Rating: 
Summary: Love This Book
Review: I love Virginia Henley's books. She writes every senuous and intricate plots. This book is set during real events in English history, with real characters from that period. They add flavor to the story but do not over power the love story of Rosamund and Rodger. Both of these people are head strong and independent and sparks fly when they are together.
Rating:
Summary: The Marraige Prize
Review: I loved the book. I cried when Simon de Montfort was killed. The love story between Eleanor and Simon was one of the best of all time. I can't read The Dragon and the Jewel again. I hurt for Eleanor. I don't care that Rickard de Burgh is in love with Eleanor. He can't take the place of Simon.
Rating: 
Summary: As the other reader said "the horror"
Review: I read "the dragon and the jewel" and love it, it was the best VH book i have ever read, then i read this book and saw that she killed off Simon DeMontfort, now i just cann't read that book anymore, not because i am a romantic but because I think readers buy book to entertain them and to kill off a character that is entertaining is "horrible". I know that history states that Simon DeMontfort dies and i understand Ms. Henley point of view but from a reader view point it not something i would like to see in fantasy!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: I really did enjoy this book. I will give 5 stars to the hero, who is sizzlingly sexy, and 4 stars for Ms. Henley's writing, which is evocative and creative, but which lacks some proper technical skill. There were times when the characters' points of view were meshed together and confusing. But this does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. However, it took me over half the book to really start to "like" the heroine. She was a spoiled, insecure, bitter little brat until she finally began to understand life and grow into a woman. I kept thinking how wonderful the hero was for putting up with her for so long without walking away from her. Rodger de Leyburn is a REAL hero, the kind that romance readers like. He is chivalrous, polite, affectionate, considerate, and strong in many positive ways. He is a true knight. The story is paced well and has a cute ending.
Rating:
Summary: TRAGIC
Review: I REALLY LOVE ALL OF HER BOOKS. BUT I AGREE WITH THE OTHER REVIEWER. THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL WAS MY FAVORITE AND I LOOKED UP SIMON DE MONTFORT ON THE COMPUTER AND I WISH I HADN'T. I RESENT THAT FACT THAT HE DIED AND THAT ELEANOR HAD TO GO ON ALONE . IT HURT AFTER READING ABOUT THEM BEFORE. MY BOOKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND TO READ OF A DEATH OF A FAVORITE CHARACTER REALLY LEAVES ME HURTING. LEAVE OFF DEATH SCENES PLEASE VERONICA
Rating:
Summary: Take me away!!
Review: I really loved this book. I got lost in the images, the sights and smells of the time period, and the romance of the main characters. I especially enjoyed finding out what happened to the main characters from the previous books in the series. All too often, in a so-called "continuation", you see a very brief mention of characters from the others in the series, then off onto the new story. It's almost as if they were mentioned as an afterthought. Not so in this book. They were major characters, who were treated with reverence and honesty. I always like that Ms. Henley doesn't sugarcoat the failings of her characters, but puts them right out there for you to see. It makes the people so much more real.Rosamond and Rodger were characters I could love. Rodger was very much less violent or domineering with Rosamond as some of Ms. Henley's previous male characters, but he still got it across that he was the lord of his castle. Also, I like that Rosamond seems so much more intelligent from the get-go than some of her other female characters, who so often seem to have to learn from the male in their lives. Rosamond had a strong grasp of things without having to be "taught" by Rodger. All in all, I think it was a wonderful ending to the trilogy that started with The Falcon and the Flower, and continued with the Dragon and the Jewel. (Is there going to be another? I wouldn't mind!)
Rating:
Summary: Grand Finale!
Review: I suggest reading this trilogy in order. PLANTAGENET TRILOGY: THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER........ THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL....... THE MARRIAGE PRIZE. Once again, this is the kind of book that is not for everyone. Some might enjoy it to the fullest yet some find it too tedious because of its historical facts. Some might even hate it for the gruesome faith that awaits Simon De Montfort, who I believe everyone loved in THE DRAGON and the JEWEL. I on the otherhand, loved this book. I did find it somewhat a slow read. When I said SLOW read, I didn't mean it to as a derogatory comment. It's somewhat slow for me because I wanted to absorb the historical portion of this book. I wanted to remember the details that way when I do some researched about it, I could compare or differentiate it. I find Pince Edwards character quite intriguing. His friendship to Roger (and Roger's loyalty to him) and the Prince's relationship with Simon De Montfort was all an interesting read. Even the secondary characters, fiction or non-fiction, all piqued my curiosity. Roger and Rosamund's love story was kind of a secondary interest to me. Their romance was a bit simple, too conventional perhaps and is not particularly my top favorite yet I did enjoy them. They have their own spot which I admit added spice to the whole novel. I was devastated to have finally read the horrific death of Simon De Monfort (Didn't want this to be a spoiler and I wouldn't have mention this part but then others already have...). Even if I already knew by history that this would happend, it seems I was still unprepared. Perhaps it's the way V. Henley wrote it or perhaps it's just cuz I've love Simon and Eleanor in THE DRAGON and THE JEWEL that I sympathize for both of them. They are so much in love that it aches to read such heart wretching moment. I cried and felt so sad for Eleanor and her children. I admired her in TDATJ and seeing her strength here made me admire her even more. Simon's death affected me so much that I thought about it for days afterwards, wishing it would have ended differently. I am a sucker for HAPPY ENDINGS and reading his death didn't particularly suit me well. Had I not read about him in TDATJ, I am sure I wouldn't be this devastated. However, I eventually come to terms with it and have decided that if Virginia Henley rewrote Simon's story differently, this book won't probably affect me this way nor would it leave an impressive mark like it did now. It is amazing how V. Henley challenged her readers this way... to have readers love a character who is to die in the next book. Truly amazing! After reading Virginia Henley's P. Trilogy, I did some more research about the Plantagenets and learned a lot through the process. I also researched about Simon De Montfort, the Marshals, the De Clares and even the name Roger Leyburn, who is our hero in this book. I made an interesting findings! If a historical romance novel can piqued my interest this strongly for me to do some researching to enhance my knowledge on the matter then I say it's truly a worthy book. I am impress by the way Ms. Henley corporated this trilogy. Full of facts, mixed with her own unique ideas of romantic interlude. Overall, this book is a grand read. Cry, smile and learn!
Rating:
Summary: A good finish to a great triology.
Review: I was very entertained by this book. It was a fitting end to the trilogy. I was irritated by all of the complaints of other reviewers about the death of Simon de Montfort. Mrs. Henley wrote these novels to be historically accurate and history was full of great people dying. Get over it! If a historically accurate romance is to be accurate, there will be people dying. I aplaud Mrs. Henley for her historical integrity. Great job on this amazing trilogy!
Rating: 
Summary: disapointed
Review: Ilove Henleys books but I was upset with this one, I didn't like the fact that Simon and Eleanor were the bad people in this book when they were so strong in their book, and I think everyone loved them and to be grafic about his dealth.I couldn't read this one and the main characters were nothing impressive,I love all her books but was disapointed with this one and would of loved her to stop with the first two.
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Summary: Combining romance and history makes this a fabulous tale
Review: In 1253 England, adolescent Rosamond Marshal learns that her older brother died in a jousting accident. Three days later, strongly encouraged by her guardians Simon and Eleanor de Montfort, the shocked twelve-year-old heiress numbly agrees to one day marry Rodger de Leyburn. Five years later, Rodger arrives to marry his betrothed, but Rosamond prefers another knight. Still, she sees another facet to Rodger that leads her into marrying him. As they begin to fall in love, war explodes between King Henry and Simon. Rodger is loyal to the King's son while Rosamond is devoted to her former guardian, leaving their struggling relationship shaky and a probable victim of the war. Virginia Henley is renowned for her sensual historical romances that stir the blood of the reader. Her latest tale, THE MARRIAGE PRIZE, is a powerful conclusion to the author's wonderful Plantaganet trilogy (see THE FALCON AND THE FLOWER and THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL). The story line is fast-paced and filled with action. The historical references show once again Ms. Henley's love of history as the tidbits and real persona enhance the plot with important roles. Though Rosamond seems more like the lead character in The Taming of the Shrew, she and Rodger provide a point and counterpoint reference that mirror the feelings of the divided country that Ms. Henley gracefully explores in this enjoyable medieval romance. Harriet Klausner
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