The Innocent

So many books, so little time

I found this book to be vulgar and lewd. The story was interesting, but the sexual aspect of the book was overplayed. It was oddly written, with awkward sentences and phrasing. Authors should copy Kipling in reading out their sentences as they write them, thereby improving the flow of the book. I didn't choose to finish it... So many books, so little time. This one just isn't worth it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Trilogy

I picked up Vol. 2 & 3 at a thrift shop, so, of course, I had to get Vol. 1. I love 15th & 16th Century historical fiction, so 'The Innocent' fit that bill perfectly!

Wonderful book to get lost in

This book may not be the most historical of fiction but it truly pulls the reader in to the environment of those times. A wonderful vacation read!

needs a rewrite

The first part was intense I was definitely sitting on the edge of my seat but that's not enough because everything else was ridiculous. The king is a self-centered baby and all the action was ripped out abruptly. It basically sucked and I was so hoping for so much more. It was a good idea that took a bad turn.

What a disappointment! ***SPOILERS WILL BE MARKED***

After many years of delving into Tudor history, I've recently been exploring the years during the Wars of the Roses. I find the advent to the Throne of the House of York quite fascinating. These were tumultous years, when indeed a "nobody" whose only claim to the throne came from a tenuous, illegitimate Plantagenet connection, could found a dynasty and become grandsire to one of Britain's greatest monarchs.

Unfortunately, we are all aware that it has recently become the fashion to use this fascinating history as mere backdrop for blazing bodice-rippers which have a closer connection to "Sweet Savage Love" than to anything written by Alison Weir. Without the psychological verisimilitude of SSL, that is.

If you wish to read an exciting, titillating book in which a young woman finds love at first sight and discovers a secret which gives her the power to challenge kings as their equal, you may enjoy this book. Although I found the "love" scenes debasing and repugnant - even the "transformational" one, which made absolutely no sense in terms of where the characters and plot were going.

***SPOILERS NOW***
In my opinion, the main premise of this book, which is that a young woman finds "true love" with Edward IV (and this deep understanding of each other comes from a few soulful glances while she serves his wife) but must give up this love because the secret of her birth has been exposed. The secret? That she is the "love-child" of Henry VI and one of his wife's waiting women.

(During this period of the Wars of the Roses, there were two anointed Kings who battled for the throne: Henry VI who lost the throne and Edward IV who was the son of the Duke of York and who won the crown in battle.)

Graeme-Evans reveals this secret to us as a deus ex machina so that Anne (her protagonist)will be forced to deny her love with Edward and go into exile. Why must she go into exile, you wonder? After all, not only is she illegitimate and a woman, but even the proofs she has as to her identity and birth are flimsy and basically depend upon the word of two women, one lowborn.

Well, according to Graeme-Evans, this dubious ancestry puts her teenage protagonist on a par with Edward IV and any other ruling monarch! As soon as Anne and her cohorts become aware of her birth, an aura of regal bearing envelops this callow girl so that she is endowed with the inborn power to make Dukes cower and a reigning, anointed king to view her as his equal. So much his equal, that in order for him to keep his throne, her existence is a threat which must be diminished one way or another.

Now isn't it funny that a few short years later the children of Edward IV and Elizabeth Wydville are disqualified from ruling because his pre-contract with Eleanor Butler taints them with illegitimacy? It was very common for kings to keep their illegitimate children within the family structure, ennobling them and ensuring their futures; while these children were never seen as serious heirs to the throne.

And the British were very opposed to the idea of a Queen Regnant. They had had some unpleasant experiences with Queen Isabella and Queen Marguerite (Henry VIs wife), thank you very much.

In addition to this, in order to gain the throne, it was basically necessary to raise an army and champion them to victory. NOT skills taught to a young girl raised in a forest by a "wise woman."

Loved it!

One of the most 'readable' historical fiction novels I've found - definitely on a par with Phillipa Gregory. Can't wait to read the next two in this series, and am looking forward to much, much more from Ms. Graeme-Evans.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

More then expected!

This a great piece of Historical fiction. It kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. It was defiantly worth reading. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this trilogy.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

Full of mystery, drama, and romance. It's wonderful. I couldn't stop reading it! I highly recommend this book.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow

You will feel every emotion felt by each of the characters in this extraordinary tale. I can't wait to pick up The Exile. To the Author: Bravo.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Simply Amazing

This was the best book I've read in a while. The love story is just great and the fact that you're actually learning something is crazy!It's not a cheesy romance that makes you think 'yeah right.'

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Captivating Tale of the Late Middle Ages

This is basically a pauper-to-princess story, which in the hands of a lesser writer might be just another bodice-ripper. Instead, this is a feast for any lover of historical fiction. Ms. Graeme-Evans has a special affinity for fifteenth-century England, as the period details are excellent and clearly well-researched, particularly in respect to domestic life and the medicinal use of herbs. Her narrative style is straightforward and well-paced, so that I was completely absorbed in the story from the first page. I look forward to reading the next installment in the tale of the beautiful and resourceful Anne.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Make sure you can ignore the clock!

Set in England in the 1450s, Ms. Graeme-Evans paints a picture of Pre-Tudor England, that allows the reader to walk alongside each character. She invokes each scene, so beautifully, with the sights, sounds, fashions and, yes, even smells, of the times. Tudor history is my ultimate passion, as is the Renaissance, but while I thought I was being handed a book of the same title by another author, it was not until arriving home with this book instead, that I thought it might be nice to step a bit further back in time, by 35 years, and get to know this whole slew of characters. I was so bowled over, I literally could not put this book dowm, and didn't realize this was the first of a trilogy, until the last page. Thank goodness, because there is no way this story could have come to a resolve any sooner, and I am so excited to start the second of the three. Ms. Graeme-Evans worked in the entertainment industry in Australia for 25 years, before making this, her first attempt at writing. Knowing what keeps an audience interested from beginning to end, certainly has carried through in her writing, spectacularly! From page one, you will be gripped. Romance, mystery, intrigue, devotion, betrayal- it's all here. You won't be disapointed!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A mediocre novel

The Innocent is a rather good story about a young woman in charge of her own destiny, and the novel follows her through what is undeniably a fascinating era of history. However I did find it to be a bit slow and devoid of any unique writing style. It dragged on, and I was compelled to finish it quickly so I could at least know what became of the character and get it over with. Its sequel, The Exiled, was not much different than the first.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

GET THIS BOOK

This book was the best historical fiction book i have ever read, because it just didnt relay the history of some king or queen's reign but because it had a whole seperate subplot that just doesnt surround history. There actually is a mystery and a wonderfully exciting storyline. I loved this book so much i went out and got the next book in the trilogy, The Exiled, the next night and now i cannot wait until the third comes out. You will not be dissapointed with this book. It was truly enchanting.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic

I have always been a lover of historical fiction, and this one just swept me away. Thist story made the reader felt the emotions of the characters. It was strong, gripping and wouldn't let you put it down until it's finished leaving you longing for more.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent

I really liked this book, because even though the protagonist is made out to be better than she really is, the author put the story together well. The author captured the emotions so well the reader can feel the longing and the ache that the people in the story feel. Though I used to have no interest in the War of the Roses, this book led me to find out more about Edward, Hastings, and some of the major characters.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Best in Historical Fiction!

I loved the description and plot for this book! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and often find there are not enough intelligent, detailed books available in this genre. I can't wait to read the next one in this series!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

perfect book

This book perfectly portrays life in medieval England. It is somewhat of a fairy tale, a peasant girl reaches beyond her station to achieve much more than she ever would have imagined. The colorful way the author writes brings vivid images of the age to life, and makes you catch each character¿s innermost feeling. If you enjoy fairy tales, romance, lust, betrayal and all that stems from these, this book captures it all.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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