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A review by mediaevalmuse
The Iron King by Maurice Druon
5.0
I don't think I've ever enjoyed reading a historical fiction novel as much as I enjoyed reading this book. While I keep seeing it compared to Game of Thrones (and certainly, I can see why George R. R. Martin admires Druon's writing and plot crafting), it's more valuable for its historical aspect, thus making it a better read for history lovers than fantasy enthusiasts. Being one of those, I had a hard time putting this novel down, despite having other things to do - like read for school.
Things I Liked
1. Historicity: Not only is the focus firmly set on the politics and intrigue, but the book itself is filled with references to historical events, cultural knowledge, and background information in ways that aren’t overwhelming to a reader. Druon certainly knows his stuff.
2. Prose: Although the version I read was in translation, I could still see that Druon’s writing style was rather matter-of-fact, without flowery language or poetic metaphors. Such an approach really worked for me because it forced the plot to keep moving without being bogged down too much by lengthy descriptions or depictions of setting and events.
3. Lack of Sexual Violence: If you’ve been reading my reviews, you’ll know that one of my biggest gripes with historical fiction/fantasy set in the middle ages is the amount of sexual violence towards women. Thankfully, there was none of that in this novel. I’m not sure if it’s entirely due to Druon, the time in which he was writing, or the fact that the plot revolves around noble characters, but regardless, I breathed a sigh of relief when all sexual encounters were explicitly consensual. Is there sex? Yes. Is some of it manipulative? Yes. But rest assured, there is no rape or assault.
4. Women: Despite the majority of characters being male, there were still moments when women had a lot of agency. Isabella, Blanche, Jeanne, Marguerite, Marie, and Beatrice are all made to be complex, compelling characters, even though their husbands/lovers/partners are largely at the centers of their lives. It would have been easy for Druon to make these women passive subjects or make them out to be whores, but I think he does a fantastic job of taking a patriarchal culture and showing how female characters still struggle to maintain power within it.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Pace: There were some moments when the pace seemed to slow down, mainly during travel sequences or when the king goes hunting in the woods - but they weren’t so distracting as to make me want to put the book down altogether. You might also find this book sluggish if you’re very knowledgeable about this period in history or about the reign of Phillip the Fair, as there are no surprises or twists that aren’t already in the history books.
Recommendations: Definitely check this book out if you're a history enthusiast, particularly if you're interested in the middle ages or French history. You might also like this novel if you're interested in the Templars or enjoy the political aspects of Game of Thrones.
Things I Liked
1. Historicity: Not only is the focus firmly set on the politics and intrigue, but the book itself is filled with references to historical events, cultural knowledge, and background information in ways that aren’t overwhelming to a reader. Druon certainly knows his stuff.
2. Prose: Although the version I read was in translation, I could still see that Druon’s writing style was rather matter-of-fact, without flowery language or poetic metaphors. Such an approach really worked for me because it forced the plot to keep moving without being bogged down too much by lengthy descriptions or depictions of setting and events.
3. Lack of Sexual Violence: If you’ve been reading my reviews, you’ll know that one of my biggest gripes with historical fiction/fantasy set in the middle ages is the amount of sexual violence towards women. Thankfully, there was none of that in this novel. I’m not sure if it’s entirely due to Druon, the time in which he was writing, or the fact that the plot revolves around noble characters, but regardless, I breathed a sigh of relief when all sexual encounters were explicitly consensual. Is there sex? Yes. Is some of it manipulative? Yes. But rest assured, there is no rape or assault.
4. Women: Despite the majority of characters being male, there were still moments when women had a lot of agency. Isabella, Blanche, Jeanne, Marguerite, Marie, and Beatrice are all made to be complex, compelling characters, even though their husbands/lovers/partners are largely at the centers of their lives. It would have been easy for Druon to make these women passive subjects or make them out to be whores, but I think he does a fantastic job of taking a patriarchal culture and showing how female characters still struggle to maintain power within it.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Pace: There were some moments when the pace seemed to slow down, mainly during travel sequences or when the king goes hunting in the woods - but they weren’t so distracting as to make me want to put the book down altogether. You might also find this book sluggish if you’re very knowledgeable about this period in history or about the reign of Phillip the Fair, as there are no surprises or twists that aren’t already in the history books.
Recommendations: Definitely check this book out if you're a history enthusiast, particularly if you're interested in the middle ages or French history. You might also like this novel if you're interested in the Templars or enjoy the political aspects of Game of Thrones.