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bec_wheels's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting account of one England's forgotten Queen's who's only remembered for who her husband and son is not the fact that she was the grandmother of a dynasty.
joanna_m's review against another edition
1.0
I got this book free, as a Goodreads First read.
I tried to be patient with this book, but I'm afraid I had to abandon it after 150 pages. I'm sure it has its audience, though with so many fascinating and improving novels I don't quite see how.
I had been very excited to read this book as I find the period (the reign of Henry V) a fascinating and action packed era. However this book makes that hard to believe. The story was told from the perspective of Katherine de Valois, a pawn in the machinations of the the French monarchs, wife of Henry. In the Shakespeare, she does little but stand around looking pretty, trying to make Henry love her. As such she is a product of the male chauvinist attitudes of the medieval and Elizabethan periods, and thus I do not expect her to have had as progressive social views as a 21st century woman. However, is it too much to ask that the narrative in this modern book let her think of more then feeble and unimaginative love affair, and pretty dresses. The other characters exist in one dimension at best, and a few passing references to battles are the only evidence that we are reading about a n historical period. All in all, the work is superficial and unimaginative, boring and a waste of time. If you want an entertaining book about this period- read anything else! Bernard Cornwell has romances in his books, but he also manages to have a plot, so its not impossible. I just feel that the time spent reading this book was a waste of time.
I tried to be patient with this book, but I'm afraid I had to abandon it after 150 pages. I'm sure it has its audience, though with so many fascinating and improving novels I don't quite see how.
I had been very excited to read this book as I find the period (the reign of Henry V) a fascinating and action packed era. However this book makes that hard to believe. The story was told from the perspective of Katherine de Valois, a pawn in the machinations of the the French monarchs, wife of Henry. In the Shakespeare, she does little but stand around looking pretty, trying to make Henry love her. As such she is a product of the male chauvinist attitudes of the medieval and Elizabethan periods, and thus I do not expect her to have had as progressive social views as a 21st century woman. However, is it too much to ask that the narrative in this modern book let her think of more then feeble and unimaginative love affair, and pretty dresses. The other characters exist in one dimension at best, and a few passing references to battles are the only evidence that we are reading about a n historical period. All in all, the work is superficial and unimaginative, boring and a waste of time. If you want an entertaining book about this period- read anything else! Bernard Cornwell has romances in his books, but he also manages to have a plot, so its not impossible. I just feel that the time spent reading this book was a waste of time.
lreay89's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. I found the way Anne O'brien told the story both compelling and touching.
The young mistreated royal princess who starved of love was thrust towards the cold self serving English King. I agree completely with her interpretation of their marriage as a way to get him the French crown and an heir. Shakespeare's interpretation doesjt stack up against the facts of a crusader king who didn't visit his newborn son and on his deathbed saw no reason to see his young wife and say goodbye.
I find the lack of self confidence very interesting in a book of this period. With Phillipa Gregory we are used to reading of strong women thrust into the limelight fully able to hold their own against their male counterparts.
Here is an English queen who suffers from a very modern confidence issue which we now recognise as bad attatchment to her parents which blighted the rest of her life.
I thought this gave the book such believability. I could imagine this helpless child starved of love suddenly thrust into a role she had no idea how to fulfil.
It's easy to see how she craved first her husbands love then that of the unscrupulous power hungry Edmund Beauford.
I especially enjoyed reading the woven story of her love for Owen. A relationship that was obviously founded on love and respect due to their differences in station and the way they chose to live their married life.
What an interesting book! It's a great read to learn more of the woman who launched the great Tudor dynasty, a damaged and loving queen with very modern worries and feelings.
The young mistreated royal princess who starved of love was thrust towards the cold self serving English King. I agree completely with her interpretation of their marriage as a way to get him the French crown and an heir. Shakespeare's interpretation doesjt stack up against the facts of a crusader king who didn't visit his newborn son and on his deathbed saw no reason to see his young wife and say goodbye.
I find the lack of self confidence very interesting in a book of this period. With Phillipa Gregory we are used to reading of strong women thrust into the limelight fully able to hold their own against their male counterparts.
Here is an English queen who suffers from a very modern confidence issue which we now recognise as bad attatchment to her parents which blighted the rest of her life.
I thought this gave the book such believability. I could imagine this helpless child starved of love suddenly thrust into a role she had no idea how to fulfil.
It's easy to see how she craved first her husbands love then that of the unscrupulous power hungry Edmund Beauford.
I especially enjoyed reading the woven story of her love for Owen. A relationship that was obviously founded on love and respect due to their differences in station and the way they chose to live their married life.
What an interesting book! It's a great read to learn more of the woman who launched the great Tudor dynasty, a damaged and loving queen with very modern worries and feelings.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Review - Having already read [b:Virgin Widow: England's Forgotten Queen|7506776|Virgin Widow England's Forgotten Queen|Anne O'Brien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303538518s/7506776.jpg|9690629] by Anne O'Brien, I was excited when this became our book club read for the month. I thought that O'Brien's writing style was engaging, and I felt that she really brought the English court to life with all the politics within it. I loved Katherine. She really grew on me as the book progressed, as she came into her own, and began to make her own decisions rather than bow under restrictions forced on her. Owen I was unsure about until he took his life into his hands and agreed to go to the Council. Then I really respected him.
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Catherine of Valois / Owen Tudor / Henry V / Henry VI / Queen Isabeau / King Charles of France / Michelle of Valois / Dowager Queen Joanna
Setting? - London & Hertford (England) / Paris (France)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - Yes
Rating - 16/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/discussion-questions-the-forbidden-queen-by-anne-obrien/
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Catherine of Valois / Owen Tudor / Henry V / Henry VI / Queen Isabeau / King Charles of France / Michelle of Valois / Dowager Queen Joanna
Setting? - London & Hertford (England) / Paris (France)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - Yes
Rating - 16/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/discussion-questions-the-forbidden-queen-by-anne-obrien/
lgiegerich's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this way more than I probably should. Katherine of Valois is super interesting. After marrying Henry V with very little knowledge of England or English (Shakespeare writes a great scene about this in Henry V), when he dies leaving her with an infant son, she shuts herself up as Queen Dowager. When she flirts with marrying another nobleman, a law is passed saying the king must consent (when he is of age) to her remarriage, or her prospective husband will lose all his property & titles. So what happens? She marries an ordinary Welshman, one of her servants! Badass! & thus, the Tudor dynasty was born!
katiejreads's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the start of the book more than the end, but still interesting.
magdon's review against another edition
3.0
Good job making the time period come alive and making the characters realistic, although that also made our heroine kind of annoying and melodramatic.
softstarrynights's review against another edition
3.0
The Forbidden Queen is a historical fiction novel which charts the life of Katherine de Valois, wife of Henry V of England. It was surprisingly readable, and I think would be a great book for anyone just starting out in this genre. I definitely got the impression that the author was not a fan of Henry V, while I cannot help but find him interesting due to the Shakespeare play which I am familiar with. If you've come for Henry V content, then this is not worth your time at all. I also found this depiction of Katherin exceedingly frustrating as she dwells on her lack of power for the majority of the book. I do think it is something I might have enjoyed had I read it some years ago. Personally I did not enjoy it that much as I think that The Agincourt Bride is a better book about Katherine. That said I realised while reading this book, that I don't really like this sort of historical fiction. It's not that I actively dislike it, but it would necessarily be something that I would choose to read. That said I'm glad I read it, and I'll be glad to pass on my copy to someone who will enjoy it more.