Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa, 1595 (The Royal Diaries)

Rating:
Summary: I don't even know why it was written!
Review: I am a huge fan of the Royal Diaries. The Royal Diaries is possibly my favorite series ever for young adults. I had seen some bad reviews for this book, and I didn't expect to buy it. Then I realized that if I wanted to have the whole collection, I should just give it a try.
So I bought the book, and I fell in love with it. Nzingha's spirit and spunk seemed to leap out of the pages. It was great, and exciting to read.I didn't know why people hated it so much. Then when the real plot of the book started to show, it got very boring. I don't know how to explain it. The real problem or plot was, like, in the last 20 pages. I felt like I had missed something when I finished it. It was way too short.
I also noticed at the sections at the end of the book, that barely anything is known about Nzhinga, except that she used a servent as a chair (?) and used to hunt. How can you write a good, thorough book about that!? About 60% of Warrior Queen of Matamba is just FICTION. No real historical fact.
I would buy this if you are collecting the whole series, but don't expect much out of this. If you are looking for a Royal Diaries book to buy, get the one about Elizabeth or Marie Antoinette. Those are good starters... not this one.

Rating:
Summary: Good historical details, weak story.
Review: I had high hopes for this book, since I love The Royal Diaries series. I am sorry to say I was dissapointed. I never managed to get a feel for the characters, as they were never fully developed, remaining one-dimensional throughout the story. The line between good and evil was just too generally defined - Africans good, white people bad. Real life doesn't work that way. And when I completed the story, I felt like something was missing, that I hadn't read the whole book - it cut off so abruptly, at 86 pages, and the historical note and pictures seemed there just to make it look longer. I can't believe that such a short, unsubstational book is going to be $10.95. I expected better from this previously high-quality series.

Rating:
Summary: Good Setting, But No Plot
Review: I'm an 11-year-old boy who read this book for schoolwork.
I was pretty disapointed with this book. I mean, the title says WARRIOR queen but there's no fighting. All they do is talk about her father going to distant wars against the Portugese far away. She just talks and hunts. The setting was good, but there's really no plot.
I think that girls, especially tomboys, would like it more than me because I'm a boy. However, I read the "Mary Queen of Scots" book (from the same series) and did like that one.
I don't think that this book was worth reading. I can think of a whole host of books I would rather read. I think that if you're a boy, read something else.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book even if it is short
Review: I've enjoyed reading the Royal Diaries for a long time and have an almost complete set. I was delighted by the opening chapters of this book as well. Nzingha was exactly what a young ruler should be. Proud, confident and strong. I agree it's WAY too short though. If you find it in the library or for a really good deal go get it but about a 1/2 an hour of entertainment is not worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba
Review: If you want to read this book, I strongly suggest you get it out from a local library because this is one book that I believe was a complete waste of time. At first glance, it looks interesting; don't be fooled, its not.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book even if it is short
Review: Nzingha is an excellant book. It was very short no question but it was still fabulous. What I liked about this book was she wasn't your average princess living in luxery she was couragous, strong, she liked to hunt and stuff like that. The one problem is thta is it very short and they left of when it was getting good. It gives alot of info about Africa in the 15oo's. It's a great book eveb if it is short and it's still worth buying!

Rating:
Summary: Nzingha:Warrior Queen of the book failiures
Review: Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba

Sound interesting? It will at first glance. Now lets take a look inside. You read the first few pages and you will most likely decide to put the book down and never look at it again. The book is short, but the characters are boring, they have no personality at all. Really, they should have put some more OOMPH!! into the book to make it more interesting. You wondered why Nzingha got such a lowere reanking than the other Royal Diaries books. Well now you know why. If you want to read it, check it out from some library or borrow it. Don't buy it, it's a waste of money.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting for anyone in Angolan/African history
Review: This book was not like many other of the Royal Diaries because Nzingha was not a well known royal nor was she European. This is one of the lesser known of the series but it worth a look for it's good historical references.

Nzingha's story is worth hearing, she was a powerful leader to her people and a formidable enemy against the Portugese. As with many of the other Royal Diaries, they portray the situations realistically such as the slavery the portugese enforced to the captives of Nzingha's people.

This is recommended for anyone interested in angolan and africain history. It paints a realistic picture of the times when the Europeans were ruthless for power through slavery. It demonstrates to younger readers an inspirational and courageous person such as Nzingha. I am glad I read this book, it was informational and I enjoyed learning about the history.

Rating:
Summary: A little boring, but some interesting facts
Review: This book was sort of disappointing to me. I love the Royal Diary series, and I guess I expected something a little better. It is the story of Nzingha, the oldest daughter of the Ngola (he's like a king person). Though older than her brother and sisters, she is second in line for the leadership position because she is female. Nzingha's brother Mbandi, though, is lazy and irresponsible, so the Ngola makes Nzingha promise that she won't allow Mbandi to weaken the system. With that promise, Nzingha also has new studies and responsibilities.

Nzingha's "diary" was harder for me to connect with the setting and people, for some reason. Part of the problem may have been because of it length. Only 80 pages, it seemed to cut off abruptly at the end. It was interesting, though, to read about this princess that I've never heard of.

Rating:
Summary: The Original Warrior Princess
Review: Well, like everyone has commented, this book was short, but in my opinion it was interesting. I do agree that the story did cut off at the best part. Overall, for a queen with such few written records about her, this book was well done.

My suggestion is that you read it in a library first, then decide whether or not you want to buy it.