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The Falcon's Eyes

A Novel

Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Stanfill has persuasively re-imagined the Middle Ages, surrounding the legendary Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine with indelible characters in an immersive tale of intrigue, bravery, ruthlessness, and compassion. . . . The Falcon's Eyes is a dazzling adventure, with riveting twists and turns and a surprising yet deeply satisfying conclusion.""—Sally Bedell Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen

Set in France and England at the end of the twelfth century, the moving story of a spirited, questing young woman, Isabelle, who defies convention to forge a remarkable life, one profoundly influenced by the fabled queen she idolizes and comes to know – Eleanor of Aquitaine

Willful and outspoken, sixteen-year-old Isabelle yearns to escape her stifling life in provincial twelfth century France. The bane of her mother's existence, she admires the notorious queen most in her circle abhor: Eleanor of Aquitaine. Isabelle's arranged marriage to Gerard —- a rich, charismatic lord obsessed with falcons —- seems, at first, to fulfill her longing for adventure. But as Gerard's controlling nature, and his consuming desire for a male heir, become more apparent, Isabelle, in the spirit of her royal heroine, makes bold, often perilous, decisions which will forever affect her fate.

A suspenseful, sweeping tale about marriage, freedom, identity, and motherhood, The Falcon's Eyes brings alive not only a brilliant century and the legendary queen who dominated it, but also the vivid band of complex characters whom the heroine encounters on her journey to selfhood: noblewomen, nuns, servants, falconers, and courtiers. The various settings — Château Ravinour, Fontevraud Abbey, and Queen Eleanor's exiled court in England — are depicted as memorably as those who inhabit them. The story pulses forward as Isabelle confronts one challenge, one danger, after another, until it hurtles to its final, enthralling, page.

With the historical understanding of Hillary Mantel and the storytelling gifts of Ken Follett, Francesca Stanfill has created an unforgettable character who, while firmly rooted in her era, is also a woman for all times.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from June 27, 2022
      Stanfill (Wakefield Hall) reimagines in her sharp latest medieval abbeys, aristocrats, and Lady Isabelle, the spirited confidante of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Set in France and England at the end of the 12th century, the story follows curious Isabelle, who at 17 marries Gerard, Lord de Meurtaigne, a wealthy, newly titled widower who wants a noble-born wife to give him an heir. Initially, Isabelle is enamored with Gerard and her new opulence, but she also fears Gerard will discover her “furtive life” of hidden relics and potions given to her by a clairvoyant. They divorce after Isabelle fails to produce an heir, and she happily joins the vaunted Fontevraud Abbey as a lay noblewoman. But after Gerard finds one of Isabelle’s secret objects left behind after the divorce, he vows to find and punish Isabelle for casting a spell on his new wife. As Gerard closes in on the abbey, Isabelle escapes to England and becomes a companion to Queen Eleanor, who was exiled by her husband, King Henry II. Fireside vignettes feature Eleanor and Isabelle discussing history, poetry, and philosophy, all while the queen maneuvers to mold the court and preserve her legacy. The enriching dialogue between brave Isabelle and wise Eleanor consistently intrigues, as does the bewitching blend of tainted nobility, secretive domestics, and palace plots. This is a crackling historical. Agent: Lynn Nesbit, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This very long, well-researched saga detailing the machinations of the twelfth-century court of Eleanor of Aquitane is delivered with impeccable timing and elegant style by narrator Karen Cass. Isabelle, a noblewoman, is trapped in an unhappy marriage to controlling, frighteningly cruel wealthy widower Gerard, Lord de Meurtaigne. Cass's voice is menacing as an enraged Gerard divorces Isabelle and promises vengeance for her devious efforts to remain childless. Isabelle escapes to Fontevraud Abbey, where she is selected to be Eleanor's personal companion. With her gentle, genteel performance, Cass develops the loving friendship between the women. Eleanor secretly confides her remarkable life story to Isabelle, who records it for history, agreeing that no one can know the book exists. Splendid, informative listening, well read by Cass. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

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