Download The Girl Who Would Be Queen The Kingdom of Naples Book 1 edition by Jane Ann McLachlan Romance eBooks

Product details File Size 2175 KB Print Length 254 pages Page Numbers Source ISBN 1999383613 Simultaneous Device Usage Unlimited Publisher ISBN CANADA (March 4, 2019) Publication Date March 4, 2019 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B07NV148DP

The Girl Who Would Be Queen The Kingdom of Naples Book 1 edition by Jane Ann McLachlan Romance eBooks Reviews

• 4.5 Stars for A Girl Who Would be Queen by J.A. McLachlan
  This is the first book I’ve read of this author. I found this book very interesting. It is written through the eyes of princess Maria who was age 13 and a half at the beginning and was the younger sister of princess Joanna at age 16. They were the grand daughters and heirs to King Robert of Naples. The princess’s were raised and contracted to be the future queens on their own. Princess Maria’s account of her feelings of jealousy, fairness, and of loyalty was heightened by her spirited nature through their ever changing lives at court. This fast pace storyline is full of intrigue, spies, and danger between the court’s wealthy families and the church’s interference in the struggle to take the power from the Queen and put a King in her place. I throughly enjoyed the book and will read more novels from this author.
• I really like historical fiction, and having read a previous book by this author I decided to try this one. It did not disappoint. Many times when reading a historical fiction I find the actions and dialog make it obvious it was written by someone who survived the Y2K bug. This book didn't have that feel. Joanna is certain she can rule her country but everyone else doubts her, including her sister who otherwise believes in her. It is just accepted that women are inferior which fits with the time. The protagonist acts like a headstrong teen girl, but still believable for the time. I really need my characters to be believable.
  
  There isn't much here to shock the reader, unless the reader also happens to be a 13yo girl. Yes, she is naive. Yes, she makes some ill-advised choices. Its how it all plays out that makes it interesting.
  
  If I had a complaint about the book it's that it ends too soon. Neither character reaches the age of 20 in the book. I'd have loved to find out more of their story without having to go through the trouble of typing words into Google. Typing is just so exhausting. It's much easier for me to let an author spend 100s of hours researching a topic and 100s more writing a story for me to read.
• And this is why I love historical fiction! Ms. McLachlan paints a vivid story of life in the 14th century. And it ain’t pretty. Things we take for granted were unheard of—and I don’t mean modern conveniences. Marriages arranged for the sake of political gain. The belief that a woman was less intelligent, less capable than a man—to do anything.
  But what struck this reader, was the realism with which Ms. McLachlan portrayed royalty. We have this romanticized notion that a king or queen could do whatever they wanted, that their wish was a servant’s command, that their every whim was catered to. This was so not true. So many voices, so many forces, in Queen Joanna’s ear. Not the least of which was the church.
  Coincidentally, I was binge watching The Crown while reading this book, which further emphasized the fact—Queen Elizabeth struggled with much the same restrictions Joanna faced.
  
  It frustrated me the obstacles Joanna was up against, impediments that should not have been there. Difficulties simply because of her gender. I suffered the angst as I learned some of what Joanna and her sister, Maria, faced and endured. Ms. McLachlan’s telling was exquisite, her research certainly thorough and impeccable, as conveyed in the details, the colorful descriptions and vivid language. The richness of this story is a luscious, velvet tapestry that wraps you in the richness of it.
  
  I purchased this book on . I offer my review of my own free will, and the opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
  
  #Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Girl Who Would Be Queen, Jane Ann McLachlan
• The plight of women through the centuries is at the forefront of this factual novel even though it only covers five years in the lives of two women who would be queens during the 13th century. In the afterword the author explained that this story is based on facts and she used her editorial license to lighten the story to create conversations, etc. The author actually visited the castle in this story which still stands today. Her description of the castle and its environs gave me the power to image myself there. Little touches of description made me sit up and blink. I had thought that rushes on the floor were a phenomenon only in the dining hall but not so. They were even in the bedrooms.
  
  The author's character development has me really caring about them. Her writing is tight and her scenes flowed nicely. Overall I enjoyed this book and I would read any book written by this author!
• Naples circa 1342, this story tell us of two royal sisters who are political pawns for their grandfather, the king. One soon to be queen and the other pledged to be the queen of France . This was often done to unite countries or to broker peace, even when the engaged couples are but small children. The love between the two sisters is real and tangible throughout this author’s writing and the writing keeps getting better and more intense as you progress through the pages. One sister has been married to a prince of Hungary and the other promised to a royal of France but instead is kidnapped and manipulated into marrying another at the tender age of 14. This begins events that will tear the Kingdom of Naples apart almost to the total destruction of it and the sisters. Absolutely fascinating!
• I found this book quite interesting, because it had a unique perspective. It was written in the view of the sister who at 13 1/2 lost her grandfather and her sister took over the role of queen. Even though the younger sister wanted to be queen she still had sisterly feelings toward her sister. She was torn over wanting to be queen and supporting her sister. She rebelled against her sister and married a man she thought loved her. The book shared the plight of females in that time period that were taken advantage of, but especially the royal family who were striving to win the throne no matter the cost. The book was even more interesting because it was based on fact.