Wine of Violence Audiobook By Priscilla Royal cover art

Wine of Violence

The Medieval Mysteries, Book 1

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Wine of Violence

By: Priscilla Royal
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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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. Detective Fiction Historical Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction
Engaging Storyline • Well-developed Characters • Historical Authenticity • Unexpected Plot Twists • Expressive Performance
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I was hesitant when reading the description, reviews and foreword. I’m so thankful I decided to follow my hunch. It is a fun read containing the character development and unspoken thought that I enjoy!

Great short read!

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unlike the review I read before I didn't find it full of sodomy. I thought the author did a good job of dealing with the period, the church, the issues the church has always faced, and a very interesting time in English history. it was a good start, I'm hopeful it will get even better. the author laid solid groundwork.

Good start to a series

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The author explains why there were changes made in the writing that might be historically correct but would connect to the modern reader and make the book more enjoyable. I appreciated that infornation.

I love the Forward....

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I wasn’t sure about this series, but have found it intriguing. I’ve gone back to download the series. The narrator, Wanda McCaddon is excellent with the various speakers.

Excellent mystery

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Rocky start but hang in there
Good historical who done it and interesting ending .. give it a go …

Rocky start but persevere

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I suspect this story is very well researched and it is a huge compliment when I say it doesn’t really show. The narration is superb.
One can almost forget the author is American, transatlantic anachronisms (e.g.the mention of chipmunks) are very few and far between. I enjoyed her foreword and historical notes very much.

Enjoyable

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After finishing "Wine of Violence" by Priscilla Royal, I found myself in a bit of a conundrum when it came to rating it. Eventually, I settled on 3.5 stars. There were aspects of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed, particularly the engaging storyline and the endearing characters. However, there were also a few elements that left me wanting more.

One thing that struck me was the absence of a sense of urgency and fear, which I would have expected given the gravity of the events unfolding within the narrative. While I appreciated the role of Brother Thomas and found him to be a compelling character, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that would have elevated the story to the next level.

Moreover, I felt that the developments in the final chapters could have been dispersed more evenly throughout the book, rather than being clustered at the very end. Although the conclusion was intriguing, it lacked sufficient buildup in the narrative, leaving me wishing for more depth and exploration earlier on.

There were also instances where I found myself questioning the actions of certain characters. Why didn't Brother Thomas engage with the choir boys or Brother John? Why did this one particular Sister not return the borrowed key? And why was there seemingly no one on guard when they knew someone had entered through a supposedly locked door?

Additionally, I craved more insight into the daily lives and interactions of the characters. It felt odd that characters like Thomas and John seemed to have had no interaction despite living under the same roof. However, I did enjoy the interactions between Thomas and Simeon, and I wished there had been more of them.

Overall, "Wine of Violence" is a captivating read with its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. While it may not have entirely met my expectations, it certainly kept me entertained throughout. Because this is the first book in the series, I will certainly give it the benefit of the doubt when it comes to its pacing and will happily continue with this series!

A slow start to perhaps a good series

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After reading all of Ellis Peters "Brother Cadfael" series, this is a welcomed find. I love the period, and was disappointed that there were no more Cadfael tales. This series promises to fill the void with new characters, in a familiar setting, albeit Nuns and Monks. looking forward to more of the same.

Cadfael-esque

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I have listened to well over 300 cozy/historical mysteries. What I truly enjoyed about this one is that the characters were so likable. In a couple scenes, Royal has some of the female characters laughing with one another and enjoying each other's company-you'd be amazed how rarely authors in this genre write about women being at such ease with one another. The story arc was well developed. The historical setting was explained nicely and the details of the surroundings were neither heavy handed nor too thin. It pained me a bit that Royal had to contextualize what people today understand as LGBTQ lives but from some of the other reviews, it is clear the explanation was needed, even if not fully understood. I will download other books by Royal, particularly any read by Wanda McCaddon, who did such a fine job of bringing the story to life.

Fantastic Book

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An equal of the Brother Cadfael mysteries.
Well plotted and the ending made sense not as though it was pulled together at the last minutes as is the case with so many mysteries.

After Brother Cadfael, read this!

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