I received an ARC through Library Things.
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I absolutely adore historical romantic fictions. However, this book turned out to be a slight letdown as it wasn't what I had expected.

While Yolande lead an extremely fascinating life, as did numerous leading female rulers around that time period, she barely stood out until the whole Joan of Arc period, which is much later in the book. It was rather fascinating to read about Joan of Arc, told through a different perspective.

To be honest, nearly all the characters in the book were so one dimensional and they completely fell flat. They were forgettable and boring, which they completely aren't because they are fascinating, living people from history who played a significant role in history and in the royal courts. Like the Battle of Agincourt, the rise of Henry V, the fall of Louis D'Orleans, the horrendous end of the Duke of Burgundy, and so much more. This is an extremely fascinating period, pity this version of that period fell a little flat.

I didn't like how inconsistent some of the writing was. There were a few sections where there was nearly duplicate writing within a few paragraphs of each other, but with a few more details added or changed. And it kept switching between calling Yolande "Dowager Queen" and the "Old Queen of Sicily". Also I don't like how some random English word was thrown in, words that aren't commonly used, it was like the words were there to make the book seem smarter than it really is.

While some parts of the book were extremely descriptive (like the design of the royal banners, etc), some of it was extremely repetitive! I grew tired of hearing the description of the crown of Sicily and what Yolande did with it over and over again. Enough! We know she had a crown, why didn't we hear about the crown of France or crown of England? ( )

I normally really love historical fiction but I had enormous trouble getting into this book. I am not entirely sure why i was unable to really enjoy this but i couldn't really enjoy the style of writing. It didn't draw me into the story enough. I couldn't relate to the main heroine or anyone in the book. Its a shame because i was reallty looking forward to this novel as I hadn't found anyone who had wirtten about Yolande before. ( )

I opened this book with some trepidation because of the author, being a bit suspicious of royals writing about other royals. It wasn't as bad as I thought it could be though. I found the writing a bit stilted but the story was okay. The characters could have done with a bit more fleshing out in the details. All in all it wasn't bad and I think the author can give Philippa Gregory a run for her money.

Yolande, a princess, is sent away from Aragon to marry Louis, a cousin to the King of France. I thought the story itself was an interesting one, but the book was just badly written. I think the book really needed a good editor, with grammar and conversational skills. I also found it quite annoying that the author seemed to dwell on descriptions of the fat and ugly, while just telling us that others are "handsome" or "becoming." Overall, a bust. ( )

Yolande d'Aragon, after waiting 9 years for her betrothed, wed Louis II d'Anjou and supposedly ended the conflict over the succession to the kingdoms of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem. Their marriage, which turned into a love match, produced 5 children but more importantly, help to maintain the French monarchy at the time of the Hundred Years War with England.

Yolande (Duchess of Anjou, Countess of Maine, Countess of Provence and Forcalquier, Countess of Piedmont, and Titular Queen Consort of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem) utilized diplomacy and cunning in support of the French helping to unite the French factions of Burgundy and Armagnacs so that together they could defeat the English. Yolande as regent in Anjou, lent their army of support Jeanne d'Arc and edventually see the Dauphin crowned.

I have always had a fascination with royalty but usually I tend toward British.
This is my first look into the French side and I found it completely captivating.

IMPO - reviews should not be used for attacks on the author's background but only on the content, style of book itself. ( )