Solomon's Crown: A Novel

by Natasha Siegel

“This sumptuous romance explores the relationship between Philip II of France and Richard the Lionheart. . . . Betrayal and tragedy lurk around every corner, yet there are moments of breathtaking loveliness.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“Absolutely captivating and wonderfully romantic . . . I didn’t want to put this book down, even when it had ended.”—Rainbow Rowell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Simon Snow Trilogy

Two rival kings fall desperately in love—but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

Twelfth-century Europe. Newly crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. But when his greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it can even begin, Philip is forced to make a precarious alliance with Henry’s volatile son—risking both his throne, and his heart.

Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, never thought he would be king. But when an unexpected tragedy makes him heir to England’s royal seat, he finally has an opportunity to overthrow the father he despises. At first, Philip is a useful tool in his quest for vengeance . . . until passion and politics collide, and Richard begins to question whether the crown is worth the cost.

When Philip and Richard find themselves staring down an impending war, they must choose between their desire for each other and their grand ambitions. Will their love prevail if it calls to them from across the battlefield? Teeming with royal intrigue and betrayal, this epic romance reimagines two real-life kings ensnared by an impossible choice: Follow their hearts, or earn their place in history.

• ISBN10: 0593597842
• ISBN13: 9780593597842
• Publish Date: 14 March 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Random House Inc
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593597842

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Solomon's Crown is an exceptionally well written and lyrical queer historical romance by Natasha Siegel. Released 14th March 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Dell imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. 

This is a "what if" romance set in the 12th century between Richard of Aquitaine (aka the Lionheart) and Philip II of France. Both of them, viewed through the lens of modern society were more or less absolute rulers who made some dubious decisions about harming the people living within their huge spheres of influence: the crusades, driving the Jews out of France, unprovoked crushing and looting folks who just wanted to be left alone, etc. 

The author says openly at the beginning that neither of them were paragons of virtue and that the two main characters aren't the *historically* accurate real figures, and license was taken. For readers who love historical accuracy and the sort of "what if" that weaves fiction around a solid framework of actual history, there are freedoms taken here which will likely annoy. On the other hand, for readers who love a well written queer romance, the author can certainly write.

It's full of frustrated longing and lingering touches and not much historical accuracy.

Three and a half stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

King Philip has newly been crowned the king of France. His one goal is to help restore his nation, a task easier said than done. Unfortunately, not everyone will help make this plan come to fruition. Take King Henry of England. He has plenty of reasons (and resources) to make this an impossible goal.

Then there's Richard, Duke of Aquitaine. Yet here he is, sitting as the heir to the throne of England. While this isn't what he wanted, it does put him in a position to bring change to the world – the sort of change he's always wanted.

My Review:

Apparently, I've been on a historical fiction/fantasy kick lately! Solomon's Crown is the latest in a series of books I've picked, all of which delve into the past – with unique twists. In the case of Solomon's Crown, that means we have more representation, a rivals-to-lovers trope, and so much more.

In truth, I'm not entirely sure what genre I would label Solomon's Crown as. It defies the standards of historical fiction, and I love how it breaks the mold and creates a new one.

Let us not forget that this book is full to the brim (and I do mean that) of political intrigue. Seriously, a lot is going on. I had to write notes to ensure I kept track of everything (admittedly, history is not my strong suit).

This book is probably not for you if you're looking for a historically accurate story. This is very much a book of fiction, with facts strewn about. So you may be frustrated if you're hoping for something else.

Highlights:
Romantic Fiction
LGBTQ+

Trigger Warnings:
Anxiety
Murder/War

Thanks to Dell and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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[chymerra]

Philip is the newly crowned king of France and is determined to bring his nation back to its former glory. King Henry, his greatest enemy, has other plans. Philip must reach out to Henry’s second son, Richard, and form an unsteady alliance. He never thought that he would fall desperately in love with Richard.

Richard never thought he would be king. He thought he would forever be on the outside after staging a failed rebellion. He also never thought that he would fall in love with Philip. But everything changes when his brother (the heir to England) dies. He is now heir and can use Philip to help him destroy his father.

When war threatens, Philip and Richard must choose between their love and ambitions. Can their love survive? Or will the war end it?

I have always been fascinated with Medieval England. So, I was thrilled when I saw that Solomon’s Crown was set in this period. I also loved learning about Richard and Philip’s lives and their love story. The author notes at the beginning and end of the book that she took liberties with battles and other historical events. What I found intriguing was that there was a possibility that Philip and Richard were lovers when they were alive. The author states her reasons (her research), and I found it fascinating that it could be true.

Solomon’s Crown is told from dual 1st person point of view. The author labeled each chapter with either Philip or Richard. That made it so much easier to keep track of.

The main characters in Solomon’s Crown were Richard and Philip. I liked that they were complete opposites of each other. Richard was a bit of a mess. He was disorganized, quick to anger (oh so quick), and held grudges. Meanwhile, Philip was quiet, slow to anger, made informed decisions, and didn’t jump into things feet first (which Richard did). At first, I thought they weren’t compatible, but as they interacted, I could see how they complimented each other.

The main storyline was Richard and Philip’s love story and the intrigue of being king. This period was brutal, and the author didn’t dumb it down. She stated that Philip and Richard had to get their hands dirty (killing traitors/enemies) to win over their people. What surprised me (because I didn’t know this) was that being in a homosexual relationship back then wasn’t frowned upon. Did people not care for it? Yes, Henry made that very clear towards the end of the book. But they didn’t freak out when Philip and Richard stopped hiding. It was refreshing to read.

I mentioned intrigue in the paragraph above. This book was full of it, mainly on Richard’s side. Honestly, I couldn’t keep everything straight.

Solomon’s Crown isn’t a fast-paced book. It is slow to medium-paced. The author laid the background and groundwork for Richard and Philip’s romance, and it took time. While it worked for me, it might not work for some people.

The romance angle of Solomon’s Crown was cute. It wasn’t graphic (there were some kissing scenes) and was mostly left up to my imagination.

I wasn’t too fond of the end of Solomon’s Crown. I wish the author could have gone on a tangent and kept Philip and Richard together, but unfortunately, she couldn’t.

I would recommend Solomon’s Crown to anyone over 16. There is no language, non-graphic sex scenes, and moderate violence.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Natasha Siegel for allowing me to read and review Solomon’s Crown. All opinions stated in this review are mine.