Here Be Dragons

England's power-hungry King John arranges a marriage between his youngest daughter, Joanna, and his rival, Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, a young leader who intends to unite all of Wales, in a saga set against the vivid backdrop of thirteenth-century Wales. View all 4 comments.

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Mar 22, Elizabeth rated it did not like it. I LOVE historical fiction. I LOVE this period. But I cannot for the life of me get into this book! It's hard for me to put my finger on what I don't like -- basically, as soon as one gets interested in a character or a situation, the scene shifts dramatically.

There are too many characters and too much going on. Penman doesn't give you enough time with any given person or issue for you to be able to give a damn about it. I'm not finished with the book, but I think I'm gonna call it quits.

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I almost never do that, but I'm finding continuing painful. I have a bit of a dilemma with this book. It's not the first historical fiction novel I've read that deals with "real" people - historical figures, that is. But it is the first I've read to this scale, and it left me a bit It's set in 12th and 13th century Wales and England, and is the story of a Welsh prince, Llewelyn, who from the age of fourteen fought to reclaim his father's domain and then, throughout the rest of his life, unite the Welsh princes - a united Wales, he could se I have a bit of a dilemma with this book.

It's set in 12th and 13th century Wales and England, and is the story of a Welsh prince, Llewelyn, who from the age of fourteen fought to reclaim his father's domain and then, throughout the rest of his life, unite the Welsh princes - a united Wales, he could see clearly, would keep England's kings from absorbing it into England. It is also the story of his young wife, Joanna, King John of England's beloved but bastard daughter, and her struggle to be loyal to be her husband and her father - both of whom she loved.

All of these people were real people, as are most of the other characters. The setting, the customs and laws, the details, the attitudes - it's all been splendidly researched I'm sure. I'm not here to quibble with Penman's story, either the construction of it or the accuracy. What troubled me was how awkward I felt reading it. I vacillated between being deeply engrossed, emotionally effected and full of admiration; and finding it stilted, confined, and depressing because these people's lives have already been lived, their fates decided, their deaths already determined.

It put a damper on things, especially when the story got intense on the personal front. It's like reading a mystery that's a true story and knowing how easy it would be to simply look up the facts, find out whodunnit and who died a horrible death etc. It's not a feeling I've ever had before while reading a book, and I'm not sure how to explain it. But it did effect my enjoyment of the novel and, to be truthful, might influence me against reading similar books in the future. Perhaps the problem here was that Penman stuck too close to history? But how would I even know without studying the period myself?

I would get nasty little reminders every time Penman had to tell us, her readers, about things that were happening. She made a valiant attempt to incorporate this exposition into conversations, but it never quite managed to sound realistic. It was like a slightly dry, academic historian was giving a voice-over during a reenactment-documentary, which has the effect of pulling you back to the present and reminding you that it's and all this is, literally, history. This completely contradicts the aim of a story, to make you sink into it and bring the characters to life - and sometimes you are so engrossed you even forget where you are and nearly miss your subway stop my apologies to the lady in the red coat who I barged into as I dashed through the closing doors.

It wasn't the neat little paragraphs that would summarise events for us at the beginning or end of a chapter. It was when historical explanations were inserted into dialogue. You just know that these people already knew that. They often say so. And it's hard to get across the information we need without sounding like you character's a mouthpiece for your history lesson, giving us a lecture.

So yes, this bugged me. Regardless, I did get into the story and I did enjoy it. Penman did a marvellous job with such a big chunk of history, bringing it to life and making the characters seem real. Sometimes I couldn't help thinking that they were too real. Their ups-and-downs started affecting my moods. Especially in regards to Joanna and Llewelyn's relationship, which was good and strong and loving but had its moments of misunderstanding and since they're nobility, misunderstandings can have terrible repercussions , divided loyalties, mistakes.

Even though I would have liked Llewelyn to be more fleshed-out as a man he was too often a prince, a leader of the army, a political figure, or a husband - but who was he? I had to almost verbally remind myself that he wasn't my husband and these emotions weren't really mine, and I didn't need to apply Joanna's feelings to my own husband! It did my head in sometimes, it really did. Now, I have to confess that, as well constructed as Joanna was, I didn't like her much. It was interesting to hear her daughter give voice to her own impression of her mother, towards the end, because it made me think "Yes!

Glad I'm not the only one! Not mean, not at all, but too self-indulgent while at the same time too distant from others, from those who would be her friends. Yes, the problem was her divided loyalties - I would not like to be in her position. But she wasn't a woman I could really admire, and my sympathy was almost the pitying kind. I have to say, reading historical fiction like this is one of the best ways to learn about history, especially since it gains context, is comprehensible, you get to know the people and remember who they are and where they fit into the bigger picture.

On that score, I would gladly read more heavy works like Here Be Dragons. But I'm not sure I'll read any more Penman. I'm not sure her style is for me. I may have been expecting something slightly different, because so many people recommended this to me and raved about it.

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Sadly, I can't rave, though I was impressed, and I'm glad I read it. At pages, it took me the entire month of February to read I had to read Catch this month as well, which is not a great mix; it was hard to switch back and forth! View all 11 comments. July , Shropshire, England He was ten years old and an alien in an unfriendly land, made an unwilling exile by his mother's marriage to a Marcher border lord.

His new stepfather seemed a kindly man, but he was not of Llewelyn's blood, not one of the Cymry, and each dawning day in Shropshire only intensified Llewelyn's heartsick longing for his homeland. View all 21 comments. Let's just say I lost sleep to keep reading this page-turner of a historical novel. Set in England, Wales, and France, and starring the aristocracy and royal families of the late 's and early 's. The main story line surrounds Joanna, a daughter of John I of England. Most of us remember him as Robin Hood's nemesis Robin supported John's brother Richard Lionheart.

But old Robin's not in this tale.

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It's told from a wholly different viewpoint. A co-worker recommended this author. So far, I Let's just say I lost sleep to keep reading this page-turner of a historical novel. So far, I think I've found yet another "keeper". Nov 14, Anneliese Bennion added it Recommends it for: It has taken me a month to read all pages.

I haven't taken that long to read a book since The Lord of the Rings trilogy. At first I wasn't really impressed with it. It wasn't getting to the romance quick enough for me and it was a little confusing to remember all of the characters. It also was a little disturbing to have older men marrying very young women. Most of them were still girls. Eventually, I wrapped my mind around it. My friend Jill told me the romance between Llewelyn and Joanna w It has taken me a month to read all pages.

My friend Jill told me the romance between Llewelyn and Joanna was one of her top favorites. In the top five. I have to say, that thought kept me going. I really got into the story when Joanna burned Llewelyn's bed. By then I was hooked, but that was at least pages into it. There is a lot of battle in the book. Not so much blood and gore, but political strategies. I wasn't sure by page that I would be able to rate it as high as my friend.

The last hundred or so pages made me change my mind. I loved that last little bit. It was kind of what the whole book was building up to. I don't know if I'd put it in my top five romances, but it would definitely be in the top ten. I am glad I took the time to read it, but it definitely was a commitment.

Mar 03, Deborah Pickstone rated it really liked it Shelves: I loved this book about one of my historical heroes Llewellyn Fawr when I first read it but on this re-read I was much irritated by the writing forsoothly, by the repetition of all the worst gossip about John and by the manifest acceptance of Richard I as a homosexual when there is no actual evidence that this was so nor did the concept of sexual orientation exist in the Medieval world. I acknowledge that Ms Penman makes this point herself in her two later novels about Richard I and damn fi I loved this book about one of my historical heroes Llewellyn Fawr when I first read it but on this re-read I was much irritated by the writing forsoothly, by the repetition of all the worst gossip about John and by the manifest acceptance of Richard I as a homosexual when there is no actual evidence that this was so nor did the concept of sexual orientation exist in the Medieval world.

I acknowledge that Ms Penman makes this point herself in her two later novels about Richard I and damn fine novels they are, too - this was one of her first and not as well-honed as her later novels became. That aside, there are not so many novels covering the very interesting history of Medieval Wales and this contribution is not to be sneezed at despite the above grumbles!

Jul 16, Lady of the Lake rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is one of my favorite books I don't believe the story she has fabricated within the web of historical figures and happenings but I loved d it none the less. This brought joy toe but it also had me crying my eyes out. I fell in love with the characters most had lived a life similar to what goes on here but much it far from the truth I am certain. I was so sorry to reach the last page. This was the first book in the trilogy and the best of the 3 IMHO. It was the great love she was able to This is one of my favorite books It was the great love she was able to bring to life for me that had this one standing out from the other two.

I wish I was just starting this book.. A wonderful book, Here Be Dragons is definitely one of my favourite novels ever. I very rarely cry reading books but the tears were definitely there for this one Sharon Penman brings the twelfth and thirteenth centuries to life and her characterisations seem so plausible.

If you like historical fiction then I highly recommend this book. It is a modern classic. Apr 04, Annalisa rated it really liked it Recommended to Annalisa by: Although it took me 3 weeks to read this novel, I actually really enjoyed it. Unlike other historical fiction that seemed more fantasy that truth, I had a hard time pulling apart what was fiction and what was fact translated into dialogue.

I believed these characters, that Penman selected personalities that were the obvious choice and the scenes could have very easily taken place. Despite a time period anchored and defined by war, Penman does a good job of giving you a few snippets of exciting w Although it took me 3 weeks to read this novel, I actually really enjoyed it. Despite a time period anchored and defined by war, Penman does a good job of giving you a few snippets of exciting war strategies instead of lengthy descriptions of tedious war so she could focus the bulk of her pages on the conflicting passions and motives that drive war, particularly those of King John of England, Llewelyn the Great of Wales, and Johana, John's daughter and Llewelyn's wife.

Here be dragons

I related to Johana and enjoyed the complexity of her relationship between the two men in her life. I thought Penman very appropriately defined the difference between Welsh and English traditions with only occasionally sounding as if she were explaining history and not just following a story. I learned quite a bit from her recreation and became fascinated with a more accurate history of king John beyond what Robin Hood would have you believe and even more so Llywelyn whom I'd never heard of or even been that educated on the history of the Welsh and their battle to remain sovereign to a much larger England.

I didn't realize until the author's notes that the book was named Here Be Dragons because that was the annotation mapmakers denoted on unknown territory and as the Welsh were misunderstood by the English and it was the Welsh national emblem it made a cleverly poignant title choice. Penman obviously did a lot of research and took great pains to hold to historical accuracy, which I greatly appreciated. My one complaint would be the description of the legitimization of Johana which she describes as obtained by her brother, king Henry, an illogical choice since it could potentially--though unlikely--give her claim to the crown.

It was her husband Llywelyn who sought it out because of his great love for her and I would have enjoyed that expression of love in the story. At first I was doubtful of Pullman's idolization of Llywelyn's, particularly as a husband, but he was a skilled fighter and political schemer, he did love his wife tremendously, and he appeared to be kind and insightful.

I think he made a fascinating historical figure to define and I grew to admire him as much as Penman seems to. I did find all the minor characters frustrating to follow. So many floating in and out of court and trying to track them down was dizzying. There were only a handful of names during the 13th Century so names like Will were credited to at least four characters and two of them with the same last name since children were given their parents' names I can't even remember how many Rhys characters there were. Throw in interchanging titles and Penman's alternating between the two without a heads up reminder of which character each one was particularly when they were only mentioned once a pages ago and many times I was completely lost on minor issues.

But I'd rather she threw in so many authentic characters than make up a few false ones. If there were a list of characters in the index it would have been visited as often as the map with its ever changing borders to track down which castle was being conquered at the time. And now you understand why it took me so long to get through the book. I guess knowledge takes time. A worthwhile read, just know it is not a quick breeze, but one well worth the investment.

We're throwing the fight, but I just wanna believe in us. Aug 10, Zoe rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is hands down my favorite book. On the one hand it's about the power struggle between England and Wales in the s. On the other hand it's about the relationship between Joanna illegitimate daughter of King John and Llewelyn prince of Wales.

I have never read a book with better characterization. The people are real and complex. There isn't a bad guy, per se, and that adds to the reality. You can always see the situations through everyone's eyes, so you can s This is hands down my favorite book. You can always see the situations through everyone's eyes, so you can sympathize with everyone.

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