Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC and to the author for writing this spotlight on an amazing, forgotten woman from history!

It’s 1343, and Jeanne de Clisson’s warrior husband has been wrongfully murdered by the King of France. What ensues is a stunning tale of revenge that no one saw coming, certainly not the King. Just like Jeanne’s memory in history, he expected to just push her aside, but Jeanne refused to be forgotten or ignored!

This is a MUST read for any lover of history especially, but really it deserves to be read by the masses.

Violent and morally grey, but an enjoyable look at one of the many overlooked women of history. After King Phillip has her husband summarily executed for treason, Jeanne becomes a pirate in an attempt to hurt Phillip and avenge her husband. The novel explores the period where some women had power in a largely man’s world as well as the more personal stories of those harmed by power. Worth the read.

Based on the story of France's most notorious female pirate, The Lioness is a historical tale of betrayal, loyalty and revenge, and found family.

Jeanne de Clisson is such a powerful figure and I was initially completely swept away by this story. However, I don't feel like I really got to know her as a person -- I understand that she was out to avenge the death of her husband, but I felt like the overarching tone of rage overshadowed everything else in the book. I liked the other characters, but I did not like Jeanne until the very end of the book. Just made it hard for me to enjoy the story and I had a tough time staying interested. By the time I thought about DNFing, I wanted to keep going anyway because I was so far in.

I did enjoy the narrator and thought she captured the tone of the characters and action very well.

2.5 stars.

One of the reasons I’m not a big fan of audiobooks (after listening to just this one) is that I can’t go back and look at the names of characters or places or reread passages. So, this review is from memory. I’ll do my best! I wasn’t even sure how to spell Jeanne’s name until I saw it on Ms. Griffis’ website when I searched for the blurb. I’ll leave my dislike for the audiobook version out of my review. It’s not Ms. Griffis’ fault that I wasn’t a fan of the audiobook. 

One of my all-time favorite books is the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s SOOOO good! Think of that, but now make it a woman and make it 100 times more vindictive and rageful. Wow. Jeanne is one unhappy cookie!  

Jeanne’s husband had been out fighting for the king in the war. He hadn’t been home for years. Jeanne hears that he’s coming home and travels to the king’s palace to see his return...only to watch him be accused of treason and beheaded before her eyes. Yeah. She’s VERY angry.  

Jeanne gathers a whole bunch of allies, purchases a ship, and drops her young children off in a “safe” place. She then travels the seas burning down ships, raiding castles, and causing all sorts of chaos. She’s so brutal that she becomes known as The Lioness. She’s no longer a gentlewoman, but a notorious pirate. She has traded her castle, being with her children, and her lands for a ship, the ocean, and a few trusted friends. All of this to punish the king for killing her husband.  

It’s quite the story! There is lots of action, adventure, and death. Revenge is the ONLY thing on Jeanne’s mind, and consequently, she ends up losing a lot. I don’t know in the end if I’d think it were worth it, but she doesn’t bat an eye at all the destruction she leaves in her wake.  

I really liked a few of the supporting characters in the story. I did not like Jeanne at all. I couldn’t relate to her no matter how much I tried. Some of the people around her, though, redeemed the story for me. They showed that there was still humanity in all of the chaos. Were there any lessons learned? Maybe for some of the characters. It was difficult trying to like such an unlikable character, for me.  

I was not a huge fan of this book. So much death, destruction, and chaos. Also, I just felt like I was reading a telling of the story--not that I was in the story, if that makes sense. I just could not relate. I did a little bit of research and it looks like Jeanne is based on a real character in the 14th century. Her name was Jeanne de Clisson and she was a French noblewoman. Her nickname was “The Lioness of Brittany.” For me, personally, I could not live my life like that—seeped in revenge. But, she’s infamous now, so I guess it worked for her.

This book was well written and the plot was well built. I had a hard time with the relevant blocks of historical facts that were crammed in the dialogue and story. I feel like it would have been better without the blocks of history lessons breaking up the story.

Jeanne absolutely owns every page of The Lioness! She’s fierce, determined, and unstoppable, whether she’s outwitting enemies or wielding a sword, she refuses to back down. Her resilience and fire make her one of the best heroines I’ve read in a long time.

And Imani Jade Powers? Absolutely phenomenal. She “becomes” Jeanne, bringing every moment to life with raw emotion and intensity. Her narration adds so much depth and power to the story—I couldn’t stop listening.

The action is intense, the historical setting is rich, and the storytelling is top-tier. If you love badass heroines and incredible narration, this is a must-read (or must-listen)!

OMG Jeanne is a kickass heroine and this book fed my feminist rage so hard!! I had never heard of Jeanne "The Lioness" de Clisson, Lady Pirate that took on the Kingdom of France, and man this is the kinda girl boss shit that we should have been learning in History classes!! After watching her beloved husband be arrested and murdered without trial; she runs, hides her young children, gathers everything she can, and decides to take revenge on the King and all those that support him. She is strong and courageous but at times blinded by her thirst for vengeance and loses sight of what's most important. I loved that she was not perfect, she felt so real and her grief portrayed to perfection! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did such a good job having her emotions come through

5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This story was captivating, thrilling, cinematic, and leant beautiful color to the story of Jean de Clisson. The performance by Imani Jade Powers for this audiobook added such depth to all of the characters, but particularly enhanced the magnitude of Jean and her passion, rage, love, and ruthlessness. Centering this historical story around the women of the time and highlighting their stories made for a unique experience and gave voice to the typically bypassed, overlooked, and forgotten.

I can’t recommend this story enough for adult readers!

The Lioness AUDIO by Gigi Griffiths is a compelling historical fiction featuring a plethora of characters but primarily Jeanne de Clisson. Jeanne’s husband, Olivier, was a warrior who had been captured and released by Edward, King of England in 1343. At a tournament in his and the other releasees’ honor, King Phillip abruptly announced that all of them were traitors and they were to be executed, right then. So, in front of Jeanne’s eyes, the love of her life was beheaded, an act for which she would never forgive Phillip. She spends the next fifteen years doing everything she could to get to Phillip and kill him: became a pirate and a warrior, as well as an assassin. Phillip died before she could kill him and she realized that she had wasted her life on this endeavor and settled in with the man she now loved.

What a great listen. I did not read the book but I believe the audio was probably better. It was exciting, energetic, and realistic. She is one of a group of women warriors who have never received the space in history they deserved. This book is based on a real woman and on real deeds. King Phillip is never portrayed as a good guy and this is as accurate a portrayal as any. She was so full of hatred for this man that it blinded her to anything else. She lived through betrayals, and injuries, not to mention injustice. She was taken in by Edward’s court, who for a while supplied her with the money to continue her fight. I loved it!

The narrator was Imani Jade Powers who did an amazing job portraying Jeanne as she aged, as she fought, and as she loved. Five stars to her for this project.

I was invited to listen to The Lioness by Dreamscape Media. All thoughts and opinions are m ine. #Netgalley #DreamscapeMedia #GigiGriffiths #ImaniJadePowers #TheLioness

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gigi Griffis for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for The Lioness coming out February 18, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really loved the Empress by this author, so I was excited to receive this book. I’m obsessed with historical fiction mixed with true stories. I love revenge stories and all the complexities of the past. I think I was expecting something a little more epic like the Empress. It had all the makings of a really amazing story. The execution wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. I think Jeanne’s love for her children was more told than shown. There weren’t that many interactions. I was just hoping for a little more action. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

This book is perfect for feminine rage, maternal rage. It feels very empowering despite the tragic story.

I loved the FMCs resilience when the flicker of hope and will was almost gone. I love that she stood for what was right and wanting justice against a government that when against it's own laws.

I connected with the story as I'm a mom myself and it made me reflect at what lengths would I go for my family to avenge them and the wrongs committed.

The story is passionate and the writing is wonderful. The narrator does a great job of bringing the characters to life.

Highly recommend to anyone.

Jeanne is THE lioness and I loved every word of this title. It was a delight to read yet another story about strong women who defied gender norms and expectations to live a life they desired, even if revenge sparked it. A delightful read that was hard to stop listening to. The narrator was delightful and I look forward to more great historical fictton by this author.

The Lioness is a fictional retelling of the very-true story of Jeanne de Clisson after her husband is executed by the king of France without a trial in the year 1343. What follows is the tale of a noblewoman-turned-pirate as Jeanne seeks to exact her revenge upon the king who betrayed her family.

The audiobook narrator, Imani Jade Powers, does a wonderful job of capturing Jeanne's voice throughout this story.

Griffis has a strong grasp of character, presenting interesting and well-rounded main and side characters. Jeanne herself is presented as someone who is very emotionally reactive (that is, rage and anger), quick to draw her sword (of which she is well-versed with), and unforgiving yet also incredibly loyal to her loved ones - characteristics not typical of female characters in fiction. The side characters that accompany her on her journey provide a nice balance and opportunities for emotional growth. I have a particular weak spot for the damned devil cat, Monster, that accompanied Jeanne through much of her journey.

The story itself is well-executed and there were parts where I was very much on the edge of my seat. I struggled a bit with the ending, on one hand, I do believe Griffis concluded strongly, but, on the other hand, I kind of wish the payoff/conclusion wasn't so internal (I think I feel this way in part because Jeanne and the narrative were so obsessed with killing the men that wronged her). There were a couple concepts that were also a little bit too repetitive, but that's a minor thing.

Overall, I absolutely do recommend this novel. It's a crime that women like Jeanne are treated as no more than footnotes in history. Please be aware that this story does contain some heavy/dark content at times that some readers may find difficult.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for making the AudioARC available to me. All opinions are my own.

In the period when all revolved around white men, we have a story about women and narrated by women. And that's amazing. I give this book 3,5 stars because sometimes I was bored and confused, but I'll round it up to 4, because there were moments I'd enjoyed.

Jeanne was a great centre character, though I found some other characters more interesting. I feel like there weren't enough of her soft motherly side. A lot of emotion related to her children were either pain or rage or fear. The loving Jeanne wasn't portrayed enough here.

Amee and Pieter are amazing friends. I wish I had them as mine.

Thank NetGalley, publisher, author and narrator for my audiobook arc

Gosh am I a sucker for a historical fiction book with a kick butt FMC. And boy does this book deliver. I binged the whole audios book in 1 day.
I found myself rooting for Jeanne and her crew. This is not pick me girl energy….this is you came for me and my family so now I will kill everybody to get to you. To imagine that this is based on the life of a real woman (obviously not historically accurate), just makes it even more compelling.
When the world is as crazy as it atm ……we could all use a little Jeanne in our life!
5/5 stars for me.
I received and ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.

The Lioness by Gigi Griffis
Narrated by Imani Jade Powers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

As a wife and mother, I empathized with the pain and grief Jeanne felt after her husband was taken so brutally from her.
This story of Jeanne de Clisson's single-minded goal of revenge was influenced by the true events of The Count of Monte Cristo in 1343, which made it all the more painful, as the forty-three year old loses her entire world when Phillip VI, the King of France, arrests and beheads her husband for treachery, with no trial or evidence.

I did get upset at Jeanne's blind rage and her focus on revenge, despite the fact that her children, both grown and young, were caught constantly in the cross-hairs. I don't hold this against the author though, as Jeanne was a real person and made real mistakes (in my opinion).
Her tale was epic and exciting, and a wonderful read for any Historical FIction fan, or anyone wanting to read more about women warriors of the past.

Imani Jade Powers' delivery of in the narration of the audiobook was also superb. She brought so much life, excitement, and pain to the story which made it all the more engaging.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Gigi Griffis for the ALC.
All opinions expressed in this review are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of The Lioness audiobook. I loved this one. I would do 4.5 stars if it would let me. I have often been interested in the untold stories of fierce women throughout history, and although some of this is dramatized or made up because many real-life details are unknown, much of this is true. I could tell the Author did a ton of research, even more, evidenced by her added details post-story. I appreciated that throughout Jeanne’s story, she also mentions other famous women who had inspired her, and the authors note about whom those characters were in real life.

Jeanne represents the woman I sometimes wish I could be. Not so much the killing, as the fact that she is unapologetically herself. I love that this woman didn’t let society beat the wild out of her. I also love that this is not some polished version in which you don’t see the mess, the mistakes, the stubbornness that is sometimes to her detriment. This is a revenge tale, and at times she took it too far. Yet, this is also a tale of her growth as a person

I knew from the beginning that her husband was set to die. It was still hard to listen to her be so excited and happy for him, knowing what was to come. This book takes you through the entire gamut of emotions. There are wins and there are some very hard losses.

One thing I didn’t expect in this story was the found family element. I adored the side characters in this book. Her relationships are sometimes complicated, yet full of so much love. I felt connected to each of them (especially Monster 😉). I also loved that there was occasionally an outside perspective of other women relevant to the events occurring.

4 ⭐
Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this audio ARC.

This book helped solidify that I need to read more historical fiction. We follow along Jeanne de Clisson's journey as she puts together army to avenge her husband's death and makes sure that nothing stands in her way. A perfect book to read it you support Women's rights and women's wrongs

I HIGHLY recommend listening to the author's note in the end for her reasons to write this story.

More people need to read this for sure.

This is a great adaptation of a legendary female that history books neglect to mention. The author did a great job in telling Jeanne’s story, it’s very engaging and I was invested beginning to end. The pace is great and the narrator did a fantastic job in telling the story.

A fictionalized account of characters and events, The Lioness is the tale of a fearsome and vengeful woman who builds an army to avenge her husband's death. This book highlights the prominent women who were left out of the history books, but had a large role in the medieval battles between France and Spain. Gigi Griffis is like a less verbose version of Bernard Cornwell.

Fantastic audio narration.