"There is no frigate like a book to take us worlds away ..." I found this quote on a bookmark while reading this book and thought how appropriate it was. This is truly historical fiction as it features King John of England (son of Eleanor of Aquitaine, brother of Richard the Lionhearted) and his bastard daughter Joanna who marries Prince Llewelyn of Wales at the age of 15. The story focuses on Joanna and the conflicts that arise as the interests of her father and husband inevitably clash. There are grudges that last for generations, and enough half-brothers and arranged marriages between warring families to make your head spin. Fair warning -- I had to write a diagram of all the relationships to keep everyone straight. But Penman's research and attention to detail made me feel as though I gained an understanding not only of the impact of the marriages, births and deaths of these people but also of what their daily life was like.
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