A King's Ransom

By: Sharon Kay Penman

Narrated by: Emily Gray

Length: 27 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

This long-anticipated sequel to the national best sellerLionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home - in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders - he was to spend fifteen months imprisoned, much of it in the notorious fortress at Trefils, from which few men ever left alive, while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom.

For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father’s faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King’s Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive.

©2014 Sharon Kay Penman (P)2014 Recorded Books

unfortunate narration

Would you consider the audio edition of A King's Ransom to be better than the print version?

NO. Penman's writing is so crisp, so clear, so colorful. This is the first audio of hers I've listened to and I was disappointed. King Richard sounded like Thurston Howell III on painkillers and Richard's queen Berengaria's voice was so simpering and insipid I wanted to scream every time she had dialogue.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joanna of course.

Would you be willing to try another one of Emily Gray’s performances?

No thank you.

Who was the most memorable character of A King's Ransom and why?

Eleanor of course. What an amazing woman she was!!!

Educational

This author does lots of research then presents the facts in novel form. This means there is distortion do to adding personality. So you will learn a lot of history in an enjoyable way, but there is some bias on who is the hero and who the bad guy.

Ditto with previous reviewer

Listening to Emily Gray was painful , the Female voices sounded like little girls or such a deep voice it could have been a mans voice . Even with changes in characters her voice was so monotoned. Seemed she was just reading words and then sentences without much emphasis . Great story .

Skips

I returned this book because the recording repeats and skips so it is very frustrating to listen to. You should really pay more attention to this.

Enjoyed the series

Enjoyed the whole series.
Not a fan of the narrator. Voice sounded like it was faked husky sounding.

Darn out too long.

I guess I’m just dumb. Went from book one to book two in the same week. Started getting bored out of my mind about half way though this one.
Couldn’t really get into the characters. Might have been the reading but it seemed flat to me.

a fantastic book, the best of King Richard

The world that surrounded him and his family
at the time of his reign. Great

the book is amazing. the narrator not so much.

You would think that someone narrating a historical novel would look up the pronunciation of words that are no longer in use. Instead, she mispronounced "certes" the entire time. As Penman uses a few archaic words to help maintain the historical tone of her stories, the word appears frequently, and the narrator's mispronounciation eventually reaches nails-on-chalkboard levels of irritating. I found myself desperately wishing that they had kept the original narrator, who did the first 3 books in the Plantagenet series, and who was quite good.

Penman, as always, delivers a bravura performance. Rich details and brilliant characterization, along with careful research, are hallmarks of her work, and that is true of A King's Ransom as well.

Heart felt battle of life

Loved this sequel! The characters are all well worked into the story line and really come to life. Even with the constant battles, multiple locations, I was captured in the story through out. The author brings the characters to life so vividly you can't help feel their struggles, joys and frustration. Lionheart was a true warrior. If you love history, especially the Angevin dynasty, this books for you.

Absolutely AMAZING!!!!

What made the experience of listening to A King's Ransom the most enjoyable?

The relationship King Richard and his mother had, so touching!

Who was your favorite character and why?

King Richard, because he was such a warrior and Protector of England.

Which character – as performed by Emily Gray – was your favorite?

Queen Eleanor

Who was the most memorable character of A King's Ransom and why?

Joanna, she was so kind to everyone.

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed that Bengaria was not spoke off in the end.