Good Read but lacking substance

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	• Here Be Dragons Sharon Kay Penman Ballantine Books, 1993 - 720 pages average customer review:based on 147 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Masterful Writing

Lovers of historical fiction search long and wide for new titles that can engross them back in a time brought to life through masterful writing. Here Be Dragons is one of those books. This well researched and expertly woven story centers around the arranged marriage between King John's daughter Joanna to Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales in order to forge an alliance. The dread Joanna experiences as she travels to her new home amongst strange people and rough lands tears at her. As she accepts this fate, love begins to blossom with this new land and the story of love between Joanna and Llewelyn is told. Highly recommended reading for historical fiction lovers.

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A little disappointed

I hate to stand against the general favors here, and in spite of my effort to really enjoy it, I failed to do so. After all the raving reviews on Amazon, I threw myself into the book with excitement, only to be disappointed by mediocre characters, literary style and storyline - although it's based on history, regardless, it's a blend of fiction.

I confess that I'd had extremely high expectations on the book, but I think it natural, after all the inavoidable exaltations. I also admit that while the plot was none-too-unique, the general flow of the story was smooth and that there were, though very few, scenes in which I found my heart reaching out..
A decent book to spend your spare time on; not to loose sleep over.

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Good Read but lacking substance

I feel compelled to write this review because I feel this book is a good read with an engaging plot. It is a page turner for me but lacks a little bit of "something special".
Firstly, I wish that the story did not focus so much on Joanna's even though, it helps give dimension to Llewelyn's character. I wish the author spoke more of the historical events of the time.
Secondly, I wish we had appendices listing all the Welsh words and their translation as well as places. But mostly I wish for a list of characters and their relationship (ala Dorothy Dunnett) as well as a family tree for the Welsh and English royal houses. This would add more depth to the story as the reader could better understand the politics and relationships between states.

As is, the book is a good read, but if you wish for some good historical fiction, Dorothy Dunnett is the queen of that domain.

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Loved it . . .

Sharon Kay Penman is incredible, again. I really liked this book. Probably not quite as good as Sunne in Splendour, but a fantastic story about real historical figures that prior to this book I had never even heard of. I empathize with some of the reviewers who indicate the book drags a little in the middle, which it does, but I think the ending makes up for it! Ultimately, this book is a great story and I highly recommend it.

Too long

Good book but too long. Begins to be more of a task to finish than an enjoyable adventure about half way through the book.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

"A masterful picture of Wales in the 13th century...vivdly pictured as grandly beautiful, its people volatile, stubborn and mystic."
THE SAN DIEGO UNION
Thirteenth-century Wales is a divided country, ever at the mercy of England's ruthless, power-hungry King John. Then Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, secures an uneasy truce with England by marrying the English king's beloved, illegitimate daughter, Joanna. Reluctant to wed her father's bitter enemy, Joanna slowly grows to love her charismatic and courageous husband who dreams of uniting Wales. But as John's attentions turn again and again to subduing Wales--and Llewelyn--Joanna must decide to which of these powerful men she owes her loyalty and love.
A sweeping novel of power and passion, loyalty and lives, this is the book that began the trilogy that includes FALLS THE SHADOW and THE RECKONING.

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