The Reckoning

Rating:
Summary: Conclusion to the Wales Trilogy
Review: Like its predecessors (Here be dragons, Falls the shadow) this last volume in the Wales trilogy is a gem too! It tracks the fates of Llewelyn ap Gruffyd, Nell de Monfort and her children. We witness the disastrous events at Viterbo here and Nell's death. Much of the events like Simon's death at Evesham (in Falls the Shadow) and the Viterbo murder will actually have the most dire consequences for Nell's and Simon's only daughter Ellen as it turns out. I already loved the second Llewelyn but Ellen is a wonderful character as well. Although she has not influenced events as her mother Nell, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Joanna did, anyway she is another in a line of strong, intelligent women. Ellen's and Llewelyn's story was poignant and precious. And their time together thanks to Edward I all too short. Contrary to other reviewers I loved Caitlin and Hugh. Apart from the historical characters they were memorable. Their lives deeply entwined with the historical characters and the progress of their love was tenderly depicted. They were sympathetic spectators of and participants in turbulent events. At the end of The Reckoning I grieved with Caitlin, Hugh and Llewelyn's squire Trefor for the loved ones they had lost. And for what was lost for Wales itself in terms of freedom and independence

Rating:
Summary: A delight to read
Review: My partner and I have "devoured" five of Sharon Penman's books and have enjoyed every one. "The Reckoning" completes a fine trilogy, rich with detail and action. A fascinating period in English history is brough to life. More please!

Rating:
Summary: Penman has added another wonderful chapter in a great story.
Review: Penman has done it again. She is so adept at making the past touch your heart and your mind. She keeps the intrigue and the romance alive in this book as she did in "Falls the Shadow." It allows one to feel the past in all it glory. Her decription of her characters captivate you and tear at your heart when tragedy occurs.

Rating:
Summary: a jewel for history buffs and romantics everywhere!
Review: Pirates, politics, betrayal and redemption, Penman's final book in her Wales trilogy has all these things but above all it is one of the most beautiful, tragic, and haunting love stories I have ever read. As the Wales trilogy progresses, Penman's writing and character-development just keeps getting better until it culminates in "The Reckoning." At the center of the tale is Llewelyn, fated to be the last native Prince of Wales, who struggles against impossible-seeming odds to unite his countrymen, keep his wily brother Davydd under his thumb, evade the ire of the power-hungry Edward I of England, and to at last be united with his soul mate, the Lady Ellen, exiled daughter of the dead rebel, Simon de Montfort. Finally putting aside her somewhat annoying tendency to get bogged-down with her minor characters, Penman is at last able to concentrate solely on her main characters, and on the world they inhabit. In "Reckoning" Penman follows her characters all over the known world, bringing to life such places as the steaming Crusader fortresses of the Holy Land, a pirate ship on the high seas, soaring cathedrals and humble, ice-encrusted, haunted shrines, and, most of all, the haunting, sweeping, beautiful and, ultimately, doomed land of Gwynedd. Probably the most interesting and compelling character in this novel is Davydd, Llewelyn's charming younger brother who's concept of loyalty is...peculiar, to say the least. Forever straddling the fence, Davydd serves both as Llewelyn's foil and, ultimately, his truest ally. (His "soliloquey" while awaiting his fate at Edward's hands in the second to last chapter is just wrenching.) Of all the characters in the novel, he is the one most concerned with discovering himself and where his heart lies. If it were possible to feel empathy for Cain...Penman does this justice. Read this novel! But like the other two, make sure you stock up on kleenexes, first, because if this novel does not ultimately break your heart, there is something wrong with you, I think.

Rating:
Summary: A great ending to a great trilogy
Review: Sharon Kay Penman is simply the best historical novelist out there. "The Reckoning," like its predecessors "Here Be Dragons" and "Falls The Shadow," is a triumph of incredible writing, a tight (and historically accurate) plot, and a sense of being there that is so strong you forget it's been 600 years since these events. I have recommended Penman to so many people I've lost count. A must for any historical fan (although romance fans will NOT like the less-than-happy ending--but that's life).

Rating:
Summary: beautiful written finale to the trilogy
Review: Someone in Hollywood needs to make a movie out of this trilogy. Like the first two books in this trilogy , my interest was captured in the first paragraph. The characters are so real, that it is easy to forget they've all been dead for 1000 years!

Rating:
Summary: A Tragic Tale & Conclusion To The Welsh Trilogy
Review: This book concludes the trilogy to a wonderful Historical novel, centering around the vying powers of Wales and England. It is written in a manner where most readers can relate to the powers on both sides . .. difficult to do especially in the second and third book, when Longshanks or Edward I, comes into the spotlight.

Wales is losing ground and, for the first time, England has a powerful ruler who can take advantage of it. And, he does.

And, as the rulers of Wales plot against each other, Edward grows stronger. He even marries off one of his cousins, hoping to make the strongest Welsh prince, come to his way of thinking but it does little good.

This is where the third book starts . . . and where it ends.

REVISION NOTE AS OF 09/05/03: I have re-read THE RECKONING so my memory if far more clear. The beginning of this novel is truly a conclusion to the Montfort Family from the second book. As some will recall, this is the family that lost to the English King and had to retreat to France. It is there that old wounds are gradually healed, the Montforts continue upward, or downard, in their lives and the family is connected back to England through a broken plight troth: prince Lwellyn of Wales to Eleanor de Montfort.

But unlike his grandfather, Lwellyn Fawhr, Lwellyn ap Gruffyd has more brothers, who are out to fight and betray him; a stronger English King who has the drive and strategy to absorb Wales into the Kingdom, and a number of incidents, resulting in bad fortune. In addition, Lwellyn's bride is captured by Edward I and held for three years before she is finally freed. By the time she is freed, Edward has forced Lwellyn to give up territories and privileges.

So, by the time Lwellyn goes to war against Edward, a portion of Wales has already been partitioned off. In addition, a fatal wound and no heir, leaves Wales in turmoil, leaving Edward I the advantage of taking over the country.

Note that Edward I was also Longshanks, who was the English King in BRAVEHEART. A fine movie but not entirely accurate in the Historical sense, since the French princess was 7, Edward I had many more children, there was no bridge shown at the Battle of Stirling and people tended to wear helmets to protect themselves in such bloody fights. Lastly and obviously, there was no bastard son born from Wallace and the princess. Nice dramatic punch though.

Rating:
Summary: A Tragic Tale & Conclusion To The Welsh Trilogy
Review: This book concludes the trilogy to a wonderful Historical novel, centering around the vying powers of Wales and England. It is written in a manner where most readers can relate to the powers on both sides . .. difficult to do especially in the second and third book, when Longshanks or Edward I, comes into the spotlight.

Wales is losing ground and, for the first time, England has a powerful ruler who can take advantage of it. And, he does.

And, as the rulers of Wales plot against each other, Edward grows stronger. He even marries off one of his cousins, hoping to make the strongest Welsh prince, come to his way of thinking but it does little good.

This is where the third book starts . . . and where it ends.

REVISION NOTE AS OF 09/05/03: I have re-read THE RECKONING so my memory if far more clear. The beginning of this novel is truly a conclusion to the Montfort Family from the second book. As some will recall, this is the family that lost to the English King and had to retreat to France. It is there that old wounds are gradually healed, the Montforts continue upward, or downard, in their lives and the family is connected back to England through a broken plight troth: prince Lwellyn of Wales to Eleanor de Montfort.

But unlike his grandfather, Lwellyn Fawhr, Lwellyn ap Gruffyd has more brothers, who are out to fight and betray him; a stronger English King who has the drive and strategy to absorb Wales into the Kingdom, and a number of incidents, resulting in bad fortune. In addition, Lwellyn's bride is captured by Edward I and held for three years before she is finally freed. By the time she is freed, Edward has forced Lwellyn to give up territories and privileges.

So, by the time Lwellyn goes to war against Edward, a portion of Wales has already been partitioned off. In addition, a fatal wound and no heir, leaves Wales in turmoil, leaving Edward I the advantage of taking over the country.

Note that Edward I was also Longshanks, who was the English King in BRAVEHEART. A fine movie but not entirely accurate in the Historical sense, since the French princess was 7, Edward I had many more children, there was no bridge shown at the Battle of Stirling and people tended to wear helmets to protect themselves in such bloody fights. Lastly and obviously, there was no bastard son born from Wallace and the princess. Nice dramatic punch though.

Rating:
Summary: Good but....
Review: This book was very good, but is overshadowed by the excellence of Here be Dragons and Falls the Shadow. It ended on a tragic note but is a great book for Penman fans, history addicts and anyone Welsh. Penman's prose is addictive- once you read her, you'll read ALL her novels- they're just plain good. They all contain interesting plot, and characters, which is all the more fascinating because it's all true! Her Author's note and Afterward are very informative and interesting- infact, now I'm so interested I've bought a book on Welsh midevial history and I'm going next for one on Simon de Montfort. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rating:
Summary: Concluding The Welsh Trilogy
Review: This is the final episode in Penman's Welsh Trilogy. It follows Here Be Dragons and Falls The Shadow, running from 1271-1283.

Penman emerged long ago as one of the best historical novelists and continues to solidify her reputation with each new release. Her special genius lies in the bright and shining historical detail that she can weave into both plot and dialog (she's a very good student of history and at times is absolutely brilliant in conveying to us the workings of medieval minds).

One of the great things about Penman (and this book showcases it well) is her plots are always complex (because the history of these times was quite convoluted). She does an excellent job of keeping it all straight for us as she leads us through the maze of characters. If you read the history of these times you quickly come to see what a great job she does in her design of the story.

I have no problem with Penman's romantic feelings about her heros. From Eleanor in the 1st trilogy to Joanna in Here Be Dragons to her raising the standard of Simon de Montfort as a visionary (but historically too early) icon of democracy, she does use them as a vehicle to carry forward a dynamic presentation of history....all in the best traditions of the historical novel.

Penman's true genius is the broad historical scope that is painted on top of the shimmering details of brief moments. It truely does feel as if you are living the story yourself, and it is this bringing us readers in as witnesses that stands as Penman's contribution to the art of the historical novel.

If you prefer to read in chronological order:
1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of Trilogy)
1156-1171 Time And Space (Vol 2 of Trilogy)
12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of Trilogy)- not yet released
1192-1193 The Queen's Man
1193 Cruel As The Grave
1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour