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Shortly after I started reading historical fiction in early
2006, I came across a book about a mad queen locked up in a castle who was also
the daughter of Queen Isabella of Spain (of Christopher Columbus fame which is all I knew about her). Really, she had a crazy daughter?– I have to
read this! I was entranced by the
passion in the first person narrative, and the sadness of the story. And I was totally dumbfounded when I found
out the author, C.W. Gortner, was a man - how could a man possibly write from a woman’s
point of view so effectively? When
Gortner announced that his next book would be about Catherine de Medici, I
figured I would see if The Last Queen was a fluke. It wasn’t – I thought The Confession of
Catherine de Medici was excellent! So I was thrilled to learn that he would be
turning his attention to Queen Isabella herself. I’ve read a few older novels about her
(Plaidy’s trilogy, Norah Loft’s Crown of Aloes and Lawrence Shoonover’s The
Queen’s Cross) but they were rather dated and just OK.
The Queen’s Vow is told in first person and covers
Isabella’s life from her pre-teen years at her half-brother's court through 1492 - almost thirty years of intrigue, ambition,
betrayal, and power. In a world
dominated by men, Isabella held her own against them. She was respected and feared. She helped find a whole new world. She brought the Inquisition to her
people. She lived an incredible life
that should make for a compelling story, right?
So why didn’t I feel the same magic?
I don’t have a good answer to that question. In much the same way that I was disappointed
with Penman’s Lionheart, this one fell rather short of my expectations. Although I am not generally a fan of first
person narratives, in certain circumstances it can work and this is one of
them. Isabella can talk about the
politics and diplomacy of her time because she was in the middle of it. She doesn’t need someone to tell her what
happened, write her a letter or send a messenger about it. The one exception is during the section
dealing with the conquest of the Moors and there, the first person narration doesn’t
work quite as well. Also on the plus
side, the novel appears to be well researched and some of the visual imagery of
Spain’s countryside is just stunning. It
definitely makes me want to go there someday!
The pacing of the novel seemed off – the first half covers a
fairly short period of time and so kind of plods along, while the second covers
a much greater span of time including the major events of Isabella’s reign which
are hurried through. But I think what is
missing the most here is the same passion from Isabella that I thought Gortner
breathed into Juana and Catherine de Medici.
Isabella tells her story pretty matter-of-factly. The only time I felt any real emotion from her comes when she
discovers her husband’s infidelity.
The Queen’s Vow is still a good novel and I’m looking
forward to reading Gortner’s next one about Lucrezia Borgia. I just hope the magic is back.
In case the FTC asks:
Review copy provided by the publisher as part of the author’s blog tour.
Agree totally with your accessment of this novel. I only reached
Chapter Three before that nagging thought appeared which always makes me put down a book..."There has to be better stuff on my TBR shelf". I often try to drown out that voice...not this time, sad to say.
The novel about Catherine de Medici was excellent, however.
Sometimes I wonder with a novelist who has a second work out quite quickly after the publication of a first. So often it doesn't work...although look at "Lionheart". Waited FOREVER for that tome, and it didn't thrill me at all.
June 27, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful review. I'm honored to visit as part of my virtual tour.
June 27, 2012 at 12:46 PM
I thought the book was excellent, but understand where you are coming from with your reservations about the novel. I've had this happen to me before with some of my favourite authors, and I can't help but wonder if perhaps my expectations were just a little too high.
Here's hoping you enjoy Gortner's next novel more than you did this one.
June 27, 2012 at 3:35 PM
I am just over 100 pages in and liking it so far :) The only other Isabella book I've read is the first Jean Plaidy one and I agree with you there-dated and a wee bit on the dry side.
June 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Hmmm, I had a similar overall response to the novel, but I found the last third of did not keep my attention as well as the first two thirds. It seemed like once Isabella and Fernando took over Castile, it became just a string of of invasions and rebellions, with a few childbirths thrown in.
June 28, 2012 at 10:17 AM
I have heard good things about Gortner but haven't read him yet. I will have to give him a try at some point, but not start with this one...
June 28, 2012 at 11:35 AM
I've heard mixed things about this but I've loved his previous books and I'm curious to see how I feel about this.
Thanks for the review!
June 28, 2012 at 1:17 PM