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Mistress of the Art of Death #2
The Serpent's Tale
Ariana Franklin combines the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of historical fiction in the enthralling second novel in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, featuring medieval heroine Adelia Aguilar.
Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison - and the king's estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. Henry suspects that Rosamund's murder is probably the first move in Eleanor's long-simmering plot to overthrow him. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth.
Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter, Allie. But Henry's summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king's trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of St. Albans, who is also her baby's father.
Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan's home, in a tower within a walled labyrinth - a strange and sinister place from the outside, but far more so on the inside, where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia's investigation is cut short by the appearance of Rosamund's rival: Queen Eleanor. Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken captive by Eleanor's henchmen and held in the nunnery of Godstow, where Eleanor is holed up for the winter with her band of mercenaries, awaiting the right moment to launch their rebellion.
Isolated and trapped inside the nunnery by the snow and cold, Adelia and Rowley watch as dead bodies begin piling up. Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war . . .
Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison - and the king's estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. Henry suspects that Rosamund's murder is probably the first move in Eleanor's long-simmering plot to overthrow him. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth.
Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter, Allie. But Henry's summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king's trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of St. Albans, who is also her baby's father.
Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan's home, in a tower within a walled labyrinth - a strange and sinister place from the outside, but far more so on the inside, where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia's investigation is cut short by the appearance of Rosamund's rival: Queen Eleanor. Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken captive by Eleanor's henchmen and held in the nunnery of Godstow, where Eleanor is holed up for the winter with her band of mercenaries, awaiting the right moment to launch their rebellion.
Isolated and trapped inside the nunnery by the snow and cold, Adelia and Rowley watch as dead bodies begin piling up. Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war . . .
371 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2008
About the author
Ariana Franklin
12 books1,077 followersAriana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.
Note:
The Death Maze (UK) is published as The Serpent's Tale in the US.
Relics of the Dead (UK) is published as Grave Goods in the US.
The Assassin's Prayer (UK) is published as A Murderous Procession in the US.
Note:
The Death Maze (UK) is published as The Serpent's Tale in the US.
Relics of the Dead (UK) is published as Grave Goods in the US.
The Assassin's Prayer (UK) is published as A Murderous Procession in the US.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,215 reviews
March 28, 2019
Really good reading, this historical series! You smell and you feel the old ages through the pages...the dirt, the snow, the food, the fear.... 4.5 stars for me. I need to read the sequel soon. Highly recommended for those who like strong historical fiction. Sorry to read on Goodreads that Ariana Franklin is no longer among us....She was a great writer.
Set in the dark 12th century England, it's the story featuring Henry II, the Plantagenet king and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and Adelia Aquilar, brought up as a free-thinker and schooled in Italy as a doctor and to perform autopsies. In this story it's about Henry's contentious queen Eleanor, whose agile mind, strong will and vibrant personality make her a formidable adversary for her royal spouse. Henry II wants Adelia by his side as a mystery solver and doctor, while she would rather return to Italy with her little baby (fathered by bishop Rowley by the way...). But when the mistress of King Henry II is poisoned, suspicion falls on the estranged queen Eleanor and the King firmly requests Adelia to investigate.....
Tbc.
Set in the dark 12th century England, it's the story featuring Henry II, the Plantagenet king and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and Adelia Aquilar, brought up as a free-thinker and schooled in Italy as a doctor and to perform autopsies. In this story it's about Henry's contentious queen Eleanor, whose agile mind, strong will and vibrant personality make her a formidable adversary for her royal spouse. Henry II wants Adelia by his side as a mystery solver and doctor, while she would rather return to Italy with her little baby (fathered by bishop Rowley by the way...). But when the mistress of King Henry II is poisoned, suspicion falls on the estranged queen Eleanor and the King firmly requests Adelia to investigate.....
Tbc.
August 28, 2008
This is an okay historial murder-myster-whodunit. The main problem is with the main character; I never liked her. She also has problems with what she believes; in one instant, she's giving a poor girl a cross necklace and in the other, she's saying things like she doesn't want anything to do with a God who allows [insert whatever it is she's railing against at the moment], but then later prays for God's protection. Confusing. The author also repeats herself ad nauseum. Yes, we know what the main character did in a previous book; yes, we know she has a child; yes, we know she has a long name; yes, we know she's a "mistress of death" and does dissections; yes, we know, we know, we know.
August 29, 2017
Nearly five stars. I know it's not literature but these stars are for how much I personally enjoyed this book. Again I've left this day and age and spent some time in the 12th century as a safe spectator to the adventures of Adelia. Some remarks of the bishop made me laugh. Nice tongue in cheek humor.
November 20, 2011
Rating: 3.5* of five
This mystery novel is the second outing for Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, in (reluctant) service to His Majesty Henry II Plantagenet, and based in and around Oxford.
It's a fun book to read, and Adelia is fun to spend time with. She's a character with a complete lack of history, as she's a foundling, and she's invented herself as a fish out of water as a result. She's simply not anyone's but her own, unlike most people.
Her new baby daughter is a major player in the grim and sad events related in this book. Her daughter's birth has changed Adelia in ways she never anticipated (anyone who's had a kid knows this is true) and Adelia is forced on many occasions to change her actions to protect her child.
Rowley Picot, the baby-daddy, is a bishop now, at the behest of King Henry. He changes in some very major ways too, and the two former lovers are left to negotiate the new, strange territory that lies between them in some very believably confused and frustrated ways.
Henry, whom we met in "Mistress of the Art of Death", is here joined by his queen, Alienor of Aquitaine. She's portrayed in a way that I hadn't seen her before, as a *monumentally* self-absorbed woman; she's so often portrayed as a scheming politician, a vengeful fury, a siren from Hell; this woman is one I believe could have existed, she's so richly drawn.
Henry himself is given the unenviable position of betrayed man, left to twist by all those he trusted and loved. I think he's so sad. Others didn't see what he saw, so they simply did what suited them, what their greeds and lusts and selfishnesses prompted them to do; Henry was left with himself to trust, and that's an awful position for anyone to be in, still less a person of such great power as a king.
The famously murdered Archbishop Thomas a Becket is never seen here, but Franklin's unorthodox take on him left me chuckling, nodding, and thumbs-upping the pages. It's a minor, throwaway kind of thing, but like all really good writers, even those moments add something new to Franklin's characters and plots.
So I recommend this book to all mystery fans, to historical fictioneers, and to the orderly souls who need puzzles to solve. Why, then, do I leave this book, glad to have read it, with a sense that it's...wanting...in some significant way? I don't know how, exactly. It's a good book, and you'll like it very much, and there isn't a thing *wrong* with it. But it's just not as good as "Mistress of the Art of Death", and I don't know why.
This mystery novel is the second outing for Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, in (reluctant) service to His Majesty Henry II Plantagenet, and based in and around Oxford.
It's a fun book to read, and Adelia is fun to spend time with. She's a character with a complete lack of history, as she's a foundling, and she's invented herself as a fish out of water as a result. She's simply not anyone's but her own, unlike most people.
Her new baby daughter is a major player in the grim and sad events related in this book. Her daughter's birth has changed Adelia in ways she never anticipated (anyone who's had a kid knows this is true) and Adelia is forced on many occasions to change her actions to protect her child.
Rowley Picot, the baby-daddy, is a bishop now, at the behest of King Henry. He changes in some very major ways too, and the two former lovers are left to negotiate the new, strange territory that lies between them in some very believably confused and frustrated ways.
Henry, whom we met in "Mistress of the Art of Death", is here joined by his queen, Alienor of Aquitaine. She's portrayed in a way that I hadn't seen her before, as a *monumentally* self-absorbed woman; she's so often portrayed as a scheming politician, a vengeful fury, a siren from Hell; this woman is one I believe could have existed, she's so richly drawn.
Henry himself is given the unenviable position of betrayed man, left to twist by all those he trusted and loved. I think he's so sad. Others didn't see what he saw, so they simply did what suited them, what their greeds and lusts and selfishnesses prompted them to do; Henry was left with himself to trust, and that's an awful position for anyone to be in, still less a person of such great power as a king.
The famously murdered Archbishop Thomas a Becket is never seen here, but Franklin's unorthodox take on him left me chuckling, nodding, and thumbs-upping the pages. It's a minor, throwaway kind of thing, but like all really good writers, even those moments add something new to Franklin's characters and plots.
So I recommend this book to all mystery fans, to historical fictioneers, and to the orderly souls who need puzzles to solve. Why, then, do I leave this book, glad to have read it, with a sense that it's...wanting...in some significant way? I don't know how, exactly. It's a good book, and you'll like it very much, and there isn't a thing *wrong* with it. But it's just not as good as "Mistress of the Art of Death", and I don't know why.
August 6, 2008
THE DEATH MAZE (aka The Serpent’s Tale) (Hist. Mys-Adelia Aguilar-England-1172) – VG+
Franklin, Ariana – 2nd in series
Bantam Press, 2008, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780593056509
First Sentence: The two men’s voices carried down the tunnels with a reverberation that made them indistinguishable but, even so, gave the impression of a business meeting.
King Henry II refused to let Adelia Aguilar return to her home at the School of Medicine in Sicily so she is living in the fens with her baby daughter Allie, companion and baby’s nursemain Gyltha, the Saracan Mansur, who poses as the doctor allowing Adelia to treat patients without being named a witch, and her new dog Ward.
King Henry’s mistress, Rosemund, has been poisoned and his wife, Queen Eleanor is being accused. Adelia, recruited by Rowley, must prove Eleanor’s innocence before the country is brought to civil war.
In some ways, this seemed a much bigger story than Franklin’s first book (Mistress of the Art of Death) because of the themes.
Franklin presents a very real, unromanticized look at the time and the people in it, including Thomas Beckett and Queen Eleanor. She clearly illustrates how difficult it was to be a woman during the time as well as what life was like during civil war for those not of the ruling class.
Her descriptions are extremely visual and sometimes quite unpleasant but very effective. Although I had read the first book, I appreciated the way Franklin provided a recapitulation of the plot and the character’s backgrounds sufficient to bring readers up to current to this book. It’s not all politics and description.
The plot is fascinating with good intrigue and suspense with bits of romance and humor. Yes, there are anachronisms, but they are small and I’ve willing to forgive them when viewed against the strengths of the story. In all, it was a fascinating book and a thoroughly good read.
Franklin, Ariana – 2nd in series
Bantam Press, 2008, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780593056509
First Sentence: The two men’s voices carried down the tunnels with a reverberation that made them indistinguishable but, even so, gave the impression of a business meeting.
King Henry II refused to let Adelia Aguilar return to her home at the School of Medicine in Sicily so she is living in the fens with her baby daughter Allie, companion and baby’s nursemain Gyltha, the Saracan Mansur, who poses as the doctor allowing Adelia to treat patients without being named a witch, and her new dog Ward.
King Henry’s mistress, Rosemund, has been poisoned and his wife, Queen Eleanor is being accused. Adelia, recruited by Rowley, must prove Eleanor’s innocence before the country is brought to civil war.
In some ways, this seemed a much bigger story than Franklin’s first book (Mistress of the Art of Death) because of the themes.
Franklin presents a very real, unromanticized look at the time and the people in it, including Thomas Beckett and Queen Eleanor. She clearly illustrates how difficult it was to be a woman during the time as well as what life was like during civil war for those not of the ruling class.
Her descriptions are extremely visual and sometimes quite unpleasant but very effective. Although I had read the first book, I appreciated the way Franklin provided a recapitulation of the plot and the character’s backgrounds sufficient to bring readers up to current to this book. It’s not all politics and description.
The plot is fascinating with good intrigue and suspense with bits of romance and humor. Yes, there are anachronisms, but they are small and I’ve willing to forgive them when viewed against the strengths of the story. In all, it was a fascinating book and a thoroughly good read.
August 7, 2017
More than just a good read. This series about a 12th century mistress of death solving murdermysteries is ver addictive. I know very little about this period and enjoy learning about 12th century England and Henry II. I love the main character Adelia Aguilar. She struggles, being a doctor and a woman, which is a contradictory in England in that time. She also struggles with her beliefs: sometimes an atheïst, sometimes not.
This is part 2 in the series in which Adelia has to find out who poisoned the king's mistress. Bishop Rowley asks her to investigate. He fears Queen Eleanor will be blamed, which would possibly result in civil war.
I found the first book in this series sleightly better, but i would give this one still almost 4 stars. Very enjoyable and interesting read. Makes me interested to read more about Henry and his Queen Eleanor.
This is part 2 in the series in which Adelia has to find out who poisoned the king's mistress. Bishop Rowley asks her to investigate. He fears Queen Eleanor will be blamed, which would possibly result in civil war.
I found the first book in this series sleightly better, but i would give this one still almost 4 stars. Very enjoyable and interesting read. Makes me interested to read more about Henry and his Queen Eleanor.
March 6, 2009
Who knew one could find murder mysteries placed in twelfth century England? A very palatable way to learn history.
June 25, 2009
I was, by the barest whisper, sufficiently curious about the heroine from "Mistress of the Art of Death" to get a copy of this from the local library. It's a fast read - I churned through it in about a day - but man. I was disappointed by its predecessor, and this one's not all that great either. Franklin's writing is more than a little ham-fisted at times, and it gets repetitive. Again, I wasn't too surprised when the big reveal came along at the end.
Also, I'm coincidentally in the middle of Alison Weir's biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor and her husband Henry Plantagenet are a pretty substantial minor characters in this book, and Franklin definitely weaves in more of the legends around Eleanor and Henry than the facts. So, in terms of historical fiction, it's heavy on the "fiction" part. I still saw the same inconsistencies and anachronisms that bugged me in the previous book, too. All in all, Franklin can write a really fast-paced mystery, but not without annoying me in the process.
Also, I'm coincidentally in the middle of Alison Weir's biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor and her husband Henry Plantagenet are a pretty substantial minor characters in this book, and Franklin definitely weaves in more of the legends around Eleanor and Henry than the facts. So, in terms of historical fiction, it's heavy on the "fiction" part. I still saw the same inconsistencies and anachronisms that bugged me in the previous book, too. All in all, Franklin can write a really fast-paced mystery, but not without annoying me in the process.
December 25, 2011
I finally caught up with this series, and totally enjoyed the book as much as the first. There is immaculate research about the time of Henry II here, and as a fan of the era I just LOVED being immersed in a believable way in the world.
Our heroine is sent to investigate the mysterious death of the king's mistress, there's nuns and bloated corpses and poisonous mushrooms and assassins. This book has it all, and some great personal conflict/growth too. I love her maid Gwylfa (however you spell it) and the main character's relationship with her baby was touching and not overdone.
Loved this one!
Our heroine is sent to investigate the mysterious death of the king's mistress, there's nuns and bloated corpses and poisonous mushrooms and assassins. This book has it all, and some great personal conflict/growth too. I love her maid Gwylfa (however you spell it) and the main character's relationship with her baby was touching and not overdone.
Loved this one!
September 11, 2010
This was an enjoyable romp. It did get a bit icky at times with the description of a decomposing corpse! Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the various goings on & the relationship between Adelia & her lover, Rowley (pronounced roll-y by the narrator which gave me a bit of a giggle!) who is now a Bishop & sworn to celibacy..... Also, there was quite a bit of "tongue in cheek" humor much to my delight.
March 3, 2014
Adelia, Mansuer, Gylthia - I enjoyed reading about them again! I am happy I read another book in this series. Normally I am on Eleanor of Aquitaine's side, but I have to admit Henry II has his good side also. The writing is well done, the characters keep in their century, and I am looking forward to reading the next book!
September 28, 2019
Having finished the second book in the series, I can say I’m really loving this foray into a mystery set during the reign of Henry II, our tour guide being Ariana Franklin. The protagonist is an antisocial (yet people loving) agnostic foreigner who is GAHHHHH educated. Sometimes I really dislike her sullenness and stubbornness, but she really is quite a detective, and we have multiple crimes and mysteries to unravel.
I love the characters Franklin has created, this historical murder mystery is a very engaging read. I’m a fan ♥️
I love the characters Franklin has created, this historical murder mystery is a very engaging read. I’m a fan ♥️
July 27, 2017
Certain points and situations were 5 star in this Mistress of the Arts #2. The entire couple of chapters getting into the Tower, through the Maze, were 5 star, for instance. Detail and nuance and Adelia's persuasions and methods- PERFECT. It's a micro view of her part in England, IMHO.
Liking the entire, I just didn't connect or enjoy this particular episode as much as I did the first. But it's well placed and yet the language intricate requiring constant attention to meanings. Often archaic to their nuance. And this one, for me, was too long. But I will not be turned from taking on the next #3. Rowley is getting MORE humorous the longer the series. It might be much better!
That ending here with Henry II doing what he did alone and secretly, plus being where it was at the finale? It REALLY stretches the imagination that he would be outstripping all of his associates and underlings for this measure of time. This is an era in his position where it took 10 or 15 people just to wake you up, get you dressed etc. Kings were ever watched beyond guarded, so it was a hard nut to
swallow having him being alone and in this possible situation on a campaign, yet with this attitude. As did too many supposedly "known" characters that absolutely were not. Not Dakers, she was finely drawn. Others? Well a few, I never got their onus with the plot being either separated to place or too circular. Eleanor was certainly herself.
Liking the entire, I just didn't connect or enjoy this particular episode as much as I did the first. But it's well placed and yet the language intricate requiring constant attention to meanings. Often archaic to their nuance. And this one, for me, was too long. But I will not be turned from taking on the next #3. Rowley is getting MORE humorous the longer the series. It might be much better!
That ending here with Henry II doing what he did alone and secretly, plus being where it was at the finale? It REALLY stretches the imagination that he would be outstripping all of his associates and underlings for this measure of time. This is an era in his position where it took 10 or 15 people just to wake you up, get you dressed etc. Kings were ever watched beyond guarded, so it was a hard nut to
swallow having him being alone and in this possible situation on a campaign, yet with this attitude. As did too many supposedly "known" characters that absolutely were not. Not Dakers, she was finely drawn. Others? Well a few, I never got their onus with the plot being either separated to place or too circular. Eleanor was certainly herself.
January 6, 2009
The Serpent’s Tale by Arianna Franklin is the second book in the Mistress of the Art of Death series set in Medieval England during the reign of King Henry I (Plantagenet). I am not providing details of the first book, Mistress of the Art of Death, or a summary of The Serpent’s Tale.
In The Serpent’s Tale the author conveys more a sense of delight in telling a tale of murder than in Mistress of the Art of Death, which I felt more a sense of dread and doom throughout, plus the child murders being a very heavy subject it would have been difficult to impart lightness to it. I thought the second book in the series definitely had more elements of humor…I chuckled out loud many times throughout the book…I didn’t expect to do so.
It has been quite awhile since I read Mistress of the Art of Death…sufficient length of time between its reading and The Serpent’s Tale to have no expectations for the second book’s story. I expected to enjoy it less after a few reviews I had read seemed to prefer the first book, but I found the second story more thrilling and engaging…probably due to less description of the injustices done to dead bodies and Adelia’s forensic methods. The first story dealt with child murders so the subject material was more difficult to read in the first place, plus The Serpent’s Tale was more humorous. The Serpent’s Tale is more straight mystery without much of the interwoven “romance” between Adelia and Rowley present in Mistress of the Art of Death, though we are still quite aware of their feelings toward each other.
There were many nuances of thought and detail that added suspense and interest to the portrayal of Medieval England in this story. I appreciated rich descriptions of Godstow, the Thames, the tower, the winter climate; ideas of religion, forward thinking and feminism. Some might not appreciate that Adelia is now in this situation of having born a girl child out of wedlock and still having unresolved feelings for Rowley, now a Bishop, and employed in a profession such as hers. But I think the new plot element – Adelia having born a girl child (replacing Ulf in the first book) – is essential to balance the story, adding a softness to juxtapose the brutal nature of the murders Adelia investigates, and even Adelia herself, who struggles to balance the more analytical, unemotional facets of her personality, with emotional desires of home and love.
The book’s title is The Serpent’s Tale, ergo there must be a serpent…I guessed the identity of the murderer on page 272, only about 60 pages before the murderer is actually revealed. I’m amazed I reasoned it out, as there were a lot of oddball twists and turns as roadblocks, but there are a few clues pointing you in the right direction. The Serpent’s Tale has a really good suspenseful plot and then a great reveal and explanation. Arianna Franklin definitely left some loose ends that can be used in future stories…Will the “Serpent” return?...Does Adelia go back to her homeland?...What will happen with Rowley? For the last question King Henry tells Adelia that she will “Never be safe”. Trying not to give away too much of the plot here but King Henry’s statement allows for more interaction between Rowley and Adelia in the future.
Only a couple of things annoyed me. First that there was not a map of the area at the beginning of the book like there was in Mistress of the Art of Death. Second, the way Arianna Franklin treats the intimacy between Adelia and Rowley when he is waiting for her in her room at Godstow. I think the description was just too metaphorical…it surprised me and seemed so unnecessary when a more straightforward wording would have been better. Why must need cover up the physical affirmation of their feelings in all the mumbo jumbo? Anyways, this was only one very short paragraph in an otherwise superb story.
The author has hit her stride and I am very much looking forward to the third book, Grave Goods, due to be released in trade paperback February 3rd.
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
In The Serpent’s Tale the author conveys more a sense of delight in telling a tale of murder than in Mistress of the Art of Death, which I felt more a sense of dread and doom throughout, plus the child murders being a very heavy subject it would have been difficult to impart lightness to it. I thought the second book in the series definitely had more elements of humor…I chuckled out loud many times throughout the book…I didn’t expect to do so.
It has been quite awhile since I read Mistress of the Art of Death…sufficient length of time between its reading and The Serpent’s Tale to have no expectations for the second book’s story. I expected to enjoy it less after a few reviews I had read seemed to prefer the first book, but I found the second story more thrilling and engaging…probably due to less description of the injustices done to dead bodies and Adelia’s forensic methods. The first story dealt with child murders so the subject material was more difficult to read in the first place, plus The Serpent’s Tale was more humorous. The Serpent’s Tale is more straight mystery without much of the interwoven “romance” between Adelia and Rowley present in Mistress of the Art of Death, though we are still quite aware of their feelings toward each other.
There were many nuances of thought and detail that added suspense and interest to the portrayal of Medieval England in this story. I appreciated rich descriptions of Godstow, the Thames, the tower, the winter climate; ideas of religion, forward thinking and feminism. Some might not appreciate that Adelia is now in this situation of having born a girl child out of wedlock and still having unresolved feelings for Rowley, now a Bishop, and employed in a profession such as hers. But I think the new plot element – Adelia having born a girl child (replacing Ulf in the first book) – is essential to balance the story, adding a softness to juxtapose the brutal nature of the murders Adelia investigates, and even Adelia herself, who struggles to balance the more analytical, unemotional facets of her personality, with emotional desires of home and love.
The book’s title is The Serpent’s Tale, ergo there must be a serpent…I guessed the identity of the murderer on page 272, only about 60 pages before the murderer is actually revealed. I’m amazed I reasoned it out, as there were a lot of oddball twists and turns as roadblocks, but there are a few clues pointing you in the right direction. The Serpent’s Tale has a really good suspenseful plot and then a great reveal and explanation. Arianna Franklin definitely left some loose ends that can be used in future stories…Will the “Serpent” return?...Does Adelia go back to her homeland?...What will happen with Rowley? For the last question King Henry tells Adelia that she will “Never be safe”. Trying not to give away too much of the plot here but King Henry’s statement allows for more interaction between Rowley and Adelia in the future.
Only a couple of things annoyed me. First that there was not a map of the area at the beginning of the book like there was in Mistress of the Art of Death. Second, the way Arianna Franklin treats the intimacy between Adelia and Rowley when he is waiting for her in her room at Godstow. I think the description was just too metaphorical…it surprised me and seemed so unnecessary when a more straightforward wording would have been better. Why must need cover up the physical affirmation of their feelings in all the mumbo jumbo? Anyways, this was only one very short paragraph in an otherwise superb story.
The author has hit her stride and I am very much looking forward to the third book, Grave Goods, due to be released in trade paperback February 3rd.
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
September 25, 2011
two things happened in this installment that made me incredibly happy:
1. ariana franklin only felt compelled to mention once or twice the unhappy tragedy of thomas becket and henry's "side comment" to his knights about getting rid of the bugger.
2. adelia's full name only gets mentioned twice
two of my biggest gripes about the first book in the series were the previously mentioned items that franklin threw in the reader's face any time there was a chance to do so. here, she seems to have learned to temper herself a bit more (although, it was probably more because this book was more about eleanor than henry).
the sweetmeat:
1. adelia has mellowed considerably with the birth of her baby. i related to the breastfeeding thing: not so much the "negative vibe" crap (because, quite frankly, most of the time i feel compelled to nurse my infant because my boobs have turned into rock-solid pornstar tits), but more the decision (or, rather, the unwillingness) to wean on the part of the mother.
2. gyltha has grown on me considerably. not that i didn't like her in the first book, but that i definitely have a deep appreciation of her now.
3. eleanor - like a crazed peacock, eleanor descends on the plot. i loved her - she's totally batty, even childishly petulant at times, but brilliant and strong even in her maniacal need to get revenge on her husband. all the scorned women here can hold their own (to an extent) and it's nice to see in a plot that centers on the restrictions of the gender...plus, it's such a curious combination of traits...and it sort of works...so i'm making it a positive.
4. rowley-powley - both baby and father were not the obnoxious side plot i feared they'd be. in fact, franklin is particularly adept at making sure the reader doesn't hate rowley, even though adelia claims to.
5. the nod to julian of norwich - any good medieval scholar will appreciate the scene between the abbey's mother superior and adelia where the nun explains to the cynical italian about god the mother. the scene is a bit out of place, in a sense, but i like the attempt to infuse scholarship to a generic mystery.
6. the perpetual nod to the canterbury tales. here, we get a character who could be the squire (of course, he ends up dead for his love letters and wooin') and the lawyer (the squire's money-man and potential killer). keep that up - the books are more successful when you do so!
the deadly mushrooms:
1. poor dead and rotting rosamund the fair - gah! this was like a scene out of se7en. in fact, i thought for awhile that franklin was going to do a medieval ripoff of the movie because of rosamund's gluttonous depiction here (she didn't). rosie here is fat and dead. her corpse remains unburied for awhile...it gets...gross.
2. dakers - i never mind a subtle homage but dakers here is practically a total ripoff of "danny" danvers from "rebecca" (a character whose insanity and creepiness i totally love). i don't know - it felt sort of cheap to give her the same sort of treatment (almost down to the all-consuming fire, which dakers escapes death from)
3. henry II - i love henry, i really do. but the last scene with him felt...weird. i couldn't tell if franklin was trying to set up some bizarre "wooing" or what. it makes little to no sense to me that henry would insist on keeping adelia around england so rigidly and then "forget" to pay her (an omission that gets mentioned SEVERAL times). i don't know. it didn't resonate with me.
4. the mystery - the killers were SO predictable. even the "twist"...blech. i just wanted them caught already by the end.
5. the women-hate - i get it. the medieval era was not really the time for female empowerment. men fear and hate that which they don't understand (or, that which bleeds once a month). adelia's constant pondering of her gender dilemma seemed so inappropriate for the time period. more distracting than thought-provoking.
6. ulf - stop telling us how much you miss him and bring him back, gosh darn it!
3.5 stars for another fun but flawed adventure into CT spinoff land.
1. ariana franklin only felt compelled to mention once or twice the unhappy tragedy of thomas becket and henry's "side comment" to his knights about getting rid of the bugger.
2. adelia's full name only gets mentioned twice
two of my biggest gripes about the first book in the series were the previously mentioned items that franklin threw in the reader's face any time there was a chance to do so. here, she seems to have learned to temper herself a bit more (although, it was probably more because this book was more about eleanor than henry).
the sweetmeat:
1. adelia has mellowed considerably with the birth of her baby. i related to the breastfeeding thing: not so much the "negative vibe" crap (because, quite frankly, most of the time i feel compelled to nurse my infant because my boobs have turned into rock-solid pornstar tits), but more the decision (or, rather, the unwillingness) to wean on the part of the mother.
2. gyltha has grown on me considerably. not that i didn't like her in the first book, but that i definitely have a deep appreciation of her now.
3. eleanor - like a crazed peacock, eleanor descends on the plot. i loved her - she's totally batty, even childishly petulant at times, but brilliant and strong even in her maniacal need to get revenge on her husband. all the scorned women here can hold their own (to an extent) and it's nice to see in a plot that centers on the restrictions of the gender...plus, it's such a curious combination of traits...and it sort of works...so i'm making it a positive.
4. rowley-powley - both baby and father were not the obnoxious side plot i feared they'd be. in fact, franklin is particularly adept at making sure the reader doesn't hate rowley, even though adelia claims to.
5. the nod to julian of norwich - any good medieval scholar will appreciate the scene between the abbey's mother superior and adelia where the nun explains to the cynical italian about god the mother. the scene is a bit out of place, in a sense, but i like the attempt to infuse scholarship to a generic mystery.
6. the perpetual nod to the canterbury tales. here, we get a character who could be the squire (of course, he ends up dead for his love letters and wooin') and the lawyer (the squire's money-man and potential killer). keep that up - the books are more successful when you do so!
the deadly mushrooms:
1. poor dead and rotting rosamund the fair - gah! this was like a scene out of se7en. in fact, i thought for awhile that franklin was going to do a medieval ripoff of the movie because of rosamund's gluttonous depiction here (she didn't). rosie here is fat and dead. her corpse remains unburied for awhile...it gets...gross.
2. dakers - i never mind a subtle homage but dakers here is practically a total ripoff of "danny" danvers from "rebecca" (a character whose insanity and creepiness i totally love). i don't know - it felt sort of cheap to give her the same sort of treatment (almost down to the all-consuming fire, which dakers escapes death from)
3. henry II - i love henry, i really do. but the last scene with him felt...weird. i couldn't tell if franklin was trying to set up some bizarre "wooing" or what. it makes little to no sense to me that henry would insist on keeping adelia around england so rigidly and then "forget" to pay her (an omission that gets mentioned SEVERAL times). i don't know. it didn't resonate with me.
4. the mystery - the killers were SO predictable. even the "twist"...blech. i just wanted them caught already by the end.
5. the women-hate - i get it. the medieval era was not really the time for female empowerment. men fear and hate that which they don't understand (or, that which bleeds once a month). adelia's constant pondering of her gender dilemma seemed so inappropriate for the time period. more distracting than thought-provoking.
6. ulf - stop telling us how much you miss him and bring him back, gosh darn it!
3.5 stars for another fun but flawed adventure into CT spinoff land.
March 1, 2013
Put Temperance Brennan from "Bones" in the Plantagenet era, make her a less sympathetic and more inconsistent character, and add a heaping helping of heavy-handed WOMEN HAD IT TERRIBLY BAD BACK THEN AND THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, AND IF I (THE AUTHOR IN THE GUISE OF THE MAIN CHARACTER) WERE IN CHARGE THINGS WOULD BE BETTER, and you have this book. I wanted to find out whodunit, then I did. The last 40 pages then became unnecessary. I'm glad I picked this up for only $1. The smug superiority, plodding mystery, and awful people populating this book are just too much.
June 28, 2022
4.5
These books may not be highbrow literature, but I find them to be engaging, well-researched, suspenseful, silly, gruesome and memorable. They remind me of the Amelia Peabody series, which I love.
These books may not be highbrow literature, but I find them to be engaging, well-researched, suspenseful, silly, gruesome and memorable. They remind me of the Amelia Peabody series, which I love.
April 6, 2021
This was so well done. I couldn't put it down. The river scene where Queen Eleanor was heading toward Oxford was so vivid I had to get get under the covers because it was COLD! So King Henry is about to rain hellfire on his peoples. Someone has killed his mistress and someone is going to pay with their heads. Rowley, as the King's Bishop can't see his loved ones go through another civil war, because Eleanor is taking her chance as well to get rid of a man who has fallen out of love with her. So he has Henry pull Adelia in to find the clues that prove that the Queen didn't do it. Meanwhile Adelia gets pulled in kicking and screaming, as things have changed dramatically for her since we last saw her. She is still in love with Rowley, but not as bishop she has to compete with Henry and God, women's work is never done.
Like I said the entire story was vividly written and so well done I could see the skaters after Christmas skating and having fun. If you are fans of the Sebastian St. Cyr stories or Wrexford and Sloan series, then you might like this series. The series takes place at a much earlier time in history, but AF does such a great job that you can see the scenes in your head. If you haven't read the story, then I suggest starting with the first one, because of the background that is important between King Henry, Rowley and Adelia and how they got to this impasse. I would have love to have seen Henry hold Rowley-Powley and for there to be some nose grabbing going on.
Like I said the entire story was vividly written and so well done I could see the skaters after Christmas skating and having fun. If you are fans of the Sebastian St. Cyr stories or Wrexford and Sloan series, then you might like this series. The series takes place at a much earlier time in history, but AF does such a great job that you can see the scenes in your head. If you haven't read the story, then I suggest starting with the first one, because of the background that is important between King Henry, Rowley and Adelia and how they got to this impasse. I would have love to have seen Henry hold Rowley-Powley and for there to be some nose grabbing going on.
January 26, 2023
3.5
I read the first in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death (review here), damn(!), 11 years ago. I didn't think it was THAT long ago.
Now you know, I suck at completing series haha. Finally picked up the second one now and glad to know that I didn't need to re-read the first one.
As always, strong female characters are my absolute favorite, no wonder I gave the first book a whole 5 stars!
This thrilling, keeping you on the edge, page turner keeps you guessing about who did it and why, and then more mysteries add up as murders continue. Phew!
Adelia, the doctor cum detective is kept busy piecing it all together while trying not to get killed or her baby abducted. Talk about a full plate, eh? Of course, the whole putting a woman down and her having to hide her being a doctor and letting Mansur, the huge Arab take its credit every time, continues to pinch my feminist self.
Franklin brings it all together by the end of the book. Something I love, unlike the cliffhangers some series leave you at.
It was an entertaining, good read overall.
I read the first in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death (review here), damn(!), 11 years ago. I didn't think it was THAT long ago.
Now you know, I suck at completing series haha. Finally picked up the second one now and glad to know that I didn't need to re-read the first one.
As always, strong female characters are my absolute favorite, no wonder I gave the first book a whole 5 stars!
This thrilling, keeping you on the edge, page turner keeps you guessing about who did it and why, and then more mysteries add up as murders continue. Phew!
Adelia, the doctor cum detective is kept busy piecing it all together while trying not to get killed or her baby abducted. Talk about a full plate, eh? Of course, the whole putting a woman down and her having to hide her being a doctor and letting Mansur, the huge Arab take its credit every time, continues to pinch my feminist self.
Franklin brings it all together by the end of the book. Something I love, unlike the cliffhangers some series leave you at.
It was an entertaining, good read overall.
March 12, 2014
I dithered about the rating of this one. In some ways I did enjoy this even more than the first book in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death. I loved the portraits of Henry II of England, his queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and his mistress the "Fair" Rosamund. In all those cases they are takes unlike what I'd read of them and made me want to read more about the real history--and I even poked around a little online. That's what good historical fiction does--not only draw you into another world, but make you want to read more about the reality.
However, just a cursory look at what's online revealed more that a few inconsistencies. A lot of the material about Rosamund belongs more to legend than history. There's a reference in the first book (and this one) to Henry having done penance in the past for the murder of Thomas Beckett. That penance was done in 1174. This book is set at the start of the "Great Revolt" of 1173 to 1174 in the immediate aftermath of Rosamund's death (1176). The thing is, can I really mark down a book for taking liberties I wouldn't have even noticed if the book itself hadn't sparked my interest in the real events? Well, a bit, especially when I found the historical fiction aspects of the series of more interest than the romance, mystery or stylistic merits.
Yet I still like Adelia, the "mistress of the art of death" at the center of the tale. I liked the characters Franklin surrounds her with. The mystery is in some respects stronger--I didn't guess the murderer quite as easily. It's a gripping and suspenseful tale I consumed as greedily (and mindlessly?) as a bowl of popcorn. So, a light fluffy snack? Despite some macabre aspects, this is certainly less harrowing than the first book that dealt with a serial killer of children, anti-Semitism and the blood libel. I was entertained and do want to read the two other books left in the series. So on the whole I'd say Franklin did a good job.
However, just a cursory look at what's online revealed more that a few inconsistencies. A lot of the material about Rosamund belongs more to legend than history. There's a reference in the first book (and this one) to Henry having done penance in the past for the murder of Thomas Beckett. That penance was done in 1174. This book is set at the start of the "Great Revolt" of 1173 to 1174 in the immediate aftermath of Rosamund's death (1176). The thing is, can I really mark down a book for taking liberties I wouldn't have even noticed if the book itself hadn't sparked my interest in the real events? Well, a bit, especially when I found the historical fiction aspects of the series of more interest than the romance, mystery or stylistic merits.
Yet I still like Adelia, the "mistress of the art of death" at the center of the tale. I liked the characters Franklin surrounds her with. The mystery is in some respects stronger--I didn't guess the murderer quite as easily. It's a gripping and suspenseful tale I consumed as greedily (and mindlessly?) as a bowl of popcorn. So, a light fluffy snack? Despite some macabre aspects, this is certainly less harrowing than the first book that dealt with a serial killer of children, anti-Semitism and the blood libel. I was entertained and do want to read the two other books left in the series. So on the whole I'd say Franklin did a good job.
May 18, 2011
I love everything Ariana Franklin / Diana Norman writes. Everything. She’s so talented and has a knack for bringing riveting historical fiction come alive.
Simply put, Franklin’s books are for me the definition of a captivating read. I’m especially very fond of the characters I meet on the page; they are colorful, quirky, well-fleshed and very human.
The Middle-ages are such a dark time, no doubt about it. Here, notwithstanding that the author gives us glimpses of historical reality and we get a good idea of how horrific those times were, for women especially, she doesn’t write a dark book. No, on the contrary, this is a fictional historical crime novel that foremost brings a sense of adventure, but also entertainment – and the occasional insight into the human kind. The author is a genius when it comes to bringing strong women to the page and making them the center of a story. Adelia is a satisfyingly complex and independent character. She’s wonderful, flaws and all. I like it that there are real historical events and personalities in the “Mistress of the Art of Death” books; it’s like an incentive to learn more about 12th Century Europe. Most of all, I look forward reading more Adelia adventures.
Simply put, Franklin’s books are for me the definition of a captivating read. I’m especially very fond of the characters I meet on the page; they are colorful, quirky, well-fleshed and very human.
The Middle-ages are such a dark time, no doubt about it. Here, notwithstanding that the author gives us glimpses of historical reality and we get a good idea of how horrific those times were, for women especially, she doesn’t write a dark book. No, on the contrary, this is a fictional historical crime novel that foremost brings a sense of adventure, but also entertainment – and the occasional insight into the human kind. The author is a genius when it comes to bringing strong women to the page and making them the center of a story. Adelia is a satisfyingly complex and independent character. She’s wonderful, flaws and all. I like it that there are real historical events and personalities in the “Mistress of the Art of Death” books; it’s like an incentive to learn more about 12th Century Europe. Most of all, I look forward reading more Adelia adventures.
November 21, 2009
This was a rather crowded book. A lot of characters, some of whom did not seem to add to the story but did add to the volume. To be honest, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, maybe a little paring down with more focus on the interesting characters (including Gyltha and Mansur) and the relationship between Rowley and Adelia (which could do with some actual relating) would have appealed more to me as I got a little fed up with Adelia (she is somewhat unrelenting and dreary at times)and - quibble time - it bugs the crap out of me that Adelia is incapable of petitioning the King for an income (not payment) as well as her own King and that Rowley (usually so aware) seems not to notice that Adelia has no income - not very advanced thinking on Adelia's part as one does not get far on gifts of chickens and eels and whatever. I am starting book #3 and hoping that the author will redeem herself in my eyes.
October 26, 2015
This is the second in Ariana Franklin’s Mistress of Death series, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first in the series. I’m not exactly sure what was missing from this one, although it felt as though Adelia, the forerunner to today’s forensic pathologists, did less of the examination of bodies in this than in the first and there was more traipsing back and forth being made to follow this person and that. It was still a good read, that had me turning the pages to find out the solution. I will definitely continue with the series.
August 8, 2010
Somewhat slower paced than the first because much of it takes place in a convent. Murders compete with the mores of the cloister. If you are interested in the historical period of Henry II's England this is no problem. Otherwise, you had better not take it on summer holiday.
An interesting sidelight is the plot's investment in the status and tribulations of being a woman of any class at this period of time.
An interesting sidelight is the plot's investment in the status and tribulations of being a woman of any class at this period of time.
April 16, 2015
This series is working its way to becoming one of my favourites. In this one, Adelia is required to help determine the death and killer of King Henry II's fair Rosamund. I hesitate to call this historical fiction because it takes great liberties with the history. Shall we call it "loosely historical"? The author does take time to point out where she strays from what is known of the period. But the value in this book is the craftsmanship of storytelling that Ariana Franklin possessed.
September 14, 2017
Not quite as humorous as the first one but I did enjoy the historical trip. It is always good when books make you Google people and doing that I learned a bit more about British royal history.
August 21, 2017
J'ai moins accroché que sur le premier, je l'ai trouvé longuet par moment... heureusement Henry sauve tout à la fin ! Long live him !
July 30, 2024
Solid historical fiction, I thought the mystery(s) were not as big a component of the story as I would have liked, but I really like Adelia and the other characters.
September 16, 2020
Excellent historical fiction!! A mystery or two solved in Henry II & Eleanor’s world by an incredibly well educated woman!! Time & place are well described. The plot is well developed!
Truly recommend this series to readers of medieval England, strong women protagonists and well done mysteries!!
So very glad to learn that there is another one to look forward to!!
Truly recommend this series to readers of medieval England, strong women protagonists and well done mysteries!!
So very glad to learn that there is another one to look forward to!!
May 6, 2009
In Mistress of the Art of Death, author Ariana Franklin introduced Adelia Aguilar, a 12th century physician with a speciality in what we now call forensic science. Franklin's obviously thorough research and excellent writing skills were put to good use in the creation of Adelia, her friends, her world, and the "case" she is called upon to resolve.
In The Serpent's Tale, those research and writing skills are still evident, but the people and places they are meant to describe are thin shadows of those in the first book. Adelia herself has lost much of the strength and independence that made her such a memorable character, and her development is reduced to constantly repeated fear for her daughter and resentment of her daughter's father, Bishop Rowley Picot. The other characters lack even that much depth and are mainly props for a mystery that has potential but is stretched too thinly to hold the reader's interest throughout the book.
Although I have heard good things about the third book, Grave Goods, it is purely the respect and interest carried over from Franklin's first book that makes me want to read it. Hopefully her abilities will shine again in the third book and this one can be set aside and forgotten.
In The Serpent's Tale, those research and writing skills are still evident, but the people and places they are meant to describe are thin shadows of those in the first book. Adelia herself has lost much of the strength and independence that made her such a memorable character, and her development is reduced to constantly repeated fear for her daughter and resentment of her daughter's father, Bishop Rowley Picot. The other characters lack even that much depth and are mainly props for a mystery that has potential but is stretched too thinly to hold the reader's interest throughout the book.
Although I have heard good things about the third book, Grave Goods, it is purely the respect and interest carried over from Franklin's first book that makes me want to read it. Hopefully her abilities will shine again in the third book and this one can be set aside and forgotten.
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