Review: A King's Ransom by Sharon Kay Penman


Pub Date: March 4, 2014 | A Marian Wood Book/Putnam | Hardcover, Ebook
Acquired by: Publisher

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Genre: Historical Fiction

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Lionheart comes the dramatic sequel, telling of the last dangerous years of Richard, Couer de Lion’s life.

This long-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller Lionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—he was to spend fifteen months imprisoned, much of it in the notorious fortress at Trefils, from which few men ever left alive, while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom.

For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father’s faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King’s Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive.

My Review 

Sharon Kay Penman is the ultimate writer of Historical Fiction as far as I'm concerned. As soon as one of her novels is announced I immediately pre-order it and then start counting down the days to release. When you read a Penman you know you're reading first-rate historical fiction. She nails every aspect that readers of the genre look for and sets the bar for genre standards. Once again she has worked her magic and created a stunning historical that will be on top of a lot of Best Reads lists this year.

In A King's Ransom she again brings to life Richard the Lionheart, continuing the story begun in 2011's Lionheart. Bold, brilliant, and big (over 700 pages!), this novel packs a historical punch! Richard is a larger than life character...well, being an off-spring of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II how could he not be...and Penman captures him so keenly I dare say that even he would be pleased.

I also enjoyed the parts of the novel with the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and Joanna of Sicily. If you like to read strong women, look no further than those two! 

A King's Ransom is another hit for Sharon Kay Penman and I will be awaiting her next release with much anticipation!

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