Wine of Violence
The Medieval Mysteries, Book 1
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Wine of Violence
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Narrated by:
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Wanda McCaddon
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Written by:
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Priscilla Royal
About this listen
Late summer, 1270. Although the Simon de Montfort rebellion is over, the smell of death still hangs over the land. In the small priory of Tyndal, the monks and nuns of the Order of Fontevraud long for a return to routine. Their hopes are dashed, however, when the young and inexperienced Eleanor of Wynethorpe is appointed their new prioress. Only a day after her arrival, a brutally murdered monk is found in the cloister gardens, and Brother Thomas, a young priest with a troubled past, arrives to bring her a more personal grief. Now Eleanor must not only struggle to gain the respect of her terrified and resentful flock but also cope with violence, lust, and greed.
©2003 Priscilla Royal (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.What listeners say about Wine of Violence
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2023-05-04
Not Bad.. but Insufficiently Immersive
Priscilla Royal's unapologetic riff on Ellis Peters's 'Brother Cadfael' medieval monastery mystery concept is capable. Sister Eleanor of Wynethorpe - newly-installed Prioress of 'Tyndal' (appointed from the fictional Order of Fontevraud) - is dedicated, curious/intuitive, and realistic.. as well as worthy of admiration as a strong lead female character.
'Sister Eleanor' is a fine protagonist.
In addition, Royal's historical research is adequate, her vocabulary/prose is creditable, her plotting is well-executed, and her description is "decent".
Unfortunately, I never felt that I was in the mid-12th century setting - this crime investigation could easily have taken place in any generic environment. Modern-day perceptions of the performative aspects of organized religion, the role of women in the church, and sensibilities regarding homosexual sex, for example, took me out of the illusion of period-congruent reality.
Reader Wanda McCaddon does her level best to elevate the book with commendable narration - but can't quite manage it. Blackstone Audio Inc. lends unmatched technical support to a reader with spot-on diction, timbre, cadence, and tone. To be certain, McCaddon's voice-acting is occasionally subpar.. but this is an excellent reading performance.
Overall, Royal doesn't do a good enough job at establishing the priory/convent/monastery as a separate character (as it really should be for this category of Historical Fiction). For that reason, I can only rate the audiobook 5.5 stars out of 10. If you can get 'Wine Of Violence' as a 'Plus' option, it's a reasonable way to spend a couple of quiet afternoons.. but don't bother if they ask for a Credit.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lonna Cunningham
- 2023-06-13
A nice monastic mystery
Yep, I will likely listen to more of the series. This was entertaining and thoughtful.
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