Here Be Dragons
A Novel
-
-
4.5 • 170 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England's ruthless, power-hungry King John. Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce by marrying the English king's beloved illegitimate daughter, Joanna, who slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband. But as John's attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales---and Llewelyn---Joanna must decide where her love and loyalties truly lie.
The turbulent clashes of two disparate worlds and the destinies of the individuals caught between them spring to life in this magnificent novel of power and passion, loyalty and lies. The book that began the trilogy that includes Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning, Here Be Dragons brings thirteenth-century England, France, and Wales to tangled, tempestuous life.
Customer Reviews
Historical fiction of ancient Wales
This book was historically, interesting, weaving together the stories of King John of England and Llewellyn of Wales, all experienced through the eyes of John’s illegitimate daughter Joanna, who married Llewellyn. There were a great many characters in this book, and with the writer’s style, I was able to keep track of them. Though it was well written, it fizzled out at the end. I would have liked the story to end with Llewellyn’s death and betrayal. Anyway, it’s a 1602 page book on my iPad, so it kept me busy for a while!
Great read but lengthy
Book I provided great perspective of King John Lacklland. Great development of characters. Nice dialogues provided page turning reading. Full of human traits and emotions. Weak ending. Some scenes were too lengthy.
Unknown Dragons Ahead
“For every wound;the ointment of time”
This was an amazing book. At 704 pages, it was also a very long look at Joanna, “baseborn” daughter of King John (Plantagenet)of England. The first of three books about the saga of Wales under Llewelyn who is given Joanna in pledge and then falls in love with her, giving rise to discord between his Welsh children, and he and Joanna’s Norman-Welsh children. It’s about long smoldering alliances and grudges that have historical basis.
However, in the end, it’s a love story. Joanna spent her life looking for love, finding it in her father King John, and then Llewelyn. It could not be easy to be a child in those days, because often you were betrothed to foster peace; or as a promise. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and there is historical information relating these people to my spouse’s family so I read it with gusto, and was not disappointed in any way. Highly Recommended 5/5