Devils Brood by Sharon Kay Penman

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Fri October 17th, 2008, 5:05 am

[quote=""1lila1""]Ash, I found that I needed to take a break 2/3 of the way in. After spending most of Saturday reading, Sat. night I needed to just chill, do some Yoga, and watch some TV. It could've also just been reading overload. All of SKP's books are pretty meaty and not light fiction by far. But this book held my attention fast and I couldn't wait to get to the next page. But I do agree that most SKP's books are for hardcore HF fans. Here Be Dragon's is an exception though. I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with that book!

And great review, Telynor! I always look forward to your reviews![/quote]

Thank you very much for the compliment -- I'm glad that I can help entertain folks.

I too had to stop at various points throughout this one as well, and with most 'serious' novels that I read. I certainly can't just rip through them in one sitting as I can with most historicals. It's bothered me sometimes when I have had to do this, but now that I find I'm not the only one to do so, makes me feel not quite so odd.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri October 17th, 2008, 1:48 pm

I'm finding I'm doing that myself more and more and I actually end up appreciating the book better when I'm back to it in the right frame of mind. Right now I'm reading one that really needs to be slowly savored in shorter reading sessions but since it's an ILL and its due Monday I'm having to push myself and I'm starting to not enjoy it as much as I should.

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Mon October 20th, 2008, 11:21 am

Glad to hear that SKP will continue Eleanor´s saga...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun October 26th, 2008, 10:41 pm

I put together an armchair tour of some of the settings of Devil's Brood. We'll start with some French castles.

Chinon Castle: first fortified by Theobald I, Count of Blois in 954, a favorite residence of Henry II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinon (The castle link is acting up, so scroll down until you see the castle link in the Chinon article.)

Château de Gisors: first building occurred in about 1095
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Gisors

Palace of Poitiers: seat of the Counts of Poitou and Dukes of Aquitaine, first construction began in the 9th century, destroyed by fire in 1018 and rebuilt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Poitiers

Falaise Castle: originally the seat of the Dukes of Normandy, birthplace of William the Conqueror
http://www.chateau-guillaume-leconquera ... dex_uk.php

Château de Saumur: first built in the 10th cenutry, owned by the Counts of Anjou
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Saumur

Château de Loches: designed and built by Henry II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loches_Castle

Château de Dol

Château de Taillebourg: in ruins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2te ... aillebourg

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun October 26th, 2008, 10:43 pm

Now for some French abbeys.

Fontevrault Abbey: first built 1100-1119; burial place of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard I, Henry and Eleanor’s daughter Joanna, and Isabella of Angoulême, wife of John; remains were destroyed during the French Revolution; the effigies are all that is left
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontevrault
http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pag ... evraud.htm

Savigny Abbey: founded in the 12th century, in ruins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savigny_Abbey

Mont Saint-Michel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_St._Michel
http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun October 26th, 2008, 10:51 pm

Some English and Welsh settings:

Dover Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Castle

Woodstock Palace: Henry II spent time with Rosamund Clifford here; palace was destroyed during the English Civil War; Blenheim Palace, the home of the Dukes of Marlborough, was built on the site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Palace

St. David Abbey in Wales: present cathedral was started in 1181
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_David%27s_Cathedral

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun October 26th, 2008, 10:57 pm

Oh thank you for that! I discovered the English and Welsh castles after reading the Welsh trilogy. Those pictures certainly add to the enjoyment of the book.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun October 26th, 2008, 10:59 pm

[quote=""Ash""]Oh thank you for that! I discovered the English and Welsh castles after reading the Welsh trilogy. Those pictures certainly add to the enjoyment of the book.[/quote]

You're welcome. I'll add some more photos and info if I come across any more settings. The ones I posted I got from the map.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon October 27th, 2008, 12:34 am

Susan, awesome work and thank you so much for taking the time. Especially since I think you were procrastinating on grading papers?

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon October 27th, 2008, 1:01 am

[quote=""Misfit""]Susan, awesome work and thank you so much for taking the time. Especially since I think you were procrastinating on grading papers?

[/quote]

You'll be glad to know that I did the research after I graded papers and did my lesson plans and preparation.