<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60522607-solomon-s-crown" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Solomon's Crown" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1661349567l/60522607._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60522607-solomon-s-crown">Solomon's Crown</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22269977.Natasha_Siegel">Natasha Siegel</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5161001537">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I really enjoyed this book about the relationship between King Phillip of France and King Richard of England. They start out as rivals and friends but ended up a love relationship with Phillip the more reluctant one. I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book but I was very surprised how much I loved it.
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This book is a gift, a balm, a heartbreak and a delight. A tender story of two star-crossed royal lovers, duty-bound to kin and country and heart-bound to one another; I couldn't put it down, and can't recommend it enough.

A reimagined medieval romance between the King Phillip of France and heir to England, Richard, Duke of Aquitaine. Two rivals fall in love and even go to war with each other but have to choose which is more important to them - pride or love.

As someone who has zero historical knowledge, this was quite an interesting read. To take two historical figures and create a new intertwined love story is so romantic and progressive.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Two real historical figures, a take on their relationship, and the line between duty and love. In the 12th century Europe, newly crowned king Philip of France wants to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to is name but then he meets his greatest enemy, King Henry of England who threatens to end his reign... Philip needs to make alliances... and the best option would be Henry’s son who dislikes his own father. Richard, Duke of Quitaine wants nothing more than to overthrow his father whom he despises, and get his mother back from her imprisonment... yet when both Richard and Philip meet, sparks fly and soon passion and politics collide. Both of them have duties they have to deal with, courts and politics they have to navigate, but the heart want what it wants, and they have to ask if they are willing to risk their place in history for each other. The story was difficult for me to get through, I do love a historical reimagining and take, but this one just kind of never really got my attention or held it, the book blurb got me interested but when I actually started reading the story I found that it was hard to get into. The romance was okay but it never truly captured my attention the way others have and the the politics were heavy, but that is to be expected. Maybe I’m just not in the right mood or the right person to read it right now but it unfortunately did not work for me despite how much I wanted it to. Nevertheless, give it a go if you are into queer historical stories with politics and romance.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Up front I should say that I was skeptical about this book at first. I wondered how Siegel might pull off an alternative and romantic history of two such well known kings as Richard I of England and Phillip II of France. I have read a lot of books about the Angevins, my favorites being Sharon K. Penman's excellent series, and Henry II is probably one of my favorite kings for the sheer family drama of it all.

Solomon's Crown was a pleasant surprise. It focused rather intimately on Richard and Phillip and their feelings about their families, their legacies, their kingships, and each other. The book takes place largely while Henry II is still alive and Richard has, after the death of his older brother, suddenly found himself next in line for a throne he never wanted, his Dukeship of his beloved Aquitaine threatened by his father's insistence that one son should not inherit both Aquitaine and England. Phillip, on the other hand, has been king for some time and as such, his concerns are far different from those of Richards, and he constantly finds himself torn between his personal desires and the needs of France.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that in the broad strokes, Solomon's Crown does stay relatively close to historical facts, and this is possible mainly because of the tight focus on a specific period of time and zeroing in on several specific conflicts. Richard's story largely focuses on his complicated relationships with his father, mother, and brothers. Phillip meanwhile struggles to define himself as a person rather than a figurehead. Both men ask themselves what it means to be a king, how to retain their humanity while being largely symbolic figures, and how to choose love when duty seems to require hate.

The speculation that King Richard I and King Phillip II might have been lovers is not a new one, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest that they may have been. Certainly they had a very complicated relationship that was at times more friendly and at times antagonistic. The romance Siegel gives us does a find job of capturing the push and pull between the two. If they were indeed lovers, it would certainly have been a very fraught relationship. Even during times of peace, France and England were almost expected to go to war eventually, and this is never far from either king's mind.

I enjoyed the characterizations of the two kings. Introverted and bookish Phillip, who was a sickly child and is rather pathetic with a sword is nevertheless more ruthless in his willingness to do what is required of him as king, even if it means betraying Richard. Richard, an accomplished warrior who seems completely at home on the battlefield, is the more lovesick of the two. Aquitaine is Richard's first love, and Phillip is his second, and he repeatedly risks it all for the sake of both. The first person narratives are introspective and lyrical, and with a distinct voice for each king.

This book does not include the Crusades, nor any of the various medieval pogroms against the Jewish people that both Plantagenet and Capet kings were responsible for, and does present a rather romanticized view of both king Richard and king Phillip. That said, Siegel is very up front about this being an alternate history and I think within that context, it is a successful book. Though romanticized, both kings are very flawed people, and they are not anachronistic in their sensibilities, the uglier parts of medieval history are simply set aside for the sake of the narrative.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and would recommend it for anyone who enjoys the Angevin era and also enjoys queer romance, but won't be tempted to nitpick the places where the narrative deviates from history.

This was so good, I loved EVERY MINUTE, every PAGE. The family drama between Richard, his father the king, and his brothers was compelling and totally had me invested. I know a (small) bit about the Angevins and the Plantagenets (Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and King John included) and I thought it was a very believable way for their stories to unfold. (Again, any historical knowledge is fairly irrelevant to the plot or general enjoyment of this book. But it was very cool getting to see Richard speak to his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine.) I was completely invested.

The development of the relationship between Richard and Philip was a delicious slow burn and totally had me all in from the beginning. It was such a beautiful connection between the two.

I thought the book was poignant and so beautifully written. The scenes between Philip and Richard are full of unspoken feelings, angst, electricity and sensuality. Later, there are incredible declarations of love and desire. The big question, though, is: will it end like Captive Prince, with two kings in love coming together to rule both kingdoms in peace, or like Song of Achilles, doomed to their fate and parted by death? I was internally screaming during the last 1/3 of the book!

Book: Solomon’s Crown
Author: Natasha Siegel
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Dell, for providing me with an ARC.

For those of you who don’t know, medieval English history is a bit of a weakness for me. It’s a topic that interests me and is difficult for me to get away from. Whenever the publisher reached out with a chance to read a book about Richard the Lionheart and Phillip Augustus, I jumped at it. I knew that this was a historical fiction centred around the two kings and knew that things were not going to follow history exactly. If you are looking for something that is historically accurate and it is going to bother you that it isn’t, then this is not going to be the book for you. However, if you are looking for a fun historical fiction romance with bits of history sprinkled in, then look no further.

In this one, we explore the rumour that Richard and Phillip had a romantic relationship. Now, throughout my journeys into the medieval world, I have come upon sources that bring this up. This author takes this idea and gives it to us as if it were real. We are told the story through Richard and Phillip as they struggle to come to turns with their feelings for one another and deal with the thought that someday they might have to kill each other. This alone sets this book up to be a tradegy, but don’t worry, it’s not. Instead we follow these two men through their romance, betrayals, and messy family life.

I liked the use of first person. At first, I didn’t see how it was going to work, but it did. I don’t think that third person would have made this book have the punch that it did. By giving both Richard and Phillip their own characters and doing it in first person, it allows us to really get into their heads and see what they are thinking. We get a true sense of who all of the characters are and what they stand for. I liked getting to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes things and seeing their daily lives-more so done from Phillip’s point of view than Richard’s. This allows us to build a bond with the characters and gives us a reason to care. It makes all of their interactions that much more meaningful. Plus, you do get to see just how truly complicated and complex things can be.

I will say that I thought this book was very well-researched. Even though this is fiction, there is a ton of history weaved in. We go to historical sites, meet historical people, and get a look into medieval life. Again, a lot of it isn’t how it played out in history. Once you move past that little detail, you will find yourself being swept up into the lives of medieval people and get to see just truly how complex this period is. This author has the gift of bringing the past alive, which is something that I don’t see done this well a lot. She takes something that happened a thousand years ago and gives it new life. This is exactly what I am looking for whenever I pick up a historical fiction book. To give readers a reason to care, you have to bring that light and this author nails that on the head
Overall, I did enjoy this title. If you are looking for good medieval historical fiction, then I encourage you to pick this one up.

This book comes out on March 14, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/9v6fu5nqzhk

This book was beautifully written and I absolutely adored the romance. I am not a history buff so I cannot attest to any historical accuracies but overall I loved this and read this in one sitting.

I'm not sure I can bend belief to believe this fictional account of history. But it was still an interesting read. It's just not something I would read again.

Thanks to OneNote my original review was eaten [with a few others I need to redo which is tedious & never as good as the originals] & so I start anew. This book is a fantasy of what if isims. The author takes great license creating & leaving out numerous battles & such to instead present a romantic, slightly erotic love story without being maudlin. The basis of this tome is the frail King Phillip of France & robust King Richard the Lionhearted. Two such polar opposites would be harder to find but at the same time there is & has been talk & some evidence of them sharing a bed when young at least at one point in time. It would be far from unheard of at that period of time or status. I found it fanciful as well as a bit thought provoking. The intrigue as well as the cold-bloodedness of the houses Is duly noted, in particular the English Anglo Saxon as well as their probable established enemy status at the ends of their time interacting. It would have been expected from their very houses. In authors notes James Reston Jr's Warriors of God one of the histories of time & them had the most credence to a youthful dalliance.

Diving into this read I found the history daunting and lack luster. Although the storyline was filled with interesting characters and moved at a good pace, I had a hard time getting through the first part. It wasn't until the middle of the book that the story really took flight for me and I couldn't put it down. Even though this story started off slow, I really did love how it turned out. Still a good read.

Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel is a fantastic tale of love, intrigue and suspense with an excellent medieval setting.
A beautifully written debut. This author knows how to weave a wonderful story.
Amazing world building and great story line with remarkable characters.
I have not read a story like this before and I doubt another could hold a light to it.
I didn't want it to end and found myself slowing down towards the end.
Utterly captivating. And truly unique. I loved everything this book had to offer!

Happy reading!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Random House, Ballantine & Dell,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

An enjoyable book! Rivals to lovers!! Not historically accurate as the author state so it is a work of fiction based on real people. Definitely worth picking up.

This was unbearable to read. The synopsis made it sound so good, but it was anything but that. It was slow, boring, and illogical. I spent the whole book counting down to the last page.

I'll admit, I read this one for the romance. I expected a romance akin to the one in A Strange and Stubborn Endurance - rivals -> lovers with political aspects. This one want that. The instalove was sickly, and the political aspects were painfully boring. Which is so disappointing, because I normally love politics in books. Normally, they add an entirely new perspective and make things fun. In this one, they just added more pages, which was the last thing I wanted.

The only thing that helped me enjoy this even a tiny bit was Isabella. I can't even tell you why, but I liked her. She was cute. And her and Philip's relationship was endearing. But other than that, I hated reading this. I'm so happy to be done with it

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

It needs to be stated that I have little to no knowledge of medieval European history. Whatever I learned in high school clearly didn't stick because I'm still not quite sure what/where Aquitaine was. I only say this because this book clearly made me obsessed with a romantically queer alternative version of history that I will now accept as undisputed truth.

I loved this book. It was beautifully written and achingly romantic. I couldn't put it down, cried multiple times, and made a million little highlights in my kindle; what more can you ask from a novel?

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for so kindly providing me with an ARC after hearing my friends gush over this book. I cannot recommend this more.

What a wonderful story! For fans of Circe and Song of Achilles. This story follow King Philip and King Richard as they navigate through a time of war in France and England and falling in love. I couldn’t put this down. The writing and story were absolutely beautiful.

Wow, I did not expect to love this one this much. I absolutely loved reading the relationship between the more confident Richard and shyer more gentle Philip. This book was beautifully written and I am so glad the author decided to make this more of a romance than historically accurate. This reminded me a bit of song of Achilles, and readers who liked that story will enjoy this one. I loved it.

This was a well written book of court intrigue and romance - about what you are willing to give up for love versus what is expected from you. The inheritance of a title and what is expected with that title is a good parallel to the basic expectations from family that sometimes need to be changed in order to live one's authentic life. Also nice to read a book with a happy ending.

An absolutely stunning novel. I could have easily read at least another 100 pages. Prose that are as beautiful as they are heartbreaking and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're being drawn into the story itself. My soul aches for more queer historical fiction like this. Now I just need a physical copy to underline my favorite parts, aka the whole thing.

Two destined rivals fall desperately in love—but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance. This was absolutely spellbinding. Enemies to lovers is my guilt pleasure and this is done right!!