I always find funny the adage that women are the weaker sex. Women in history had a hand in so much of what went on politically, and yet few are remembered, or as well-known in history as their male counterparts. Once again, I credit historical fiction for bringing such a figure to my attention. Even as a history major in college, I had never heard of Queen Brunhilda of Austrasia.
As I was reading The War Queens, I did some side reading on Brunhilda and much that is said about her is that she was power-hungry and driven. This would ultimately lead to her demise. On the other hand, Fredegunda, the rival queen is remembered as being behind many assassinations and political intrigues and yet she escaped the demise dealt to Brunhilda. Had she lived as long as Brunhilda did, I can't help but wonder if she might have met a similar fate. Though she seemed to always be triumphant in her schemes.
I have read the first book in Rebecca Hazell's The Tiger and the Dove series, The Grip of God. She has a real talent for telling historical stories. The amount of research conducted is always astounding, leaving no doubt of historical accuracy. That being said, the stories are never dry. Queen Brunhilda is a complex character. She is driven, though I never feel she is power-hungry. She cares about her family, and the people of Austrasia...that is her motivation. Even her rivalry with Fredegunda never comes off as solely fueled by revenge over her sister. Fredegunda is a true narcissist who cares only about herself, something that shows even with the mothering of her children. History has not told us much about these two women so I'm sure there is more to the story. But I can't help thinking that Hazell got it exactly right.
As an aside, I return to the whole "weaker sex" implication. Who is more weak than a king who allows himself to be persuaded by feminine wiles and sex? Oh, it's obvious that King Chilperic is the weakest of the four brother kings. This is why I question why so many faulted Brunhilda as being power-driven when she always only wanted to work as a partner to her husband, and subsequently to her son (and grandsons) as regent. Yet here we have Fredegunda influencing a known weak king, but nothing is said by others of her being driven and power-hungry. In this, I circle back to Hazell's deft storytelling. Fredegunda is very good at disguising her motives and making it look like it was all the king's idea in the first place. Brunhilda wears her heart and convictions on her sleeve, and ends up paying for it.
As is probably obvious, I really loved this book. There is truly nothing better than historical fiction that makes us think, and spurs us to look beyond the story. This book is perfect for anyone who loves history, and for anyone who loves a great story.
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Intense historical read!
If you're a fan of historical fiction that covers the fall of the Roman Empire and the ensuing chaos that embroils Europe, then you will enjoy this story. It was fascinating to read about these warring Queens that are nearly opposite of one another. One represents the light and one represents the dark, equally matched and yet danger lurks everywhere. Brunhilda was sent off to marry Sigebert in hopes of calming some of the civil wars brewing, and she was lucky enough to fall in love with her husband and start a wonderful family together while keeping their kingdom safe as well. Sigebert's brother on the other hand, is a viscous man who wants to rule everything. He marries one of his slaves (a pagan witch) and together, they try to burn down everything, including Sigebert and Brunhilda. But the real drama of this story lies in the dynamic between Brunhilda and the former slave Queen, Fredegunda. Brunhilda wants to unite the cities and create peace for everyone, while Fredegunda wants to control everything and put everyone to work for her. Both have important elements that are necessary for rule, but now all they can focus on is taking the other one out before they are killed themselves. An extremely intense read from beginning to end with so many different dynamics playing out. It's a longer book and allows for the creation of character traits and gives you enough time with everyone to really understand each character.
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024Format: Paperback
- Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024Format: Hardcover
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- ElaineReviewed in Canada on November 8, 2023
The War Queens-riveting!
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
