary gain.
Edyth's father is close to King Edward (now known as Edward the Confessor), but after an angry outburst the family is exiled to Wales and the novel really takes off.
I read The Chosen Queen quite soon after the latest Philippa Gregory novel and I was a little worried this might pale in comparison, but I'm pleased to say it wasn't the case. Joanna Courtney manages to guide the reader through a turbulent time in the history of Wales and England with a tight, fast-paced plot and a hint of romance throughout.
Similar to Gregory, Courtney has chosen (see what I did there?) a strong female character from history in Edyth as her protagonist, and we are privy to her inner thoughts during her rise in power and influence. Lady Svana is Edyth's closest friend however their friendship is complicated and at one point they even find themselves on opposing sides. The loss of human life in battle after battle is deeply felt by the two women and Courtney has captured the times very well.
The Chosen Queen is a standalone but also the first in The Queens of the Conquest trilogy, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction by Philippa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick or Jean Plaidy.
* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *
August 26, 2017
At first glance, this book looked like a find: a well-researched novel about Anglo-Saxons during the reign of Edward the Confessor. Just my kind of thing.
Sadly, it wasn't.
Within the first chapter, Earl Tostig asks our heroine to dance with him and they proceed as if htey were at a high school prom. Perhaps the history-breaking was an attempt to engage young readers, but the clueless social anachronisms were too much for me and I bailed before I was halfway through.
Sadly, it wasn't.
Within the first chapter, Earl Tostig asks our heroine to dance with him and they proceed as if htey were at a high school prom. Perhaps the history-breaking was an attempt to engage young readers, but the clueless social anachronisms were too much for me and I bailed before I was halfway through.
September 1, 2016
Really wanted to like this book, but I didn't agree with the name changes, and it didn't feel like the 11th century...
Also, I swear knights were mentioned... surely this should be either huscarls or stallers??
Also, I swear knights were mentioned... surely this should be either huscarls or stallers??
May 24, 2015
Great book with great characters and a whole side of the history that you don't get when it's just about the boys. Loved it.
December 29, 2018
This the 1st volume of the Queens of the Conquest trilogy is an absolute beauty of a book.
The book contains two extensive Family Trees at the beginning, and at the end the historical notes are incredibly well defined, and thus in my opinion the lady has researched this topic very thoroughly to be as accurate as she can be, and that really is a great achievement in itself.
The storytelling is of an absolute exquisite quality due to the fact that she's very much capable of combining historical figures and fictional characters into this wonderful story where all these people come really vividly to life whether it's in normal life, romance, betrayal, or in combat.
The book is set between the years AD 1055 and AD 1066, this last year of course the famous year of the invasion of England by William the Conquerer (Bastard) of Normandy.
The 1st volume of this trilogy contains the life of Edyth of Mercia, who is the granddaughter of Lady Godiva, whom we meet at first at the court in England but later on at some point Edyth and her family become exiled to Wales, where she falls in love with Griffin, the King of Wales, who she will finally get married to.
But due to bitter feuds she's catapulted back again towards England, where King Edward is still without an heir, and where she's to become friendly with Earl Harold Godwinson and his handfasted wife, the Lady Svana.
What follows is a power struggle for the throne of England that takes place between King Edward and Harold, and inevitably afterwards the invasion of England in AD 1066 by Duke William of Normandy, in which the future of Engalnd will change again.
Highly recommended, for this is truly "A Very Astonishing Debut Novel"!
The book contains two extensive Family Trees at the beginning, and at the end the historical notes are incredibly well defined, and thus in my opinion the lady has researched this topic very thoroughly to be as accurate as she can be, and that really is a great achievement in itself.
The storytelling is of an absolute exquisite quality due to the fact that she's very much capable of combining historical figures and fictional characters into this wonderful story where all these people come really vividly to life whether it's in normal life, romance, betrayal, or in combat.
The book is set between the years AD 1055 and AD 1066, this last year of course the famous year of the invasion of England by William the Conquerer (Bastard) of Normandy.
The 1st volume of this trilogy contains the life of Edyth of Mercia, who is the granddaughter of Lady Godiva, whom we meet at first at the court in England but later on at some point Edyth and her family become exiled to Wales, where she falls in love with Griffin, the King of Wales, who she will finally get married to.
But due to bitter feuds she's catapulted back again towards England, where King Edward is still without an heir, and where she's to become friendly with Earl Harold Godwinson and his handfasted wife, the Lady Svana.
What follows is a power struggle for the throne of England that takes place between King Edward and Harold, and inevitably afterwards the invasion of England in AD 1066 by Duke William of Normandy, in which the future of Engalnd will change again.
Highly recommended, for this is truly "A Very Astonishing Debut Novel"!
August 13, 2018
This turned out to be a great book. The first couple of hours was a bit romantic for me (for this to be a historical fiction) but it really turned out to be a great read. I could not stop listening. I loved Edyth and Svana! Such strong, amazing but different women who ultimately completed one man with love.
I enjoyed reading about Wales & the Welsh King--I will need to do some research about this time period re the Welsh. I admit that I was a bit disturbed by the age difference between between Edyth and Gruffydd but alas, that was part of that time in history.
I was so sad by the end, although I wanted a historical fiction I wanted a historical romance HEA. I've always been a fan of William the Conqueror, I never cared to know much more about Harold Godwinson but after this? I think I fell in love with him just a bit and thus I want to learn more about him...I wish he hadn't died.
Very interesting read.
5 stars for story
4 stars for narration
I enjoyed reading about Wales & the Welsh King--I will need to do some research about this time period re the Welsh. I admit that I was a bit disturbed by the age difference between between Edyth and Gruffydd but alas, that was part of that time in history.
I was so sad by the end, although I wanted a historical fiction I wanted a historical romance HEA. I've always been a fan of William the Conqueror, I never cared to know much more about Harold Godwinson but after this? I think I fell in love with him just a bit and thus I want to learn more about him...I wish he hadn't died.
Very interesting read.
5 stars for story
4 stars for narration
July 30, 2017
Another great read from this author. Book 1 of a trilogy and although I've not read them in order I don't think it matters (although the author may disagree).
Can't wait to read the next one.
Recommended to anyone who loves a good well written historical fiction.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Recommended to anyone who loves a good well written historical fiction.
April 9, 2018
Meh this book was OK. I'm interested in this time period, place and war yet this was just too romancey for me. The real action doesn't start until far into the story and too much attention is given to marriage style.
August 16, 2018
Enorme delusione. Libro poco credibile, privo di una trama orizzontale, con una protagonista insulsa.
Ulteriore dimostrazione che non bisogna giudicare i libri dalla copertina.
Ulteriore dimostrazione che non bisogna giudicare i libri dalla copertina.
June 5, 2019
If you love history, this novel will be enjoyable. It was quite fascinating how she fit the real story of Macbeth into the story, especially after having read Macbeth by Shakespeare myself. I am not someone who likes modern history, since I am a very analytical and critical reader (ravenclaw) who likes to read about historical eras that are so long time ago that you have to rely on unreliable sources to gain insight and knowledge. It was quite weird but nice to see pagan Danelaw mentioned in story, since I am Danish, even though the ritual of handfast marriage was frowned upon by the English civilised society and government.
The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the fact that it focused a little to much on romance than I like- even though it made perfect sense. However, the historical notes in the end made up for that.
- All in all, I do indeed want to read the remaining 2 novels in the trilogy about Elisiv of Kiev and Matilda of Flanders, who were the queens of Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy. I highly recommend it to everybody. The storyline was also very good.
The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the fact that it focused a little to much on romance than I like- even though it made perfect sense. However, the historical notes in the end made up for that.
- All in all, I do indeed want to read the remaining 2 novels in the trilogy about Elisiv of Kiev and Matilda of Flanders, who were the queens of Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy. I highly recommend it to everybody. The storyline was also very good.
May 13, 2015
4.5
Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...
I can't claim to have much knowledge on the Battle of Hastings, the lead-up to the Battle of Hastings or any real history from that age (I wish I did know more) and so I can't vouch for the credibility of the events Joanna Courtney has chosen to work around in The Chosen Queen. What I can vouch for is the wonderful, mesmerising storytelling that had me hooked from page one, keeping me engrossed throughout the entire novel and still left desperate for more. I am thrilled that The Chosen Queen is the first part of a trilogy because the writing was beautiful and powerful and passionate and I was so gripped by the prose and how well-drawn the characters were, how descriptive and atmospheric the story was. The author made this beauty of historical fiction equally accessible for people well aware of the era it's set in as well as people, like me, with limited knowledge on any of the characters or events involved.
I have to admit towards the beginning of this novel I did spend a bit of time losing count of the characters. There were a lot of names for me to take in and I pretty much gave up doing so until it was evident which characters were going to have the biggest impact on Edyth's life. I loved Edyth's character right from the start. She seemed so strong and inspired, and I really liked how much she valued love and romance when all around her, the idea of marriage was anything but romantic. Maybe it started off as youthful innocence, but Edyth grew up quickly once her family was exiled to Wales. Her character goes from strength to strength, even when she finds herself falling in love with Griffin, the King of Wales. Marriage follows and as Edyth becomes the Queen of Wales, she appears to become stronger, bolder, braver and more set-up for the turmoil to come.
The characters in this book were fantastically written. I found myself growing quite attached to them all, even when their actions weren't something you could approve of. Joanna really had an authentic way of building up the several layers of each character and the relationships between them, as compromising as they may have been, all felt very credible and easy to understand too.
When Edyth is forced to Wales, she leaves behind her close allies in England, Earl Harold and his wife Lady Svana. Edyth and Svana begin to communicate via letters and their friendship was part of the delights of this book for me. I found Svana's character to be quite extraordinary and the way she took on the tests their friendship faced was to me, commendable, and so unlike what you would expect. Svana had her own idea on love and marriage and she stuck to her guns on how she wanted to live her life. Despite the judgment of others, she still stayed true to herself and I was pleasantly surprised that throughout all the battles and unrest, Edyth and Svana's bond only strengthened. Their relationship was very touching and written with real class.
The story to The Chosen Queen had love running through the core but it would be underselling the novel to suggest that there wasn't a whole lot more to its brilliance. The pace shifted often, from the going-along-nicely phases to the tense and breathtaking, the parts I only realised I'd been reading relentlessly when they were over. Emotions ran high, sacrifices had to be made and The Chosen Queen was a spectacularly exciting start to a trilogy I can't wait to continue with.
*Book received in exchange for an honest review
November 19, 2018
This was a great read. Set in the year 1066 and based on the true story of the fight for the crown when the reigning king edward dies without a heir. Some parts are fiction but allows the story to be more interesting and captivating.
April 27, 2020
Although I had knowledge of the Norman invasion in 1066, I didn't now much about it or anything regarding the situation of the political landscape at the time, so this was informative whilst also being entertaining.
Not a perfect book, but well worth the read.
Not a perfect book, but well worth the read.
March 20, 2016
There's a lot of light historical fiction out there these days and so much of it seems to be about the Tudors. Don't get me wrong, fascinating time in history. But it's nice to come across a book that isn't about the Tudors. This one is about the run up to 1066, so really, we all know how this one is going to end. But I still found it a fun and engaging read. Yes, there's some artistic licence here, so it's one person's imaginings on what it would have been like. But for a bit of historical escapism, I think that' s perfectly acceptable.
This isn't a heavy going book, and it is history with a romantic mills & boon tint. There's a lot of wink wink, nudge nudge at the end of many a chapter. Edyth, the main character we follow, starts off as a randy teen and continues with her lusting and breathlessness for the next ten years or so this book covers. As a teenager, she meets Harold (yes, him of the arrow fame) and his handfasted (pagan married) wife "Svana". Her father then upsets the King Edward, so they're exiled and it's off to Wales with them. Where she meets the king of Wales, they make lusty eyes at one another and she marries him. It's all portrayed as very romantic and dashing in this book, but if you stop and think about it, she's fourteen when she goes to Wales and he's 40! I'm very sure this is the way things were back then, but these days he'd be a dirty old man.
Edyth ends up Queen of Wales - the only Queen of all Wales, as it turns out, and later on ends up Queen of England, albeit for a short time, so she's the only person who can claim to have taken up both thrones. Edyth is actually Eadyth. One thing I did think was a bit of a shame was her (the writer's) choice to change a lot of the names. I can understand why, as she's modernised them, so made them easier for our British eyes. But I think it would have been more fun to see all those old English names in action. It would certainly remind us of our old Scandinavian connections.
But for good old light historical fiction, I don't think you can go wrong with this. I would certainly try the other two books in the coming series if I come across them. I was lucky enough to win this one on goodreads - thank you!
This isn't a heavy going book, and it is history with a romantic mills & boon tint. There's a lot of wink wink, nudge nudge at the end of many a chapter. Edyth, the main character we follow, starts off as a randy teen and continues with her lusting and breathlessness for the next ten years or so this book covers. As a teenager, she meets Harold (yes, him of the arrow fame) and his handfasted (pagan married) wife "Svana". Her father then upsets the King Edward, so they're exiled and it's off to Wales with them. Where she meets the king of Wales, they make lusty eyes at one another and she marries him. It's all portrayed as very romantic and dashing in this book, but if you stop and think about it, she's fourteen when she goes to Wales and he's 40! I'm very sure this is the way things were back then, but these days he'd be a dirty old man.
Edyth ends up Queen of Wales - the only Queen of all Wales, as it turns out, and later on ends up Queen of England, albeit for a short time, so she's the only person who can claim to have taken up both thrones. Edyth is actually Eadyth. One thing I did think was a bit of a shame was her (the writer's) choice to change a lot of the names. I can understand why, as she's modernised them, so made them easier for our British eyes. But I think it would have been more fun to see all those old English names in action. It would certainly remind us of our old Scandinavian connections.
But for good old light historical fiction, I don't think you can go wrong with this. I would certainly try the other two books in the coming series if I come across them. I was lucky enough to win this one on goodreads - thank you!
June 16, 2015
Despite being British, I have only heard of The Battle of Hastings, however never knew the figures behind it all or the reasons. History education is not what it once was. So I read this book woefully unprepared for the ending. I may not have liked how it ended but alas I cannot change history.
This is a masterpiece in my opinion, the fact that there is very little known about King Harold II, allows Joanna to build up the world in a way that is clearly hers but also true to history. I found myself enjoying the story immensely. I laughed, and cried with these historical figures and I would do so again. Which is why I recommend this book to all.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
This is a masterpiece in my opinion, the fact that there is very little known about King Harold II, allows Joanna to build up the world in a way that is clearly hers but also true to history. I found myself enjoying the story immensely. I laughed, and cried with these historical figures and I would do so again. Which is why I recommend this book to all.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
May 22, 2017
It's a great idea to illuminate this period of history from the perspective of the women involved. Overall, it is well written and mostly believable, and it's obvious that a lot of care has gone into the research. However, for me, there was a bit too much of the Mills & Boon about it. Too much 'taking in his powerful arms' and 'crushing his lips on hers' and the like. That's just a personal gripe.
Unfortunately, there are also grammatical errors, and we find kings and queens 'sat' on their thrones, instead of 'sitting' on them. Yes, it's ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop it from being plain bad English.
I'm sure many people will enjoy these books, but I won't be reading any more of them.
Unfortunately, there are also grammatical errors, and we find kings and queens 'sat' on their thrones, instead of 'sitting' on them. Yes, it's ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop it from being plain bad English.
I'm sure many people will enjoy these books, but I won't be reading any more of them.
December 22, 2015
I love a good well written historical fiction story, and Joanna Courtney did a great job with this first novel in a series. We get to meet Edyth, only fourteen whose beauty catches the eye of a king. Her future once determined by her parents is about to change as they are forced out of their home and into distant Wales.
It was a joy to pick up this book and read as it was a world where so much could change so quickly. Full of battles, Vikings and never being sure of who your enemies were must have made it challenging. For women even more so, when they often have little say about who they will marry and how they could live their lives.
It was a joy to pick up this book and read as it was a world where so much could change so quickly. Full of battles, Vikings and never being sure of who your enemies were must have made it challenging. For women even more so, when they often have little say about who they will marry and how they could live their lives.
January 3, 2018
Joanna Courtney knows how to pull on the heartstrings of her readers - this is a light yet deeply emotional read and the pages fly through the fingers. This is history romanticised and tidied up - normally a stumbling block for me but the author's enthusiasm and skill in telling a good story kept me reading late into the night. One point, though: don't read the family trees at the beginning, they give away an awful lot more than the date of the Battle of Hastings.
May 10, 2016
The author states that she changed the names of the characters to make them easier to read. As someone who has read numerous books on the period I found this even more confusing than the original Anglo Saxon names and I really wish she hadn't changed them.
January 17, 2016
Brilliant book! I was hooked from the beginning and even though I knew what would happen, the end still made me cry!!! Wonderful book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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