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.

I flew thru this audiobook. This was a side of history I don't remember hearing about. I love a good story about women taking charge. If you love Historical Fiction and not so delicate women, you'll love this.


The narration was good. The accent for the love interest seemed to change throughout.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put down The Lioness. This is about a woman scorned and the things we do for love, family, and justice. Jeanne de Clisson is a force to be reckoned with. She is a wife, mother and friend: fierce and brave and strong! She was amazing! Nothing stood in her way. Oh how we need a Jean in this day and time. I loved the supporting characters and how they loved, grounded and supported her. Griffis writes vividly and I felt like I was sailing on the pirate ships and invading the castles with Jeanne. If you like stories about strong women, revenge, with love and hope mixed in read this. This book also shared information on a time in history that I did not know much about. Definitely a 5 star rating from me!

I also love when authors include a note at the end explaining how they came to write the story and what is true and what they took liberties with. Griffis does a good job of this. She also includes other works in case you would like to learn more.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the copy of the audio book for my honest opinion.

Wow! This book was amazing! I love historical fiction, and I love a strong female character even more. The Lioness has a little bit of everything, heartbreak, joy, romance, and battles. I had heard in passing about " The lady pirate", but I believe this is the most I've read about her. Gigi Griffis is able to pull out those raw emotions that I believe I would go through if the love of my life was taken from me. If you like historical action packed stories, then you should check this one out.

True story--I was looking for another book that had a similar cover, but thought the premise of this book sounded cooler. So happy to have received this as an ALC! Thanks Dreamscape Media.

This FMC is a bad a$$. Total definition of feminine rage. She watches her husband be beheaded and her first thought is to kill the killers. She keeps mentioning her mother's teachings. I would have liked to see how those teachings made her so hardened. This book almost seems like a sequel because we come in right to the action. A prequel of the FMCs earlier life would be amazing.

This book was very tragic. It was difficult to watch this courageous woman lose everyone she loves.

The cat Monster stole the show.

I kept thinking of the song, "Bring the lion out".

Fave quotes: "For now, she wasn't the most furious thing on the English Channel." "She spent her whole life proving she was a threat." "Yes there were warrior women. No they aren't as rare as you think."

The authors note at the end was awesome. Women are footnotes in history; however, as mentioned in the quote above, warrior women aren't as rare as you think.

This review will be shared to my bookstagram toomanyfivestarreads.

**I received an advanced listening copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Griffis, known for her book "The Empress" and its subsequent adaptation on Netflix, brings to light another real life woman relegated to the shadows of history, Jeanne de Clisson. Jeanne lived during the time of The Hundred Years' War, and Griffis begins her story at the origin of Jeanne's rage. Her husband murdered by the French king, Jeanne decides she has to fight back to avenge her husband's death. Fueled by legends and rumors, Jeanne takes to piracy and battles against mercenaries, soldiers, and the king's supporters. Jeanne earns the nickname The Lioness for her ferocious fights and her unerring pursuit for justice.

As the author's note indicates, this fictionalized story about Jeanne presents a new perspective on the recorded histories of the 1300s. While histories are a collection of perspectives, most of the perspectives learned through popular history sources and through school are written by a specific demographic. This story helps to convey that not just white men fought for beliefs, king, and country; rather, there were a number of women warriors during the Middle Ages, as well as diverse groups of individuals who contributed to battles and freedoms.

This engaging story lets Jeanne's voice be heard. The repetitious musings on revenge for lost loved ones could be a bit distracting at times, and these left Jeanne seeming either a rather obstinate character or, much like a lion, keen for the next big attack. However, the narrative itself shows how much respect Jeanne earns as a warrior during this time, and the reader is left cheering on Jeanne as she considers her next big adventure.

The audio narration is very good for this story, with the voice actress portraying various characters--and various dialects--superbly. There is that sense of rage always under the surface of Jeanne's words as she speaks throughout the narrative, and the voice actress really does well to convey this.

I'd recommend this as a complement to Philippa Gregory's historical fiction accounts--a good way to learn a bit more about women in history in an accessible way. #TheLioness #NetGalley

I flew through this audiobook! Thank you #NetGalley and #Dreamscape for this #ARC. It was definitely worth the read. Jeanne is now on my ever-growing list of female role models who I'm mad I didn't learn about in history class. Somehow my high school and college education didn't make clear that women in Europe were often warriors in the 1300s.

While the protagonist, who legend apparently refers to as The Lioness for her grit and prowess in battle, is a tad delusional and cliché at times (at least with the creative license used in this portrayal), there is no doubt she is a strong female main character. I thought the writing style was great, the pacing was appropriate, and the interpersonal relationships between the characters was touching but also pretty realistic. I like how her platonic bestie often called her out. I also love that we get a few chapters from the POV of other badass ladies, like the queens of France and England at the time and one of the king of France's mistresses. I'd definitely like to read more from this author and more historical fiction from this era.

Holy Smokes Jeanne. I am in love with your bravery, courage, deep abiding love and your unholy need for vengeance. Really, this book was just so good. The writing style, the prose, dialogue, characters. Just nailed it! And Walter, omg in the background, but so not. Every character had their purpose.

Very nicely done and definitely an author to follow

#netgalley #TheLioness

The Lioness by Gigi Griffis is an engaging and fast-paced novel that offers a captivating look into the life of Jeanne de Clisson. While I found the beginning to be a bit choppy and felt that some of the relationships lacked depth, the story gained momentum as it progressed, becoming more and more compelling.

What stood out most to me was how Jeanne was portrayed—not just as a noble or a warrior, but as a multifaceted woman who was a leader, a mother, and a force to be reckoned with. Her complexity and resilience were inspiring, and I appreciated how Griffis balanced her many roles.

Despite its rough start, The Lioness delivers an unforgettable story of strength and determination, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction centered on strong, dynamic women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this book. It was very hard to put down. Very easy to follow and great storyline. I am very thankful I was picked to listen to this audiobook before it is published and will definitely buy a copy of the book. Will be highly recommending it!!

The Lioness by Gigi Griffis was narrated by Imani Jade Powers. I enjoyed this and not surprised that history left this courageous woman out of our history classes. The author wrote a compelling story about love, loss and revenge. I enjoyed all the characters and was satisfied with the ending. The narrator was an excellent choice for this novel and I think it was a great listen. This was a clean read.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

This had all the makings of a book I’d devour—revenge, piracy, and a woman hellbent on wrecking a king’s entire existence. And don’t get me wrong, there were moments where I was fully onboard, ready to hoist the black flag and set sail with Jeanne de Clisson. But somewhere along the way, the wind died down, and I was left drifting.

The historical backdrop? Fantastic. The sheer audacity of Jeanne’s story? Love it. But the execution felt… muted. For a tale about a lady pirate slashing her way through 14th-century France, I expected more grit, more fire. Instead, some parts felt repetitive, and Jeanne’s character, while fascinating, never quite pulled me in emotionally the way I wanted.

That said, if you love historical fiction with a dash of revenge and don’t mind a slower, more introspective take on piracy, this might be your thing. I just wanted a bit more oomph—or at least one truly unhinged, cackling villain moment.

1343 and Jeanne de Clisson is about to change her life following the beheading of her second husband, without trial. Jeanne wants revenge and will become the Lioness, feared by many. She burns castles and takes to the sea destroying merchant ships. But the King will hunt her and her family.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in this novel based on history. Well paced and action packed. She was determined to succeed with the help of others who will all put their lives in danger. Great read.

This revenge tale is one that will have readers cheering one minute and seething the next as they follow the exploits of one of France’s most notorious lady pirates.

Jeanne de Clisson’s life splinters apart when French King Phillip VI arrests and beheads her beloved husband for treason without warning or a trial. The noble class is shocked, no more than Jeanne herself. Now left with her three young children, she makes a plan and finds allies as she is determined to seek her vengeance for the one she loved.

From burning down castles to destroying merchant ships on the high seas, Jeanne earns a reputation for her cunning and ruthless behavior in the name of retribution. “The Lioness” becomes something of myth and legend as she fights to destroy the French king all while he sends mercenaries to destroy her and the ones she holds dear.

Based on a true historical woman from the 14th century, Jeanne’s wrath is that of legend during France and England’s Hundred Years’ War. This is an era I knew little about, but Gigi Griffis touches on all the reasons that led to this conflict that dominated part of the Middle Ages. Jeanne is a fascinating character to be sure, and readers will find themselves rooting for her even when her moral boundaries get shaky.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and of course the author Gigi Griffis for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Lioness is out on February 18th. All opinions are my own.

I listened to The Lioness as an audiobook. The author did a good job in arranging the story and explaining the way things happened. I thought the characters could have had more depth though. For instance, the main character was portrayed as a badass feminist with a take charge attitude. That was pretty much as far as it went though. There was not a lot of emotional depth as to who she was as a person. It was, however, a decent historical fiction piece about an event in history that I was unfamiliar with. And since it was an audiobook, I will mention that the narrator felt too forced in her storytelling. It did not feel like it was flowing naturally, which is also why I am giving it three stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Gigi Griffis, and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to an audio recording of The Lioness in the return of an honest review.

The Lioness is the story of Jeanne de Clisson, a badass French woman who vowed revenge on the French king for murdering her husband - and delivered vengeance on the high seas.

Jeanne is awaiting the return of her husband Olivier, and when he finally does, she joyfully goes to find him, only to see him executed by the king on made up charges and no trial. Devastated, Jeanne decides to avenge Olivier's death and becomes a pirate, hunting French ships and leaving only one crew member alive to spread her story.

This would be amazing enough if it was 100% fiction. We might even think it's 100% fictional, but in fact, Jeanne de Clisson is a real historical figure, whose bravery and determination was recognized by the English king, who named her an ally.

The narration was excellent and I feel like we can add The Lioness of Brittany to our pantheon of badass women who will resort to whatever it takes to get justice.

This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Griffis and I thought that it was a good read. In a story that was driven by grief and rage is the story of Jeanne de Clisson that takes place over many years. She stays true to her self and mission to avenge the wrongs that were committed against her family. In a tale of the true account (or as true as one can get from the time of events) of Jeanne de Clisson's fight for revenge. The story of loss and betrayal is quite the story that had me hooked. Jeanne de Clisson is one strong character throughout the story and at times I wished she was a little more 'human' and showed some more true emotions for some of the events that were taking place at the time. Overall, this was a good book that I did enjoy from start to finish.