(5 / 5)
This book is not about Dragons. It’s not even fantasy. This is the epic true story of King John (Robin Hood, although Robin doesn’t make an appearance) and Llewelyn the Great, Prince of Wales. More specifically, it is about King John’s daughter, Joanna, who was wed to Llewelyn as an unstable truce between the two nations. But as surely as Joanna shares a deep, resilient love with Llewelyn, she is torn when he repeatedly goes to war with her father (whom she also loves). She is caught between them both, never fully declaring loyalty to her doting husband, nor the kind father of her childhood.
When you strip away all the history, wars, intrigue, and betrayal, this fictionalized piece of actual history is a triumphant love story (between Joanna and Llewelyn), although the casual reader might disagree. Hundreds of it’s pages are dedicated to the plottings, tempers, and calculations of its two sovereigns. And it isn’t boring for one second! You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. Obviously the author takes liberties with the dialogue and some secondary characters, but all of the major events and people are steeped in historical fact. The title, Here Be Dragons, describes a map making technique used long ago. When map makers had limited or no knowledge of certain areas, they wrote, “Here be dragons” on the area with drawings of the mythical creatures to describe this unknown danger.
This tome is not for the faint of heart, or those who prefer “fluffy” historical fiction (in other words, more fiction than history). The two main characters do not even meet for 180 pages. But for the faithful, the reward is sweet.
In truth, I have rarely been so immersed in a different time, only visiting reality occasionally, to do things like eat and sleep. Never before have I taken such an interest in my own Welsh lineage. And now, I couldn’t be prouder to call myself such. I will never forget this one.
Violence: Medium/High Language: Medium Adult Content: High