I loved this book a lot. This is the historical fiction novel of Eleanor of Aquitane, but her early years right up to her pregnancy with her second child. So for those who want more of a story with her marriage to Henry II this is not the book for you. It does explore their early meeting and then subsequent marriage but it more delves into her marriage with King Louis VII. Great read and I have always been a great fan of Eleanors. ( )

Boring ( )

very well written, although I do not agree with some of the events. But that is the allure, and sometimes the frustration. of historical fiction. ( )

After reading The Virgin Widow, I had high hopes for Anne O'Brien's future historical novels. I thought she was off to a great start in the genre and had plenty of promise. While I think that promise was definately delivered upon in her follow up novel, Queen Defiant, I have to admit that it bugged me just a little bit. Queen Defiant is yet ANOTHER novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine. While I know that she's a fascinating woman, I think that I have just been Eleanor-ed out. I've read no fewer than three books this year about Eleanor (including a near-clone of Queen Defiant, To Be Queen, just a few months ago), and last year I read around four Eleanor books -and more seem to be slated for release.



As much as I love Eleanor, she's just not original out there in the historical fiction genre these days. As much as I just tried to forget about that and enjoy this novel, I couldn't get that out of my head -that O'Brien is a little late to the Eleanor party (and we really don't need anyone else at the Eleanor party).

Queen Defiant tells the now well-documented story of Eleanor of Aquitaine's early years. The novel opens with Eleanor's wedding to King Louis of France, not long after Eleanor's father died and Eleanor was left as the heir to the wealthy Aquitaine area. But Eleanor and Louis' marriage is anything but happy -not only is Louis a weak and inept leader, but he prefers to live his life as a monk, rather than work at fathering sons. Eleanor soon finds herself unhappy with Louis, and she starts to make her own road to happiness.

Though I've read about Eleanor before, I think that O'Brien does a great job of portraying her as a strong, somewhat unconventional woman who dared to seek out her own happiness in a world dominated by men while making her feel like a sympathetic character. Louis, though a weak leader, has a well-defined, strong character that leaps off the page for the reader and makes it easy for readers to understand Eleanor's frustration.

While I've read better and worse Eleanor of Aquitaine novels, Queen Defiant deserves a place on your bookshelf, as a worthwhile read. Though the plot does drag a bit a point and the setting was somewhat weak in places, especially near the beginning, the characters are well-drawn, fascinating and definitely a step forward from The Virgin Widow. ( )

I was very kindly sent this book by Simon from BookRabbit as I had read and reviewed Anne O'Briens last book which I enjoyed immensely, and I have to say this was just as gripping. I loved it, all about Eleanor of Aquitaine, a person I knew very little about to start with, but who I now know more about and would like to learn more! The blurb on the back of the book makes you believe that Eleanor was ambitious beyond belief, but I really have to say that was not the way she came across in the actual story. Anne draws you into Eleanors life quite gently and keeps you gripped throughout. I thought Eleanor came across as a strong woman, yes and at times misguided but by and large I was sympathetic towards her. She seemed a woman more used than ambitious in my opinion.
The book was very well researched and very well executed in the telling of the story. I am now a commited fan, I loved it and look forward very much to Anne O'Briens next book. (The book is actually called Devil's Consort) ( )