Helpful Score: 7
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I was very excited to read it, as I am about all books surrounding the earlier English monarchy & nobility. But while I know that this book was a work of fiction, it was based on a real person, and I felt that the author played around with some of the facts of Joan's early marital history in order to make a more compassionate character. Also, the author kept referring to Joan being a "distant" relation to the ruling family, when she was actually first cousin to the king! How is that distant?
I never felt very compassionate to Joan. I don't know if it was how the author wrote her, or just the person herself, but I never really liked her in this book. I know she was trying to "be her own person" and also get revenge for her father's murder, but I never really cared about her or her motives. I actually liked the secondary character of Princess Isabella a lot more than Joan. And I also liked the Prince.
All in all, I kept reading the book because I wanted to like Joan, and I wanted to enjoy the book. I rated it a 3 for some of the plot points and storylines such as the battles with the French. But I don't feel that this lived up to the "epic" love story that Joan and the Prince were reported to have had.
I never felt very compassionate to Joan. I don't know if it was how the author wrote her, or just the person herself, but I never really liked her in this book. I know she was trying to "be her own person" and also get revenge for her father's murder, but I never really cared about her or her motives. I actually liked the secondary character of Princess Isabella a lot more than Joan. And I also liked the Prince.
All in all, I kept reading the book because I wanted to like Joan, and I wanted to enjoy the book. I rated it a 3 for some of the plot points and storylines such as the battles with the French. But I don't feel that this lived up to the "epic" love story that Joan and the Prince were reported to have had.
Helpful Score: 7
I so wish that I had bought this book, instead of checking it out of the library. I've read reviews that boo hooed this book and those that loved it... I fall into the loved it camp. But I think I am biased towards it because I have a degree from college in this stuff (history) and second because I'm apparently related to the real life version of the characters (along with half a million other people, but still cool).
This book is NOT a romance in the way of thrashy, hot and heavy (by the way, not all paperback romances are this way), it is a love story. It is told over a lifetime about two people that really did live and breathe. (Though you have to take the day to day details as fiction but the major facts are true... I looked them up!) I highly recommend this book and think that if you are interested in a good love story with twists and turns, then you will enjoy this book a whole lot.
This book is NOT a romance in the way of thrashy, hot and heavy (by the way, not all paperback romances are this way), it is a love story. It is told over a lifetime about two people that really did live and breathe. (Though you have to take the day to day details as fiction but the major facts are true... I looked them up!) I highly recommend this book and think that if you are interested in a good love story with twists and turns, then you will enjoy this book a whole lot.
Helpful Score: 6
A favorite of mine that i've finally decided to let go. I'm a big fan of English royalty, especially the late Princess Diana, and this whole book is about her family starting with Joan of Kent, and ending with Princess Diana. Wonderful details and of course a sad ending. The author doesn't really talk much about Princess Di, just a little bit about how the whole story relates to her, but it is a great story, and highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 6
A wonderfull read, and so very true to the time. Following the true historical love story of Edward Prince of Wales, and Joan the fair maiden of Kent. The house of plantagent is a true passion of mine, and this book showed them as they were. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys the 14th century, love, history, it truly had a mirad of stories to tell.
Helpful Score: 5
At first I thought this was a historical romance the way it started out. But there really isnt any sex in it. So then I said to myself, hmmm, a historical fiction. So I looked up the characters on wicpedia (sp) and found them! It was very exciting to know that they
had been real! I really like this author! If you havent yet read her Elizabethian mysteries you MUST!
had been real! I really like this author! If you havent yet read her Elizabethian mysteries you MUST!
Helpful Score: 3
Historical fiction telling Joan of Kent's story during the 14th century. She was known as "the most beautiful maid in all of the realm" and "Fair Joan of Kent". It starts during her teen years at King Edward III's court and is full of royal scandal, medieval political intrigue, broken betrothals, annulled marriage, and a love-hate relationship with the Prince of Wales....sound familiar? History does repeat itself...Joan is Lady Di's direct ancestor. Historically, it does deviate from the known facts and omits/changes certain details but this did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying it. It is more a love story and would not appeal to the pure historians.
Good love story! ****
