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In the last years of her eventful life, queen-duchess Aliénor of Aquitaine launches a deadly dynastic chess game to safeguard the crowns of Normandy and England for John Plantagenet, her last surviving son.To that end, Aliénor coerces into matrimony two pawns-Juliana de Charnais, a plain and pious novice determined to regain her inheritance, and Guérin de lasalle, a cynical, war-worn mercenary equally resolved to renounce his.
The womanizing Lasalle and the proud Juliana are perfectly matched for battle not love-until spies and assassins conspire to reverse their romantic fortunes.
Populated by spirited and intelligent women and executed in flawless period detail, The Sixth Surrender is a compelling love story that heralds the arrival of a major new talent in historical fiction.
(Terra's Thoughts) This is not so much a book of romance as it is a story of Historical Fiction. Not a bad story but this one is on the much darker side of what might have gone on during the reign of King John and his mother Alienor of Aquitaine.
The storyline is set pretty close to the end of Alienor's life and portrays her as a schemer in all aspects of the lives of those whom her son rules and those that she loves. Granted I doubt that living during those times would have been easy on anyone but not all could be as bleak and brutal as what is portrayed here.
Queen Alienor decrees that Lady Juliana de Charnais marry, bed and give Guerin de Lasalle an heir so that the viscounty of Tillieres is safely in English hands. What Lady Juliana doesn't realize is that Lasalle is a landless mercenary with a soul that has been blackened beyond possible repair. Or has it? Lasalle is known for his whoring and even keeps his best whore in the same house as his wife. Nothing like a slap in the face for Juliana.
The story does go on to show us the back and forth skirmishes between King John and King Phillip of France. It shows us how backstabbing and loyalty comes with a huge price and no one is safe from the almighty clutches of Greed.
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Plume (July 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0452296234
ISBN-13: 978-0452296237
1 comments:
There is a bit of a difference between historical romance and historical fiction. I like them both. In historical fiction, there aren't always heroes, heroines, or HEA's. Still makes for good interesting reading.
I have heard about this book on a couple of historical review sites and what I hear has been good. I look forward to reading it.
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