Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Best Royal Diary yet Review: This is the best of the Royal Diaries so far. It's about Eleanor, daughter and heir of Duke William of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful men in France. Her father had a falling-out with the Pope, and then re-converts to Catholicism. Many of his barons plan to revolt, and steal his bride-to-be, Emma. Instead of getting angry and killing them all, which is what he usually does, he decides to go on a pilgrimage to Spain, to touch the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Near his destination, he is poisoned by a raw fish, and dies. Eleanor inherits his kingdom, and marries Prince Louis, who she dislikes, because he is so stiff and un-fun-loving. The epilogue tells how she gets a divorce later, and marries the king of England. This book is really good. Eleanor and her little sister Petronilla are always getting in trouble with "Grandmere" for doing impetuous things, and running off from the castles. I also recommend Elisabeth, Cleopatra, Mary Queen of Scots, Marie Antoinette, Weetamoo, and all of the rest.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine Review: Yes, another member of the Royal Diaries clan!This book was very interesting. It's about Eleanor, eldest daughter of Duke William X, who received a diary from her Grandmére, or grandmother, to write her thoughts in daily. In the diary, the reader finds out that Eleanor's younger brother, Willie, died at a very young age. Thus, she became heir of her father's powerful regime and land. (The amount of land he had was larger than the King's!) Eleanor and her younger sister Petronilla lives a happy and carefree life, but all of that quickly changes when their father goes on a pilgrimage to Spain and dies of food poisoning. The next thing she knows, she owns hundreds of acres of land, countless castles, and is betrothed to Prince Louis VII of France. After hearing about the betrothal, Eleanor ponders the thought of marriage. She wonders if she will be able to love the prince. On the day they first meet, Eleanor and Petronilla jump in the stream with the boys. The thing they didn't know was that the prince was one of them. Eleanor and Louis meet and a connection is born! I'll just leave you hanging from there. :P This is a great addition to the Royal Diaries series. I thought that it was superiorly written. The relationships between the characters felt very tangible. I definitely recommend this book to all historical fiction and Royal Diaries fans.
|