Shadow Queen

Once I read about the tempestuous life of Richard II’s mother, I began to understand a bit more about his behavior—if it’s true that the proverbial apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. To say that Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent was impetuous was an understatement. Because of her lineage and great beauty, she knew she could get away with much that an ordinary girl wouldn’t even attempt, but even Joan seems to have pushed her luck. Driven by ambition as much as love, she got herself into situations that tarnished her reputation for the rest of her life. Two husbands at the same time? How often does that happen to a woman? Could she have avoided some of her predicaments? It’s hard to say; she was up against personalities as unyielding as her own.(King) Edward turned again to me, his ire a terrible thing. Thomas’s fingers were firm and steady around mine, giving me his whole support, but indeed I did not need it. I had always seen this eventuality. Here it was. And here Thomas and I must make our case to be together.“And you allowed yourself to be remarried, madam.”“I was given no choice, sir. My mother and my uncle were very persuasive. I was forbidden to speak of my marriage contract with Sir Thomas. It was not my wish, but I could not defy my mother and uncle.”On the other hand, I got the impression she merely took the path of least resistance. But she was young then, and hadn’t learned to assert herself. Actually, I found this Joan a bit irritating at times; I think it was on purpose. She was very smug and didn’t seem overly concerned about the damaged lives along the way. Her second husband Will Salisbury was incredibly understanding, although I found it hard to believe that he knew all about her first situation and was still willing to go along with a second marriage. And even though he lost patience with her once things looked hopeless for him, she had the audacity to resent his behavior. She’s lucky to have escaped unscathed!Joan did live a charmed life. However, as a reader, being a fan of Richard II, I was sorry to see that her son was such a minor character; once Joan was no longer the center of attention, the story petered out—way before her death. I guess that would be typical, wouldn’t it? Nonetheless, this was a lively tale and very enjoyable.

Great story,but like all novels around this time probably somewhat inaccurate.

I loved this book!. Seeing that Joan, Fair Maid of Kent, is my 17thGreat Grandmother, it held special significance for me. What afascinating and ambitious woman she was. And what a life she led.Anne O'Brien wrote a remarkable book.

For me it was a real page turner. I have read many historical novels, and this is one of the best.

Arrived today. Looks fascinating.

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review: Helen Hollickfounder #DDRevs"it takes you to the world of knights and jousts and to a woman who really ought to be far more well known in history and historical fiction!"

From the opulence and grandeur of court life to the damp and crumbling manor of the Holand estate, journey back in time to the reign of Edward III and see things through the fresh and young eyes of Joan, The Fair Maid of Kent.Joan of Kent can want for nothing. With a proud lineage, this Plantagenet princess can look forward to a bright future. Wealth, respectability, jewels, land, power, and position, are all hers for the taking. Joan knows what is expected of her. She is to marry well.Joan's mother, Margaret Wake, 3rd Baroness Wake of Liddell, brings her the most wonderful news. Joan is to be given in matrimony to her childhood friend, William Montacute, the son of the first Earl of Salisbury. This marriage has every advantage and comes with the King's approval. But there is a problem, for Joan is already married to someone who did not look at her and count how much money she would bring to the wedding bed. Instead, she married a man who loved her. She just didn't tell anyone about the wedding! Her husband, Thomas Holland, is away fighting for the King and Joan finds herself in a precarious position. She has no allies to turn to in the face of her mother's ambition. Joan will marry William Montacute, even if it is the last thing she ever does.Anne O' Brien brings us another captivating story of seduction, scandal, and the most heart-breaking tale of a woman who dared to go against convention and instead, followed her heart. The Shadow Queen was so vivid in its detail that I found myself completely immersed in the story. Time ticked on and yet I didn't notice as each turn of the page brought more drama, more heartache, and a desperate hope that this protagonist, this brave and courageous young woman, would find happiness.The Shadow Queen is told in the first person, from Joan's perspective. Joan really struggles with who she is, and it was a joy to watch her mature. Her relationship with Ned was portrayed as the pinnacle moment of her life, not just because Ned was who he was, but because this was a real grown-up relationship for her. It came with problems, but they loved each other. Joan sometimes came across as incredibly self-serving, but she really blossomed as a character when she married Ned.I have to say I was deeply moved by the portrayal of Edward, 'Ned,' The Black Prince of Wales. He was so real in the telling that despite knowing beforehand how his life was to be cut cruelly short, this story, the way O’Brien portrayed him, made me wish for an alternative ending. I didn’t want him to die.The Shadow Queen is not just a great work of literature; it is more than that, it shows the courage that these remarkable women had. We have all heard about how brave these noblemen were, but the stories of their wives are even more compelling. They all lost so many loved ones in a time where plague and war were rampant. How terrible it must have been for these women who waited patiently at home, hoping never to hear that their husband had died in battle. Such thoughts bring tears to my eyes even now. Life was precarious; there was simply not the time for wasted moments. Their stories—Joan's story—certainly deserves to be told. The Shadow Queen has left a lasting impression on me.I Highly Recommend. I received an ARC of this book from the Publishers, via NetGalley, for review consideration.

The story sticks meticulously to the historically known facts, but takes some ploughing through. It’s too long by far, needs some drastic editing to get rid of the repetition and typos. It’s written in the first person, which means that the writer couldn’t make the character as unpleasant and ruthless as she objectively must have been. Secretly married, according to the text at her own choice, at the age of 12 to a knight of the household, she is then talked into a second, bigamous marriage. There is much agonising, and at times it reads as nearer to Mills and Boone than a novel wanting to be taken seriously. It picks up nearer to the end with her marriage to the Black Prince and the subsequent events.

I loved this book. I normally read Black Dagger and Shade of Vampire series, but this one caught my eye as something different. It is faction, based on the true happenings in 14th Century with added dialogue from the main character who tells the tale.It gives a great insight to how things were achieved and brought about in those days, Joan, the main character tells the tale of love, loss and power and the actual power of the Catholic church.This is the first history book in my older years that I have read and it has awakened my thirst for more books of this genre.Note: Once you have finished the book, read on past the acknowledgements and the author fills in the 'what happened next'. I nearly missed this on my Kindle.

A very enjoyable read. The characters in this book are brought very vividly to life. It was a difficult life for women in those days, especially those of royal birth as they were used as pawns in terms of making good marriages and alliances. Joan kicked against the traces and was obviously not going to do what was expected of her. She certainly triumphed even though things didn't always go her way at times. A feisty and very clever woman as well as a beauty.Jackie Bailey

I purchased this book as the author had been hailed as the next P Gregory. I'm almost finished it now and I've found it so tiresome that I needed to write a short review. I guess it has to have 3* because of the historical research that I can only 'presume' went on! The characters are pretty hopeless in that you don't 'gel' with any of them at all. The whole book is heavy going and tiresome. I've no clue as to how it will end because the actual title The Shadow Queen hasn't even yet come into play and I'm 85% of the way through. I love historical fiction but this one leaves me cold. Good for a try if it's 'free' but if not, I don't recommend purchasing it. I won't buy another of her books.

Another marvelous work from Anne O'Brien. Rich in historical detail, yet woven through with strong characterisations and intriguing narrative, this book allows us to become immersed in the gripping political and personal dramas of the time period, seen through the eyes of the women who seldom have a voice in the annals of history.