Court of Lions

Firstly, I absolutely adored this wonderful story.
Johnson has a beautiful writing style and you are sucked in from the first sentence. The story was rich and well thought out. A pleasure to read from start to finish.

A place in many hearts, could have been an alternative title for this excellent novel that takes as it's base the beautiful Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.
I have not visited it myself, but the author brings to life this UNESCO World Heritage Site through superb descriptions and a historical context that takes us right back to the Moorish reign across the country.
There are many novels with to threads linking the past, often through a modern heartbroken character and a series of coincidences that cross the time divide. Here we meet Kate Fordham who has escaped to work as a waitress in Granada and become known as Anna Maria. She is in contact with her twin sister Jess and Kate's son who weirdly seems to live with Jess and for whom it seems Kate has a rather dislocated attachment.
When Kate finds a strange piece of paper with ancient writing in the walls of the Alhambra Palace we are whisked to the second story of Blessing - a young companion taken from the Sahara desert to live with Prince Mohammed (Momo) the son of the present Sultan and his wife.
The intricacies of the war between the Muslim Sultan (who takes a disliked and ambitious Christian mistress) and the subsequent rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella provide a sweeping tour de force of the country wide battles to secure both family and royal possession and lineage for Spain.
I was wondering about my confusion regarding Blessing, who deeply - and sometimes worryingly for those strict religious times - loves his 'Master' and talks of longing in much more than a servant or even great friend manner. Blessing's links to his upbringing and the use of spells and potions are all added to the wonderment of the architecture of the Palace and the fascinating cross over of fifteenth century power and religious leadership in Spain.
Meanwhile Kate's past with the cruel and depraved mad husband James come to the fore. This was perhaps once or twice a little unbelievable in the extremes it described and thankfully Kate's new found love interest in Granada would lessen her trauma from dramatic consequences that unfold.
Overall a real page turner. which sees the last Sultan of the last Moorish kingdom brought to life alongside the fictional young nomadic creation of the author and a link across the centuries to our fascination with the past. Our awareness that love and heartache were no different then to the sweep of emotions that seem to only claim those of the 21st century. add poignancy to the whole book and will no doubt get readers booking the first flights out to Spain!

Thanks Head of Zeus and netgalley for this ARC.

Beautiful, painful, full of seething and stealth- this novel takes you by surprise with its contradictions and promise

I loved this book. It is very well written, and a perfect mix of gentle suspense, a bit of romance and a lot of heartbreak. It has two storylines, one in 15th century Spain and the other in current times. Both stories are interesting and compelling, and linked enough for this to work as a cohesive book. No spoilers - but the ending is well balanced and neat, but doesn't ruin everything by making everything perfect.
I got an ARC from NetGalley, but immediately on finishing this book I bought one of Jane Johnson's other books. That's how good this book is.

Thanks Head of Zeus and netgalley for this ARC.

Jane Johnson outdoes her previous novels with this one for me. The love, sacrifice , and parallels between the past and present are done perfectly.

Review

I have been wanting to review a book for Jane Johnson for quite a long time, i make no secret of the fact that she is just the most helpful, kind and talented person i have met in the world of books, and has always helped out this woeful reviewer. But all that said i would do an injustice if i didn’t give the book a fully fair review at the same time (and i think she would tell me off)….. so phew… its brilliant. I’m not normally one for the mushy books…. and to be honest this isn’t. While its a romantic book, essentially a love letter to the city of Granada, it is also and more importantly a deeply insightful well researched passionate piece about the the Granada War of the 1400’s , its culture and the people who existed there.

The author expands the story further using multiple perspectives, differing opinions and understanding. The main perspective being a young woman (Kate) a lady who finds herself immersed in a mystery that allows her to escape her own life and her counter part, Blessings who loves the young Sultan.

Jane Johnson weaves her tale with exceptional skill and such a delicate touch, providing some exceedingly real and complex characters. The author uses a real talent for knowing people to push the plot back and forth between past and present taking the reader through a roller coaster of emotions.

As i suspected and hoped Jane Johnson has written something wonderful, handling a delicate cultural plot-line, doing so with such passion for all areas of the book and its people.

Very Highly Recommended

(Parm)