I always find time to read the history ofthe queens that shaped history. For good or ill, it was the queens and their influence on their kings and heirs that impacted the greatest eras in history. Alison Weir cuts through the drama that is involved in most fictional accounts of their lives and times. By focusing primarily on the queens, she can show how drastically history was affected. This is book #2, I've read the first one also. I'd recommend them both to anyone who is interested in European history and how the established monarchies came to be.

Once again, another amazing book by Alison Weir. I can always count on this author to bring me unbiased history, not to mention the top-shelf research that I have come to rely on. I was a little surprised, I must admit, at how heavily this book favored Eleanor of Aquitaine. This certainly was not a drawback for me, as I soak up anything and everything I can about this amazing queen. It just seemed a tad odd to me that Eleanor was given so much attention, while the other queens in the book just seemed to fizzle out on the sidelines. However, the research presented on all queens was detailed and incredibly informative. A very interesting and easy read!

Alison Weir's books are not only meticulously researched, they're also easily digestible. This is the second volume that Weir has published on the medieval queens of England. This one tells the stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Berengaria of Navarre, Isabella of Angouleme, Alienor of Provence and Eleanor of Castile. An enjoyable and educational read for those interested in medieval British history.

As with everything I have ever read by Alison Weir, this book was incredible! One of my favorite authors and this books did not disappoint. These were not queens or a time in history that I have ever read/ heard much about, so it was a nice change up for me.

I'd call this a tedious recitation of facts rather than a book. Very boring and told me more about the men surrounding the queens than it did the queens themselves.

Weir has done it again. Thoroughly researched and entertaining to read.
Weir has been a long time favorite of mine, in the history and historical fiction categories.

I am always amazed by how well Alison Weir is able to take dense subject matter and turn it into a book that anyone with a love of history can pick up and easily enjoy.

I LOVE ALISON WEIR! I could just say that and leave it, but I know I need to say more. Believe me I can say more and not from a mountain top shouting that at the top of my lungs; however, if I’m ever found at the top of one believe me I will shout it because I want to hear it echo down to the tiny villages. Not kidding weir is my go-to for British history. I’m not saying she’s infallible, but I’m pretty sure she’s infallible. When other nonfiction that I read put her in the bibliography, I feel confident in what is wrong. Out of all of her series, this one is my absolute favorite. I love how meticulous she is, even down to the premise itself. She is spot on. Her stories make the reader feel like she is right there on the sidelines. I’m completely absorbed everytime I pick up one of her books. I really hate that eventually this series will have to end. I’ve actually been praised for all of the British history I know and there is one reason for almost all of it-Alison weir. I thank you for educating me on my descendants and I will always be looking out for the next publication!

Fantastic, as always. Alison Weir writes non-fiction history without it being dry and boring. I've read books on the crusades, but not about the women behind them. Such interesting real stories!

As a huge fan of Weir, I was intrigued by the concept of this book. I haven't read the first in the series.

Queens of the Crusades is a collective biography of four queens of England and the British Isles during the Crusades period of history.

I am going to have trouble reviewing this one because it felt very unbalanced. Having read both history and historical fiction by Weir, I know her capabilities as a writer and researcher. Something about this one didn't feel on par with her normal books. I think it's the fact that while the book was told chronologically, Weir had a tendency to still harken back to earlier figures. It made it difficult to keep in the right mind frame of: "This is where we are in history'. Plantengent history is so muddy at times as it is, making the waters worse for a non-expert reader is not what you want to do. This isn't meant to, as far as I understand, be an academic work. As such a laymen should be able to read this and keep up with what Weir presenting. I do know a fair amount of British history and I still had a little trouble. What if a beginner picked this up? Food for thought there. I understand Eleanor is a huge figure not just for lifetime but beyond, but still consider your audience and the possibilities.

Thank you for the ARC.

Alison Weir is one of my favorite authors, and she is undertaking a huge project by writing biographies of the Queens of England series! In this book, she writes about the queens who have played a major role during the Crusade era. The information is very eye-opening and filled with many new details! It also discussed many topics that are rarely discussed in medieval history. Alison Weir also examines queenship and the role they have played throughout the medieval ages. I also like how she mostly uses primary sources rather than secondary sources! Thus Mrs. Weir’s biography illuminates the lives of the medieval queens that have largely been forgotten. She also emphasizes their accomplishments and achievements! These powerful women held immense influence in English history! I recommend this for fans of Dan Jones, Lucy Worsley, and Tracy Borman!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I have read a few books from this author and I am just neutral with some of her books. But I did enjoy this book. Highly recommend.

Well written and obviously carefully researched, this provides interested readers with a close look at five early queens of Medieval England, beginning with Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II. This is the story of kings as well as queens, although the women get the spotlight, and covers politics, religion, controversies, marriages, crusades, planned crusades, and more. The reader sees England develop as a country, sees it win and lose parts of today’s France through wars and marriages and sees how early medieval queens often helped to bring this about.

This is a highly readable and enjoyable book that will capture the interest of those looking for powerful women in history.

I received an Arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NG for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. It's taken me a while to get around to finish this book, but I am so glad that I was able to do so. I read a physical copy of this book and enjoyed this book quite a bit. Some of the shining strengths of this book are... 1) amazing writing style; 2) popular author (for a good reason); 3) so very well-researched; 4) interesting presentation of valuable historical information. This book is packed with lots of information, narrative and historical data that talks about the first of five queens in England and France. I am absolutely going to get the rest of this author's books.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. Alison Weir is one of my all time favorite biographers. I would recommend it to my fellow reader friends.

I usually love Alison Weir's books, but this one was so very hard for me to read. While the subject matter was interesting, the pace was very slow and difficult.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of Alison Weir and have read most of her books. This one grabbed my attention right away and I learned a great deal that I didn’t know before. I really enjoy her easy to read writing style that is rare sometimes among nonfiction author. I can’t wait to read her next book!

I am love history - learning about the past has always been a pastime of mine. The amount of information this author provided about these women was interesting and thought provoking. I would recommend.

This was an interesting read for a history buff but a little dry for the average reader. The book was clearly well-researched and had many interesting details about these queens but is a slow, complicated read.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this book finding it well written. Highly recommend.