The best kind of historical fiction. Fact and fantasy wonderfully intertwined. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I will preface this review by stating I am not a historian, amateur or otherwise, so I cannot attest to the accuracy of the events depicted in this book in a historical context. From the author's note, I gather there were liberties taken to allow for the development and flourishing of these characters. As someone who do not read much history, I did find my dip into these historical (fiction) waters to be quite refreshing; an embattled sunshine/grumpy duo forced into various games of thrones, what's not to like? That said, I did find myself feeling a bit unsatisfied upon finishing, and looking back a few weeks later, only a few scenes really stand out in my recollections of the plot. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time with Philip and Henry and am grateful for the publisher in allowing me access to this ARC.

As a history nerd, reading about medieval Europe was intriguing. Now, make it a romance with queer protagonists and I cannot wait to see where Natasha Siegel takes the story. In Solomon's Crown, King Philip is the freshly crowned ruler of France and Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, is feuding with his father, King Henry of England. Their attraction is immediate and confusing. How can two men who were born as rivals be close friends and possibly lovers? The battle portions of the book were frustrating as I wanted to get back to the relationship. Romances always have some sort of issue that appears to prevent a "happily ever after" but a multigenerational struggle over land and power is much larger than the regular tropes of a missed phone call or overheard conversation. Siegel turns the romance genre upside down with her debut novel. I look forward to what she writes next.

3.5 stars

This was an intriguing idea, and I honestly didn't care about historical accuracy and read it more as a "what-if" story rather than as Richard and Philip being real people in history. I thought their romance was sweet, especially in the times they were in, but I didn't really feel the "danger" that I think would have been present if they had really been in the relationship they were. I absolutely loved Philip's wife and liked the true friendship she and Philip developed, as well as her friendship with Richard. While many years passed during this story, I didn't really feel like it did, perhaps because in some ways, Richard was still the same in terms of his temperament and Philip did as well. I would have preferred a lot more character development for them both. In many ways, Isabella was my favorite side character, and I was hoping the book would at least reveal a love interest for her that would work with their little group.

I enjoyed this and can recommend this for those who like period romances, with the caveat that this is NOT historically accurate, so you shouldn't try to make connections to historical characters or events. Honestly, I think she probably would have done just fine to have made this a period romance with fictional characters, but I think she wanted to create the tension between the Duke of Aquitaine and his 3 brothers, as well as Eleanor of Aquitaine being imprisoned away from her home. But for those of us who are not fully versed in this history, it would have been fine if she had made up the characters in the first place, giving her even more freedom to develop the characters in whatever way she wanted.

There were moments in the book where I was honestly moved to tears because of the moment that was being written about, as well as the writing itself. I see a lot of promise in this author and suspect she will continue to try new things and develop her writing style and I would be interested in reading more in the future.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Solomon’s Crown reimagines the relationship between King Philip and King Richard in the twelfth century. It appears to be a historic fact that the two kings often shared a bed, but Natasha Siegel goes beyond that, altering historical events to further their relationship to one of, first, obsession and adoration, to one of love. Using real life historical people, Siegel illustrates a beautiful relationship between the two kings, and how that relationship reshaped battles over the course of their lives.

The writing is simple and easy to understand, but that doesn’t make it any less gripping. I read this book every night before bed for about a week. That’s not to say it lulled me to sleep, but that it was a comforting way to end a hectic day. With the point of view breaks and small time jumps, it was easy to separate the book into logical points.

I loved the instant fascination the two kings had for one another. Though both young when they first meet, and Philip newly crowned and married, their attraction is apparent. The descriptions of the two of them, of Philip being slender and delicate and of Richard being tall and strong, made it easy to picture them, though it didn’t quite line up with their actual appearances, according to portraits from the time. I looked up the portraits and true historical events after having read the book, and prefer this author’s interpretation and alternate history.

The passage of time helped me distance myself from the fact that this could be considered insta-love, one of my most hated tropes. I feel Richard and Philip each fell in love with the idea of one another, before they came to know each other for real. But somehow I am okay with that, given the historical setting.

Since this book is very loosely based on actual history, some readers might have a hard time enjoying this novel. But it’s no different than reading fanfiction, which is something I do every day for various different fandoms, whether books or movies. Otherwise, it is two powerful kings falling in love with one another, with all the political intrigue and family drama one might expect (though considerably less drama once people close to the two kings discover their inclinations).

Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel is set in twelfth-century Europe as newly crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. His greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it begins, Philip is forced to make a perilous alliance with Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, the man history would know as Richard the Lionheart. Philip risks his throne as well as his heart. Richard was never supposed to be king but when family tragedy makes him heir to the English throne, he finally has the opportunity to overthrow his father. His alliance with Philip is simply a tool for his vengeful quest, he begins to question if the crown is truly worth it. As Philip and Richard face an imminent war, they must choose between their desires or their place in history.
There has been speculation among historians about Richard’s sexuality and the possibility of a sexual relationship with Phillip. Taking a historical rumor and imagining a scenario that might give truth to the rumor, with royal intrigue and betrayal, Solomon’s Crown imagines a romance between the two real-life kings faced with an impossible choice. The author does take a lot of liberties with the history. Ms. Siegel acknowledges this fact in her preface as she states her intentions was not to create an historically accurate story. Overall, the story was interesting; however, it was not the book for me. It wasn’t a bad book, the premise was intriguing but the story was slow moving and not enough to keep my attention. It just wasn't what I thought it would be. If you are interested in an alternative historical story, I recommend checking out Solomon’s Crown.

Solomon’s Crown is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

Probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

I was looking forward to read this book very eagerly. The historical bits were interesting though it did feel a bit unrealistic at times. The romance between the two main characters also felt like it was a bit too quick though I did enjoy their dynamic. Overall a good read but maybe I was expecting more swooning.

great book and such great characters. I enjoyed the mystery and some romance. I also enjoyed the journey of the characters. I didn't know what to expect with this book but I enjoyed it .

DNF @ around page 100

As admitted by the author in an authors note before this story starts, it is not at all historically accurate and the further I read the more I wondered why one then had to choose two well known historical figures if you will diverge that far. Adding on to that the slow pace I realized very quickly that this is not the book for me.

I received a copy from NetGalley for review.

So I have mixed feelings about this story. You have to suspend historical accuracy in favor of a rumored love story that happened between Kings Phillip and Richard during the medieval period. And while I love the gay romance that this book provides I think it could have dived a little deeper. While I understand the tough choices that the characters had to make to balance kingdom and happiness, I do think it would have added depth to the characters to have an afterward/epilogue with what happened next. I think the ending wrapped up too nicely in a happily for now ending.

I think it's a solid book overall and flowed very nicely. I wish we got to see more of Isabella and Stephan as side characters because they're really the ones to keep Phillip and Richard in line with what they actually want. Plus they're both kind of funny characters.

A Royal Romance Re-imagined

Philip II of France and Richard I (the Lion Hearted) were rival kings and in this re-imagined history, lovers. They were raised with different expectations. Philip always knew he would be king and a sense of duty to his country was instilled in him from his earliest years. Richard was the second son. He was not slated to be king until his older brother died. He had a great deal of conflict with his father who he hated. These two very different men from different backgrounds come together in a poignant romance.

The book is well researched. The author spends much of the first part of the book going into the historical and political background. I found this very well done. It laid the ground work for the romance, but did put the actual coming together off until the later part of the book.

I am not a big fan of telling history and presenting characters with actions and desires they didn’t have, at least as far as we know from the historical record. However, the author is upfront about this in both a note at the beginning and another note at the end.

The two men are well portrayed. The author does a good job of letting reader get to know each man by alternating chapters where each tells his own story. I thought it as an effective device. The writing is quit lovely and makes the story more believable. While not really historical fiction since it takes liberties with the history, it’s a satisfying romance.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Solomon's Crown opens with an Author's Note saying that this is not a historically accurate story nor an accurate reflection of the two men and their times. Personally, this was the best way to open this story, as it meant the historian voice at the back of my head could stand down, and allow me to enjoy this beautifully written story of two Kings (well, Richard is a Duke at this point) falling in love in medieval Europe.

That said I think Siegel does a great job with her characterisation of the two men, tying in to what we do know about them historically. Richard's dislike of England, his love for Aquitaine, his brashness and battle prowess. I knew less about Philip as a historical figure (other than the rumour that he shared a bed with Richard) but what I did know, particularly his father's madness, is tied in nicely.

It also explores the absolute madness that is Plangenet family politics under Henry II, which always makes for an interesting read, and I think Siegel also nailed the characterisation of the other Plangenetets.

Another character I really liked was Isobel, Philip's young wife, and their platonic relationship.

But the heart of the story is Philip and Richard's relationship and the conflict between their desire and love for each other, and their pre-destined roles as enemies. Siegel writes this wonderfully - it reads like a fairy tale or the romantic chronicles of the time.

Overall, a beautiful read for lovers of queer historical romance.

In twelfth-century Europe, Philip was just crowned King of France. His greatest enemy is King Henry of England, and Philip proposes an alliance with Henry's son Richard, Duke of Aquitaine. Richard despises his father and never thought he could be a king. Philip and Richard not only have a potential alliance but a growing love that is threatened by impending war.

This historical retelling gives a new spin to the rivalry between Richard the Lionheart and King Philip of France. Richard is a second son, raised by Eleanor of Aquitaine, and impulsive. The Angevin brothers expect backstabbing and war, which was all but encouraged by their father. Philip isn't as weak-minded or as easy to maneuver as his father was, so he becomes the obvious choice of ally for various brothers as they vie for power and lives of their own choosing outside Henry's plotting. Philip is 18 and was married to a 13-year-old for political reasons, so they have a chaste relationship; being an equal to Richard was a fun novelty. There are hints of an attraction before anything happens between them, but once it does, they're willing to betray vows and others for the sake of love. Both love fiercely and love their lands; this is meant to put them at odds and make romance impossible.

While history has not decided if there was a physical relationship or not, Natasha decided to write a romance. Love persevered in spite of politics and the terrible example that Henry and Eleanor set. There might be war, there might be loss of territory, there might be pride, but at the end of the day, love remains. That's a wonderful sentiment we all need right now.

A well written reimagining of Phillip and Richard. I’m not sure that I like the plot because I prefer historical accuracy. However, it was an interesting story.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm not sure if I can articulate how much I loved this book. I wasn't really expecting much but a tragic retelling of Kings Philip and Richard but instead I found something so so much better. The HEA, for starters (or maybe enders) was such a fucking relief after all the drama and betrayal, that I was in tears. The LGBT in this book was handled so well, too. Just... fact. The Christian imagery and guilt, the prose, the characters. . . it was SO GOOD. I consider this a gem that I almost let slip by.

This was sweet and sad, with a nice ending that made me smile. I don't know anything about King Phillip or King Richard, but I like that there's rumors they may have had a romance. The author states at the beginning that many historical events have been altered, so don't expect this to follow reality, but I had no issues with the changes.

I liked the dual points of view and thought the writing was well paced. There isn't that much action, some fighting in the war but not that the kings really participate in. Mostly this chronicles some years of the men meeting and parting, falling in love and trying to align their countries and figure out a way to be together. Phillip and Richard are good characters to follow and I just kept rooting for them to get some moments of peace.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the copy.

I think my problem, and what will likely be an issue for some readers, is that this takes so many liberties with the historical figures it uses -- and the author is upfront about this, both in the foreword and the author's note at the end, so it's not the liberties themselves I take issue with -- that I don't really know why Siegel didn't just write something original. Maybe it's to capture the historical fiction readers? The history buffs? To start (continue?) the discussion about the nature of these real peoples' relationship ala Patroclus and Achilles? I don't know. But for me, the historical element was both one of the few things I liked but also, I think, one of the reasons I couldn't get on board.

Also because, sadly, for all that the writing was incredibly easy to read, and easy to digest, it wasn't gripping. Little to no emotion was imparted, which didn't help me care about the characters, and while I understand the author wanted something joyful as opposed to gritty and dark, there was also no tension. The stakes should have been huge -- Philip was a King! Richard was heir to the throne and a Prince and Duke in his own right -- but like.. no tension. No angst. No risk. And, as a reader, no reward.

As for the romance, things move pretty quickly and get intense even quicker and I don't really understand how or why these things happened. I found it hard to understand them as individuals, beyond their basic traits, and why I should want them together; but I also think this was impeded by the fact that I heard too much of the author's voice in their characterization, if that makes sense? They didn't read true.

While I'm disappointed this wasn't a win, it wasn't one that I had been anticipating as this was offered to me directly from the publisher. It did sound interesting, or else I never would've signed on, but it's not quite the blow it would've been had this been on my radar before. I'm very thankful to have been offered this and think there is definitely an audience for this -- I can see many people enjoying it and some early readers already have! -- I just wasn't one of them.

Solomon’s Crown is the debut novel for Natasha Siegel that portrays an alternate history exploring the complex relationship between King Richard the Lionheart of England and King Phillip of France. The characters themselves are based on the real figures along with their family ties, but the story and characteristics are all fictional. There are some bits of history where Philip is married to Isabella at the time, he meets Richard and then expands this into a fictional story. These types of stories are both amazing and difficult for me as I, as the reader, need to separate fact from fiction and not automatically attempt to complete the fictional story with reality. Unfortunately, I did somehow manage to re-watch “The Lion in Winter” right before reading by coincidence, so it did take me a bit to separate the two stories. The author did do a great job, though, of giving the story some originality, so it became easier to separate them.

Richard’s part of the story goes into his family drama while Phillip looks at his identity as a figurehead. One has been king for awhile while the other has moved up in power, so the two are at different places in their lives and going through different conflicts. Each worry about their legacies in their own way and it is interesting to see how the author interpreted each character. The romance between the two of them did progress faster than I thought, but I did enjoy the chemistry and banter between them. I do still wish it felt a little more natural as it seemed they jumped from one point to another in the development a little quickly.

With the timeline, there was a lot of telling versus showing. I understand the possible intention as there was a lot to cover in a short number of pages; however, I still missed experiencing everything myself. The author does a great job crafting the characters and political tension, so it will be interesting to see if she continues to write based on real historical figures or if she will write some original creations in the future. The writing is descriptive and there is great prose although I wished for it to be a little more immersive. Overall, this was a unique take on historical figures in its own fictional world. I enjoyed the author’s style and would read more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Dell, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel is a historical fiction novel set in Europe in medieval times. It’s more of an alternate history of King Phillip of France and the Duke of Aquitaine, Richard, and their alliance to overthrow King Henry.

Story Recap:
Set in twelfth-century Europe, King Phillip of France recently ascended the throne after his father died when he was only 16. His main enemy is King Henry of England, who wants to take his lands and end his reign as king. Phillip must decide if he can trust King Henry’s son, Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, to form an alliance with him to take down King Henry.

Richard never planned to be king of England, but when he suddenly becomes the heir to the throne, he wants to overthrow his father and become the King of England. He decides he can use King Phillip to help him in his quest to become king.

Phillip and Richard have an unexpected and strong connection that only grows over time. Now they must decide whether to trust each other or keep moving toward their own separate ambitions.

My Thoughts:
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I don’t know much about this time in history, and I wanted to learn more. The author is very clear in the forward as well as her notes in the end, that this is not based on historical fact, but is an alternate history that is based on historical fact.

The author spent some time at the beginning of the book describing the scene and the history of Philip and Richard, and this slowed the beginning of the story. However, once the story got going, it went much faster and I enjoyed Richard and Phillips's story. It’s a violent and turbulent time, and both Richard and Phillip have huge responsibilities and ambitions. They find solace in each other as outside of their lives is a world full of uncertainty and danger.

The author did a wonderful job of re-imagining this time in history, with a beautiful romance that felt authentic while reminding us of the genuine perils and the many betrayals of the time period.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Solomon’s Crown to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A real life royal rivalry at the center of a fictionalized alt-history gay enemies to lovers romance in twelfth century Europe is an enticing draw to Solomon’s Crown. When I was offered the chance to read this one, I didn’t take long to think about it.

Phillip of France and Richard the Lion-hearted of England square off with old national rivalries, conflicting and complicated family connections, and a star-crossed affair that rose in secrecy and grew as the years went by and both came into their own.

I love historical fiction and don’t read it as often as I used to. I’m not one who minds when an author takes liberties with a real setting and real people under the right conditions. Those who know me are aware I like a good variation that asks ‘what if’. In this case, the author asks what if two powerful rival kings were to fall for each other. How would it arise? How would it all go down?

With the way the author filled in the historical backdrop and the tone that felt just right for such a genre undertaking, the way she built up the backstory and progression of Phillip and Richard’s lives in alternating points of view from their first forays as always enemies, but sometimes potential allies against Richard’s father Henry, I was in sync with her fascinating pair of lovers and their story.

I appreciated the story of Richard and Phillip as a whole, the development from enemies to lovers went rapidly. I loved Richard’s robust personality that seemed confident and ‘storm the castle’ on the outside with uncertainty and frustration on the inside set beside Phillip’s physically awkward and less confident outside that concealed the plotting, deep feeling and thinking man within. They saw each other’s strengths and flaws and, in the early times were as likely to exploit as protect. There were scenes that drew me in, but there were times I felt it was a passive story in the telling. Sometimes the court intrigue and machinations was dominant and at times the romance.

So, I loved it for the most part. I think the historical work that went into it was stellar. I had no trouble seeing the 12th century in this. I was captivated by the complex relationship of these two rules. This is for those who like the old-style historical fiction, but appreciate alt-history and variations, too.