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Three Queens #3
Queen of Swords
From the Court of Jerusalem to the battlefields of the Crusades to the glorious city of Byzantium, here are the pageantry and the danger of twelfth-century Europe's greatest advantage.
Melisende was the oldest daughter of Baldwin of Jerusalem, a princess of the Franks and, since she had no brothers, heir to the Crusader Kingdom. The crown would go to the man who married her, and after to her son.
But Melisende was a strong woman; the law that forced her to marry instead of taking the crown in her own name was a thorn in her side. It was she who ruled the City and who juggled the politics of church and court. The knights of Jerusalem fought in her honor, many of the best sworn to her personal service. She would not submit easily to a husband's rule, nor for long.
Melisende was the oldest daughter of Baldwin of Jerusalem, a princess of the Franks and, since she had no brothers, heir to the Crusader Kingdom. The crown would go to the man who married her, and after to her son.
But Melisende was a strong woman; the law that forced her to marry instead of taking the crown in her own name was a thorn in her side. It was she who ruled the City and who juggled the politics of church and court. The knights of Jerusalem fought in her honor, many of the best sworn to her personal service. She would not submit easily to a husband's rule, nor for long.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
13 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
120 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 16, 2012
With engaging characters and a few sweet love stories, this book putters along through the decades without much plot to speak of. The protagonists are fictional, but their friends are not--this is mostly an excuse to tell the story (admittedly, fascinating) of Queen Melisande and her son, King Baldwin III. But since pretty much all of the events are historical and cannot have been driven by the fictional protagonists, there's a certain sense of aimlessness. The main characters can do very little to affect the story itself, since it's not their story.
But the history is engrossing. I'd known basically nothing about Jerusalem between the first and second Crusades, so this was an interesting look at a time period I was unfamiliar with. And when Louis of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine ride in, the story suddenly intersected with history I did know. I was delighted to find that my pre-knowledge merely added a sense of dread instead of ruining things. Familiarity or lack thereof with the subject material will do nothing to to cloud the book's gentle charms.
It's well-written and touching, with a delightfully strong female protagonist who may or may not be a touch anachronistic. (Women were expected to be properly subservient, but when menfolk keep riding off to war, they tend to need a little spine. And with examples like Melisande and Eleanor around...) The history is engrossing. The plot goes nowhere in particular, really. Whether that would bother you is something you must decide for yourself.
But the history is engrossing. I'd known basically nothing about Jerusalem between the first and second Crusades, so this was an interesting look at a time period I was unfamiliar with. And when Louis of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine ride in, the story suddenly intersected with history I did know. I was delighted to find that my pre-knowledge merely added a sense of dread instead of ruining things. Familiarity or lack thereof with the subject material will do nothing to to cloud the book's gentle charms.
It's well-written and touching, with a delightfully strong female protagonist who may or may not be a touch anachronistic. (Women were expected to be properly subservient, but when menfolk keep riding off to war, they tend to need a little spine. And with examples like Melisande and Eleanor around...) The history is engrossing. The plot goes nowhere in particular, really. Whether that would bother you is something you must decide for yourself.
February 26, 2017
Melisende, princess of Jerusalem after the First Crusade, was married to a man she neither desired nor felt she needed, because the 12th Century was not a time when a queen could rule on her own account. And yet, she did.
Jerusalem and the surrounding European-ruled kingdoms of Outremer (derived from the French for "overseas") after the First Crusade are a rich and unfamiliar setting for a story. This book's author gives the titular queen and her immediate family some space, connecting fictional characters to those fascinating historical figures. As a result the book's protagonists can easily show the reader the alleys and outskirts of the vividly described setting as well as the inhabitants of same. The author's implicit criticism of the militarism, racism, and sexism of the time is all the more effective for being manifest in who the reader meets and what they do.
Both the real people and the fictional come to life in this story of intrigue, romance, and character-driven drama. Their moral depth and verisimilitudinous conversation kept me interested, and I am more than a little sad to see that this book doesn't have a sequel.
Vocabulary:
accidia - More often spelled "acedia", meaning sloth or more generally a lack of interest.
antiphon - A scripture said or sung before and after a canticle, psalm, or psalm verse as part of the liturgy
arrant - being notoriously without moderation
atabeg - A hereditary title of nobility of a Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince.
badinage - banter
chatelaine - wife of a castellan, more broadly the mistress of a household
collops - originally an egg fried on bacon, more broadly it means a portion of something
cortege - retinue
equable - unchanging, uniform
estampie - a Medieval dance and its musical accompaniment
excoriate - criticize severely
frowsty - stale, warm, and stuffy
fusty - stale, damp, and stuffy
gambeson - a padded quilted jacket worn under or as armor
garth - an open space surrounded by cloisters. More broadly, a yard or garden.
hieratic - of or concerning priests
houri - a beautiful young woman, specifically one of the virgin companions of the faithful in Muslim paradise
hoyden - a boisterous girl
hypocaust - a hollow space under the floor of an ancient Roman building, into which hot air was sent for heating a room or bath
infelicities - unfortunate, inappropriate remarks
insouciant - indifferent
louvers - Angled slat vents in a door, shutter, or roof.
mooncalf - a fool
paynim - an archaic word for heathen, specifically applied to Muslims
portress - woman porter
posset - A drink made of hot milk curdled with ale, wine, or other alcoholic liquor and typically flavored with spices, drunk as a delicacy or as a remedy for colds.
probity - the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
reiver - raider or reaver, specifically one that traveled on a river
salubrious - healthy
scrofulous - diseased
supernal - heavenly
surfeit - surplus
trammel - Something impeding activity, progress, or freedom or one of seven distinctly different tools.
Jerusalem and the surrounding European-ruled kingdoms of Outremer (derived from the French for "overseas") after the First Crusade are a rich and unfamiliar setting for a story. This book's author gives the titular queen and her immediate family some space, connecting fictional characters to those fascinating historical figures. As a result the book's protagonists can easily show the reader the alleys and outskirts of the vividly described setting as well as the inhabitants of same. The author's implicit criticism of the militarism, racism, and sexism of the time is all the more effective for being manifest in who the reader meets and what they do.
Both the real people and the fictional come to life in this story of intrigue, romance, and character-driven drama. Their moral depth and verisimilitudinous conversation kept me interested, and I am more than a little sad to see that this book doesn't have a sequel.
Vocabulary:
accidia - More often spelled "acedia", meaning sloth or more generally a lack of interest.
antiphon - A scripture said or sung before and after a canticle, psalm, or psalm verse as part of the liturgy
arrant - being notoriously without moderation
atabeg - A hereditary title of nobility of a Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince.
badinage - banter
chatelaine - wife of a castellan, more broadly the mistress of a household
collops - originally an egg fried on bacon, more broadly it means a portion of something
cortege - retinue
equable - unchanging, uniform
estampie - a Medieval dance and its musical accompaniment
excoriate - criticize severely
frowsty - stale, warm, and stuffy
fusty - stale, damp, and stuffy
gambeson - a padded quilted jacket worn under or as armor
garth - an open space surrounded by cloisters. More broadly, a yard or garden.
hieratic - of or concerning priests
houri - a beautiful young woman, specifically one of the virgin companions of the faithful in Muslim paradise
hoyden - a boisterous girl
hypocaust - a hollow space under the floor of an ancient Roman building, into which hot air was sent for heating a room or bath
infelicities - unfortunate, inappropriate remarks
insouciant - indifferent
louvers - Angled slat vents in a door, shutter, or roof.
mooncalf - a fool
paynim - an archaic word for heathen, specifically applied to Muslims
portress - woman porter
posset - A drink made of hot milk curdled with ale, wine, or other alcoholic liquor and typically flavored with spices, drunk as a delicacy or as a remedy for colds.
probity - the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
reiver - raider or reaver, specifically one that traveled on a river
salubrious - healthy
scrofulous - diseased
supernal - heavenly
surfeit - surplus
trammel - Something impeding activity, progress, or freedom or one of seven distinctly different tools.
February 21, 2015
Born a daughter and raised to rule as the heir to the kingdom, Queen of Swords is the saga of Melisende, Queen of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. The novel portrays how she overcomes the restrictions of the 12th Century to rule as a woman in a time when this was uncommon and unwanted by the men in power.
Tarr describes the history of the Latin kingdom while it was at the height of the Crusader strength and before additional crusades were necessary to halt the drive by the defenders of Islam to reclaim their lands. Melisende is the eldest daughter of King Baldwin II who has no sons. She must wed a foreigner, Fulk of Anjou who is a widower and much older than she. Fulk has been invited to come to Jerusalem by King Baldwin to become king after Baldwin dies. This leaves Melisende unprepared to be a wife, mother, and supportive queen when she was to be queen in her own right. Tarr does a skill job narrating Melisende's frustration in taking a backseat to power.
Secondary characters, such as Richildis of La Foret who travels to the holy land to find her brother, Bertrand help drive the plot. Brother and sister each find romance making any return trip home moot. Tarr succeeds in weaving a enertaining story while always remaining true to historical events. All characters are lively and realistically portrayed. Highly recommended for readers young adult and older.
Tarr describes the history of the Latin kingdom while it was at the height of the Crusader strength and before additional crusades were necessary to halt the drive by the defenders of Islam to reclaim their lands. Melisende is the eldest daughter of King Baldwin II who has no sons. She must wed a foreigner, Fulk of Anjou who is a widower and much older than she. Fulk has been invited to come to Jerusalem by King Baldwin to become king after Baldwin dies. This leaves Melisende unprepared to be a wife, mother, and supportive queen when she was to be queen in her own right. Tarr does a skill job narrating Melisende's frustration in taking a backseat to power.
Secondary characters, such as Richildis of La Foret who travels to the holy land to find her brother, Bertrand help drive the plot. Brother and sister each find romance making any return trip home moot. Tarr succeeds in weaving a enertaining story while always remaining true to historical events. All characters are lively and realistically portrayed. Highly recommended for readers young adult and older.
March 11, 2020
Excellent
Solid historical backgrounds and excellent characters. Recommended. Read the first two of the Queens series as well!
In fact any of Judith Tarr books are well worth the read.
Solid historical backgrounds and excellent characters. Recommended. Read the first two of the Queens series as well!
In fact any of Judith Tarr books are well worth the read.
December 7, 2008
I don't fully buy the romance sub-plot. However, the power struggles in the book were very stirring, and really make the book a wonderful read.
July 23, 2022
Judith Tarr is an excellent writer, but throughout this book I remained frustrated by the fact that the story had very little to do with Princess Melisande, who the title and book description present as its focus.
The story is actually about a French woman, Richildis, who travels to Jerusalem to bring back her brother Bertram to become lord of their lands. Bertram reminds Richildis that he swore to never return, and tells her that he has a title and lands in his own right here in Outremer and is sworn to the service of Princess Melisande. Richildis swears, rashly, to not return until her brother agrees to accompany her -- and the story unfolds from there, with the point of view switching back and forth between them and, eventually, Betrtram's son. Richildis becomes a lady in waiting to Melisande, but the supposed main character of the book is seen only through the eyes of this family and disappears from the action for long stretches.
Tarr does a very good job of portraying the clashes and compromises between the European/Christian invaders of the Holy Land and the Muslim natives. Both Richildis and Bertram grow and change over the years. Romance, battles, politics, and family all play out in satisfying ways. All the characters have strengths and weaknesses, but overall have a strong desire to be honorable.
It's a good book, but I kept wondering why it was presented as Melisande's story. She is a fascinating character and deserved to speak for herself.
I'm glad I read it, but I'm not keeping it in my library.
The story is actually about a French woman, Richildis, who travels to Jerusalem to bring back her brother Bertram to become lord of their lands. Bertram reminds Richildis that he swore to never return, and tells her that he has a title and lands in his own right here in Outremer and is sworn to the service of Princess Melisande. Richildis swears, rashly, to not return until her brother agrees to accompany her -- and the story unfolds from there, with the point of view switching back and forth between them and, eventually, Betrtram's son. Richildis becomes a lady in waiting to Melisande, but the supposed main character of the book is seen only through the eyes of this family and disappears from the action for long stretches.
Tarr does a very good job of portraying the clashes and compromises between the European/Christian invaders of the Holy Land and the Muslim natives. Both Richildis and Bertram grow and change over the years. Romance, battles, politics, and family all play out in satisfying ways. All the characters have strengths and weaknesses, but overall have a strong desire to be honorable.
It's a good book, but I kept wondering why it was presented as Melisande's story. She is a fascinating character and deserved to speak for herself.
I'm glad I read it, but I'm not keeping it in my library.
May 24, 2020
I'm generally a fan of Ms. Tarr, but I just couldn't get into this one. The characters never came alive for me, and their stubbornness strained credulity. Often, the writing became stylistic to the point that I lost its meaning. The historical period and overall plot were interesting, and Ms. Tarr does a great job intertwining large historical events with the private lives of regular people. Overall, not an unpleasant read, but not an engaging one either.
April 25, 2020
Melisande, daughter of King Baldwin of Jerusalem, refused to be sidelined by the powerful men in her life. Widowed, she became queen-regent for her young son, then refused to surrender power when he attained adulthood. She battled him to rule their kingdom, from the Court of Jerusalem to the battlefields of the Crusades to the glorious city of Byzantium.
November 8, 2022
I loved his book so much that I was deeply disappointed to learn that the protagonist Lady Richildis wasn’t a real historical person. I loved all the characters and was really interested in the setting - the Holy Land during the Crusades - as I’d never read anything set in that time period before. A beautiful book.
December 6, 2023
Great character development, intersected with actual history. Judith Tarr is endlessly interesting, with chapters so short you can't help but read another one. I was engrossed from the start. So engrossed that I have ordered another book in her queen series.
August 11, 2025
This is #15, a book recommended to me based on a review of #14. Unfortunately, I am not good at writing book reviews, so I told a friend about #14 and she told me about this book. I enjoyed it very much.
April 3, 2022
I loved this book - beautifully written with compelling characters. Richildis and her man are #relationshipgoals.
October 18, 2022
Got bored. Can't even remember if I finished it. Melisende was an interesting historical character, but this book isn't about her, which is a shame.
October 5, 2021
Loved this so much! The writing and narrative style is very similar to one of my favourite authors, Sharon Kay Penman. So if you’re a fan of her, you should definitely check this out.
The level of detail, realism, and research that is imbued in this novel is fantastic. I felt like it was a realistic portrayal of the time and place, but still balanced with some fun and levity! I learned a lot about life, history, and politics in the Crusader kingdoms during the Middle Ages (which up until recently I didn’t even realize existed). Such an interesting snapshot of a very particular time period.
I generally don’t like historical fiction that feature fictional characters positioned next to actual historical figures, but in this case it totally works. All the relationships and connections make sense. Nothing is forced or feels cheesy.
The relationships and characters is really what drives this story, more so than the politics and actual historical events. Again, I’m not usually a fan of this, but I loved the characters so much and I loved where the story went with their individual paths, so the stars just aligned for me!
And of course, my favourite historical figure, Eleanor of Aquitaine, shows up in this novel! I really enjoyed the author’s portrayal of her. Even though I knew exactly everything that would happen to her, her reactions to things were still unexpected. The author portrayed her in such beautiful complexity.
The level of detail, realism, and research that is imbued in this novel is fantastic. I felt like it was a realistic portrayal of the time and place, but still balanced with some fun and levity! I learned a lot about life, history, and politics in the Crusader kingdoms during the Middle Ages (which up until recently I didn’t even realize existed). Such an interesting snapshot of a very particular time period.
I generally don’t like historical fiction that feature fictional characters positioned next to actual historical figures, but in this case it totally works. All the relationships and connections make sense. Nothing is forced or feels cheesy.
The relationships and characters is really what drives this story, more so than the politics and actual historical events. Again, I’m not usually a fan of this, but I loved the characters so much and I loved where the story went with their individual paths, so the stars just aligned for me!
And of course, my favourite historical figure, Eleanor of Aquitaine, shows up in this novel! I really enjoyed the author’s portrayal of her. Even though I knew exactly everything that would happen to her, her reactions to things were still unexpected. The author portrayed her in such beautiful complexity.
May 28, 2009
This was a really great book and it's one that I enjoyed reading. The person who loaned it to me had said to stick through the slow beginning and it would pay off, but I didn't even find the beginning particularly rough. I really enjoyed the characters and I really felt for the trials they were put through. It was also interesting to hear another fictional account of Eleanor of Acquitane who also played largely on one of the other books that I recently read. I definitely want to read more about her. She's fascinating.
Great story, great characters. A good read.
Great story, great characters. A good read.
August 17, 2011
Queen of Swords is historical fiction at its best. Judith Tarr is a medieval historian, so it's no wonder she knows so much about the Crusades and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. She knows all the nitty-gritty details, but only includes the ones that truly bring the period to life. I was swept back to 12th century Jerusalem with all its sights and smells. Her characters are real and relatable. My only complaint is length -- this could easily have been two books. And the truth is, she should have written a third that follows the life of Arslan in France.
February 15, 2012
I wanted to love this book, and I hate not finishing books, but I just couldn't do it. I enjoyed the writing and reading about the time period. The characters are quite well-drawn, but I was finding I just didn't care what happened at the end, so I put it down about 100 pages from the finish. There wasn't enough going on to hold my interest. It's too bad, because normally I really enjoy well-crafted historical fiction.
December 16, 2010
Wow, what a complete story. I am not too familiar with the history in the middle east, but the story held my interest and made me want to learn more. The battles were hard fought and the women held their own. I love reading books of women with strength in times where it was not looked upon highly. Wonderful book.
July 31, 2008
Action-packed, fully engrossing tale of Melisende, a princess of Byzantium. Of course, there is much fighting over this woman, as the man who marries her will wear the crown of the land.
January 18, 2011
It took me 3 weeks to read this book. It was interesting, but very drawn out.
April 2, 2014
Twelfth century Crusades. Pretty good!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews