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Book Review: Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen & Giveaway
August 4th, 2011
Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen, quite simply, is an absolutely fantastic work of historical fiction! Ok, can you tell I loved it? To me, this novel wraps up all I enjoy in historical fiction. I am transported to the 1500′s and get to visit a time in history that I didn’t previously know much about and I also get to enjoy a fantastic story. Lynn Cullen weaves historical facts along with a fictional tale to fill out the story of Juana of Castile in Reign of Madness that will leave you enthralled within it’s pages. Best of all it’s on sale as of today!
Juana of Castile is known in history as being Juana the Mad, but was she really mad or just made out to be for the benefit of others? Everyone who reads historical fiction knows that the politics of the court and the fight for power can get pretty extreme and those in battle will stop at pretty much nothing to get what they want. Was this the case for Juana – yes, I think it was. Juana was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain and, as in all royal families, used as a pawn for power when she was married off to a man who had been called Philippe the Handsome, Archduke of Flanders.
Juana is thrown into a world very foreign to her at sixteen years old. Her husband’s people were very much different from her own. When she arrived she didn’t have the big wedding that she expected and should have had; they were just married immediately. Luckily for Juana she became quite infatuated with her husband. At first he was a wonderful husband to her and they were happy but soon enough Juana notices that her husband’s eye has a tendency to wander especially when she becomes pregnant with her first child and it ends up being a girl. What started out as a seemingly good marriage turns bad as Philippe becomes more and more cruel towards Juana.
Juana was never meant to be Queen but after her older siblings and her mother pass away, she is next in line. The greed of her husband becomes very apparent as he wants the crown for himself and will not stop at much to get it. He begins to spread rumors that Juana is unwell; that she is insane. When around people he makes sure to make derogatory comments about her so that is all that people end up remembering. However when Philippe dies after drinking a pitcher of poisoned water, rumors swirl around that it was Juana who did it. While she is finally free from her increasingly violent husband, she is now imprisoned.
And imprisoned she remains for over fifty years. In those years she is also betrayed by her own father, who hungry for power, manages to convince her that she should sign over the crown to him while she gets herself together. The one thing that keeps her going is the hope that she will, once again, see her children and also the hope that the true love of her life – Diego Colon – will come for her.
What I find most disturbing is what I find each time I read historical fiction and that is the lives that the women were forced to live then. Juana was an intelligent and by all accounts a pretty girl. What would her future have held if she had been able to fall in love on her own, marry, and have children? It would likely have turned out much differently. Women were continually used as pawns in royal families and many ended up in disastrous unions such as Juana’s was.
Again, I have to say how much I enjoyed Reign of Madness! I was drawn into the story from the very first page that I read and it was difficult to put this novel down to take care of everything else around me. Many times historical fiction can seem dry and boring but not when it’s Lynn Cullen writing it. She has a way of drawing people into her story and keeping them there with vivid details of history, landscapes, and people. I figured I was in for a treat after reading The Creation of Eve by her but I have to say I loved Reign of Madness even more! For you lovers of historical fiction, Reign of Madness is one you shouldn’t pass up on and those of you who haven’t read a lot of it, this would be a great choice to start with.
I read Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. Be sure to check out the other tour stops here to see what others think of the novel as well. Make sure to stop by Lynn’s website and you can find her on Facebook as well. Your own copy of Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have one copy of Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address to contact you (no email, no entry).
- For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thank you, and please let me know in your comment so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, August 27/11. Good luck to you all!
© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
My copy of Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen was received for review from TLC Book Tours and the Publisher.
I hear you
I wanna read it too now because there is just something abour poor Juana
Thank you, Dar, for the fantastic review. What a great way to celebrate Launch Day for the book!
I loved your point about how difficult it was for royal women in those days. For the most part, they were just breeding mares. That's what makes Juana's mother, Isabel, extraordinary. She actually was in charge much of the time,although that caused her great difficulty in her marriage. I loved poking into just how greatly a woman holding power impacted a royal (or any!) marriage. As for Juana, I think she won in her own way, although she had to sacrifice much.
Thank you for taking the time to read and review the book. I'm so glad that you liked it!
I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but so many of my friends love it, that I feel like I should explore it more. I'd love to be entered in your great giveaway. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net
A great review and wonderful giveaway. Many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com. Anne
I've been wanting to read and learn more about Juana. How frustrating to be kept cloistered. Please enter me! I follow you and I shared on my blog sidebar!
Thanks!
allisonmharper@hotmail.com
I looooooooooved this book — it is definitely one of the top five historical novels I've read so far this year (and I've read a lot of hist fic). Everything was so real without feeling archaic, artificial, or overly modern.
I also loved this book and loved Juana. It was so frustrating to me that she had to live such a marginalized life next to Phillipe, and by the end of the book, I was hating all the men in her life. Cullen really did a great job with this story, and I enjoyed it a lot. Glad to hear that you did too! Great review!
I want to read this book SO BAD! Please enter me in the giveaway.
candc320@gmail.com
I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
I recently read a Jean Plaidy that touched on Juana and I was intrigued by her. This book sounds wonderful. Please enter me in the giveaway.
I am a follower.
ashley.l.mikowski@gmail.com
This sounds like it has all that I too love in historical fiction!
Please enter me as well.
givingreadingachance AT gmail.com
I am a google reader follower.
Sounds like a great read, please enter me.
littleone AT shaw DOT ca
GFC follower
littleone AT shaw DOt ca
If you enjoyed this story, you'll love C.W. Gortner's version The Last Queen! I think this is a fantastic queen to tackle for a historical fiction novel. I'd be interested in checking out Cullen's version.
It looks like an interesting book.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I follow on GFC
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I've yet to get to the Creation of Eve. This ones sounds like my kind of book as well. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
nisethusfarATyahooDOTcom
I am a follower
This book sounds so delicious! I really want to dive into now! Your review was so good. I haven't read a dry historical fiction book yet! Maybe it is just me. This one sounds like a great page turner.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I am an old follower of your blog.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I tweeted:
http://t.co/MmtF7ka
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I agree! It's a wonderful book. This is my second Lynn Cullen book (The Creation of Eve was also very good.)and won't be my last.
I'm a follower- thanks for the giveaway!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
I love historical fiction, and I'm definitely going to put this on my reading list. Great review!
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I follow your blog via GFC as pmnsl95
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/99233156707782656
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I love reading historical fiction!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/99236070817935360
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I follow via gfc-mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
sounds like a great historical fiction that I would really enjoy
amhengst at verizon dot net
I subscribe by email
amhengst at verizon dot net
i am a email subscriber
amhengst at verizon dot net
I love books based during this time period. Please enter me! I am a subscriber by email and a follower w/gfc. I posted this to my blog: http://dancealertreads.blogspot.com/2011/08/peeking-between-pages-review-and.html
dancealert at aol dot com
I love historical fiction and would really love to read this book. I especially like the time period which seems colourful and lively.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am GFC follower.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
why yes I can tell how much you loved this book! When I first learned about Juana I was blown away. I still can't believe it. Women were treated so badly back then. THnaks for bringing this to my attention and for the contest
jennygirl73[at]gmail[dot]com
+1 follower
Don't enter me because I reviewed it too. I'm glad you liked it. I couldn't get into it.
2 Kids and Tired Books
I'm most definitely sold on reading this one. What a great review!!
Thanks for reviewing this title. I hadn't really heard about it until your review. But like you I love historical fiction, especially when it's done right!!!!
Glad you enjoyed this one Dar. I'm a big fan of this genre. Pretty cover also.
I read another review recently about this book and it sounds great!
kessna6@yahoo.com
Great review, I follow by email.
summergal05(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like another good one!
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow via GFC quixoticdreamer
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/QuixoticWeetzie/status/100284101105430528
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
This one looks interesting! Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail dOT com
I follow
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-08-07-11.html
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I soooo want to read this! Thanks so much for the giveaway! I'm a follower.
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
I love historical fiction and would love to read this.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I follow via GFC.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
Tweeted: https://mobile.twitter.com/lag32583/status/101041266011287553
lag110 at mchsi dot com
Thank you for the chance to win the book! Love the cover! deedeebamagirl at yahoo dot com
Follow by GFC (deedeebamagirl)
deedeebamagirl at yahoo dot com
Please enter me (and I"m a follower)
cmdaphne(at)tds(dot)net
I haven't read many historical fiction. I am interested in this one as I am reading a lot of books with women as the lead characters recently.
pinchbuggies at hotmail dot com
I'm a follower on GFC
pinchbuggies at hotmail dot com
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/Pinchbuggies/status/101838148446851073
pinchbuggies at hotmail.com
This sounds like a story I would enjoy!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I follow on GFC.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
http://twitter.com/#!/CarolAnnM/status/102377151654920192
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I love historical fiction!! smithlinda60(at)hotmail(dot)com I am already a follower.
Thanks for the giveaway. Historical Fiction, my favorite.
maynekitty[at]live[dot]com
Glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I've only read one other novel by Lynn Cullen, and I loved it! Please enter me in the giveaway! I am a follower and I tweeted (http://twitter.com/#!/bharbin11/status/104207708114268161)
Thanks!
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
I'd love to read about Juana. I've heard about her and heard about other books about her, but haven't read anything yet. It'd be great to get a sense of the real woman instead of the madwoman I've heard referenced. Lynn Cullen is also a new author for me, but I've heard she's wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
+1 Long-time follower.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
+1 Posted on my sidebar at http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I'm a follower, thanks for the giveaway! I've been curious about this one!
sidhekist(at)gmail (dot)com
Loved the review. The book sounds very interesting. Please enter me. Thanks!
Anita Y
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Follow on GFC as Anita Yancey.
Anita Y
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Thanks for the giveaway!!
areallibrarian@gmail.com
I also follow!