Richard the Lionheart has only been tied the Robin Hood before I read this book. I learned about the real lack of connection to Robin Hood and the real struggles within his kingdom. I liked understanding how the relationship with John was the result of childhood and their parents. I now know why the crusades happened and how horrible it was for the all involved. I particularly felt sorry for Richard’s wife as she has no choice in being present. The hard part for me was that I don’t enjoy detailed battles scenes and that was a factor in chapters. I would recommend reading Warrior King if you want to know more about a tumultuous time of war.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

His hands left his face; he fell on his knees and prayed. ‘O, Mother of God, have pity on me, a sinner. Intercede with your Precious Son that I may be guided as to what I am to do…Am I to forsake my cause to recover the Holy Sepulchre from the unbelievers? Turn my back upon your Holy City and leave my followers to complete my Crusade? A deserter! Am I to save my earthly kingdom and lose Your kingdom of Eternal Life?


This novel of Richard the Warrior King gave me a good general picture of him from the time of his father’s death until his death. So the book begins after King Henry II’s sons have colluded with Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine against him, focusing on Richard’s Kingship which he spent largely away from his Kingdom in order to lead the Third Crusade.

While the book is well researched, I missed the more narrative aspect of a story. It almost reads like non-fiction giving a dry and scattered summary in chapter one of some background information before moving on to the crowning of Richard. The author uses phrases such as the following which take me out of the story;

Riding at the head of his cavalcade Richard would have seen…

…in view of the Plantagenet temper, we may reconstruct the scene something like this:

Richard the Lion Heart is a larger than life hero with a very non-traditional wife and mother. I wanted to hear ALL about them and his brother who wanted to steal his throne, Prince John of the Robin Hood stories. However, the focus is on Richard and his Crusade with the many relationships being tangential.