The Reckoning: A Novel (Welsh Princes Trilogy)

Actually, I had to put it down several times. The grief is unbelievable. Ms. Penman has an incredible talent for creating relationships that you believe and cherish.

I can not think of better way to understand this period then through these books.

Beware: This author will take you away to her world.

I enjoy this sort of semi-trashy historical writing amd have read several of her books. This particular series is ok. It serves the purpose of a fun read, with a little historical fact mixed in. One huge issue with this particular series though, is the weird and obvious Gone With the Wind ripped off sections. It's pretty blatant and jarring. Other than that it's a fun few hours of reading.

This was the third book in this engrossing and fulfilling trilogy. In book 1 Here be Dragons we are introduced to Llywelyn the Great. He was The Prince of Wales for over 40 years. In Book 2 Falls the Shadow we see the rising of Simon de Montfort who fought for the people of England's civil rights and the continuation of the English and Welsh wars. Falls the Shadow continues the family drama of Llywelyn's children and his grandchild and namesake Llywelyn aka Llelo. In this final trilogy, without giving too much away a grown up Llelo aka Llywelyn The Last continues to fight the English for an independent Wales. King Edward, like King John just refuses.

I went into all three books not knowing about the Welsh wars and knowing little about Simon de Montfort. As I was told, do not google as you read, for the stories are all page turners and you want to be surprised. Penman as usual sticks to a lot of historical accuracy, which is why you don't want to google until the end. So many of these scenes were just incredible, but true! Some characters as she mentions were real, but little was known about them. Overall, most people when they think of English wars with the surrounding countries think of the Scottish wars. The Welsh ones were just as interesting. Read these in order to get the complete experience. Fascinating reads! Deep character involvement and how can you not get attached when you start with the Grandparents in Book 1 and get to know these characters from their births and experience their whole lives? A 5 Star Trilogy!

Although this is the third book of Penman's Welsh Trilogy, it is not necessary to have read the two earlier books to enjoy this one. And I did greatly enjoy it.

Penman is a good writer thoroughly knowledgeable in the period... the late 13th century. If you are trying to place the who and what, this is the period several generations after Becket, Henry II and Eleanor of Aguitaine's son's, Richard the Lionheart, and King John... (John was the prince who Hollywood presents as giving Robin Hood such a hard time). It is King John's grandson Edward I who is the English King in the Reckoning. For those not fully up on 13th century English history, King Edward I may best be known in the USA as Edward Longshanks from "Braveheart."

Unlike Hollywood, Penman is very accurate in her depiction of the times and events. Her genius is that she can take her broad and impeccable knowledge of the period and breathe life into characters that live and think so differently from us; characters though that are just as human and so still have much in common with us.

Edward I, a great warrior and holy crusader, is the son of one of England's weakest king's, Henry III. King Edward I has his vision of an England spanning the entire island... his own manifest destiny. The Welsh are in the way. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, has his own vision of a united Wales. Conflict, the Reckoning, is inevitable.

Personally I did not know much the Welsh wars. I had never heard of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. So, for me this was adventurous reading. I could not fully anticipate the outcome of the battles, and the disposition of the characters. It is after completing the novel that I have been checking out the historic facts. Penman is obsessed with being accurate. She blogs on her web site that a minor discussion in the book comparing the crossbow and long bow is inaccurate. You have to love that.

Her dialogue is so well written, that it is easy to forget you are reading about characters who lived 800 years ago. She has to remind you when the dialogue cannot be understood by all the characters, when French speaking nobles cannot understand the Welsh dialects of the local characters.

Just for the joy of reading, I highly recommend this book.

More than 30mpges missing from this third title in an intriguing series. I sent th ebook back to the store expecting to get a new copy with all pages intact - instead I cannot find a place to send an eMail and I get a note to say I have been refunded to an account that is no longer in existence!!! Don’t the employees of the store read what is said before making stupid nunecessary decisions? The book is no longer a joyful story but a tale of incompetence, from publisdher - missing pages section to bookseller!!!

This was the third book in this engrossing and fulfilling trilogy. In book 1 Here be Dragons we are introduced to Llywelyn the Great. He was The Prince of Wales for over 40 years. In Book 2 Falls the Shadow we see the rising of Simon de Montfort who fought for the people of England's civil rights and the continuation of the English and Welsh wars. Falls the Shadow continues the family drama of Llywelyn's children and his grandchild and namesake Llywelyn aka Llelo. In this final trilogy, without giving too much away a grown up Llelo aka Llywelyn The Last continues to fight the English for an independent Wales. King Edward, like King John just refuses.

I went into all three books not knowing about the Welsh wars and knowing little about Simon de Montfort. As I was told, do not google as you read, for the stories are all page turners and you want to be surprised. Penman as usual sticks to a lot of historical accuracy, which is why you don't want to google until the end. So many of these scenes were just incredible, but true! Some characters as she mentions were real, but little was known about them. Overall, most people when they think of English wars with the surrounding countries think of the Scottish wars. The Welsh ones were just as interesting. Read these in order to get the complete experience. Fascinating reads! Deep character involvement and how can you not get attached when you start with the Grandparents in Book 1 and get to know these characters from their births and experience their whole lives? A 5 Star Trilogy!

Although this is the third book of Penman's Welsh Trilogy, it is not necessary to have read the two earlier books to enjoy this one. And I did greatly enjoy it.

Penman is a good writer thoroughly knowledgeable in the period... the late 13th century. If you are trying to place the who and what, this is the period several generations after Becket, Henry II and Eleanor of Aguitaine's son's, Richard the Lionheart, and King John... (John was the prince who Hollywood presents as giving Robin Hood such a hard time). It is King John's grandson Edward I who is the English King in the Reckoning. For those not fully up on 13th century English history, King Edward I may best be known in the USA as Edward Longshanks from "Braveheart."

Unlike Hollywood, Penman is very accurate in her depiction of the times and events. Her genius is that she can take her broad and impeccable knowledge of the period and breathe life into characters that live and think so differently from us; characters though that are just as human and so still have much in common with us.

Edward I, a great warrior and holy crusader, is the son of one of England's weakest king's, Henry III. King Edward I has his vision of an England spanning the entire island... his own manifest destiny. The Welsh are in the way. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, has his own vision of a united Wales. Conflict, the Reckoning, is inevitable.

Personally I did not know much the Welsh wars. I had never heard of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. So, for me this was adventurous reading. I could not fully anticipate the outcome of the battles, and the disposition of the characters. It is after completing the novel that I have been checking out the historic facts. Penman is obsessed with being accurate. She blogs on her web site that a minor discussion in the book comparing the crossbow and long bow is inaccurate. You have to love that.

Her dialogue is so well written, that it is easy to forget you are reading about characters who lived 800 years ago. She has to remind you when the dialogue cannot be understood by all the characters, when French speaking nobles cannot understand the Welsh dialects of the local characters.

Just for the joy of reading, I highly recommend this book.

More than 30mpges missing from this third title in an intriguing series. I sent th ebook back to the store expecting to get a new copy with all pages intact - instead I cannot find a place to send an eMail and I get a note to say I have been refunded to an account that is no longer in existence!!! Don’t the employees of the store read what is said before making stupid nunecessary decisions? The book is no longer a joyful story but a tale of incompetence, from publisdher - missing pages section to bookseller!!!

It has been five years since Simon de Montfort and his followers died at Evesham in their ill-fated rebellion against the English King Henry. Henry's charismatic son rules England in all but name. Simon's family is slowly rebuilding their lives. His wife, Henry's sister, Nell, is seeking a marriage for her beautiful daughter, Ellen. Although betrothed at 12 to Llewelyn, ruler of Wales, her engagement was ended by Simon's rebellion and death. Simon's youngest son Bran still struggles to cope with his guilt over failing to reach his father before Edward's army butchered Simon and Bran's older brother, Harry. In Italy, Bran's clever older brother, Guy, has married the ruler of an Italian province and is gaining fame as a soldier. On the surface, the de Montforts appear to be getting on with life; but the hatred and guilt created by Evesham will prove too strong to save all the de Montforts. In Wales, Llewelyn has reluctantly named his faithless younger brother, Davydd, as Llewelyn's heir. But Davydd's ambitions and his reckless disregard of the dangers of plotting with Edward set in motion events which will destroy Wales. Penman has written a sad, magnificent tale of courage, boldness that illuminates the inevitable clash between two cultures: the proud, independent Welsh and the determined England. She is most adept at creating the minor characters who are swept up in events not of their making: Hugh, the loyal squire to the doomed Bran de Montfort; Caitlin, Davydd's illegitimate daughter torn between her father and Llewelyn, the generous uncle who raised her. Through Hugh and Caitlin, the reader experiences the tragedy of the battle between Edward and Llewelyn. It is the human face of history that endures for the reader; the people who die; the places that are destroyed.

Completing the trilogy that began with Here Be Dragons and continued with Falls The Shadow, this novel,almost impeccably historically accurate, depicts the struggle by Welsh national hero Llywelyn ap Gruffydd to maintain sovereignty for Wales against the machinations of the ruthless and unscrupulous Edward I of England.
After Simon De Montfort is defeated and killed, his charter of freedoms is destroyed and King Edward reigns supreme as England's king.
After his bride Ellen , the daughter of the late Simon De Montfort, is captured by pirates hired by Edward and imprisoned by the English king, Llywelyn takes the field against England and is defeated and forced to submit to Edward's humiliating terms.
Meanwhile Llywelyn is hindered by the three-time treachery of his mercurial brother Davydd.
These events lead to eventual tragedy for Wales and for Llywelyn and his family.
Dafydd Ap Gruffyd's execution at the hands of the English was very similar to that of Scottish patriot William Wallace 12 years later, also on command of Edward I.
Edward I was a tyrant who crushed Welsh national self-determination, tried to subjugate Scotland, and expelled the Jews from England.

The book has a glittering cast of characters, and traces the lives of Simon's widow Nell, and her family, as well as Llywelyn's family, including his vibrant niece Caitlin.
It is filled with action and emotion, as the author gets into the heads of the characters involved, making for a truly human drama.
This is historical fiction at it's most alive.
The book mends with a prophecy of the restoration of Welsh sovereignty by the Day of Judgement, that on the Direst Day of Judgement no race but the Welsh would give answer to the Allmighty for this corner of the earth.

Sharon Kay Penman concludes her Welsh trilogy (after Here Be Dragons and Falls the Shadow) with this, The Reckoning. And what a reckoning it is.

For anyone familiar with British history, it's well-known that the story of Wales' struggle for independence is a sad one. Penman certainly doesn't write "down" to her audience, sugar-coating things or putting a more positive spin on events. She makes it very plain, seemingly from the first, that the Welsh are fighting a losing battle against the English. The Prince of Wales cannot even get his own wife into Wales due to the English crown- how to fight a battle against the crown?

A previous reviewer said that the story of Ellen and Llewelyn seems sometimes to be a rehash of Joanna and the earlier Llewelyn. I'd tend to agree with that- the two also allude to Joanna and her Llewelyn fairly often. But they are characters of their own, especially this Llewelyn ap Gruffyd who tries so hard to unite Wales against England and keep sovereignty with his countrymen, even as he is betrayed time and again by his own family. And even the romance between the two speaks so much to me about medieval poems, all about glory and honor and love that I think it fits perfectly well into the story.

The only thing I did *not* think fit as well into the story was Penman's inclusion of two characters (Hugh and Caitlin) that have little or no historical basis whatsoever. It's fine to include these people as small characters, but these seem sometimes to overwhelm the rest of the story. However, by the end, their inclusion seems to make sense, as they help the story come to a more satisfying conclusion as would have been possible without them.

Even with that slight negative, the story overall is very moving. It's painful to read, and yet you cannot put it down. Over and over, you will cheer with the Welsh and cry with them, and by the end ... you'll want to go to Wales.

"The Reckoning" is really a tale of revenge. The last in Sharon Kay Penman's "Welsh Trilogy" (or "Welsh Tragedy"; take your pick), it concerns Edward II's conquest of Wales and the end of the Montfort family. And in Penman's perfect, profound prose, it etches the portrait of Edward in acid. Great he might have been to his peers, but here he is shown as a larger-than-life bully, intolerant, expedient in regards to his own wishes, and cruel.
You can tell where Penman's sympathies lie. Llewellyn, grandson of Llewellyn Fawr, fights to keep the English yoke off Wales, only to find himself tripped up time and again by betrayal--from his brother Daffyd, a charming liar who could probably talk his way out of Hell; from other Welsh lords; from Edward himself, who denies him his bride, Ellen Montfort, until he's certain that he's brought Llewellyn to heel. Ellen, perhaps the only Montfort who has a truly happy life, does indeed marry Llewellyn, and their marriage is the only weak part of this story--it has the feel of "Llewellyn and Joanna Redux." Only Ellen is not half as enchanting as Joanna. She does come close to being just as infuriating.
Penman's pace is at its fastest in "The Reckoning." Small wonder. The tragedies and defeats pile up until the climax, and the outcry at the end of the world as the Welsh know it is heartbreaking. Llewellyn is not the man his grandfather was, but he is heroic in the face of certain defeat. Determined not to go down without a fight, driven by a love of his people and homeland, Llewellyn is a character to cheer and to mourn for.
Daffyd, on the other hand, is a man you'd like to strangle, the sweet-tongued bastard who seems to slip past punishment no matter how much he deserves it. And yet his marriage to Elizabeth, Edward's ward, is an amusing surprise. He too shows his worth in the end, finding his own strength in the shadow of death. This is how "Braveheart" should have ended.
As for Edward . . . after finishing "The Reckoning," I went to see "Braveheart" and cheered when Isabelle whispered to the old man that his line would die with his feckless son. Now if Mel Gibson had had the ghosts of the Welsh royal family show up to watch the old goat die, I'd have been perfectly pleased with the movie.
This book doesn't just pluck at your heartstrings. It rips them out and stomps on your heart for good measure. This is easily the best book Penman has written yet.

"The Reckoning" is the last novel in Sharon Kay Penman's medieval trilogy of 13th century England, Wales and their larger than life leaders. Ms. Penman succeeds brilliantly in bringing these men and women, and the causes they fought for, to life in these books. She is a remarkably gifted writer. Her impeccable historical research, attention to detail and superb storytelling ability make her novels consistently excellent. "The Reckoning" is one of her best efforts, preceded by "Here Be Dragons," and "Falls The Shadow." Each of these wonderful historical novels stands on its own, however, and while it is an extraordinary experience to read each book in the order it was written, one does not have to do so to appreciate the history, the characters or the period.
Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, husband of Henry III's sister and the aunt of King Edward I, was one of the most powerful men in England. He was a warrior, great leader and politician who despised Henry III for his incompetence and the favoritism he displayed for the foreigners in his court. Henry was bankrupting England and estranging the peerage. Ahead of his time, Simon also espoused the idea that the common man deserved a voice in government. England was in the midst of civil war as factions split between Henry and his son and heir Edward. When Edward realized that de Montfort's reforms would limit his power and the Divine Right of Kings, he turned against him and in the bloody battle of Evesham, defeated him, with horrifying consequences for the entire de Montfort family.
During this same period there was terrible unrest in Wales, including civil war. Charismatic Llewelyn Farr, Prince of Northern Wales had fought to unite his country's nobility and provide a strong front against the English. His grandson, Lwellyn ap Gruffyd, became Llewelyn's heir and inherited the staunch commitment to keep Wales united. The Welsh leader was a cousin to both the English King and the de Montfort family and was betrothed to marry Simon de Montfort's daughter, Ellen. When de Monfort lost all at Evesham, Welsh politics changed. As Wales sought to consolidate its position and prevent being absorbed into a greater England, the new Prince's brothers were determined to wage war against him to gain power of their own and sacrificed Welsh independence in the process.
This is a complex and tragic saga of historic characters, politics, intrigues, betrayals, bloody battles and wars, romance, lust, power struggles, princesses held captive, revenge and forgiveness. Yet once begun, this extraordinary epic is almost impossible to put down. Ms. Penman portrays Wales, its people, culture and landscape vividly with glorious detail. It is fascinating to become involved with the characters and realize how linked they are by ties of blood - common ancestry. Not only is Welsh history tied to that of England's, but the royal families are linked as are their descendants. Ms. Penman joins the histories and characters of these two countries to give the reader, not just a superb tale but a look at the bigger historical picture also.

This is truly one of the best historical novels I have ever read, and the trilogy by Ms. Penman is absolutely outstanding. She paints an unforgettable picture of medieval England and Wales and the characters who made history. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.
JANA

is never sadder than when you know what happens afterward. The constant fighting between the factions of Llewelyn & Davydd is depressing, and the constant switching at sides is confusing. However, that was the time they lived. The political battles of the Middle Ages were heavily intrigued, and the author does a great job of showing what really mattered.
The fictional characters were not as much in the way as they were spectators. They allow for the author to comment on the times, and the action. Without Hugh, we may never have known what it meant in their culture to be high-born but orphaned and penniless. With Caitlin, we were able to see a young lady who felt as passionately about Wales as her uncle, and she had the courage to stand up to her father.
The love between Llewelyn and Ellen seemed to be a deep one, although fraught with tragedy and sacrifice. And it also provided a nice parallel to Llewelyn Fawr and Joanna, and a nice way to close the trilogy.
Although I was always hoping that Wales could pull through against England, I knew that it was just not meant to be. The conditions were not right, and obviously, they are now a part of the English Crown and have been for centuries. That is what was depressing about the last book in the trilogy. But at least we as readers are left with the hopes that the lessons were not taught in vain, and the knowledge that we now have these marvelous characters to inspire us.

This is the final episode in Penman's Welsh Trilogy. It follows Here Be Dragons and Falls The Shadow, running from 1271-1283.
Penman emerged long ago as one of the best historical novelists and continues to solidify her reputation with each new release. Her special genius lies in the bright and shining historical detail that she can weave into both plot and dialog (she's a very good student of history and at times is absolutely brilliant in conveying to us the workings of medieval minds).
One of the great things about Penman (and this book showcases it well) is her plots are always complex (because the history of these times was quite convoluted). She does an excellent job of keeping it all straight for us as she leads us through the maze of characters. If you read the history of these times you quickly come to see what a great job she does in her design of the story.
I have no problem with Penman's romantic feelings about her heros. From Eleanor in the 1st trilogy to Joanna in Here Be Dragons to her raising the standard of Simon de Montfort as a visionary (but historically too early) icon of democracy, she does use them as a vehicle to carry forward a dynamic presentation of history....all in the best traditions of the historical novel.
Penman's true genius is the broad historical scope that is painted on top of the shimmering details of brief moments. It truely does feel as if you are living the story yourself, and it is this bringing us readers in as witnesses that stands as Penman's contribution to the art of the historical novel.
If you prefer to read in chronological order:
1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of Trilogy)
1156-1171 Time And Space (Vol 2 of Trilogy)
12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of Trilogy)- not yet released
1192-1193 The Queen's Man
1193 Cruel As The Grave
1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour

I read this book several years ago and have never forgotten it. I loved the whole trilogy. But I liked The Reckoning the best. Yes, it is sad. But the results of conflict between countries are often sad. I am sure many Iraqis and Afghanistanis would agree. I liked The Reckoning so much that I subsequently took a 2 week trip to Wales. It was a moving experience. I found Llewelyn ap Gryffydd's grave. Until very recently, the Welsh hid it because they knew that, were the English to find it, they would desecrate it. They were correct. They did desecrate Joanna's and Ellen's graves. They built a factory on top of them! This devastated and infuriated me.

Actually seeing the castles Edward I built in Wales made me realize how truly impotent the Welsh were when facing Edward I's highly sophisticated war machine. Edward strangled the country with a ring of castles. I visited 2 Marcher castles and Harlech, Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris, and, most fearsome of all, Dolbadarn. Today they are picturesque. But, at the time, they were fearsome and invulnerable. In contrast, Dolwyddelan, the Welsh castle in which a lot of the action in The Reckoning takes place, is pitifully small and weak. That they dared to fight against the English at all is a testament to Welsh bravery.

I spoke to several Welsh about the book. They were extremely pleased that an English-speaking person was sympathetic to the Welsh. The English I met in Wales still treated the Welsh as second class citizens. For example, an English cousin of mine, who has lived in Wales for a long time, has never bothered to learn any Welsh. In my short stay in Wales, even though I am no genius at acquiring languages, I had learned more Welsh than he knows! The English regard Welsh as comical, bizarre, and not worth bothering about.

The Welsh I talked to liked Penman's trilogy but thought she was biased. This didn't surprise me. When I read Penman's Henry II trilogy, I already knew a lot about the history of that time. Penman clearly interpreted it from a feminist standpoint. In order to buttress her views, she neglected to mention, or incorrectly interpreted, some important events and aspects of Henry's reign. After centuries of domination, the Welsh are currently working hard to regain their national identity. For example, the English practically stamped out Welsh as spoken language. In today's more benign climate, the Welsh have established schools conducted only in Welsh. As a result, many Welsh children are now fluent Welsh speakers. But, as with any nationalistic movement, there are extremists. I don't know enough Welsh history to be able to evaluate Penman's bias in this work. Although I doubt Penman is an extremist, I suspect she may lean in that direction when interpreting Welsh history.

...is a Welshman who trusts an English King."
This is the best book in the trilogy! It's very good and portrays the reign of Edward I. I thought the nicknamed "Black Prince of Wales" was a cool guy before I read this book.
He's not. There's a reason they called him "black"- he was cruel and shady, a guy who will get his way. Llewelyn ap Gruffydd makes the very same choice that Simon de Monfort made in "Falls the Shadow" which is to fight for his cause, what he believes in. And to fight for his long-dead grandfather, to achieve the dream Llewelyn Fawr had -for a united Wales- or die.
Another character I like is Davydd ap Gruffydd, Llewelyn's double-dealing brother who is -even though you can't help it- a little likable once he gets married or once you get used to him. Davydd has betrayed Llewelyn too many times to count. He even planned an assasination attempt(which failed, true to history)!
The reason I, a fiction/fantasy -holic , like these books is that I easily get a very good view of history (a lot of things that happened in this book are true- read the Afterword if you'd like to know, but only after you've finished the book!). For example <<spoiler>> Edward I was the initatior of the tradition that allows the heir to the throne the title "Prince of Wales" b/c he gave it to his son and it's been done ever since.
A somber book. As one reviewer said, NOT for the faint of heart.
But it's still wonderful!!

The Reckoning picks up where Falls the Shadow ends. Edward "longshanks" the first is waiting to take the throne once his father Henry passes and is in Italy on a crusade. The de Montfort house is regrouping after the loss of Simon and Harry at Evesham - Nell and Ellen are in France, while Amaury, Guy and Bran are in Italy. Llewelyn's grandson is the Prince of Wales still fighting against his brothers to keep Wales united against the English.

SKP once again does a great job in transporting the reader to 13th century Wales and England and reuniting him/her with their favorite characters.

This is a trilogy not to be missed by any historical fiction lover! - Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning.

This was my favorite book in the series (inc. Here Be Dragons and Falls the Shadow). It's really essential that you read the first two books before diving into this one though. It's a continuation of the destruction of Simon de Montfort's family and Wales by King Edward.

There are so many twists and turns that you would swear that it was purely fiction... but it's not! Even when you know what the end result is going to be (because it's history), it is just so unbelievably heart-wrenching to get into the lives of these people who lost everything... from deaths to estrangements to enprisonments to betrayals to humility...

It really was a wonderfully written, edge-of-your-seat story. I highly recommend it.

In "The Reckoning", Sharon Kay Penman concludes her Welsh trilogy, begun in "Here Be Dragons" and continued in "Falls the Shadow." This tale chronicles the conflict between Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and Edward I of England. Llewelyn shines here; as in "Falls the Shadow", I found this character to be amazing and utterly fascinating, and the love story between him and Ellen de Montfort was exquisite and poignant. Similarly, Daffydd ap Gruffydd's characterization was marvelous.
Ms. Penman's tendency to allow fictionalized characters such as Hugh and Caitlin center stage, however, only detracts from her novel. This book is not for the faint of heart; the starkness of the ending, fictionalized characters aside, was something that stayed with me a long time. A very good book, if lacking the power of the other two in the trilogy.

I was reluctant to finish this book because once I did, my favorite trilogy ever would be over. Of course, I did finish it, and I loved it. It focuses on the clashes between England and Wales during the reign of Edward I over religion, law, and tradition. I was surprised at the way things turned out for Wales at the end. A few of my favorite characters are Davydd, Llewelyn, Ellen, and Elizabeth. Especially Davydd, undeniably the most dynamic character of the series.
Because of this trilogy, I have really become interested in Welsh history and the language. If you think this book sounds like a good read, consider starting at the beginning of the story, with Here Be Dragons, and then Falls the Shadow. I promise you'll be glad you did!

This book was very good, but is overshadowed by the excellence of Here be Dragons and Falls the Shadow. It ended on a tragic note but is a great book for Penman fans, history addicts and anyone Welsh. Penman's prose is addictive- once you read her, you'll read ALL her novels- they're just plain good. They all contain interesting plot, and characters, which is all the more fascinating because it's all true! Her Author's note and Afterward are very informative and interesting- infact, now I'm so interested I've bought a book on Welsh midevial history and I'm going next for one on Simon de Montfort. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

After having read Here Be Dragons and Falls the Shadow, this last book to Penman's Welsh Trilogy is a fabulous addition to the other two. The story continues, focusing on the life of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Ellen de Monfort, and Edward I, King of England. I found full of more gore and bloodshed than its predecessors, but I enjoyed it just the same.
One of the characters that I found particularly interesting was Davydd, Llewelyn's brother. At times you hated him, at times you loved him. His character was not defined in terms of black and white, so his actions were always surprising.
A couple of interesting scenes/chapters to look out for: a pirate scene on the high seas, Llewelyn and Ellen's wedding ceremony, and in the last twenty or so pages of the book, the sentencing of Davydd.

Sharon Kay Penman is simply the best historical novelist out there. "The Reckoning," like its predecessors "Here Be Dragons" and "Falls The Shadow," is a triumph of incredible writing, a tight (and historically accurate) plot, and a sense of being there that is so strong you forget it's been 600 years since these events. I have recommended Penman to so many people I've lost count. A must for any historical fan (although romance fans will NOT like the less-than-happy ending--but that's life).

After finishing McCullough's Masters of Rome series, I yearned for another historical fiction series to fill in the void. I assumed it was a tough act to follow, until I picked up the first book in this trilogy "Here Be Dragons". The narrative sucked me in, mesmerized me, and put in me in complete amazement of the cast of characters that surrounded me. Reading Penman makes you not only a virtual eyewitness to the momentous events of Medieval Wales, but grafts you into the families involved--so much so you mourn and grieve with the deaths as if you've lost a loved one. It's rare for books, for author's to be able to do that. Then you realize these characters were real persons that shaped history, your sense of loss and awe magnifies exponentially. She continues the trend skillfully, without letting up, in "Falls the Shadow". This final installment left me with my jaw on the floor. It's not a happy ending, but Penman's skill is in how she takes tragic events of history, vividly paints them by fleshing out the players involved so that you feel the blood that runs through their veins...you even feel like you bleed when they do. If there were a way to make tragedies beautiful, like a sad symphony, Penman has discovered it. The proof is this trilogy. Everyone I've recommended these books to has become a fellow believer.

Like all of her books, this one depicts more than one main character. She truely gives you the affect of "his side, her side and what really happened." She shows the strength of Simon de Monfort, and the liberal views of his wife. This is a wonderful read for any history buff, anyone researching this era but tired of reading documentaries, or anyone who would like to read good literature. It is an acurate account followed by an author's note to explain any liberties that she took in writting.

i discovered Sharon Kay Penman when i picked up the first volume of this welsh trilogy. since then i've read almost all of her books. what can i say besides what others have already raved about? her characters are so real to me they pretty much leap out of the book's pages and become living breathing individuals that i cry and laugh with as i read on. their world and hardships and heartbreaks are painted so vividly it's hard to remind myself that it's created by a contemporary author. her female characters are wonderfully strong women but not without vice and shortcomings, which all the more make them likeable to me. kudos to ms penman for such great work!

After reading the first two installments in the trilogy, I was primed for the 3rd. I had already lost my heart to Llellwyn Fawr in "Sunne" and felt the paralizing grip of an English Kings displeasure - but "Reckoning" made me realize the helplessness of any two people living in that era, Peasant or Noble, and the true meaning of "at the Kings Pleasure".
A great adventure, romance and historical novel in the tradition of the trilogy. This Welsh Prince is a treasure as is Davydd, his brother & rival who is one of the most interesting characters I've come across in many pages. Ellen is a great heroine, neither inhumanly strong nor weak; she is believeable and that is what makes her travails so heartrending. Please read this book!!!!

Absolutely mesmerizing! If you enjoy reading about medievel times you must read this set. I read all three, one right after the other: Here Be Dragons; Falls the Shadow; The Reckoning and could not put them down.
I will certainly read them again.

Someone in Hollywood needs to make a movie out of this trilogy. Like the first two books in this trilogy , my interest was captured in the first paragraph. The characters are so real, that it is easy to forget they've all been dead for 1000 years!

Sharon Kay Penman has written an enthralling trilogy that has the reader captivated with the history and storytelling entwining the loves and battles of the Welsh and English. I would recommend this trilogy to anyone.